for wearing when on horseback.  He had already his father’s sword, and needed only a light battleaxe and a dagger to complete his offensive equipment.  Then he took down from the racks twenty swords and as many short pikes, and bonnets strengthened with iron hoops, which, although light, were sufficient to give much protection to the head.  These were all placed in a light cart, and with one of his uncle’s followers to drive, he took his seat in the cart, and started for Cart Lane Craigs.

Here he concealed the arms in a thicket, and then went up to speak to his leader.

“May I take ten men with me to Glen Cairn, Sir William?  I am going to fetch my mother to reside with my uncle until the storm is over.  He has sent you a hundred pounds towards the expenses of the struggle.  I want the guard because it is possible that the Kerrs may be down there.  I hear Sir John was carried away, three hours after the fight, in a litter; it was well for him that he was not in Lanark when we took it.  But like enough this morning, if well enough to give orders, he may be sending down to Glen Cairn to see if I have returned, and may burn the hold over my mother’s head.”

“Certainly,” Sir William replied.  “Henceforth I will put twenty men under your special orders, but for today Sir John Grahame shall tell off some of his own party.  Of course they will go well armed.”

Half riding in the cart and half walking by turns, the party reached Glen Cairn late in the afternoon.  The news of the fall of Lanark had already penetrated even to that quiet village, and there was great excitement as Archie and his party came in.  One of Wallace’s messengers had passed through, and many of the men were preparing to join him.  Dame Forbes was at once proud and grieved when Archie told her of the share which he had had in the street fray at Lanark, and in the capture of the town.  She was proud that her son should so distinguish himself, grieved that he should, at so young an age, have become committed to a movement of whose success she had but little hope.  However, she could not blame him, as it seemed as if his course had been forced upon him.  She agreed to start early the next morning.

It was well for Archie that he had brought a guard with him, for before he had been an hour in the hold a boy ran in from the village saying that a party of the Kerrs was close at hand, and would be there in a few minutes.  Archie set his men at once to pile up a barricade of stones breast high at the outer gate, and took his position there with his men.  He had scarcely completed his preparations when the trampling of horses was heard and a party of ten men, two of whom bore torches, headed by young Allan Kerr, rode up.  They drew rein abruptly as they saw the barricade with the line of pikes behind it.

“What want you here, Allan Kerr?” Archie said.

“I came in search of you, little traitor,” young Kerr replied angrily.