had it not been for the honest friendly voice from betwixt the
buttresses, which, if it were not that of the blessed saint--
though what am I that the holy person should speak to me?--could
not sound in that place without her permission and assent, and for
which I will promise her a wax candle at her shrine, as long as my
whinger; and I would I had had my two handed broadsword instead,
both for the sake of St. Johnston and of the rogues, for of a
certain those whingers are pretty toys, but more fit for a boy's
hand than a man's. Oh, my old two handed Trojan, hadst thou been
in my hands, as thou hang'st presently at the tester of my bed,
the legs of those rogues had not carried their bodies so clean off
the field. But there come lighted torches and drawn swords. So ho
--stand! Are you for St. Johnston? If friends to the bonny burgh,
you are well come."

"We have been but bootless hunters," said the townsmen. "We followed
by the tracks of the blood into the Dominican burial ground, and
we started two fellows from amongst the tombs, supporting betwixt
them a third, who had probably got some of your marks about him,
Harry. They got to the postern gate before we could overtake them,
and rang the sanctuary bell; the gate opened, and in went they.
So they are safe in girth and sanctuary, and we may go to our cold
beds and warm us."

"Ay," said one of the party, "the good Dominicans have always some
devout brother of their convent sitting up to open the gate of the
sanctuary to any poor soul that is in trouble, and desires shelter
in the church."

"Yes, if the poor hunted soul can pay for it," said another "but,