The men were in light marching order, having left everything superfluous behind them in the wagon; and they marched briskly along over hill and through forest without a halt, till at three o'clock in the morning the little town of Mansfeld, with its castle rising above it, was visible before them in the first light of morning.
As they approached the walls a musketoon was fired, and the alarm bell of the church instantly rang out.

Soon armed men made their appearance on the walls.

Fearing that the burghers might fire before waiting to ascertain who were the newcomers, Malcolm halted his band, and advanced alone towards the walls.
"Who are you who come in arms to the peaceful town of Mansfeld ?" an officer asked from the wall.
"I am an officer of his Swedish Majesty, Gustavus, and hearing that the town was threatened with attack by the Imperialists, I have marched hither with my detachment to aid in the defence." A loud cheer broke from the walls.

Not only was the reinforcement a most welcome one, small as it was, for the valour of the Scottish soldiers of the King of Sweden was at that time the talk of all Germany, but the fact that a detachment of these redoubted troops had arrived seemed a proof that the main army of the Swedish king could not be far away.
The gates were at once opened, and Malcolm with his band marched into Mansfield..