At the same moment the other party closed in behind the horsemen; and the eight archers, with bent bows and arrows drawn to the head, rose among the trees.

The party reined in their horses suddenly.
"Hah! what have we here ?" Bruce exclaimed.

"An ambush--and on all sides too!" he added as he looked round.

"What means this?
Are you robbers who thus dare attack the Bruce within a mile of Turnberry?
Why, they are but lads," he added scornfully.

"Rein back, girls; we and the men-at-arms will soon clear a way for you through these varlets.