the power of flying away from Ulm like a
sparrow in the middle of the day."

"Let's have done with those old stories," interrupted the fifer,
hastily. "I heard this day from the Duke, who desired me to find you
out, to know if you were still inclined to join him upon the terms he
has proposed."

"_Canto cacramento!_ he is a good man! a gold ducat a month and four
measures of wine daily! Long may he live!" cried the general.

"When will he come?" asked captain Loeffler. "Where shall we meet him?"

"This very day, if no ill luck attends him. He was to advance upon
Heimsheim this morning, where the garrison is weak, and, when he has
taken it, he will come on this way."

"Look! there rides a man in armour, to all appearance a knight!" The
men looked towards the end of the valley, and remarked a helmet and
armour shining in the sun, with a horse occasionally visible. The fifer
of Hardt jumped up and climbed the oak, whence he could overlook the
valley with greater ease. The horseman was too distant from him to be
able to recognise his features, but he thought he knew the scarf which
he wore, and that it was the person he had been expecting to appear.

"What do you see?" said the men; "is it one riding by chance through
the wood, or do you think he comes from the Duke?"

"That's him with the white and blue scarf," said the fifer; "that's his
long hair, and his seat on horseback. Oh, precious youth, welcome back
to Wuertemberg! He observes your advanced post, and rides towards it;
only look how the fellows present their lances and spread out their
legs!"

"Yes, yes, the lansquenet knows the arts of war; no one dare pass the
spot where the commanders are, without knowing his business," said the
general.

"Stop! they are calling to him; he speaks to them; they point this way;
he comes!" cried the fifer, who came down from the tree with a joyful
countenance.

"_Diavolo maledetto! bassam terendete!_ They won't let him ride alone,
I hope? Ah! I see one of them has hold of his bridle 1 How? It is
really a knight that comes!

"A nobleman as good as any in the empire," answered the fifer; "the
friend and favourite of the Duke." Upon hearing this they all stood up,
for, though they fancied themselves men of importance and rank, they
were aware of their being only lansquenets, and bound to pay proper
respect to their superiors. The general seated himself again, with an
air of gravity, at the foot of the oak--stroked his b