they are going to demand
our surrender."

They reached the wall of the town just as the Imperialist officers
approached the gate.

"In the name of his majesty the emperor," one of them cried out, "I
command you to open the gate and to surrender to his good will and
pleasure."

"The smoking villages which I see around me," Count Mansfeld replied,
"are no hopeful sign of any good will or pleasure on the part of his
majesty towards us. As to surrendering, we will rather die. But I am
willing to pay a fair ransom for the town if you will draw off your
troops and march away."

"Beware, sir!" the officer said. "I have a force here sufficient to
compel obedience, and I warn you of the fate which will befall all
within these walls if you persist in refusing to admit us."

"I doubt not as to their fate," the count replied; "there are plenty of
examples before us of the tender mercy which your master's troops show
towards the towns you capture.

"Once again I offer you a ransom for the town. Name the sum, and if it
be in reason such as I and the townspeople can pay, it shall be yours;
but open the gates to you we will not."

"Very well," the officer said; "then your blood be on your own heads."
And turning his horse he rode with his companions back towards the
village.

On their arrival there a bustle was seen to prevail. A hundred horsemen
rode off and took post on an eminence near the town, ready to cut off
the retreat of any who might try to escape, and to enter the town when
the gates were forced open. The other two hundred men advanced on foot
in a close body towards the principal gate.

"They will try and blow it open with petards," Malcolm said. "Half of
my men are musketeers and good shots, and I will, with your permission,
place them on the wall to aid the townsfolk there, for if the gate is
blown open and the enemy force their way in it will go hard with us."

The count assented, and Malcolm posted his musketeers on the wall,
ordering Sergeant Sinclair with the remainder to set to work to erect
barricades across the street leading from the gate, so that, in case
this were blown in, such a stand might be made against the Imperialists
as would give the townspeople time to rally from the walls and to gather
there.

The Imperialists heralded their advance by opening fire with pistols and
musketoons against the wall, and the defenders at once replied. So heavy
was the fire that the head of the column wavered,