The life of Sir William Wallace, the governor general of Scotland, and hero of the Scottish chiefs. By Peter Donaldson.

SIR WILLIAM WAI,LACE. 121
When Wallace saw their numbers, he withdrew to
Elcho Wood, and there fortified a pass with long
trees across the path where they could enter, and on
either side the place was naturally fortified by a close
thicket of hollens, that defended them in the flanks
and rear. Then he addressed his men as follows:
" The wood is thick, its breadth and length is small,
if we had food enough, we could keep the strength,
meantime let us bravely fight as long as we can stand,
for our old native country; come, let us to it, either
do or die; ere they gain the pass, we shall lay some
of their bellies to the wind." By this time Butler had
Crawford's house surrounded, seized his wife, and
vowed to burn her to death, if she did not tell where
the Scots warriors had gone. Wallace having issued
from the thicket to reconnoitre his enemies, and see the
fate of his cousin's family, just when they were about
to burn Mrs. Crawford, called aloud to them to " stay
their hand, for here am I, and own myself your foe;
why should ye torment an honest, innocent woman?
come forth to me and we will end the strife; it were
a prodigious sin to kill the female Scot, art thou a
christian? tell me yea or nay; in all my victories, 1
always saved the priests, women and children." Butler threw his face, bit his lip, and heaved with venom
and spite, when he saw brave Wallace in his presence.
Then the English fiercely marched after him, as
lhe retired to his place of strength in the thicket, and
attacked the Scots boldly at the pass, which was
nobly defended, and were repulsed with the loss of
fifteen men killed on the first onset. They made a
second and more desperate attack in three divisions,