He then still more briefly related how he had been taken prisoner by a band of freebooters, but had managed to get away from them, and had drawn them into an ambush by peasants, where they had been slain, by which means he had obtained a horse and ridden straight to the army.
Gustavus asked many questions, and elicited many more details than Malcolm had deemed it necessary to give in his first recital.
"You have shown great prudence and forethought," the king said when he had finished, "such as would not be looked for in so young a soldier." "And he behaved, sire, with distinguished gallantry and coolness at Schiefelbrune, and in the destructive fight outside Colberg," Colonel Munro put in.

"By the slaughter on the latter day he would naturally have obtained his promotion, but he begged to be passed over, asserting that it was best that at his age he should remain for a time an ensign." "Such modesty is unusual," the king said, "and pleases me; see the next time a step is vacant, colonel, that he has it.

Whatever his age, he has shown himself fit to do man's work, and years are of no great value in a soldier; why, among all my Scottish regiments I have scarcely a colonel who is yet thirty years old." Malcolm now returned with Colonel Munro to the regiment, and there had to give a full and minute account of his adventures, and was warmly congratulated by his fellow officers on his good fortune in escaping from the dangers which had beset him.

The suit of armour was a handsome one, and had been doubtless stripped off from the body of some knight or noble murdered by the freebooters.

The leg pieces Malcolm laid aside, retaining only a cuirass, back piece, and helmet, as the full armour was too heavy for service on foot.
Two days later the king gave orders that the assault upon Landsberg was to be made that night.