Chapter VII
The Cave in the Pentlands
John Kerr was well nigh beside himself with fury.
If this was to go on, the whole of his estate would be harried,his vassals ruined, and his revenues stopped, and this by a merehandful of foes. Again he started with his vassals to explore thehills, this time in parties of ten only, so as to explore thoroughlya larger space of ground. When at evening the men returned, it wasfound that but two men of one of the parties, composed entirely ofmen-at-arms from the castle, came back. They reported that whenin a narrow ravine showers of rocks were hurled down upon them fromboth sides. Four of their number were killed at once, and fourothers had fallen pierced by arrows from an unseen foe as they fledback down the ravine.
"Methinks, Sir John," Red Roy said, "that I know the place wherethe Forbeses may have taken up their abode. When I was a boy Iwas tending a herd of goats far up in the hills, and near the passwhere this mischance has today befallen us I found a cave in themountain's side. Its entrance was hidden by bushes, and I shouldnot have found it had not one of the goats entered the bush andremained there so long that I went to see what he was doing. ThereI found a cave. The entrance was but three feet high, but insideit widened out into a great cavern, where fifty men could shelter.Perchance Archie Forbes or some of his band may also have discoveredit; and if so, they might well think that no better place ofconcealment could be found."
"We will search it tomorrow," the knight said. "Tell the vassalsto gather here three hours before daybreak. We will start so asto be there soon after sunrise. If they are on foot again tonightthey will then be asleep. Did you follow the cave and discoverwhether it had any other entrances beyond that by which you entered?"
"I know not," the henchman replied; "it goes a long way into thehills, and there are several inner passages; but these I did notexplore, for I was alone and feared being lost in them."
The next night some more homesteads were burnt, but this time thevassals did not turn out, as they had been told to rest until theappointed hour whatever might befall.
Three hours before daybreak a party of fifty picked men assembledat the castle, for this force was deemed to be ample. The two menwho had escaped from the attack on the previous day led the wayto the ravine, and there Red Roy became the guide and led the bandfar up the hillside. Had it been possible they would have surroundedthe cave before daylight, but Roy said that it was so long sincehe had first found the cave, that he could not lead them therein the dark, but would need daylight to enable him to recognizethe surroundings. Even when daylight came he was for some time atfault, but he at last pointed to a clump of bushes, growing on abroken and precipitous face of rock, as the place where the cavewas situated.
Red Roy was right in his conjecture. Archie had once, when wanderingamong the hills, shot at a wild cat and wounded it, and had followedit to the cave to which it had fled, and seeing it an advantageousplace of concealment had, when he determined to harry the districtof the Kerrs, fixed upon it as the hiding place for his band. Deemingit possible, however, that its existence might be known to others,he always placed a sentry on watch; and on the approach of the Kerrs,Cluny Campbell, who happened to be on guard, ran in and roused theband with the news that the Kerrs were below. Archie immediatelycrept out and reconnoitred them; from the bushes he could see thathis foes were for the present at fault. Sir John himself was standingapart from the rest, with Red Roy, who was narrowly scrutinizingthe face of the cliff, and Archie guessed at once that they wereaware of the existence of the cavern, though at present they couldnot determine the exact spot where it was situated. It was too lateto retreat now, for the face of the hill was too steep to climbto its crest, and their retreat below was cut off by the Kerrs. Hetherefore returned to the cave, leaving Cluny on guard.
"They are not sure as to the situation of the cave yet," he said,"but they will find it. We can hold the mouth against them for anytime, but they might smoke us out, that is our real danger; or ifthey fail in that, they may try starvation. Do half a dozen of youtake brands at once from the embers and explore all the windingsbehind us; they are so narrow and low that hitherto we have notdeemed it worth while to examine them, but now they are really ouronly hope; some of them may lead round to the face of the hill,and in that case we may find some way by which we may circumventthe Kerrs."
