om fever as the other
troops, scarce a man in this company was sick, and they have, all
the winter, been fit for arduous service at any moment."

"That is good indeed, and I will remember it, and will see that,
another winter, similar games are carried on throughout the army.
Let the company be paraded at once. I will, myself, inspect them."

The company's call was sounded, and, surprised at a summons just as
they were cooking their dinners, the troops fell in, in front of
their quarters, and the officers took their places in front of
them, and waited for orders.

"I wonder what is up now," Nigel Forbes said to Harry. "You have
not heard anything, from your father, of our being wanted, have
you?"

"No; he was just as much surprised as I was, when a sergeant ran up
with Schlippenbach's order that the company were to fall in."

Five minutes after they had formed up, three officers were seen
approaching on foot.

"It is the colonel himself," Forbes muttered, as Captain Jervoise
gave the word to the men to stand to attention.

A minute later, Captain Jervoise gave the order for the salute, and
Harry saw that the tall young officer, walking with the colonel,
was the king. Without speaking a word, Charles walked up and down
the line, narrowly inspecting the men, then he returned to the
front.

"A fine set of fellows, Schlippenbach. I wish that, like my
grandfather, I had some fifteen thousand of such troops under my
orders. Present the captain to me."

The officers were called up, and Captain Jervoise was presented.

"Your company does you great credit, Captain Jervoise," the king
said. "I would that all my troops looked in as good health and
condition. Colonel Schlippenbach tells me that you have kept your
men in good health, all through the winter, by means of sports and
games. It is a good plan. I will try to get all my officers to
adopt it another winter. Do the men join in them willingly?"

Captain Jervoise and his officers had all, during the nine months
that had passed since they landed in Sweden, done their best to
acquire the language, and could now speak and understand it
thoroughly.

"They like it, your majesty. Our people are fond of games of this
kind. My four officers take part in them with the men."

The king nodded.

"That is as it should be. It must create a good feeling on both
sides. Present your officers to me, Captain Jervoise."

This was done, and the king spoke a few words to each.