“In the meantime,” he said, “I shall be but eight miles from you, and the estate will be all one.  But now I hope that for the next three months every man among you will aid me —­ some by personal labour, some by sending horses and carts —­ in the work of strengthening to the utmost my new castle of Aberfilly, which I wish to make so strong that it will long resist an attack.  Should Scotland be permanently conquered, which may God forfend, it could not, of course, be held; but should we have temporary reverses we might well hold out until our party again gather head.”

Every man on the estate promised his aid to an extent far beyond that which Archie, as their feudal superior, had a right to demand from them.  They had had a hard time under the Kerrs, who had raised all rents, and greatly increased their feudal services.  They were sure of good treatment should the Forbeses make good their position as their lords, and were ready to make any sacrifices to aid them to do so.

Next morning a messenger arrived from Sir John Grahame, saying that he had, during the night, stormed Aberfilly, and that with scarce an exception all the vassals of the Kerrs —­ when upon his arrival on the previous day they had learned of his purpose in coming, and of the disposition which Wallace had made of the estate —­ had accepted the change with delight, and had joined him in the assault upon the castle, which was defended only by thirty men-at-arms.  These had all been killed, and Sir John invited Archie to ride over at once and take possession.  This he did, and found that the vassals of the estate were all gathered at the castle to welcome him.  He was introduced to them by Sir John Grahame, and they received Archie with shouts of enthusiasm, and all swore obedience to him as their feudal lord.  Archie promised them to be a kind and lenient chief, to abate any unfair burdens which had been laid upon them, and to respect all their rights.

“But,” he said, “just at first I must ask for sacrifices from you.  This castle is strong, but it must be made much stronger, and must be capable of standing a continued siege in case temporary reverses should enable the English to endeavour to retake it for their friend, Sir Allan Kerr.  My vassals at Glen Cairn have promised an aid far beyond that which I can command, and I trust that you also will extend your time of feudal service, and promise you a relaxation in future years equivalent to the time you may now give.”

The demand was readily assented to, for the tenants of Aberfilly were no less delighted than those of Glen Cairn to escape from the rule of the Kerrs.  Archie, accompanied by Sir John Grahame, now made an inspection of the walls of his new hold.  It stood just where the counties of Linlithgow and Edinburgh join that of Lanark.  It was built on an island on a tributary of the Clyde.  The stream was but a small one, and the island had been artificially made, so that the stream formed a moat on either side of