Six of the lads at once started with flaming pine knots, whileArchie returned to the entrance. Just as he took his place therehe saw Red Roy pointing towards the bushes. A minute or two laterSir John and his followers began to advance. Archie now called outthe rest of his band, who silently took their places in the bushesbeside him. Led by Sir John and his personal retainers, the assailantsapproached the foot of the rocks and began to make their way up,using the utmost precaution to avoid any noise. There was no longerany need for concealment, and as the foremost of the assailantsbegan to climb the great boulders at the foot of the precipice,a dozen arrows from the bush above alighted among them; killingthree and wounding several others. Sir John Kerr shouted to hismen to follow him, and began to clamber up the hill. Several arrowsstruck him, but he was sheathed in mail, as were his men-at-arms,and although several were wounded in the face and two slain theysucceeded in reaching the bushes, but they could not penetratefurther, for as they strove to tear the bushes aside and force anentry, those behind pierced them with their spears, and as but fouror five assailants at a time could gain a footing and use theirarms they were outnumbered and finally driven back by the defenders.When Sir John, furious at his discomfiture, rejoined his vassalsbelow, he found that the assault had already cost him eight of hisbest men. He would, however, have again led them to the attack,but Red Roy said:
"It were best, my lord, to send back and bid fifty of the vassalsto come up hither at once, with bows and arrows. They can so riddlethose bushes that the defenders will be unable to occupy them toresist our advance."
"That were a good step," Sir John said; "but even when we gainthe ledge I know not how we shall force our way through the hole,which you say is but three feet high."
"There is no need to force our way in," Red Roy replied; "eachman who climbs shall carry with him a faggot of wood, and we willsmoke them in their holes like wolves."
"'Tis well thought of, Roy; that assuredly is the best plan. Sendoff at once one of the most fleet footed of the party."
Archie, watching from above, saw the assailants draw back out ofbowshot, and while one of their number started at full speed downthe hillside, the others sat down, evidently prepared to pass sometime before they renewed the attack. Leaving two of the party onguard, Archie, with the rest, re-entered the cavern. The searchershad just returned and reported that all the various passages cameto nothing, save one, which ascended rapidly and terminated in ahole which looked as if it had been made by rabbits, and throughwhich the light of day could be seen.
"Then it is there we must work," Archie said. "I will myself goand examine it."
The passage, after ascending to a point which Archie judged tobe nigh a hundred feet above the floor of the cave, narrowed to amere hole, but two feet high and as much wide. Up this he crawledfor a distance of four or five yards, then it narrowed suddenlyto a hole three or four inches in diameter, and through this, somethree feet farther, Archie could see the daylight through a clumpof heather. He backed himself down the narrow passage again untilhe joined his comrades. "Now," he said, "do four of you stay here,and take it by turns, one after the other, to enlarge the holeforward to the entrance. As you scrape the earth down you must pastit back handful by handful. Do not enlarge the outer entrance ordisturb the roots of the heather growing there. Any movement mightbe noticed by those below. It is lucky, indeed, that the rock endsjust when it gets to its narrowest, and that it is but sandy soilthrough which we have to scrape our way. It will be hard work,for you have scarce room to move your arms, but you have plenty oftime since we cannot sally out till nightfall."
The hours passed slowly, and about
noon the lookout reported thata number of bowmen were approaching.
"They are going to attack this time under cover of their fire,"Archie said, "and as I do not wish to hazard the loss of any lives,we will keep within the cave and let them gain the ledge. They cannever force their way through the narrow entrance. The only thingI fear is smoke. I purpose that if they light a fire at the mouthof the cave, we shall retire at once up the passage where we areworking, and block it up at a narrow place a short distance afterit leaves this cavern, with our clothes. You had best take off someof your things, scrape up the earth from the floor of the cavern,and each make a stout bundle, so that we can fill up the holesolidly."
This was soon done, and the bundles of earth were laid in readinessat the point upon which their leader had fixed. In the meantimeArchie had rejoined the lookout.
"They have been scattered for some time," the guard said, "and havebeen cutting down bushes and making them into faggots."
