Page:History of Sir William Wallace (1).pdf/24

 ( 24 ) twee the steps of the slayer. The brave few, the demands in on every side, resolve to conquer or to rde the hardly elvfeftuin on skreathed his cahnuering swore beso hit the aid of nf Lentenant led his followers to the fierce attack At retreat was imprachcible) and they werb.obliged to cut a way macug their, henanics before they would clear the wonis. Fifteen or the Scots were lain before a passage was offeerbel; they mide, an mble. retreat towards the banks of the Tay in order to scek in plaedlto eros; any of his mch could not swin, and trither the lose one drog of Scottish blood anrevenged, Wallace resolved again do meet the foe. Notwithstiinding his inferiority in the number of his troops, whichi, at the commencement of the battle, amounted only to 49. eu tiress were considerably dimni- nished by the killed and wounded, be recom- zmenced the combat, though the enemy had been strongly reinforced. The arin is closed with redoubled fury.-- Wallace wished a safe retreat for his brave men, who were now rechticed to the neraber of six- teen: ie sought every-vhere for the Englisla chief in order to disay the enemy by his fall; hey, however, remained in a place of safety, with a strong guard, unwilling to run the hazard of a cembat. The reduced Scots now escaped from the wearied English, and fled to the nearest place of safety. They were out of sight before the enemy were able to pursue them; and see English Lad ende wore recourse to