f　the　noodles　are　not　good；　I　shall　be　angry。〃　He　took　the　plate　and　began　to　eat。
  The　soldiers　all　stopped；　and　looked　eagerly　at　the　king。　When　he　had　swallowed　the　first　bite；　Fritz　Kober　could　no　longer　restrain　his　curiosity。
  〃Well；　sire；〃　he　said；　triumphantly；　〃what　do　you　say　to　it！　Can't　Buschman　prepare　better　noodles　than　your　cleverest　cook？〃
  〃Verily；〃　said　the　king；　smiling；　〃he　never　cooked　such　noodles　for　me；　and　I　must　say　they　are　good；　but；　now　I　have　had　enough；　and　I　am　much　obliged　to　you。〃
  He　wished　to　return　his　plate　to　Fritz　Kober；　but　Fritz　shook　his　head　violently。
  〃See　here；　your　majesty；　no　one　gets　off　from　us　with　just　a　'thank　you；'　and　you；　least　of　all；　sire；　every　one　must　pay　his　part。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　the　king；　〃how　much　is　my　share？〃
  〃It　cost　each　of　us　three　groschen；　the　king　may　pay　what　he　pleases。〃
  〃Will　you　credit　me；　dragoon？〃　said　the　king；　who　searched　his　pockets　in　vain　for　money。
  〃Oh！　yes；　your　majesty；　I　will　credit　you；　but　only　until　tomorrow　morning；　early；　for；　if　a　cannon…ball　took　my　head　off；　I　could　not　dun　your　majesty；　and　you　would　be　my　debtor　to　all　eternity。〃
  〃It　would　then　be　better　to　settle　our　accounts　to…day；〃　said　the　king；　and　nodding　to　the　soldiers；　he　left　them。
  CHAPTER　XIII。
  THE　WATCH…FIRE。
  The　officer　who　had　accompanied　the　king；　returned　in　an　hour　to　the　watch…fire　of　the　dragoons；　and　handed　five　gold　pieces　to　Fritz　Kober；　which　had　been　sent　by　the　king　to　pay　for　his　portion　of　the　noodles；　then；　without　giving　the　surprised　soldier　time　to　thank　him；　he　withdrew。
  Fritz　looked　long　and　thoughtfully　at　the　gold　pieces；　which；　in　the　light　of　the　flickering　fire；　shone　beautifully　in　his　hand。
  〃It　is　very　wellvery　well　that　the　king　kept　his　word；　and　paid　me　punctually　to…night；〃　said　he　to　Charles　Henry　Buschman；　who　sat　near；　and　with　his　elbow　resting　on　his　knee；　watched　his　friend　closely。
  〃And　why　so；　Fritz？〃　said　Charles。
  〃I　will　tell　you；　Charles　Henry。　If　I　fall　to…morrow；　I　will　have　something　in　my　pocket　that　you　will　inherit　from　me。　I　declare　to　you；　no　one　but　you　alone　shall　be　my　heir；　all　that　I　have　belongs　to　you。　Thunder　and　lightning！　I　am　rich！　it　is　better　I　should　make　my　testament；　I　don't　know　what　may　happen　to　me　to…morrow。　I　have　neither　pen　nor　paper；　well；　I　will　make　it　verbally！　I　will　wake　some　of　my　comrades；　and　they　shall　witness　my　last　will　and　testament。〃　He　reached　over　to　the　sleeping　soldiers；　who　lay　near　him　on　the　ground；　but　Charles　held　him　back。
  〃Let　them　sleep；　friend；〃　said　he；　pleadingly；　〃it　is　not　necessary　you　should　have　witnesses。　God；　and　the　moon；　and　a　thousand　stars　hear　what　we　say　to　each　other；　and　why　speak　of　your　will　and　your　fortune；　friend？　Do　you　think　I　would　care　for　that　miserable　gold；　if　you　were　no　longer　by　my　side？　Do　you　think　I　would　use　it　for　any　other　purpose　than　to　buy　your　tombstone；　and　write　on　it　in　golden　letters？〃
