His stores of oatmeal were brought out, kine were slaughtered; and a rude and hasty meal was set before the numerous guests.

Thus refreshed, they again set forth, and marched all day over bog, moor, and mountain.

Thinly inhabited as the country was, they could plainly see that the report of their disaster had already spread far, and that the population was every where in a state of great excitement.

Late at night they reached Castle Drummond, which was held for King William by a small garrison; and, on the following day, they proceeded with less difficulty to Stirling, [368] The tidings of their defeat had outrun them.

All Scotland was in a ferment.