Frederick the Great and His Family [213]
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 best--we 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."
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 you--lie down. Good-night, sirs."
Frederick slightly
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 best--we 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."
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 you--lie down. Good-night, sirs."
Frederick slightly