e, and it opened
at once. The house, like all the others, was full of Imperialists, who
had thrown themselves into it when the Scots made their charge, and were
now keeping up a fire at them from the upper windows. Closing the door
behind him, Malcolm stood for a moment to recover his breath. He had
passed unscathed through the three days' fighting, though his armour and
helmet were deeply dinted in many places.

The din without and above was tremendous. The stroke of sword on armour,
the sharp crack of the pistols, the rattle of musketry, the shouts of
the Imperialists, and the wild defiant cries of the Highlanders mingled
together.

As Malcolm stood panting he recalled the situation, and, remembering
that the syndic's house was in the street behind, he determined to gain
it, feeling sure that his host would shelter him if he could. Passing
through the house he issued into a courtyard, quickly stripped off his
armour and accoutrements, and threw them into an outhouse. Climbing on
the roof of this he got upon the wall, and ran along it until behind the
house of the syndic. He had no fear of being observed, for the attention
of all in the houses in the street he had left would be directed to the
conflict below.

The sound of musketry had already ceased, telling that the work of
slaughter was well nigh over, when Malcolm dropped into the courtyard
of the syndic; the latter and his wife gave a cry of astonishment as the
lad entered the house, breathless and pale as death.

"Can you shelter me awhile?" he said. "I believe that all my countrymen
are killed."

"We will do our best, my lad," the syndic said at once. "But the houses
will be ransacked presently from top to bottom."

"Let him have one of the servant's disguises," the wife said; "they can
all be trusted."

One of the serving men was at once called in, and he hurried off with
Malcolm.

The young Scotchmen had made themselves very popular with the servants
by their courtesy and care to avoid giving unnecessary trouble, and in
a few minutes Malcolm was attired as a serving man, and joined the
servants who were busy in spreading the tables with provisions, and
in broaching a large cask of wine to allay the passions of the
Imperialists.

It was not long before they came. Soon there was a thundering knocking
at the door, and upon its being opened a number of soldiers burst in.
Many were bleeding from wounds. All bore signs of the desperate strife
in which t