Sit down, young sir; fill yourself a flagon of wine, and expound this riddle to us." Malcolm repeated the narrative as he had told it to his colonel, and the king expressed his warm satisfaction.
"You will make a great leader some day if you do not get killed in one of these adventures, young sir.

Bravery seems to be a common gift of the men of your nation; but you seem to unite with it a surprising prudence and sagacity, and, moreover, this march of yours to Mansfeld shows that you do not fear taking responsibility, which is a high and rare quality.
You have done good service to the cause, and I thank you, and shall keep my eye upon you in the future." The next day Malcolm went round the camp, and was surprised at the extensive works which had been erected.

Strong ramparts and redoubts had been thrown up round it, faced with stone, and mounted with 150 pieces of cannon.

In the centre stood an inner entrenchment with earthworks and a deep fosse.

In this stood the tents of the king and those of his principal officers.