nine
o'clock
Conscious that filial affection watched over her , the sleep of the countess tranquillized her sufficiently to commence the return to the encampment with less painful evidences of exhaustion . A rude litter waited for her , in which she could recline when the pass allowed its safe passage , and which could be easily borne by the bearers when the intricacies of the path prevented all egress save by pedestrianism . It had been hurriedly made by her devoted adherents , and soothed and gratified , her usual energy seemed for the moment to return . By nine o'clock forenoon all traces of the Bruce and his party had departed from the glen , the last gleam of their armor was lost in the winding path , and then it was that a man , who had lain concealed in a thicket from the moment of the affray , hearing all that had passed , unseen himself , now slowly , cautiously raised himself on his knees , gazed carefully round him , then with a quicker but as silent motion sprung to his feet , and raised his hands in an action of triumph . '' _ He is _ amongst them , then , '' he muttered , `` the traitor Bruce himself . This is well . The countess , her son , find the would-be king -- ha !