Many of the English were too just to share in the subjugation of the
country they had sworn to befriend. And their less honorable
countrymen, when they see Scotsmen no longer consenting to their own
degradation, may take shame to themselves for assisting to betray a
confiding people."
"That may be" returned Kirkpatrick; "but surely you would not rank
Aymer de Valence, who lords it over Dumbarton, and Cressingham, who
acts the tyrant in Stirling-you would not rank them amongst these
conscientious English?"
"No," replied Wallace; "the haughty oppression of the one and the
wanton cruelty of the other, have given Scotland too many wounds for me
to hold a shield before them; meet them, and I leave them to your
sword."
"And by heavens!" cried Kirkpatrick, gnashing his teeth with the fury
of a tiger, "they shall know its point!"
Wallace then informed his friends he purposed marching next morning by
daybreak toward Dumbarton Castle. "When we make the attack" said he,
"it must be in the night; for I propose seizing it by storm."
Murray and Kirkpatrick joyfully acquiesced. Edwin smiled an enraptured
assent, and Wallace, with many a gracious look and speech, disengaged
himself from the clinging embraces of the weaker part of the garrison,
who, seeing in him the spring of their husband's might and the guard of
their own safety, clung to him as to a presiding deity.
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