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diff --git a/31099-8.txt b/31099-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eadb491 --- /dev/null +++ b/31099-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15828 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of 'Jena' or 'Sedan'?, by Franz Beyerlein + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: 'Jena' or 'Sedan'? + +Author: Franz Beyerlein + +Release Date: January 27, 2010 [EBook #31099] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 'JENA' OR 'SEDAN'? *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from scans obtained from The +Internet Archive. + + + + + +Transcriber's notes: + 1. Source is Web Archive +"http://www.archive.org/details/jenorsedan00beyerich." + + 2. [oe] is the diphthong oe. + + + + + + 'JENA' OR 'SEDAN'? + + + + + FROM THE GERMAN OF + + FRANZ ADAM BEYERLEIN + + + + + + + LONDON + WILLIAM HEINEMANN + 1905 + + + + + + + + + +_All rights reserved_ + + + + + + + Publisher's Note + + +_The German original of this novel had a larger circulation in the +first year of its career than any novel of our days, close upon one +quarter of a million copies having been sold. It was praised by some as +a superb piece of imaginative literature of the realistic school: by +others it has been anathematised as a libel on the great army that made +Modern Germany. The truth about it is probably best summarised in the +words of a reviewer of the_ "_Daily Mail_": + + "_The author holds up the mirror with impartiality, without + fear or passion, and with an unmistakably friendly intention, + and asks_, '_Where art thou going? Towards Jena or Sedan?_'" + +_It is perhaps unnecessary to remind the English reader in +explanation of the title that Jena stands for French supremacy and +German defeat--Sedan for German victory and a French débâcle; but he +should be warned that in this truthful mirror of life there may be +details liable to shock insular notions. The author could not shrink +from such in the fulfilment of his task, which was to give the +truth--the whole truth and nothing but the truth. His work must be +judged not only as a novel (and assuredly as such it is a most +admirable and artistic piece of work), but it must be regarded also as +the cry of a patriot who loves his country above anything in the +world. This is most completely realised in the following opening +sentences of a long and careful review given to the original by the_ +"_Spectator_":-- + +"_The Englishman who is acutely distressed by the report of +shortcomings in the German Army can hardly be human. The frank pleasure +which the Germans took in our troubles is too recent to be quite +forgotten, even by a people so forgetful as we are. But for all that, +only those who crave for the_ '_wicked joys of the soul_,' _which grow, +the poet tells us, near by the gates of hell, can lay down Herr +Beyerlein's story without a sense of sadness. In spite of its freshness +and its humour, there breathes through it that note of disappointment, +almost of lassitude, which is not seldom audible in Germany to-day. If +is as though the nation, which has travelled such an astonishing +distance in the last thirty years, were pausing to ask_, '_Is this all +that has come of it?_' + +"_Herr Beyerlein's theme is the decadence of the German Army. That +it is decadent he has no doubt at all, and he is a close, careful and +not unfriendly observer. But the writer who deals boldly and broadly +with the German Army is in reality dealing with a much larger subject. +The British Army is a piece cut from the stuff of which the nation is +made, and shaped to a particular end. In Germany the whole material of +the nation passes through the Army, and is to some extent shaped and +coloured in the process; if does not come out precisely as it went in. +German military training is an iron pressure to which men cannot be +submitted for two years at an impressionable age and remain unchanged. +Symptoms of decay in the Army point, therefore, not only to possible +disaster abroad, but to demoralisation at home; and it is with this +aspect of his subject that Herr Beyerlein is chiefly concerned._" + + + + + + + + + JENA OR SEDAN? + + + + CHAPTER I + + "Must I go, must I go, + Away into the town?" + (_Swabian Folk-song._) + + +Franz Vogt was on his way home. He carried a neatly tied-up parcel +containing the under-linen and the boots that he had been buying in the +town. He had trodden this same road a countless number of times during +his life; but now that he must bid good-bye to it so soon, the old +familiar surroundings presented themselves to him in a new light. + +Of course it was not good-bye for ever, nor was it even as though he +were going to America. At the most he would only be away for his two +years of military service, and between-whiles there would, he supposed, +be leave now and again; moreover, this was not the first time he had +left the village. But there was one circumstance peculiar to this going +away--he was obliged to go. + +Franz Vogt did not trouble his head much about the why and the +wherefore of this obligation. He reasoned it out thus: Germany had +enemies--the French and the Russians, to wit--who might some day and +for some unknown reason begin a war; therefore, of course, it behoved +Germany to keep watch and ward, and for that soldiers were necessary. +Furthermore, there was a certain consolation in the thought that +this authoritative call took no respect of persons; the sons of +the two richest peasants in the village had been called up just like +himself--they to the Uhlans, he to the field-artillery. + +The life, however, must be so different from anything hitherto +experienced that one could not but feel a little nervous about it. For +the men on leave whom he had come across were never tired