Mr. Jervoise related, shortly, the events by which he had been driven into exile, and expressed his desire to serve in the army of Sweden, and that his son and young Carstairs should also enter the army.

“They are but sixteen yet,” he said, “but are stout, active fellows, and could hold their own in a day’s march or in a stout fight with many men.  Of course, if I could obtain commissions for them, all the better, but if not they are ready to enlist in the ranks.  Roughing it will do them no harm.”

“Their age is no drawback,” Major Jamieson said.  “There are many no older, both in the ranks and as officers.  Men in Sweden of all ages and of all ranks are joining, for this unprovoked attack, on the part of Poland, has raised the national spirit to boiling heat.  The chief difficulty is their and your ignorance of the language.  Were it not for that, I could obtain, from the minister of war, commissions for you at once.”

He sat thinking for some minutes, in silence.

“I think I see how it can be managed, Jervoise.  I have some twenty or thirty Scotchmen in my regiment, and I know a colonel who has as many in his, and these I could manage to get, in exchange for an equal number of my Swedes.  Ships are coming daily from Scotland, and most of them bring young fellows who have come out to join the army.

“You know how the Scots fought, under Gustavus Adolphus, and there is scarce a glen in Scotland where there are not traditions of fathers, or grandfathers, who fought in Hepburn’s Green Brigade.  Therefore, it is natural that, seeing there is no chance of military service at home, there should be many young fellows coming out to join.

“I can go across this evening to the minister of war, who is a personal friend of mine, and get him to give you permission to raise a company of Scotchmen for service.  I shall, of course, point out to him that you will enlist them here.  I shall show him the advantage of these men being gathered together, as their ignorance of the language makes them, for some time, useless as soldiers if enrolled in a Swedish regiment.  I shall mention that I have twenty in my own corps, who are at present positively useless, and in fact a source of great trouble, owing to their understanding nothing that is said to them, and shall propose that they be at once handed over to you.  As to the exchange, we can manage that quietly between ourselves.  You would have no difficulty with fresh-landed men, as these will naturally be delighted at joining a company of their own countrymen.”

“Thank you very heartily, Jamieson.  This altogether exceeds my hopes, but I fear that I know nothing of drilling them.”

“Two of my men are sergeants, and, having been in the army for some years, speak Swedish well.  They will do the drilling at first.  The manoeuvres are not complicated, and, for a pound or two, they will be glad to teach you all the orders necessary.  I don’t know how you are situated as to money, but I can assure you my purse is at your service.”