Charlie sent in his name, and was shown in at once.
"I am glad, indeed, to see you, Captain Carstairs," the minister said,
as he entered. "We had given you up for lost. We heard first that
you had been murdered in the streets of Warsaw. A month later, a
man brought a letter to me from your Scotch friend Ramsay, to say
that you were accused of the murder of a Jew trader, a man, it
seems, of some importance in Warsaw. Ramsay said that you were in
the company of a band of brigands, and that the man who went with
you as your servant had joined you, and had taken you some money.
He forwarded the letter you had sent him explaining your position,
and said he thought that, upon the whole, it was the best thing you
could have done, as a vigorous search had been set on foot, at the
instance of the Jews, and there would have been but little chance
of your making your way through the country alone. He added that he
felt confident that, if alive, you would manage somehow to rejoin
us before the campaign opened in the spring.
"I am glad that you have been able to do so, but your appearance,
at present, is rather that of a wealthy Polish noble, than of a
companion of brigands."
"I was able to do some service to Count Staroski, as, when
travelling with his wife and child, and his brother, Count John, he
was attacked by a pack of wolves. I have been staying with him for
some weeks, and his brother has now had the kindness to accompany
me here. He has thereby made my passage through the country easy,
as we have travelled with fast horses in his sledge, and have
always put up at the chateaux of nobles of his acquaintance. I
have, therefore, avoided all risk of arrest at towns. In the letter
forwarded to you I explained the real circumstances of the death of
the Jew."
"Yes, we quite understood that, Captain Carstairs. You had a very
narrow escape from death at his hands, and, as the danger was
incurred purely in the king's service, it will not be forgotten. Up
to the time when the Jew organized the attack upon you in Warsaw, I
was well satisfied with your reports of your work. So far nothing
has come of it, as Augustus has been too strong for any movement
against him, but we hope, ere long, to defeat him so decisively
that our friends will be able to declare against him. I will inform
the king of your return, and I have no doubt he will be glad to
hear your story from your own lips. He loves tales of adventure,
and time hangs somewhat heavily on hand, as, until the frost
breaks, nothing can be done in the field."
On the following day, indeed, Charlie was sent for to the royal
quarters, and had to recount the story of his adventures in full to
the king, who was highly interested in them, and at the conclusion
requested him to introduce Count John Staroski, in order that he
might express to him his obligation for the service he had rendered
to one of his officers. This done, Charlie drove out with the count
to the village where Colonel Jamieson's regiment was quartered, and
where his return was received with delight by Harry, and with great
pleasure by Major Jervoise and his fellow officers. He was obliged
to give a short outline of what he had been doing since he left,
but put off going into details for a future occasion.
"And are you coming back to us now, Charlie?" Harry asked.
"Certainly. My success in the diplomatic way was not sufficiently
marked for them to be likely to employ me in that line again. We
must return this afternoon, as the king has invited us both to sup
with him tonight."
Two days later, Count John Staroski started upon his return
journey, much pleased with the reception he had met with from the
King of Sweden, and determined to work vigorously, among the nobles
of his acquaintance, to bring about the dethronement of Augustus of
Saxony. Charlie had already seen Count Piper, who had told him
that, although the king and himself were both well satisfied with
the work he had done, there was not at present any mission of the
same sort on which he could be employed. Indeed, it was evident
that, until the Saxons had been decisively defeated, political
action would be useless, and that, therefore, for the present he
could either remain at headquarters, or rejoin his regiment.
Charlie at once chose the latter alternative.
"Very well, Captain Carstairs, you can rejoin when you like, but
remember I may claim your services again. You see, now that you
have acquired a knowledge of Polish, your value for this sort of
work is largely increased."
As soon as the frost had broken, the Swedish army commenced its
advance. Skirmishes frequently took place, but Augustus had, as
yet, no army with which he could meet them in the field, and he
summoned a diet at Warsaw, in hopes of persuading the Poles to
decide upon calling out the whole national force.
In this he failed altogether. The citizens, led by the foreign
traders, were already openly opposed to him, and their attitude so
encouraged his opponents in the diet, that many of these rose and
openly denounced the government, and the conduct of the king, that
had brought the country into its present difficulties.
As the Swedish army advanced, they were joined by the Duke of
Holstein, and, in spite of the efforts of a considerable body of
the enemy, under Prince Wisniowiski, progressed steadily, crossed
the river Memel, and, when near Grodno, were met by an embassy sent
by the diet, to endeavour to persuade Charles not to advance
further.
