The Swedes are
mad, but this was too much even for madmen. Ask him whence the
force came. It may be that a large reinforcement has reached
Vyburg, without our knowing it."
"We arrived two days since," Charlie replied, when the question was
put to him. "We came in a ship together from Revel."
"Did others come with you?" was next asked, at the general's
dictation.
"No other ship but ours has arrived."
"But others are coming?"
As Charlie had no doubt that great efforts would be made to send
further reinforcements, he replied:
"Many more troops are coming, but I cannot say when they will
arrive."
"Will it be soon?"
"That I cannot say, but I don't think they will come from Revel.
There was a talk of large reinforcements, but whether from Sweden
or from the king's army, I cannot say."
"Are you a Swede?" the general asked.
"I am an Englishman in the Swedish service, general."
"We have many of your countrymen with us," the general said. "It
would have been better for you, had you come to the czar.
"See that he is well treated," he said to the officers, and then
mounted and rode away.
Chapter 15: An Old Acquaintance.
The next morning Charlie was placed in a tent, in which lay several
officers who had been wounded, either the night before or by shots
from the town.
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