leet to prepare every thing for its reception; but a fever seized me
at Gottenburg; and before my recovery the king fell before
Frederickshall. Storms, and Europe's _licensed_ pirates, annihilated
our fleet upon its way hither, and when at length I arose from my bed
of sickness I was a beggar. There was no longer any hope of the
fulfilment of the royal promise. With Charles's seal and signature for
the rank of colonel, I could not even obtain a company. Then again
awoke in me the bitter hatred of mankind. My last hope to live and fall
as an honorable soldier, was destroyed. The country which denied me my
well acquired rights, threw me back to the state of nature, in which
every man sustains and defends himself by his own natural powers. I
then felt myself authorized to make war upon my enemies, and take what
I needed with the strong hand. A band of unfortunates, who like me had
nothing to lose, chose me for their leader, and the struggle between
myself and the crown of Sweden began. I have been overcome and am
therefore in the wrong;--for which reason I pray you quickly to break
the staff of justice over my head. I am ready to die.'

'Dreadful man!' cried the judge. 'Have you also such sophisms in
readiness to excuse the misery and shame you have brought upon a noble
house within whose walls you were hospitably received?'

'That is the curse of my life,' cried Mac Donalbain, repentantly, 'for
which I cannot answer. For that must I call down justice upon myself.
However hard your sentence may fall upon me, by that alone have I
deserved it, and willingly bow myself before the chastening hand of the
law.'

'It is the request of my uncle,' said Arwed to the judge, 'that all the
wrongs which Mac Donalbain has perpetrated against our house should be
passed over without investigation.'

'What, even the attempt against his excellency's person?' indignantly
asked the judge, whilst Megret in silent anger ground the floor with
his spurred heel.

'The band,' said Arwed, 'among whom the governor had accidentally
fallen, wished to murder him for their own safety. Mac Donalbain
preserved the old man's life by risking his own. Even the imprisonment
was but a measure resorted to for that purpose. I also have to thank
this man for the preservation of my life. He would have a strong
counter reckoning to make with us. Therefore let one account be
considered as balanced by the other.'

'I am astonished,' spitefully observed Megret, '