the　side　of　Charles　Henry。
  The　king　turned　to　him　quietly。
  〃You　are　right；　my　son！come　on！　I　will　make　room　for　you。〃
  〃It　is　the　king！〃　exclaimed　Fritz；　turning　as　if　to　fly。　But　the　king　held　him。
  〃Remain　where　you　are；　my　son；　you　brought　the　wood；　and　you　have　the　best　right。　I　only　wish　to　warm　myself　a　little；　and　I　think　there　is　room　for　us　all。〃
  He　seated　himself　upon　the　straw；　and　nodded　to　Fritz　Kober　to　take　a　seat　by　him。　Fritz　tremblingly　obeyed；　and　Charles　stirred　the　fire；　which　flamed　up　beautifully。
  King　Frederick　gazed　at　the　flickering　flames。　Charles　and　Fritz　sat　on　each　side　of　him；　and　watched　him　in　respectful　silence；　around　the　watch…fire　lay　the　sleeping　dragoons。　After　a　long　pause　the　king　raised　his　head　and　looked　about　him。
  〃Well；　children；　to…morrow　will　be　a　hot　day；　and　we　must　strike　the　Austrians　boldly。〃
  〃Yes；　as　we　struck　the　French　at　Rossbach；　your　majesty；〃　said　Fritz。　〃Mark　me！　it　will　go　off　bravely；　and　when　we　are　done　with　the　Austrians　we　will　march　to　Constantinople。〃
  〃What　will　we　do　in　Constantinople？〃　said　the　king。
  〃Nothing；　your　majesty；　but　march　there　with　you；　whip　the　Turks；　and　take　all　their　gold！〃
  〃Not　quite　so　fast；　my　son。〃
  〃Why　not；　sir　king？　We　have　chopped　up　the　French　army；　to…morrow　we　will　do　the　same　for　the　Austrians；　and　then；　why　not　whip　the　Turks？〃
  The　king　smiled；　and　said：　〃Well；　well；　but　first　we　must　give　the　Austrians　a　good　drubbing。〃
  〃And；　by　my　soul；　we　will　do　that；〃　said　Fritz；　eagerly。　〃Your　majesty　may　believe　meI　will　march　with　you　to　the　end　of　the　earth；　and　so　will　my　friend　Charles　Buschman。　If　we　have　only　a　little　to　eat；　we　will　find　water　everywhere；　so　lead　us　where　you　will！〃
  The　king's　eyes　flashed：　〃By　heaven！　it　is　a　pleasure　to　lead　such　soldiers　to　battle！〃　Then　turning；　with　a　kindly　expression；　to　Fritz　Kober；　he　said：　〃Can　you　write？〃
  〃Not　well；　your　majesty；　but　Charles　Henry　Buschman　can　write　much　better　than　I。　He　is　a　scholar。〃
  〃Is　that　true？〃　said　the　king；　gayly；　to　Charles。
  〃He　will　say　'No；'　sir　king；　he　cannot　bear　to　be　praised。　But　the　truth　remains；　the　truth　even　when　deniedCharles　is　the　bravest　and　wisest　soldier　in　the　army；　and　if　there　is　justice　in　the　world　he　will　be　made　an　officer。〃
  〃You　must　get　your　commission　first；　Fritz；〃　said　Charles；　indifferently；　〃you　earned　it　long　ago；　and　if　the　king　only　knew　all　that　you　did　at　Rossbach；　you　would　have　it　now。〃
  〃What　did　he　do？〃　said　the　king。
  〃Nothing；　your　majesty；〃　said　Fritz。
  〃Yes；　your　majesty；〃　said　Charles；　zealously；　〃he　hewed　right　and　left　until　the　sparks　flew　in　every　direction。　Our　commander　had　told　us　the　disgusting　Frenchmen　wanted　to　take　our　winter　quarters；　and　even　when　Fritz　Kober's　sword　was　still　whizzing　among　them；　they　had　the　insolence　to　cry　out；　'Quartier！　quartier！'then　was　Fritz　enraged；　and　cut　them　down　like　corn…stalks；　and　cried　out；　'Yes；　yes！　I　will　give　you　quarters；　but　they　will　be　underground！'〃
