“I would rather the Bruce,” Wallace said.  “His father is an inert man and a mere cypher, and the death of his grandfather, the competitor, has now brought him prominently forward.  It is true that he is said to be a strong adherent of England and a personal favourite of Edward; that he spends much of his time in London; and is even at the present moment the king’s lieutenant in Carrick and Annandale, and is waging war for him against Sir William Douglas.  Still Comyn is equally devoted to England; he is older, and less can be hoped from him.  Bruce is young; he is said to be of great strength and skill in arms, and to be one of the foremost knights in Edward’s court.  He is, I hear, of noble presence, and is much loved by those with whom he comes in contact.  Did such a man determine to break with Edward, and to strive to win the crown of Scotland as a free gift of her people, instead of as a nominee of Edward, and to rule over an independent kingdom instead of an English province, he would attract all hearts to him, and may well succeed where I, as I foresee, must sooner or later fail.”

“But why should you fail when you have succeeded so far?” Archie asked.

“Because I have with me but a small portion of the people of Scotland.  The whole of the northern lords hold aloof, and in the south Carrick and Annandale and Galloway are hostile.  Against me I have all the power of England, Wales, and Ireland; and although I may for a time win victories and capture towns I am certain, Archie, in the end to be crushed.”

“And will all our efforts have been in vain?” Archie said, with tears in his eyes.

“By no means, my brave lad; we shall have lighted the fire of a national resistance; we shall have shown the people that if Scotland, divided against herself, and with all her great nobles and their vassals standing sullenly aloof, can yet for a long time make head against the English, assuredly when the time shall come, and she shall rise as one man from the Solway to Caithness, her freedom will be won.  Our lives will not have been thrown away, Archie, if they have taught this lesson.”

Wallace had by this time returned from his expedition farther north, and his force was in camp near Lanark, which town, when not engaged in distant enterprises, was regarded as the centre of the movement.  That evening Archie said, that as his leader purposed to give his troops rest for a week or two, he should go to his uncle’s for a short time.

“And if you can spare them, Sir William, I would fain let my band go away for the same time.  They have now been six months from home.”

“Certainly,” Wallace said, “they need a rest after their hard work.  They are ever afoot, and have been of immense service.”