Yes! we will mingle our injured souls together! He has made one offering; I must make another! We shall set forth to Stirling; and there, in the very heart of his den, I will sacrifice the tiger Cressingham, to the vengeance of our wrongs." "But what, my brave friend," asked Murray, "are the forces you deem sufficient for so great an enterprise?
How many fighting men may be counted of Wallace's own company, besides your own ?" "We have here about a hundred," replied Kirkpatrick, "including yours." "How inadequate to storm so formidable a place as Stirling Castle!" returned Murray.

"Having, indeed, passed the Rubicon, we must go forward, but resolution, not rashness, should be the principle of our actions.

And my opinion is, that a few minor advantages obtained, our countrymen would flock to our standard, the enemy would be intimidated, and we should carry thousands, instead of hundreds, before the walls of Stirling.

To attempt it now would invite defeat, and bring upon us the ruin of our entire project." "You are right, young man," cried Kirkpatrick; "my gray head, rendered impetuous by insult, did not pause on the blind temerity of my scheme.
I would rather for years watch the opportunity of taking a signal revenge than not accomplish it at last.

Oh! I would rather waste all my life in these solitary wilds and know that at the close of it I should see the blood of Cressingham on these hands than live a prince and die unrevenged!" Stephen and Ker now entered; the latter paid his respects to Sir Roger, and the former informed Murray that having disposed his present followers with those who had arrived before, he was come to lead their lord to some refreshment in the banqueting room of the tower.