sgeorge had gone to the brick-yard with his comrades Xavier and
Fidele: he wished to be near Kitty in case of emergency. The three
stood in the garden before the house, leaning upon the fence,
Hansgeorge calmly smoking his pipe. Kitty looked out of the window and
said, "George, if you'll stop smoking you may come into the house with
your friends."

"Wo are quite comfortable here, thank you," replied Hansgeorge, sending
up three or four whiffs in quick succession.

On came the cavalry. They rode in entire disorder, each apparently
occupied with himself alone; and nothing showed that they belonged
together save the common interest manifested in any deviltry undertaken
by any one of them. Several impudently kissed their hands to Kitty,--at
which Hansgeorge grasped his jack-knife and Kitty quickly closed the
sash. The infantry were followed by the forage-wagons and the pitiable
cavalcade of the wounded and dying. This was a wretched sight. One of
them stretched forth a hand which had but four fingers. This curdled
Hansgeorge's blood in his veins: it seemed to him as if he himself were
lying there. The poor sufferer had nothing but a kerchief round his
head, and seemed to shiver with cold. Hansgeorge jumped over the fence,
pulled off his fur cap, and set it on the poor man's head; then he gave
him his leathern purse with all the money in it. The poor fellow made
some signs with his mouth, as if he wished to smoke, and looked
beseechingly at Hansgeorge's pipe; but the latter shook his head. Kitty
brought some bread and some linen, and laid them on the cart. The
maimed warriors looked with pleasure on the blooming lass, and some
made her a military salute and garbled some broken German. No one asked
whether they were friends or foes: the unfortunate and helpless have a
claim on every one.

Another troop of cavalry brought up the rear. Kitty stood at the window
again, while Hansgeorge and his comrades had returned to their post at
the garden-gate. Suddenly Fidele exclaimed, "Look out: the marauders
are coming."

Two ragged fellows in half-uniform, without saddle or stirrup, came
galloping up. While yet a few yards off, they stopped and whispered
something to each other, at which one of them was heard to laugh. They
then rode up slowly, the one coming very near the fence. Quick as a
flash he tore the pipe out of Hansgeorge's mouth, and galloped off at
the top of his horse's speed. Putting the still-burning pipe into his
mou