The elder woman thus having finished her course with joy, they unrove the nether rope and drew little Margaret up to the bank, exhorting her to cry aloud "God save the King!" and also to pray for him, that she might get her liberty. For they began to be in fear, knowing that this drowning of women would make a greater stir in the world than much shooting of men. "Lord, give him repentance, forgiveness, and, salvation!" she said fervently and willingly. But Lag cried out in his great hoarse voice, "Out upon the wretch! We want not such oaths nor prayers. Winram, get the Test through her teeth--or down with her again." But she steadfastly refused the wicked Test, the oath of sin. As indeed we that loved Scotland and the good way of religion had all learned to do. "I cannot forswear my faith. I am one of Christ's children. Let me go to Him!" she said, being willing to depart, which she held to be far better. "Back with her into the water!" cried Lag. "The sooner she will win to hell! 'Tis too good for a rebel like her!" But Coltran said, "Ye are fair to see, Margaret, lass. Think weel, hinny! Hae ye nane that ye love?" But she answered him not a word, being like one other before her, like a lamb led to the slaughter. So they tied her again to the stake, where the water was deeper now and lappered on her breast, swirling yellow and foul in oily bubbles. Her great head coverture of hair--which, had I been her lad, I should have delighted to touch and stroke--now broke from the maiden's snood, and fell into the water. There it floated, making a fair golden shining in the grimy tide, like the halo which is about the sun when he rises. Also her face was as the face of an angel, being turned upward to God. Then they began to drive the folk from the sands for fear of what they might see--the beauty of the dying maid, and go mad with anger at the sight. Whereupon, being in extremity, she lifted her voice to sing, calm as though it had been an ordinary Sabbath morning, and she leading the worship at Glen Vernock, as indeed she did very well. It was the twenty-fifth Psalm she sang, as followeth. And when she that was a pure maid sang of her sins, it went to my heart, thinking on my own greater need. "My sins and faults of youth Do Thou, O Lord, forget; After Thy mercies think on me, And for Thy goodness great." It was a sweet voice and carried far. But lest it should move the hearts of the people, Lag garred beat the drum. And as the drums began to roll, I saw the first salt wave touch the bonny maiden lips which no man had kissed in the way of love. Then the guards plucked me by the arm roughly and dragged me away. The drums waxed still louder. But as we went farther away, the voice of the maiden praising God out of the floods of great waters, broke through them, rising clearer, besieging the throne of God and breaking down the hearts of men. I saw the tears hopping down many a rude soldier's cheek.