Andrew; and by your valiant self, never to sheath my sword, while I
have life in my body, until Scotland be entirely free!"
The colors fixed, Wallace and his brave colleague descended the tower;
and perceiving the earl and countess, who sat on a stone bench at the
end of the platform, approached them. The countess rose as the chiefs
drew near. Lord Mar took his friend by the hand, with a gratulation in
his eyes that was unutterable; his lady spoke, hardly conscious of what
she said; and Wallace, after a few minutes' discourse, proposed to the
earl to retire with Lady Mar into the citadel, where she would be more
suitably lodged than in their late prison. Lord Mar was obeying this
movement, when suddenly stopping, he exclaimed, "but where is that
wondrous boy-your pilot over these perilous rocks? let me give him a
soldier's thanks?"
Happy at so grateful a demand, Wallace beckoned Edwin, who, just
relieved from his guard, was standing at some distance. "Here," said
he, "is my knight of fifteen! for last night he proved himself more
worthy of his spurs than many a man who has received them from a king."
"He shall wear those of a king," rejoined the Lord Mar, unbuckling from
his feet a pair of golden spurs; "these were fastened on my heels by
our great king, Alexander, at the battle of Largs.
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