  〃Only　think；〃　said　Fritz；　〃they　were　flying　before　us；　and　the　impudent　scamps；　when　we　captured　them；　would　still　twit　us　with　the　winter　quarters　they　had　intended　to　rob　us　of。　How　could　I　help　cutting　them　to　pieces？〃
  〃But　he　spared　those　who　cried　'Pardon；'　your　majesty；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　〃he　only　took　them　prisoners。　Nine　prisoners　did　Fritz　Kober　take　at　Rossbach。〃　＇Footnote：　The　Prussians　had　been　told　that　the　Frenchmen　intended　to　take　possession　of　their　winter　quarters；　and　this　enraged　them　greatly。　When　the　French　cavalry　were　flying　at　Rossbach；　they　used　the　German　word　quartier；　thinking　they　would　be　better　understood。　The　Prussians　looked　upon　this　as　an　insolent　jest；　and　gave　no　quarter。Nicolai's　Characteristics　and　Anecdotes　＇　〃I　suppose　the　five　prisoners　you　took　were　men　of　straw；　that　you　say　nothing　of　them；〃　cried　Fritz。
  The　king　looked　well　pleased　from　one　to　the　other。
  〃It　appears　to　me　you　are　both　brave　soldiers；　and　the　braver　be　cause　you　do　not　boast　of　your　deeds。　Are　you　always　such　good　friends　as　to　seek　to　do　each　other　kindly　service？〃
  〃Your　majesty；　Charles　Henry　is　my　truest　friend；　and　if　you　wish　to　do　me　a　service；　make　him　an　officer。〃
  〃But　be　says　he　will　not　be　made　an　officer　unless　you　are　made　one；　so　there　is　nothing　left　for　me　to　do　but　to　promote　both！　If　in　the　battle　to…morrow　you　fight　like　heroes；　you　shall　both　be　made　officers。　Now；　children；　be　quiet；　let　me　rest　a　little。　I　do　not　want　to　sleepcannot　you　tell　me　some　little　story；　some　pretty　little　fairy　tale　to　keep　my　heavy　eyes　from　closing？〃
  〃Charles　knows　many　fairy　tales；　sir　king；　and　if　you　command　it　he　must　relate　one。〃
  〃Oh；　yes；　your　majesty；　I　know　the　history　of　a　fairy　who　knew　and　loved　the　brave　son　of　a　king；　and　when　the　prince　went　into　battle　she　transformed　herself　into　a　sword；　that　she　might　be　always　by　the　side　of　him　she　loved。〃
  〃Tell　me　this　pretty　story；　my　son。〃
  Charles　Henry　began　to　relate。　Deep　silence　reigned　about　the　camp。　Here　and　there　a　word　was　spoken　in　sleep；　a　loud　snore；　or　the　neighing　of　a　horse。　The　fires　were　burned　down；　and　the　coals　glowed　like　fire…flies　upon　the　dark　ground。
  The　moon　stood　over　the　camp　and　illuminated　the　strange　and　parti…　colored　scene　with　her　soft　rays；　and　called　out　the　most　wonderful　contrasts　of　light　and　shade。　Far；　far　away；　in　the　dim　distance；　one　blood…red　point　could　be　seen；　it　looked　like　a　crimson　star　in　the　east。　This　was　the　camp…fire　of　the　Austrians。　This　mighty　army　was　encamped　behind　Leuthen。　The　king　gazed　in　that　direction　with　eager　expectation；　and　listened　with　painful　attention　to　every　distant　sound。
  The　silence　of　death　reigned　there；　no　sound　or　voice　was　heard。　The　king；　being　convinced　of　this；　sank　back　once　more　upon　the　straw；　and　listened　to　Charles　Henry　Buschman。
  It　was　indeed　a　beautiful　fairy　tale；　so　wild　and　so　fantastic　that　Fritz　listened　with　eyes　extended　and　almost　breathless　to　every　word。　At　last；　as　the　handsome　prince　was　drawing　his　last　breath；　the　lovely　fairy　sprang　from　his　sword　and　brought　the　dead　to　life　with　her　warm　kisses；　Fritz　was　in　an　ecstasy　of　excitement；　and　interrupted　Charles　by　an　outcry　of　rapture。
