It is your trade to fight in open battle, and
you care not to slay your enemies when helpless; but with us it is
different. We regard them as wild beasts, without heart or pity,
as scourges to be annihilated when we have the chance; just as in
winter we slay the wolves who come down to attack our herds."
"I blame you not," Malcolm said. "When men take to the life of
wild beasts they must be slain as such. Now my task is done, and
I will journey on at once to join my countrymen; but I will give
you one piece of advice before I go.
"In the course of a day or two the party left at Wolfsburg will
grow uneasy, and two of their number are sure to ride hither to
inquire as to the tarrying of the band. Let your men with arquebuses
keep watch night and day and shoot them down when they arrive. Were I
in your place I would then mount a dozen of your men and let them
put on the armour of these dead robbers and ride to Wolfsburg,
arriving there about daybreak. If they see you coming they will
take you to be the band returning. The two men below you will cut
down without difficulty, and there will then be but three or four
to deal with in the castle.
"I recommend you to make a complete end of them; and for this
reason: if any of the band survive they will join themselves with
some other party and will be sure to endeavour to get them to
avenge this slaughter; for although these bands have no love for
each other, yet they would be ready enough to take up each other's
quarrel as against country folk, especially when there is a hope
of plunder.
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