CHAPTER IV.
The Capture of Lanark A low shout of enthusiasm rose from Wallace's followers, and they repeated his words as though it had been a vow: "Tonight we will take Lanark." The notes of a bugle rang through the air, and Archie could hear them repeated as by an echo by others far away in the woods.
The next two hours were spent in cooking and eating a meal; then the party on the ledge descended the narrow path, several of their number bearing torches.

At a short distance from its foot some other torches were seen, and fifteen men were found gathered together.
In a few words the sad news of what had taken place at Lanark was related to them and the determination which had been arrived at, and then the whole party marched away to the west.

Archie's heart beat with excitement as he felt himself engaged in one of the adventures which had so filled his thoughts and excited his admiration.

An adventure, too, far surpassing in magnitude and importance any in which Wallace had hitherto been engaged.
It seemed almost like an act of madness for twenty-five men to attack a city garrisoned by over 500 English troops, defended by strong walls; but Archie never doubted for a moment that success would attend the enterprise, so implicit was his confidence in his leader.

When at some little distance from the town they halted, and Wallace ordered a tree to be felled and lopped of its branches.
It was some eight inches in diameter at the butt and thirty feet long.