of talking +about the hard words and harder usage that fell to a soldier's lot. +Never mind! hard words break no bones. He was strong and active; no one +had done better than he in athletics. One must take things as they +come, and perhaps after all they won't turn out as bad as they have +been painted. + +The young man pushed his hat back from his brow and began to whistle +as he stepped forward more briskly. + +It was fairly warm for October. The broad dusty road that led onward +up the hill lay shining as brightly in the sun as if it were July and +the corn rising on either side, tall and golden. But instead the +stubble showed in paler streaks against the darker ground that was +already prepared for a new sowing. Further on in the valley green +meadows stretched away to the border-line of a forest. + +On the hither side of those woods, but disappearing at last in the +dense verdure, ran the straight line of the railway. A cloud of white +smoke could just be seen above the trees, and then the train would +glide out into the open. By that line Franz Vogt must travel on the +morrow to the place where he would have to sojourn for the next two +years; and again the thought, "How shall I get on there?" forced +itself upon his mind, and absorbed his thoughts until he reached the +cross-roads where stood the paternal dwelling. Years ago, when toll was +still levied on the highway, it had been the gate-keeper's cottage; and +Franz Vogt's father, the last turnpike-keeper, had bought it from the +State when the toll was abolished. Nearly twenty years had gone by +since the white-painted barrier had been let down at night for the last +time, but the little house remained the same in appearance. His father +had even stuck the old barrier up in the garden, and had nailed at the +top a box for the starlings to nest in; every spring a pair of birds +built there. + +And his father himself, how little he had altered! Only the beard, +which he wore after the fashion of the old Emperor William, had become +more and more grey, and the hair of his head had retreated from the +crown in an ever-widening circle. But the old man who now stepped to +the door held himself as stiff and erect as ever; the eyes looked forth +from beneath the bushy eyebrows with a stern yet kindly gaze, and the +deep voice rang out with military precision and sharpness. + +"Why, boy," he cried, "you're looking quite dashed! Shaking in your +shoes about to-morrow, eh? See what comes of having a woman for your +mother! Come along in." He preceded his son into the parlour, and made +him exhibit his purchases. + +"Dear, very dear, all these odds and ends!" he grumbled; but finally +declared himself pleased that Franz had preserved intact a good portion +of the money entrusted to him. + +"That you can keep," said his father; "for you know at first you'll +have nothing more from me. By-and-bye, perhaps, a few groschen now and +then; but first you must learn to shift for yourself. That's always +good for one. I had to get along on my pay the whole time, from the +first year to the fifteenth. Now go up and pack your traps, and make +everything shipshape." + +At supper the fare was no more sumptuous than usual; but Franz was +surprised to see that his father had set out two smoked sausages +instead of one. + +"To-morrow, boy," said the old man, "you'll have regimental black +bread. Good nourishing stuff! You'll soon like it." And pointing to the +two long fat sausages, he continued: + +"And the remains of those sausages can go in your box. You shall +pack them up." + +The two men ate off wooden platters, and cut up their bread and +sausage with their pocket-knives; there was nothing to do afterwards +but to gather up the fragments and carry the plates into the kitchen. +An old woman came every morning to do the housework and prepare the +midday meal, and every afternoon the turnpike keeper waited with +repressed impatience till the door had closed behind her. Then he felt +better. + +When Franz had put the sausage in his box and come downstairs again, +he found his father with cap in hand, ready to go out. + +"Come, boy," he said, "let's stretch our legs a bit." + +They went past the village, and wandered for a while in silence +under the starry heavens. Then the old man began to speak less briskly +and decidedly than was his wont. + +"Look you, my boy, to-morrow you will be standing on your own feet, +as it were; you'll be responsible for yourself. For it's like this: +before one has served one is a silly youth: but afterwards, a man. +Therefore you want something that you can steer by; and I tell you, +you must make a rule for yourself that you can look to. The printed +ones--they're only just by the way. Always ask yourself: is it right, +is it honest, what you're doing? If yes, then fire away! And when you +don't know exactly one way or the other, then just think: could you +tell your old father about it and look him straight in the eyes?" + +He had a heavy load of cares and hopes on his mind for the welfare +of this son, the only thing left him to love; but he broke short off. +He felt himself incapable of expressing clearly the result of the +experience gained during his sixty years of life. He lived himself by +that gathered wisdom, and it had passed into his flesh and bone; but +the right words failed him when he would have imparted it to his son. + + +Friedrich August Vogt and his twin sister had been born in 1840, the +little-prized children of an unmarried mother, who had vanished one day +and left no trace. Probably she had died in a ditch. The children were +taken into an orphanage, on leaving which the girl had gone to service, +while the boy had become a soldier and climbed the ladder of promotion +to the rank of sergeant, receiving the silver medal for bravery, and at +St. Privat the iron