e cold hand of the fifer of Hardt; he
closed his eyes, and, throwing himself upon his horse, followed his
enemies to their camp.

CHAPTER XXXV.

Happy the soldier, all his perils o'er,
In peace returning to his native place,
When those who love him meet him at the door,
And gaze with rapture on the wish'd-for face.
SCHILLER.

After a march of three hours, the troop of the Leaguists' soldiers,
with their prisoner in the midst, approached their camp. Though they
did not venture to talk aloud, it was easy to perceive, by their
countenances, how great was their exultation at their supposed triumph
and prize, and it did not escape the acute observation of Albert that
the whisper among them referred to the reward they were likely to gain
for the person of the Duke. A feeling of satisfaction filled the breast
of the young man, in the hope that his unhappy Prince might gain time
to escape his enemies by the diversion the bold sacrifice he had made
of himself in his favour. But the thought which now gave him the
greatest uneasiness was the distress his beloved wife would experience,
when she became acquainted with the result of the battle. Though he had
informed her, through the medium of faithful messengers, of his having
escaped unhurt in the bloody conflict, she was still ignorant of the
unfortunate turn in the Duke's fate; still less could she know his own.
He could well imagine her state of mind, when, among the prisoners
brought into Stuttgardt, neither her father nor husband were found of
the number. The thought was agonising to his mind, rendered doubly so
amidst the taunts of those who now led him as a prisoner to the
presence of his enemies. These, and a thousand other painful feelings,
chilled his joy in having been the saviour of his friend.

Could he hope to be liberated a second time by the League, as he had
been in Ulm? Taken with arms in his hand,--known as the most zealous
friend of the Duke,--his only prospect was a long imprisonment, and
harsh treatment. The arrival at the advanced posts of the camp
interrupted these gloomy thoughts. One of the troop which guarded him
was sent on before to acquaint the commanders of the League of their
prisoner, and to receive their orders respecting the place where he was
to be brought. This was a painful quarter of an hour for Albert. H