“Now,” Archie said, “I can explain matters farther than I did last night.  I have procured arms for you all, and I hope that you will have opportunities of using them.  But though some of you are old enough to join Wallace’s band, there are others whom he might not deem fit to take part in such desperate enterprises.  Therefore at first make but little show of your arms.  I shall present you to Sir William, telling him that I have brought you hither to serve as messengers, and to enter towns held by the English and gather news, seeing that lads would be less suspected than men.  But I propose farther, what I shall not tell him, that you shall form a sort of bodyguard to him.  He takes not sufficient care of himself, and is ever getting into perils.  I propose that without his knowing it, you shall be ever at hand when he goes into danger of this sort, and may thus prevent his falling into the hands of his enemies.  Now, mind, lads, this is a great and honourable mission.  You must be discreet as well as brave, and ready all of you to give your lives, if need be, for that of Scotland’s champion.  Your work as messengers and scouts will be arduous and wearisome.  You must be quiet and well behaved —­ remember that boys’ tricks and play are out of place among men engaged in a desperate enterprise.  Mingle not much with the others.  Be active and prompt in obeying orders, and be assured that you will have opportunities of winning great honour and credit, and of having your full share of hard knocks.  You will, as before, be divided into two companies, William Orr and Andrew Macpherson being your lieutenants in my absence.  You will obey their orders as implicitly as mine.  Cluny, you have, I suppose, brought, as I bade you last night, some of your sister’s garments?”

“Yes, Sir Archie,” the boy, who was fair and slight, said, with a smile on his face.

“That is right.  I know you are as hearty and strong as the rest; but seeing that your face is the smoothest and softest of any, you will do best should we need one in disguise as a girl.  And now come with me.  I will show you where your arms are placed; but at present you must not take them.  If I led you as an armed band to Wallace he might deem you too young.  I must present you merely as lads whom I know to be faithful and trustworthy, and who are willing to act as messengers and scouts to his force.”

So saying Archie led the band to the thicket where he had placed their arms, and the lads were pleased when they saw the pikes, swords, and head pieces.  Then he led them up the craig to Wallace.

“Why, whom have you here?” Sir William exclaimed in surprise.  “This will not do, Sir Archie.  All lads are not like yourself, and were I to take such boys into my ranks I should have all the mothers in Scotland calling out against me.”