Page:History of Sir William Wallace, the renowned Scottish champion.pdf/20

20 heavy plates of steel,fled their near approach Wallace with his gallant infantry had now to sustain, unsupported, the whole shock of the English army, who again and again threw themselves with headlong fury upon the Scottish circles but," they could not penetrate into thạt wood of spears.” After sustaining these repeated charges with the most determined reşolution, the outer ranks were at last broken by dense showers of stones and arrows, which the English poured in upon them in aid of the heavy onsets of their horse. Macduff and Sir John Graham had by this time fallen, as also Sir John Stuart, who commanded the archers; almost all of which last had perished by the side of their beloved commander whose death by their devoted bravery they so amply revenged. The rout was now becoming universal, when Wallace, collecting the shattered remains of his forces, commenced a retreat across the Carron,-a movement which, by his precaution caused little loss. Among those who most eagerly pressed ou their rear was Bruce, who on this occasion had again leagued himself with the English. Exasperated at the sight of this selfish traitor, Wallace suddenly darted forward, and with his two-handed sword dealt him a blow, which, though it missed Bruce's head, was yet aimed with such prodigious strength as to cleave