“Let us descend,” the count said.  “I presume they are going to demand our surrender.”

They reached the wall of the town just as the Imperialist officers approached the gate.

“In the name of his majesty the emperor,” one of them cried out, “I command you to open the gate and to surrender to his good will and pleasure.”

“The smoking villages which I see around me,” Count Mansfeld replied, “are no hopeful sign of any good will or pleasure on the part of his majesty towards us.  As to surrendering, we will rather die.  But I am willing to pay a fair ransom for the town if you will draw off your troops and march away.”

“Beware, sir!” the officer said.  “I have a force here sufficient to compel obedience, and I warn you of the fate which will befall all within these walls if you persist in refusing to admit us.”

“I doubt not as to their fate,” the count replied; “there are plenty of examples before us of the tender mercy which your master’s troops show towards the towns you capture.

“Once again I offer you a ransom for the town.  Name the sum, and if it be in reason such as I and the townspeople can pay, it shall be yours; but open the gates to you we will not.”

“Very well,” the officer said; “then your blood be on your own heads.”  And turning his horse he rode with his companions back towards the village.

On their arrival there a bustle was seen to prevail.  A hundred horsemen rode off and took post on an eminence near the town, ready to cut off the retreat of any who might try to escape, and to enter the town when the gates were forced open.  The other two hundred men advanced on foot in a close body towards the principal gate.

“They will try and blow it open with petards,” Malcolm said.  “Half of my men are musketeers and good shots, and I will, with your permission, place them on the wall to aid the townsfolk there, for if the gate is blown open and the enemy force their way in it will go hard with us.”

The count assented, and Malcolm posted his musketeers on the wall, ordering Sergeant Sinclair with the remainder to set to work to erect barricades across the street leading from the gate, so that, in case this were blown in, such a stand might be made against the Imperialists as would give the townspeople time to rally from the walls and to gather there.

The Imperialists heralded their advance by opening fire with pistols and musketoons against the wall, and the defenders at once replied.  So heavy was the fire that the head of the column wavered, many of the leading files being at once shot down, but, encouraged by their officers, they rallied, and pushed forward at a run.  The fire of the townspeople at once became hurried and irregular, but the Scots picked off their men with steady aim.  The leader of the Imperialists, who carried a petard, advanced boldly to the edge of the ditch.  The fosse was shallow and contained but little water, and he at once dashed into it and waded across, for the drawbridge had, of course, been raised.  He climbed up the bank, and was close to the gate, when Malcolm, leaning far over the wall, discharged his pistol at him.  The ball glanced from the steel armour.