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

SIR WILLIAM WALLACE. 105
sacred sanctuary. By this success Wallace acquired
much booty, and a place of great importance in point
of future conquests.
WALLACE MARCHES INTO FIFE,
(onquers the English at Blackironside, reduces
Lockleven and Ayrth, and delivers the most part
of the country.
Wallace then marches into Fift, and was attacked
by Sir John Stewart from the Ochile-hills. The
Scots being few in number were greatly alarmed at
this sudden surprise and deemed it best to flee and
get across the Tay, to receive assistance from their
brave companions, who knew nothing of their danger.
But Wallace saw they were all dead men if they attempted to flee, so he counselled them to be posted in
the wood of Blackironside, and to raise a strong barrier of trees to keep them from being overpowered and
borne down by numbers.
Stewart and Vallance, with their numerous host,
attacked them, and surrounded the wood at the same
time with great bravado, thinking to kill the one hun
dred Scots rebels without any trouble. Wallace thus
addressed his men "take courage lads, and bravely
show your face, the wood we will hold as long as we
can stand, to the last man we will fight for it sword