按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃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。〃
Frederick shook his head gravely。 〃The ball which will strike me will come from above； ＇Footnote： The king's own words。See Nicolai； p。 118。＇ and that you cannot intercept。 No； it is better to have no watch before the door； we will not draw the attention of troops passing by to this house。 I think no one will suppose that this miserable and ruinous barrack； through which the wind howls； is the residence of a king。 Come； then； messieurs。〃 He stepped into the hut； followed by the two adjutants； who dared no longer oppose him。 〃Put out that light；〃 said the king； 〃the moon will be our torch； and will glorify our bed of straw。〃 He drew his sword； and grasping it firmly in his right hand； he stretched himself upon the straw。 〃There is room for both of youlie down。 Good…night； sirs。〃
Frederick slightly raised his three…cornered hat in greeting； and then laid it over his face as a protection from the moonlight and the cold night air。 The adjutants laid down silently at his feet； and soon no sound was heard in the room but the loud breathing of the three sleepers。
CHAPTER XIV。
THE RIGHT COUNSEL。
Hand in hand the two grenadiers advanced directly toward the battle… field。 Before they could approach the enemy's camp they must borrow two Austrian uniforms from the dead upon the plain。 It was not difficult； amongst so many dead bodies； to find two Austrian officers； and the two Prussian grenadiers went quickly to work to rob the dead and appropriate their garments。
〃I don't know how it is；〃 said Charles Henry； shuddering； 〃a cold chill thrills through me when I think of putting on a coat which I have just taken from a dead body。 It seems to me the marble chillness of the corpse will insinuate itself into my whole body； and that I shall never be warm again。〃
Fritz Kober looked up with wide…open eyes！ 〃You have such curious thoughts； Charles Henry； such as come to no other man； but you are right； it is a frosty thing。〃 And now he had removed the uniform and was about to draw off his own jacket and assume the white coat of the Austrian。 〃It is a great happiness；〃 said he； 〃that we need not change our trousers； a little clearer or darker gray can make no difference in the night。〃
Charles Henry was in the act of drawing on the coat of the dead man； when Fritz Kober suddenly seized his arm and held him back。 〃Stop；〃 said he； 〃you must do me a favorthis coat is too narrow； and it pinches me fearfully； you are thinner than I am； and I think it will fit you exactly； take it and give me yours。〃 He jerked off the coat and handed it to his friend。
〃No； no； Fritz Kober；〃 said Charles Henry； in a voice so soft and sweet； that Fritz was confused and bewildered by it。 〃No； Fritz； I understand you fully。 You have the heart of an angel； you only pretend that this coat is too narrow for you that you may induce me to take the one you have already warmed。〃
It was well that Fritz had his back turned to the moon； otherwise his friend would have seen that his face was crimson； he blushed as if detected in some wicked act。 However； he tore the uniform away from Charles Henry rather roughly； and hastened to put it on。
〃Folly；〃 said he； 〃the coat squeezes me； that is all！ Besides； it is not wise to fool away our time in silly talking。 Let us go onward。〃
〃Directly over the battle…field？〃 said Charles Henry； shuddering。
〃Directly over the battle…field；〃 said Kober； 〃because that is the nearest way。〃
〃Come； then；〃 said Charles； giving him his hand。
It was indeed a fearful path through which they must walk。 They passed by troops of corpsesby thousands of groaning； rattling； dying menby many severely wounded； who cried out to them piteously for mercy and help！ Often Charles Henry hesitated and stood still to offer consolation to the unhappy wretches； but Fritz Kober drew him on。 〃We cannot help them； and we have far to go！〃 Often the swarming Cossacks； dashing around on their agile little ponies； called to them from afar off in their barbarous speech； but when they drew near and saw the Austrian uniforms； they passed them quietly； and were not surprised they had not given the pass…word。
At last they passed the battle…field； and came on the open plain； at the end of which they perceived the camp…fires of the Russians and Austrians。 The nearer they approached； the more lively was the scene。 Shouts； laughter； loud calls； and outcriesfrom time to time a word of command。 And in the midst of this mad confusion； here and there soldiers were running； market…women offering them wares cheap； and exulting soldiers assembling around the camp…fires。 From time to time the regular step of the patrouille was heard； who surrounded the camp； and kept a watchful eye in every direction。
Arm in arm they passed steadily around the camp。 〃One thing I know；〃 whispered Fritz Kober； 〃they have no thought of marching。 They will pass a quiet； peaceful night by their camp…fires。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃but let us go forward and listen a little； perhaps we can learn where the generals are quartered。〃
〃Look； look！ it must he there；〃 said Fritz Kober； hastily。
〃There are no camp…fires； but there is a brilliant light in the peasants' huts； and it appears to me that I see a guard before the doors。 These； certainly； are the headquarters。〃
〃Let us go there； then；〃 said Charles Henry； 〃but we must approach the houses from behind； and thus avoid the guard。〃
They moved cautiously around； and drew near the houses。 Profound quiet reigned in this neighborhood； it was the reverence of subordinationthe effect which the presence of superior officers ever exercises upon their men。 Here stood groups of officers； lightly whispering togetherthere soldiers were leading their masters' horses； not far off orderlies were waiting on horseback sentinels with shouldered arms were going slowly by。 The attention of all seemed to be fixed upon the two small houses； and every glance and every ear was turned eagerly toward the brilliantly lighted windows。
〃We have hit the mark exactly；〃 whispered Fritz Kober； he had succeeded with his friend in forcing his way into the little alley which separated the two houses。 〃We have now reached the head… quarters of the generals。 Look！ there is an Austrian sentinel with his bear's cap。 Both the Austrian and Russian generals are here。〃
〃 Let us watch the Russians a little through the window；〃 said Charles Henry； slipping forward。
They reached the corner； and were hidden by the trunk of a tree which overshadowed the huts。 Suddenly they heard the word of command； and there was a general movement among the files of soldiers assembled about the square。 The officers placed themselves in rank； the soldiers presented arms； for； at this moment； the Austrian General Loudon； surrounded by his staff； stepped from one of the small houses into the square。 The Cossacks； who were crouched down on the earth before the door； raised themselves； and also presented arms。
While Loudon stood waiting； the two Prussian grenadiers slipped slyly to the other