Page:History of the life and death, of the great warrior Robert Bruce.pdf/8

 ; and at last having received intelligence that his queen, with the wives and sisters of his followers, had arrived at Aberdeen, with the determination to share their perils, he ventured from his stronghold, and, meeting them in that city, conducted them in safety into the heart of Breadalbane. They then slowly retreated to the head of Loch Tay; but Bruce now found himself beset with danger, as this part of the Highlands into which he had been compelled to retreat was under the sway of his mortal enemy, the Lord of Lorn, who had married the aunt of the murdered Comyn. This chief accordingly assembled his friends and dependants, and in a body of a thousand strong, attacked Bruce, while retreating in a narrow valley. They swarmed round the little still phalanx like hornets, and several deadly encounters took place. At one moment Bruce himself had a narrow escape. Three strong Highlanders threw themselves in his way, resolved to become masters of his person. One seized his bridle-reins, and attacked him in front; another grasped his steel boot, and thrusting his arm between the stirrup and the foot, endeavoured to unhorse him. Bruce with one blow felled the foremost to the ground, and clapping his legs close to the flanks of his horse, spurred him, and dragged his other opponent off his feet. In the mean time, his third assailant sprung up behind