ain began to be felt, the external heat
and friction being aided by the administration of two steaming flagons
of spiced wine. Dry clothes were taken from their knapsacks and warmed
before the fire, and when these were put on they again felt warm and
comfortable.

Hurrying off now to the spot where the troops were drawn up, they found
that the boat had already made two passages. She rowed four oars, and
would, laden down to the water's edge, carry twenty-five men. The oars
had been muffled with cloths so as to make no sound in the rowlocks.
A party of Munro's Scots had first crossed, then a party of Swedes.
Malcolm and the sergeant joined their company unnoticed in the darkness.
Each detachment sent over a boat load in turns, and when six loads
had crossed it was again the turn of the men of Munro's regiment, and
Malcolm entered the boat with the men. The lights still burned as a
signal, enabling the boat to land each party almost at the same spot.
Malcolm wondered what was going on. A perfect stillness reigned on the
other side, and it was certain that the alarm had not yet been given.

On ascending the bank he saw in front of him some dark figures actively
engaged, and heard dull sounds. On reaching the spot he found the
parties who had preceded him hard at work with shovels throwing up an
intrenchment. In the darkness he had not perceived that each of the
soldiers carried a spade in addition to his arms. The soil was deep and
soft, and the operations were carried on with scarce a sound. As each
party landed they fell to work under the direction of their officers.
All night the labour continued, and when the dull light of the winter
morning began to dispel the darkness a solid rampart of earth breast
high rose in a semicircle, with its two extremities resting on the
riverbank.

The last boat load had but just arrived across, and the 600 men were now
gathered in the work, which was about 150 feet across, the base formed
by the river. The earth forming the ramparts had been taken from the
outside, and a ditch 3 feet deep and 6 feet wide had been thus formed.

The men, who, in spite of the cold were hot and perspiring from their
night's work, now entered the intrenched space, and sat down to take
a meal, each man having brought two days' rations in his havresack. It
grew rapidly lighter, and suddenly the sound of a trumpet, followed by
the rapid beating of drums, showed that the Spaniards had, from their
camp on the