He had not journeyed very far when he saw a light ahead and presently perceived the houses of a village.  A fire was lit in the centre, and a number of figures were gathered round it.

“Something is going on,” Malcolm said to himself; “as likely as not they have got some unfortunate prisoner.  Whatever it be, I will steal in and try to get some food.  I cannot go much further without it; and as their attention is occupied, I may find a cottage empty.”

Making his way round to the back of the houses, he approached one of the cottages in the rear.  He lifted the latch of the door and opened it a little.  All was still.  With his drawn sword he entered.  The room was empty; a fire burned on the hearth, and on the table were some loaves which had evidently been just baked.  Malcolm fell upon one of them and speedily devoured it, and, taking a long draught of rough country wine from a skin hanging against the wall, he felt another man.

He broke another loaf in two and thrust the pieces into his doublet, and then sallied out from the cottage again.  Still keeping behind the houses he made his way until he got within view of the fire.  Here he saw a sight which thrilled him with horror.  Some eight or ten peasants and forty or fifty women were yelling and shouting.  Fastened against a post in front of the fire were the remains of a prisoner.  He had been stripped, his ears, nose, hands, and feet cut off, and he was slowly bleeding to death.

Four other men, bound hand and foot, lay close to the fire.  By its flames Malcolm saw the green scarves that told they were Scotchmen of his own brigade, and he determined at once to rescue them or die in the attempt.  He crept forward until he reached the edge of the road; then he raised a pistol and with a steady aim fired at one of the natives, who fell dead across the fire.

Another shot laid another beside him before the peasants recovered from their first surprise.  Then with a loud shout in German, “Kill —­ kill! and spare none!” Malcolm dashed forward.  The peasants, believing that they were attacked by a strong body, fled precipitately in all directions.  Malcolm, on reaching the prisoners, instantly severed their bonds.

“Quick, my lads!” he exclaimed; “we shall have them upon us again in a minute.”

The men in vain tried to struggle to their feet —­ their limbs were too numbed to bear them.

“Crawl to the nearest cottage!” Malcolm exclaimed; “we can hold it until your limbs are recovered.”

He caught up from the ground some pikes and scythes which the peasants had dropped in their flight, and aided the men to make their way to the nearest cottage.  They were but just in time; for the peasants, finding they were not pursued, had looked round, and seeing but one opponent had gained courage and were beginning to approach again.  Malcolm barred the door, and then taking down a skin of wine bade his companions take a drink.  There were loaves on the shelves, and these he cut up and handed to them.