Leaving a strong guard at the morass to resist further attempts, Harry returned with his force to the village having inflicted a loss of a hundred 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.  The following day he was summoned before King Charles.  He found there General Leslie, the Earl of Argyll, Alan Campbell, and several of the leaders of the Covenant.

“What is this I hear of you, Colonel Furness?” the king said.  “General Leslie has reported to me that you have inflicted a very heavy defeat upon 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 Argyll complains to me that you have beleaguered his kinsman, Alan Campbell, in his hold at Kirkglen, and treated him as a prisoner, suffering none to go out or in during your stay there.”

“This, sire, is the warranty for my conduct,” Harry said, producing the document signed by Cromwell.  “This was taken by one of my men from a trooper who had borne a dispatch from Alan Campbell to the enemy.  My man watched the interview between him and Cromwell himself, heard the terms of the dispatch, and saw Cromwell write and give this letter to the trooper, whom he afterward slew, and brought me the letter.  The other 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 a matter which gravely touches your honor.  This is a letter of General Cromwell’s in answer to a traitorous communication of your kinsman here.  He has offered to betray Colonel Furness and the troops under him to Cromwell, and has sent a guide for the English troops.  He stipulates only that Colonel Furness shall be handed over to him to do as he likes with.  As it was manifest to me here some time since that you and Colonel Furness 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 the preachers who are so fond of holding forth to me upon the wickedness of my ways might with advantage bestow some of their spare time in conversing with you upon the beauty and godliness of straightforwardness.  General Leslie, you will arrest at once, on his leaving our presence, Colonel Alan Campbell, and will cause a court of inquiry to sift this matter to the bottom.  And hark you, my lord of Argyll, see you that no more of your kinsmen practice upon the life of my faithful Colonel Furness.  This is the third time that he has been in jeopardy at your hands.  I am easy, my lord earl, too easy, mayhap, but let no man presume too far upon it.  My power is but limited here, but remember 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 as well as in name.  Beware that you presume not too far upon his endurance now.”  So saying, the king turned from Argyll, and bidding Harry follow him, and tell him the story of the defeat of the English troops, left the earl standing alone, the picture of rage and mortification.