Such, indeed, proved to be the case.  Upon their arrival at Kirkglen, Leslie went in Harry’s name to demand admittance to the castle for the royal troops, but Campbell replied that he had received no orders to that effect, and that it would greatly incommode him to quarter so large a number of men there.  He said, however, that he would willingly entertain Colonel Furness and his officers.  Leslie brought back the message, strongly urging Harry on no account to enter the castle and put himself in the hands of the Campbells.  Harry said that even had he no cause to doubt the welcome he might receive at the castle, he should in no case separate himself from his men, when he might be at any moment attacked.

“It is a rough piece of country between this and Cromwell’s post,” Leslie said, “and he would have difficulty in finding his way hither.  There is more than one broad morass to be crossed, and without a guide he would scarce attempt it.  It is for this reason that he is so unlikely to send out foraging parties in this direction.  It was this reflection which caused me to wonder why we should be ordered hither.”

“Mike,” Harry said, “you have heard what Captain Leslie says.  Do you keep watch to-night near the castle gate, and let me know whether any leave it; and in which direction they go.  I will place a man behind to watch the postern.  If treachery is meditated, Campbell will send news of our coming to Cromwell.”

CHAPTER XXI.

The path across the morass.

Mike, when night fell, moved away toward the castle, which lay about a quarter of a mile from the village.  Approaching to within fifty yards of the gate, he sat down to watch.  About eleven o’clock he heard the creak of the gate, and presently was startled by seeing two horsemen ride past him.  “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.”  Mike slipped off his shoes and started in pursuit, keeping just far enough behind the horsemen to enable him to observe the outline of their figures.  For half a mile they proceeded quietly.  Then they stopped, dismounted, removed the cloths from their horses’ feet, and remounting rode forward at a gallop.  Mike’s old exercise as a runner now rendered him good service.  He could already tell, by the direction which the horsemen were taking, that they were bearing to the east of Edinburgh, but he resolved to follow as far as possible in order to see exactly whither they went.  The road, or rather track, lay across a moorland country.  The ground was often deep and quaggy, and the horsemen several times checked their speed, and went at a slow walk, one advancing on foot along the track to guide the way.  These halts allowed breathing time for Mike, who found it hard work to keep near them when going at full speed.  At last, after riding for an hour, the horsemen halted at a solitary house on the moorland, Here several horses, held by troopers, were standing.  Mike crept round to the back of the house, and looked in at the window.  He saw two English officers sitting by a fire, while a light burned on a table.  Mike at once recognized in one of them the dreaded General Cromwell, whom he had seen at Drogheda.