  〃What？　a　tombstone！〃　said　Fritz　Kober；　with　an　astonished　look；　〃and　why　would　you　place　a　tombstone　over　a　poor；　simple；　unknown　fellow　like　myself；　Charles　Henry？　Many　gallant　generals　and　officers　fall　in　battle；　the　earth　drinks　their　blood；　and　no　one　knows　where　they　lie。　And　with　golden　letters；　did　you　say；　Charles？　Well；　I　am　curious　to　know　what　you　would　place　upon　my　tombstone。〃
  〃I　will　tell　you；　Fritz。　I　will　write　on　your　tombstone'Here　lies　Fritz　Kober；　the　most　faithful　friend；　the　best　soul；　the　most　honest　heart；　good　and　simple　as　a　child；　brave　as　a　hero；　constant　as　a　dove；　and　true　as　a　hound。'〃
  〃But　am　I　all　that？〃　said　Fritz；　amazed。
  〃Yes；　you　are　all　that！〃　said　Charles；　with　a　trembling　voice。　〃You　have　been　more　than　this　to　me；　and　I　will　never　forget　it。　I　was　a　poor；　shrinking　youth　when　I　came　to　this　camp；　I　knew　nothing　could　do　nothing。　My　comrades；　who　soon　found　me　out；　mocked　and　complained　of　me；　and　played　all　manner　of　jokes　upon　me。　They　ridiculed　me；　because　I　had　no　beard；　they　mimicked　me；　because　my　voice　was　soft　and　unsteady；　they　asserted　that　I　would　make　a　miserable　soldier；　because　I　grew　deadly　pale　at　parade。　Who　was　it　took　pity　on　me；　and　opposed　themselves　to　my　rude；　unfeeling　companions？　Who　scolded　and　threatened　to　strike　them；　if　they　did　not　allow　me　to　go　my　own　way；　in　peace　and　quiet？　Who　was　patient　with　my　stupidity；　and　taught　me　how　to　go　through　with　my　military　duties　creditably；　and　how　to　manage　my　horse？　You！　you；　dear　Fritz！　you　alone。　You　were　always　at　my　side；　when　others　threatened。　You　were　patient　as　a　mother　when　she　teaches　her　dear　little　boy　his　letters；　and　looks　kindly　upon　him；　and　is　good　to　him；　even　when　he　is　dull　and　inattentive。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　Fritz　Kober；　thoughtfully；　〃one　can　do　nothing　better　than　to　be　good　to　a　man　who　deserves　it；　and　who　is　himself　so　kind；　and　pure；　and　brave；　that　a　poor　fellow　like　myself　feels　ashamed；　and　looks　down　when　the　soft　eyes　are　fixed　upon　him。　I　tell　you　what；　Charles　Henry；　there　is　a　power　in　your　eyes；　and　they　have　subdued　me。　I　think　the　angels　in　heaven　have　just　such　eyes　as　yours；　and　when　you　look　upon　me　so　softly　and　kindly；　my　heart　bounds　with　delight。　I　have　dreamed　of　your　eyes；　Charles　Henry；　I　have　blushed　in　my　sleep　when　I　thought　I　had　uttered　a　coarse　curse；　and　you　looked　upon　me　sorrowfully。　I　know　you　cannot　endure　cursing；　or　drink；　or　even　tobacco。〃
  〃My　father　was　a　poor　schoolmaster；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　〃we　lived　quietly　together；　and　he　could　not　bear　cursing。　He　used　to　say；　'When　men　cursed；　it　hurt　God　like　the　toothache。'　He　said'God　had　not　made　the　corn　to　grow；　that　men　might　make　brandy；　but　bread。'　We　were　too　poor　to　buy　beer　and　wine；　so　we　drank　water；　and　were　content。〃
  〃Your　father　was　right；〃　said　Fritz；　thoughtfully。　〃I　believe；　myself；　corn　was　not　intended　to　make　brandy；　and　I　don't　care　for　it；　I　will　give　it　up　altogether。　If　we　live　through　this　war；　and　receive　good　bounty　money；　we　will　buy　a　few　acres；　and　build　us　a　little　house；　and　live　together；　and　cultivate　our　land；　and　plant　corn；　and；　in　the　evening；　when　our　work　is　done；　we　will　sit　on　the　bench　before　the　door；　and　you　will　relate　some　of　your　beautiful　little　stories；　and　so　we　will　live　on　together　till　we　are　old　and　die。〃
