The waiting maid was after some weeks' detention released, as there
was no evidence whatever of her complicity in the affair.
Malcolm continued his journey quietly towards the frontier of
Bavaria; but, on arriving at a small town within a few miles of
Pilsen, he learned that Wallenstein had fallen back with his army
to that place. Much alarmed at the news he determined to turn off
by a cross road and endeavour to avoid the Imperialists. He had
not, however, left the place before a party of Imperialist horse
rode in.
Malcolm was at once stopped, and was told that he must accompany
the troops to Pilsen, as they had orders to requisition all carts
for the supply of provisions for the army. Malcolm knew that it
was of no use to remonstrate, but, with many loud grumblings at
his hard lot, he moved to the marketplace, where he remained until
all the wagons in the place and in the surrounding country had been
collected.
Loud and bitter were the curses which the peasants uttered at
finding themselves taken from their homes and compelled to perform
service for which the pay, if received at all, would be scanty in
the extreme. There was, however, no help for it; and when all were
collected they started in a long procession guarded by the cavalry
for Pilsen. On arriving there they were ordered to take up their
station with the great train of wagons collected for the supply of
the army.
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