A fortnight after the fortifications of Marienburg were completed, Colonel Schlippenbach sent off Lieutenant1 Colonel Brandt, with four hundred horse, to capture a magazine at Seffwegen, to which the Saxons had forced the inhabitants of the country round to bring in their corn, intending later to convey it to the headquarters of their army. The expedition was completely successful. The Saxon guard were overpowered, and a thousand tons of corn were brought, in triumph, into Marienburg. Some of it was sent on to the army, abundance being retained for the use of the town and garrison2, in case of siege.
It was now resolved to surprise and burn Pitschur, a town on the frontier from which the enemy constantly made incursions. It was held by a strong body of Russians.
Baron3 Spens was in command of the expedition. He had with him both the regiments4 of Horse Guards. Much excitement was caused, in Marienburg, by the issue of an order that the cavalry6, and a portion of the infantry7, were to be ready to march at daylight; and by the arrival of a large number of peasants, brought in by small parties of the cavalry. Many were the surmises8 as to the operation to be undertaken, its object being kept a strict secret.
Captain Jervoise's company was one of those in orders, and paraded at daybreak, and, after a march of some distance, the force joined that of Baron Spens. The troops were halted in a wood, and ordered to light fires to cook food, and to prepare for a halt of some hours. Great fires were soon blazing and, after eating their meal, most of the troops wrapped themselves in the blankets that they carried, in addition to their greatcoats, and lay down by the fires.
They slept until midnight, and were then called to arms again. They marched all night, and at daybreak the next morning, the 13th of February, were near Pitschur, and at once attacked the Russian camp outside the town. Taken completely by surprise, the Russians fought feebly, and more than five hundred were killed before they entered the town, hotly pursued by the Swedes. Shutting themselves up in the houses, and barricading9 the doors and windows, they defended themselves desperately10, refusing all offers of surrender.
The Livonian peasants were, however, at work, and set fire to the town in many places. The flames spread rapidly. Great stores of hides and leather, and a huge magazine filled with hemp11, added to the fury of the conflagration12, and the whole town was burned to the ground; numbers of the Russians preferring death by fire, in the houses, to coming out and surrendering themselves.
Many of the fugitives13 had succeeded in reaching a strong position on the hill commanding the town. This consisted of a convent, surrounded by strong walls mounted with cannon14, which played upon the town while the fight there was going on. As Baron Spens had no guns with him, he was unable to follow up his advantage by taking this position, and he therefore gave orders to the force to retire, the peasants being loaded with booty that they had gathered before the fire spread.
The loss of the Swedes was thirty killed and sixty wounded, this being a small amount of loss compared with what they had inflicted15 upon the enemy.
"I call that a horrible business, Captain Jervoise," Charlie said, when the troops had returned to Marienburg. "There was no real fighting in it."
"It was a surprise, Charlie. But they fought desperately after they gained the town."
"Yes, but we did nothing there beyond firing away at the windows. Of course, I had my sword in my hand; but it might as well have been in its sheath, for I never struck a blow, and I think it was the same with most of our men. One could not cut down those poor wretches16, who were scarce awake enough to use their arms. I was glad you held our company in rear of the others."
"Yes; I asked the colonel before attacking to put us in reserve, in case the enemy should rally. I did it on purpose, for I knew that our men, not having, like the Swedes, any personal animosity against the Russians, would not like the work. If it had come to storming the convent, I would have volunteered to lead the assault. At any rate, I am glad that, although a few of the men are wounded, no lives are lost in our company."
Harry17 cordially agreed with his friend. "I like an expedition, Charlie, if there is fighting to be done; but I don't want to have anything more to do with surprises. However, the cavalry had a good deal more to do with it than we had; but, as you say, it was a ghastly business. The only comfort is they began it, and have been robbing the peasants and destroying their homes for months."
Many small expeditions were sent out with equally favourable18 results; but Captain Jervoise's company took no part in these excursions.
