Scotland/Scots > Life of Sir William Wallace, Knight of Ellerslie, and Guardian of Scotland

30
LIFE OF
hurrying to the place to apprehend the criminal.
On their arrival, some of the soldiers recog¬
nised, in his face and figure, the athletic
Scot, who had so lately baffled the efforts of
the bravest of their warriors. The alarm spread
—the gates of the town were shut—the troops
poured down to the scene of action; and Wal¬
lace, amid the throng of his enemies, was labour¬
ing with his sword to extricate himself from the
perilous situation in which his rashness had in¬
volved him: every blow told with terrible effect
on the heads of his assailants, who recoiled as
he advanced, and though certain of the impos¬
sibility of his escape, yet every man shrunk
from the honour of coming in contact with so
powerful an opponent. Forcing his way along
the street, now slippery with the blood of his
adversaries, he gained a position near one of the
gates, where a projection of the wall prevented
his being surrounded; this situation, however,
proved unfortunate,—for, while dealing his deadly
blows about him, his sword, striking against
the edge of a buttress, snapped in the middle,
and left him exposed to the fury of his assail¬
ants. Though a shout of exultation burst from
the armed crowd, yet it was not till after several
of their number had fallen beneath his dagger,
that our hero submitted to that fate which he