"Hemmed in on all sides, he will fall beneath their thirsting swords.

To the king--to the king! Yield he never will; and better he should not.

On, on, for the love of life, of liberty, of Scotland!--on to the king!" His impassioned words reached even hearts fainting 'neath exhaustion, failing in hope, for they knew they strove in vain; yet did that tone, those words rouse even them, and their flagging limbs grew strong for Robert's sake, and some yet reached the spot to fight and die around him; others--alas! the greater number--fell ere the envied goal was gained.
The sight of the royal standard drew, as Alan had hoped, the attention of some from the king, and gave him a few moments to rally.

Again there was a moment of diversion in favor of the Scotch.

The brothers of the Bruce and some others of his bravest knights were yet around him, seemingly uninjured, and each and all appeared endowed with the strength of two.