Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/12

 ( 12 ) In a short time Wallace recovered his wonted strength: and longing to appear among his friends and to avenge his own and his country's wrongs upon the English, he seized a sword which was standing in a corner of his nurse's house, and hegan his journey towards Riccartoun: having previously sent her, and her child and servant, to his mother's at Ellerslie, as they could no longer be safe in that place. On his journey thither, he is said to have encountered an Eng- lish knight, of the name of Longcastle, with bis, two attendants. . Wallace having espied them, stept from the public road to avoid them, so that they might not provoke him to combat, which, from his weak and feebly armed state, he was not fond of hazarding. They, however, with the insolence which characterized the English invaders. quickly followed him, and demanded whither he went, and threatened him as a spy or thief. He pleaded the .excuse of sickness, and begged that they would let him pass: Longcastle, notwithstanding, said he must repair with him to Ayr as a prisoner, and was alighting to seize him, when Wallace drew his concealed sword, and laid him prostrate on the ground; the attendants rushed upon him, but both met tho fate of their haughty Lord He clad himself in their armour, supplied him- self with their money, returned thanks to Heaven, mounted Longcastle's horse, and pare sued his road to Riccartoun. The nurse had arrived before, and on her road had informed his friends and relatives, who lastened to Ric- cartoun