ord in
his hand, sleeping as quietly as if he were at his bright and beautiful
Sans-Souci. "Look!" whispered Charles Henry; "thus sleeps a king, over
whom God watches! But now we must awaken him."

He advanced to the king, and kneeling beside him, whispered: "Your
majesty, we have returned; we bring intelligence of the Russians and
Austrians."

The king arose slowly, and pushed his hat back from his brow.

"Good or bad news?" he asked.

"Good news!" said Fritz. "The Austrians and Russians have both gone to
bed; they were sleepy."

"And they have no idea of pursuing your majesty," continued Charles
Henry. "Loudon wished it, but Soltikow refused; he will do nothing until
Daun acts."

"So you sat with them in the council of war?" asked the king, smiling.

"Yes, we were present," said Fritz Kober, with evident delight; "I saw
the council, and Charles Henry heard them."

The king stood up. "You speak too loud!" he said; "you will waken these
two gentlemen, who are sleeping so well. We will go outside, and you can
continue your report."

He crossed the room noiselessly, and left the hut. Then seating himself
before the door, on a small bench, he told the two grenadiers to give
him an exact account of what they had seen and heard.

Long after they had finished speaking, the king sat silent, and
apparently lost in thought. His eyes raised to heaven, he seemed to be
in holy communion with the Almighty. As his eyes slowly sank, his glance
fell upon the two grenadiers who stood before him, silently respectful.

"I am pleased with you, children, and this time the promise shall be
kept. You shall become subordinate officers."

"In the same company?" asked Fritz Kober.

"In the same company. That is," continued the king, "if I am ever able
to form companies and regiments again."

"We are not so badly off as your majesty thinks," said Fritz Kober.
"Our troops have already recovered from their first terror, and as we
returned we saw numbers of them entering the village. In a few hours the
army can be reorganized."

"God grant that you may be right, my son!" said the king, kindly.
"Go, now, into the village, and repeat the news you brought me to the
soldiers. It will encourage them to hear that the enemy sleep, and
do not think of pursuing us. I will prepare your commissions for you
to-day. Farewell, my children!"

He bent his head slightly, and then turned to re-enter the hut and
awaken his two adjutants. With a ca