Tradition tells of his long ride to convey important papers from Lord
Traquair to King Charles I, and of his perilous return journey, bearing
a reply from his Majesty. Tidings of his mission had come to the ears of
the Parliamentarians, and orders were issued to seize him at Carlisle.
In that town, Will, unwitting of special danger, had halted an hour to
refresh man and beast, and as he proceeded on his journey, and was
midway over the high, narrow bridge across the Eden, the sudden clatter
of horses' feet and the jingle of accoutrements at either end of the
bridge showed him that his way was effectually blocked by the Roundhead
troopers. Without a moment's hesitation, Will faced his horse at the
parapet, and with a touch of the spur and a wild cheer over went the
pair into the flooded river, disappearing in the tawny, foaming water
with a mighty splash. Instead of hastening along the bank, Cromwell's
troopers crowded on to the bridge, gazing with astonishment into the
raging torrent. Thus, when Will and his horse, still unparted, came to
the surface a considerable way down, there was time for them to reach
the bank. But the bank was steep and the landing bad, and the weight of
Will's saturated riding-cloak was the last straw that hindered the horse
from scrambling up. With a curse Will cut the fastening that held the
cloak about his neck, and, relieved from the extra weight, the animal
with a desperate struggle gained the top of the bank and got away well
ahead of the pursuing troopers. Had it not been for the speed and
stamina of his horse, Will had surely been taken that night. As it was,
ere they reached the Esk, one trooper was already far in front of his
comrades, and thundering on Will's very heels. But a pistol pointed at
his head by Will, a pistol with priming saturated, and incapable of
being fired--had the man only thought of it--caused the trooper to draw
back out of danger, and Will gained Esk's farther bank in safety, where,
regardless of possible pistol shots, he waited to taunt his baffled
pursuers.