114 A JACOBITE EXILE

them until they reached the spot where the king with his
little troop of cavalry were defending themselves desper-
ately from the attacks of the Russians. The arrival of the
infantry decided the contest, and the Russians began to
draw off, the king hastening the movement by plunging into
the midst of them with his horsemen.

Charlie was on the flank of the company as it advanced,
and after running through a Russian horseman with the
short pike that was carried by officers he received a tre-
mendous blow on his steel cap, that stretched him insensi-
ble on the ground. When he recovered he felt that he
was being carried, and soon awoke to the fact that he was
a prisoner.

After a long ride the Russians arrived at Plescow.
They had lost some sixty men in the fight. Charlie was
the only prisoner taken. He was, on dismounting, too
weak to stand, but he was half-carried and half-dragged to
the quarters of the Russian officer in command. The latter
addressed him, but finding that he was not understood, sent
for an officer who spoke Swedish.

“What were the party you were with doing in the wood?”

“We were hunting wolves and bears.”

“Where did you come from?”

“From Marienburg.”

“ How strong were youe”’

“Fifty horse and a hundred and forty foot,” Charlie
replied, knowing there could be no harm in stating the
truth.

“But it was a long way to march merely to hunt, and your
officers must have been mad to come out with so small a
party to a point where they were likely to meet with us.”

“Tt was not too small a party, sir, as they managed to
beat off the attack made upon them.”

The Russian was silent for a moment, then he asked:
“Who was the officer in command?”