He
found it so firmly fastened by bars and padlocks, he could not move it.
Again he ascended to his terrified wife, who, conscious how little
obligation Wallace owed to her, perhaps dreaded even more to see her
husband's hopes realized than to find herself yet more rigidly the
prisoner of the haughty De Valence.
"Joanna!" cried he, "the arm of God is with us. My prayers are heard.
Scotland will yet be free. Hear those groans-those shouts. Victory!
victory!"
As he thus echoed the cry of triumph uttered by the Scots when bursting
open the outer gate of the tower, the foundations of the building
shook, and Lady Mar, almost insensible with terror, received the
exhausted body of her husband into her arms; he fainted from the
transport his weakened frame was unable to hear. Soon after this the
stair-door was forced, and the panic-struck women ran shrieking into
the room to their mistress.
The countess could not speak, but sat pale and motionless, supporting
his head on her bosom. Guided by the noise, Lord Andrew flew into the
room, and rushing toward his uncle, fell at his feet. "Liberty!
Liberty!" was all he could say. His words pierced the ear of the earl
like a voice from heaven, and looking up, without a word, he threw his
arms round the neck of his nephew.
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