Bravery seems to be a common
gift of the men of your nation; but you seem to unite with it
a surprising prudence and sagacity, and, moreover, this march of
yours to Mansfeld shows that you do not fear taking responsibility,
which is a high and rare quality. You have done good service to
the cause, and I thank you, and shall keep my eye upon you in the
future."
The next day Malcolm went round the camp, and was surprised at
the extensive works which had been erected. Strong ramparts and
redoubts had been thrown up round it, faced with stone, and mounted
with 150 pieces of cannon. In the centre stood an inner entrenchment
with earthworks and a deep fosse. In this stood the tents of the
king and those of his principal officers. The Marquis of Hamilton
had, Malcolm heard, arrived and gone. He had lost on the march
many of the soldiers he had enlisted in England, who had died from
eating German bread, which was heavier, darker coloured, and more
sour than that of their own country. This, however, did not disagree
with the Scotch, who were accustomed to black bread.
"I wonder," Malcolm said to Nigel Graheme, "that when the king has
in face of him a force so superior to his own he should have sent
away on detached service the four splendid regiments which they
say the marquis brought."
"Well, the fact was," Nigel said laughing, "Hamilton was altogether
too grand for us here.
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