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light…headed and to be tempted to let go； … now arguing that I was
certainly arrived within a few feet of the level and could safely
risk a fall； anon persuaded I was still close at the top and it was
idle to continue longer on the rock。 In the midst of which I came
to a bearing on plain ground； and had nearly wept aloud。 My hands
were as good as flayed； my courage entirely exhausted； and； what
with the long strain and the sudden relief； my limbs shook under me
with more than the violence of ague； and I was glad to cling to the
rope。
But this was no time to give way。 I had （by God's single mercy）
got myself alive out of that fortress； and now I had to try to get
the others； my comrades。 There was about a fathom of rope to
spare； I got it by the end； and searched the whole ground
thoroughly for anything to make it fast to。 In vain： the ground
was broken and stony； but there grew not there so much as a bush of
furze。
'Now then；' thought I to myself； 'here begins a new lesson； and I
believe it will prove richer than the first。 I am not strong
enough to keep this rope extended。 If I do not keep it extended
the next man will be dashed against the precipice。 There is no
reason why he should have my extravagant good luck。 I see no
reason why he should not fall … nor any place for him to fall on
but my head。'
From where I was now standing there was occasionally visible； as
the fog lightened； a lamp in one of the barrack windows； which gave
me a measure of the height he had to fall and the horrid force that
he must strike me with。 What was yet worse； we had agreed to do
without signals： every so many minutes by Laclas' watch another man
was to be started from the battlements。 Now； I had seemed to
myself to be about half an hour in my descent； and it seemed near
as long again that I waited； straining on the rope for my next
comrade to begin。 I began to be afraid that our conspiracy was
out； that my friends were all secured； and that I should pass the
remainder of the night； and be discovered in the morning； vainly
clinging to the rope's end like a hooked fish upon an angle。 I
could not refrain； at this ridiculous image； from a chuckle of
laughter。 And the next moment I knew； by the jerking of the rope；
that my friend had crawled out of the tunnel and was fairly
launched on his descent。 It appears it was the sailor who had
insisted on succeeding me： as soon as my continued silence had
assured him the rope was long enough； Gautier； for that was his
name； had forgot his former arguments； and shown himself so
extremely forward； that Laclas had given way。 It was like the
fellow； who had no harm in him beyond an instinctive selfishness。
But he was like to have paid pretty dearly for the privilege。 Do
as I would； I could not keep the rope as I could have wished it；
and he ended at last by falling on me from a height of several
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
ra