"
"Let me bring him hither!" interrupted Kirkpatrick; "he is brave as the
day, and will be a noble auxiliary."
"Every true Scot must be welcome to these walls," returned Wallace.
Kirkpatrick hastened from the tower to the northern side of the rock,
at the foot of which stood the earl and his train. With all the pride
of a freeman and a victor, Sir Roger descended the height. Lennox
advanced to meet him. "What is it I see? Sir Roger Kirkpatrick master
of this citadel, and our king's colors flying from its towers? Where
is the Earl de Valence? Where the English garrison?"
"The English garrison," replied Kirkpatrick, "are now twelve hundred
men beneath the waters of the Clyde. De Valence is fled; and this
fortress, manned with a few hardy Scots, shall sink into yon waves ere
it again bear the English dragon on its walls."
"And you, noble knight," cried Lennox, "have achieved all this? You
are the dawn to a blessed day for Scotland!"
"No," replied Kirkpatrick; "I am but a follower of the man who has
struck the blow. Sir William Wallace of Ellerslie is our chief; and
with the power of his virtues he subdues not only friends, but enemies,
to his command.
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