heard, who surrounded the camp, and kept a
watchful eye in every direction.

Arm in arm they passed steadily around the camp. "One thing I know,"
whispered Fritz Kober, "they have no thought of marching. They will pass
a quiet, peaceful night by their camp-fires."

"I agree with you," said Charles Henry, "but let us go forward and
listen a little; perhaps we can learn where the generals are quartered."

"Look, look! it must be there," said Fritz Kober, hastily.

"There are no camp-fires; but there is a brilliant light in the
peasants' huts, and it appears to me that I see a guard before the
doors. These, certainly, are the headquarters."

"Let us go there, then," said Charles Henry; "but we must approach the
houses from behind, and thus avoid the guard."

They moved cautiously around, and drew near the houses. Profound quiet
reigned in this neighborhood; it was the reverence of subordination--the
effect which the presence of superior officers ever exercises upon their
men. Here stood groups of officers, lightly whispering together--there
soldiers were leading their masters' horses; not far off orderlies were
waiting on horseback--sentinels with shouldered arms were going slowly
by. The attention of all seemed to be fixed upon the two small houses,
and every glance and every ear was turned eagerly toward the brilliantly
lighted windows.

"We have hit the mark exactly," whispered Fritz Kober; he had succeeded
with his friend in forcing his way into the little alley which separated
the two houses. "We have now reached the head-quarters of the generals.
Look! there is an Austrian sentinel with his bear's cap. Both the
Austrian and Russian generals are here."

"Let us watch the Russians a little through the window," said Charles
Henry, slipping forward.

They reached the corner, and were hidden by the trunk of a tree which
overshadowed the huts. Suddenly they heard the word of command, and
there was a general movement among the files of soldiers assembled
about the square. The officers placed themselves in rank, the soldiers
presented arms; for, at this moment, the Austrian General Loudon,
surrounded by his staff, stepped from one of the small houses into the
square. The Cossacks, who were crouched down on the earth before the
door, raised themselves, and also presented arms.

While Loudon stood waiting, the two Prussian grenadiers slipped slyly to
the other hut.

"Let us go behind," whispered Charles Henry. "Th