cross. In command over others he proved strict and +just; and though assuming an outwardly harsh, bearish manner, he looked +after those who were under him with indefatigable and almost fatherly +care. His whole endeavour throughout those fifteen years had been to +stand blameless, not only in the eyes of his superiors, but, what was +more important still, in his own. + +His comrades disliked the quiet, serious man, and Vogt himself was +just as little drawn to their frivolous ways; nor had women any +attraction for him. He was sufficient unto himself, and looked neither +for friend nor wife; but though he had grown up independent of love, he +yet craved to win for himself some modest amount of grateful +recognition within the narrow limits of the service, and he felt +richly rewarded if a reservist when bidding good-bye gripped his +hand and muttered a few clumsy words of gratitude. Of such were many +good-for-nothings whom he had saved from dangerous follies and their +inevitable punishment, not by rough words, but by kindly counsel. When +he eventually doffed his uniform he had nothing with which to reproach +himself; no neglect and no overstepping of duty, no injustice and no +improper leniency; he had good cause for self-satisfaction. + +He was given the post of turnpike-keeper in recognition of his good +service, and could then carry out a long-cherished wish: he took his +sister to live with him. But he did not long enjoy her companionship. +She left him after but a few years, during which she succeeded--not +without difficulty--in bringing some sort of brightness into the life +of her grave brother. She foresaw that he would in all probability +lapse into deeper and deeper gloom when she was no longer there; and on +her deathbed she joined his hand with that of a girl some years younger +than herself, with whom she had struck up a firm friendship. They +respected the wishes of the dead, married, and lived together happily, +thinking themselves the most fortunate of mortals when a son was born +to them. But August Vogt was doomed to loneliness, for his wife died +when the boy was just old enough to go to school. + +Shortly after this Vogt inherited a small property from his wife's +father, and the toll on the highway being at the same time abolished, +he bought the now superfluous house cheap from the State, and set up as +a peasant proprietor. He had now a new source of pride: that this land, +which he watered with his sweat, should bring forth abundantly; that +his cattle, whom no strange hand might touch, should be the sleekest +and fattest of all. Solitary and unaided he laboured in house and +field, as if wishing to defy that fate which had torn from him the +only two people he had loved. As he could love them no longer he had +rather be quite alone, save for the little chap who trotted after him +everywhere, and--looking almost as grave and preoccupied as his +father--copied with his tiny gardening tools everything he saw his +father do. In course of time the child became a more and more useful +helper, till at last the two in equal comradeship spent their entire +energies on the land, by whose produce they were almost exclusively +nourished, with the addition of the milk from their own cow. + +In the evening they sat opposite to each other, resting after their +toil. Occasionally, with a youth's eagerness for adventure, the younger +man would ask the elder to recount those military experiences to which +the decorations in the cash-box bore testimony; but the father gave +only scanty and unwilling replies. He bethought himself how in those +days of St. Privat they had stormed a burning village, rushing through +a fine field of ripe oats, and how a man had fallen next to him--a +boyish drummer--with a bullet in his throat. In dying he had grasped +and torn up the golden ears; and he held a bunch of them in his dead +hand, all dyed in his blood like some red flag. + +Oh yes, he was proud of his medal and his cross, notwithstanding a +sort of doubt that he could not suppress. An ever-widening gulf now +separated him from that famous past; and it gave him a certain sense of +discomfort, in the midst of this life of creative labour, to think of a +time devoted chiefly, after all, to death and destruction. + +It was from this feeling that he had abandoned his first intention +of making his son follow his own old profession. There was no hurry. +When the youngster was serving his time, he could decide to join on if +he liked. + +And now one thing was certain: it was very tiresome that his son +should be called up just at this moment. Of course he mustn't let the +boy see it; but he felt it hard, all the same. The recruiting-sergeant +had pointed out to him that he could claim his son if he could show +that the lad was indispensable to his work. But August Vogt was too +honourable for that. Certainly he was sixty years of age; but even had +he been ninety he would have managed to keep things going. Still, it +was hard. + +The father was probably heavier of heart than the son, as they paced +through the night together; but when they stood once more before their +door, after making a somewhat lengthy round, he only said: "Well, well, +young 'un; you'll often think of this. Now sleep well, your last night +at home." And as his son went off upstairs he added softly to himself, +"My dear good boy!" + + +Early next day Franz Vogt departed. + +The greater number of the recruits left the train when it reached +the capital, and it was only a small company that proceeded onwards to +the little garrison town. + +Two or three non-commissioned officers received the detachment when +it ultimately arrived at its destination. The recruits were then formed +into squads and conducted to a large exercise-ground. The main body, +hailing from the coal-mines and factories of