〃I　will　never　run　away　from　you；　darling　brother；〃　said　Fritz　Kober。　〃We　two　shall　stay　together　in　camp　and　in　battle。　You　have　won　me　with　your　soft；　black　eyes：　they　remind　me　of　those　of　my　good；　faithful　Phylax。〃
  〃Well；　well；　Fritz　shall　do　as　he　pleases；〃　said　one　of　the　boys；　〃but　enough　with　our　chatting；　let　us　seek　the　wood　for　our　fire。〃
  〃Wood；　wood；　let　us　seek　wood；〃　cried　all；　gayly；　and　the　happy　troop　separated　on　all　sides。　Only　Charles　Henry　remained　to　prepare　the　fire。　With　busy　haste　he　took　the　kettle；　which　the　soldiers　had　dragged　near；　ran　to　the　neighboring　market　and　bought　a　groschen　worth　of　lard　to　make　the　noodles　savory；　then　hastened　back　to　cut　the　bacon　and　mix　it　with　the　noodles。　Some　of　the　soldiers　returned　empty…handedno　wood　was　to　be　found；　the　soldiers；　who　had　searched　before　them；　had　taken　it　all。
  〃It　would　be　horrible　not　to　have　noodles　this　evening；〃　said　Fritz　Kober；　furiously。　〃Who　knows　but　they　may　be　the　last　we　shall　eat　in　this　world？　The　balls　may　take　our　heads　off　to…morrow；　and　we　never　could　eat　Charles　Henry's　noodles　again。〃
  〃What　you　can　do　to…day　never　put　off　until　to…morrow；〃　cried　one　of　the　soldiers。　〃We　must　eat　noodles　to…day；　and　we　must　have　wood；　even　if　we　have　to　steal　it　from　the　devil's　kitchen。〃　And；　as　he　turned　around；　his　eye　fell　upon　a　little　hut　which　stood　on　the　other　side　of　the　camp。　〃Boys。〃　he　cried；　gleefully；　〃do　you　see　that　hut？〃
  〃Certainly；　that　hut　is　the　king's　quarters。〃
  〃I　am　willing　the　king　should　occupy　the　hut；　but　it　is　covered　with　wood；　and　he　does　not　need　that。　Come；　boys；　we　will　have　wood　to　cook　our　noodles。〃
  With　a　hurrah　they　started　forward　to　the　old　forsaken　shepherd's　hut　in　which　the　king　had　taken　refuge。　They　climbed　the　rook　as　nimbly　as　cats；　and　now　the　old　boards　cracked　and　groaned　and　flew　in　every　direction；　and　were　received　with　shouts　of　joy　by　the　surrounding　soldiers。　Suddenly　a　guard　officer　stepped　from　the　hut；　and　saw　with　horror　its　destruction；　he　ordered　the　soldiers　to　lay　the　boards　as　they　had　found　them；　and　to　go　off　at　once。　The　soldiers　mocked　at　him；　and　continued　at　their　work　quietly。
  〃We　are　going　to　eat　noodles；〃　they　said；　〃common　noodles；　of　meal　and　lard；　that　we　may　have　the　courage　to　swallow　iron　noodles　to…　morrow。　To　cook　noodles；　we　need　wood。　We　find　it　here；　and　we　shall　take　it。〃
  〃What！〃　cried　the　officer；　〃I　forbid　it；　and　you　refuse　to　obey？　Sentinels；　forward！〃
  The　four　guards；　who；　until　now；　had　walked　quietly　to　and　fro　before　the　hut；　placed　themselves　at　the　door　and　shouldered　arms。
  〃Fire　at　the　first　one　who　dares　to　touch　another　piece　of　wood；〃　commanded　the　officer。　But　the　wanton　soldiers　paid　no　attention　to　this　order；　they　regarded　it　as　an　empty　threat。
  〃Fire；〃　cried　one；　laughing；　〃fire　is　just　what　we　wantwithout　fire；　no　noodles；　and　to　make　fire　we　must　have　wood。〃
  〃Whew！　I　have　a　big　splinter　in　my　finger；〃　cried　another　soldier；　who　was　on　the　roof；　and　had　just　broken　off　a　plank；　〃I　must　draw　it　out　and　put　it　back；　mustn't　I；　lieutenant？〃
