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yards； so that we both rolled together on the ground。 As soon as
he could breathe he cursed me beyond belief； wept over his finger；
which he had broken； and cursed me again。 I bade him be still and
think shame of himself to be so great a cry…baby。 Did he not hear
the round going by above？ I asked； and who could tell but what the
noise of his fall was already remarked； and the sentinels at the
very moment leaning upon the battlements to listen？
The round； however； went by； and nothing was discovered； the third
man came to the ground quite easily； the fourth was； of course；
child's play； and before there were ten of us collected； it seemed
to me that； without the least injustice to my comrades； I might
proceed to take care of myself。
I knew their plan： they had a map and an almanack； and designed for
Grangemouth； where they were to steal a ship。 Suppose them to do
so； I had no idea they were qualified to manage it after it was
stolen。 Their whole escape； indeed； was the most haphazard thing
imaginable； only the impatience of captives and the ignorance of
private soldiers would have entertained so misbegotten a device；
and though I played the good comrade and worked with them upon the
tunnel； but for the lawyer's message I should have let them go
without me。 Well； now they were beyond my help； as they had always
been beyond my counselling； and； without word said or leave taken；
I stole out of the little crowd。 It is true I would rather have
waited to shake hands with Laclas； but in the last man who had
descended I thought I recognised Clausel； and since the scene in
the shed my distrust of Clausel was perfect。 I believed the man to
be capable of any infamy； and events have since shown that I was
right。
CHAPTER VII … SWANSTON COTTAGE
I HAD two views。 The first was； naturally； to get clear of
Edinburgh Castle and the town； to say nothing of my fellow…
prisoners； the second to work to the southward so long as it was
night； and be near Swanston Cottage by morning。 What I should do
there and then； I had no guess； and did not greatly care； being a
devotee of a couple of divinities called Chance and Circumstance。
Prepare； if possible； where it is impossible； work straight
forward； and keep your eyes open and your tongue oiled。 Wit and a
good exterior … there is all life in a nutshell。
I had at first a rather chequered journey： got involved in gardens；
butted into houses； and had even once the misfortune to awake a
sleeping family； the father of which； as I suppose； menaced me from
the window with a blunderbuss。 Altogether； though I had been some
time gone from my companions； I was still at no great distance；
when a miserable accident put a period to the escape。 Of a sudden
the night was divided by a scream。 This was followed by the sound
of something falling； and that again by the report of a musket from
the Castle battlements。 It was strange to hear the alarm spread
through the city。 In the fortress drums were beat and a bell rung
backward。 On all hands the watchmen sprang their rattles。 Even in
that limbo or no…man's…land where I was wandering； lights were made
in the houses； sashes were flung up； I could hear neighbouring
families converse from window to window； and at length I was
challenged myself。
'Wha's that？' cried a big voice。
I could see it proceeded from a big man in a big nightcap； leaning
from a one…pair window； and as I was not yet abreast of his house；
I judged it was more wise to answer。 This was not the first time I
had had to stake my fortunes on the goodness of my accent in a
foreign tongue； and I have always found the moment inspiriting； as
a gambler should。 Pulling around me a sort of great…coat I had
made of my blanket； to cover my sulphur…coloured livery； … 'A
friend！' said I。
'What like's all this collieshangie？' said he。
I had never heard of a collieshangie in my days； but with the
racket all about us in the city； I could have no doubt as to the
man's meaning。
'I do not know； sir； really；' said I； 'but I suppose some of the
prisoners will have escaped。'
'Bedamned！' says he。
'Oh； sir； they will be soon taken；' I replied： 'it has been found
in time。 Good morning； sir！'
'Ye walk late； sir？' he added。
'Oh； surely not；' said I； with a laugh。 'Earlyish； if you like！'
which brought me finally beyond him； highly pleased with my
success。
I was now come forth on a good thoroughfare； which led （as well as
I could judge） in my direction。 It brought me almost immediately
through a piece of street； whence I could hear close by the
springing of a watchman's rattle； and where I suppose a sixth part
of the windows would be open； and the people； in all sorts of night
gear； talking with a kind of tragic gusto from one to another。
Here； again； I must run the gauntlet of a half…dozen questions； the
rattle all the while sounding nearer； but as I was not walking
inordinately quick； as I spoke like a gentleman； and the lamps were
too dim to show my dress； I carried it off once more。 One person；
indeed； inquired where I was off to at that hour。
I replied vaguely and cheerfully； and as I escaped at one end of
this dangerous pass I could see the watchman's lantern entering by
the other。 I was now safe on a dark country highway； out of sight
of lights and out of the fear of watchmen。 And yet I had not gone
above a hundred yards before a fellow made an ugly rush at me from
the roadside。 I avoided him with a leap； and stood on guard；
cursing my empty hands； wondering whether I had to do with an
officer or a mere footpad； and scarce knowing which to wish。 My
assailant stood a little； in the thick darkness I could see him bob
and sidle as though he were feinting at me for an advantageous
onfall。 Then he spoke。
'My goo' frien'；' says he； and at the first word I pricked my ears；
'my goo' frien'； will you oblishe me with lil neshary infamation？
Whish roa' t' Cramond？'
I laughed out clear and loud； stepped up to the convivialist； took
him by the shoulders and faced him about。 'My good friend；' said
I； 'I believe I know what is best for you much better than
yourself； and may God forgive you the fright you have given me！
There； get you gone to Edinburgh！' And I gave a shove； which he
obeyed with the passive agility of a ball； and disappeared
incontinently in the darkness down the road by which I had myself
come。
Once clear of this foolish fellow； I went on again up a gradual
hill； descended on the other side through the houses of a country
village； and came at last to the bottom of the main ascent leading
to the Pentlands and my destination。 I was some way up when the
fog began to lighten； a little farther； and I stepped by degrees
into a clear starry night； and saw in front of me； and quite
distinct； the summits of the Pentlands； and behind； the valley of
the Forth and the city of my late captivity buried under a lake of
vapour。 I had but one encounter … that of a farm…cart； which I
heard； from a great way ahead of me； creaking nearer in the night；
and which passed me about the point of dawn like a thing seen in a
dream； with two silent figures in the inside nodding to the horse's
steps。 I presume they were asleep； by the shawl about her head and
shoulders； one of them should be a woman。 Soon； by concurrent
steps； the day began to break and the fog to subside and roll away。
The east grew luminous and was barred with chilly colours； and the
Castle on its rock； and the spires and chimneys of the upper town；
took gradual shape； and arose； like islands； out of the receding
cloud。 All about me was still and sylvan； the road mounting and
winding； with nowhere a sign of any passenger； the birds chirping；
I suppose for warmth； the boughs of the trees knocking together；
and the red leaves falling in the wind。
It was broad day； but still bitter cold and the sun not up； when I
came in view of my destination。 A single gable and chimney of the
cottage peeped over the shoulder of the hill； not far off； and a
trifle higher on the mountain； a tall old white…washed farmhouse
stood among the trees； beside a falling brook； beyond were rough
hills of pasture。 I bethought me that shepherd folk were early
risers； and if I were once seen skulking in that neighbourhood it
might prove the ruin of my prospects； took advantage of a line of
hedge； and worked myself up in its shadow till I was come under the
garden wall of my friends' house。 The cottage was a little quaint
place of many rough…cast gables and grey roofs。 It had something
the air of a rambling infinitesimal cathedral； the body of it
rising in the midst two storeys high； with a steep…pitched roof；
and sending out upon all hands （as it were chap