the neighbouring mountain +district, had already arrived by special train. There must have been +about four hundred men altogether. Two or three officers, and numerous +non-commissioned officers with helmets and shoulder-straps, were +standing about. An endless calling over of names began. Those who were +told off to the first battery were taken first, and were led away as +soon as their number was complete. Then came those of the second +battery, then the third, and so on. The other recruits stood looking +dully in front of them, while those whose names were called out pressed +forward through the ranks with feverish haste, jostling every one else +with their boxes and bundles. + +Franz Vogt listened at first full of expectation. Each time he +thought that his name would be the next; but when the third battery had +marched off without him his interest began to flag, and he thought he +would take a look round. What he saw was not very encouraging. The +large square exercise-ground was strewn with a fine black dust, +coke-refuse, evidently; on three sides it was surrounded by a wooden +paling through which bare fields could be seen, and, in the direction +of the town, miserable-looking vegetable-gardens in all the desolation +of autumn. On the fourth side was an irregular row of buildings; first +a long shed with windows at wide intervals, before which stood a +sentry, who gazed across at the recruits with great curiosity; next a +forge, from the door of which a grimy blacksmith and his assistants +were watching, and a soldier in a grey jacket was leading out a black +mare that had just been shod; then came another shed with large gates, +one of which was open, and a number of men inside were busily engaged +around a gun with cloths and brushes. + +At length the names of the men belonging to the last--the sixth +battery were read out. Franz Vogt counted them for want of something +better to do--his own was the nineteenth on the list; he answered with +a loud "Here!" and hurried forward. The corporal, who was arranging his +men in ranks of six abreast, was a little man with a red face, flashing +eyes, and a heavy dark moustache over a mouth whence continually issued +objurgations and reprimands. When Vogt with quick comprehension placed +himself at the beginning of a new row he gave a nod of satisfaction, +and the young recruit felt mildly gratified that he had at any rate +begun well. + +As soon as the recruits told off to the sixth battery were in order +they were marched off, two non-commissioned officers in front, one on +either side, and another behind. It looked almost as if they were +prisoners with a military escort. + +The road went through part of the town and then took a curve round a +corner into a street that led out into the open country. Broad fields +stretched on either hand, those on the right separated from the road by +a stream, alongside of which ran a branch railway line. Beyond these +fields rose steep, sparsely-wooded hills, showing in some places the +bare rock. + +A good way up the valley the walls of a large mass of buildings +gleamed white in the sunshine. The little corporal in front turned +round and cried, "Those are your future quarters, boys!" + +Vogt felt glad they were not in the town with its close alleys, but +out in the open country, where one could feel nearer the fertile +mother-earth; where the eye had an uninterrupted out-look, and where +one could watch the sprouting and blossoming of springtime. + +A whirl of dust now issued from the barrack gates and drew rapidly +nearer. An officer, and behind him a soldier, both mounted, came along +at a trot. When he had almost reached the detachment of recruits the +officer reined in his bay horse, and as they passed by let his eyes +rest for a moment on each one of them in careful scrutiny. He +acknowledged with a curt nod the salutes of the non-commissioned +officers as they marched quickly past. Although not a big man, he sat +his horse with dignity; while a huge red moustache and piercing eyes +that flashed through his _pince-nez_ lent him an aspect of considerable +fierceness. Vogt thought to himself, "He looks strict, but not exactly +bad-tempered," when the little corporal turned round once more and +said: "Boys, that was your captain--von Wegstetten." + +The escort of armed and spurred non-commissioned officers had +already made Vogt feel as if he were going to prison, and the entry +into the barracks made it full clear that he was, at any rate, under +stringent discipline, and must henceforth renounce a large measure of +individual freedom. The opening gates were of iron, and were adorned +with sharp spikes on the top, so as to make climbing over impossible; a +sentry, too, stood at the entrance. The gates opened on to a spacious +courtyard surrounded by buildings. Not a green thing was to be seen, +and the gravelled yard was as naked and barren as the buildings +themselves, whose blank windows suggested deserted rooms. Only a few +were graced with white curtains, which gave promise of habitation. Even +the young chestnut-trees that had been planted round the borders of the +courtyard throve but poorly; now and then a yellow leaf fell to the +ground, although the woods outside were still a mass of green. + +The quarters of the sixth battery were exactly facing the entrance, +but the inner yard was evidently held sacred, for the recruits were +taken round it by a paved pathway. + +The little corporal now marshalled them carefully in two rows, and +announced to an older man in a green jacket trimmed with red braid who +was standing in a doorway: "The recruits are here, sir." + +"Are they all there?" asked the other, as he came down the steps. + +"All here, sir," replied the little man. + +The sergeant-major passed slowly along the ranks, and examined each +recruit with a