"Just what I expected," Archie exclaimed. "The bowmen are joiningthem now. We shall soon see them at work."
Sir John Kerr now marshalled his retainers. He and his men-at-armsdrew their swords, and the rest, putting the bundles of faggots ontheir shoulders, prepared to follow, while the bowmen fitted theirarrows to the string.
"Fall back inside the cave," Archie said; "it is of no use riskingour lives."
The band now gathered in a half circle, with level spears, roundthe entrance. Soon they heard a sharp tapping sound as the arrowsstruck upon the rock, then there was a crashing among the bushes.
"Come on!" Sir John Kerr shouted to the vassals. "The foxes haveslunk into their hole." Then came low thuds as the faggots werecast down. The light which had streamed in through the entrancegradually became obscure, and the voices of those without muffled.The darkness grew more intense as the faggots were piled thickerand thicker; then suddenly a slight odour of smoke was perceived.
"Come along now," Archie said; "they have fired the pile, and thereis no fear of their entrance."
Two of their number, with blazing pine knots, led the way. Whenthey reached the narrow spot all passed through, Archie and AndrewMacpherson last; these took the bundles of earth, as the otherspassed them along from behind, and built them up like a wall acrossthe entrance, beating them down as they piled them, so as to makethem set close and fill up every crevice. Several remained overafter the wall was completed; these were opened and the earth crammedinto the crevices between the bags. The smell of smoke had grownstrong before the wall was completed, but it was not too oppressiveto breathe. Holding the torch close to the wall, Archie and hiscomrade stopped closely the few places through which they saw thatthe smoke was making its way, and soon had the satisfaction ofseeing that the barrier was completely smoke tight.
There was plenty of air in the passage to support life for sometime, but Archie called back to those who were labouring to enlargethe exit, in order to allow as much fresh air as possible to enter.A strong guard, with spears, was placed at the barrier, althoughArchie deemed that some hours at least would elapse before the Kerrscould attempt to penetrate the cave. The fire would doubtless bekept up for some time, and after it had expired it would be longbefore the smoke cleared out sufficiently from the cave to allowof any one entering it. After a time, finding that there was nodifficulty in breathing, although the air was certainly close andheavy, Archie again set the lads at work widening the entrance,going up himself to superintend the operation. Each in turn creptforward, loosened a portion of the earth with his knife, and thenfilling his cap with it, crawled backward to the point where thepassage widened. It was not yet dark when the work was so far donethat there now remained only a slight thickness of earth, throughwhich the roots of the heath protruded, at the mouth of the passage,and a vigorous push would make an exit into the air. The guard atthe barrier had heard no movement within. Archie withdrew one ofthe bags; but the smoke streamed through so densely that he hastilyreplaced it, satisfied that some hours must still elapse beforethe assailants would enter the cave. They watched impatientlythe failing light through the hole, and at last, when night wascompletely fallen, Archie pushed aside the earth and heather, andlooked around. They were, it seemed to him, on the side of the hilla few yards from the point where it fell steeply away. The groundwas thickly covered with heather. He soon made his way out andordered Andrew Macpherson, who followed him, to remain lying atthe entrance, and to enjoin each, as he passed out, to crawl lowamong the heather, so that they might not show against the skyline,where, dark as it was, they might attract the attention of thosebelow. Archie himself led the way until so far back from the edgeas to be well out of sight of those in the valley. Then he gainedhis feet, and was soon joined by the whole of his band.
"Now," he said, "we will make for Aberfilly; they think us allcooped up here, and will be rejoicing in our supposed deaths. Wewill strike one more blow, and then, driving before us a couple ofscore of oxen for the use of the army, rejoin Wallace. Methinks weshall have taken a fair vengeance for Kerr's doings at Glen Cairn."
