Page:History of the life and death, of the great warrior Robert Bruce.pdf/12

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On the day appointed for making the signal, Bruce and his party repaired to their station; but no signal appeared. At last, while hope was becoming extinct, they perceived a distant gleam. Hastening to the boat, they rowed over for the Carrick shore. Darkness overtaking them, they held on, guided by the blaze; but, jumping a-    shore, how strangely were they surprised to meet Cuthbert running up and telling them there was no chance of success! «Traitor!” exclaimed Bruce in a rage, “why did you then make the sig- nal?"__"I made no signal," replied Cuthbert;    "but, observing a fire on the eminence, I was afraid that it might deceive you, and I hastened hither to warm you from the coast."      This was disastrous intelligence to Robert;     but he resolved to persevere. Fortunately a re-     port had been current, which was credited by the     English, that he was dead. This belief caused     his enemies to relax in their vigilance; and Rob-     ert, taking advantage of this, surprised and over-     powered several of their detachments and garri-     sons; but the English having at last collected a     very powerful force, he was compelled to retire     into the mountainous districts of Carrick.       In the mean while Edward had made prepara-     tions on a greater scale than ever for the invasion     of Scotland. But, while about to cross the border,     he was suddenly taken sick, and soon after