The Swedish leader at once rode up to
the foot of the tower, where Malcolm had already sallied out.
"I am glad indeed I am in time, Captain Graheme; we have ridden
without drawing rein since your messenger arrived at four o'clock
this morning."
"Thanks indeed, Captain Burgh," Malcolm replied. Your coming is
most welcome; though I think we have given the peasants so hot a
lesson that they would not have attacked us again, and by tightening
our waistbelts we could have held on for another three or four
days."
"I see that you have punished them heavily," the Swedish officer
said, looking round at the bodies; "but what was the explosion I
heard?"
"You will see its signs behind the tower," Malcolm said as he
led the way there. "They tried to blow us up, but burnt their own
fingers."
The scene behind the tower was ghastly. Some thirty peasants lay
with their clothes completely burned from their bodies, the greater
portion of them dead, but some still writhing in agony. Malcolm
uttered an exclamation of horror.
"It were a kindness to put these wretches out of their misery," the
Swede said, and dismounting he passed his sword through the bodies
of the writhing men. "You know I am in favour of carrying on the
war as mercifully as may be," he continued turning to Malcolm,
"for we have talked the matter over before now; and God forbid that
I should strike a fallen foe; but these poor wretches were beyond
help, and it is true mercy to end their sufferings.
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