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

92
LIFE OF
surprise, set off in full pursuit, followed by the
whole of their force.
Though, from his superior knowledge of the
country, Wallace was frequently enabled to dis¬
tance his pursuers, yet the keenness with which
they kept up the chase obliged him several
times to turn and act on the offensive. As this
was always done in situations where he could
not be surrounded, those that 'were most for¬
ward paid dearly for their temerity; whilst the
suddenness and fury of his attacks repeatedly
spread a panic to the rear of his enemies, from
the idea that he had met a reinforcement of his
countrymen. Before the shades of evening had
set in, twenty of the English were strewed along
the line of his retreat, and those who were fore¬
most, had become very cautious in approaching
within reach of his arm. A rising part of the
ground had, for some time, hid him from their
view, and when they again came in sight of him
he appeared leading his jaded and breathless
steed up a steep and rugged pass between two
craggy precipices: though he was soon again
obscured in the shades of twilight, yet from the
exhausted state of his horse they saw little pro¬
bability of his being able to effect his escape.
Having with difficulty followed the tract of their