Chapter XVIII.
Cartlane Craigs, and Glenfinlass.
Guided by Ker, Murray led his followers over the Lanark Hills, by themost untrodden paths; and hence avoided even the sight of a Southronsoldier.
Cheered by so favourable a commencement of their expedition, they evenfelt no dismay when, in the gloom of the evening, Ker descried a bodyof armed men at a distance, sitting round a fire at the foot of abeetling rock which guards the western entrance to the Cartlane Craigs.Murray ordered his men to proceed under covert of the bushes; and thenmaking the signal (concerted in case of such dilemma), they stuck theiriron crows into the interstices of the cliff, and catching at thebranches which grew out of its precipitous side, with much exertion,but in perfect silence, at last gained the summit. That effected, theypursued their way with the same caution, till after a long march, andwithout encountering a human being, they reached the base of the hugerock which Wallace had made his fortress.
Ker, who expected to find it surrounded by the English army, was amazedat the death-like solitude. "The place is deserted," cried he. "Mybrave friend, compelled by the extremity of his little garrison, hasbeen obliged to surrender."
"We will ascend and see," was Murray's answer.
Ker led round the rock to the most accessible point; and, mounting bythe projecting stones, with some difficulty gained the top. Silencepervaded every part; and the rugged cavities at the summit, which hadformed the temporary quarters of his comrades, were lonely. Onentering the recess where Wallace used to seek a few minutes' slumber,the moon, which shone full into the cave, discovered something brightlying in a distant corner. Ker hastily approached it, recollectingwhat means of escape, he would leave some weapon as a sign; a dagger,if necessity drove him to the south point, where he must fight his waythrough the valley; an arrow, if he could effect it withoutobservation, by the north, as he should then seek an asylum for hisexhausted followers in the wilds of Glenfinlass.
It was the iron head of an arrow which the moon had silvered; and Ker,catching it up, with a gladdened countenance exclaimed, "He is safe!this calls us to Glenfinlass." He then explained to Murray what hadbeen the arrangement of Wallace respecting this sign, and withouthesitation the young lord decided to follow him up that track.
Turning toward the northern part of the cliff, they came to spotbeneath which had been the strongest guard of the enemy, but now, likethe rest, it was entirely abandoned. A narrow winding path led fromthis rocky platform to a fall of water, rearing and rushing by themouth of a large cavern. After they had descended the main craig, theyclambered over the top of this cave, and, entering upon another sweepof rugged hills, commenced a rapid march.
Traversing the lower part of Stirlingshire, they crossed Graham'sDike;** and pursuing their course westward, left Stirling Castle far tothe right. They ascended the Ochil Hills, and proceeding along thewooded heights which overhang the banks of Teith, forded that river,and entered at once into the broad valley which opened to them adistant view of Ben Lomond and Ben Ledi.
**The great wall of Severus, which runs between Abercorn andKirkpatrick, being attacked by the Scotts at the time the Romansabandoned Britain, a huge breach was made in it by Graham (or Greame),the uncle of the young king of Scots. By this achievement he conqueredthe whole of the country as far as the Cheviots, and the wall ofSeverus has since been called Graham's Dike-(1809.)
"There," exclaimed Ker, extending his hand toward the cloud-cappedLedi, "beneath the shadow of that mountain, we shall find the light ofScotland, our dear master in arms!"
At this intimation, the wearied Murrays--like seamen long harassed on atempestuous ocean at sight of a port--uttered a shout of joy; andhastening forward with renovated strength, met a foaming river in theirpath. Despising all obstacles, they rushed in, and, buffeting thewaves, soon found a firm footing on the opposite shore. The sun shonecheerily above their heads, illuminating the umbrageous sides of themountains with a dewy splendor, while Ben Ledi, the standard of theirhope, seemed to wave them on, as the white clouds streamed from itssummit, or, rolling down its dark sides, floated in strange visionaryshapes over the lakes beneath.
