Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/23

 ( 23 ) Some persons haul observed his repeated visits, his robust and warlike appearance, and com- municated their suspicions to the governor, Sir George Heron. The person whose house he used to frequent, was soon brought over to their favour, only by the most dreadful throats, or persuasive promises. On his next visit, the house of his friend was beset by the English: he was immediately informed, and. in order to effect his escape, having dressed himself in woman's apparel, he went to inform the English of Wallace being safely locked up in such a room; the enemy fled to seize their supposed pray, while he was effecting his escape from the town with all possible speed. Two soldiers followed, suspecting him as rather a strong and fierce-like woman: when he was solely out of reach, he turned upon them, drew his concealed sword, levelled them with the dust and hastened to inform his companions of his escape. Confident that the enraged enemy would sally forth immediately in quest or him, He prepared his intrepid band to meet the fore. The English, fired at their disappointment, marched six hundred men by the South Inch road: they had not proceeded far. till the slain bodies of their two men presented themselves to them, and confirmed them in their suspicions of Wallace having taken this rout. They surrounded the wood with three hund- red, under Sir Gerard, while Sir John Butler penetrated into the wood in search of Wallace. They had with them a stench blood-bound to trace