besides, the faithless Earl of March and Lord Sculis are such
parricides of their country, as to have performed the like robberies,
in his name, from the eastern shores of the Highlands to the furthiest
of the Western Isles."

"Do the traitors think," cried Wallace, "that by robbing Scotland of
her annals and of that stone they really deprive her of her palladium?
Scotland's history is in the memories of her sons; her palladium is in
their hearts; and Edward may one day find that she remembers the
victory of Largs,** and needs not talismans to give her freedom."

**This battle was fought by Alexander III, on the 1st of August, 1263,
against Acho, King of Norway. That monarch invaded Scotland with a
large army, and drew up his forces before Largs, a town in Ayrshire.
He met with a great defeat, and, covered with disgrace, retired to his
own country. Wallace's father signalized himself on that field.-(1809.)

"Alas! not in our time!" answered Monteith. "The spear is at our
breasts, and we must submit. You see this castle is full of Edward's
soldiers. Every house is a garrison for England-but more of this by
and by; I have yet to tell you the contents of the packet which the
monk brought. It contained two others. One directed to Sir James
Douglas, at Paris, and the other to me. I read as follows:

"'Athol has persuaded Baliol to his ruin, and betrayed me into the
hands of Edward. I shall see Scotland no more. Send the inclosed to
my son at Paris; it will inform him what is the last wish of William
Douglas for his country. The iron box I confided to you, guard as your
life, until you can deposit it with my son. But should he remain
abroad, and you ever be in extremity, commit the box in strict charge