The consternation of the few men left in the castle was great when,three hours after sunset, eight homesteads burst suddenly intoflames. They dared not sally out, and remained under arms untilmorning, when Sir John and his band returned more furious than ever,as they had penetrated the cavern, discovered the barrier whichhad cut off the smoke, and the hole by which the foe had escaped;and their fury was brought to a climax when they found the damagewhich had been inflicted in their absence. Many a week passed beforethe garrison of Aberfilly and the vassals of the Kerrs were ableto sleep in peace, so great was the scare which Archie's raid hadinflicted upon them.
The truce was now at an end. The indignation excited by thetreachery of the English spread widely through Scotland, and thepeople flocked to Wallace's standard in far greater numbers thanbefore, and he was now able to undertake operations on a greaterscale. Perth, Aberdeen, Brechin, and other towns fell into hishands, and the castle of Dundee was invested. In the south SirWilliam Douglas captured the castles of Sanquhar, Desdeir, andothers, and the rapid successes of the Scots induced a few of thegreater nobles to take the field, such as the Steward of Scotland,Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell, Sir Richard Lundin, and Wishart,Bishop of Glasgow.
Wallace was one day lamenting to Archie and his friend Grahamethat the greater nobles still held aloof. "Above all," he said, "Iwould fain see on our side either Comyn or the young Bruce. Baliolis a captive in London, and it is to Comyn or Bruce that Scotlandmust look for her king. So long as only I, a poor knight, am at thehead of this rising, it is but a rebellion against Edward, and itschances are still so weak that but few men, who have aught to lose,join us; but if Bruce or Comyn should raise his banner all wouldreceive him as our future king. Both are lords of wide territories,and besides the forces they could bring into the field, they wouldbe joined by many of the principal nobles, although it is true thatthe adherents of the other would probably arm for Edward. Stillthe thought of a king of their own would inflame the popular mind,and vast numbers who now hesitate to join a movement supported byso little authority, would then take up arms."
"Which of the two would you rather?" Archie asked.
"I would rather the Bruce," Wallace said. "His father is an inertman and a mere cypher, and the death of his grandfather, thecompetitor, has now brought him prominently forward. It is truethat he is said to be a strong adherent of England and a personalfavourite of Edward; that he spends much of his time in London; andis even at the present moment the king's lieutenant in Carrick andAnnandale, and is waging war for him against Sir William Douglas.Still Comyn is equally devoted to England; he is older, and lesscan be hoped from him. Bruce is young; he is said to be of greatstrength and skill in arms, and to be one of the foremost knightsin Edward's court. He is, I hear, of noble presence, and is muchloved by those with whom he comes in contact. Did such a mandetermine to break with Edward, and to strive to win the crownof Scotland as a free gift of her people, instead of as a nomi
neeof Edward, and to rule over an independent kingdom instead of anEnglish province, he would attract all hearts to him, and may wellsucceed where I, as I foresee, must sooner or later fail."
"But why should you fail when you have succeeded so far?" Archieasked.
"Because I have with me but a small portion of the people ofScotland. The whole of the northern lords hold aloof, and in thesouth Carrick and Annandale and Galloway are hostile. Against meI have all the power of England, Wales, and Ireland; and althoughI may for a time win victories and capture towns I am certain,Archie, in the end to be crushed."
"And will all our efforts have been in vain?" Archie said, withtears in his eyes.
"By no means, my brave lad; we shall have lighted the fire of anational resistance; we shall have shown the people that if Scotland,divided against herself, and with all her great nobles and theirvassals standing sullenly aloof, can yet for a long time make headagainst the English, assuredly when the time shall come, and sheshall rise as one man from the Solway to Caithness, her freedomwill be won. Our lives will not have been thrown away, Archie, ifthey have taught this lesson."
Wallace had by this time returned from his expedition farthernorth, and his force was in camp near Lanark, which town, when notengaged in distant enterprises, was regarded as the centre of themovement. That evening Archie said, that as his leader purposed togive his troops rest for a week or two, he should go to his uncle'sfor a short time.
"And if you can spare them, Sir William, I would fain let my bandgo away for the same time. They have now been six months from home."
"Certainly," Wallace said, "they need a rest after their hard work.They are ever afoot, and have been of immense service."
