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

CHAPTER VII.
The Scots alarmed in Gash castle. Wallace kills But¬
ler, and effects his escape to Tor wood. Conference
with his maternal uncle.
After the confusion occasioned by the death
of the English leader had subsided^ a party of
forty men were despatched with the dead body
to St. Johnstone; and Butler, who had so far
recovered from his wound as to be able to take
the field under Sir Gerald, remained, with about
five hundred men, to look after the fugitives.
With this force he proceeded to secure all the
neighbouring passes, and to take such other
methods as he thought would prevent their es¬
cape.
In the mean time, Wallace and his few re¬
maining friends had put their place of refuge in
as good a state of defence as its ruinous condition
would admit; and having procured a sheep from
a neighbouring fold, they kindled a fire in the
court yard, and prepared for their evening repast.
Wallace wisely considered, from the fatigue
his followers had undergone during the day,