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！
t I； lieutenant？〃
At this question the gay group broke into a loud laugh； but it was interrupted by the angry words of the officer。
Suddenly a mild voice asked： 〃What is the matter？〃 At the first sound of this voice the soldiers seemed dismayed； they stopped their work； and their merry faces became earnest and thoughtful。 Stiff and motionless they remained on the roof awaiting their punishment； they knew that voice only too well； they had heard it in the thunder of battle。 The king repeated his question。 The officer approached him。
〃Sire； these dragoons are tearing the roof from your majesty's quarters； all my threats are useless； therefore I ordered the sentinels forward。〃
〃What do you want with the sentinels？〃 asked the king。
〃To fire amongst them； if they do not desist。〃
〃Have you tried kindness？〃 said the king； sternly； 〃do you think； on the day before a battle； I have soldiers to spare； and you may shoot them down because of a piece of wood？〃
The officer murmured a few confused words； but the king paid no attention to him； he looked up at the soldiers sitting stiff and motionless upon the roof。
〃Listen； dragoons；〃 said the king； 〃if you take off my roof； the snow will fall in my bed to…night； and you do not wish that； do you？〃
〃No； we do not wish it； sire；〃 said Fritz Kober； ashamed； slipping softly from the roof； the others followed his example； and prepared to be off； giving melancholy glances at the wood lying on the ground。 The king looked thoughtfully after them； and murmured； softly； 〃Poor fellows； I have deprived them of a pleasure。Halloo； dragoons；〃 he cried aloud； 〃listen！〃
The soldiers looked back； frightened and trembling。
〃Tell me；〃 said the king。 〃what use were you going to make of the wood？〃
〃Cook noodles； sire；〃 said Fritz Kober； 〃Henry Buschman promised to cook noodles for us； and the bacon is already cut； but we have no wood。〃
〃Well； if the bacon is cut；〃 said the king； smiling； 〃and if Henry Buschman has promised to make the noodles； he must certainly keep his word； take the wood away with you。〃
〃Hurrah！ long life to our king and to our good Fritz Kober；〃 cried the soldiers； and； collecting the wood； they hastened away。
The king stepped back； silently； into the small； low room of the hut。 Alone； there once more the smile disappeared； and his countenance became sad and anxious。 He confessed to himself what he had never admitted to friend or confidant； that it was a daring and most dangerous undertaking to meet the Austrian army of seventy thousand with his thirty…three thousand men。
〃And should I fail；〃 said the king； thoughtfully； 〃and lead these brave troops to their death without benefit to my countryshould they die an unknown deathshould we be conquered； instead of conquering！ Oh； the fortune of battles lies in the hands of Providence； the wisest disposition of troops； the most acute calculations are brought to naught by seeming accident。 Should I expose my army to the fearful odds； should I hazard so many lives to gratify my ambition and my pride？ My generals say it will be wiser not to attack； but to wait and be attacked。 Oh； Winterfeldt； Winterfeldt； were you but here； you would not advise this； not you！ Why have you been taken from me； my friend？ Why have you left me alone among my enemies？ I can find； perhaps； resources against my enemies； but I will never find another Winterfeldt。〃 ＇Footnote： The king's own words。Retzow； vol。 i。。 p。 220。＇ The king leaned his head upon his breast； and tears rolled down his cheeks。
〃How solitary； how joyless life is！ how rich I was once in friends； how poor I am now！ and who knows how much poorer I may be to…morrow at this hourwho knows if I shall have a place to lay my head？I may be a fugitive； without home or country。 Verily； I have the destiny of MithridatesI want only two sons and a Monima。 Well；〃 continued he； with a soft smile； 〃it is still something to stand alonemisfortunes only strike home。 But do I stand alone？ have I not an entire people looking to me and expecting me to do my duty？ Have I not brave soldiers； who call me father； looking death courageously in the face and hazarding their lives for me？ No； I am not aloneand if Mithridates had two sons； I have thirty…three thousand。 I will go and bid them good…evening。 I think it will refresh my sad heart to hear their cheerful greetings。〃
The king threw on his mantle and left his quarters； to make； as he was often accustomed to do； a tour through the camp。 Only the officer on guard followed him； at a short distance。
It was now dark； and fires； which were lighted everywhere； gave a little protection against the biting cold。 It was a beautiful sight… …the wide plain； with its numberless； blazing； flickering fires； surrounded by groups of cheerful soldiers； their fresh faces glowing with the light of the flames。 In the distance the moon rose grand and full； illuminating the scene with its silver rays； and blending its pale shimmer with the ruddy flames。
The king walked briskly through the camp； and； when recognized； the soldiers greeted him with shouts and loving words。 As he approached a large fire； over which hung a big kettle； the contents of which filled the air with savory odors； he heard a brisk voice say：
〃Now； comrades； come and eat； the noodles are done！〃
〃Hurrah！ here we are；〃 cried the boys； who were standing not far off； chatting merrily。 They sprang forward joyfully； to eat the longedfor noodles。
The king； recognizing the soldiers who had uncovered his roof； drew near to the fire。
〃Shall I also come and eat with you？〃 he said； good…humoredly。
The soldiers looked up from the tin plates； in which the noodles were swimming。
〃Yes； sire；〃 said Fritz Kober； jumping up and approaching the king； 〃yes； you shall eat with us； here is my spoon and knife； and if you reject it； and are only mocking us； I shall be very angry indeed。〃
The king laughed； and turning to the officer who had followed him； said as if to excuse himself：
〃I must really eat； or I shall make the man furious。Give me your spoon； but listen； I can tell you； if the noodles are not good； I shall be angry。〃 He took the plate and began to eat。
The soldiers all stopped； and looked eagerly at the king。 When he had swallowed the first bite； Fritz Kober could no longer restrain his curiosity。
〃Well； sire；〃 he said； triumphantly； 〃what do you say to it！ Can't Buschman prepare better noodles than your cleverest cook？〃
〃Verily；〃 said the king； smiling； 〃he never cooked such noodles for me； and I must say they are good； but； now I have had enough； and I am much obliged to you。〃
He wished to return his plate to Fritz Kober； but Fritz shook his head violently。
〃See here； your majesty； no one gets off from us with just a 'thank you；' and you； least of all； sire； every one must pay his part。〃
〃Well；〃 said the king； 〃how much is my share？〃
〃It cost each of us three groschen； the king may pay what he pleases。〃
〃Will you credit me； dragoon？〃 said the king； who searched his pockets in vain for money。
〃Oh！ yes； your majesty； I will credit you； but only until tomorrow morning； early； for； if a cannon…ball took my head off； I could not dun your majesty； and