Having thus disembarrassed themselves of the whole of their immediate assailants, Bruce and his companion continued their flight.

The main body of their hunters, with the hound, were but a short distance away, but in a wood the fugitives came upon a stream, and, marching for some distance down this, again landed, and continued their flight.
The hound lost their scent at the spot where they had entered the water, and being unable to recover it, Lorne and his followers abandoned the chase.

Among the king's pursuers on this occasion was his nephew Randolph, who had been captured at the battle of Methven, and having again taken the oath of allegiance to Edward had been restored to that monarch's favour, and was now fighting among the English ranks.
The search was actively kept up after Bruce, and a party of three men-at-arms came upon him and his foster brother.

Being afraid to attack the king, whom they recognized, openly, they pretended they had come to join him.
The king suspected treachery; and when the five lay down for the night in a cottage which they came upon he and his companion agreed to watch alternately.

Overcome by fatigue, however, both fell asleep, and when they were suddenly attacked by the three strangers, the foster brother was killed before he could offer any resistance.
The king himself, although wounded, managed to struggle to his feet, and then proved more than a match for his three treacherous assailants, all of whom, after a desperate struggle, he slew.
The next morning he continued his way, and by nightfall succeeded in joining the three bands, who had safely reached the rendezvous he had appointed.
A few hours after this exploit of Bruce, Archie with two or three of his followers joined him.
"This is indeed a serious matter of the hound," Archie said when Bruce told him how nearly he had fallen a victim to the affection of his favourite.