Part 20 (2/2)
”That may be,” returned Kirkpatrick; ”but surely you would not rank Aymer de Valence, who lords it over Dumbarton, and Cressingham, who acts the tyrant in Stirling--you would not rank them amongst these conscientious English?”
”No,” replied Wallace; ”the haughty oppression of the one and the wanton cruelty of the other, have given Scotland too many wounds for me to hold a s.h.i.+eld before them; meet them, and I leave them to your sword.”
”And by heavens!” cried Kirkpatrick, gnas.h.i.+ng his teeth with the fury of a tiger, ”they shall know its point!”
Wallace then informed his friends he purposed marching next morning by daybreak toward Dumbarton Castle. ”When we make the attack,” said he, ”it must be in the night; for I propose seizing it by storm.”
Murray and Kirkpatrick joyfully acquiesced. Edwin smiled an enraptured a.s.sent, and Wallace, with many a gracious look and speech, disengaged himself from the clinging embraces of the weaker part of the garrison, who, seeing in him the spring of their husband's might and the guard of their own safety, clung to him as to a presiding deity.
”You, my dear countrywomen,” said he, ”shall find a home for your aged parents, your children, and yourselves, with the venerable Sir John Scott of Loch Doine. You are to be conducted thither this evening, and there await in comfort the happy return of your husbands, whom Providence now leads forth to be the champions of your country.”
Filled with enthusiasm, the women uttered a shout of triumph, and, embracing their husbands, declared they were ready to resign them wholly to Heaven and Sir William Wallace.
Wallace left them with these tender relatives, from whom they were so soon to part, and retired with his chieftains to arrange the plan of his proposed attack. Delighted with the glory which seemed to wave to him from the pinnacles of Dumbarton Rock, Edwin listened in profound silence to all that was said, and then hastened to his quarters to prepare his armor for the ensuing morning.
Chapter XX.
The Cliffs of Loch Lubnaig.
In the cool of the evening, while the young chieftain was thus employed, Kenneth entered to tell him that Sir William Wallace had called out his little army, to see its strength and numbers. Edwin's soul had become not more enamoured of the panoply of war than the gracious smiles of his admired leader, and at this intelligence he threw his plans over his brigandine, and placing a swan-plumed bonnet on his brows, hastened forth to meet his general.
The heights of Craignacoheilg echoed with thronging footsteps, and a glittering light seemed issuing from her woods, as the rays of the descending sun glanced on the arms of her a.s.sembling warriors.
The thirty followers of Murray appeared just as the two hundred Frasers entered from an opening in the rocks. Blood mounted into his face as he compared his inferior numbers and recollected the obligation they were to repay, and the greater one he was now going to incur. However he threw the standard worked by Helen on his shoulder, and turning to Wallace, ”Behold,” cried he, pointing to his men, ”the poor man's mite!
It is great, for it is my all!”
”Great, indeed, brave Murray!” returned Wallace, ”for it brings me a host in yourself.”
”I will not disgrace my standard!” said he, lowering the banner-staff to Wallace. He started when he saw the flowing lock, which he could not help recognizing. ”This is my betrothed,” continued Murray in a blither tone; ”I have sworn to take her for better for worse, and I pledge you my truth nothing but death shall part us!”
Wallace grasped his hand. ”And I pledge you mine, that the head whence it drew shall be laid low before I suffer so generous a defender to be separated, dead or alive, from this standard.” His eyes glanced at the empress; ”Thou art right,” continued he; ”G.o.d doth goest with the confidence of success, to embrace victory as a bride!”
”No, I am only the bridegroom's man!” replied Murray, gayly moving off; ”I shall be content with a kiss or two from the handmaids, and leave the lady for my general.”
”Happy, happy youth!” said Wallace to himself, as his eyes pursued the agile footsteps of the young chieftain; ”no conquering affection has yet thrown open thy heart; no deadly injury hath lacerated it with wounds incurable. Patriotism is a virgin pa.s.sion in thy breast, and innocence and joy wait upon her!”
”We just muster five hundred men!” observed Ker to Wallace; ”but they are all stout in heart as in condition, and ready, even to-night, if you will it, to commence their march.”
”No,” replied Wallace; ”we must not overstrain the generous spirit.
Let them rest to-night, and to-morrow's dawn shall light us through the forest.”
Ker, who acted as henchman to Wallace, now returned to the ranks to give the word, and they marched forward.
Sir Alexander Scrymgeour, with his golden standard charged with the lion of Scotland, led the van. Wallace raised his bonnet from his head, as it drew near. Scrymgeour lowered the staff; Wallace threw up his outstretched hand at this action, but the knight not understanding him, he stepped forward. ”Sir Alexander Scrymgeour,” cried he, ”that standard must now bow to me. It represents the royalty of Scotland, before which we fight for our liberties. If virtue yet dwell in the house of the valiant St. David, some of his offspring will hear of this day, and lead it forward to conquest and to a crown. Till such an hour, let not that standard bend to any man.”
Wallace fell back as he spoke, and Scrymgeour, bowing his head in sign of acquiescence marched on.
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