An interview took place between the king, the Poles, and his
ministers, the conversation on both sides being in Latin. But as
the ambassadors had no definite plans to propose, and their leaders
were wholly devoted to Augustus, the king refused to allow his
advance to be arrested, and continued his march. When near Praga
they crossed the plain where Charles Gustavus, King of Sweden, had
defeated the Polish army in a great battle, that had lasted for
three days. The city was occupied, and a contribution of 20,000
crowns imposed upon it, in addition to food for the army while it
remained there. Plundering, however, was strictly forbidden, and,
as the king issued a proclamation declaring that he was no enemy of
the Polish Republic, but simply of their king, the inhabitants
were, on the whole, well satisfied with the conduct of the
invaders.
A halt was made here for some time, and a bridge was thrown across
the Vistula, while the army rested after the long and fatiguing
marches it had made. A fresh attempt was made to arrest the advance
of the Swedes, and the Cardinal Primate, himself, met the king; but
nothing came of the negotiations, and the army entered Warsaw. Here
they were warmly received, and great entertainments were given to
the king.
Towards the end of June, they again advanced to meet the force that
Augustus had gathered, and on the 6th of July the Swedes arrived
within a few miles of Clissow. The next day some reinforcements
arrived, and the king decided to give battle on the following day,
which was the anniversary of the victory on the Dwina, the previous
year.
His army was twelve thousand strong, while that of Augustus was
nearly double that strength, and was very strongly posted, his camp
being surrounded by morasses, although situated on rising ground
which commanded the whole of the country round it. The bogs in the
front were found to be so impassable, that the Swedes were forced
to make a circuit to the left, where the ground was firmer. This
movement obliged the enemy also to change front, a movement that
caused considerable confusion, as they themselves were forced to
traverse boggy ground, to take up a new position facing that by
which the Swedes would now advance.
The attack was commenced by the division commanded by the Duke of
Holstein, but, scarcely had he set his troops in motion than he was
mortally wounded, by a ball from a falconet. His troops, however,
pushed forward vigorously. The Polish division opposed to them
resisted the two first assaults bravely, but gave way at the third
attack, and were driven from the ground, in such confusion that
they took no further part in the engagement.
While this was going on, the Saxon cavalry had been repulsed by
that of Charles, and, passing in their retreat under the fire of
three infantry regiments, suffered so heavily that they left the
field. The Swedish foot now advanced all along the line, and in the
centre destroyed several battalions of Saxons.
But the Swedish right was attacked so vigorously by the Saxon left,
under Field Marshal Steinau, that for a time the conflict was
doubtful. The Swedish horse guards and other cavalry, however,
charged with such determination that the Saxon horse on this flank
were also defeated, and driven off the field, while the Swedish
infantry, advancing without firing, drove several battalions of
Saxon foot into a village, where, being surrounded, almost all were
killed or taken prisoners.
The Saxon horse, gathering once more, attempted bravely to retrieve
the fate of the day, and engaged the Swedish horse with such
desperate valour, that a considerable portion of the Saxon infantry
were enabled, under cover of the conflict, to draw off, cross the
morasses, and make their escape.
The battle lasted four hours, and had been, throughout, severely
contested. The Saxons lost four thousand killed and wounded, and
three thousand taken prisoners, while the Swedes had eleven hundred
killed and wounded. Forty-eight cannon were captured by the
victors, together with all the baggage and waggons. The death of
the Duke of Holstein, a gallant prince who was exceedingly popular
with the army, and beloved by the king, cast a gloom over this
great victory, which virtually laid Poland at the feet of the
victors, and insured the fulfilment of the object for which Charles
had persisted in the war.
Jamieson's regiment had been on the left wing, but, as it had been
held in reserve, to strengthen the line at any point at which it
might give way, the Scotch had taken but a small share in the
fighting, and had but thirty men killed and wounded by the shot and
bullets that passed over the heads of the fighting line.
The captain of one of the companies was among those killed, and
Charlie, who had, since he rejoined the regiment, been doing duty
as lieutenant, now took the vacant place.
The army still advanced. Augustus sent in several proposals for
peace, but these were all rejected. The Saxons had speedily rallied
after the battle, but were not in a position to oppose the advance
of the victorious Swedes, who occupied Cracow without meeting with
any resistance. Seeing that Augustus would not be strong enough to
hazard another pitched battle, Charles had, on the morning after
the victory, ordered three of his regiments, of which Jamieson's
was one, to march with all speed to reinforce Major General
Schlippenbach, who had sent an urgent request for aid, as he heard
that the Russian army, fifty thousand strong, was preparing to
cross the frontier; and as he had but six thousand, he could not
hope to oppose their advance successfully.
