Page:History of Sir William Wallace, the renowned Scottish champion.pdf/5

 woods. For facilitating has escape, the unfortunate girl was seized next day by the English sheriff, and with inhuman cruelty condemned and executed. But Wallace’s revenge, when he heard of her unmerited fate, was as rapid as it was stern. That very night he collected thirty faithful and powerful partisans, who, entering the town when all were in their beds, reached the sheriff’s lodgings in silence. It was a building constructed of wood, and the sheriff’s apartment communicated with the street by a high stair. Up this Wallace rushed at midnight, and, beating down the door, presented himself in full armour, and with his naked weapon, before the affrighted officer, who asked him whence he came, or who he was? "I am William Wallace,” he replied, “ whose life you sought yesterday : and now thou shalt answer me for my poor maiden’s death.” With these words he seized his naked victim by the throat, and passing his sword through his body, cast the bleeding wretch down the stair into the street, where he was immediately slain. He then speedily withdrew with his followers into the woods which surrounded the town. For this daring act of retaliation he was accused by the goverment of murder, and sentence of of proscription and outlawry being passed against him, immediate and eager pursuit was adopted. Wallace,