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

54
LIFE OF
pied at this time, tended greatly to mislead
the enemy with regard to their numbers.
Sir Raynauld, being known to the outposts as
the uncle of their chief, found no difficulty in
making his way towards the object of his jour¬
ney. Observing from an eminence the appear¬
ance of smoke rising above the trees, at a consi¬
derable distance before him, he directed his steps
towards it, and found his nephew and his follow¬
ers, who, having lately returned from an inroad
upon the enemy in the neighbourhood of Lanark,
were busy in preparing for dinner. Those who
may not be acquainted with the system of camp
cookery in use among the Scots at this time, will
not be displeased with the following brief de¬
scription of it, taken chiefly from an author,
who, in these, as well as other matters, displays
an intimate acquaintance with the period of our
history :—On four stakes driven in the ground,
the skin of the animal they had slaughtered was
suspended in such a manner as to contain as
much water as would boil the quantity they in¬
tended to dress ; under the skin, so filled, a fire
was kindled, and the beef or venison, when suf¬
ficiently done, was distributed among the diffe¬
rent messes, who, seated on the ground, helped
themselves from the large wooden troughs, or
platers, which were placed before them; the