Lights flashed from the windows and partly lit up the streets,
and the Imperialist officers attempted to rally their men; but the
Scottish shouts, "A Hepburn! A Hepburn!" and the sight of their
green scarves added to the terror of the soldiers, who were convinced
that the terrible Green Brigade of the King of Sweden was upon
them.
Hundreds were cut down after striking scarce a blow in their defence,
numbers fled to the walls and leapt over. The panic communicated
itself to the party drawn up to repel a sortie. Hearing the yells,
screams, and shouts, accompanied by the musketry approaching from
three different quarters of the town, while a steady fire from the
castle indicated that the defenders there might, at any moment,
sally out upon them, they stood for a time irresolute; but as the
heads of the three columns approached they lost heart, quitted their
station, and withdrew in a body by a street by which they avoided
the approaching columns. On arriving at the spot Malcolm found the
guns deserted.
"The town is won now," he said. "I will take my post here with my
men in case the Austrians should rally; do you with the rest scatter
over the town and complete the work, but bid them keep together in
parties of twenty."
The force broke up and scattered through the town in their work
of vengeance. House after house was entered and searched, and all
who were found there put to the sword; but by this time most of
those who were not too drunk to fly had already made for the gates.
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