"Such modesty is unusual," the king said, "and pleases me; see the next
time a step is vacant, colonel, that he has it. Whatever his age, he has
shown himself fit to do man's work, and years are of no great value in a
soldier; why, among all my Scottish regiments I have scarcely a colonel
who is yet thirty years old."

Malcolm now returned with Colonel Munro to the regiment, and there had
to give a full and minute account of his adventures, and was warmly
congratulated by his fellow officers on his good fortune in escaping
from the dangers which had beset him. The suit of armour was a handsome
one, and had been doubtless stripped off from the body of some knight
or noble murdered by the freebooters. The leg pieces Malcolm laid aside,
retaining only a cuirass, back piece, and helmet, as the full armour was
too heavy for service on foot.

Two days later the king gave orders that the assault upon Landsberg was
to be made that night. The place was extremely strong, and Gustavus had
in his previous campaign twice failed in attempts to capture it.
Since that time the Imperialists had been busy in strengthening the
fortification, and all the peasantry for ten miles round had been
employed in throwing up earthworks; but its principal defence was in
the marsh which surrounded it, and which rendered the construction of
approaches by besiegers almost impossible. Its importance consisted in
the fact that from its great strength its garrison dominated the whole
district known as the Marc of Brandenburg. It was the key to Silesia,
and guarded the approaches to Pomerania, and its possession was
therefore of supreme importance to Gustavus. The garrison consisted of
five thousand Imperialist infantry and twelve troops of horse, the whole
commanded by Count Gratz. The principal approach to the town was guarded
by a strong redoubt armed with numerous artillery.

Colonel Munro had advanced his trenches to within a short distance of
this redoubt, and had mounted the twelve pieces of cannon to play upon
it, but so solid was the masonry of the fort that their fire produced
but little visible effect. Gustavus had brought from Frankfort as guide
on the march a blacksmith who was a native of Landsberg, and this man
had informed him of a postern gate into the town which would not be
likely to be defended, as to reach it it would be necessary to cross a
swamp flanked by the advanced redoubt and covered with water.

For two days previous to th