JAMES THE SECOND.

127

unaided. This scheme failed; and the poltroons who had chap.formed it were compelled to share with braver men the risks of ~TiiiTthe last venture.

During the march through the country which lies betweenLoch Long and Loch Lomond, the insurgents were constantly-infested by parties of militia. Some skirmishes took place, inwhich the Earl had the advantage; but the bands which herepelled, falling back before him, spread the tidings of hisapproach, and, soon after he had crossed the river Leven, hefound a strong body of regular and irregular troops preparedto encounter him.

He was for giving battle. Ayloffe was of the same opinion.Hume, on the other hand, declared that to engage the enemywould be madness. He saw one regiment in scarlet. Moremight be behind. To attack such a force was to rush oncertain death. The best course was to remain quiet till night,and then to give the enemy the slip.

A sharp altercation followed, which was with difficultyquieted by the mediation of Rumbold. It was now evening.

The hostile armies encamped at no great distance from eachother. The Earl ventured to propose a night attack, and wasagain overruled.

Since it was determined not to fight, nothing was left butto take the step which Hume had recommended. There was dis " ,

* persed.

a chance, that by decamping secretly, and hastening all nightacross heaths and morasses, the Earl might gain many mileson the enemy, and might reach Glasgow without furtherobstruction. The watch fires were left burning; and themarch began. And now disaster followed disaster fast. Theguides mistook the track across the moors, and led the armyinto boggy ground. Military order could not be preserved byundisciplined • and disheartened soldiers under a dark sky,and on a treacherous and uneven soil. Panic after panicspread through the broken ranks. Every sight and sound was