gel, and most of the officers came down to bid farewell to
Malcolm, and to wish him a speedy return in good health. Then he placed
himself at the head of the band and marched off, the wagon following in
the rear. Before they had been gone a mile several of the men had been
compelled to take their places in the wagon, and by the time three miles
had been passed the rest had one by one been forced to give in.

Malcolm was one of the last. He took his seat by the driver, and the
now heavily freighted wagon moved slowly across the country. A store of
provisions sufficient for several days had been placed in the wagon, and
after proceeding fifteen miles a halt was made at a deserted village,
and two of the houses in the best condition were taken possession of,
Malcolm and the sergeant of the party, a young fellow named Sinclair,
occupying the one, and the men taking up their quarters in another.

The next morning the benefit of the change and the removal from the
fever tainted air made itself already apparent. The distance performed
on foot was somewhat longer than on the preceding day; the men were in
better spirits, and marched with a brisker step than that with which
they had left the camp. At the end of the fourth day they approached the
wood in which the village was situated.

"I will go on ahead," Malcolm said. "Our approach will probably have
been seen, and unless they know who we are we may meet with but a rough
welcome. Halt the wagon here until one returns with news that you may
proceed, for there may be pitfalls in the road."

Malcolm had kept the horse on which he had ridden to Landsberg, and it
had been tied behind the wagon. During the last day's march he had been
strong enough to ride it. He now dismounted, and taking the bridle over
his arm he entered the wood. He examined the road cautiously as he went
along. He had gone about half way when the farmer with four of his men
armed with pikes suddenly appeared in the road before him.

"Who are you," the farmer asked, "and what would you here?"

"Do you not remember me?" Malcolm said. "It is but three months since I
was here."

"Bless me, it is our Scottish friend! Why, lad, I knew you not again, so
changed are you. Why, what has happened to you?"

"I have had the fever," Malcolm said, "and have been like to die; but I
thought that a change to the pure air of your hills and woods here would
set me up. So I have travelled here to ask your hospitality."

B