CHAPTER XXI.
THE PATH ACROSS THE MORASS.
Mike, when night fell, moved away toward the castle, which lay about aquarter of a mile from the village. Approaching to within fifty yards ofthe gate, he sat down to watch. About eleven o'clock he heard the creakof the gate, and presently was startled by seeing two horsemen ride pasthim. "They must have muffled their horses' feet," he said to himself."They are up to no good. I wish there had only been one of them." Mikeslipped off his shoes and started in pursuit, keeping just far enoughbehind the horsemen to enable him to observe the outline of theirfigures. For half a mile they proceeded quietly. Then they stopped,dismounted, removed the cloths from their horses' feet, and remountingrode forward at a gallop. Mike's old exercise as a runner now renderedhim good service. He could already tell, by the direction which thehorsemen were taking, that they were bearing to the east of Edinburgh,but he resolved to follow as far as possible in order to see exactlywhither they went. The road, or rather track, lay across a moorlandcountry. The ground was often deep and quaggy, and the horsemen severaltimes checked their speed, and went at a slow walk, one advancing onfoot along the track to guide the way. These halts allowed breathingtime for Mike, who found it hard work to keep near them when going atfull speed. At last, after riding for an hour, the horsemen halted at asolitary house on the moorland, Here several horses, held by troopers,were standing. Mike crept round to the back of the house, and looked inat the window. He saw two English officers sitting by a fire, while alight burned on a table. Mike at once recognized in one of them thedreaded General Cromwell, whom he had seen at Drogheda.
"What a fool I was," he muttered to himself, "to have come without mypistol. I would have shot him as he sits, and so wiped out Drogheda."
At the moment the door opened, and a trooper in Scotch uniform entered."I have brought this letter," he said, "from Alan Campbell."
The general took the letter and opened it. "Campbell promises," he saidto the other officer, "to open fire upon the detachment in the villagewith the guns of the castle as soon as we attack. One of the men who hasbrought this will remain here and guide our troops across the morass. Hesuggests that two hundred foot and as many horse should be here at eightto-morrow evening. All he stipulates for is that Colonel Furness, theRoyalist who commands the enemy's detachment, shall be given over tohim, he having, it seems, some enmity with Argyll. Furness? ah, that isthe officer whom I sent to the Bermudas from Drogheda. We had advices ofhis having got away and captured a ship with other prisoners on board. Abold fellow, and a good officer, but all the more dangerous. LetCampbell do with him as he likes."
The other officer drew out an inkhorn and wrote, at Cromwell'sdictation, his adherence to the terms offered by Alan Campbell. Cromwellsigned the paper, and handed it to the messenger. Then the Englishgeneral and his escort mounted and rode off. Campbell's retainers satfor half an hour drinking together. Then they came to the door. Onemounted, and saying to the other, "I would rather have twenty-fourhours' sleep such as you have before you, than have to ride back toKirkglen to-night; the mist is setting in thickly," rode off into thedarkness.
Mike kept close to him, until at last the man dismounted to follow thetrack where the morass was most dangerous. In an instant Mike sprangupon him and buried his dagger in his body. Without a cry the trooperfell. Mike felt in his doublet for Cromwell's letter. Placing this inhis breast, he went a few paces from the path where he found that hesunk to his knees, the water being some inches deep over the bog. Thenhe returned, lifted the body of the trooper, carried it as far into thebog as he dared venture, and then dropped it. He placed his foot on theiron breastpiece, and pressed until the body sank in the soft ooze, andthe water completely covered it. Then he went back to the horse, andtaking the reins, followed the track until completely clear of themoorland country, where, mounting, he rode back to Kirkglen, andpresented himself to Harry. The latter had, hours before, gone to bed,having posted strong guards around the village. He struck a light andlistened to Mike's relation of what he had done, and ended by theproduction of the document with Cromwell's signature.
"Another debt to the Earl of Argyll," Harry said grimly. "However,although this proves the treachery of his kinsman, it does not convictArgyll himself, although the evidence is strong enough to hang any otherman. Now, Leslie, what do you advise? Shall we send and seize the manleft at the hut?"
"It is a doubtful question," Leslie answered, after a pause. "WhenCampbell finds that his messenger does not return before morning, hewill like enough send others off to learn the reason why. If they findhim gone, Campbell may suspect that his plan has failed and may sendwarning to Cromwell."
