"But, Marjory," Archie said, "have you thought how we are to escape
hence? Though I am free from the castle I am still within the walls of
Berwick, and when, to-morrow, they find that I have escaped, they will
search every nook and corner of the town. I had best without delay try
and make my way over the walls."
"That was the plan Cluny and I first thought of," Marjory replied; "but
owing to the raids of the Douglas on the border, so strict a watch is
kept on the walls that it would be difficult indeed to pass. Cluny has
tried a dozen times each night, but the watch is so vigilant that he has
each time failed to make his way past them, but has been challenged and
has had several arrows discharged at him.
"The guard at the gates is extremely strict, and all carts that pass in
and out are searched. Could you have tried to pass before your escape
was known you might no doubt have done so in disguise, but the alarm
will be given before the gates are open in the morning, and your chance
of passing through undetected then would be small indeed.
"The death of the man Martin suggested a plan to me. I have proposed it
to his wife, and she has fallen in with it. I have promised her a
pension for life if we should succeed, but I believe she would have done
it even without reward, for she is a true Scotchwoman. When she heard
who it was that I was trying to rescue, she said at once she would risk
anything to save the life of one of Scotland's best and bravest
champions; while, on the other hand, she cares not enough for her
husband to offer any objection to my plans for the disposal of his
body."
"But what are your plans, Marjory?"
"All the neighbours know that Martin is dead; they believe that Cluny is
Mary's sister and I her niece, and she has told them that she will
return with us to Roxburgh. Martin was a native of a village four miles
hence, and she was going to bury him with his fathers there. Now I have
proposed to her that Martin shall be buried beneath the wood store here,
and that you shall take his place in the coffin."
"It is a capital idea, Marjory," Archie said, "and will assuredly
succeed if any plan can do so. The only fear is that the search will be
so hot in the morning that the soldiers may even insist upon looking
into the coffin."
"We have thought of that," Marjory said, "and dare not risk it. We must
expect every house to be searched in the morning, and have removed some
tiles in the attic. At daybreak you must creep out on the roof, replace
the tiles, and remain hidden there until the search is over. Martin
will be laid in the coffin. Thus, even should they lift the lid, no
harm will come of it.
"Directly they have gone Cluny will bring you down, and you and he will
dig the grave in the floor of the woodshed and place Martin there. Then
you will take his place in the coffin, which will be placed in a cart
already hired, and Cluny, I, Mrs. Martin, and her daughter, will then
set out with it."