Charles the Twelfth was passionately19 fond of hunting and, in spite of his many occupations, found time occasionally to spend a day or two in the chase. A few days after the attack upon Pitschur, he came to Marienburg to learn all particulars of the Russian position from Colonel Schlippenbach, as he intended, in the spring, to attack the triangle formed by three fortresses20, in order to drive the Russians farther back from the frontier.
"I hear that there are many wolves and bears in the forest, five leagues to the north. I want a party of about fifty footmen to drive the game, and as many horse, in case we come across one of the parties of Russians. I want some hearty21, active men for the march. I will send the foot on this afternoon, and ride with the horse so as to get there by daybreak. Which is your best company of infantry?"
"My best company is one composed chiefly of Scotchmen, though there are some English among them. It belongs to the Malmoe Regiment5, and is commanded by Captain Jervoise, an Englishman. I do not say that they are braver than our Swedes; they have not been tested in any desperate service; but they are healthier and more hardy23, for their officers, since the battle of Narva, have kept them engaged in sports of all kinds--mimic battles, foot races, and other friendly contests. I have marked them at it several times, and wondered sometimes at the rough play. But it has had its effect. While the rest of Suborn's regiment suffered as much from fever as the other troops, scarce a man in this company was sick, and they have, all the winter, been fit for arduous24 service at any moment."
"That is good indeed, and I will remember it, and will see that, another winter, similar games are carried on throughout the army. Let the company be paraded at once. I will, myself, inspect them."
The company's call was sounded, and, surprised at a summons just as they were cooking their dinners, the troops fell in, in front of their quarters, and the officers took their places in front of them, and waited for orders.
"I wonder what is up now," Nigel Forbes said to Harry. "You have not heard anything, from your father, of our being wanted, have you?"
"No; he was just as much surprised as I was, when a sergeant25 ran up with Schlippenbach's order that the company were to fall in."
Five minutes after they had formed up, three officers were seen approaching on foot.
"It is the colonel himself," Forbes muttered, as Captain Jervoise gave the word to the men to stand to attention.
A minute later, Captain Jervoise gave the order for the salute26, and Harry saw that the tall young officer, walking with the colonel, was the king. Without speaking a word, Charles walked up and down the line, narrowly inspecting the men, then he returned to the front.
"A fine set of fellows, Schlippenbach. I wish that, like my grandfather, I had some fifteen thousand of such troops under my orders. Present the captain to me."
The officers were called up, and Captain Jervoise was presented.
"Your company does you great credit, Captain Jervoise," the king said. "I would that all my troops looked in as good health and condition. Colonel Schlippenbach tells me that you have kept your men in good health, all through the winter, by means of sports and games. It is a good plan. I will try to get all my officers to adopt it another winter. Do the men join in them willingly?"
Captain Jervoise and his officers had all, during the nine months that had passed since they landed in Sweden, done their best to acquire the language, and could now speak and understand it thoroughly27.
"They like it, your majesty28. Our people are fond of games of this kind. My four officers take part in them with the men."
The king nodded.
"That is as it should be. It must create a good feeling on both sides. Present your officers to me, Captain Jervoise."
This was done, and the king spoke29 a few words to each. Charlie had often seen the king at a distance, but never before so close as to be able to notice his face particularly. He was a tall young fellow, thin and bony. His face was long, and his forehead singularly high and somewhat projecting. This was the most noticeable feature of his face. His eyes were quick and keen, his face clean-shaven, and, had it not been for the forehead and eyes, would have attracted no attention. His movements were quick and energetic, and, after speaking to the officers, he strode a step or two forward and, raising his voice, said:
"I am pleased with you, men. Your appearance does credit to yourselves and your officers. Scottish troops did grand service under my grandfather, Gustavus Adolphus, and I would that I had twenty battalions30 of such soldiers with me. I am going hunting tomorrow, and I asked Colonel Schlippenbach for half a company of men who could stand cold and fatigue31. He told me that I could not do better than take them from among this company, and I see that he could not have made a better choice. But I will not separate you, and will therefore take you all. You will march in an hour, and I will see that there is a good supper ready for you, at the end of your journey."
