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

76
LIFE OF
attention towards that part of the wood where
he had stationed his little party, who also sent
their arrows among the English, though not
with such good effect as their chief, who conti¬
nued to bring down his man as they advanced.
The English having observed the opening at
which Wallace made his appearance to discharge
his deadly shafts, sent forward one of the most
expert of their Lancashire bowmen to lie in wait
for him, while the rest directed their weapons
at random towards those parts where they con¬
ceived his men to be stationed. It was not long
before the eagerness of Wallace betrayed him
to the practised hand of his watchful enemy,
whose well-aimed shaft, after grazing the collar
of steel which he usually wore, stuck fast in the
fleshy part of his neck. His keen eye, however,
soon discovered his lurking foe, and, hurrying
towards him, intercepted his retreat, and slew
him in front of his companions, who were so
struck with the boldness of the deed, that not
one of them attempted to prevent his return to
his associates. Although the Scots were gene¬
rally inferior to the English in the use of the
bow, yet, on the present occasion, having the
covering of the wood to shelter them from the
superior number and direct aim of their adver¬
saries, they managed, by. shifting their ground