"At any rate," Harry continued, "we need not decide before morning. Butat daybreak, Leslie, plant a party of men on the road and stop anyhorseman riding out. Let the sergeant in charge say only that he has myorders that none are to pass eastward. It would be a natural precautionto take, and when the news comes back to the castle, Campbell will notnecessarily know that his scheme has been detected."
The next morning Leslie volunteered to go out with a couple of men andcapture the guide, and arraying himself in his clothes, to take hisplace, and lead the Roundhead troops astray.
"Were the country other than it is," Harry said, "I would accept youroffer, my brave Leslie, even though it might entail your death, for itwould be difficult for you to slip away. But over such ground there isno need of this. Let the guide lead the Roundhead troops along the path.We will reconnoiter the morass to-day, and when night falls will so postour men as to open a fire on either flank of him as he comes across thetrack. Not more than four footmen can march abreast, according to whatMike says, and we shall surprise him, instead of he surprising us."
An hour later two horsemen rode out from the castle, but upon reachingthe guard Leslie had placed were turned back. They returned to thecastle, and a short time afterward a trooper rode down into the villagewith a note from Alan Campbell, demanding haughtily by what warrantColonel Furness ventured to interfere with the free passage of hisretainers. Harry replied that he had, as a military precaution,stationed guards on the various roads leading toward the enemy'squarter, and that they were ordered to turn back all, whomsoever theymight be, who might seek to pass.
Alan Campbell returned a furious answer, that he should sally out withhis garrison, and ride where he listed. Harry replied by marching fiftymen up to the road leading to the castle, and by sending a message toAlan Campbell that, although he should regret to be obliged to treat himas an enemy, yet that assuredly if he strove by force to break themilitary rules he had laid down, he should be compelled to fire uponhim. Leaving the detachment under charge of Lieutenant Long, and themain body in the village under that of Hugh Grahame, Harry, accompaniedby Donald Leslie and Mike, rode off to reconnoiter the morass. Theyfound that it was particularly bad at two points, while between thesethe ground was firm for a distance of twenty yards on each side of thetrack. Beyond the swamp was very deep for thirty or forty yards on bothsides, and then it was again somewhat firmer.
Harry decided to post twenty-five men behind these quagmires. Theirorders would be to remain perfectly quiet until the column, passing thefirst morass, should have entered the second; then, when Harry, with themain body, opened fire upon them there, they were to commence upon theflanks of the column.
Returning to the camp, Harry sent forty men with shovels, obtained inthe village, to dig a trench, twelve feet wide, and as deep as theycould get for the water, across the track, at the near side of themorass.
At nightfall, leaving twenty-five men under William Long in front of thecastle, with orders to let none issue forth, and to shoot down any whomight make the attempt, Harry marched out with the rest of his command.Crossing the ditch which had been dug, he led fifty forward, and postedthem, as he had planned with Leslie; with twenty-five, he took up hisown station behind the breastwork formed by the earth thrown out fromthe trench. The remaining fifty he bade advance as far as they safelycou
ld into the swamp on either side. Two hours later a dull sound washeard, the occasional clink of arms, and the muffled tread of many feeton the soft ground. The Roundhead infantry, two hundred strong, led theway, followed by their horse, the guide walking with the officer at thehead of the column. When it approached within twenty yards of the ditchHarry gave the word, and a flash of fire streamed from the top of theearthwork. At the same moment those on either side opened fire into theflanks of the column, while the fifty men beyond poured their fire intothe cavalry in the rear of the column.
For a moment all was confusion. The Roundheads had anticipated noattack, and were taken wholly by surprise. The guide had fallen at thefirst discharge and all were ignorant of the ground on which they foundthemselves. They were, however, trained to conflict. Those on the flankof the column endeavored to penetrate the morass, but they immediatelysank to the middle, and had much ado to regain the solid track. The headof the column, pouring a volley into their invisible foes, leveled theirpikes, and rushed to the assault. A few steps, and they fell into a deephole, breast high with water, and on whose slippery bottom their feetcould scarce find standing. In vain they struggled forward. From frontand flank the fire of their enemy smote them. Those who reached theopposite side of the trench were run through with pikes as they stroveto climb from it.
For ten minutes the desperate struggle continued, and then, finding theimpossibility of storming such a position in the face of foes of whosestrength they were ignorant, the Roundhead infantry turned, and in goodorder marched back, leaving half their number dead behind them. Thecavalry in the rear had fared but little better. Finding the ground oneither side was firm when the fire opened on their flanks, they facedboth ways, and charged. But ere the horses had gone twenty strides theywere struggling to their girths in the morass. Their foes kept up asteady fire, at forty yards' distance, into the struggling mass, andbefore they could extricate themselves and regain the pathway, manyleaving their horses behind, a third of their number had fallen. Joinedby the beaten infantry, they retired across the track, and made theirway back toward their camp.