searching glance. Vogt looked him fearlessly in the +face. He reminded him of his father. He, too, could look one through +and through like that; but one need never cast down one's eyes if one +has a clear conscience. + +The recruits were next conducted into the barrack-rooms, where to each +was allotted a locker of his own, in which a white napkin and a spoon +had already been placed. After putting their bundles into these +lockers, they were taken straight to the dining-hall. Each gave in his +white napkin through a serving-hatch and received it back again full, +almost burning his fingers with the contents before he could put it +down on the well-scoured wooden table. Beans and bacon was the fare, +and it tasted rather good. No wonder, when the men had been travelling +ever since early morning. + +Vogt's neighbour during the march came and sat next him on the wooden +bench. He wiped his short black beard, and nodded to Vogt. + +"This goes down pretty quick, doesn't it?" he said, as he spooned up +his food. + +"Rather!" answered Vogt. And the other went on, as he pointed to his +empty napkin: + +"If only our two years would go as fast!" + +They soon made acquaintance. Weise was the man's name, and he was a +locksmith from a factory in the neighbouring coal-district. But they +only had time to exchange the barest preliminaries of intercourse when +they had to get up again, go and wash their dishes and spoons at a tap, +and then return. + +Outside in the court-yard, in front of the quarters of another battery, +some recruits who had arrived still earlier were standing, looking +hungrily towards the kitchen. + +"We've come off better than they," remarked Weise. "Things are going +well with us, it seems." + +Now again they had to go outside, and the reading over of names began +once more. This time the standing-orders were given out, and during +this performance their captain came into the barrack-yard. He +dismounted, and walked up and down, sometimes behind and sometimes in +front of the recruits, occasionally standing still and examining a man +with special attention. It felt very uncomfortable if the little +captain paused too long behind one; but--so much they had learned +already--it would not do to turn round. + +It was a considerable time before the last standing-order was given +out, after which the sergeant-major desired those who wished to attend +to the horses and to be drivers to stand on one side, and those who +wanted to be gunners to take up their position on the other. Vogt and +his new friend Weise placed themselves with the gunners, Vogt in this +acting after his father's advice. "Youngster," the old man had said, +"first and foremost be a good gunner. Then if you want to go on serving +and become a corporal, you will get on faster than you would otherwise. +You will know your gun and will only have to learn to ride." + +Vogt began now to long for the end of all this. He felt tired in every +limb, and would never have believed that waiting and standing about +could take it out of one to such an extent. But what had gone before +was child's play compared with the tiresome business of getting fitted +with a uniform, which now began. Vogt himself came off rather well: the +trousers, measured according to the length of the outstretched arm, +fitted exactly, as did also the second coat he tried on; the leather +belt with sword attached he buckled on at once, and cap and helmet were +soon forthcoming, but he had to put on several pairs of boots before he +found the right ones. Then the corporal tossed him over a drill suit as +well, and he was ready. + +But with some of the men nothing would fit. The tallest of all found +the sleeves reaching just below his elbows, and when he tried the next +size, the coat hung in folds across his chest. Others had square heads +on which the round helmets rocked about, until they were jammed on by +two or three good blows of the fist. One sturdy, thick-set, big-bellied +fellow it seemed impossible to suit; everything was far too tight for +him. + +"What have you been hitherto?" asked one of the non-commissioned +officers. + +"A brewer," answered the fat man. + +"Did you drink all your beer yourself, then, eh?" inquired the other; +and the man who gave out the clothing flung over a fresh suit, saying, +threateningly: "Well, if that doesn't fit, by God! you shall drill in +your drawers!" + +He made the trousers meet with difficulty, and the coat was abominably +tight; but the corporal gave him a dig in the stomach and said: "Cheer +up, fatty! that'll soon go. They'll get rid of your paunch here in no +time!" + +When Vogt left the kit-room with his regimentals on his arm the +erstwhile perfect order of the shelves, and of the symmetrically-folded +piles of clothing, had been transformed into a scene of the wildest +confusion. "A pity so much labour should be wasted," he thought. + +And in what a wretched state were the clothes he had now to wear! The +green cloth of the coat was so shabby that in parts it was positively +threadbare; dark patches had been put in near the arm-holes, and the +once red facings were quite faded. He examined them dejectedly and +shook his head; he had expected something very different, and certainly +he would not cut much of a figure in this get-up. He pulled a stool up +to his locker, and began to take his things off. Weise sat down near +him, already a full-blown soldier. The smart young fellow could adapt +himself to anything, and had known at once how to give just the right +saucy tilt to his forage-cap. + +"Fine, eh?" he said, laughing, as he struck an attitude and gave his +moustache an upward twirl. + +But now once more the little corporal's penetrating voice recalled +the recruits from their short breathing-space; those who were ready +dressed must go down into the yard again, and