to the last. Malcolm was almost
bewildered at the din, the incessant roll of musketry, the hoarse shouts
of the contending troops, the rattling of the guns, and the shrieks of
pain.

Every time the Imperialists tried to force their way in heavy columns
up the streets the Scots poured out from the houses to resist them, and
meeting them pike to pike hurled them backwards. Malcolm tried to keep
cool, and to imitate the behaviour of his senior officers, repeating
their orders, and seeing that they were carried out.

Time after time the Austrians attempted to carry the place, and were
always hurled back, although outnumbering the Scots by nigh twenty
to one. At last the town was in ruins, and was on fire in a score of
places. Its streets and lanes were heaped with dead, and it was no
longer tenable. Munro therefore gave orders that the houses should
everywhere be set on fire, and the troops fall back to the castle.

Steadily and in good order his commands were carried out, and with
levelled pikes, still facing the enemy, the troops retired into the
castle. The Imperial general, seeing how heavy had been his losses in
carrying the open town, shrank from the prospect of assaulting a castle
defended by such troops, and when night fell he quietly marched away
with the force under his command.

CHAPTER III SIR JOHN HEPBURN

Munro's first care, when he found that the Imperialists had retreated
in the direction of Colberg, was to send out some horsemen to discover
whether the Swedes were in a position to cover that town. The men
returned in two hours with the report that Field Marshal Horn, with the
Swedish troops from Stettin, had joined Kniphausen and Hepburn, and were
guarding the passage between the enemy and Colberg.

Two days later a message arrived to the effect that Sir Donald Mackay,
who had now been created Lord Reay, had arrived to take the command of
his regiment, and that Nigel Graheme's company was to march and join
him; while Munro with the rest of his command was to continue to hold
the Castle of Schiefelbrune.

Shortly afterwards General Bauditzen arrived with 4000 men and 18 pieces
of cannon to press the siege of Colberg, which was one of the strongest
fortresses in North Germany. On the 13th of November the news arrived
that Montecuculi was again advancing to raise the siege; and Lord Reay
with his half regiment, Hepburn with half his regiment, and a regiment
of Swedish infantry marched out to meet