Page 264 - A Jacobite Exile

the commander of the Russian army, came up to Charlie's side.

"Which of you speaks Swedish?" he asked the officers, and one of them
stepped forward.

"Ask him what force was this that attacked us, and with what object."

As Charlie saw no reason for concealment, he replied that it was a body of
four hundred Swedish infantry, and a troop of horse, with four guns, and

that their object was to enter the town.

"They must have been mad to attempt to cut their way through our whole

army," the general said, when the answer was translated to him; "but, by
Saint Paul, they nearly succeeded. The Swedes are mad, but this was too

much even for madmen. Ask him whence the force came. It may be that a
large reinforcement has reached Vyburg, without our knowing it."

"We arrived two days since," Charlie replied, when the question was put to
him. "We came in a ship together from Revel."

"Did others come with you?" was next asked, at the general's dictation.

"No other ship but ours has arrived."

"But others are coming?"

As Charlie had no doubt that great efforts would be made to send further

reinforcements, he replied:

"Many more troops are coming, but I cannot say when they will arrive."

"Will it be soon?"

"That I cannot say, but I don't think they will come from Revel. There was

a talk of large reinforcements, but whether from Sweden or from the king's
army, I cannot say."