Colonel Schlippenbach gave Captain Jervoise directions as to the road they were to follow, and the village, at the edge of the forest, where they were to halt for the night. He then walked away with the king. Highly pleased with the praise Charles had given them, the company fell out.
"Get your dinners as soon as you can, men," Captain Jervoise said. "The king gave us an hour. We must be in readiness to march by that time."
On arriving at the village, which consisted of a few small houses only, they found two waggons33 awaiting them, one with tents and the other with a plentiful34 supply of provisions, and a barrel of wine. The tents were erected35, and then the men went into the forest, and soon returned with large quantities of wood, and great fires were speedily lighted. Meat was cut up and roasted over them, and, regarding the expedition as a holiday, the men sat down to their supper in high spirits.
After it was eaten there were songs round the fires, and, at nine o'clock, all turned into their tents, as it was known that the king would arrive at daylight. Sentries36 were posted, for there was never any saying when marauding parties of Russians, who were constantly on the move, might come along.
Half an hour before daybreak, the men were aroused. Tents were struck and packed in the waggon32, and the men then fell in, and remained until the king, with three or four of his officers and fifty cavalry, rode up. Fresh wood had been thrown on the fires, and some of the men told off as cooks.
"That looks cheerful for hungry men," the king said, as he leaped from his horse.
"I did not know whether your majesty would wish to breakfast at once," Captain Jervoise said; "but I thought it well to be prepared."
"We will breakfast by all means. We are all sharp set already. Have your own men had food yet?"
"No, sir. I thought perhaps they would carry it with them."
"No, no. Let them all have a hearty meal before they move, then they can hold on as long as may be necessary."
The company fell out again, and, in a quarter of an hour, they and the troopers breakfasted. A joint37 of meat was placed, for the use of the king and the officers who had come with him, and Captain Jervoise and those with him prepared to take their meal a short distance away, but Charles said:
"Bring that joint here, Captain Jervoise, and we will all take breakfast together. We are all hunters and comrades."
In a short time, they were all seated round a fire, with their meat on wooden platters on their knees, and with mugs of wine beside them; Captain Jervoise, by the king's orders, taking his seat beside him. During the meal, he asked him many questions as to his reasons for leaving England, and taking service with him.
"So you have meddled38 in politics, eh?" the king laughed, when he heard a brief account of Captain Jervoise's reason for leaving home. "Your quarrels, in England and Scotland, have added many a thousand good soldiers to the armies of France and Sweden, and, I may say, of every country in Europe. I believe there are some of your compatriots, or at any rate Scotchmen, in the czar's camp. I suppose that, at William's death, these troubles will cease."
"I do not know, sir. Anne was James' favourite daughter, and it may be she will resign in favour of her brother, the lawful40 king. If she does so, there is an end of trouble; but, should she mount the throne, she would be a usurper41, as Mary was up to her death in '94. As Anne has been on good terms with William, since her sister's death, I fear she will act as unnatural42 a part as Mary did, and, in that case, assuredly we shall not recognize her as our queen."
"You have heard the news, I suppose, of the action of the parliament last month?"
"No, sir, we have heard nothing for some weeks of what is doing in England."
"They have been making an Act of Settlement of the succession. Anne is to succeed William, and, as she has no children by George of Denmark, the succession is to pass from her to the Elector of Hanover, in right of his wife Sophia, as the rest of the children of the Elector of the Palatinate have abjured43 Protestantism, and are therefore excluded. How will that meet the views of the English and Scotch22 Jacobites?"
"It is some distance to look forward to, sire. If Anne comes to the throne at William's death, it will, I think, postpone44 our hopes, for Anne is a Stuart, and is a favourite with the nation, in spite of her undutiful conduct to her father. Still, it will be felt that for Stuart to fight against Stuart, brother against sister, would be contrary to nature. Foreigners are always unpopular, and, as against William, every Jacobite is ready to take up arms. But I think that nothing will be done during Anne's reign45. The Elector of Hanover would be as unpopular, among Englishmen in general, as is William of Orange, and, should he come to the throne, there will assuredly ere long be a rising to bring back the Stuarts."
