m
to congratulate him on his safe return and on his restored health.

"The change has done wonders for you, Malcolm," Nigel Graheme said.
"Why, when you marched out you were a band of tottering scarecrows,
and now your detachment looks as healthy and fresh as if they had but
yesterday left Scotland; but come in, the bugle has just sounded to
supper, and we are only waiting for the colonel to arrive. He is at
present in council with the king with Hepburn and some more. Ah! here he
comes."

Munro rode up and leapt from his horse, and after heartily greeting
Malcolm led the way into the tent where supper was laid out. Malcolm
was glad to see by the faces of his comrades that all had shaken off the
disease which had played such havoc among them at Old Brandenburg.

"Is there any chance of a general engagement?" he asked Nigel.

"Not at present," Nigel said. "We are expecting the reinforcements up in
a few days. As you see we have fortified the camp too strongly for Tilly
to venture to attack us here. Only yesterday he drew up his army and
offered us battle; but the odds were too great, and the king will not
fight till his reinforcements arrive. Some of the hotter spirits were
sorry that he would not accept Tilly's invitation, and I own that I
rather gnashed my teeth myself; but I knew that the king was right in
not risking the whole cause rashly when a few days will put us in a
position to meet the Imperialists on something like equal terms. Is
there any news, colonel?" he asked, turning to Munro.

"No news of importance," the colonel replied; "but the king is rather
puzzled. A prisoner was taken today--one of Pappenheim's horsemen--and
he declares that a force of horse and foot have been defeated at
Mansfeld by a Swedish army with heavy loss. He avers that he was present
at the affair, and arrived in camp with the rest of the beaten force
only yesterday. We cannot make it out, as we know that there are no
Swedish troops anywhere in that direction."

Malcolm burst into a hearty laugh, to the surprise of his fellow
officers.

"I can explain the matter, colonel," he said. "It was my detachment that
had the honour of representing the Swedish army at Mansfeld."

"What on earth do you mean, Malcolm?" the colonel asked.

"Well, sir, as you know I went with a detachment to the village where I
had before been well treated, and had earned the gratitude of the people
by teaching them how to destroy a party of marauders. Aft