So Buccleuch called forty bold Marchmen, all of his own name and kin except one, Sir Gilbert Elliot, Laird of Stobs. They came spur on heel and armour on shoulder, with gloves of green and feathers of blue. Five and five came first with hunting-horns and bugles; five and five more came with Buccleuch like Warden’s men arrayed for battle; five and five came like a gang of masons, carrying long high ladders; and five and five came like broken men, and so they reached Woodhouselee. When they had crossed to the English side, the first man they met was the false Sakelde. "Where are ye going, ye keen hunters?" quoth Sakelde. "We go to hunt an English stag that has trespassed on Scottish ground." "Where are ye going, ye martial men?" "We go to catch a rank robber that has broken faith with the bold Buccleuch." "Where are ye going, ye mason lads, with all these long high ladders?" "We go to harry a corbie’s nest not far from here." "Where are ye going, ye broken men?" said false Sakelde. But Dickie of Dryhope, leader of the broken men, had never a word of learning, and answered nothing. "Why trespass ye on the English side? Stand! ye raw-footed outlaws!" Never a word yet said Dickie, but for answer ran his lance clean through the body of the false Sakelde. On then they went to Carlisle town, crossing the Eden at Staneshaw-bank, nor lost they either horse or man, though the water was high in flood. When they reached Staneshaw-bank the wind was rising, and the Laird ordered them to leave there their horses for fear they should stamp and neigh. The wind blew loudly enough then, but when they came beneath the castle wall there was wind and rain and flying sleet. On they crept on their knees and held their breath till they placed the ladders against the wall. Buccleuch himself mounted first, took the watchman by the throat and flung him down upon the leads. "Thou hadst gone on the other side," said he, "had there not been peace between our lands." [Illustration: _The Escape of Kinmont Willie_] "Sound out the trumpets!" quoth he; "let’s wake up Lord Scroope!" Then loud blew the Warden’s trumpet to the tune of "O wha dare meddle wi’ me?" To work they went speedily, and cut a hole through the lead, gaining thus the castle hall. Those inside thought the castle had been taken by King James and all his men, yet it was only twenty Scots and ten that had put a thousand in such a stir. They hammered and banged at the bars until they came to the inner prison, where lay Kinmont Willie. "Do ye sleep or wake, Kinmont Willie, on the morn when ye shall die?" "O I sleep lightly and wake often; it’s long since sleep was frightened from me. Give my service to my wife and bairns and all good fellows that enquire after me."