"Yes, until you join the regiment," Munro said. "You have the
first appointments. Afterwards the colonel will fill up vacancies.
You must decide how you will arm your men, for you must know
that Gustavus' regiments have their right and left wings composed
of musketeers, while the centre is formed of pikemen, so you must
decide to which branch your company shall belong."

"I would choose the pike," Nigel said, "for after all it must be
by the pike that the battle is decided."

"Quite right, Nigel. I have here with me a drawing of the armour in
use with us. You see they have helmets of an acorn shape, with a
rim turning up in front; gauntlets, buff coats well padded in front,
and large breast plates. The pikes vary from fourteen to eighteen
feet long according to the taste of the commander. We generally use
about sixteen. If your company is a hundred strong you will have
two lieutenants and three ensigns. Be careful in choosing your
officers. I will fill in the king's commission to you as captain
of the company, authorizing you to enlist men for his service and
to appoint officers thereto."

An hour or two later Colonel Munro and Captain Hume proceeded on
their way. The news speedily spread through Nithsdale that Nigel
Graheme had received a commission from the King of Sweden to raise
a company in his service, and very speedily men began to pour in.
The disbandment of the Scottish army had left but few careers open
at home to the youth of that country, and very large numbers had
consequently flocked to the Continent and taken service in one
or other of the armies there, any opening of the sort, therefore,
had only to be known to be freely embraced. Consequently, in