than once causing the swords of the Bruce’s followers to turn aside in their rapid descent, less they should injure her they sought to save.  Like a young lion Alan fought, ably seconded by the king, whose gigantic efforts clearing his path, at length enabled himself and Alan to stand uninjured beside the countess, and thus obtain possession of her person, and guard her from the injury to which her captors voluntarily exposed her.  There was at first no attempt at flight, although the Bruce’s men carried all before them; the men fell where they stood, till only five remained, and these, after a moment’s hesitation, turned and fled.  A shrill cry from Malcolm had turned the king’s and Alan’s attention in another direction, and it was well they did so.  Determined on foiling the efforts of his foes, Donald MacAlpine, who was supposed to be among the fallen, had stealthily approached the spot where the countess, overcome with excessive faintness, still reclined, then noiselessly rising, his sword was descending on her unguarded head, when Alan, aroused by Malcolm’s voice, turned upon him and dashed his weapon from his grasp, at the same minute that the Bruce’s sword pierced the traitor’s heart:  he sprung in the air with a loud yell of agony, and fell, nearly crushing the countess with his weight.

It was the voice of Alan which aroused that fainting heart.  It was in the bosom of her son those tearful eyes were hid, after one startled and bewildered gaze on the countenance of her sovereign, who had been leaning over her in unfeigned anxiety.  A thicket of thorn, mingled with crags, divided her from the unseemly signs of the late affray; but though there was naught to renew alarm, it was with a cold shudder she had clung to her son, as if even her firm, bold spirit had given way.  Gently, cheeringly the king addressed her, and she evidently struggled to regain composure; but her powers of body were evidently so prostrated, that her friends felt rest of some kind she must have, ere she could regain sufficient strength to accompany them on their wanderings.  She had received three or four wounds in the melee, which though slight, the loss of blood that had followed materially increased her weakness, and the king anxiously summoned his friends around him to deliberate on the best measures to pursue.

Amongst them were two of Sir Alan’s retainers, old and faithful Scottish men, coeval with his grandfather, the late Earl of Buchan.  Devoted alike to the countess, the king, and their country, they eagerly listened to all that was passing, declaring that rather than leave the Lady Isabella in a situation of such danger as the present, they would take it by turns to carry her in their arms to the encampment.  The king listened with a benevolent smile.

“Is there no hut or house, or hunting-lodge to which we could convey your lady,” he asked, “where she might find quieter shelter and greater rest than hitherto?  An ye knew of such, it would be the wiser plan to seek it at break of day.”