He did the ten miles in
under an hour, and nearly ran against a man who was standing in the
middle of the road, a short distance from the little town.
"Is that you, Fergus?"
"No, I am John, master. Fergus will take the watch tomorrow evening."
"Good. Keep the horses saddled at this time, every evening; and hold
them in readiness all night. Things are going on well, and I may be
here any night. Which is the house?"
"That is it, master, where you see the light, a quarter of a mile
farther up the hill."
"Where are you sleeping?"
"In the stables, with the horses. It is some ten yards off the right of
the house."
"Then you must keep watch through the night, by turns, and get your
sleep in the daytime. I hope we shall get them away without waiting for
a force to come. The hold is a very strong one, and a strict watch is
kept at night; and, before we could carry it, we should have all the
Bairds on the countryside down upon us.
"Can you get me a rope? I want a long and a strong one."
"There are some ropes in the stable, master, but they are in use, and
would be missed."
"Then run, at the top of your speed, down to the town; and buy a rope
strong enough to hold the weight of half a dozen men.
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