, indeed, but a faint
resistance.

The Lord of Kniphausen, a general in the Swedish service, now arrived
with some Swedish troops, and prepared to besiege the town. The rest
of Munro's regiment accompanied him, having arrived safely at their
destination, and the whole were ordered to aid in the investment
of Colberg, while Hepburn was to seize the town and castle of
Schiefelbrune, five miles distant, and there to check the advance of the
Imperialists, who were moving forward in strength towards it.

Hepburn performed his mission with a party of cavalry, and reported that
although the castle was dilapidated it was a place of strength, and that
it could be held by a resolute garrison; whereupon Munro with 500 men of
his regiment was ordered to occupy it. Nigel Graheme's company was one
of those which marched forward on the 6th of November, and entering
the town, which was almost deserted by its inhabitants, set to work to
prepare it for defence. Ramparts of earth and stockades were hastily
thrown up, and the gates were backed by piles of rubbish to prevent them
being blown in by petards.

Scarcely were the preparations completed before the enemy were seen
moving down the hillside.

"How many are there of them, think you?" Malcolm asked Lieutenant
Farquhar.

"I am not skilled in judging numbers, Malcolm, but I should say that
there must be fully five thousand."

There were indeed eight thousand Imperialists approaching, led by the
Count of Montecuculi, a distinguished Italian officer, who had with
him the regiments of Coloredo, Isslani, Goetz, Sparre, and Charles
Wallenstein, with a large force of mounted Croats.

Munro's orders were to hold the town as long as he could, and afterwards
to defend the castle to the last man. The Imperial general sent in a
message requesting him to treat for the surrender of the place; but
Munro replied simply, that as no allusion to the word treaty was
contained in his instructions he should defend the place to the last.
The first advance of the Imperialists was made by the cavalry covered by
1000 musketeers, but these were repulsed without much difficulty by the
Scottish fire.

The whole force then advanced to the attack with great resolution.
Desperately the Highlanders defended the town, again and again the
Imperialists were repulsed from the slight rampart, and when at last
they won their way into the place by dint of numbers, every street,
lane, alley, and house was defended