As the king's orders enjoined the troops to march with the greatest
possible speed, they performed the journey back to Warsaw in four
days, although the distance exceeded a hundred miles. Mounted
messengers had been sent on before them, and, on reaching the town,
they found boats already prepared to take them down the river to
Danzic, where orders had already been sent for ships to be in
readiness to convey them to Revel. The fatigues since the campaign
opened had been severe, and the troops all enjoyed the long days of
rest, while the craft that conveyed them dropped quietly down the
Vistula. Then came the short sea passage.
On their arrival at Revel, bad news met them. They had come too
late. On the 16th of July the Russian army had passed the frontier,
and the Swedes had tried to oppose them at the passage of the river
Embach; but the water was low, from the effects of a long drought,
and the Russians were enabled to ford it at several points. The
Swedes fell upon those who first crossed, and for two hours
repulsed their attacks, obtaining at some points considerable
advantage, and capturing some guns, but, as fresh reinforcements
poured across the river, the tide of battle turned. The Russian
cavalry drove back the Swedish horse, who, as they retreated, rode
through the infantry and threw them into disorder. These were
attacked by the Russians before they could recover from their
confusion, and were almost entirely destroyed or taken prisoners.
The general, and many of the mounted officers, effected their
escape, rallied the broken cavalry, and fell back towards Revel.
The Russians spread over the country and plundered it, burning the
little town of Valk, murdering its inhabitants, and carrying off
into slavery the whole of the population who fell into their hands.
The arrival of the three regiments was hailed with much
satisfaction by the people of Revel, who feared that the Russians
might besiege the town. They did not, however, approach within many
miles, but, after completely wasting the country, retired across
the frontier.
The victory that had been gained over the Swedes at Embach, and the
destruction of the greater part of General Schlippenbach's force,
enabled the czar to turn his arms against Ingria, the extreme
eastern province of Sweden, which included the shores of Lake
Ladoga and the whole of the coast of the Baltic between Narva and
Finland. Urgent messages were sent by the governor of that province
to General Schlippenbach, requesting him to send him aid, as he had
not even sufficient men to garrison the walled towns. The general
was, however, afraid that Narva would be again besieged, and he
therefore dared not reduce his small force to any considerable
degree, but drew one company from each of the three regiments, and
embarked them on board a ship for the mouth of the Neva.
As there seemed little prospect of service, for a time, near Revel,
all the officers were eager that their company should be chosen for
the service in Ingria. Colonel Jamieson therefore said:
"I do not wish to choose one company more than another; all can
equally be depended upon. Therefore, I think the fairest way will
be to draw lots as to which shall go."
The lot fell upon Charlie's company, which therefore formed part of
the expedition. On reaching the mouth of the Neva, they heard that
the town of Notteburg, situated at the point where the Neva issues
from the lake, was already besieged by the Russians, and that the
Swedish vessels on the lake had been obliged to come down the
river. A fort had been raised by the Russians on the bank, to
prevent succour being conveyed into the town, and two thousand men
had crossed the river and occupied a small redoubt on the northern
side, so that the town was completely invested.
The newly-arrived force was ordered to march, at once, with a
hundred horse and four field pieces, the whole under the command of
Major Sion, who was well acquainted with the country.
"What do you think of this expedition, Captain Carstairs?" his
lieutenant, John Bowyer, asked him.
"I would rather be back with King Charles," Charlie replied. "Of
course, I don't know the geography of the place, but if the
Russians keep their eyes at all open, I don't see how a force like
ours, with cavalry and guns, can hope to enter the town unnoticed.
The addition of the horsemen seems to me altogether ridiculous, as
they could be no good whatever, if they did enter the town. As for
those four field pieces, they will hamper our march; and as they
say the Russians have already some forty cannon in position about
the town, those little pieces would be useless.
"Four hundred infantry, making the attempt at night under good
guidance, might manage to slip into the place, but this procession
of ours is, to my mind, tempting destruction, for we certainly
cannot hope to cut our way, by force, through the whole Russian
army.
"But even if we do get inside the town, our plight can be no
better. The Russians' cannon are bombarding it, night and day, and
more batteries are in course of erection, and Schlippenbach the
governor, who is, I believe, a brother of the general, has but a
few pieces to reply to them.
