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〃Nearly so； sir king； I wish you had such a fairy at your side to… day。〃
〃Still； Fritz；〃 whispered Charles Henry Buschman； 〃our king does not need the help of a fairy； our king can maintain his own cause； and God is with his sword。〃
〃Do you truly believe that； my son？〃 said the king； deeply moved。 〃Have you still this great confidence in me？ Do you still believe that I can sustain myself and that God is with me？〃
〃We have this confidence； and we will never lose it！〃 cried Charles Henry； quickly。 〃Our enemies over there have no Frederick to lead them on； no commander…in…chief to share with them hunger and thirst； and danger and fatigue； therefore they cannot love their leaders as we do ours。〃
〃And then；〃 said Fritz Kober； thoughtfully； 〃I am always thinking that this war is like a battle of the cats and hounds。 Sometimes it looks as if the little cats would get the better of the great bulldogs； they have sharp claws； and scratch the dogs in the face till they can neither see nor hear； and must for a while give way； they go off； however； give themselves a good shake； and open their eyes； and spring forward as great and strong and full of courage as ever； they seize upon the poor cats in the nape of the neck and bite them deadly with their strong； powerful teeth。 What care they if the cats do scratch in the mean while？ No； no； sir king； the cats cannot hold out to the end； claws are neither so strong nor so lasting as teeth。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the king； laughing； 〃but how do you know but our foes over there are the hounds and we are the little cats？〃
〃What！〃 cried Fritz Kober； amazed； 〃we shall be the cats？ No； no； sir king； we are the great hounds。〃
〃But how can you prove this？〃
〃How shall I prove it？〃 said Fritz Kober。 somewhat embarrassed。 After a short pause； he cried out； gayly； 〃I have itI will prove it。 Those over there are the cats because they are Russians and Austrians； and do not serve a king as we do； they have only two empresses； two women。 Now； sir king； am I not right？ Women and cats； are they not alike？ So those over there are the cats and we are the bull dogs！〃
Frederick was highly amused。 〃Take care；〃 said he； 〃that 'those over there' do not hear you liken their empresses to cats。〃
〃And if they are empresses；〃 said Fritz Kober； dryly； 〃they are still women； and women are cats。〃
The king looked over toward the camp…fires； which were boldly shining on the horizon。
〃How far is it from here to those fires？〃 said he。
〃About an hour；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃not more。〃
〃One hour；〃 repeated the king； softly。 〃In one hour； then； I could know my fate！ Listen； children； which of you will go for me？〃
Both exclaimed in the same moment； 〃I will！〃
〃It is a fearful attempt；〃 said the king； earnestly； 〃the Cossacks are swarming in every direction； and if you escape them； you may be caught in the camp and shot as spies。〃
〃I will take care that they shall not recognize me as an enemy；〃 said Charles Henry； quietly。
〃I also；〃 said Fritz Kober； zealously。 〃You stay； Charles Henry； we dare not both leave the king。 You know that only this evening； while upon the watch； we swore that； even if the whole army of the enemy marched against us； we would not desert our king； but would stand at our post as long as there was a drop of blood in our veins or a breath in our bodies。〃
The king laid his hands upon the two soldiers and looked at them with much emotion。 The moon； which stood great and full in the heavens； lighted up this curious group； and threw three long； dark shadows over the plain。
〃And you have sworn that； my children？〃 said the king； after a long pause。 〃Ah； if all my men thought as you do we would not have been defeated this day。〃
〃Sir king； your soldiers all think as we do； but fate was against us。 Just as I said； the cats outnumbered us to…day； but we will bite them bravely for it next time。 And now tell me； sir king； what shall I do over there in the camp？〃
Before the king could answer； Charles Henry laid his hand upon his arm。
〃Let me go；〃 said he； entreatingly； 〃Fritz Kober is so daring； so undaunted； he is not cautious； they will certainly shoot him； and then you have lost the best soldier in your army。〃
〃Your loss； I suppose； would not be felt； the king can do without you。〃
〃Listen； children；〃 said the king； 〃it is best that you both go； one can protect the other； and four ears are better than two。〃
〃The king is right； that is bestwe will both go。〃
〃And leave the king alone and unguarded？〃
〃No；〃 said the king； pointing to the two sleepers； 〃I have my two adjutants； and they will keep guard for me。 Now； listen to what I have to say to you。 Over there is the enemy； and it is most important for me to know what he is doing； and what he proposes to do。 Go； then； and listen。 Their generals have certainly taken up their quarters in the village。 You must ascertain that positively； and then draw near their quarters。 You will return as quickly as possible； and inform me of all that you hear and see。〃
〃Is that all？〃 said Fritz Kober。
〃That is all。 Now be off； and if you do your duty well； and return fresh and in good order； you shall be both made officers。〃 Fritz Kober laughed aloud。 〃No； no； sir king； we know that old story already。〃
〃It is not necessary that you should promise us any thing； your majesty；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃we do not go for a reward； but for respect and love to our king。〃
〃But tell me； Fritz Kober； why you laughed so heartily？〃 said the king。
〃Because this is not the first time that your majesty has promised to make us officers。 Before the battle of Leuthen； you said if we were brave and performed valiant deeds； you would make us officers。 Well； we were brave。 Charles Henry took seven prisoners； and I took nine； but we are not officers。〃
〃You shall be to…morrow；〃 said the king。 〃Now； hasten off； and come back as quickly as possible。〃
〃We will leave our muskets here；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃we dare not visit our enemies in Prussian array。〃
They placed their arms at the house door； and then clasping each other's hands； and making a military salute； they hastened off。 The king looked after them till their slender forms were lost in the distance。
〃With fifty thousand such soldiers I could conquer the world；〃 murmured he； 〃they are of the true metal。〃
He turned； and stepping up to the two sleepers； touched them lightly on the shoulders。 They sprang up alarmed when they recognized the king。
〃You need not excuse yourselves；〃 said Frederick kindly； 〃you have had a day of great fatigue； and are； of course； exhausted。 Come into the house； the night air is dangerous； we will sleep here together。〃
〃Where are the two grenadiers？〃 said Goltz。
〃I have sent them off on duty。〃
〃Then your majesty must allow us to remain on guard。 I have slept well； and am entirely refreshed。〃
〃I also；〃 said the second lieutenant。 〃Will your majesty be pleased to sleep？ we will keep guard。〃
〃Not so；〃 said the king； 〃the moon will watch over us all。 Come in。〃
〃But it is impossible that your majesty should sleep thus； entirely unguarded。 The first Cossack that dashes by could take aim at your majesty through the window。〃
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