Soon after daybreak the quick strokes of the alarm-bell at the castle
told the inhabitants of Berwick that a prisoner had escaped. Archie at
once betook himself to his place of concealment on the roof. He
replaced the tiles; and Cluny carefully removed all signs of the place
of escape from within. A great hubbub had by this time arisen in the
street. Trumpets were blowing, and parties of soldiers moving about in
all directions. The gates remained unopened, orders being given that
none should pass through without a special order from the governor.
The sentries on the wall were doubled, and then a house-to-house search
was commenced, every possible place of concealment being rummaged from
basement to attic. Presently the searchers entered the lane in which
Mrs. Martin lived. The latch was ere long lifted, and a sergeant and
six soldiers burst into the room. The sight which they beheld quieted
their first noisy exclamations. Four women in deep mourning were
kneeling by a rough coffin placed on trestles. One of them gave a faint
scream as they entered, and Mary Martin, rising to her feet, said:
"What means this rough intrusion?"
"It means," the sergeant said, "that a prisoner has escaped from the
castle, one Archibald Forbes, a pestilent Scotch traitor. He has been
aided by friends from without, and as the sentries were watchful all
night, he must be hidden somewhere in the town, and every house is to be
searched."
"You can search if you will," the woman said, resuming the position on
her knees. "As you see, this is a house of mourning, seeing that my
husband is dead, and is to-day to be buried in his native village, four
miles away."
"He won't be buried to-day," the sergeant said; "for the gates are not
to be opened save by special order from the governor. Now, lads," he
went on, turning to the men, "search the place from top to bottom.
examine all the cupboards and sound the floors, turn over all the wood
in the shed, and leave not a single place unsearched where a mouse could
be hid."
The soldiers scattered through the house, and were soon heard knocking
the scanty furniture about and sounding the floors and walls. At last
they returned, saying that nothing was to be found.
"And now," the sergeant said, "I must have a look in that coffin. Who
knows but what the traitor Scot may be hid in there!"
Mrs. Martin leaped to her feet.
"You shall not touch the coffin!" she said; "I will not have the remains
of my husband disturbed." The sergeant pushed her roughly aside, and
with the end of his pike prised up the lid of the coffin, while Mrs.
Martin and the other three mourners screamed lustily and wrung their
hands in the greatest grief.