n officers who may be taken
prisoners."

"Very well, sir," Charlie said, fearlessly. "He will be only
punishing his own officers. There are plenty of them in the King of
Sweden's hands."

The general, when this reply was translated to him, angrily ordered
Charlie to be taken away, and he was soon lodged in a cell in the
castle. His head was still swimming from the effects of the blow
that had stricken him down, and, without even trying to think over
his position, he threw himself down on the straw pallet, and was
soon asleep.

It was morning when he woke and, for a short time, he was unable to
imagine where he was, but soon recalled what had happened. He had
been visited by someone after he had lain down, for a platter of
bread and meat stood on the table, and a jug of water. He was also
covered with two thick blankets. These had not been there when he
lay down, for he had wondered vaguely as to how he should pass the
night without some covering.

He took a long draught of water, then ate some food. His head
throbbed with the pain of the wound. It had been roughly bandaged
by his captors, but needed surgical dressing.

"I wonder how long I am likely to be, before I am exchanged," he
said to himself. "A long time, I am afraid; for there are scores of
Russian officers prisoners with us, and I don't think there are
half a dozen of ours captured by the Russians. Of course, no
exchange can take place until there are a good batch to send over,
and, it may be, months may pass before they happen to lay hands on
enough Swedish officers to make it worth while to trouble about
exchanging them."

An hour later the door opened, and an officer entered, followed by
a soldier with a large bowl of broth and some bread.

"I am a doctor," he said in Swedish. "I came in to see you
yesterday evening, but you were sound asleep, and that was a better
medicine than any I can give; so I told the man to throw those two
barrack rugs over you, and leave your food in case you should wake,
which did not seem to me likely. I see, however, that you did
wake," and he pointed to the plate.

"That was not till this morning, doctor. It is not an hour since I
ate it."

"This broth will be better for you, and I daresay you can manage
another breakfast. Sit down and take it, at once, while it is hot.
I am in no hurry."

He gave an order in Russian to the soldier, who went out, and
returned in a few minutes with a small wooden tub, filled with