Charles shook his head.
"I don't want to ruffle46 your spirit of loyalty47 to the Stuarts, Captain Jervoise, but they have showed themselves weak monarchs48 for a great country. They want fibre. William of Orange may be, as you call him, a foreigner and a usurper, but England has greater weight in the councils of Europe, in his hands, than it has had since the death of Elizabeth."
This was rather a sore point with Captain Jervoise, who, thorough Jacobite as he was, had smarted under the subservience50 of England to France during the reigns51 of the two previous monarchs.
"You Englishmen and Scotchmen are fighting people," the king went on, "and should have a military monarch49. I do not mean a king like myself, who likes to fight in the front ranks of his soldiers; but one like William, who has certainly lofty aims, and is a statesman, and can join in European combinations."
"William thinks and plans more for Holland than for England, sire. He would join a league against France and Spain, not so much for the benefit of England, which has not much to fear from these powers, but of Holland, whose existence now, as of old is threatened by them."
"England's interest is similar to that of Holland," the king said. "I began this war, nominally52, in the interest of the Duke of Holstein, but really because it was Sweden's interest that Denmark should not become too powerful.
"But we must not waste time in talking politics. I see the men have finished their breakfast, and we are here to hunt. I shall keep twenty horse with me; the rest will enter the forest with you. I have arranged for the peasants here to guide you. You will march two miles along by the edge of the forest, and then enter it and make a wide semicircle, leaving men as you go, until you come down to the edge of the forest again, a mile to our left.
"As soon as you do so, you will sound a trumpet53, and the men will then move forward, shouting so as to drive the game before them. As the peasants tell me there are many wolves and bears in the forest, I hope that you will inclose some of them in your cordon54, which will be about five miles from end to end. With the horse you will have a hundred and thirty men, so that there will be a man every sixty or seventy yards. That is too wide a space at first, but, as you close in, the distances will rapidly lessen55, and they must make up, by noise, for the scantiness56 of their numbers. If they find the animals are trying to break through, they can discharge their pieces; but do not let them do so otherwise, as it would frighten the animals too soon, and send them flying out all along the open side of the semicircle."
It was more than two hours before the whole of the beaters were in position. Just before they had started, the king had requested Captain Jervoise to remain with him and the officers who had accompanied him, five in number. They had been posted, a hundred yards apart, at the edge of the forest. Charlie was the first officer left behind as the troop moved through the forest, and it seemed to him an endless time before he heard a faint shout, followed by another and another, until, at last, the man stationed next to him repeated the signal. Then they moved forward, each trying to obey the orders to march straight ahead.
For some time, nothing was heard save the shouts of the men, and then Charlie made out some distant shots, far in the wood, and guessed that some animals were trying to break through the lines. Then he heard the sound of firing directly in front of him. This continued for some time, occasionally single shots being heard, but more often shots in close succession. Louder and louder grew the shouting, as the men closed in towards a common point, and, in half an hour after the signal had been given, all met.
"What sport have you had, father?" Harry asked, as he came up to Captain Jervoise.
"We killed seventeen wolves and four bears, with, what is more important, six stags. I do not know whether we are going to have another beat."
It soon turned out that this was the king's intention, and the troops marched along the edge of the forest. Charlie was in the front of his company, the king with the cavalry a few hundred yards ahead, when, from a dip of ground on the right, a large body of horsemen suddenly appeared.
"Russians!" Captain Jervoise exclaimed, and shouted to the men, who were marching at ease, to close up.
The king did not hesitate a moment, but, at the head of his fifty cavalry, charged right down upon the Russians, who were at least five hundred strong. The little body disappeared in the melee57, and then seemed to be swallowed up.
"Keep together, shoulder to shoulder, men. Double!" and the company set off at a run.
