"Now, if you will, I will mount this stronghold of yours with you,
and see exactly how it stands, for I shall have to tell the tale
a score of times at least when I get back to camp, and I can do it
all the better after I have seen for myself the various features
of the place."
By the time they had mounted the top of the tower and Captain Burgh
had fully satisfied himself as to the details of the defence the
troopers began to return. Their horses were far too fatigued with
the long ride from the camp and the subsequent pursuit to be able
to travel farther. Fires were accordingly lit, rations distributed,
and a halt ordered till the following morning, when, at daybreak,
they returned to the Lech.
Two days later Malcolm and his men marched forward with a brigade
which was advancing to reinforce the army under Gustavus, and
reached Ingolstadt on the day when the king raised the siege, and
accompanied him on his march to Munich.
Malcolm on rejoining was greeted with great pleasure by his comrades,
who had made up their minds that he had in some way fallen a victim
to the peasants. The noncommissioned officers and men of his party
had been severely reprimanded for leaving the village without finding
him. In their defence they declared that they had searched every
house and shed, and, having found no sign of him, or of any struggle
having taken place, they supposed that he must have returned alone.
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