Murray told him who he was; and learned from him in return, that Wallace now considered himself in a state of siege; that the women, children, and old men with him, had nothing to feed on but wild strawberries and birds' eggs, which they found in the hollows of the rocks.

"To relieve them from such hard quarters, girded by a barrier of English soldiers," continued the narrator, "is his first wish: but that cannot be effected by our small number.

However, he would make the attempt by a strategem, could we be at all supported by succors from the Earl of Mar!" "My uncle's means," replied Murray, "are for a time cut off: but mine shall be exerted to the utmost.

Did you not meet, somewhere, a company of Scots to the number of fifty?
I sent them off yesterday to seek your noble chief." "No," rejoined the young man; "I fear they have been taken by the enemy; for in my way to Sir William Wallace, not knowing the English were so close to his sanctuary, I was nearly seized myself.

I had not the good fortune to be with him, when he struck the first blow for Scotland in the citadel of Lanark; but as soon as I heard the tale of his wrongs, and that he had retired in arms toward the Cartlane Craigs, I determined to follow his fate.