When the little troop halted on the shore of Loch Venachoir, the mistswhich had lingered on the brow of Ledi slowly descended into thevalley; and covering the mouth of the pass that led from the loch,seemed to shut them at once between the mountain and that world ofwaters. Ker, who had never been in these tracks before, wondered attheir sublimity, and became alarmed lest they should lose their wayamid such infinite windings. But Murray, who remembered having onceexplored them with his father, led promptly forward by a steep, roughroad in the side of the mountain. As they clung by the slippery rockswhich overhung the lake, its mists dissolved into a heavy shower, and,by degrees clearing away, discovered the shining heads of Ben Lomondand Ben Chochan.
The party soon entered a precipitous labyrinth of craigs; and, passingonward, gradually descended amid pouring torrents, and gaping chasmsoverlaced with branching trees, till the augmented roar of watersintimated to Murray, they drew near the great fall of Glenfinlass. Theriver, though rushing on its course with the noise of thunder, wasscarcely discerned through the thick forest which groaned over itswaves. Here towered a host of stately pines; and there the loftybeeches, birches, and mountain-oak, bending over the flood, interwovetheir giant arms; forming an arch so impenetrable, that while the sunbrightened the tops of the mountains, all beneath lay in deepestmidnight.
The awful entrance to this sublime valley struck the whole party with afeeling that made them pause. It seemed as it to these sacredsolitudes, hidden in the very bosom of Scotland, no hostile foot daredintrude. Murray looked at Ker. "We go, my friend, to arouse thegenius of our country! Here are the native fastnesses of Scotland; andfrom this pass the spirit will issue that is to bid her enslaved sonsand daughters be free."
They entered, and with beating hearts pursued their way along thewestern border of Loch Lubnaig, till the royal heights ofCraignacoheilg showed their summits, covered with heath and many anivied turret. The forest, stretching far over the valley, lost itshigh trees in the shadows of the surrounding mountains, and told themthey were now in the center of Glenfinlass.
Ker put his bugle to his lips, and sounded the pibroch of Ellerslie. Athousand echoes returned the notes; and after a pause, which allowedtheir last response to die away, the air was answered by a horn fromthe heights of Cragnacoheilg. An armed man then appeared on the rock,leaning forward. Ker drew near, and taking off his bonnet, calledaloud: "Stephen! it is William Ker who speaks. I come with the LordAndrew Murray of Bothwell, to the support of our commander, Sir WilliamWallace."
At these words, Stephen placed his bugle to his mouth, and in a fewminutes the rock was covered with the members of its little garrison.Women and children appeared, shouting with joy; and the men, descendingthe side near the glen, hastened to bid their comrade welcome. Oneadvanced toward Murray, whom he instantly recognized to be Sir RogerKirkpatrick of Torthorald. The chiefs saluted each other; and LordAndrew pointed to his men: "I have brought," said he, "these few bravefellows to the aid of Sir William Wallace. They should have been more,but for new events of Southron outrage. Yet I am impatient to leadthem to the presence of my uncle's preserver."
Kirkpatrick's answer disappointed the eager spirit of the youngwarrior: "I am sorry, brave Murray, that you have no better knight toreceive you than myself. I and the gallant chief have not yet met; butI am in arms for him; and the hour of retribution for all our injuries,I trust, is at hand."
"But where is Sir William Wallace?" demanded Murray.
"Gone toward the Forth, to rouse that part of sleeping Scotland. Ifall he meet have my spirit, they will not require a second call. Nowis the time to aim the blow; I shall ever give thanks to the accidentwhich brought me the welcome news, that an arm is raised to strike ithome."
As he spoke, he led Murray to the rampart-like cliffs which crown thesummit of Craignacoheilg. In th
e midst stood a tower, which had oncebeen a favorite hunting-lodge of the great King Fergus. ThereKirkpatrick joyfully greeted his guest a second time: "This," said he,"is the far-famed lodge of the three kings: here did our lion, Fergus,attended by his royal allies, Durstus the Pict, and Dionethus theBriton, spread his board during their huntings in Glenfinlass! Andhere eight hundred years ago, did the same heroic prince form the planswhich saved his kingdom from a foreign yoke! On the same spot we willlay ours; and in their completion, rescue Scotland from a tyranny moreintolerable than that which menaced him. Yes, Murray; there is not astone in this building that does not call aloud to us to draw thesword, and hold it unsheathed till our country be free."
"And by the ghost of that same Fergus, I swear," exclaimed Murray,"that my honest claymore shall never shroud its head while an invaderbe left alive in Scotland."