When they came close to the mass of horsemen, they poured in a volley, and then rushed forward, hastily fitting the short pikes they carried into their musket58 barrels; for, as yet, the modern form of bayonets was not used. The Russians fought obstinately59, but the infantry pressed their way step by step through them, until they reached the spot where the king, with his little troop of cavalry, were defending themselves desperately from the attacks of the Russians.
The arrival of the infantry decided60 the contest, and the Russians began to draw off, the king hastening the movement by plunging61 into the midst of them with his horsemen.
Charlie was on the flank of the company as it advanced, and, after running through a Russian horseman with the short pike that was carried by officers, he received a tremendous blow on his steel cap, that stretched him insensible on the ground. When he recovered, he felt that he was being carried, and soon awoke to the fact that he was a prisoner.
After a long ride, the Russians arrived at Plescow. They had lost some sixty men in the fight. Charlie was the only prisoner taken. He was, on dismounting, too weak to stand, but he was half carried and half dragged to the quarters of the Russian officer in command. The latter addressed him, but, finding that he was not understood, sent for an officer who spoke Swedish.
"What were the party you were with doing in the wood?"
"We were hunting wolves and bears."
"Where did you come from?"
"From Marienburg."
"How strong were you?"
"Fifty horse and a hundred and forty foot," Charlie replied, knowing there could be no harm in stating the truth.
"But it was a long way to march, merely to hunt, and your officers must have been mad to come out, with so small a party, to a point where they were likely to meet with us."
"It was not too small a party, sir, as they managed to beat off the attack made upon them."
The Russian was silent for a moment, then he asked:
"Who was the officer in command?"
"The officer in command was the King of Sweden," Charlie replied.
An exclamation62 of surprise and anger broke from the Russian general, when the answer was translated to him.
"You missed a good chance of distinguishing yourself," he said to the officer in command of the troops. "Here has this mad King of Sweden been actually putting himself in your hands, and you have let him slip through your fingers. It would have got you two steps in rank, and the favour of the czar, had you captured him, and now he will be in a rage, indeed, when he hears that five hundred cavalry could do nothing against a force only a third of their number."
"I had no idea that the King of Sweden was there himself," the officer said humbly63.
"Bah, that is no excuse. There were officers, and you ought to have captured them, instead of allowing yourself to be put to flight by a hundred and fifty men."
"We must have killed half the horsemen before the infantry came up."
"All the worse, colonel, that you did not complete the business. The infantry would not have been formidable, after they discharged their pieces. However, it is your own affair, and I wash my hands of it. What the czar will say when he hears of it, I know not, but I would not be in your shoes for all my estates."
As Charlie learned afterwards, the colonel was degraded from his rank by the angry czar, and ordered to serve as a private in the regiment he commanded. The officer who acted as translator said something in his own tongue to the general, who then, through him, said:
"This officer tells me that by your language you are not a Swede."
"I am not. I am English, and I am an ensign in the Malmoe Regiment."
"All the worse for you," the general said. "The czar has declared that he will exchange no foreign officers who may be taken prisoners."
"Very well, sir," Charlie said, fearlessly. "He will be only punishing his own officers. There are plenty of them in the King of Sweden's hands."
The general, when this reply was translated to him, angrily ordered Charlie to be taken away, and he was soon lodged64 in a cell in the castle. His head was still swimming from the effects of the blow that had stricken him down, and, without even trying to think over his position, he threw himself down on the straw pallet, and was soon asleep.
It was morning when he woke and, for a short time, he was unable to imagine where he was, but soon recalled what had happened. He had been visited by someone after he had lain down, for a platter of bread and meat stood on the table, and a jug65 of water. He was also covered with two thick blankets. These had not been there when he lay down, for he had wondered vaguely66 as to how he should pass the night without some covering.
He took a long draught67 of water, then ate some food. His head throbbed68 with the pain of the wound. It had been roughly bandaged by his captors, but needed surgical69 dressing70.
"I wonder how long I am likely to be, before I am exchanged," he said to himself. "A long time, I am afraid; for there are scores of Russian officers prisoners with us, and I don't think there are half a dozen of ours captured by the Russians. Of course, no exchange can take place until there are a good batch71 to send over, and, it may be, months may pass before they happen to lay hands on enough Swedish officers to make it worth while to trouble about exchanging them."
