he two first men had exploded, their heads
having been knocked in previously to admit of their ignition. Some
thirty of the peasants were killed or terribly mutilated by the
explosion, and the rest took to their heels in terror, leaving their
wounded comrades on the ground.

The echoes of the explosion had scarce died away when a shout of terror
broke from the main body of peasants, and Malcolm saw them flying in
all directions. An instant afterwards the ringing sound of the Swedish
trumpets was heard, and a squadron of horse galloped down full speed.
The peasants attempted no resistance, but fled in all directions, hotly
pursued by the Swedes, who broke up into small parties and followed
the fugitives cross the country cutting down great numbers of them. The
Swedish leader at once rode up to the foot of the tower, where Malcolm
had already sallied out.

"I am glad indeed I am in time, Captain Graheme; we have ridden without
drawing rein since your messenger arrived at four o'clock this morning."

"Thanks indeed, Captain Burgh," Malcolm replied. "Your coming is most
welcome; though I think we have given the peasants so hot a lesson that
they would not have attacked us again, and by tightening our waistbelts
we could have held on for another three or four days."

"I see that you have punished them heavily," the Swedish officer said,
looking round at the bodies; "but what was the explosion I heard?"

"You will see its signs behind the tower," Malcolm said as he led the
way there. "They tried to blow us up, but burnt their own fingers."

The scene behind the tower was ghastly. Some thirty peasants lay with
their clothes completely burned from their bodies, the greater portion
of them dead, but some still writhing in agony. Malcolm uttered an
exclamation of horror.

"It were a kindness to put these wretches out of their misery," the
Swede said, and dismounting he passed his sword through the bodies of
the writhing men. "You know I am in favour of carrying on the war as
mercifully as may be," he continued turning to Malcolm, "for we have
talked the matter over before now; and God forbid that I should strike
a fallen foe; but these poor wretches were beyond help, and it is true
mercy to end their sufferings."

"They have had a heavy lesson," Malcolm said; "there are eleven more
dead up in the belfry, which they tried to carry by storm, and a dozen
at least crushed by stones.

"You and your three men have indeed give