  〃This　is　a　true　story；　sir　king！〃　cried　he；　passionately；　〃every　word　is　true；　and　he　who　don't　believe　it　is　a　puppy！〃
  〃Well；　well；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　believe　every　word；　friend。〃
  Charles　Henry　went　on　with　his　fairy　tales；　but；　notwithstanding　the　wonders　he　related；　sleep　at　last　overcame　his　friend！　Fritz's　eyes　closed；　but　he　murmured　in　his　sleep：　〃It　is　all　trueall　true！〃
  Charles　Henry　himself；　wearied　by　the　exertions　of　the　last　few　days；　felt　his　eyelids　to　be　as　heavy　as　lead；　his　words　came　slowly；　then　ceased　altogether。
  The　king　looked　at　his　slumbering　soldiers；　then　far　away　toward　the　watch…fires　of　the　Austrian　camp。
  Silence　still　reigned。　The　moon　showed　distant　objects　in　the　clearest　light；　and　nothing　suspicious　or　alarming　could　be　seen。　〃It　was　false　intelligence　which　was　brought　to　me；〃　said　the　king。　〃It　is　not　true　that　the　Austrians　are　on　the　march　and　intend　to　surprise　me。　They　sleep！we　will　not　see　them　till　tomorrow。　I　will　withdraw　to　my　quarters。〃
  King　Frederick　stepped　slowly　through　the　ranks　of　the　sleepers；　and　gave　a　sign　to　the　officer　and　the　four　soldiers　who　had　accompanied　him；　but　remained　at　a　distance　from　the　fire；　to　move　lightly　and　awaken　no　one。
  CHAPTER　XIV。
  THE　BATTLE　OF　LEUTHEN。
  Early　the　next　morning　the　king　left　his　tent。　The　generals　were　anxiously　awaiting　him。　His　countenance　glowed　with　energy　and　determination；　and　his　brilliant　eyes　flashed　with　a　sparkling　light。　Inspired　by　the　appearance　of　their　hero；　the　clouded　brows　of　the　assembled　generals　became　clearer。　They　felt　that　his　lofty　brow　was　illumined　by　genius；　and　that　the　laurels　which　crowned　it　could　never　fade。　They　were　now　confident；　courageous；　ready　for　the　battle；　and；　although　they　had　at　first　disapproved　of　the　king's　plan　of　attacking　the　enemy　who　had　twice　overcome　them；　now　that　he　was　in　their　midst　they　felt　secure　of　success。
  Spies　reported　that　the　Austrian　army　had　left　their　camp　at　sunrise　and　advanced　toward　Leuthen；　they　spoke　much　and　loudly　of　the　strength　of　the　enemy；　and　of　the　eagerness　of　the　soldiers　to　fall　upon　the　weak　Prussian　army。
  At　a　sign　from　the　king；　Seidlitz　approached　him；　and　informed　him　of　the　latest　rumors。
  〃It　is　a　fearful　army　we　are　to　attack；〃　said　Seidlitz；　〃more　than　twice　our　number。〃
  〃I　am　aware　of　the　strength　of　the　enemy；〃　said　the　king；　quietly；　〃but　nothing　is　left　for　me　but　victory　or　death。　Were　they　stationed　upon　the　church…tower　of　Breslau　I　would　attack　them。〃
  Then　approaching　the　other　generals；　he　continued　in　a　loud　voice：
  〃You　are　aware；　gentlemen；　that　Prince　Charles；　of　Lothringen；　succeeded　in　taking　Schweidnitz；　defeating　the　Duke　of　Bevern；　and　has　made　himself　master　of　Breslau；　while　I　was　protecting　Berlin　from　the　French　army。　The　capital　of　Silesia；　and　all　the　munitions　of　war　stowed　there；　have　been　lost。　All　these　circumstances　are　calculated　to　distress　me　deeply；　had　I　not　a　boundless　confidence　in　your