An hour later the door opened, and an officer entered, followed by a soldier with a large bowl of broth39 and some bread.
"I am a doctor," he said in Swedish. "I came in to see you yesterday evening, but you were sound asleep, and that was a better medicine than any I can give; so I told the man to throw those two barrack rugs over you, and leave your food in case you should wake, which did not seem to me likely. I see, however, that you did wake," and he pointed72 to the plate.
"That was not till this morning, doctor. It is not an hour since I ate it."
"This broth will be better for you, and I daresay you can manage another breakfast. Sit down and take it, at once, while it is hot. I am in no hurry."
He gave an order in Russian to the soldier, who went out, and returned in a few minutes with a small wooden tub, filled with hot water. By this time Charlie had finished the broth. The doctor then bathed his head for some time in hot water, but was obliged to cut off some of his hair, in order to remove the bandage. As he examined the wound, Charlie was astounded73 to hear him mutter to himself:
"It is a mighty74 nate clip you have got, my boy; and, if your skull75 had not been a thick one, it is lying out there on the turf you would be."
Charlie burst into a fit of laughter.
"So you are English, too," he exclaimed, as he looked up into the surgeon's face.
"At laste Irish, my boy," the doctor said, as surprised as Charlie had been. "To think we should have been talking Swedish to each other, instead of our native tongue. And what is your name? And what is it you are doing here, as a Swede, at all?"
"My name is Charles Carstairs. I come from Lancashire, just on the borders of Westmoreland. My father is a Jacobite, and so had to leave the country. He went over to Sweden, and I, with some friends of his, got commissions."
"Then our cases are pretty much alike," the doctor said. "I had gone through Dublin University, and had just passed as a surgeon, when King James landed. It didn't much matter to me who was king, but I thought it was a fine opportunity to study gunshot wounds, so I joined the royal army, and was at the battle of the Boyne. I had plenty of work with wounds, early in the day, but when, after the Irish had fairly beat the Dutchman back all day, they made up their minds to march away at night, I had to lave my patients and be off too. Then I was shut up in Limerick; and I was not idle there, as you may guess. When at last the surrender came, I managed to slip away, having no fancy for going over with the regiments that were to enter the service of France. I thought I could have gone back to Dublin, and that no one would trouble about me; but someone put them up to it, and I had to go without stopping to ask leave. I landed at Bristol, and there, for a time, was nearly starving.
"I was well nigh my wits' end as to what to do for a living, and had just spent my last shilling, when I met an English captain, who told me that across at Gottenburg there were a good many Irish and Scotchmen who had, like myself, been in trouble at home. He gave me a passage across, and took me to the house of a man he knew. Of course, it was no use my trying to doctor people, when they could not tell me what was the matter with them, and I worked at one thing and another, doing anything I could turn my hands to, for four or five months. That is how I got to pick up Swedish. Then some people told me that Russia was a place where a doctor might get on, for that they had got no doctors for their army who knew anything of surgery, and the czar was always ready to take on foreigners who could teach them anything. I had got my diploma with me, and some of my friends came forward and subscribed76 enough to rig me out in clothes and pay my passage. What was better, one of them happened to have made the acquaintance of Le Ford77, who was, as you may have heard, the czar's most intimate friend.
"I wished myself back a hundred times before I reached Moscow, but when I did, everything was easy for me. Le Ford introduced me to the czar, and I was appointed surgeon of a newly-raised regiment, of which Le Ford was colonel. That was eight years ago, and I am now a sort of surgeon general of a division, and am at the head of the hospitals about here. Till the war began I had not, for five years, done any military work, but had been at the head of a college the czar has established for training surgeons for the army. I was only sent down here after that business at Narva.
