Part 50 (2/2)

”Yes, we march to R---- at daybreak to meet Major General von Falkenried and his brigade. We'll be some days on the way, I fancy, for the whole of this region is infested with the enemy, and our next move will depend upon theirs,” answered Willibald.

”Then tell the general, Will, that I'll be there at latest in a week,”

said Eugen. ”It's pretty bad to have to stay behind on account of a scratch that's not worth talking about. In another week I'll be all right. I don't care what the doctor says, and I hope to join my regiment before you take R----.”

”We'll have to be active now,” said Egon, ”for resistance doesn't continue long where General von Falkenried commands. He's always first with his men and has been victorious beyond belief. It seems as if no difficulties were too great for him to surmount.”

”He seems to stand at the head,” answered Lieutenant Walldorf. ”He may take R---- while we are lying here idle; perhaps he has taken it already. No news can reach us with the enemy between.”

He rose to accompany his departing comrades a short distance, while the prince remained behind by the fire. He folded his arms and looked vacantly at the burning logs, but the expression of his face was not in accord with the gaiety he had exhibited before his friends. It was dark and gloomy, and all light and happiness seemed gone out of it. He had forgotten Stadinger's presence until the latter gave a little cough, then he turned and said:

”Ah, you are there yet, are you? Tell Lois I asked for him, and that I will see him to-morrow some time. I'll see you again, of course, for you'll have to wait several days for him. You didn't think we had such a fine time here, did you? No need to take life hard just because we may lose it any day.”

The old man looked keenly at his master.

”Yes, the gentlemen were jolly enough, and you were the ring-leader, but--your highness is not gay now.”

”I? What's the matter now? Why shouldn't I be gay?”

”I don't know, but I see you are not happy,” declared Stadinger. ”When you were at Rodeck with Herr Rojanow you were quite different. As you stood looking into the fire just now I could see that something lay on your heart.”

”Don't bother me with your observations,” exclaimed Egon impatiently.

”Do you think I should never have a serious thought, when it may be we go into battle to-morrow?”

Then he resumed his old position, and Stadinger, though silent, was unconvinced. He knew full well that something was the matter with his master, that it was no thought of battle which clouded his sunny face.

The door opened and Lieutenant Walldorf entered without closing it.

”Come in,” he cried to some one behind him. ”Here's an orderly from the seventh regiment with some information. Come in, orderly!”

Walldorf repeated his invitation to enter in an impatient tone. The soldier who stood on the threshold of the door had hesitated, and made a movement to retreat into the darkness again. Now he obeyed; he remained close to the door, his face in the shadow.

”You come from the outpost yonder on chapel mountain?” questioned Walldorf.

”At your service, Herr lieutenant.”

Egon, who had turned round indifferently when the soldier entered, started as he heard the voice. He took a hasty step forward, then halted suddenly, as if he remembered something, but his glance embraced the stranger with a look almost of horror. He was, as far as one could see in the semi-darkness, a tall young soldier wrapped in the coa.r.s.e mantle of the private, with a helmet over his closely cut black hair. He stood stiff and immovable, and gave his message minutely. His voice had a suppressed, almost suffocated tone.

”I come from Herr Captain Salfeld!” he announced. ”We have seized a suspicious looking man, dressed as a peasant, but probably from the relief corps, who was sneaking into the fortress. There was some writing found on him.”

”Come over closer,” ordered Walldorf sharply. ”I can't hear you over there by the door.”

The soldier obeyed at once, and stepped up to the officers. The firelight gleamed full upon the face, which was pallid, and on the tightly compressed lips, but not on the eyes, for they seemed fastened to the ground.

Egon's hand seized the hilt of his sabre with convulsive grasp; it was all he could do not to cry out, while Stadinger stared at the man with wide open eyes.

”There was some writing found on him, but it was of no consequence, nor what he told by word of mouth either. Now the Herr Captain wants to know whether he shall send the prisoner here, or to headquarters, for he thinks there is more in the papers than meets the eye.”

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