excuse himself:

"I must really eat, or I shall make the man furious.--Give me your
spoon; but listen, I can tell you, if the noodles are not good, I shall
be angry." He took the plate and began to eat.

The soldiers all stopped, and looked eagerly at the king. When he had
swallowed the first bite, Fritz Kober could no longer restrain his
curiosity.

"Well, sire," he said, triumphantly, "what do you say to it! Can't
Buschman prepare better noodles than your cleverest cook?"

"Verily," said the king, smiling, "he never cooked such noodles for me,
and I must say they are good, but, now I have had enough, and I am much
obliged to you."

He wished to return his plate to Fritz Kober, but Fritz shook his head
violently.

"See here, your majesty, no one gets off from us with just a 'thank
you,' and you, least of all, sire; every one must pay his part."

"Well," said the king, "how much is my share?"

"It cost each of us three groschen; the king may pay what he pleases."

"Will you credit me, dragoon?" said the king, who searched his pockets
in vain for money.

"Oh! yes, your majesty, I will credit you, but only until tomorrow
morning, early; for, if a cannon-ball took my head off, I could not dun
your majesty, and you would be my debtor to all eternity."

"It would then be better to settle our accounts to-day," said the king,
and nodding to the soldiers, he left them.

CHAPTER XIII. THE WATCH-FIRE.

The officer who had accompanied the king, returned in an hour to the
watch-fire of the dragoons, and handed five gold pieces to Fritz Kober,
which had been sent by the king to pay for his portion of the noodles;
then, without giving the surprised soldier time to thank him, he
withdrew.

Fritz looked long and thoughtfully at the gold pieces, which, in the
light of the flickering fire, shone beautifully in his hand.

"It is very well--very well that the king kept his word, and paid me
punctually to-night," said he to Charles Henry Buschman, who sat near,
and with his elbow resting on his knee, watched his friend closely.

"And why so, Fritz?" said Charles.

"I will tell you, Charles Henry. If I fall to-morrow, I will have
something in my pocket that you will inherit from me. I declare to you,
no one but you alone shall be my heir; all that I have belongs to
you. Thunder and lightning! I am rich! it is better I should make my
testament; I don't know what may happen to me to-morrow. I have neither
pen nor