At last opening her eyes, she recognized the figure of her young kinsman leaning over her.

The almost paralyzed Halbert stood at her feet.

"Blessed Virgin! am I yet safe, and with my dear Andrew! Oh! I feared you were slain!" cried she, bursting into tears.
"Thank God, we are both safe," answered he; "comfort yourself, my beloved cousin! you are now on holy ground; this is the cell of the prior of St.Fillan.

None but the hand of an infidel dare wrest you from this sanctuary." "But my father, and Lady Mar ?" And again her tears flowed.
"The countess, my gracious lady," answered Halbert, "since you could not be found in the castle, is allowed to accompany your father to Dumbarton Castle, there to be treated with every respect, until De Valence receives further orders from King Edward." "But for Wallace!" cried she, "ah, where are now the succors that were to be sent to him! And without succors, how can he, or you, dearest Andrew, rescue my father from this tyranny!" "Do not despair," replied Murray; "look but at the banner you held fast, even while insensible; your own hands have engraven my answer--God armeth the patriot! Convinced of that, can you still fear for you father?
I will join Wallace to-morrow.

Your own fifty warriors await me at the bottom of Cartlane Craigs; and if any treachery should be meditated against my uncle, that moment we will make the towers of Dumbarton shake to their foundation." Helen's reply was a deep sigh: she though it might be Heaven's will that her father, like the good Lord Douglas, should fall a victim to royal revenge; and so sad were her forebodings, that she hardly dared to hope what the sanguine disposition of her cousin promised.