be done save to clean and furbish their arms and armour; to
stand on the ramparts and gaze on the distant heights of the Alte Veste,
to watch the solid columns of the Imperial army, which from time to time
Wallenstein marched down from his stronghold and paraded in order of
battle, as a challenge to the Swedes to come out and fight, or to loiter
through the narrow streets of Nuremberg, and to talk to the citizens,
whose trade and commerce were now entirely at a standstill. Malcolm,
with the restlessness of youth, seldom stayed many hours quiet in camp.
He did not care either for drinking or gambling; nor could he imitate
the passive tranquillity of the old soldiers, who were content to sleep
away the greater part of their time. He therefore spent many hours every
day in the city, where he speedily made many acquaintances.

In the city of Nuremberg time dragged as slowly as it did in the camp.
At ordinary times the centre of a quiet and busy trade, the city was
now cut off from the world. The shops were for the most part closed; the
artisans stood idle in the streets, and the townsfolk had nought to do,
save to gather in groups and discuss the times, or to take occasional
excursions beyond the gates into the camp of their allies. The advances
then of the young Scottish officer were willingly responded to, and he
soon became intimate in the houses of all the principal citizens; and
while the greater part of his comrades spent their evenings in drinking
and gambling, he enjoyed the hours in conversation and music in the
houses of the citizens of Nuremberg.

The long inaction brought its moral consequences, and the troops became
demoralized and insubordinate from their enforced idleness. Plundering
and acts of violence became so common that Gustavus was obliged to issue
the most stringent ordinances to restore discipline; and an officer and
many men had to be executed before the spirit of insubordination was
quelled. In order to pass some of the hours of the days Malcolm obtained
leave from one of the great clockmakers of the town--for Nuremberg was
at that time the centre of the craft of clockmaking--to allow him to
work in his shop, and to learn the mysteries of his trade.

Most of the establishments were closed, but Malcolm's acquaintance
was one of the wealthiest of the citizens, and was able to keep his
craftsmen at work, and to store the goods he manufactured until better
times should return. Malcolm began the work