"Certainly; for if you attempt it on the west, we should have to scale
the watch-tower cliff, and the ascent could only be gained in file. An
auxiliary detachment, to attack in flank, might succeed there; but the
passage being so narrow, would be too tedious for the whole party to
arrive in time. Should we take the south, we must cut through the whole
garrison before we could reach the earl. And on this side, the morass
lies too near the foot of the rock to admit an approach without the
greatest danger. But on the north, where I descended, by wading
through part of the Leven, and climbing from cliff to cliff, I have
every hope you may succeed."

Edwin recounted the particulars of his progress through the fortress;
and by the minuteness of his topographical descriptions, enforced his
arguments for the north to be the point assailed. Closing his
narrative, he explained to the anxious inquiry of Wallace how he had
escaped accident in a leap of so many feet. The wall was covered with
ivy; he caught by its branches in his descent, and at last happily fell
amongst a thick bed of furze. After this, he clambered down the steep,
and fording the Leven (there only knee deep), now appeared before his
general, elate in heart, and bright in valor.

"The intrepidity of this action," returned Wallace, glowing with
admiration at so noble a daring in so young a creature, "merits that
every confidence should be placed in the result of your observations.
Your safe return is a pledge of our design being approved. And when we
go in the strength of Heaven, who can doubt the issue? This night,
when the Lord of battles puts that fortress into our hands, before the
whole of our little army you shall receive that knighthood you have so
richly deserved. Such, my truly dear brother, my noble Edwin, shall be