arauders were in a position to offer any resistance
whatever. The greater portion were buried under the mass of foliage.
Many had been struck down by the trunks or heavy arms of the trees.
All were hampered and confused by the situation in which they found
themselves. Under such circumstances it was a massacre rather than a
fight. Malcolm, seeing the inability of the freebooters to oppose any
formidable resistance, sheathed his sword, and left it to the peasants
to avenge the countless murders which the band had committed, and the
ruin and misery which they had inflicted upon the country.

In a few minutes all was over. The brigands were shot down, piked, or
slain by the heavy axes through the openings in their leafy prison.
Quarter was neither asked for nor given. The freebooters knew that it
would be useless, and died cursing their foes and their own fate in
being thus slaughtered like rats in a trap. Two or three of the peasants
were wounded by pistol shots, but this was all the injury that their
success cost them.

"The wicked have digged a pit, and they have fallen into it themselves,"
the farmer said as he approached the spot where Malcolm was standing,
some little distance from the scene of slaughter. "Verily the Lord hath
delivered them into our hands. I understand, my young friend, why you
as a soldier did not aid in the slaughter of these villains. It is your
trade to fight in open battle, and you care not to slay your enemies
when helpless; but with us it is different. We regard them as wild
beasts, without heart or pity, as scourges to be annihilated when we
have the chance; just as in winter we slay the wolves who come down to
attack our herds."

"I blame you not," Malcolm said. "When men take to the life of wild
beasts they must be slain as such. Now my task is done, and I will
journey on at once to join my countrymen; but I will give you one piece
of advice before I go.

"In the course of a day or two the party left at Wolfsburg will grow
uneasy, and two of their number are sure to ride hither to inquire as to
the tarrying of the band. Let your men with arquebuses keep watch night
and day and shoot them down when they arrive. Were I in your place I
would then mount a dozen of your men and let them put on the armour of
these dead robbers and ride to Wolfsburg, arriving there about daybreak.
If they see you coming they will take you to be the band returning. The
two men below you will cut down without d