, therefore,
gentlemen. I shall soon return." He bowed and entered the king's tent.

"Announce me to his majesty," he said to the guard, who returned
immediately and opened the inner door of the tent.

The prince entered with a firm step and head erect--the door closed
behind him--the two brothers were alone.

The king sat upon a camp-stool by a little table covered with papers. He
held in his hand the paper which the prince had given him, and appeared
to be reading it eagerly. The prince stood for some time silently at
the door; at last, weary of waiting, he entered the tent and stepped
directly before the king.

King Frederick arose and fixed his great eyes scornfully upon his
brother. "I gave you an army corps of thirty-six thousand men, and you
bring me back sixteen thousand! Where have you left my soldiers?"

"They lie in the narrow pass of Gabel--in the chasms of the Erz
mountains--they have died of hunger and thirst, and they have deserted,"
said Prince Augustus, solemnly.

"And you dare to tell me this?" said the king.

"I dare to tell you what fate has brought upon us."

"Fate?" cried the king, shrugging his shoulders. "Fate is ever the
excuse for the crimes, and follies of man. Your obstinacy and your
disobedience are what you call fate. Prince Augustus William of Prussia,
how did you dare to act contrary to my instructions, and to conduct this
retreat through the mountains, and not by the highways?"

"Your majesty gave me no instructions," said the prince, eagerly. "Your
majesty commanded me to take counsel of my generals in every movement,
and I did so. I should not have retreated through the mountains had they
not advised it in consideration of the real approach of the enemy. But I
do not say this to excuse myself, or to accuse them, but to prove to my
brother the king that it was unjust to place me under the guardianship
and direction of his generals--unjust to place a mentor by my side who
is my enemy--who hates me and seeks my destruction!"

"Do you dare to reproach me?" said the king, in a thundering voice.

"In this hour I dare all," said the prince, steadily. "This is a
decisive hour between you and me, my brother. It is a strife of
intellect, of spirit; and although I know I am too weak to conquer, I
will at least fall with honor--with my sword in my hand! I shall fall,
but you shall not consider me a cowardly mute who does not dare to
defend himself. I know that I have been slandered to