"Were there an army advancing to the relief of the place, it would
be different altogether, for our reinforcement might be of vital
importance in repelling assaults, until aid arrived. But there is
no hope of aid. The king's army is some nine hundred miles away,
and his hands are full. General Schlippenbach has sent as many men
as he could spare. They say there are at least twenty thousand
Russians round the town, and where is an army to come from that can
compel them to raise the siege? To my mind, we shall either be
destroyed making our way into the town, or, if we do get in, shall
be made prisoners of war, if not massacred--for the Russians have
but vague ideas as to giving quarter--when the town falls, which
may be a fortnight hence."
"It seems a bad lookout, altogether," the lieutenant remarked.
"Very much so. The best possible thing that could befall us would
be for the Russians to make us out, before we get too far into
their lines, in which case we may be able to fall back before they
can gather in overwhelming strength, and may thus draw off without
any very great loss."
Major Sion called the captains of the infantry companies, and the
troop of horse, to a sort of council of war, when the little force
halted for an hour at three o'clock in the afternoon.
"We have another ten miles to march, gentlemen, and I should like
to ask your opinion as to whether it would be best to try to force
our way in as soon as we get there, or to halt at a distance of
three or four miles from the Russians, and make our effort at
daybreak before they are fairly afoot."
The other three officers gave their opinion in order of seniority,
and all advocated the plan of falling upon the Muscovites at
daybreak.
"And what do you think, Captain Carstairs?" Major Sion asked
Charlie.
"I regret to say, major, that my opinion differs from that of the
other gentlemen, and this for several reasons. In the first place, if
we halt so near the Russians, our presence in their neighbourhood
may be betrayed by a peasant, and we may be surprised in the night.
If no such mishap should take place, we should have to be on foot two
hours before sunrise. I in no way doubt your knowledge of the road,
but it is at all times difficult to make out a mere track, like that
we are following, at night, and in the morning we might well find
ourselves involved in the Russian intrenchments, from which we could
not extricate ourselves before a large force had gathered round us,
in which case we must be all either killed or taken prisoners. My
own suggestion would be that we should remain here another two hours,
and then continue our march so as to reach the spot, where we are to
endeavour to break through their line, about sunset. Should we be
observed, as we most likely should be, we might at that hour be taken
for a freshly-arrived body of Russian troops. There would be no risk
of losing our way, and we might hope to be close upon them before we
were discovered to be enemies. If we succeed, as I trust we shall, in
breaking our way through and reaching the town, well and good. If,
on the other hand, we find greater obstacles than we expect, and are
forced to fall back fighting, we shall have the advantage that
darkness will be setting in. The Russians, the greater part of whom
will be ignorant of our strength, will lose time before they move,
fearing they may be assaulted in other quarters, and in the darkness
we might be able to make good our escape, which it is certain none of
us would do, should we meet with a repulse at daybreak."
"Your reasons are very just, Captain Carstairs. Though certainly my
opinion was in accordance with that given by your fellow officers,
I am bound to say that your argument seems unanswerable.
"What say you, gentlemen? I have two objects in view--the first to
reinforce the garrison of Notteburg, the second to save the troops
under my command, if I should fail in doing so. I know the country
well, but its features will be considerably altered. Trees will
have been cut down, houses levelled, intrenchments thrown up, camps
scattered here and there, and I own that in the dark, I might, as
Captain Carstairs says, very easily miss my way. I think his
proposal therefore unites the greatest chances of getting through
their line and entering the town, with a possibility of drawing off
the troops without great loss, in case of failure."
The other three officers at once agreed, and orders were issued for
the men to lie down until five o'clock and rest themselves before
pursuing their march.
It was past that hour before they were in motion again. Major Sion,
with a peasant from the neighbourhood of Notteburg, rode ahead.
Then came the troop of cavalry, with the guns close behind them,
followed by the infantry. As they approached the Russian lines, the
peasant several times went on in advance, and presently a trooper
rode down the line, with the order that the troops with firearms
were to light their matches, and the spearmen to keep in a compact
body.
They were now not far from the Russian lines, and the destruction
that had been wrought during the last ten days was visible to them.
Every tree and bush had been felled, for use in the intrenchments
or for the erection of shelters. A few blackened walls alone showed
where houses had stood. Gardens had been destroyed, and orchards
levelled.