Kirkpatrick caught him in his arms. "Brave son of the noble Bothwell,thou art after mine own heart! The blow which the dastard Cressinghamdurst aim at a Scottish chief, still smarts upon my cheek; and riversof his countrymen's blood shall wash out the stain. After I had beenpersuaded by his serpent eloquence to swear fealty to Edward on thedefeat at Dunbar, I vainly thought that Scotland had only changed aweak and unfortunate prince for a wise and victorious king; but when inthe courts of Stirling, I heard Cressingham propose to the barons northof the dike, that they should give their strongest castles into Englishhands; when I opposed the measure with all the indignation of a Scotwho saw himself betrayed, he first tried to overturn my arguments, andfinding that impossible, while I repeated them with redoubled force--hestruck me!-Powers of earth and heaven, what was then the tempest of mysoul!-I drew my sword--I would have laid him dead at my feet, had not myobsequious countrymen held my arm, and dragged me from the apartment.
"Covered with dishonor by a blow I could not avenge. I fled to mybrother-in-law, Sir John Scott, of Loch Doine. With him I buried myinjury from the world; but it lived in my heart--it haunted me day andnight, calling for revenge.
"In such an hour, how did I receive the tidings, that Sir WilliamWallace was in arms against the tyrant! It was the voice ofretribution, calling me to peace of mind! Even my bedridden kinsmanpartook my emotions; and with his zealous concurrence, I led a band ofhis hardiest clansmen, to reinforce the brave men of Lanark on thisrock.
"Two days I have now been here, awaiting in anxious impatience thearrival of Wallace. Yes! we will mingle our injured souls together!He has made one offering; I must make another! We shall set forth toStirling; and there, in the very heart of his den, I will sacrifice thetiger Cressingham, to the vengeance of our wrongs."
"But what, my brave friend," asked Murray, "are the forces you deemsufficient for so great an enterprise? How many fighting men may becounted of Wallace's own company, besides your own?"
"We have here about a hundred," replied Kirkpatrick, "including yours."
"How inadequate to storm so formidable a place as Stirling Castle!"returned Murray. "Having, indeed, passed the Rubicon, we must goforward, but resolution, not rashness, should be the principle of ouractions. And my opinion is, that a few minor advantages obtained, ourcountrymen would flock to our standard, the enemy would be intimidated,and we should carry thousands, instead of hundreds, before the walls ofStirling. To attempt it now would invite defeat, and bring upon us theruin of our entire project."
"You are right, young man," cried Kirkpatrick; "my gray head, renderedimpetuous by insult, did not pause on the blind temerity of my scheme.I would rather for years watch the opportunity of taking a signalrevenge than not accomplish it at last. Oh! I would rather waste allmy life in these solitary wilds and know that at the close of it Ishould see the blood of Cressingham on these hands than live a princeand die unrevenged!"
Stephen and Ker now entered; the latter paid his respects to Sir Roger,and the former informed Murray that having disposed his presentfollowers with those who had arrived before, he was come to lead theirlord to some refreshment in the banqueting room of the tower. "What?"cried Murray, full of glad amazement; "is it possible that my cousin'sfaithful band has reached its destination? None other belonging toBothwell Castle had any chance of escaping its jailer's hands."
Kirkpatrick interrupted Stephen's reply by saying that while theirguests were at the board he would watch the arrival of certainexpresses from two brave Drummonds, each of whom was to send him ahundred men: "So, my good Lord Andrew," cried he, striking him on theshoulder, "shall the snow-launch gather that is to fall on Edward tohis destruction."
Murray heartily shared his zeal, and bidding him a short adieu,followed Stephen and Ker into the hall. A haunch of venison ofGlenfinlass smoked on the board, and goblets of wine from the bounteouscellars of Sir John Scott brightened the hopes which glowed in everyheart.
While the young chieftains were recruiting their exhausted strength,Stephen sat at the table to satisfy the anxiety of Murray to know howthe detachment from Bothwell had come to Craignacoheilg, and by whatfortunate occurrence, or signal act of bravery, Wallace could haveescaped with his whole train from the foe surrounding Cartlane Craigs.
