-"if we get the lion's share of
the fighting, we shall have the lion's share of the plunder and wine."

"For shame, Graheme! You say nothing of the glory."

"Ah! well," Graheme laughed, "we have already had so large share of
that, that I for one could do without winning any more just at present.
It's a dear commodity to purchase, and neither fills our belly nor our
pockets."

"For shame, Graheme! for shame!" Munro said laughing. "It is a scandal
that such sentiments should be whispered in the Scottish brigade;
and now to bed, gentlemen, for we shall have, methinks, a busy day
tomorrow."

Sir James Ramsay was appointed to command the assault. The river Maine
had to be crossed, and he sent off Lieutenant Robert Ramsay of his own
regiment to obtain boats from the peasantry. The disguise in which he
went was seen through, and he was taken prisoner and carried to the
castle. A few boats were, however, obtained by the Swedes.

The river is here 300 yards wide, and the central arch of the bridge had
been blown up by the Imperialists, a single plank remaining across the
chasm over the river 48 feet below. The bridge was swept by the heaviest
cannon in the fortress, and a passage appeared well nigh hopeless. On
the afternoon of the 5th of October the party prepared to pass, some
in boats, others by the bridge. A tremendous fire was opened by the
Imperialists from cannon and musketry, sweeping the bridge with a storm
of missiles and lashing the river to foam around the boats. The soldiers
in these returned the fire with their muskets, and the smoke served as a
cover to conceal them from the enemy.

In the meantime Major Bothwell of Ramsay's regiment led a company across
the bridge. These, in spite of the fire, crossed the plank over the
broken arch and reached the head of the bridge, from whence they kept
up so heavy a fire upon the gunners and musketeers in the lower works by
the river that they forced them to quit their posts, and so enabled Sir
James Ramsay and Sir John Hamilton to effect a landing.

Major Bothwell, his brother, and the greater part of his followers were,
however, slain by the Imperialists' fire from above. The commandant of
the castle now sallied out and endeavoured to recapture the works by
the water, but the Scotch repelled the attack and drove the enemy up
the hill to the castle again. The Scottish troops having thus effected
a lodgment across the river, and being protected by the rocks from the
en