then began another +putting-to-rights all round. The presiding non-commissioned officers +were in despair, for one of the men had one leg shorter than the other, +another had crooked shoulders, and a third drew forth the exclamation: +"Why, the fellow is humpbacked!" + +The corporal called across the court-yard to his comrades: "We've got a +hunchback here in the sixth!" + +And the poor devil, a firmly-knit, broad-shouldered fellow, who had got +somewhat round-shouldered from sheer hard labour, stood inwardly +raging, and letting them pull him about as they liked; straighten his +back he could not. + +"A fellow-townsman of mine, that Findeisen there, a stonemason," said +Weise. + +He and Vogt came off well in this inspection. Their things fitted +exactly. + +"Thank God some of them have straight bones!" sighed the corporal, and +sent them indoors again. + +"You can be packing up your civilian clothes," he called after them, +"and getting them ready to be sent away." + +In the passage Vogt stopped: "Which is our room then?" he asked. + +"Oh, number nine; we're all in nine," answered Weise. He pushed the +door open, and with mock ceremony invited his comrade to enter. + +At this moment the opposite door opened, and a tall thin soldier +stepped over the threshold. Weise started. "What! you, Wilhelm?" he +exclaimed in astonishment. + +The other said, "Well, why not? Didn't you know?---- How are you, +anyhow?" + +They shook hands warmly, and it seemed to Vogt that they looked at each +other as if there were some private understanding between them. Curious +for an explanation, he inquired, "Who's that? He's an old hand, isn't +he?" + +Weise replied: "Oh, he's an old friend of mine; Wolf is his name. Yes, +he has served since last autumn." + +He had been speaking quite gravely; but quickly regained his cheerful +manner, and soon after left the room. + +Vogt put his civilian clothes into his box and snapped the padlock with +a click. With that he felt that the last link that had bound him to the +old life was broken. He was a soldier now. He looked round the room +that was to be his home for two years: the floor of bare boards; the +grey-plastered walls, hidden for the most part by the rows of lockers, +and their only decoration a portrait of the King over the door and two +unframed battle pictures fastened up with tin-tacks. These had +evidently been torn out of a newspaper. Two large tables surrounded by +stools stood in the middle of the room; and at one of the two windows, +which were bare except for their striped roller-blinds, a smaller table +was placed with a common chair before it, the seat assigned to the +corporal in charge of the room. + +The others now began to come up from the court-yard. They were fifteen, +all told; but as there were sixteen cupboards in the room, one man must +be still to come. Most of them had to finish packing their civilian +clothes; when that was done they sat down in the darkening room, tired +and silent, hardly even caring to make acquaintance with one another. + +The fat brewer had placed himself at the table next to Vogt and Weise. +He was overcome with heat, and said he would rather hang himself than +endure this horrible drudgery for two whole years. But Weise chaffed +him in his genial way: "How do you know you could find a tough enough +rope, brewer? you're no light weight!" And presently the brewer grew +less melancholy; now that he could sit down things did not look so +formidable, and he only groaned pathetically: "Oh, if I'd only a mug of +beer--just one!" + +At last Weise suggested lighting up. The two lamps gave but a scanty +light; yet even that helped to dispel the gloomy thoughts of the men. +And soon the little corporal appeared, with two of the "old gang" +carrying loaves of bread, of which every man received one. + +It tasted very good, this hard black bread, to which each recruit had +some little relish of his own to add--butter, or dripping, or perhaps a +sausage. Only one sat regarding his dry loaf disconsolately: Klitzing, +a pale, spare young fellow with hollow cheeks, whose uniform was a +world too wide for him. Vogt, who sat beside him, cut a big piece from +his smoked sausage and pushed it to his neighbour: "There, comrade, +let's go shares!" + +Klitzing at first declined; but at last he took it, and thanked Vogt +shyly. + +"Why didn't you pack up your clothes?" asked the latter. + +"I have no friends," replied Klitzing, "and I only came out of hospital +on Monday." + +"Poor fellow! all the more reason for you to eat. What were you?" + +"A clerk." + +"Well, we'll stick together, and you'll get along all right," said Vogt +kindly. This pale clerk attracted him more than did Weise. Klitzing had +frank honest eyes; one could not but feel sorry for his pallor and +languor; how was he going to stand the hard work? + +The men were still sitting over their meal when the little corporal +brought in another recruit, a tall overgrown lad with a pink and white +boyish face, apparently several years younger than the rest. The +corporal spoke less gruffly to him, and showed him his locker with +something like politeness. Apparently there was something special about +this Frielinghausen, as he was called; even the uniform he wore was +rather less patched and threadbare than those of the others. However, +the new comrade seemed in anything but a cheerful mood; he dropped into +a seat at the darkest end of the table, leant his head on his hand, and +did not touch the loaf which the corporal placed before him. + +Most of the recruits regarded him with unconcealed mistrust. What kind +of stuck-up fine gentleman was this, who sat there as if his comrades +didn't exist? He was no better than they. Only Vogt and Klitzing looked +at him with compassion; who could tell what trouble this Frielinghausen +was suffering from? + +Weise became only the more gay. He took on himself to enliven the feast +with jokes and drollery, and they all listened willingly; it kept off +dulness, and the disagreeable thoughts that assailed them. + +The corporal, too, listened awhile, well pleased. Then he called to the +joker: "Hi, you black fellow! come here a minute!" + +Weise sprang up, and his superior looked him up and down, not +unfavourably. + +"You're right," he said; "it's no good pulling a long face; a soldier +should be jolly. Tell me, what's your name?" + +"Weise," answered the recruit. + +"Weise? Gustav Weise?