They only require
your presence, my lord, to forswear their former leaders, and to enlist
under Scottish banners."
"Thou art an able orator, my good Stephen," returned Wallace; "and
whatever promises thou hast made to honest men in the name of Scotland,
we are ready to ratify them. Is it not so?" added he, turning to
Kirkpatrick and Scrymgeour."
"All as you will," replied they in one voice. "Yes," added
Kirkpatrick; "you were the first to rise for Scotland, and who but you
has a right to command for her?"
Ireland threw open the door which led into the hall, and there, on the
ground, on pallets of straw, lay most of the wounded Southrons. Some
of their dimmed eyes had discerned their preserver, when he discovered
them expiring on the rock; and on sight of him now, they uttered such a
piercing cry of gratitude, that, surprised, he stood for a moment. In
that moment, five or six of the poor wounded wretches crawled to his
feet. "Our friend! our preserver!" burst from their lips, as they
kissed the edge of his plaid.
"Not to me, not to me!" exclaimed Wallace. "I am a soldier like
yourselves. I have only acted a soldier's part; but I am a soldier of
freedom, you of a tyrant, who seeks to enslave the world.
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