Suddenly something struck him a sharp blow on the face and fell at his feet.  He stooped and picked it up, it was an arrow with a wad of wool fastened round its point to prevent it from making a noise should it strike the wall or cage; to the other end was attached a piece of string.  Archie drew it in until he felt that it was held firmly, then after a moment the hold relaxed somewhat, and the string again yielded as he drew it.  It was now, he felt, taut from the other side of the moat.  Presently a stout rope, amply sufficient to bear his weight, came into his hands.  At the point of junction was attached some object done up in flannel.  This he opened, and found that it was a fine saw and a small bottle containing oil.  He fastened the rope securely to one of the bars and at once commenced to saw asunder one of the others.  In five minutes two cuts had been noiselessly made, and a portion of the bar five feet long came away.  He now tried the rope and found that it was tightly stretched, and evidently fixed to some object on the other side of the moat.  He grasped it firmly with his arms and legs and slid rapidly down it.

In another minute he was grasped by some strong arms which checked his rapid progress and enabled him to gain his feet without the slightest noise.  As he did so a woman threw her arms round him, and he exchanged a passionate but silent embrace with Marjory.  Then she took his hand and with noiseless steps they proceeded down the road.  He had before starting removed his shoes and put them in his pockets.  Marjory and her companion had also removed their shoes, and even the keenest ears upon the battlements would have heard no sound as they proceeded along the road.  Fifty yards farther and they were among the houses.  Here they stopped a minute and put on their shoes, and then continued their way.  Not a word was spoken until they had traversed several streets and stopped at the door of a house in a quiet lane; it yielded to Marjory’s touch, she and Archie entered, and their follower closed and fastened it after them.

The moment this was done Marjory threw her arms round Archie’s neck with a burst of tears of joy and relief.  While Archie was soothing her the third person stirred up the embers on the hearth and threw on a handful of dry wood.

“And who is your companion?” Archie asked, after the first transports of joy and thankfulness were past.

“What! don’t you recognize Cluny?” Marjory asked, laughing through her tears.

“Cluny! of course,” Archie exclaimed, grasping his follower’s hand in his.  “I only caught a glimpse of your face and knew that it was familiar to me, but in vain tried to recall its owner.  Why, Cluny, it is a long time since you went dressed as a girl into Ayr!  And so it is my good friend who had shared my wife’s dangers.”