Light smoke could be seen rising at many points from the Russian
fires, and, when the troops were halted, they were but half a mile
from the intrenchments.
Word was passed down that the rapid Swedish march was to be
moderated, and that they were to move carelessly and at a slow
rate, as if fatigued by a long march, and that the spears were to
be carried at the trail, as they were so much longer than those
used by the Russians that their length would, if carried erect, at
once betray the nationality of the troops. There was no attempt at
concealment, for the cavalry would be visible for a considerable
distance across the flat country. Considerable bodies of men could
be seen, gathered round fires at a distance of not more than a
quarter of a mile on either hand, but, as the column passed between
them, there was no sign of any stir.
In a short time, the order was passed for the troops to form from
column into line, and the cavalry officer who brought it said that
there was a Russian battery erected right across the road, a little
more than a quarter of a mile ahead.
"Things look better, Captain Carstairs," the lieutenant said, as
the company, which happened to be leading, fell into line.
"Yes, I have no doubt we shall take their battery, coming down, as
we do, upon its rear. The question is, are there any intrenchments
ahead? Major Sion told us, when we halted, that the peasant assured
him that there were no works beyond it, and that it was the weakest
point of the line; but it is three days since he came out from
Notteburg, and, working hard as the Russians evidently do, they may
have pushed on their intrenchments far in advance of the battery by
this time."
The force halted for a moment. The guns were unlimbered, turned
round, and loaded. Then the line of cavalry opened right and left,
the four pieces poured a discharge of grape into the Russians,
clustered thickly in the battery four hundred yards away, and then,
with a shout, the Swedish cavalry charged, the infantry coming on
at a run behind them.
The surprise was complete. With cries of terror, the Russians for
the most part leapt from the battery and fled, and the few who
attempted to defend their guns were sabred by the cavalry.
"There are other works ahead!" Major Sion exclaimed, as, sitting on
his horse, he looked over the parapet, "and bodies of troops
scattered all about. Push forward, men, at a double, and do you,
Captain Sherlbach, cut a way for us with your cavalry."
The sun had set a few minutes before the guns were fired, and
Charlie, as he led his men over the earthwork, and saw the Russian
lines in front, congratulated himself upon the fact that, in
another half hour, it would be quite dark. As they approached the
next line of works, a scattering fire of musketry opened upon them,
but the aim was wide, and without loss they reached the work. The
Russians, though inferior in numbers, defended themselves
obstinately, and continually received reinforcements of bodies of
men, running up from all sides. In five minutes the Swedes cleared
the works of them, but, as they prepared to advance again, they saw
a large body of horse riding down to bar their advance, while
numbers of footmen were running to occupy some intrenchments ahead
of them. Trumpets were sounding to the right, left, and rear.
"We cannot force our way farther," the major said to Charlie. "We
knew nothing of these works, and they are fatal to our enterprise.
We must retreat while we can. Do you not think so?"
"Yes, sir, I think the enterprise is quite hopeless."
The order was given. The troops faced about, formed into closer
order, and at the double retraced their steps, the spearmen of each
company forming its front line, and the musketeers the second.
Already it was growing dusk. The cavalry, riding ahead, scattered
the small bodies of men who threw themselves in their way, and the
battery they had first taken was entered without loss. There was a
momentary halt here, for the men to recover their wind. Then the
musketeers poured a volley into a dark line advancing upon them,
the horsemen charged in among them, the long pikes of the front
line cleared the way, and, with a shout, the Swedes passed through
their foes and pressed forward.
But more troops were gathering to bar their way, and the major
changed the line of march sharply to the right, sweeping along by
the side of the force through which they had just cut their way,
the musketeers on the flank firing into them as they passed. The
movement was an adroit one, for in the gathering darkness the enemy
in front would not be able to distinguish friends from foes, or to
perceive the nature of the movement. For a few minutes they were
unmolested, then the course was again changed, and Charlie was
beginning to think that, in the darkness, they would yet make their
escape, when a dull heavy sound was heard in their rear.
"That's the Russian cavalry, Bowyer. Take the musketeers on with
you, and keep close to the company ahead. I will break them up with
the pikemen. If they do come up to you, give them a volley and then
continue your retreat with the rest."
While the captains of the other two companies had placed their
pikemen in the front line, Charlie had placed his in the rear, in
order to repel any attack of cavalry from that direction. He now
formed them in a close clump, taking his place among them. The
Russian squadrons came along with a deep roll like that of thunder.
