or the task of recapturing
Leipzig, while he marched against Merseburg, which he captured with its
garrison of five hundred men.

After two or three assaults had been made on Leipzig the garrison
capitulated to the Saxons, and on the 11th of September the army was
drawn up and reviewed by Gustavus. When the king arrived opposite the
Green Brigade he dismounted and made the soldiers an address, thanking
them for their great share in winning the battle of Leipzig.

Many of the Scottish officers were promoted, Munro being made a full
colonel, and many others advanced a step in rank. The Scottish brigade
responded to the address of the gallant king with hearty cheers.
Gustavus was indeed beloved as well as admired by his soldiers. Fearless
himself of danger, he ever recognized bravery in others, and was ready
to take his full share of every hardship as well as every peril.

He had ever a word of commendation and encouragement for his troops, and
was regarded by them as a comrade as well as a leader. In person he was
tall and rather stout, his face was handsome, his complexion fair, his
forehead lofty, his hair auburn, his eyes large and penetrating, his
cheeks ruddy and healthy. He had an air of majesty which enabled him
to address his soldiers in terms of cheerful familiarity without in
the slightest degree diminishing their respect and reverence for him as
their monarch.

CHAPTER X THE PASSAGE OF THE RHINE

"I suppose," Nigel Graheme said, as the officers of the regiment
assembled in one of the Imperialist tents on the night after the battle
of Leipzig, "we shall at once press forward to Vienna;" and such was
the general opinion throughout the Swedish army; but such was not the
intention of Gustavus. Undoubtedly the temptation to press forward
and dictate peace in Vienna was strong, but the difficulties and
disadvantages of such a step were many. He had but 20,000 men, for the
Saxons could not be reckoned upon; and indeed it was probable that their
elector, whose jealousy and dislike of Gustavus would undoubtedly be
heightened by the events of the battle of Breitenfeld, would prove
himself to be a more than a doubtful ally were the Swedish army to
remove to a distance.

Tilly would soon rally his fugitives, and, reinforced by the numerous
Imperialist garrisons from the towns, would be able to overrun North
Germany in his absence, and to force the Saxons to join him even if the
elector were unwilling to do so.