"Heaven smiled on us!" replied Stephen. "The very evening of the dayon which Ker left us there was a carousal in the English camp. Weheard the sound of the song and of riot, and of many an insult castupon our besieged selves. But about an hour after sunset the noisesunk by degrees--a no insufficient hint that the revelers, overcome byexcess, had fallen asleep. At this very time, owing to the heat of theday, so great a vapor had been exhaled from the lake beneath that thewhole of the northern side of the fortress cliff was covered with amist so exceedingly thick we could not discern each other at a foot'sdistance. 'Now is the moment!' said our gallant leader; 'the enemy arestupefied with wine, the rock is clothed in a veil!-it is the shield ofGod that is held before us! under its shelter let us pass from theirhands!"
"He called us together, and making the proper dispositions, commandedthe children and women, on their lives, to keep silence. He then ledus to the top of the northern cliff; it overhung an obscure cave whichhe knew opened at its extremity. By the assistance of a rope, heldabove by several men, our resolute chief (twisting it round one arm tosteady him, and with the other catching by the projecting stones of theprecipice) made his way down the rock, and was the first who descended.He stood at the bottom, enveloped in the cloud which shrouded themountain, till all the men of the first division had cleared theheight; he then marshaled them with their pikes toward the foe, in caseof an alarm. But all remained quiet on that spot, although the soundsof voices, both in song and laughter, intimated that the utmostprecaution was still necessary, as a wakeful and yet reveling part ofthe enemy were not far distant.
"Wallace reascended the rock half way; and receiving the children,which their trembling mothers lowered into this arms, he handed them tothe old men, who carried them safely through the bushes which obscuredthe cave's mouth. The rest of our little garrison soon followed; thenour sentinels, receiving the signal that all were safe, drew silentlyfrom their guard, and closed our march through the cavern.
"This effected, we blocked up its egressing mouth, that, should ourescape be discovered, the enemy might not find the direct road we hadtaken.
"We pursued our course without stop or stay till we reached thehospitable valleys of Stirlingshire. There some king shepherds gavethe woman and children temporary shelter; and Wallace, seeing that ifanything were to be done for Scotland, he must swell the host, put thepart under my guidance, giving me orders that when they were rested Ishould march them to Glenfinlass, here to await his return. Selectingten men, with that small band he turned toward the Forth, hoping tomeet some valiant friends in that part of the country read to embraceher cause.
"He had hardly been an hour departed when Dugald observed a processionof monks descending the opposite mountain. They drew near and haltedin the glen. A crowd of women from the neighboring hills had followedthe train, and were now gathering around a bier which t
he monks setdown. I know not by what happy fortune I came close to the leader ofthe procession, but he saw something in my old rough features thatdeclared me an honest Scot. 'Friend,' whispered he, 'for charityconduct us to some safe place where we may withdraw this bier from thesacrilegious eye of curiosity.'
"I made no hesitation, but desired the train to follow me into a byrebelonging to the good shepherd who was my host. On this motion thecommon people went away, and the monks entered the place.
"When the travelers threw up their hoods, which as mourners they hadworn over their faces, I could not help exclaiming, 'Alas, for theglory of Scotland, that this goodly group of stout young men ratherwear the cowl than the helmet!' 'How!' asked their principal (who didnot appear to have seen thirty years), 'do we not pray for the glory ofScotland? Such is our weapon.' 'True,' replied I, 'but while Mosesprayed Joshua fought. God gives the means of glory that they should beused.' 'But for what, old veteran,' said the monk, with a penetratinglook, 'should we exchange our cowl for the helmet? knowest thouanything of the Joshua who would lead us to the field?' There wassomething in the young priest's eyes that seemed to contradict hispacific words; they flashed as impetuous fire. My reply was short:'Are you a Scot?' 'I am, in soul and in arms.' 'Then knowest thou notthe chief of Ellerslie?' As I spoke, for I stood close to the bier, Iperceived the pall shake. The monk answered my last question with anexclamation--'You mean Sir William Wallace!'
"'Yes!' I replied. The bier shook more violently at these words, and,with my hair bristling from my head, I saw the pall hastily thrown off,and a beautiful youth, in a shroud, started from it, crying aloud,'Then is our pilgrimage at an end! Lead us to him!'
