"Oh, Oswald, from what have you saved us! How brave and good of you to
risk so much!"
"Tut, tut, Janet, as if we should leave you here, in the hands of the
Bairds, without making an effort to free you! Now, come along, dear. Be
very careful how you walk, till we get down to the bottom. It is pretty
steep and, if you were to set a stone rolling, we might have them after
us, in no time. As it is, we shall only have an hour and a half start,
for the sentries will be relieved at midnight. However, by that time we
shall be on horseback, and of course they won't know which road we have
taken."
As soon as they came to level ground, they set off at a run. They were
but a mile from the village when they heard, on the still night air,
distant shouts, followed half a minute later by the winding of a horn;
then, almost immediately, a glimmering light appeared on the highest
turret of the hold, and this rapidly broadened out into a sheet of
flame.
"They have discovered our escape, by some misfortune or other," Oswald
exclaimed, "and they will be after us, before many minutes have passed.
You must run in earnest now, girls."
"Do you run on, Oswald," Janet said, "you and Roger. We will turn and
walk back.
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