“We must have killed half the horsemen before the infantry came up.”

“All the worse, colonel, that you did not complete the business.  The infantry would not have been formidable, after they discharged their pieces.  However, it is your own affair, and I wash my hands of it.  What the czar will say when he hears of it, I know not, but I would not be in your shoes for all my estates.”

As Charlie learned afterwards, the colonel was degraded from his rank by the angry czar, and ordered to serve as a private in the regiment he commanded.  The officer who acted as translator said something in his own tongue to the general, who then, through him, said: 

“This officer tells me that by your language you are not a Swede.”

“I am not.  I am English, and I am an ensign in the Malmoe Regiment.”

“All the worse for you,” the general said.  “The czar has declared that he will exchange no foreign officers who may be taken prisoners.”

“Very well, sir,” Charlie said, fearlessly.  “He will be only punishing his own officers.  There are plenty of them in the King of Sweden’s hands.”

The general, when this reply was translated to him, angrily ordered Charlie to be taken away, and he was soon lodged in a cell in the castle.  His head was still swimming from the effects of the blow that had stricken him down, and, without even trying to think over his position, he threw himself down on the straw pallet, and was soon asleep.

It was morning when he woke and, for a short time, he was unable to imagine where he was, but soon recalled what had happened.  He had been visited by someone after he had lain down, for a platter of bread and meat stood on the table, and a jug of water.  He was also covered with two thick blankets.  These had not been there when he lay down, for he had wondered vaguely as to how he should pass the night without some covering.

He took a long draught of water, then ate some food.  His head throbbed with the pain of the wound.  It had been roughly bandaged by his captors, but needed surgical dressing.

“I wonder how long I am likely to be, before I am exchanged,” he said to himself.  “A long time, I am afraid; for there are scores of Russian officers prisoners with us, and I don’t think there are half a dozen of ours captured by the Russians.  Of course, no exchange can take place until there are a good batch to send over, and, it may be, months may pass before they happen to lay hands on enough Swedish officers to make it worth while to trouble about exchanging them.”

An hour later the door opened, and an officer entered, followed by a soldier with a large bowl of broth and some bread.

“I am a doctor,” he said in Swedish.  “I came in to see you yesterday evening, but you were sound asleep, and that was a better medicine than any I can give; so I told the man to throw those two barrack rugs over you, and leave your food in case you should wake, which did not seem to me likely.  I see, however, that you did wake,” and he pointed to the plate.