  At　this　question　the　gay　group　broke　into　a　loud　laugh；　but　it　was　interrupted　by　the　angry　words　of　the　officer。
  Suddenly　a　mild　voice　asked：　〃What　is　the　matter？〃　At　the　first　sound　of　this　voice　the　soldiers　seemed　dismayed；　they　stopped　their　work；　and　their　merry　faces　became　earnest　and　thoughtful。　Stiff　and　motionless　they　remained　on　the　roof　awaiting　their　punishment；　they　knew　that　voice　only　too　well；　they　had　heard　it　in　the　thunder　of　battle。　The　king　repeated　his　question。　The　officer　approached　him。
  〃Sire；　these　dragoons　are　tearing　the　roof　from　your　majesty's　quarters；　all　my　threats　are　useless；　therefore　I　ordered　the　sentinels　forward。〃
  〃What　do　you　want　with　the　sentinels？〃　asked　the　king。
  〃To　fire　amongst　them；　if　they　do　not　desist。〃
  〃Have　you　tried　kindness？〃　said　the　king；　sternly；　〃do　you　think；　on　the　day　before　a　battle；　I　have　soldiers　to　spare；　and　you　may　shoot　them　down　because　of　a　piece　of　wood？〃
  The　officer　murmured　a　few　confused　words；　but　the　king　paid　no　attention　to　him；　he　looked　up　at　the　soldiers　sitting　stiff　and　motionless　upon　the　roof。
  〃Listen；　dragoons；〃　said　the　king；　〃if　you　take　off　my　roof；　the　snow　will　fall　in　my　bed　to…night；　and　you　do　not　wish　that；　do　you？〃
  〃No；　we　do　not　wish　it；　sire；〃　said　Fritz　Kober；　ashamed；　slipping　softly　from　the　roof；　the　others　followed　his　example；　and　prepared　to　be　off；　giving　melancholy　glances　at　the　wood　lying　on　the　ground。　The　king　looked　thoughtfully　after　them；　and　murmured；　softly；　〃Poor　fellows；　I　have　deprived　them　of　a　pleasure。Halloo；　dragoons；〃　he　cried　aloud；　〃listen！〃
  The　soldiers　looked　back；　frightened　and　trembling。
  〃Tell　me；〃　said　the　king。　〃what　use　were　you　going　to　make　of　the　wood？〃
  〃Cook　noodles；　sire；〃　said　Fritz　Kober；　〃Henry　Buschman　promised　to　cook　noodles　for　us；　and　the　bacon　is　already　cut；　but　we　have　no　wood。〃
  〃Well；　if　the　bacon　is　cut；〃　said　the　king；　smiling；　〃and　if　Henry　Buschman　has　promised　to　make　the　noodles；　he　must　certainly　keep　his　word；　take　the　wood　away　with　you。〃
  〃Hurrah！　long　life　to　our　king　and　to　our　good　Fritz　Kober；〃　cried　the　soldiers；　and；　collecting　the　wood；　they　hastened　away。
  The　king　stepped　back；　silently；　into　the　small；　low　room　of　the　hut。　Alone；　there　once　more　the　smile　disappeared；　and　his　countenance　became　sad　and　anxious。　He　confessed　to　himself　what　he　had　never　admitted　to　friend　or　confidant；　that　it　was　a　daring　and　most　dangerous　undertaking　to　meet　the　Austrian　army　of　seventy　thousand　with　his　thirty…three　thousand　men。
  〃And　should　I　fail；〃　said　the　king；　thoughtfully；　〃and　lead　these　brave　troops　to　their　death　without　benefit　to　my　countryshould　they　die　an　unknown　deathshould　we　be　conquered；　instead　of　conquering！　Oh；　the　fortune　of　battles　lies　in　the　hands　of　Providence；　the　wisest　disposition　of　troops；　the　most　acute　calculations　are　brought　to　naught　by　seeming　accident。　Should　I　expose　my　army　to　the　fearful　odds；　should　I　hazard　so　many　lives　to　gratify　my　ambition　and　my　pride？　My　generals　say　it　will　be　wiser　not　to　attack；　but　to　wait　and　be　attacked。　