"
Malcolm thanked the officer for the courtesy he had shown him on
the journey, and then rode forward towards the town. It was getting
dusk as he neared the bridge, but as he came close Malcolm's heart
gave a bound as he recognized the green scarves and plumes worn
by the sentries at the bridge. These seeing only a single horseman
with a female behind him did not attempt to question him as he
passed; but he reined in his horse.
"Whose regiment do you belong to?" he asked.
The men looked up in surprise at being addressed in their own
language by one whose attire was that of a simple craftsman, but
whom they now saw rode a horse of great strength and beauty.
"We belong to Hamilton's regiment," they replied.
"And where shall I find that of Munro?"
"It is lying in quarters fifteen miles away," one of the soldiers
answered.
"Then we cannot get on there tonight," Malcolm said. "Where are
your officers quartered?"
A soldier standing near at once volunteered to act as guide, and
in a few minutes Malcolm arrived at the house occupied by them. He
was of course personally known to all the officers, and as soon as
their surprise at his disguise and at seeing him accompanied by a
young lady had subsided, they received him most heartily.
Thekla was at once taken to the house of the burgomaster, which
was close at hand, and handed over to the wife of that functionary
for the night, and Malcolm spent a merry evening with the Scottish
officers, to whom he related the adventures which had so satisfactorily
terminated -- making, however, no allusion to the political secrets
which he had discovered or the mission with which he was charged.
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