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Then； seeing that it continued to recede； 〃Treason！ treason！〃 cried
the sentinel。 〃To arms！〃
At the same moment a flash lit up the lake； the report of a firearm
was heard； and a ball passed； whistling。 The queen uttered a little
cry； although she had run no danger； George； as we have said； having
placed himself in front of her； quite protecting her with his body。
The alarm bell now rang； and all the castle lights were seen moving
and glancing about； as if distracted； in the rooms。
〃Courage； children！〃 said Douglas。 〃Row as if your lives depended on
each stroke of the oar； for ere five minutes the skiff will be out
after us。〃
〃That won't be so easy for them as you think； George；〃 said Little
Douglas； 〃for I shut all the doors behind me； and some time will
elapse before the keys that I have left there open them。 As to
these；〃 added he； showing those he had so skilfully abstracted； 〃I
resign them to the Kelpie； the genie of the lake； and I nominate him
porter of Lochleven Castle。〃
The discharge of a small piece of artillery answered William's joke；
but as the night was too dark for one to aim to such a distance as
that already between the castle and the boat； the ball ricochetted at
twenty paces from the fugitives； while the report died away in echo
after echo。 Then Douglas drew his pistol from his belt； and； warning
the ladies to have no fear； he fired in the air； not to answer by
idle bravado the castle cannonade； but to give notice to a troop of
faithful friends； who were waiting for them on the other shore of the
lake； that the queen had escaped。 Immediately； in spite of the
danger of being so near Kinross； cries of joy resounded on the bank；
and William having turned the rudder； the boat made for land at the
spot whence they had been heard。 Douglas then gave his hand to the
queen； who sprang lightly ashore； and who； falling on her knees；
immediately began to give thanks to God for her happy deliverance。
On rising； the queen found herself surrounded by her most faithful
servantsHamilton； Herries； and Seyton； Mary's father。 Light…headed
with joy； the queen extended her hands to them； thanking them with
broken words； which expressed her intoxication and her gratitude
better than the choicest phrases could have done； when suddenly；
turning round； she perceived George Douglas； alone and melancholy。
Then； going to him and taking him by the hand
〃My lords；〃 said she； presenting George to them； and pointing to
William； 〃behold my two deliverers： behold those to whom； as long as
I live； I shall preserve gratitude of which nothing will ever acquit
me。〃
〃Madam；〃 said Douglas； 〃each of us has only done what he ought； and
he who has risked most is the happiest。 But if your Majesty will
believe me； you will not lose a moment in needless words。〃
〃Douglas is right；〃 said Lord Seyton。 〃To horse！ to horse！〃
Immediately； and while four couriers set out in four different
directions to announce to the queen's friends her happy escape； they
brought her a horse saddled for her； which she mounted with her usual
skill； then the little troop； which； composed of about twenty
persons； was escorting the future destiny of Scotland； keeping away
from the village of Kinross； to which the castle firing had doubtless
given the alarm； took at a gallop the road to Seyton's castle； where
was already a garrison large enough to defend the queen from a sudden
attack。
The queen journeyed all night； accompanied on one side by Douglas； on
the other by Lord Seyton； then； at daybreak； they stopped at the gate
of the castle of West Niddrie； belonging to Lord Seyton； as we have
said； and situated in West Lothian。 Douglas sprang from his horse to
offer his hand to Mary Stuart； but Lord Seyton claimed his privilege
as master of the house。 The queen consoled Douglas with a glance；
and entered the fortress。
〃Madam；〃 said Lord Seyton； leading her into a room prepared for her
for nine months； 〃your Majesty must have need of repose； after the
fatigue and the emotions you have gone through since yesterday
morning； you may sleep here in peace； and disquiet yourself for
nothing： any noise you may hear will be made by a reinforcement of
friends which we are expecting。 As to our enemies； your Majesty has
nothing to fear from them so long as you inhabit the castle of a
Seyton。〃
The queen again thanked all her deliverers； gave her hand to Douglas
to kiss one last time； kissed Little William on the forehead； and
named him her favourite page for the future； then； profiting by the
advice given her； entered her room where Mary Seyton； to the
exclusion of every other woman； claimed the privilege of performing
about her the duties with which she had been charged during their
eleven months' captivity in Lochleven Castle。
On opening her eyes； Mary Stuart thought she had had one of those
dreams so gainful to prisoners； when waking they see again the bolts
on their doors and the bars on their windows。 So the queen； unable
to believe the evidence of her senses； ran； half dressed； to the
window。 The courtyard was filled with soldiers； and these soldiers
all friends who had hastened at the news of her escape； she
recognised the banners of her faithful friends； the Seytons； the
Arbroaths； the Herries； and the Hamiltons； and scarcely had she been
seen at the window than all these banners bent before her； with the
shouts a hundred times repeated of 〃Long live Mary of Scotland！ Long
live our queen！〃 Then； without giving heed to the disarray of her
toilet； lovely and chaste with her emotion and her happiness； she
greeted them in her turn； her eyes full of tears； but this time they
were tears of joy。 However； the queen recollected that she was
barely covered； and blushing at having allowed herself to be thus
carried away in her ecstasy； she abruptly drew back； quite rosy with
confusion。
Then she had an instant's womanly fright： she had fled from Lochleven
Castle in the Douglas livery； and without either the leisure or the
opportunity for taking women's clothes with her。 But she could not
remain attired as a man； so she explained her uneasiness to Mary
Seyton； who responded by opening the closets in the queen's room。
They were furnished； not only with robes； the measure for which； like
that of the suit； had been taken from Mary Fleming； but also with all
the necessaries for a woman's toilet。 The queen was astonished： it
was like being in a fairy castle。
〃Mignonne；〃 said she； looking one after another at the robes； all the
stuffs of which were chosen with exquisite taste； 〃I knew your father
was a brave and loyal knight； but I did not think him so learned in
the matter of the toilet。 We shall name him groom of the wardrobe。〃
〃Alas！ madam；〃 smilingly replied Mary Seyton； 〃you are not mistaken：
my father has had everything in the castle furbished up to the last
corselet； sharpened to the last sword； un