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“Come，myfaithfulkinsmen！“criedLordArbroath，dashingforwardonhissidewiththesameobject；“come，mymen-at-arms！ForGodandthequeen！“
Thetwotroopsprecipitatedthemselvesimmediatelyindisorderandranagainstoneanotherinthenarrowway，where，aswehavesaid，twomencouldhardlypassabreast。Therewasaterriblecollisionthere，andtheconflictbeganamongfriendswhoshouldhavebeenunitedagainsttheenemy。Finally，thetwotroops，leavingbehindthemsomecorpsesstifledinthepress，orevenkilledbytheircompanions，passedthroughthedefilepell-mellandwerelostsightofintheravine。ButduringthisstruggleSeytonandArbroathhadlostprecioustime，andthedetachmentsentbyMurray，whichhadtakentheroadbyGlasgow，hadreachedthevillagebeforehand；itwasnownecessarynottotakeit，buttoretakeit。
Argyllsawthatthewholeday’sstrugglewouldbeconcentratedthere，and，understandingmoreandmoretheimportanceofthevillage，immediatelyputhimselfattheheadofthebodyofhisarmy，commandingarearguardoftwothousandmentoremainthereandawaitfurtherorderstotakepartinthefighting。Butwhetherthecaptainwhocommandedthemhadillunderstood，orwhetherhewaseagertodistinguishhimselfintheeyesofthequeen，scarcelyhadArgyllvanishedintotheravine，attheendofwhichthestrugglehadalreadycommencedbetweenKirkcaldyofGrangeandMortonontheoneside，andontheotherbetweenArbroathandSeyton，than，withoutregardingthecriesofMaryStuart，hesetoffinhisturnatagallop，leavingthequeenwithoutotherguardthanthelittleescortoftwentymenwhichDouglashadchosenforher。Douglassighed。
“Alas！“saidthequeen，hearinghim，“Iamnotasoldier，butthereitseemstomeisabattleverybadlybegun。“
“Whatistobedone？“repliedDouglas。“Weareeveryoneofusinfatuated，fromfirsttolast，andallthesemenarebehavingto-daylikemadmenorchildren。“
“Victory！victory！“saidthequeen；“theenemyisretreating，fighting。IseethebannersofSeytonandArbroathfloatingnearthefirsthousesinthevillage。Oh！mybravelords，“criedshe，clappingherhands。“Victory！victory！“
Butshestoppedsuddenlyonperceivingabodyoftheenemy’sarmyadvancingtochargethevictorsinflank。
“Itisnothing，itisnothing，“saidDouglas；“solongasthereisonlycavalrywehavenothingmuchtofear，andbesidestheEarlofArgyllwillfallinintimetoaidthem。“
“George，“saidLittleWilliam。
“Well？“askedDouglas。
“Don’tyousee？“thechildwenton，stretchingouthisarmstowardstheenemy’sforce，whichwascomingonatagallop。
“What？“
“Eachhorsemancarriesafootmanarmedwithanarquebusebehindhim，sothatthetroopistwiceasnumerousasitappears。“
“That’strue；uponmysoul，thechildhasgoodsight。LetsomeonegoatoncefullgallopandtakenewsofthistotheEarlorArgyll。“
“I！I！“criedLittleWilliam。“Isawthemfirst；itismyrighttobearthetidings。“
“Go，then，mychild，“saidDouglas；“andmayGodpreservethee！“
Thechildflew，quickaslightning，nothearingorfeigningnottohearthequeen，whowasrecallinghim。HewasseentocrossthegorgeandplungeintothehollowroadatthemomentwhenArgyllwasdebouchingattheendandcomingtotheaidofSeytonandArbroath。
Meanwhile，theenemy’sdetachmenthaddismounteditsinfantry，which，immediat
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