chief.  Now it is religion against religion; and now, as then, there are numbers of young fellows glad to exchange the troubles at home for service abroad.  There have been quite a crowd of men round our quarters, for, directly the news spread that the company was landing, our countrymen flocked round, each eager to learn how many vacancies there were in the ranks, and whether we would receive recruits.  Their joy was extreme when it became known that Jamieson had authority to raise a whole regiment.  I doubt not that many of the poor fellows are in great straits.”

“That I can tell you they are,” Sir Marmaduke broke in.  “We have been doing what we can for them, for it was grievous that so many men should be wandering, without means or employment, in a strange country.  But the number was too great for our money to go far among them, and I know that many of them are destitute and well-nigh starving.  We had hoped to ship some of them back to Scotland, and have been treating with the captain of a vessel sailing, in two or three days, to carry them home.”

“It is unfortunate, but they have none to blame but themselves.  They should have waited until an invitation for foreigners to enlist was issued by the Swedish government, or until gentlemen of birth raised companies and regiments for service here.  However, we are the gainers, for I see that we shall not have to wait here many weeks.  Already, as far as I can judge from what I hear, there must be well-nigh four hundred men here, all eager to serve.

“We will send the news by the next ship that sails, both to Scotland and to our own country, that men, active and fit for service, can be received into a regiment, specially formed of English-speaking soldiers.  I will warrant that, when it is known in the Fells that I am a major in the regiment, and that your son and mine are lieutenants, we shall have two or three score of stout young fellows coming over.”

The next day, indeed, nearly four hundred men were enlisted into the service, and were divided into eight companies.  Each of these, when complete, was to be two hundred strong.  Six Scottish officers were transferred, from Swedish regiments, to fill up the list of captains, and commissions were given to several gentlemen of family as lieutenants and ensigns.  Most of these, however, were held over, as the colonel wrote to many gentlemen of his acquaintance in Scotland, offering them commissions if they would raise and bring over men.  Major Jervoise did the same to half a dozen young Jacobite gentlemen in the north of England, and so successful were the appeals that, within two months of the return of the company to Gottenburg, the regiment had been raised to its full strength.

A fortnight was spent in drilling the last batch of recruits, from morning till night, so that they should be able to take their places in the ranks; and then, with drums beating and colours flying, the corps embarked at Gottenburg, and sailed to join the army.