Leaving a strong guard at the morass to resist further attempts, Harryreturned with his force to the village having inflicted a loss of ahundred and fifty upon enemy, while he himself had lost but eight men.He intrenched the position strongly, and remained there unmolested,until a week later he received orders to march back to Edinburgh. Thefollowing day he was summoned before King Charles. He found thereGeneral Leslie, the Earl of Argyll, Alan Campbell, and several of theleaders of the Covenant.
"What is this I hear of you, Colonel Furness?" the king said. "GeneralLeslie has reported to me that you have inflicted a very heavy defeatupon a rebel force which marched to surprise you. This is good service,and for it I render you my hearty thanks. But, sir, the Earl of Argyllcomplains to me that you have beleaguered his kinsman, Alan Campbell, inhis hold at Kirkglen, and treated him as a prisoner, suffering none togo out or in during your stay there."
"This, sire, is the warranty for my conduct," Harry said, producing thedocument signed by Cromwell. "This was taken by one of my men from atrooper who had borne a dispatch from Alan Campbell to the enemy. Myman watched the interview between him and Cromwell himself, heard theterms of the dispatch, and saw Cromwell write and give this letter tothe trooper, whom he afterward slew, and brought me the letter. Theother trooper, who acted as guide to the enemy, fell in the attack."
The king took the letter and read it. "My lord," he said, "this is amatter which gravely touches your honor. This is a letter of GeneralCromwell's in answer to a traitorous communication of your kinsman here.He has offered to betray Colonel Furness and the troops under him toCromwell, and has sent a guide for the English troops. He stipulatesonly that Colonel Furness shall be handed over to him to do as he likeswith. As it was manifest to me here some time since that you and ColonelFurness are not friends, this touches you nearly."
"I know nothing of it," the earl said. "My kinsman will tell you."
"I do not need his assurances," King Charles said coldly. "He, at least,is proved to be a traitor, and methinks, my lord earl, that thepreachers who are so fond of holding forth to me upon the wickedness ofmy ways might with advantage bestow some of their spare timein conversing with you upon the beauty and godliness ofstraightforwardness. General Leslie, you will arrest at once, on hisleaving our presence, Colonel Alan Campbell, and will cause a court ofinquiry to sift this matter to the bottom. And hark you, my lord ofArgyll, see you that no more of your kinsmen practice upon the life ofmy faithful Colonel Furness. This is the third time that he has been injeopardy at your hands. I am easy, my lord earl, too easy, mayhap, butlet no man presume too far upon it. My power is but limited here, butremember the old saying, 'Wise men do not pull the tails of lions'whelps.' The day may come when Charles II. will be a king in power aswell as in name. Beware that you presume not too far upon his endurancenow." So saying, the king turned from Argyll, and bidding Harry followhim, and tell him the story of the defeat of the English troops, leftthe earl standing alone, the picture of rage and mortification.
"You had best beware, Master Furness," the king said. "He needs a longspoon they say, who sups with the deil. The Earl of Argyll is the realking of Scotland at present, and it is ill quarreling with him. You havegot the best of it in the first three rubbers, but be sure that Argyllwill play on till the cards favor him. And if you are once in his power,I would not give a baubee for your life. The proud earl treats me as amaster would teach a froward pupil, but I tell you, Master Furness, andI know you are discreet and can be trusted, that as surely as the earlbrought Montrose to the block, so surely shall Argyll's head roll on thescaffold, if Charles II. is ever King of England. But I fear for you,Master Furness. I can help you here not at all, and the lecture which,on your behalf, I administered to the earl--and in faith I wonder now atmy own courage--will not increase his love for you. You will never besafe as long as you remain in Scotland. What do you say? Will you southand join one or other of the Royalist bodies who are in arms there?"
"Not so, your majesty. With your permission, I will play the game out tothe end, although I know that my adversary holds the strongest cards.But even did I wish to leave, it would be as hazardous to do so as tostay here. So long as I am with my regiment I am in safety. I could notgain England by sea, for the Parliament ships bar the way, and did Ileave my regiment and go south with only a small party, my chance ofcrossing the border alive would be but small. No, your majesty, I havethe honor to command a king's regiment, and whether against Cromwell inthe field, or against Argyll's plots and daggers, I shall do my duty tothe end."
