Loud rose the
war cries of the Italian and Spanish soldiers, and the answering
cheers of the Scots mingled with the clash of sword on steel armour
and the cries of the wounded, while without the walls the cannon
of Gustavus thundered incessantly.
Not since the dreadful struggle in the streets of New Brandenburg
had Malcolm been engaged in so desperate a strife. All order and
regularity was lost, and man to man they fought with pike, sword,
and clubbed musket. There was no giving of orders, for no word
could be heard in such a din, and the officers with their swords
and half pikes fought desperately in the melee with the rest.
Gradually, however, the strength and endurance of Ramsay's veterans
prevailed over numbers. Most of the officers of the Imperialists
had been slain, as well as their bravest men, and the rest began
to draw off and to scatter through the castle, some to look for
hiding places, many to jump over the walls rather than fall into
the hands of the terrible Scots.
The astonishment of Gustavus and of Hepburn, who was now marching
with his men towards the castle, at hearing the rattle of musketry
and the din of battle within the very heart of the fortress was
great indeed, and this was heightened when, a few minutes later,
the soldiers were seen leaping desperately from the walls, and a
great shout arose from the troops as the Imperial banner was seen
to descend from its flagstaff on the keep.
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