suggested the difficulties attending so small a force assailing so
formidable a garrison, without some immediate knowledge of its relative
situations. A sudden thought struck him. He would mount that rock
alone; he would seek to ascertain the place of Lord Mar's confinement;
that not one life in Wallace's faithful band might be lost in a vague
search.

"Ah! my general," exclaimed he, "Edwin shall be the first to spring
those ramparts; he shall tread that dangerous path alone; and when he
has thus proved himself no unworthy of thy confidence, he will return
to lead thee and thy soldiers to a sure victory, and himself to honor
by thy side!"

This fervant apostrophe, breathed to the night alone, was no sooner
uttered, than he stole from the thicket into which he had cast himself
to respose. He looked toward the embattled cliff; its summit stood
bright in the moonlight, but deep shadows lay beneath. "God be my
speed!" cried he, and wrapping himself in his plaid, so mixed its dark
hues with the weeds and herbage at the base of the rock, that he made
its circuit without having attracted observation.

The south side seemed the easiest of ascent and by that he began his
daring attempt. Having gained the height, he clambered behind a
buttress, the shadow of which cast the wall into such black obscurity,
that he crept safely through one of its crenelles, and dropping gently
inward, alighted on his feet. Still keeping the shadowed side of the
battlements, he proceeded cautiously along, and so still was his motion
that he passed undiscovered, even by the sentinels who guarded this
quarter of the fortress.