"So, you see, I have fallen on my feet. The czar's is a good service, and we employ a score or two of Scotchmen, most of them in good posts. He took to them because a Scotchman, General Gordon, and other foreign officers, rescued him from his sister Sophia, who intended to assassinate78 him, and established him firmly on the throne of his father.
"It is a pity you are not on this side. Perhaps it isn't too late to change, eh?"
Charlie laughed.
"My father is in Sweden, and my company is commanded by a man who is as good as a father to me, and his son is like my brother. If there were no other reason, I could not change. Why, it was only yesterday I was sitting round a bivouac fire with King Charles, and nothing would induce me to fight against him."
"I am not going to try to persuade you. The czar has treated me well, and I love him. By the way, I have not given you my name after all. It's Terence Kelly."
"Is not the czar very fierce and cruel?"
"Bedad, I would be much more cruel and fierce if I were in his place. Just think of one man, with all Russia on his shoulders. There is he trying to improve the country, working like a horse himself, knowing that, like every other Russian, he is as ignorant as a pig, and setting to improve himself--working in the dockyards of Holland and England, attending lectures, and all kinds of subjects. Why, man, he learnt anatomy79, and can take off a leg as quickly as I can. He is building a fleet and getting together an army. It is not much good yet, you will say, but it will be some day. You can turn a peasant into a soldier in six months, but it takes a long time to turn out generals and officers who are fit for their work.
"Then, while he is trying everywhere to improve his country, every man jack80 of them objects to being improved, and wants to go along in his old ways. Didn't they get up an insurrection, only because he wanted them to cut off their beards? Any other man would have lost heart, and given it up years ago. It looks as hopeless a task as for a mouse to drag a mountain, but he is doing it.
"I don't say that he is perfect. He gets into passions, and it is mighty hard for anyone he gets into a passion with. But who would not get into passions, when there is so much work to be done, and everyone tries to hinder instead of to help? It would break the heart of Saint Patrick! Why, that affair at Narva would have broken down most men. Here, for years, has he been working to make an army, and the first time they meet an enemy worthy81 of the name, what do they do? Why, they are beaten by a tenth of their number of half-starved men, led by a mad-brained young fellow who had never heard a shot fired before, and lose all their cannon, guns, ammunition82, and stores. Why, I was heartbroken, myself, when I heard of it; but Peter, instead of blowing out his brains, or drowning himself, set to work, an hour after the news reached him, to bring up fresh troops, to re-arm the men, and to prepare to meet the Swedes again, as soon as the snow is off the ground.
"If James of England had been Peter of Russia, he would be ruling over Ireland now, and England and Scotland, too.
"But now, I must be off. Don't you worry about your head. I have seen as bad a clip given by a blackthorn. I have got to go round now and see the wounded, and watch some operations being done, but I will come in again this evening. Don't eat any more of their messes, if they bring them in. You and I will have a snug83 little dinner together. I might get you put into a more dacent chamber84, but the general is one of the old pig-headed sort. We don't pull together, so I would rather not ask any favours from him.
"The czar may come any day--he is always flying about. I will speak to him when he comes, and see that you have better entertainment."
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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surmises
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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barricading
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的现在分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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hemp
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| n.大麻；纤维 | |
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conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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fortresses
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| 堡垒，要塞( fortress的名词复数 ) | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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meddled
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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usurper
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| n. 篡夺者, 僭取者 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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abjured
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| v.发誓放弃( abjure的过去式和过去分词 )；郑重放弃（意见）；宣布撤回（声明等）；避免 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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ruffle
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| v.弄皱，弄乱；激怒，扰乱；n.褶裥饰边 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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subservience
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| n.有利，有益；从属（地位），附属性；屈从，恭顺；媚态 | |
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reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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nominally
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| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
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trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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54
cordon
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| n.警戒线，哨兵线 | |
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55
lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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56
scantiness
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| n.缺乏 | |
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57
melee
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| n.混战；混战的人群 | |
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58
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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62
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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surgical
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| adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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batch
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| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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76
subscribed
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| v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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assassinate
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| vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤 | |
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79
anatomy
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| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
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80
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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81
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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82
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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83
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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