backed by piles of rubbish to prevent them being blown in by petards.

Scarcely were the preparations completed before the enemy were seen
moving down the hillside.

"How many are there of them, think you?" Malcolm asked Lieutenant
Farquhar.

"I am not skilled in judging numbers, Malcolm, but I should say
that there must be fully five thousand."

There were indeed eight thousand Imperialists approaching, led by
the Count of Montecuculi, a distinguished Italian officer, who had
with him the regiments of Coloredo, Isslani, Goetz, Sparre, and
Charles Wallenstein, with a large force of mounted Croats.

Munro's orders were to hold the town as long as he could, and
afterwards to defend the castle to the last man. The Imperial
general sent in a message requesting him to treat for the surrender
of the place; but Munro replied simply, that as no allusion to the
word treaty was contained in his instructions he should defend the
place to the last. The first advance of the Imperialists was made
by the cavalry covered by 1000 musketeers, but these were repulsed
without much difficulty by the Scottish fire.

The whole force then advanced to the attack with great resolution.
Desperately the Highlanders defended the town, again and again the
Imperialists were repulsed from the slight rampart, and when at
last they won their way into the place by dint of numbers, every
street, lane, alley, and house was defended to the last. Malcolm