the light of day; she felt the motion of the boat, and raising her
head, saw that she was again embarked on the treacherous element on
which she had lately experienced so many terrors. She grew deadly
pale, and grasped her husband's hand. "My dear Joanna," cried he, "be
not alarmed, we are all safe."

"And Sir William Wallace has left us?" demanded she.

"No, madam," answered a voice from the steerage, "not till this party
is safe at Bute do I quit it."

She looked round with a grateful smile; "Ever generous! How could I
for a moment doubt our preserver?"

Wallace bowed, but remained silent; and they passed calmly along till
the vessel came in sight of a birling,** which, bounding over the
waves, was presently so near the earl's, that the figures in each could
be distinctly seen. In it the chiefs, to their rapturous surprise,
beheld Murray and Edwin. The latter, with a cry of joy, leaped into
the sea; the next instant he was over the boat's side, and clasped in
the arms of Wallace. Real transport, true happiness, now dilated the
heart of the before desponding chief. He pressed the dear boy again
and again to his bosom, and kissed his white forehead with all the
rapture of the fondest brother. "Thank God! thank God!" was all that
Edwin could say; while, at every effort to tear himself from Wallace,
to congratulate his uncle on his safety, his heart overflowing toward
his friend, opened afresh, and he clung the closer to his breast; till
at last, exhausted with happiness, the little hero of Dumbarton gave
way to the sensibility of his tender age, and the chief felt his bosom
wet with the joy-drawn tears of his youthful banneret.