"We have nought to dig a grave with," Roger remarked. "No, but there are plenty of stones about." He dismounted, and with Roger's help carried the dead man a short distance away, laid him down by the side of a great boulder, and then piled stones around and over him. "That will do, Roger. 'Tis not like that anyone will disturb those stones, for years to come. He will rest as well there as if he lay in a grave. Now, let us look to the others." The man he had struck across the throat, and the last Roger had hit, were both dead. Two of the others were but stunned, while the one upon whose shoulder Roger's blow had fallen was lying insensible, and evidently was fast bleeding to death. "We can do naught for him," Oswald said. "Even had we the king's leech here, we could not save him. Now let us be off." "Shall we take the horses, master?" "No, they will be but an encumbrance; and now that poor fellow has gone, we have one apiece. Bring his horse along with you." Mounting, they rode quickly on, and at the top of the hill came up with the girls; who, having seen the result of the combat, had waited for them. "Now we are safe and free, thanks to you both," Janet said. "Jessie looked back, and saw the fight as we rode. How quickly it was over! But I am grieved, indeed, that John has fallen. We saw you carrying off his body, and covering it. Jessie had noticed him fall, and we feared 'twas all over with him. He was an old retainer of our father's, and a faithful one." "I am sorry, indeed, that he has been slain, Janet; but we could hardly expect to come out altogether scatheless." "Are all the others killed?" Jessie asked. "No. Two of them are but stunned; and will, ere long, be able to mount and ride off again." "Master Oswald has gained the most honours in the fight. I killed one, and stunned another. He has stunned one also, but has slain two." "I had a better arm, Roger." "I know not that," Roger replied. "A quarterstaff, of that weight, is a fine weapon. I say not that it is to be compared to a mace but, when on foot, I would as lief have it as a sword." "Now, Jessie, do you mount John's horse. We can ride quietly, for Longtown is but some three miles ahead." They rested there for a couple of hours, then mounted again, and crossed the Pentlands by a horse track between Cristindury and Gele Craigs. Coming down into Tynedale, they put up for the night at the first place they came to. At daybreak they set off northwards, crossed Reddesdale, and came down, in the afternoon, into the valley of the Coquet, within two miles of Yardhope. Great indeed was the surprise and joy of John Forster and his wife, when they made out the two girls riding, with Oswald, towards the hold. "What miracle is this, lad?" the former said, while his wife was embracing her nieces. "We heard, but two days since, of the raid on the Armstrongs, and how the girls were carried off by the Bairds."