“Here I am,” Archie said; “why don’t you come and take me?”

Allan saw that the number of the defenders of the gate exceeded that of his own party, and there might, for aught he knew, be more within.

“I will take you tomorrow,” he said.

“Tomorrow never comes,” Archie replied with a laugh.  “Your father thought to take me yesterday.  How is the good knight?  Not suffering, I trust, greatly either in body or temper?”

“You shall repent this, Archibald Forbes,” Allan Kerr exclaimed furiously.  “It will be my turn next time.”

And turning his horse he rode off at full speed, attended by his followers.

“We had best start at once, Master Archie,” Sandy Graham said:  “it is eight miles to the Kerrs’ hold, and when Allan Kerr returns there you may be sure they will call out their vassals and will be here betimes in the morning.  Best get another cart from the village, for your men are weary and footsore, seeing that since yesterday even they have been marching without ceasing.  Elspie will by this time have got supper ready.  There was a row of ducks and chickens on the spit when I came away.”

“That were best, Sandy.  Do you see to their comforts, and aid my mother pack up such things as she most values, and I will go myself down to the village for the cart, for I wish to speak with some there.”

Archie had no difficulty in engaging two carts, as he thought that one would be needed for his mother and what possessions she might take.  Then he went from house to house and saw his old companions, and told them of his plans, which filled them with delight.  Having done this he returned to the hold, hastily ate the supper which had been put aside for him, and then saw that his mother’s chests, which contained all her possessions save a few articles of heavy furniture, were placed in one of the carts.  A bed was then laid on its floor upon which she could sit comfortably.  Elspie mounted with her.  Archie, Sandy, and the men took their places in the other carts, and the party drove off.  They had no fear of interruption, for the Kerrs, ignorant of the number who had arrived with Archie at Glen Cairn, would not venture to attack until they had gathered a considerable force, and would not be likely to set out till morning, and long before that time Dame Forbes would have arrived at her sister’s.

The journey was indeed performed without incident, the escort leaving them when within two or three miles of Lanark, and making their way direct to the craigs, whither Archie, the moment he had seen his mother safely at Sir Robert Gordon’s, returned.  He did not mount the craig, but wrapping himself in his cloak lay down at its foot.

As soon as it was daylight he walked out a mile on the road towards Glen Cairn.  He soon saw a party approaching in military order.  They halted when they reached him.  They were twenty in number, and were the lads of his band at Glen Cairn, ranging between the ages of sixteen and eighteen.  They had originally been stronger, but some of the elders had already joined Wallace’s followers.