mbling in every limb. 'Who was present when my deceased
brother-in-law was struck?' asked he at length with a trembling voice.

'God only can answer that question, your highness,' said Swedenborg.
'God, who with his heavenly, thousand-starred eyes has seen what has
happened here. We found the royal corpse alone.'

'Alone,' cried the prince, 'alone has ended the life of the hero whose
warlike deeds have filled all Europe with fear and admiration! What is
human greatness?'

Megret and Siquier now returned with four grenadiers of the guards, who
with sad, lingering steps, brought forward a litter.

'Let the body be brought to head-quarters, Siquier,' commanded the
prince: 'and keep the king's death secret until we have taken such
measures as the occasion may require. The generals will in the mean
time assemble at my quarters in council of war. Let sentinels be placed
on every avenue towards Sweden, and let no one venture to leave the
camp until further orders.'

'And general Duecker?'--asked Siquier, artfully, as if he wished to
remind the prince of something of importance.

'He shall immediately depart with his corps,' answered the prince,
after a moment's reflection, 'and traverse the passes toward Denmark.
Bear to him the order,' Yet one look of horror cast he upon the dead
form of his brother-in-law, and then hastily departed.

With pert insolence Siquier advanced to the corpse, threw over it a
soldier's gray cloak, placed his own hat upon the insensible head, and
made a sign to the grenadiers. The latter advanced weeping, and placing
the dead body in the litter, closed it.

'If you are asked on the way whom you bear,' said Siquier, as they
raised the litter, 'answer captain Carlberg.'

The mournful train moved forward. Siquier picked up the bloody hat of
the king, which lay upon the ground, and followed. With sad murmurs the
officers separated. Swedenborg also had disappeared. Arwed remained
standing alone, still mechanically holding the torch on high, staring
unconsciously upon the bloody ground from which its light was
reflected. At length recollecting himself, he angrily thrust the torch
in the snow upon the parapet until its sparkling and crackling flame
was extinguished. 'Die! thou paltry flame!' exclaimed he, with
uncontrollable grief: 'die! This night Sweden's light is extinguished
and never, never more will my poor country see the dawn of happiness.'

CHAPTER IX.