bodies of several
men and women lay scattered among the houses; two or three dogs were
prowling about, and these growled angrily at the intruder, and would
have attacked him had he not flourished a club which he had cut in the
woods for self defence.

Moving about through the village he heard a sound of wild laughter, and
going in that direction saw a woman sitting on the ground. In her lap
was a dead child pierced through with a lance. The woman was talking
and laughing to it, her clothes were torn, and her hair fell in wild
disorder over her shoulders. It needed but a glance to tell Malcolm that
the poor creature was mad, distraught by the horrors of the previous
day.

A peasant stood by leaning on a stick, mournfully regarding her. He
turned suddenly round with the weapon uplifted at the sound of Malcolm's
approach, but lowered it on seeing that the newcomer was a lad.

"I hoped you were a soldier," the peasant said, as he lowered his stick.
"I should like to kill one, and then to be killed myself. My God, what
is life worth living for in this unhappy country? Three times since the
war began has our village been burned, but each time we were warned of
the approach of the plunderers, and escaped in time. Yesterday they came
when I was away, and see what they have done;" and he pointed to his
wife and child, and to the corpses scattered about.

"It is terrible," Malcolm replied. "I was taken a prisoner but two days
since at the sack of New Brandenburg, but I have managed to escape. I am
a Scot, and am on my way now to join the army of the Swedes, which will,
I hope, soon punish the villains who have done this damage."

"I shall take my wife to her mother," the peasant said, "and leave
her there. I hope God will take her soon, and then I will go and take
service under the Swedish king, and will slay till I am slain. I would
kill myself now, but that I would fain avenge my wife and child on some
of these murderers of Tilly's before I die."

Malcolm felt that the case was far beyond any attempt at consolation.

"If you come to the Swedish army ask for Ensign Malcolm Graheme of
Reay's Scottish regiment, and I will take you to one of the German
corps, where you will understand the language of your comrades." So
saying he turned from the bloodstained village and continued his way.

CHAPTER V MARAUDERS

Malcolm had brought with him from Tilly's camp a supply of provisions
sufficient for three or four days, and