Charlie’s head, however, was not as hard as he had believed it to be; and the long ride brought on inflammation of the wound, so that, on the following morning, he was in a high state of fever.  It was a fortnight before he was convalescent, and the surgeon then recommended that he should have rest and quiet for a time, as he was sorely pulled down, and unfit to bear the hardships of a campaign; and it was settled that he should go down with the next convoy to Revel, and thence take ship for Sweden.

He was so weak, that although very sorry to leave the army just as spring was commencing, he himself felt that he should be unable to support the fatigues of the campaign, until he had had entire rest and change.  A few hours after the decision of the surgeon had been given, Major Jamieson and Captain Jervoise entered the room where he was sitting, propped up by pillows.

“I have a bit of news that will please you, Charlie.  The king sent for the major this morning, and told him that he intended to increase our company to a regiment, if he could do so.  He had heard that a considerable number of Scotchmen and Englishmen had come over, and were desirous of enlisting, but, from their ignorance of the language, their services had been declined.  He said that he was so pleased, not only with the conduct of the company in that fight, but with its discipline, physique, and power of endurance, that he had decided to convert it into a regiment.  He said he was sorry to lose its services for a time; but, as we lost twenty men in the fight, and have some fifteen still too disabled to take their places in the ranks, this was of the less importance.

“So we are all going to march down to Revel with you.  Major Jamieson is appointed colonel, and I am promoted to be major.  The king himself directed that Cunningham and Forbes shall have commissions as captains, and you and Harry as lieutenants.  The colonel has authority given him to nominate Scotch and English gentlemen of good name to make up the quota of officers, while most of our own men will be appointed non-commissioned officers, to drill the new recruits.  The king has been good enough, at Colonel Jamieson’s request, to say that, as soon as the regiment is raised and organized, it shall be sent up to the front.”

“That is good news, indeed,” Charlie said, with more animation than he had evinced since his illness.  “I have been so accustomed to be attended to, in every way, that I was quite looking forward with dread to the journey among strangers.  Still, if you are all going, it will be a different thing altogether.  I don’t think you will be long in raising the regiment.  We only were a week in getting the company together, and, if they have been refusing to accept the services of our people, there must be numbers of them at Gottenburg.”

Early on the following morning, Charlie and the men unable to march were placed in waggons, and the company started on its march to Revel.  It was a heavy journey, for the frost had broken up, and the roads were in a terrible state from the heavy traffic passing.  There was no delay when they reached the port, as they at once marched on board a ship, which was the next day to start for Sweden.  Orders from the king had already been received that the company was to be conveyed direct to Gottenburg, and they entered the port on the fifth day after sailing.