They were but thirty yards away when they perceived the little
cluster of men with levelled lances. A few, unable to check their
horses, rushed upon the points, but most of them reined in their
little steeds in time. In a moment, the Swedes were surrounded by a
wall of yelling horsemen, some of whom tried to break through the
hedge of spears, while others discharged their pistols.
Charlie listened anxiously for the roll of a volley of musketry,
but no sound came, and he felt sure that the whole body of cavalry
had halted round him, and that his movement had saved the rest, who
would now, if fortunate, be able to make their way off in the
darkness. But the men were falling now from the pistol fire of the
Cossacks, and, feeling that the work had been done, he determined
to make one effort to save the men with him.
"Level your spears, and charge through them shoulder to shoulder,"
he said. "It is your only chance. Once through, throw away your
spears, and break up in the darkness. Most of you may escape.
"Now!"
With a shout, the Swedes rushed forward in a body. Horses and
riders went down before them. There was a rush from behind. Charlie
shouted to the rear rank, to face about, but in the confusion and
din his words were unheard. There was a brief struggle in the
darkness. Charlie emptied his pistols, and cut down more than one
of his opponents, then a sword fell on his shoulder, while at the
same moment he was ridden over by a Cossack, and was stunned by the
force of his fall.
When he recovered consciousness, several men with torches were
moving about him, and, at the orders of an officer, were examining
the bodies of the fallen. He saw them pass their swords through the
bodies of three of his own men, who were lying near him, and as
they came up to him he closed his eyes, expecting a similar fate.
"This is an officer, captain," one of the torch bearers said in
Russian.
"Very well. Carry him to the camp, then. If he is alive, the
general may want to question him."
Seeing that he breathed, four of the Russian soldiers took him upon
their shoulders, and carried him away. The pain of his wound,
caused by the movement, was acute, but he retained consciousness
until, after what seemed to him a journey of immense length, he was
again laid down on the ground, close to a large fire. Several
officers stood round him, and he asked, first in Polish and then in
Swedish, for water, and at the orders of one who seemed of superior
rank to the others, some was at once brought to him.
"Your king treats his prisoners well," the officer said. "We will
do everything we can for you."
Half an hour later, a doctor came to his side, and cutting open his
coat, applied a bandage to his shoulder.
"Is it a serious wound?" Charlie asked in Swedish.
"It might be worse, but it will be a troublesome one; it is a sabre
cut, and has cleft right through your shoulder bone. Are you hurt
anywhere else?"
"No, I do not think so. I was knocked down in the dark, and I
believe stunned, though I have a sort of recollection of being
trampled on, and I feel sore all over."
The surgeon felt his ribs and limbs, repeatedly asking him if it
hurt him. When he finished the examination, he said:
"You are doubtless badly bruised, but I don't think anything is
broken. Our Cossack horses are little more than ponies. Had they
been heavy horse, they would have trod your life out."
A few moments later there was a sound of trampling horses. They
halted close by. The officers drew back, and a moment later Marshal
Scheremetof, the commander of the Russian army, came up to
Charlie's side.
"Which of you speaks Swedish?" he asked the officers, and one of
them stepped forward.
"Ask him what force was this that attacked us, and with what
object."
As Charlie saw no reason for concealment, he replied that it was a
body of four hundred Swedish infantry, and a troop of horse, with
four guns, and that their object was to enter the town.
"They must have been mad to attempt to cut their way through our
whole army," the general said, when the answer was translated to
him; "but, by Saint Paul, they nearly succeeded. The Swedes are
mad, but this was too much even for madmen. Ask him whence the
force came. It may be that a large reinforcement has reached
Vyburg, without our knowing it."
"We arrived two days since," Charlie replied, when the question was
put to him. "We came in a ship together from Revel."
"Did others come with you?" was next asked, at the general's
dictation.
"No other ship but ours has arrived."
"But others are coming?"
As Charlie had no doubt that great efforts would be made to send
further reinforcements, he replied:
"Many more troops are coming, but I cannot say when they will
arrive."
"Will it be soon?"
"That I cannot say, but I don't think they will come from Revel.
There was a talk of large reinforcements, but whether from Sweden
or from the king's army, I cannot say."
"Are you a Swede?" the general asked.
"I am an Englishman in the Swedish service, general."
"We have many of your countrymen with us," the general said. "It
would have been better for you, had you come to the czar.
"See that he is well treated," he said to the officers, and then
mounted and rode away.