The young officers hastened to get him such supper as their simple but plentiful provisions afforded, and to brew him as good and fragrant a gla.s.s of punch as he could have met with in the most comfortable dining-room.
"Yes," said von Einem, as, stretched at his ease on the straw, he lighted his cigar, "it is all very comfortable to begin with; but, by and by, when we have no more punch to drink, and no more cigars to smoke!"
"So much the better," cried von Wendenstein cheerfully; "our pluck will then be put to the test. But, Herr Rittmeister, shall we march soon? A messenger has just pa.s.sed to the Hessian army. I suppose that to unite we must march. The Hessians will not come back here."
"If we shall march," said the Rittmeister, sighing, "I know nothing about it; but it does not look like it. The general staff sits and works, and writes, and rewrites; but when we shall march, I do not know."
"I am very sorry about General von Tschirschnitz," said Herr von Stolzenberg. "He was a strict old gentleman, and woe betide anyone who tried to play tricks with him. But he was of the good old stamp; why has he been sent off?"
"Count Kielmansegge, who was with me a quarter of an hour ago," said the Rittmeister, "tells me the army no longer feels any confidence in his capabilities."
"Well, I have heard for some time past that he was breaking," remarked Wendenstein; "but one could not perceive it, if one had anything to do with him. What is Colonel Dammers like--the new adjutant-general?"
"I know him but very little. I believe he is an energetic man. But we have nothing to do with all these things. The cavalry should hold to the old rule--to go in at the enemy and beat him or fall!" And he took a good draught from his gla.s.s.
"G.o.d grant that the new brooms may sweep clean, and that we may soon go forwards."
He stood up.
"Good night, and a good watch, gentlemen; we shall meet to-morrow, and I hope we shall march!"
The officers saluted, and the Rittmeister slowly walked back to the village through the dark night. The two lieutenants determined to sleep an hour each alternately through the night, whilst the other watched.
So midnight pa.s.sed, and all was silence at the outposts, whilst new troops poured into Gottingen, reserves and recruits streaming in from every part of the country; for all the young men desired to be enrolled in the army.
The new general staff worked all night long; much was debated and written in the great aula of Georgia Augusta, and at last it was decided that the army must remain four days longer in Gottingen, in order to prepare for the march.
Four days is a long time when events may be counted by hours.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1:
"Was du dein Augenblick verloren, Bringt keine Ewigkeit zuruck."]
[Footnote 2: _Droste_.]
[Footnote 3:
"Wer nun den lieben Gott laszt walten, Und hoffet auf Ihn allezeit, Den wird Er wunderbar erhalten, In aller Noth und Fahrlichkeit."]
[Footnote 4:
"Da sah"n wir von Weiten, Unsern Konig schon reiten; Er rief nach seinem Brigadier, "l.u.s.tige Hannoveraner seien wir.""]
[Footnote 5: The royal castle.]
[Footnote 6: The n.o.bility.]
[Footnote 7: We shall meet again.]
[Footnote 8: In German armies the Rittmeister holds the rank of a major.]
END OF VOL. I.