he open country,
frequently turning round to examine the country around him, for at
any moment after he had left, his absence from the castle might be
discovered, and the pursuit begun. He hoped, however, that two or three
hours at least would elapse before the discovery was made.

He had, before starting, piled high the fire in the hall, and had placed
plenty of logs for the purpose of replenishing it close at hand. He put
tankards on the board, and with them a large jug full of wine, so that
the freebooters would have no occasion to call for him, and unless they
wanted him they would be unlikely to look into the kitchen. Except when
occasionally breaking into a walk to get breath, he ran steadily on.
It was not until he had gone nearly ten miles that he saw a goatherd
tending a few goats, and from him he learned the direction of Glogau,
and was glad to find he had not gone very far out of the direct line.
At last, after asking the way several times, he arrived within a short
distance of the village. The ground had now become undulating, and the
slopes were covered with trees. The village lay up a valley, and it
was evident that the road he was travelling was but little frequented,
ending probably at the village itself. Proceeding for nearly two miles
through a wood he came suddenly upon Glogau.

It stood near the head of the valley, which was here free of trees,
and some cultivated fields lay around it. The houses were surrounded
by fruit trees, and an air of peace and tranquillity prevailed such as
Malcolm had not seen before since he left his native country. One house
was much larger than the rest; several stacks stood in the rick yard,
and the large stables and barns gave a proof of the prosperity of its
owner. The war which had already devastated a great part of Germany had
passed by this secluded hamlet.

No signs of work were to be seen, the village was as still and quiet as
if it was deserted. Suddenly Malcolm remembered that it was the Sabbath,
which, though always kept strictly by the Scotch and Swedish soldiers
when in camp, for the most part passed unobserved when they were engaged
in active service. Malcolm turned his steps towards the house; as he
neared it he heard the sound of singing within. The door was open, and
he entered and found himself on the threshold of a large apartment in
which some twenty men and twice as many women and children were standing
singing a hymn which was led by a venerable pa