But when the Galloway men looked again, and saw they were opposed by only one man, they themselves being so many, they cried out, that their honour would be lost forever if they did not force their way; and encouraged each other, with loud cries, to plunge through and assault him.  But by this time the King’s soldiers came up to his assistance, and the Galloway men gave up their enterprise.

About the time when the Bruce was yet at the head of but few men, Sir Aymer de Valence, who was Earl of Pembroke, together with Sir John of Lorn, came into Galloway, each of them being at the head of a large body of men.  John of Lorn had a bloodhound with him, which it was said had formerly belonged to Robert Bruce himself; and having been fed by the King with his own hands, it became attached to him, and would follow his footsteps anywhere, as dogs are well known to trace their master’s steps, whether they be bloodhounds or not.  By means of this hound, John of Lorn thought he should certainly find out Bruce, and take revenge on him for the death of his relation Comyn.

The King saw that he was followed by a large body, and being determined to escape from them, he made all the people who were with him disperse themselves different ways, thinking thus that the enemy must needs lose trace of him.  He kept only one man along with him, and that was his own foster-brother, or the son of his nurse.  When John of Lorn came to the place where Bruce’s companions had dispersed themselves, the bloodhound, after it had sniffed up and down for a little, quitted the footsteps of all the other fugitives, and ran barking upon the track of two men out of the whole number.  Then John of Lorn knew that one of these two must needs be King Robert.  Accordingly, he commanded five of his men that were speedy of foot to chase after him, and either make him prisoner or slay him.  The Highlanders started off accordingly, and ran so fast, that they gained sight of Robert and his foster-brother.  The King asked his companion what help he could give him, and his foster-brother answered he was ready to do his best.  So these two turned on the five men of John of Lorn, and killed them all.

But by this time Bruce very much fatigued, and yet they dared not sit down to take any rest; for whenever they stopped for an instant, they heard the cry of the bloodhound behind them, and knew by that, that their enemies were coming up fast after them.  At length, they came to a wood, through which ran a small river.  Then Bruce said to his foster-brother, “Let us wade down this stream for a great way, instead of going straight across, and so this unhappy hound will lose the scent; for if we were once clear of him, I should not be afraid of getting away from the pursuers.”  Accordingly, the King and his attendant walked a great way down the stream, taking care to keep their feet in the water, which could not retain any scent where they had stepped.  Then they came ashore on the further side from the enemy, and went deep into the wood before they stopped to rest themselves.  In the meanwhile, the hound led John of Lorn straight to the place where the King went into the water, but there the dog began to be puzzled, not knowing where to go next.  So, John of Lorn, seeing the dog had lost track, gave up the chase, and returned to join with Aymer de Valence.