Having obtained this permission, Archie went to the spot where hisband were encamped. "I have another expedition for you," he said,"this time all together; when that is over you will be able to gohome for a few days for a rest. They will all be glad to see you,and may well be proud of you, and I doubt not that the spoil whichyou gathered at Ayr and elsewhere will create quite a sensation atGlen Cairn. There are some of you who are, as I remember in the olddays, good shots with the bow and arrow. Do ten of you who werethe best at home get bows and arrows from the store. Here is anorder for you to receive them, and be all in readiness to march atdaylight."
The next morning the band set out in a southwesterly direction,and after a long day's march halted near Cumnock. In the morningthey started at the same time, observing more caution as they went,for by the afternoon they had crossed the stream and were within theboundaries of Carrick. They halted for the night near CrossraguelAbbey. Here for the first time Archie confided to his followersthe object of their march.
"We are now," he said, "within a few miles of Turnberry Castle, theresidence of Bruce. Sir William has a great desire to speak withhim; but, seeing that Bruce is at present fighting for King Edwardagainst Douglas, there is little chance of such a meeting comingabout with his goodwill. He has recently returned from Douglasdale.Here, in the heart of his own country, it is like enough that hemay ride near his castle with but a few horsemen. In that case wewill seize him, without, I trust, having to do him hurt, and willbear him with us to Lanark. We may have to wait some time beforewe find an opportunity; but even if the ten days for which I haveasked, lengthen to as many weeks, Sir William will not grudge thetime we have spent if we succeed. Tomorrow morning let those whohave bows go out in the forest and see if they can shoot a deer;or failing that, bring in a sheep or two from some of the folds.As each of you has brought with you meal for ten days, we shall beable to keep an eye on Turnberry for some time."
The next day Archie, with Andrew Macpherson and Cluny Campbell,made their way through the woods until within sight of the castle,which was but a mile distant. The strongholds of the lords ofCarrick stood on a bold promontory washed by the sea.
"It would be a hard nut to crack, Sir Archie," his lieutenant said."Unless by famine, the place could scarce be taken."
"No," Archie replied, "I am glad that our mission is rather tocapture the earl than his castle. It is a grand fortalice. Wouldthat its owner were but a true Scotchman! This is a good place onwhich we are standing, Andrew, to place a scout. Among the treeshere he can watch the road all the way from the castle to the pointwhere it enters the forest. Do you, Cluny, take post here at once.Mark well all that passes, and what is doing, and all bodies of menwho enter or leave the castle. There is no occasion to bring newsto me, for it would be unlikely that we should meet in the forest;you have therefore only to watch. Tomorrow I shall return with theband, and encamp in the woods farther back. Directly we arrive,you will be relieved of your guard."
The following day the band moved up to a spot within half a mileof the seaward edge of the forest, and a few hundred yards from theroad to Crossraguel Abbey. It was only on this road that Archiecould hope to effect a capture; for the country near the coast wasfree of trees, and no ambush could be set. The lords of Carrickwere, moreover, patrons of the abbey; and Bruce might ride overthither with but a small party, whereas, if journeying south, orsoutheast towards Douglasdale, he would probably be marching witha strong force. For several days they watched the castle; bodies ofmounted men entered and departed. Twice parties, among whom ladiescould be seen, came out with their hawks; but none came withinreach of their lurking foes.
On the fifth morning, however, the lad on watch ran into the gladein which they were encamped and reported that a small body ofseemingly two or three knights, with some ladies, followed by fourmounted men, had left the castle and were approaching by the routetowards the abbey.
