he was left for a few minutes to
himself, while the retainer of justice went to procure a proper warrant, and
give the necessary directions.
    The rising moon saw the whole party free from the walls of the city, and
entering upon the open ground. Arthur's Seat, like a couchant lion of immense
size - Salisbury Crags, like a huge belt or girdle of granite, were dimly
visible. Holding their path along the southern side of the Canongate, they
gained the Abbey of Holyrood House, and from thence found their way by step and
stile into the King's Park. They were at first four in number - an officer of
justice and Sharpitlaw, who were well armed with pistols and cutlasses;
Ratcliffe, who was not trusted with weapons, lest, he might, peradventure, have
used them on the wrong side; and the female. But at the last stile, when they
entered the Chase, they were joined by other two officers, whom Sharpitlaw,
desirous to secure sufficient force for his purpose, and at the same time to
avoid observation, had directed to wait for him at this place. Ratcliffe saw
this accession of strength with some disquietude, for he had hitherto thought it
likely that Robertson, who was a bold, stout, and active young fellow, might
have made his escape from Sharpitlaw and the single officer, by force or
agility, without his being implicated in the matter. But the present strength of
the followers of justice was overpowering, and the only mode of saving Robertson
(which the old sinner was well disposed to do, providing always he could
accomplish his purpose without compromising his own safety), must be by
contriving that he should have some signal of their approach. It was probably
with this view that Ratcliffe had requested the addition of Madge to the party,
having considerable confidence in her propensity to exert her lungs. Indeed, she
had already given them so many specimens of her clamorous loquacity, that
Sharpitlaw half determined to send her back with one of the officers, rather
than carry forward in his company a person so extremely ill qualified to be a
guide in a secret expedition. It seemed, too, as if the open air, the approach
to the hills, and the ascent of the moon, supposed to be so portentous over
those whose brain is infirm, made her spirits rise in a degree tenfold more
loquacious than she had hitherto exhibited. To silence her by fair means seemed
impossible; authoritative commands and coaxing entreaties she set alike at
defiance, and threats only made her sulky and altogether intractable.
    »Is there no one