When they approached the spot they saw that the wooden building was brightly lit up with lights within, and the English guard, some fifty in number, were standing carelessly without, or, seated round fires, were carousing on wine which had been sent out by the revellers within.

The Scotch stole up quietly.  Wallace’s party, composed of half the strength, handed their bundles of straw to the men of Grahame’s company; then with a sudden shout they fell upon the English soldiers, while Grahame’s men, running straight to the door of the barn, threw down their trusses of straw against it, and Sir John, snatching down a torch which burned beside the entrance, applied fire to the mass, and then, without a moment’s delay, started at a run towards the town.  Taken wholly by surprise the English soldiers were slain by Wallace and his men almost before they had time to seize their arms.  Then the Scots gathered round the barn.  The flames were already leaping up high, and a terrible din of shouts and cries issued from within.  The doors had been opened now, but those within were unable to force their way across the blazing mass of straw.  Many appeared at the windows and screamed for mercy, and some leapt out, preferring to fall by the Scottish swords rather than to await death by fire within.

The flames rose higher and higher, and soon the whole building was enveloped, and ere many minutes all those who had carried out, if not planned, the massacre of Ayr had perished.  In the meantime Grahame and his party had reached the gate of Ayr.  Bidding others follow him at a distance of about a hundred yards, he himself, with Archie and ten of his followers, ran up at full speed.

“Quick!” he shouted to the sentry on the gate.  “Lower the bridge and let us in.  We have been attacked by Wallace and the Scots, and they will speedily be here.”

The attention of the guard had already been attracted by the sudden burst of light by the barns.  They had heard distant shouts, and deemed that a conflagration had broken out in the banqueting hall.  Not doubting for an instant the truth of Grahame’s story, they lowered the drawbridge instantly, and Sir John and his companions rushed across.

The guard were only undeceived when Grahame and his followers fell upon them with their heavy broadswords.  They had left their arms behind when they had assembled on the walls to look at the distant flames, and were cut down to a man by the Scots.  By this time the rest of Grahame’s band had arrived.

So short and speedy had been the struggle that no alarm had been given in the town.  The inmates of a few houses near opened their windows and looked out.

“Come down as quickly as you may,” Sir John said to them; “we have taken Ayr.”

Several of the burghers were soon in the street.

“Now,” Sir John said, “do two of you who know the town well go with me and point out the houses in which the English troops are quartered; let the others go from house to house, and bid every man come quickly with his sword to strike a blow for freedom.”