was almost bewildered at the din, the incessant roll of musketry,
the hoarse shouts of the contending troops, the rattling of the
guns, and the shrieks of pain.

Every time the Imperialists tried to force their way in heavy columns
up the streets the Scots poured out from the houses to resist them,
and meeting them pike to pike hurled them backwards. Malcolm tried
to keep cool, and to imitate the behaviour of his senior officers,
repeating their orders, and seeing that they were carried out.

Time after time the Austrians attempted to carry the place, and
were always hurled back, although outnumbering the Scots by nigh
twenty to one. At last the town was in ruins, and was on fire in a
score of places. Its streets and lanes were heaped with dead, and
it was no longer tenable. Munro therefore gave orders that the
houses should everywhere be set on fire, and the troops fall back
to the castle.

Steadily and in good order his commands were carried out, and with
levelled pikes, still facing the enemy, the troops retired into the
castle. The Imperial general, seeing how heavy had been his losses
in carrying the open town, shrank from the prospect of assaulting
a castle defended by such troops, and when night fell he quietly
marched away with the force under his command.



CHAPTER III SIR JOHN HEPBURN