When, upon his return to the camp, Harry told his friends the purport ofthe interview between himself and Argyll, of Alan Campbell being putunder arrest and the earl openly reproved by the king, Donald Leslieraised his hands in despair.
"If you get through this, Furness," he said, "I shall for the rest of mylife be convinced that you have a charmed existence, and that your goodgenius is more powerful than the evil one of Argyll. The gossips saythat he is in alliance with the evil one himself, and I can well believethem. But I beg you, in all seriousness, to confine yourself to thecamp. So long as you are here you are safe. But once beyond its limitsyour life will not be worth a straw."
Jacob added his entreaties to those of Leslie, and Harry promised thatuntil the decisive battle was over he would keep among his men, unlesscompelled by duty to appear at court.
Four days afterward a soldier entered Harry's tent, and handed him amissive. It was as follows: "Upon receipt of this, Colonel Furness willproceed to Leith and will board the vessel, the Royalist, which has justarrived from Holland. There he will inspect the newly arrived recruits,who will be attached to his regiment. He will examine the store of armsbrought by her, and will report on their state and condition.--DavidLeslie, commanding his majesty's armies."
The duty was one of mere routine. Harry showed the note to Jacob, andsaid, "You may as well come with me
, Jacob. Your drilling is over forthe day, and you can aid me looking through the stores. Mike," he said,"we shall be back to supper. We are only going down to the port." Thetwo officers buckled on their swords, and at once started on foot forthe port, which was but half a mile distant. Mike looked anxiously afterhis master. Since the day when danger had first threatened him he hadscarce let him out of his sight, following close to his heels like afaithful dog. His present business seemed assuredly to forbode nodanger. Nevertheless, the lad felt restless and anxious when he saw hismaster depart. A few minutes later he went to William Long's tent."Master Long," he said, "will you see that my master's servant getssupper in readiness at the usual hour. He has gone down to the port toinspect some recruits just arrived from Holland, by order of GeneralLeslie, and said he would return by supper. I know that it is foolish,but since the affair with Alan Campbell I am never easy when he is notnear. In this case, I do not see that there can possibly be any lurkingdanger. Argyll could not know of his proceeding to the port, nor wouldhe venture to attack him there where the streets swarm with oursoldiers. Nevertheless, I would fain go down and assure myself that allis well."
William Long at once promised to look after the supper, and Mike hurriedaway after Harry and his companion. These had, however, too far a startto be overtaken, and when he reached the wharf he saw a boat rowed bytwo men, and having two sitters in the stern. It was already somedistance from shore, and appeared to be proceeding toward a vessel whichlay at anchor several hundred yards further out from the shore than theothers.
"Can you tell me," he asked a sailor, "whether that ship lying there isthe Royalist?"
"That is the name she goes by to-day," the sailor said, "for as I rowedpast her this morning on my way from fishing, I saw the name newlypainted on her stern. They have put it on her boat too, which you nowsee rowing toward her, and which has been lying by the pier all day, inreadiness to take out any one who might wish to go off to her."
"But have they changed her name, then?" Mike asked. "What have they beendoing that for?"
"She has been called the Covenant for the last two years," the sailorsaid. "But I suppose Johnny Campbell, her master, thought the other moresuited to the times."
The name of the captain at once aroused Mike's uneasiness to thefullest.
"Tell me," he said, "good fellow, did that ship arrive this morning fromHolland?"
"From Holland!" repeated the sailor. "No. She came down the coast fromthe north three days ago, with beasts for the army."
Mike stood for a moment thunderstruck. Then, without a word to thesailor, he turned and ran back at full speed through the town up to thecamp. At a headlong pace he made his way through the camp until hestopped at the tent of General Leslie. He was about to rush in withoutceremony when the sentinel stopped his way.
"Please let me pass," he panted. "I would see the general on a matter ofthe utmost importance."
The sentries laughed.
"You don't suppose," one of them said, "that the general is to bedisturbed by every barefooted boy who wants to speak to him. If you haveaught to say, you must speak first to the lieutenant of the guard."
"Every moment is of importance," Mike urged. "It is a matter of life anddeath. I tell you I must see the general." Then at the top of his voicehe began to shout, "Sir David Leslie! Sir David Leslie!"
"Silence there, young varmint, or I will wring thy neck for thee!"exclaimed the soldier, greatly scandalized, seizing Mike and shaking himviolently. But the boy continued to shout out at the top of his voice,"Sir David Leslie! Sir David Leslie!"