Malcolm was glad to see by the faces of his comrades that all had shaken off the disease which had played such havoc among them at Old Brandenburg.
"Is there any chance of a general engagement ?" he asked Nigel.
"Not at present," Nigel said.

"We are expecting the reinforcements up in a few days.

As you see we have fortified the camp too strongly for Tilly to venture to attack us here.

Only yesterday he drew up his army and offered us battle; but the odds were too great, and the king will not fight till his reinforcements arrive.

Some of the hotter spirits were sorry that he would not accept Tilly's invitation, and I own that I rather gnashed my teeth myself; but I knew that the king was right in not risking the whole cause rashly when a few days will put us in a position to meet the Imperialists on something like equal terms.