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！
； 〃it will soon be done。 At the battle of Collin； God laid his mark upon Frederick； Prussia will have no more victories； her arrogant ruler has sung his last Te Deum。〃
At this moment the bells of the nearest church commenced their solemn chimes； and from the fort behind the castle the thunder of cannon was heard。 The queen rose from her seat and rushed to the window。
〃What is the meaning of this？〃 said she； breathlessly。 〃Why these bells？ Why this cannon？ What〃
The renewed thunder of cannon drowned her words。 She threw open the window； and now all the church bells were joined in one harmonious chant。 From beneath the queen's windows there arose a slow； solemn hymn； and as if borne aloft by invisible spirits； the words 〃Te Deum laudamus〃 were heard by the queen。 Her eyes sparkled。 〃For whom is this Te Deum？〃 said she； breathlessly。
〃It is for my master；〃 said General Fink； solemnly〃for the King of Prussia； who at Rossbach； with twenty thousand men； has gained a victory over sixty thousand French soldiers。〃
A cry of rage； and Maria Josephine fell fainting to the floor。
CHAPTER XII。
CAMP SCENE
It was a cold winter day； and in the Prussian camp at Newmark every one was occupied making fires。
〃Let us get a great deal of wood；〃 said a sprightly…looking； slender young soldier； to his comrades； 〃our limbs must not be stiff to…day。 I think to…morrow all will go off bravely； and we will prepare a strong soup for the Austrians。〃
〃And instead of the noodles； we will send them cannon…balls；〃 said a comrade； standing near him。 〃But see here； brother； as we are not going to fight this evening； I think we should make use of the time and cook a soup for ourselves。 When we have wood enough for a good fire； we will set the kettle over it； and the best of pastimes will be ready。 Shall we do it； comrades？ Every man a groschen； and Charles Henry Buschman to cook the noodles。〃
〃Yet； Buschman must cook the noodles； no one understands it so well as he。 Charles Henry Buschman！ Where hides the fellow？ He is generally sticking to Fritz Kober； and they are chatting together as if they were lovers。 Buschman！ Charles Henry Buschman！ Where are you？〃
〃Here I am！〃 cried a bright； fresh voice； and a slender youth； belonging to Prince Henry's regiment； stepped forward and joined them。 〃Who calls me？what do you want？〃
〃We want you to cook noodles for us； Buschman； every man pays a groschen； and eats to his heart's content。 You shall have them for nothing； because you prepare them。〃
〃I will have nothing that I don't pay for；〃 said Charles Henry； proudly； 〃I can pay as well as the rest of you； and perhaps I have more money than all of you； for while you are drinking； smoking； and playing； I put my groschens aside for a rainy day。〃
〃Yes； that is true； Buschman is the most orderly； the most industrious of us all；〃 said Fritz Kober； as he nodded lovingly to his young friend。 〃He does not drink； or smoke； or play； and； I can tell you； he sews like a woman。 He mended a shirt for me to…day。 A ball had passed through it at Rossbach； making a hole in the left sleeve。 I tell you； the shirt looks as if a clever woman had mended it。〃
〃Well； it is a pity he isn't one；〃 said one of the soldiers； with a merry laugh； 〃perhaps you have a sister at home； Henry； whom you could give to Kober。〃
〃No； comrade；〃 said Charles Henry； sadly； 〃I have neither father； mother； sister； nor brother。 I am alone in the world； and have no other friend but my comrade； Fritz Kober。 Will you not give him to me； comrades？ Will you tease him because he is the friend of a poor； young fellow； against whom you have nothing to say except that he is just seventeen years old and has no heard and his voice a little thin； not able to make as much noise as yourself？ Promise me that you will not laugh at Fritz again because he is kind to； and loves a poor； forsaken boy。 If you tease him； he will become desperate and run off from me； and then； when I fall in battle； he will not close my eyes as he has promised to do。〃
〃I will never run away from you； darling brother；〃 said Fritz Kober。 〃We two shall stay together in camp and in battle。 You have won me with your soft； black eyes： they remind me of those of my good； faithful Phylax。〃
〃Well； well； Fritz shall do as he pleases；〃 said one of the boys； 〃but enough with our chatting； let us seek the wood for our fire。〃
〃Wood； wood； let us seek wood；〃 cried all； gayly； and the happy troop separated on all sides。 Only Charles Henry remained to prepare the fire。 With busy haste he took the kettle； which the soldiers had dragged near； ran to the neighboring market and bought a groschen worth of lard to make the noodles savory； then hastened back to cut the bacon and mix it with the noodles。 Some of the soldiers returned empty…handedno wood was to be found； the soldiers； who had searched before them； had taken it all。
〃It would be horrible not to have noodles this evening；〃 said Fritz Kober； furiously。 〃Who knows but they may be the last we shall eat in this world？ The balls may take our heads off to…morrow； and we never could eat Charles Henry's noodles again。〃
〃What you can do to…day never put off until to…morrow；〃 cried one of the soldiers。 〃We must eat noodles to…day； and we must have wood； even if we have to steal it from the devil's kitchen。〃 And； as he turned around； his eye fell upon a little hut which stood on the other side of the camp。 〃Boys。〃 he cried； gleefully； 〃do you see that hut？〃
〃Certainly； that hut is the king's quarters。〃
〃I am willing the king should occupy the hut； but it is covered with wood； and he does not need that。 Come； boys； we will have wood to cook our noodles。〃
With a hurrah they started forward to the old forsaken shepherd's hut in which the king had taken refuge。 They climbed the rook as nimbly as cats； and now the old boards cracked and groaned and flew in every direction； and were received with shouts of joy by the surrounding soldiers。 Suddenly a guard officer stepped from the hut； and saw with horror its destruction； he ordered the soldiers to lay the boards as they had found them； and to go off at once。 The soldiers mocked at him； and continued at their work quietly。
〃We are going to eat noodles；〃 they said； 〃common noodles； of meal and lard； that we may have the courage to swallow iron noodles to… morrow。 To cook noodles； we need wood。 We find it here； and we shall take it。〃
〃What！〃 cried the officer； 〃I forbid it； and you refuse to obey？ Sentinels； forward！〃
The four guards； who； until now； had walked quietly to and fro before the hut； placed themselves at the door and shouldered arms。
〃Fire at the first one who dares to touch another piece of wood；〃 commanded the officer。 But the wanton soldiers paid no attention to this order； they regarded it as an empty threat。
〃Fire；〃 cried one； laughing； 〃fire is just what we wantwithout fire； no noodles； and to make fire we must have wood。〃
〃Whew！ I have a big splinter in my finger；〃 cried another soldier； who was on the roof； and had just broken off a plank； 〃I must draw it out and put it back； mustn't I； lieutenant？〃
At this question the gay group broke into a loud laugh； but it was interrupted