So I have travelled here to ask your
hospitality."
By this time the farmer had come up and had grasped Malcolm's hand.
"All that I have is yours," he said warmly. "The lookout saw a wagon
coming across the plain with three or four men walking beside it,
and he thought that many more were seated in it; so thinking that
this might be a ruse of some freebooting band, I had the alarm bell
rung, and prepared to give them a hot reception."
"I have brought some sick comrades with me," Malcolm said. "I have
no thought of quartering them on you. That would be nigh as bad as
the arrival of a party of marauders, for they are getting strength,
and will, I warrant you, have keen appetites ere long; but we have
brought tents, and will pay for all we have."
"Do not talk of payment," the farmer said heartily. "As long as there
is flour in the storehouse and bacon on the beams, any Scottish
soldier of Gustavus is welcome to it, still more if they be comrades
of thine."
"Thanks, indeed," Malcolm replied. "I left them at the edge of the
wood, for I knew not what welcome you might have prepared here;
and seeing so many men you might have shot at them before waiting
to ask a question."
"That is possible enough," the farmer said, "for indeed we could
hardly look for friends. The men are all posted a hundred yards
further on."
The farmer ordered one of his men to go on and bring up the wagon,
and then with Malcolm walked on to the village.
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