Now, Cluny, tell your own story." Cluny told his story briefly, but giving word for word the sentences that he had heard spoken in anger by the governor and his officer.
"I fear there can be no doubt," Wallace said gravely when the lad had finished--"that foul play of some kind is intended, and that it would be madness to trust ourselves in the hands of this treacherous governor.

Would that we had had the news twenty-four hours earlier; but even now some may be saved.

Sir John, will you gallop, with all your mounted men, at full speed towards Ayr.

Send men on all the roads leading to the council, and warn any who may not yet have arrived against entering." Sir John Grahame instantly gave orders to all those who had horses, to mount and follow him at the top of their speed; and he himself, with the other gentlemen whose horses were prepared, started at once at full gallop.
"Sir Archie, do you cause the `assembly' to be sounded, and send off your runners in all directions to bid every man who can be collected to gather here this afternoon at three o clock.

If foul play has been done we can avenge, although we are too late to save, and, by Heavens, a full and bloody revenge will I take." It was not until two in the afternoon that Sir John Grahame returned.
"The worst has happened; I can read it in your face," Wallace exclaimed.
"It is but too true," Sir John replied.