Is there any news, colonel ?" he asked, turning to Munro.
"No news of importance," the colonel replied; "but the king is rather puzzled.

A prisoner was taken today--one of Pappenheim's horsemen--and he declares that a force of horse and foot have been defeated at Mansfeld by a Swedish army with heavy loss.

He avers that he was present at the affair, and arrived in camp with the rest of the beaten force only yesterday.

We cannot make it out, as we know that there are no Swedish troops anywhere in that direction." Malcolm burst into a hearty laugh, to the surprise of his fellow officers.
"I can explain the matter, colonel," he said.

"It was my detachment that had the honour of representing the Swedish army at Mansfeld." "What on earth do you mean, Malcolm ?" the colonel asked.
"Well, sir, as you know I went with a detachment to the village where I had before been well treated, and had earned the gratitude of the people by teaching them how to destroy a party of marauders.