rded?"

"No," said the king, pointing to the two sleepers, "I have my two
adjutants, and they will keep guard for me. Now, listen to what I have
to say to you. Over there is the enemy, and it is most important for
me to know what he is doing, and what he proposes to do. Go, then, and
listen. Their generals have certainly taken up their quarters in the
village. You must ascertain that positively, and then draw near their
quarters. You will return as quickly as possible, and inform me of all
that you hear and see."

"Is that all?" said Fritz Kober.

"That is all. Now be off, and if you do your duty well, and return fresh
and in good order, you shall be both made officers." Fritz Kober laughed
aloud. "No, no, sir king, we know that old story already."

"It is not necessary that you should promise us any thing, your
majesty," said Charles Henry; "we do not go for a reward, but for
respect and love to our king."

"But tell me, Fritz Kober, why you laughed so heartily?" said the king.

"Because this is not the first time that your majesty has promised to
make us officers. Before the battle of Leuthen, you said if we were
brave and performed valiant deeds, you would make us officers. Well, we
were brave. Charles Henry took seven prisoners, and I took nine; but we
are not officers."

"You shall be to-morrow," said the king. "Now, hasten off, and come back
as quickly as possible."

"We will leave our muskets here," said Charles Henry; "we dare not visit
our enemies in Prussian array."

They placed their arms at the house door, and then clasping each other's
hands, and making a military salute, they hastened off. The king looked
after them till their slender forms were lost in the distance.

"With fifty thousand such soldiers I could conquer the world," murmured
he; "they are of the true metal."

He turned, and stepping up to the two sleepers, touched them lightly on
the shoulders. They sprang up alarmed when they recognized the king.

"You need not excuse yourselves," said Frederick kindly, "you have had
a day of great fatigue, and are, of course, exhausted. Come into the
house, the night air is dangerous; we will sleep here together."

"Where are the two grenadiers?" said Goltz.

"I have sent them off on duty."

"Then your majesty must allow us to remain on guard. I have slept well,
and am entirely refreshed."

"I also," said the second lieutenant. "Will your majesty be pleased to
sleep? we will keep guard."