 cause, it was absolutely
necessary that he should conquer or die.
    »I have no retreat,« he said to himself. »All shall allow - even Major
Bellenden - even Edith - that in courage, at least, the rebel Morton was not
inferior to his father.«
    The condition of the army after the repulse was so undisciplined, and in
such disorganisation, that the leaders thought it prudent to draw off some miles
from the city to gain time for reducing them once more into such order as they
were capable of adopting. Recruits, in the meanwhile, came fast in, more moved
by the extreme hardships of their own condition, and encouraged by the advantage
obtained at Loudon Hill, than deterred by the last unfortunate enterprise. Many
of these attached themselves particularly to Morton's division. He had, however,
the mortification to see that his unpopularity among the more intolerant part of
the Covenanters increased rapidly. The prudence beyond his years, which he
exhibited in improving the discipline and arrangement of his followers, they
termed a trusting in the arm of flesh; and his avowed tolerance for those of
religious sentiments and observances different from his own, obtained him, most
unjustly, the nickname of Gallio, who cared for none of those things. What was
worse than these misconceptions, the mob of the insurgents, always loudest in
applause of those who push political or religious opinions to extremity, and
disgusted with such as endeavour to reduce them to the yoke of discipline,
preferred avowedly the more zealous leaders, in whose ranks enthusiasm in the
cause supplied the want of good order and military subjection, to the restraints
which Morton endeavoured to bring them under. In short, while bearing the
principal burden of command - (for his colleagues willingly relinquished in his
favour everything that was troublesome and obnoxious in the office of general) -
Morton found himself without that authority which alone could render his
regulations effectual.31 Yet, notwithstanding these obstacles, he had, during
the course of a few days, laboured so hard to introduce some degree of
discipline into the army, that he thought he might hazard a second attack upon
Glasgow with every prospect of success.
    It cannot be doubted that Morton's anxiety to measure himself with Colonel
Grahame of Claverhouse, at whose hands he had sustained such injury, had its
share in giving motive to his uncommon exertions. But Claverhouse disappointed
his hopes; for, satisfied with having the advantage in repulsing the first
attack upon Glasgow, he determined that he would not, with the handful of troops
under his command, await a second assault from the insurgents, with more