"The monk perceived my terror, and hastily exclaimed. 'Fear not! he isalive, and seeks Sir William Wallace. His pretended death was astratagem to insure our passage through the English army; for we aresoldiers like yourself.' As he spoke, he opened his gray habit, andshowed me the mailed tartans beneath."
"What, then!" interrupted Murray, "these monks were my faithfulclansmen?"
"The same," replied Stephen; "I assured them that they might now resumetheir own character; for all who inhabited the valley we were then inwere true, though poor and aged Scots. The young had long been draftedby Edward's agents, to fight his battles abroad.
"'Ah!' interrupted the shrouded youth, 'are we a people that can diefor the honor of this usurper, and are we ignorant how to do it for ourcountry? Lead us, soldier of Wallace,' cried he, stepping resolutelyon the ground, 'lead us to your brave master; and tell him that a fewdetermined men are come to shed their blood for him and Scotland.'
"This astonishing youth (for he did not appear to be more than fifteen)stood before me in his robes of death, like the spirit of somebright-haired son of Fingal. I looked on him with admiration; andexplaining our situation, told him whither Wallace was gone, and of ourdestination to await him in the forest of Glenfinlass.
"While your brave clansmen were refreshing themselves, we learned fromKenneth, their conductor, that the troop left Bothwell underexpectation of your soon following them. They had well underexpectation of our soon following them. They had not proceeded farbefore their scouts perceived the outposts of the English, whichsurrounded Cartlane Craigs; and to avoid this danger, they took acircuitous path, in hopes of finding some at the western side of thecraigs. Kenneth knew the abbot; and entering it under covert of thenight, obtained permission for his men to rest there. The youth, nowtheir companion, was a student in the church. He had been sent thitherby his mother, a pious lady, in the hope that, as he is of a verygentle nature, he would attach himself to the sacred tonsure. Butcourage often springs with most strength in the softest frames.
"The moment this youth discovered our errand he tried every persuasionto prevail on the abbot to permit him to accompany us. But hisentreaties were vain, till wrought up to vehement anger he threatenedthat if he were prevented joining Sir William Wallace, he would takethe earliest opportunity to escape, and commit himself to the peril ofthe English pikes.
"Seeing him determined the abbot granted his wish; 'and then it was,'said Kenneth, 'that the youth seemed inspired. It was no longer anenthusiastic boy we saw before us, but an angel, gifted with wisdom todirect and enterprise to lead us. It was he proposed disguisingourselves as a funeral procession; and while he painted his bloomingcountenance of a death-like paleness and stretched himself on thisbier, the abbot sent to the English army to request permission for aparty of monks to cross the craigs to the cave of St. Colomba, inStirlingshire, whither they carried a dead brother to be entombed. Ouryoung leader hoped we might thus find an opportunity to apprise Wallacewe were friends, and ready to swell the ranks of his little armament.
"'On our entrance into the passes of the craigs,' continued Kenneth,'the English captain there mentioned the fate of Bothwell, and thecaptivity of Lord Mar; and with very little courtesy to sons of thechurch, ordered the bier to be opened, to see whether it did reallycontain a corpse, or provisions for our besieged countrymen. We hadcertainly expected this investigation; else we might as well havewrapped the trunk of a tree in the shroud we carried as a human being.We knew that the superstitious hatred of the Southrons would not allowthem to touch a Scottish corpse, and therefore we feared no detectionfrom the eye's examination alone. This ceremony once over, we expectedto have passed on without further notice; and in that case the youthwould have left his pall, and performed the remainder of his journey ina similar disguise with the rest; but the strict watch of an Englishguard confined him wholly to the bier. In hopes of at last evadingthis vigilance, on pretense of a vow of the deceased that his bearersshould perform a pilgrimage throughout the craigs, we traversed them inevery direction; and, I make no doubt, would have finally wearied outour guard, and gained our point, had not the circumstance transpired ofWallace's escape.
