f the closely following Swedes, and soon the Swedish banner floated
proudly over the stormed works.

Meanwhile the king, who had been attempting an entrance on the other
side of the wall, hastened hither at the head of one of his battalions,
and the few remaining Danes threw down their arms and begged for
quarter.

'What, before me, upon the walls!' cried the royal hero, embracing the
bleeding Arwed. 'There is yet a true Swede! You are a captain of the
guards, Gyllenstierna.'

'We have two companies, prisoners,' said Siquier, stepping up to the
king with a sanguinary expression of countenance. They have compelled
us to storm the place, and their lives are forfeited. Does your majesty
command their execution?'

'Right, Siquier,' answered Charles, affecting to misunderstand him,
'Let the poor creatures be fed in our camp,--and when they have
satiated their appetites, let them promise not to fight against me
again in this war--and then, in God's name, let them go in peace.'

'As your majesty commands!' said Siquier, grating his teeth and
proceeding to the execution of the unwelcome commission.

'If the lord has remitted ten thousand shekels to us,' said Charles,
turning graciously to Arwed, 'surely we can remit a trifling debt to
our fellow men;--can we not, my dear captain?'

'Hail to the hero who knows how to pardon as well as to conquer!'
exclaimed Arwed with enthusiasm.

'No flattery!' cried Charles, stamping angrily. 'I know that it was
fairly meant, but I do not like it.'

He departed. Arwed leaned against the breastwork and observed the
trains of Danish prisoners who were being escorted into the camp. Then
glancing proudly upon the blood-besprinkled place he had conquered--and
afterwards towards the east, where Stockholm lay;--he sighed, 'had but
Georgina seen me!'

CHAPTER V.

Brightly shone the light of chandelier and gueridon through the plate
glass windows of the royal palace on the Ritterholm, and most
beautifully was its brilliancy reflected by the quiet waters of the
Malar lake. The princess Ulrika Eleonore, of Hesse, gave an assembly
and card patty--and the variously adorned nobility floated through the
gilded rooms, soothing, caressing, deceiving, calumniating, fondling
and boring each other. Behind the curtains of one of the most retired
windows leaned the affectionate Georgina, gazing with anxious interest
over the lake towards the Suedermalm, where in