Marienburg, and occupied it without opposition.

He had not forgotten his promise, and the company of Captain
Jervoise was one of those selected for the work. Its officers were
delighted at the prospect of a change, and, when the party started,
Captain Jervoise was proud of the show made by his men, whose
active and vigorous condition contrasted strongly with the debility
and feebleness evident, so generally, among the Swedish soldiers.

As soon as Marienburg was entered, the men were set to work, to
raise and strengthen the rampart and to erect bastions; and they
were aided, a few days later, by a reinforcement of two hundred
infantry, sent by the king, with some cannon, from the garrison of
Derpt. As the place was surrounded by a morass, it was, ere long,
put into a position to offer a formidable defence against any force
that the Russians or Saxons might bring against it.

The Swedes engaged on the work gained strength rapidly, and, by the
time the fortifications were finished, they had completely shaken
off the effects of the fever.

Chapter 6: A Prisoner.

A fortnight after the fortifications of Marienburg were completed,
Colonel Schlippenbach sent off Lieutenant Colonel Brandt, with four
hundred horse, to capture a magazine at Seffwegen, to which the
Saxons had forced the inhabitants of the country round to bring in
their corn, intending later to convey it to the headquarters of
their army. The expedition was completely successful. The Saxon
guard were overpowered, and a thousand tons of corn were brought,
in triumph, into Marienburg. Some of it was sent on to the army,
abundance being retained for the use of the town and garrison, in
case of siege.

It was now resolved to surprise and burn Pitschur, a town on the
frontier from which the enemy constantly made incursions. It was
held by a strong body of Russians.

Baron Spens was in command of the expedition. He had with him both
the regiments of Horse Guards. Much excitement was caused, in
Marienburg, by the issue of an order that the cavalry, and a
portion of the infantry, were to be ready to march at daylight; and
by the arrival of a large number of peasants, brought in by small
parties of the cavalry. Many were the surmises as to the operation
to be undertaken, its object being kept a strict secret.

Captain Jervoise's company was one of those in orders, and paraded
at daybreak, and, after a march of some distance, the force joined
that of Baro