“I was there, holy father,” Archie replied, “and can testify that the occurrence was wholly unpremeditated; but Bruce had received sufficient provocation from the Comyn to afford him fair reason for slaying him wheresoever they might meet.  But none can regret more than he does that that place of meeting was in a sanctuary.  The Comyn and Bruce had made an agreement together whereby the former relinquished his own claims to the throne of Scotland on condition that Bruce, on attaining the throne, would hand over to him all his lordships in Carrick and Annandale.”

“It were a bad bargain,” the prior said, “seeing that Comyn would then be more powerful than his king.”

“So I ventured to tell the Bruce,” Archie replied.

“Thou?” the prior said; “you are young, sir, to be in a position to offer counsel to Robert Bruce.”

“I am young, holy prior,” Archie said modestly; “but the king is good enough to overlook my youth in consideration of my fidelity to the cause of Scotland.  My name is Archibald Forbes.”

“Sir Archibald Forbes!” the prior repeated, rising; “and are you really that loyal and faithful Scottish knight who fought ever by the side of Wallace, and have almost alone refused ever to bow the knee to the English?  Even to this lonely isle tales have come of your valour, how you fought side by side with Wallace, and were, with Sir John Grahame, his most trusty friend and confidant.  Many of the highest and noblest of Scotland have for centuries made their way to the shrine of Colonsay, but none more worthy to be our guest.  Often have I longed to see so brave a champion of our country, little thinking that you would one day come a storm driven guest.  Truly am I glad to see you, and I say it even though you may have shared in the deed at Dumfries, for which I would fain hope from your words there is fairer excuse to be made than I had hitherto deemed.  I have thought that the Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow were wrong in giving their countenance to a man whom the holy father had condemned —­ a man whose prior history gives no ground for faith in his patriotism, who has taken up arms, now for, now against, the English, but has ever been ready to make terms with the oppressor, and to parade as his courtier at Westminster.  In such a man I can have no faith, and deem that, while he pretends to fight for Scotland, he is in truth but warring for his own aggrandizement.  But since you, the follower and friend of the disinterested and intrepid champion of Scotland, speak for the Bruce, it maybe that my judgement has been too severe upon him.”