Not a moment was lost. Archie placed six of his company, with pikeand sword, close to the road, to form across it when he gave theorder, and to bar the retreat of any party who had passed. Anotherparty of equal strength he placed 100 yards further on, and withthem himself took post; while he placed four, armed with bows andarrows, on either side, near the party which he commanded. Scarcelyhad his preparations been made when a trampling of horses was heard,and the party were seen approaching. They consisted of Robert Bruce,his brother Nigel, and three of his sisters--Isabel, Mary, andChristina. Behind rode four men-at-arms. From the description whichhe had heard of him Archie had no doubt that the elder of the twoknights was Robert Bruce himself, and when they approached withinthirty yards he gave a shout, and, with his band, with levelledspears, drew up across the road. At the same moment the other partyclosed in behind the horsemen; and the eight archers, with bentbows and arrows drawn to the head, rose among the trees. The partyreined in their horses suddenly.
"Hah! what have we here?" Bruce exclaimed. "An ambush--and onall sides too!" he added as he looked round. "What means this?Are you robbers who thus dare attack the Bruce within a mile ofTurnberry? Why, they are but lads," he added scornfully. "Reinback, girls; we and the men-at-arms will soon clear a way for youthrough these varlets. Nay, I can do it single handed myself."
"Halt! Sir Robert Bruce," Archie exclaimed in a loud clear voice."If you move I must perforce give the word, and it may well be thatsome of the ladies with you may be struck with the arrows; nor,young though my followers may be, would you find them so easy aconquest as you imagine. They have stood up before the English erenow; and you and your men-at-arms will find it hard work to getthrough their pikes; and we outnumber you threefold. We are norobbers. I myself am Sir Archibald Forbes."
"You!" exclaimed Robert Bruce, lowering his sword, which hehad drawn at the first alarm and held uplifted in readiness for acharge; "you Sir Archibald Forbes! I have heard the name often asthat of one of Wallace's companions, who, with Sir John Grahame,fought with him bravely at the captures of Lanark, Ayr, and otherplaces, but surely you cannot be he!"
"I am Sir Archibald Forbes, I pledge you my word," Archie saidquietly; "and, Sir Robert Bruce, methinks that if I, who am, asyou see, but yet a lad--not yet having reached my seventeenthyear--can have done good service for Scotland, how great theshame that you, a valiant knight and a great no
ble, should be inthe ranks of her oppressors, and not of her champions! My name willtell you that I have come hither for no purpose of robbery. I havecome on a mission from Wallace--not sent thereon by him, butacting myself in consequences of words which dropped from him. Hesaid how sad it was that you, who might be King of a Scotland freeand independent, by the choice of her people, should prefer thechance of reigning, a mere puppet of Edward, over an enslaved land.He spoke in the highest terms of your person, and held that, didyou place yourself at its head, the movement which he commandswould be a successful one. Then I determined, unknown to him, toset out and bring you to him face to face--honourably and withcourtesy if you would, by force if you would not. I would fain itshall be the former; but believe me, you would not find it easy tobreak away through the hedge of pikes now around you."
By this time the whole party had gathered round the horsemen. Brucehesitated; his mind was not yet made up as to his future course.Hitherto he had been with England, since upon Edward only his chancesseemed to depend; but latterly he had begun to doubt whether evenEdward could place him on the throne in despite of the wishes ofhis countrymen. His sisters, who, taking after their mother, wereall true Scotchwomen, now urged upon him to comply with Archie'srequest and accompany him to Lanark. Their hearts and wishes wereentirely with the champion of their country.
"Go with him, Robert," Isabel, the eldest, exclaimed. "NeitherI nor my sisters fear being struck with the arrows, although suchmight well be the case should a conflict begin; but, for your ownsake and Scotland's, go and see Wallace. No harm can arise fromsuch a journey, and much good may come of it. Even should thenews of your having had an interview with him come to the ears ofEdward, you can truly say that you were taken thither a captive,and that we being with you, you were unable to make an effort tofree yourself. This young knight, of whose deeds of gallantry wehave all heard"--and she smiled approvingly at Archie--"willdoubtless give you a safeguard, on his honour, to return hitherfree and unpledged when you have seen Wallace."
"Willingly, lady," Archie replied. "One hour's interview with myhonoured chief is all I ask for. That over, I pledge myself thatthe Earl of Carrick shall be free at once to return hither, andthat an escort shall be provided for him to protect him from alldangers on the way."