lly.

King Frederick gazed at the flickering flames. Charles and Fritz sat
on each side of him, and watched him in respectful silence; around the
watch-fire lay the sleeping dragoons. After a long pause the king raised
his head and looked about him.

"Well, children, to-morrow will be a hot day, and we must strike the
Austrians boldly."

"Yes, as we struck the French at Rossbach, your majesty," said Fritz.
"Mark me! it will go off bravely, and when we are done with the
Austrians we will march to Constantinople."

"What will we do in Constantinople?" said the king.

"Nothing, your majesty, but march there with you, whip the Turks, and
take all their gold!"

"Not quite so fast, my son."

"Why not, sir king? We have chopped up the French army; to-morrow we
will do the same for the Austrians; and then, why not whip the Turks?"

The king smiled, and said: "Well, well, but first we must give the
Austrians a good drubbing."

"And, by my soul, we will do that," said Fritz, eagerly. "Your majesty
may believe me--I will march with you to the end of the earth, and so
will my friend Charles Buschman. If we have only a little to eat, we
will find water everywhere; so lead us where you will!"

The king's eyes flashed: "By heaven! it is a pleasure to lead such
soldiers to battle!" Then turning, with a kindly expression, to Fritz
Kober, he said: "Can you write?"

"Not well, your majesty; but Charles Henry Buschman can write much
better than I. He is a scholar."

"Is that true?" said the king, gayly, to Charles.

"He will say 'No,' sir king; he cannot bear to be praised. But the truth
remains, the truth even when denied--Charles is the bravest and wisest
soldier in the army, and if there is justice in the world he will be
made an officer."

"You must get your commission first, Fritz," said Charles,
indifferently; "you earned it long ago, and if the king only knew all
that you did at Rossbach, you would have it now."

"What did he do?" said the king.

"Nothing, your majesty," said Fritz.

"Yes, your majesty," said Charles, zealously; "he hewed right and left
until the sparks flew in every direction. Our commander had told us the
disgusting Frenchmen wanted to take our winter quarters, and even
when Fritz Kober's sword was still whizzing among them, they had the
insolence to cry out, 'Quartier! quartier!'--then was Fritz enraged, and
cut them down like corn-stalks, and cried out, 'Yes, yes! I will give
you quarters,