s there was no evidence whatever of her complicity in the
affair.

Malcolm continued his journey quietly towards the frontier of Bavaria;
but, on arriving at a small town within a few miles of Pilsen, he
learned that Wallenstein had fallen back with his army to that place.
Much alarmed at the news he determined to turn off by a cross road and
endeavour to avoid the Imperialists. He had not, however, left the place
before a party of Imperialist horse rode in.

Malcolm was at once stopped, and was told that he must accompany the
troops to Pilsen, as they had orders to requisition all carts for the
supply of provisions for the army. Malcolm knew that it was of no use to
remonstrate, but, with many loud grumblings at his hard lot, he moved to
the marketplace, where he remained until all the wagons in the place and
in the surrounding country had been collected.

Loud and bitter were the curses which the peasants uttered at finding
themselves taken from their homes and compelled to perform service for
which the pay, if received at all, would be scanty in the extreme. There
was, however, no help for it; and when all were collected they started
in a long procession guarded by the cavalry for Pilsen. On arriving
there they were ordered to take up their station with the great train of
wagons collected for the supply of the army.

Thekla had from her hiding place heard the conversation, and was
greatly alarmed at finding that they were again in the power of the
Imperialists. No one, however, approached the wagon, and it was not
until darkness had set in that she heard Malcolm's voice whispering to
her to arise quietly.

"We must leave the wagon; it will be impossible for you to remain
concealed here longer, for tomorrow I may be sent out to bring in
supplies. For the present we must remain in Pilsen. The whole country
will be scoured by the troops, and it will not be safe to traverse the
roads. Here in Pilsen no one will think of looking for us.

"Wallenstein's headquarters are the last place where we should be
suspected of hiding, and you may be sure that, however close the search
may be elsewhere, the governor of Prague will not have thought of
informing Wallenstein of an affair so foreign to the business of war as
the escape from the emperor's clutches of a young lady. I have donned my
craftsman dress again, and we will boldly seek for lodgings."

They soon entered the town, which was crowded with troops, searching
abou