Be careful in choosing your officers.

I will fill in the king's commission to you as captain of the company, authorizing you to enlist men for his service and to appoint officers thereto." An hour or two later Colonel Munro and Captain Hume proceeded on their way.

The news speedily spread through Nithsdale that Nigel Graheme had received a commission from the King of Sweden to raise a company in his service, and very speedily men began to pour in.

The disbandment of the Scottish army had left but few careers open at home to the youth of that country, and very large numbers had consequently flocked to the Continent and taken service in one or other of the armies there, any opening of the sort, therefore, had only to be known to be freely embraced.

Consequently, in eight-and-forty hours Nigel Graheme had applications from a far larger number than he could accept, and he was enabled to pick and choose among the applicants.