They arrived at Revel in the beginning of May.  The port was full of ships, for twelve thousand men had embarked, at Stockholm and other ports, to reinforce the army and enable the king to take the field in force; and, by the end of the month, the greater portion of the force was concentrated at Dorpt.

Charlie had long since regained his full strength.  As soon as he was fit for duty, he had rejoined, and had been engaged, early and late, in the work of drilling the recruits, and in the general organization of the regiment.  He and Harry, however, found time to take part in any amusement that was going on.  They were made welcome in the houses of the principal merchants and other residents of Gottenburg, and much enjoyed their stay in the town, in spite of their longing to be back in time to take part in the early operations of the campaign.

When they sailed into the port of Revel, they found that the campaign had but just commenced, and they marched with all haste to join the force with which the king was advancing against the Saxons, who were still besieging Riga.  Their army was commanded by Marshal Steinau, and was posted on the other side of the river Dwina, a broad stream.  Charles the Twelfth had ridden up to Colonel Jamieson’s regiment upon its arrival, and expressed warm gratification at its appearance, when it was paraded for his inspection.

“You have done well, indeed, colonel,” he said.  “I had hardly hoped you could have collected so fine a body of men in so short a time.”

At his request, the officers were brought up and introduced.  He spoke a few words to those he had known before, saying to Charlie: 

“I am glad to see you back again, lieutenant.  You have quite recovered from that crack on your crown, I hope.  But I need not ask, your looks speak for themselves.  You have just got back in time to pay my enemies back for it.”

The prospect was not a cheerful one, when the Swedes arrived on the banks of the Dwina.  The Saxons were somewhat superior in force, and it would be a desperate enterprise to cross the river, in the teeth of their cannon and musketry.  Already the king had caused a number of large flat boats to be constructed.  The sides were made very high, so as to completely cover the troops from musketry, and were hinged so as to let down and act as gangways, and facilitate a landing.

Charlie was standing on the bank, looking at the movements of the Saxon troops across the river, and wondering how the passage was to be effected, when a hand was placed on his shoulder.  Looking round, he saw it was the king, who, as was his custom, was moving about on foot, unattended by any of his officers.

“Wondering how we are to get across, lieutenant?”

“That is just what I was thinking over, your majesty.”

“We want another snowstorm, as we had at Narva,” the king said.  “The wind is blowing the right way, but there is no chance of such another stroke of luck, at this time of year.”