s and pike thrusts amid the brutal laughter of their captors.

Malcolm retired to his bed full of rage and sorrow. It would have been
madness to have followed his first impulse to sally out sword in hand
and fall upon the ruffians, as such a step would only have ensured his
own death without assisting the captives.

"Hitherto," he said to himself, "I have ever restrained my men, and have
endeavoured to protect the peasants from violence; henceforward, so long
as we remain in Bavaria, no word of mine shall be uttered to save one
of these murderous peasants. However, I am not with my company yet.
The army is two marches ahead, and must by this time be in front of
Ingolstadt. I have been two days without food, and see but little chance
of getting any until I rejoin them, and the whole country between us is
swarming with an infuriated peasantry. The prospect is certainly not
a bright one. I would give a year's pay to hear the sound of a Swedish
trumpet."

When darkness had fairly set in Malcolm started on his way again.
Although his limbs still smarted from the weals and sores left by the
cords they had now recovered their lissomeness; but he was weak from
want of food, and no longer walked with the free elastic stride which
distinguished the Scottish infantry. His wrists gave him great pain,
being both terribly burned, and every movement of the hand sent a thrill
of agony up the arm. He persisted, however, in frequently opening and
clenching his hands, regardless of the pain, for he feared that did he
not do so they would stiffen and he would be unable to grasp a sword.
Fortunately the wounds were principally on the upper side of the thumbs,
where the flesh was burned away to the bone, but the sinews and muscles
of the wrists had to a great extent escaped.

He had not journeyed very far when he saw a light ahead and presently
perceived the houses of a village. A fire was lit in the centre, and a
number of figures were gathered round it.

"Something is going on," Malcolm said to himself; "as likely as not they
have got some unfortunate prisoner. Whatever it be, I will steal in and
try to get some food. I cannot go much further without it; and as their
attention is occupied, I may find a cottage empty."

Making his way round to the back of the houses, he approached one of the
cottages in the rear. He lifted the latch of the door and opened it a
little. All was still. With his drawn sword he entered. The room was
empty;