"
"I had no idea that the King of Sweden was there himself," the
officer said humbly.
"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.
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