Part 31 (2/2)

He heard the chieftain to an end, without speaking or altering the stern attention of his countenance. But at the close, with an augmented suffusion of blood in his face, and his brows denouncing some tremendous fate, he rose. ”Sir John Graham,” said he, ”I attend you.”

”Whither?” demanded Murray.

”To Ayr,” answered Wallace; ”this moment I will set out for Dumbarton, to bring away the sinews of my strength. G.o.d will be our speed! and then this arm shall show how I loved that good old man.”

”Your men,” interrupted Graham, ”are already awaiting you on the opposite sh.o.r.e. I presumed to command for you. For on entering Dumbarton, and finding you were absent, after having briefly recounted my errand to Lord Lennox, I dared to interpret your mind, and to order Sir Alexander Scrymgeour, and Sir Roger Kirkpatrick, with all your own force, to follow me to the coast of Renfrew.”

”Thank you, my friend!” cried Wallace, grasping his hand; ”may I ever have such interpreters! I cannot stay to bid your uncle farewell,”

said he, to Lord Andrew; ”remain, to tell him to bless me with his prayers; and then, dear Murray, follow me to Ayr.”

Ignorant of what the stranger had imparted, at the sight of the chiefs approaching from the castle gate, Edward hastened with the news, that all was ready for embarkation. He was hurrying out his information, when the altered countenance of his general checked him. He looked at the stranger; his features were agitated and severe. He turned toward his cousin, all there was grave and distressed. Again he glanced at Wallace; no word was spoken, but every look threatened, and Edwin saw him leap into the boat, followed by the stranger. The astonished boy, though unnoticed, would not be left behind, and stepping in also, sat down beside his chief.

”I shall follow you in a hour,” exclaimed Murray. The seamen pushed off; then giving loose to their swelling sail, in less than ten minutes, the light vessel was wafted out of the little harbor, and turning a point, those in the castle saw it no more.

Chapter XXIX.

The Barns of Ayr.

While the little bark bounded over the waves toward the main land, the poor pilgrims of earth who were its freightage, with heavy hearts bent toward each other, intent on the further information they were to receive.

”Here is a list of the murdered chiefs, and of those who are in the dungeons, expecting the like treatment,” continued Graham, holding out a parchment; ”it was given to me by my faithful servant.” Wallace took it, but seeing his grandfather's name at the top, he could look no further; closing the scroll, ”Gallant Graham,” said he, ”I want no stimulus to urge me to the extirpation I meditate. If the sword of Heaven be with us, not one perpetrator of this horrid ma.s.sacre shall be alive to-morrow to repeat the deed.”

”What ma.s.sacre?” Edwin ventured to inquire. Wallace put the parchment into his hand. ”A list of the Scottish chiefs murdered on the 18th of June, 1297, in the Judgment Hall of the English Barons at Ayr,” his cheek, paled by the suspense of his mind, now reddened with the hue of indignation; but when the venerated name of his general's grandfather met his sight, his horror struck eye sought the face of Wallace; it was dark as before, and he was now in earnest discourse with Graham.

Forbearing to interrupt him, Edwin continued to read over the blood-registered names. In turning the page, his eye glanced to the opposite side; and he saw at the head of ”A list of prisoners in the dungeons of Ayr,” the name of ”Lord Dundaff” and immediately after it, that of ”Lord Ruthven!” He uttered a piercing cry; and extending his arms to Wallace, who turned round at so unusual a sound, the terror-struck boy exclaimed, ”My father is in their hands! Oh! If you are indeed my brother, fly to Ayr, and save him!”

Wallace took up the open list which Edwin had dropped; he saw the name of Lord Ruthven amongst the prisoners; and folding his arms round this affectionate son, ”Compose yourself,” said he, ”it is to Ayr I am going; and if the G.o.d of Justice be our speed, your father and Lord Dundaff shall not see another day in prison.”

Edwin threw himself on the neck of his friend; ”My benefactor!” was all he could utter. Wallace pressed him silently to his bosom.

”Who is this youth?” inquired Graham; ”to which of the n.o.ble companions of my captive father is he son?”

”To William Ruthven,” answered Wallace; ”the valiant lord of the Ca.r.s.e of Gowry. And it is a n.o.ble scion from that glorious root. He it was that enabled me to win Dumbarton. Look up, my brother!” cried Wallace, trying to regain so tender a mind from the paralyzing terrors which had seized it; ”Look up, and hear me recount the first fruits of your maiden arms, to our gallant friend.”

Covered with blushes, arising from anxious emotion, as well as from a happy consciousness of having wont he praises of his general, Edwin rose from his breast, and bowing to Sir John, still leaned his head upon the shoulder of Wallace. That amiable being, who, when seeking to wipe the tear of affliction from the cheek of others, minded not the drops of blood which were distilling in secret from his own heart, began the recital of his first acquaintance with his young Sir Edwin.

He enumerated every particular; his bringing the detachment from Bothwell, through the enemy-encircled mountains, to Glenfinla.s.s; his scaling the walls of Dumbarton to make the way smooth for the Scots to ascend; and his after prowess in that well-defended fortress. As Wallace proceeded, the wonder of Graham was raised to a pitch, only to be equaled by his admiration; and taking the hand of Edwin, ”Receive me, brave youth,” said he, ”as your second brother; Sir William Wallace is your first; but, this night, we shall fight side by side for our fathers; and let that be our bond of kindred.”

Edwin pressed the young chief's cheek with his innocent lips; ”Let us, together, free them;” cried he' ”and then we shall be born twins in happiness.”

”So be it,” cried Graham; ”and Sir William Wallace be the sponser of that hour!”

Wallace smiled on them; and turning his head toward the sh.o.r.e, when the vessel doubled a certain point, he saw the beach covered with armed men. To be sure they were his own, he drew his sword, and waved it in the air. At that moment a hundred falchions flashed in the sunbeams, and the shouts of ”Wallace!” came loudly on the breeze.

Graham and Edwin started on their feet; the seamen piled their oars; the boat dashed into the breakers--and Wallace, leaping on sh.o.r.e, was received with acclamations by his eager soldiers.

He no sooner landed, than he commenced his march. Murray joined him on the banks of the Irwin; and as Ayr was no very great distance from that river, at two hours before midnight the little army entered Laglane Wood; where they halted, while Wallace, with his chieftains proceeded to reconnoiter the town. The wind swept in gusts through the trees, and seemed by its dismal yellings, to utter warnings of the dreadful retributions he was about to inflict. He had already declared his plan of destruction; and Graham, as a first measure, went to the spot he had fixed on with Macdougal, his servant, as a place of rendezvous. He returned with the man; who informed Wallace, that in honor of the sequestrated lands of the murdered chiefs having been that day part.i.tioned by De Valance amongst certain Southron lords, a grand feast was going on in the governor's palace. Under the very roof where they had shed the blood of the trusting Scots, they were now keeping this carousal!

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