Oh；　Winterfeldt；　Winterfeldt；　were　you　but　here；　you　would　not　advise　this；　not　you！　Why　have　you　been　taken　from　me；　my　friend？　Why　have　you　left　me　alone　among　my　enemies？　I　can　find；　perhaps；　resources　against　my　enemies；　but　I　will　never　find　another　Winterfeldt。〃　＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　words。Retzow；　vol。　i。。　p。　220。＇　The　king　leaned　his　head　upon　his　breast；　and　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks。
  〃How　solitary；　how　joyless　life　is！　how　rich　I　was　once　in　friends；　how　poor　I　am　now！　and　who　knows　how　much　poorer　I　may　be　to…morrow　at　this　hourwho　knows　if　I　shall　have　a　place　to　lay　my　head？I　may　be　a　fugitive；　without　home　or　country。　Verily；　I　have　the　destiny　of　MithridatesI　want　only　two　sons　and　a　Monima。　Well；〃　continued　he；　with　a　soft　smile；　〃it　is　still　something　to　stand　alonemisfortunes　only　strike　home。　But　do　I　stand　alone？　have　I　not　an　entire　people　looking　to　me　and　expecting　me　to　do　my　duty？　Have　I　not　brave　soldiers；　who　call　me　father；　looking　death　courageously　in　the　face　and　hazarding　their　lives　for　me？　No；　I　am　not　aloneand　if　Mithridates　had　two　sons；　I　have　thirty…three　thousand。　I　will　go　and　bid　them　good…evening。　I　think　it　will　refresh　my　sad　heart　to　hear　their　cheerful　greetings。〃
  The　king　threw　on　his　mantle　and　left　his　quarters；　to　make；　as　he　was　often　accustomed　to　do；　a　tour　through　the　camp。　Only　the　officer　on　guard　followed　him；　at　a　short　distance。
  It　was　now　dark；　and　fires；　which　were　lighted　everywhere；　gave　a　little　protection　against　the　biting　cold。　It　was　a　beautiful　sight…　…the　wide　plain；　with　its　numberless；　blazing；　flickering　fires；　surrounded　by　groups　of　cheerful　soldiers；　their　fresh　faces　glowing　with　the　light　of　the　flames。　In　the　distance　the　moon　rose　grand　and　full；　illuminating　the　scene　with　its　silver　rays；　and　blending　its　pale　shimmer　with　the　ruddy　flames。
  The　king　walked　briskly　through　the　camp；　and；　when　recognized；　the　soldiers　greeted　him　with　shouts　and　loving　words。　As　he　approached　a　large　fire；　over　which　hung　a　big　kettle；　the　contents　of　which　filled　the　air　with　savory　odors；　he　heard　a　brisk　voice　say：
  〃Now；　comrades；　come　and　eat；　the　noodles　are　done！〃
  〃Hurrah！　here　we　are；〃　cried　the　boys；　who　were　standing　not　far　off；　chatting　merrily。　They　sprang　forward　joyfully；　to　eat　the　longedfor　noodles。
  The　king；　recognizing　the　soldiers　who　had　uncovered　his　roof；　drew　near　to　the　fire。
  〃Shall　I　also　come　and　eat　with　you？〃　he　said；　good…humoredly。
  The　soldiers　looked　up　from　the　tin　plates；　in　which　the　noodles　were　swimming。
  〃Yes；　sire；〃　said　Fritz　Kober；　jumping　up　and　approaching　the　king；　〃yes；　you　shall　eat　with　us；　here　is　my　spoon　and　knife；　and　if　you　reject　it；　and　are　only　mocking　us；　I　shall　be　very　angry　indeed。〃
  The　king　laughed；　and　turning　to　the　officer　who　had　followed　him；　said　as　if　to　excuse　himself：
  〃I　must　really　eat；　or　I　shall　make　the　man　furious。Give　me　your　spoon；　but　listen；　I　can　tell　you；　if　the　noodles　are　not　good；　I　shall　be　angry。〃　He　took　the　plate　and