  〃But　you　have　forgotten　one　thing；　Fritz。〃
  〃What　is　that；　Charles　Henry？〃
  〃You　have　forgotten　that　you　will　take　a　wife　into　your　little　house；　and　she　will　soon　cast　me　out。〃
  〃Let　her　try　it！〃　cried　Fritz；　enraged；　and　doubling　his　flat　threateningly。　〃Let　her　try　only　to　show　the　door　to　Charles　Henry；　and　I　will　shut　her　out；　and　she　shall　never　returnnever！　But；〃　said　he；　softly；　〃it　is　not　necessary　to　think　of　this；　I　will　never　take　a　wife。　We　will　live　together；　we　need　no　third　person　to　make　strife　between　us。〃
  Charles　said　nothing。　He　looked　smilingly　into　the　glowing　fire；　and　then　at　his　comrade；　with　an　amused　but　tender　expression。
  If　Fritz　had　seen　it；　his　heart　would　have　bounded　again；　but　he　was　too　much　occupied　then　with　his　own　thoughts　to　look　up。
  〃Listen；　Charles。　If　nothing　comes　of　our　little　piece　of　ground　and　our　houseif　my　last　ball　comes　to…morrow　and　carries　me　off〃
  〃Stop；　stop；　Fritz；　I　will　hold　my　head　so　that　the　same　ball　will　carry　it　off！〃
  〃If　you　do　that；　I　will　be　very　angry　with　you；〃　cried　Fritz。　〃You　are　too　young　to　die；　and　I　will　be　glad　even　in　my　grave　to　know　that　you　are　walking　on　the　green　earth。　In　order　to　do　well；　you　must　have　gold；　therefore　you　must　be　my　heir。　If　I　fall；　these　beautiful　gold　pieces　belong　to　you；　you　shall　not　put　a　tombstone　over　me。　Buy　yourself　a　few　acres；　Charles　Henry；　and　when　your　corn　grows　and　blossoms；　that　shall　be　my　monument。〃
  Charles　took　his　hand；　and　his　eyes　were　filled　with　tears。　〃Speak　no　more　of　death；〃　said　he；　softly；　〃it　makes　my　heart　heavy；　and　I　shall　lose　my　courage　in　the　battle　to…morrow　when　I　think　of　all　you　have　said。　Ugh！　how　cold　it　is！　My　soul　feels　frosted！〃
  〃I　will　go　and　seek　a　little　more　wood；〃　said　Fritz；　springing　up；　〃and　make　a　good　fire；　and　then　you　shall　be　warmed。〃
  He　hurried　off；　and　Charles　remained　alone　by　the　tire；　looking　gravely　on　the　glowing　coals；　he　smiled　from　time　to　time；　and　then　he　breathed　heavily；　as　if　oppressed　by　some　weighty　secret。　Suddenly　he　heard　a　voice　behind　him。
  〃Ah！　I　have　found　the　fire　again！　Good…evening；　children。〃
  〃Good…evening；　sir　king。　Comrades；　wake　up；　the　king　is　here！〃
  〃No；　no；　let　your　comrades　sleep；〃　said　the　king；　softly。　〃The　fire　will　do　me　good。　I　found　the　right　path　to　the　fire；　as　I　said　Your　dragoons　have　uncovered　my　quarters；　and　the　cold　blasts　of　wind　whistle　through　them　and　freeze　the　water　in　my　room。　I　prefer　to　sit　by　the　fire　and　warm　myself。〃　He　was　about　to　seat　himself　on　the　straw　near　the　fire；　when　a　harsh　voice　called　out：
  〃March　on！every　lazy　scamp　wants　a　place　by　the　fire；　but　not　one　of　them　brings　a　splinter　of　wood。〃
  Fritz　Kober　was　behind　them　with　the　wood；　he　had　found　it　with　great　difficulty；　and　he　was　angry　when　he　saw　a　strange　soldier　in　his　place　by　the　side　of　Charles　Henry。
  The　king　turned　to　him　quietly。
  〃You　are　right；　my　son！come　on！　I　w