These thoughts, as full of
sorrow as of hope, had not occupied him long when he espied a man, in
the Red Cummin's colors, speeding toward the south. He guessed him to
be some new messenger of the regent to Edward, and throwing himself
before the horse, caught it by the bridle, then coolly commanded its
rider to deliver to him the dispatches which he carried to the King of
England. The man refused, and, striking his spurs into his beast,
tried to trample down his assailant. But Bruce was not to be put from
his aim. The manner of the Scot convinced him that his suspicions were
right, and putting forth his nervous arm, with one action he pulled the
messenger from his saddle and laid him prostrate on the ground. Again
he demanded the papers. "I am your prince," cried he, "and by the
allegiance you owe to Robert Bruce, I command you to deliver them into
my hands. Life shall be your reward, immediate death the punishment of
your obstinacy."
In such an extremity the man did not hesitate, and taking from his
bosom a sealed packet, immediately resigned it. Bruce ordered him to
stand before him till he had read the contents. Trembling with terror
of this formidable freebooter (for he placed no belief in the
declaration that he was the Prince of Scotland), the man obeyed, and
Bruce, breaking his seals, found, as he expected a long epistle from
the regent, urging the sanguinary aim of his communications.
Pages:
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237