Part 2 (1/2)
”I hope my preserver is not hurt?” inquired the stranger.
”Oh, no!” replied Wallace, putting back the hair from his forehead; ”a mere trifle!” That the action had discovered the gash to be wider than he thought, he saw in the countenance of his wife! She turned deadly pale. ”Marion,” said he, ”to convince you how causeless your fears are, you shall cure me yourself; and with no other surgery than your girdle!”
When Lady Wallace heard his gay tone, and saw the unforced smiles on his lips, she took courage; and, remembering the deep wounds on the stranger, whom she had just a.s.sisted to dress, without any alarm for his life, she began to hope that she need not now fear for the object dearest to her in existence. Rising from her husband's arms, with a languid smile she unbound the linen fillet from her waist; and Halbert having poured some balsam into the wound, she prepared to apply the bandage; but when she lifted her husband's hair from his temple--that hair which had so often been the object of her admiration, as it hung in s.h.i.+ning ma.s.ses over his arching brows!-when the clotted blood met her fingers, a mist seemed to pa.s.s over her sight; she paused for a moment; but rallying her strength, as the cheerful sound of his voice conversing with his guest a.s.sured her fear was needless, she tied the fillet; and, stealing a soft kiss on his cheek when she had finished, she seated herself, yet trembling, by his side.
”Gallant Wallace!” continued the stranger-agitation had prevented her hearing what had preceded this-”it is Donald Earl of Mar, who owes his life to you.”
”Then blessed be my arm,” exclaimed Wallace, ”that has preserved a life so precious to my country!”
”May it indeed be blessed!” cried Lord Mar; ”for this night it has made the Southrons feel there is yet one man in Scotland who does not fear to resist oppression, and to punish treachery.”
”What treachery?” inquired Lady Wallace, her alarmed spirit still hovering about her soul's far dearer part; ”is any meant to my husband?”
”None to Sir William Wallace, more than to any other brave Scot,”
replied the earl: ”but we all see the oppression of our country; we all know the treachery by which it was subjugated; and this night, in my own person, I have felt the effects of both. The English at Lanark dispatched a body of men to Bothwell Castle (where my family now are), on a plea, that as its lord is yet absent, they presume he is adverse to Edward, and therefore they must search his dwelling for doc.u.ments to settle the point. Considering myself the representative of my brother-in-law, Lord Bothwell, and suspecting that this might be only a private marauding party, I refused to admit the soldiers; and saw them depart, swearing to return next day with a stronger force, and storm the castle. To be ascertained of their commission, and to appeal against such unprovoked tyranny, should it be true, I followed the detachment to Lanark.
”I saw Heselrigge the governor. He avowed the transaction; but awed by the power which he thinks I possess in the country, he consented to spare Bothwell while I and my family remain in it. It being nearly dark, I took my leave, and was proceeding toward my servants in the courtyard when a young man accosted me. I recognized him to be the officer who had commanded the party I had driven from the castle.
Heselrigge having told me that he was his nephew, I made no hesitation to go back with him, when he informed me that his uncle had forgotten something of importance, and begged me to return. I followed his steps; but instead of conducting me to the room in which I had conversed with Heselrigge, he led me along a dark pa.s.sage into a small apartment, where telling me his uncle would attend me, he suddenly retreated out of the door, and before I could recollect myself I heard him bolt it after him.
”I now saw myself a prisoner; and alarmed at what might be intended to my defenseless family, I made every essay to force the door, but it was in vain. Driven to despair, I remained in a state of mind not to be described, when the bolt was withdrawn, and two men entered, with manacles in their hands. They attempted to seize me, telling me I was the prisoner of King Edward. I did not listen further, but wounding one with my dagger, felled the other to the ground; and darting past him, made my way through what pa.s.sages I cannot tell, till I found myself in a street leading from behind the governor's house. I ran against some one as I rushed from the portal; it was my servant Neil.
I hastily told him to draw his sword and follow me. We then hurried forward; he telling me he had stepped out to observe the night, while the rest of my men were awaiting me in the house, wondering at my delay.
”Rejoiced at my escape, and fearing the worst of consequences from the treachery of Heselrigge, I was hastening onward, determined to pursue my way on foot to the protection of my family, when, at the turning of an angle which leads to the Bothwell road, we were suddenly surrounded by armed men. The moon shone full on their faces, and I discovered they were Southrons, and that young Heselrigge was at their head.
”He aimed a blow at my head with his battle-ax, and in a voice of triumph exclaimed to his soldiers, 'The plunder of Bothwell, my lads!
Down with its lord! All but the lady Helen shall be yours!”
”In a moment every sword was directed toward me. They wounded me in several places; but the thought of my daughter gave supernatural vigor to my arm, and I defended myself till the cries of my servant brought you, my brave deliverer, to my rescue. But, while I am safe, perhaps my treacherous pursuer has marched toward Bothwell, too sure to commit the horrid violence he meditates; there are none to guard my child but a few domestics, the unpracticed sword of my stripling nephew, and the feeble arms of my wife.”
”Be easy on that head,” interrupted Wallace: ”I believe the infamous leader of the banditti fell by my hand, for the soldiers made an outcry that Arthur Heselrigge was killed; and then pressing on me to take revenge, their weight broke a pa.s.sage into a vault, through which I escaped-”
”Save, save yourself, my master!” cried a man rus.h.i.+ng in from the garden. ”You are pursued-”
While he spoke he felt insensible at Wallace's feet. It was Dugald whom he had rescued from the blow of Heselrigge, and who, from the state of his wound had been thus long in reaching Ellerslie.
Wallace had hardly time to give him to the care of Halbert, when the voice of war a.s.sailed his ears. The tumult of men demanding admittance and the terrible sound of spears rattling against the s.h.i.+elds of their owners, told the astonished group within that the house was beset by armed foes.
”Blood for blood!” cried a horrid voice, which penetrated the almost palsied senses of Lady Marion. ”Vengence on Wallace, for the murder of Heselrigge!”
”Fly, fly!” cried she, looking wildly at her husband.
”Whither?” answered he, supporting her in his arms. ”Would this be a moment to leave you, and our wounded guest? I must meet them.”
”Not now!” cried Lord Mar. ”Hear you not how numerous they are? Mark that shout! they thirst for blood. If you have love, pity, for your wife, delay not a moment. Again-”
The uproar redoubled, and the room was instantly filled with shrieking women in their night-clothes, the attendants of Lady Wallace. She almost expiring, on her husband's breast.
”O my lord!” cried the terrified creatures, wringing their hands, ”what will become of us! The Southrons are at the gates, and we shall be lost forever!”
”Fear not,” replied Wallace; ”retire to your chambers. I am the person they seek: none else will meet with injury.”