"'How he had effected it, his enemies could not guess. Not a man ofthe besiegers was missing from his post; and not an avenue appeared bywhich they could trace his flight: but gone he was, and with him hiswhole train. On this disappointment the Southron captains retired toGlasgow, to their commander-in-chief, to give as good an account asthey could of so disgraceful a termination of their siege. Dismayed atthis intelligence, our peculiar guard hurried us into Stirlingshire,and left us at the other side of the mountain. But even then we werenot free to release our charge, for, attracted by our procession, thecountry people followed us into the valley. Yet had we not met withyou, it was our design to throw off our disguises in the first place,and, divided into small bands, have severally sought Sir WilliamWallace."
"But where," demanded Murray, who had listened with delightedastonishment to this recital, "where is this admirable youth? Why, ifKenneth have learned I am arrived, does he not bring him to receive mythanks and friendship?"
"It is my fault," returned Stephen, "that Kenneth will not approach youtill your repast is over. I left him to see your followers properlyrefreshed. And for the youth, he seems timid of appearing before you.Even his name I cannot make known to you till he reveals it himself:none know him here by any other name than that of Edwin. He has,however, granted to-morrow morning for the interview."
"I must submit to his determination," replied Murray; "but I am at aloss to guess why so brave a creature should hesitate to meet me. Ican only suppose he dislikes the idea of resigning the troop he has sowell conducted; and if so, I shall think it my duty to yield itscommand to him."
"Indeed he richly deserves it," returned Stephen; "for the very soul ofWallace seemed transfused into his breast, as he cheered us through ourlong march from the valley to Glenfinlass; he played with the children,heartened up the women; and when the men were weary, and lagged by theway, he sat down on the nearest stones, and sung to us legends of ourancestors, till every nerve was braced with warlike emulation, andstarting up, we proceeded onward with resolution and even gayety.
"When we arrived at Craignacoheilg, as the women were in great wan
t, Isuddenly recollected that I had an old friend in the neighborhood.When a boy, I had been the playfellow of Sir John Scott of Loch Doine;and though I understood him to be now an invalid, I went to him. WhenI told my tale, his brother-in-law, Sir Roger Kirkpatrick, took fire atmy relation, and declared his determination to accompany me toCraignacoheilg; and when he joined our band on the summit of this rock,he took the children in his arms, and while he held their hands in his,vehemently addressed their mothers, 'Let not these hands be baptized,**till they had been washed in the blood of our foe. Mercy belongs notto the enemy, now doomed to fall beneath their father's swords!'"
**It was a custom with Scottish chiefs when any feud existed betweentheir families, to leave the right hand of their children untouched bythe holy water in baptism, as a sign that no law, even of Heaven,should prevent them taking revenge.
"It is, indeed a deadly contest," rejoined Murray; "for evil has beenthe example of that foe. How many innocent bosoms have their steelpierced! How many helpless babes have their merciless hands dashedagainst the stones! Oh, ruthless war! even a soldier trembles tocontemplate thy horrors."
"Only till he can avenge them!" cried a stern voice, entering theapartment. It was Kirkpatrick's, and he proceeded: "When vengeance isin our grasp, tell me, brave Murray, who will then tremble? Dost thounot feel retribution in thine own hands? Dost thou not see thetyrant's blood at thy feet?" As he spoke, he looked down, with a horridexultation in his eyes; and, bursting into a more horrible laugh,struck his hand several times on his heart: "It glads me! I shall seeit--and this arm shall assist to pull him down."
"His power in Scotland may fall," returned Murray; "but Edward will betoo careful of his life to come within reach of our steel."
"That may be," rejoined Kirkpatrick; "but my dagger shall yet drink theblood of his agents. Cressingham shall feel my foot upon his neck!Cressingham shall see that hand torn from its wrist, which durst toviolate the unsullied cheek of a true Scotsman. Murray, I cannot liveunrevenged."
As he spoke, he quitted the apartment, and with a countenance of suchtremendous fate, that the young warrior doubted it was human; it spokenot the noble resolves of patriotism, but the portentous malignity withwhich the great adversary of mankind determines the ruin of nations; itseemed to wither the grass on which he moved; and Murray almost thoughtthat the clouds darkened as the gloomy knight issued from the porchinto the open air.
Kenneth Mackenzie joyfully entered the hall. Murray received him witha warm embrace; and, soon after, Stephen Ireland led the weariedchieftain to a bed of freshly-gathered heath, prepared for him in anupper chamber.