Page 146 - A Jacobite Exile

"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."

"No, sir; but I was thinking that one might make an artificial fog."

"How do you mean?" the king asked quickly.