The first begins with the entry of Sweden, under her chivalrous
monarch Gustavus Adolphus, upon the struggle, and terminates with
his death and that of his great rival Wallenstein. This portion of
the war has been treated in the present story. The second period
begins at the point when France assumed the leading part in the
struggle, and concluded with the peace which secured liberty of
conscience to the Protestants of Germany. This period I hope to
treat some day in another story, so that you may have a complete
picture of the war. The military events of the present tale, the
battles, sieges, and operations, are all taken from the best authorities,
while for the account of the special doings of Mackay's, afterwards
Munro's Scottish Regiment, I am indebted to Mr. J. Grant's Life of
Sir John Hepburn.

Yours sincerely,

G. A. HENTY



CHAPTER I THE INVITATION


It was late in the afternoon in the spring of the year 1630; the
hilltops of the south of Scotland were covered with masses of cloud,
and a fierce wind swept the driving rain before it with such force
that it was not easy to make way against it. It had been raining
for three days without intermission. Every little mountain burn had
become a boiling torrent, while the rivers had risen above their
banks and flooded the low lands in the valleys.