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Oh, indeed. Well, all right; sit down again." + +Weise went back to his place, feeling somewhat snubbed. Why had the +corporal suddenly looked so glum when he heard the name? There was +nothing peculiar about his name. He did not trouble his head very much +about it; but his cheerfulness passed away. + +The last thing to do on this first day of their soldier's life was to +give up their civilian clothes, with the address to which each box was +to be sent. Klitzing knew no one who could receive his belongings; so +they remained in the custody of the battery. + + +At length the day drew to a close. Shortly before ten o'clock "Lights +out and go to bed!" was called. They hung up their jackets and went +upstairs to the dormitory. + +This was a spacious room, which extended, directly under the roof, the +whole length and breadth of the building. Vogt had the good fortune to +secure a bed in one of the outer rows close to a window, and he +beckoned to Klitzing to take possession of the bed next him on the +right. That on the left, in the corner, had been allotted by the +corporal to Frielinghausen. The recruits were not long in getting to +bed; though the "old gang" were more leisurely in their proceedings. + +It was only on lying down that Vogt discovered how tired he was. The +lean clerk on the right fell asleep immediately. Frielinghausen, +however, seemed wakeful. Vogt listened. No, he was not deceived: the +tall lad was weeping. For a moment he felt inclined to question his +comrade about his trouble; but he feared a repulse, so turned over on +the other side. After all, it was not for a man to weep, especially a +soldier! + +Once more he started from incipient slumber; he thought he heard the +cow in her stall, clattering her chain. Surprised, he collected his +wits. "Of course," he then said to himself, "it is the tattoo. I am a +soldier." + + + + + CHAPTER II + + "Every hour of every day, + Gunners, be ye blithe and gay!" + (_Old Artillery song._) + + +There was a good deal to do in the orderly-room. This new batch of +sixty recruits meant a large amount of work that must be seen to at +once, if the wilderness of papers were ever to be brought into some +sort of order. + +Three men sat bending over their writing: a bombardier, a corporal, and +the sergeant-major. + +The bombardier was doggedly filling in the lists, only glancing +occasionally to see if the pile of forms still to be got through were +not growing somewhat smaller. + +Käppchen, the corporal, a lanky fellow with cunning eyes, grumbled from +time to time at the trouble, and consigned to perdition the dirty +rascals who caused it. Of course it was much pleasanter for him to sit +in the orderly-room than to be messing about with the idiots out of +doors; but he had never bargained for having to scribble away till he +nearly got writer's cramp. And to-day the sergeant-major didn't even +seem to be thinking of a pause for luncheon. + +It therefore happened very opportunely when Captain von Wegstetten, +having scarcely listened to the sergeant-major's report, "Nothing new +in the battery," said: "Sergeant Schumann, I want to speak to you for a +minute." + +No further intimation was needed; Käppchen and the bombardier +disappeared from the room instantly. + +Sergeant Schumann stood by his table in the orthodox attitude of +respectful attention. As on every day of the eight years during which +Wegstetten had commanded the sixth battery, and he, Schumann, had been +its sergeant-major, he waited until the former by a gesture or a word +should permit him to assume an easier position. Nothing could alter +this; not even the confidence that time had gradually established +between them. + +Wegstetten motioned him kindly to a seat, and then bent over the +records of the recruits. + +"Well, Schumann," he began, "what sort of a lot have we got this time?" + +"It doesn't seem a bad year, sir," answered the sergeant-major; +"they've nearly all got clean sheets----" + +"Hm," assented the officer, "nearly all, but----?" + +"Two have been convicted, one of theft, the other of resisting lawful +authority. The first made away with a quantity of copper wire from a +building; and the second made a row because he was notified that he had +contravened some regulations as to driving. He was a cab-driver. Then +there is another who has been punished for begging, tramping the +streets, and sleeping out at nights." + +"Well, he won't catch cold camping out, at any rate! What do you think, +sergeant? mustn't a chap like that be glad to have a good roof over his +head every night? Well, go on! What about political antecedents?" + +"There is only one marked for that, sir--Gustav Weise." + +Wegstetten began to polish his eye-glasses; then, "Read it aloud, +Schumann," he said. + +The sergeant-major took the paper and read: "Weise has more than once +taken an active part in socialist propaganda; in spite of his youth he +was for a time confidential agent for the Metal Workers' Union, and +sometimes spoke at meetings, without, however, necessitating the +interference of the police-officer in attendance, as Weise's +communications chiefly referred to details of the trade." + +"Nothing further? He