“It is sooner than I bargained for, Sir Archie; but you are very welcome.  Ah! that was well smitten, and Duncan did not overpraise your skill,” he exclaimed, as Archie cut down one soldier, and wounded another who pressed upon him.

“They are gathering in force, Sir William,” the knight’s companion said, “and if we do not cut our way through them we shall assuredly be taken.”  Keeping near the wall they retreated down the street, Archie and Sir John Grahame, for it was he, clearing the way, and Wallace defending the rear.  So terrific were the blows he dealt that the English soldiers shrank back from attacking him.

At this moment two horsemen rode up and reined in their horses to witness the fray.  They were father and son, and the instant the eyes of the elder fell upon Archie he exclaimed to his son: 

“This is good fortune.  That is young Forbes fighting by the side of the outlaw Wallace.  I will finish our dispute at once.”

So saying he drew his sword, and urged his horse through the soldiers towards Archie; the latter equally recognized the enemy of his family.  Sir John aimed a sweeping blow at him.  The lad parried it, and, leaping back, struck at the horse’s leg.  The animal fell instantly, and as he did so Archie struck full on the helm of Sir John Kerr, stretching him on the ground beside his horse.

By this time the little party had retreated down the street until they were passing the house of Marion Bradfute.  The door opened, and Marion herself cried to them to enter.  So hemmed in were they, indeed, that further retreat was now impossible, and there being no time for hesitation, Wallace and his companions sprang in before their assailants could hinder them, and shut the door behind them.

“Marion,” Wallace exclaimed, “why did you do this?  It mattered not were I killed or taken; but now you have brought danger upon yourself.”

“But it mattered much to me.  What would life be worth were you killed?  Think not of danger to me.  Angry as they may be, they will hardly touch a woman.  But waste no time in talking, for the door will soon yield to their blows.  Fly by the back entrance, while there is time.”

So saying, she hurried them to the back of the house, and without allowing them to pause for another word almost pushed them out, and closed the door behind them.  The lane was deserted; but the shouts and clamour of the English soldiers beyond the houses rose loud in the air.  “Quick, Sir William,” Sir John Grahame said, “or we shall be cut off!  They will bethink them of the back way, and send soldiers down to intercept us.”

Such, indeed, was the case, for as they ran they heard shouts behind, and saw some English soldiers entering the other end of the lane.  In front, however, all was clear, and running on they turned into another street, and then down to the gate.  The guard, hearing the tumult, had turned out, and seeing them running, strove to bar their way.  Wallace, however, cleared a path by sweeping blows with his sword, and dashing through the gates into the open country they were safe.  For some distance they ran without checking their speed, and then as they neared a wood, where they no longer feared pursuit, they broke into a walk.