It is not by open force that we must fight them, but by fire and harassment.

Fighting is out of the question; but we can do him some damage without giving him a chance of striking a blow at us.

As he has lighted Glen Cairn, so shall he see fires blazing round his own castle of Aberfilly.
We will not retaliate by hanging his crofters and vassals; but if he or any of his men-at-arms falls into our hands, we will have blood for blood." In the course of the afternoon Archie saw his chief and begged leave to take his troop away for some time, telling Sir William of the cruel treatment which the Kerrs had dealt at Glen Cairn, and his determination to retaliate for the deed.
"Aberfilly is a strong castle, Archie," Wallace said; "at least so people say, for I have never seen it, so far does it lie removed from the main roads.

But unless by stratagem, I doubt if my force is strong enough to capture it; nor would I attack were I sure of capturing it without the loss of a man.

The nobles and landowners stand aloof from me; but it may be that after I have wrested some more strong places from the English, they may join me.