seems a promising fellow! Where have we put him?" + +"In Room IX., Corporal Wiegandt." + +"Does he know----?" + +"Yes, sir, I've mentioned it to him." + +"Right. Call him in; I'll speak to him, and afterwards to +Frielinghausen." + +"Very good, sir." + +In a few minutes the little bearded corporal was in the room and +awaiting his captain's pleasure. + +The officer appealed to the honour of his subordinate, in whom he was +placing a special trust, and impressed upon him in carefully chosen +language the necessity for keeping a watchful eye on the new recruit +Weise, without, however, treating him differently from his comrades. + +Wiegandt thereupon felt called on to describe and commend Weise's +smartness and good humour. + +Wegstetten listened, a fleeting smile once passing over his face. At +the end he said: "Well, that's another proof that this sort often turn +out good soldiers. You understand what I have said, Wiegandt? A sharp +eye, and a firm grip on the rein; otherwise--just as with the rest of +them." + +"Very good, sir." + +"That's all then." + +When Wiegandt had gone, the officer turned to the sergeant-major and +said with a sigh, "Damned nuisances they are! Now we've got two of +these fellows, Wolf and Weise, we must see they don't get together. How +is Wolf doing?" + +"No fault to find with him, sir." + +Wegstetten walked to the window and looked out silently. This was not +the lightest part of an officer's duty, this supervision of the +suspicious political element among the men. A perfect task of Sisyphus, +indeed! After all, one could do nothing more than prevent the fellows +from spouting their wisdom as long as they were soldiers, make them +keep to the beaten track, give them "patriotism and the joys of a +soldier's life" for their watchword. What sort of a fanatic was this +Wolf? A man who had been handed over to him labelled "Poison!" with +four cross-bones and a death's-head; who put on an expressionless face +when his opinions were alluded to, and to the question "Are you a +social-democrat?" answered with a stereotyped, almost sarcastic, "No, +sir," and always went about looking as dark as a regular conspirator! + +He turned round and began again: "Do you know, Schumann, I shall be +glad when Wolf is off our hands. The man strikes me as almost uncanny. +And then that Sergeant Keyser; he's a revengeful, resentful kind of +fellow. He'll never forgive Wolf the six weeks he had on his account. +Just see to it that the two have as little to do with one another as +possible. Of course he'd never really do anything to a fellow like +that; but it's always as well to be on the safe side. I'm not going to +have another rumpus in my battery, with the whole lot of them had up as +witnesses for three days on end! And that Keyser must mind what he's +about. After all, we can't have the army turned into a big incubator +for social-democrats." + +"Very good, sir. And as Keyser has got charge of the kit-room now, +that's easily arranged." + +Any mention of this affair of Keyser and Wolf always rekindled +Wegstetten's anger. Had he not himself been publicly shamed by it, as +it had taken place in his battery? It had only been a trifle at bottom; +such rough words as the sergeant had hurled at Wolf's head were daily +showered on the men; but this social-democrat had, of course, a quite +peculiar sense of personal dignity, and the stupid thing was that they +had had to allow him to be in the right. For these zoological +comparisons were strictly forbidden. An inquiry had been held about the +sergeant's conduct, and then such a crowd of other "oxen," "pigs," and +"donkeys," had appeared in the witness-box, that the commanding officer +of the battery had felt quite giddy, and the presiding judge had +perpetrated the cheap witticism that the entire German army might have +been fed for a month on the cattle that the defendant had bullied into +existence. He, Wegstetten, had hardly been in a humour to enjoy the +joke, when the senior major (that detestable Lischke, in whose bad +books he already stood), who was commanding the regiment during the +colonel's absence on leave, had taken him aside and lectured him about +the rough tone that seemed to prevail in the sixth battery. Wegstetten +had taken it much to heart, and as he made the stiff little bow that +formality prescribed, he had sworn a grim oath that never, no, never, +should such a sickening business occur again in his battery. To have +affairs like this connected with one's name had been for many the +beginning of the end. And he was ambitious; he meant to go far. + +He turned once more to the sergeant-major. "But it will be all right," +he said, "at any rate so long as I have you, Schumann. I can depend on +you. God knows, I should be pretty furious if you thought of deserting +the colours." + +The sergeant-major looked somewhat embarrassed: "Forgive me, sir. I +shall have seen eighteen years' service come Easter; and however glad I +might be to stop on, still--a man ought to provide for his old age. +Schmidt, of the fourth battery, left four years ago, and he's got a +good post as assistant station-master." + +Wegstetten reassured him: "You mustn't think I was serious, Schumann. I +know better than any one what you've gone through and what I have to +thank you for, and I shall wish you good luck with all my heart when +you go. But you must feel for me, and understand how hard it will be +for me to do with-out you. If I only knew who could take your place!" + +The sergeant-major shrugged his shoulders. + +"Well, speak out; you know the men better even than I do." + +Schumann hesitated a little, and then said: "You know yourself, sir; +Heppner is the next in seniority." + +"Of course," said Wegstetten rather testily, "I know that. But I know, +too, that you have something in your mind against him. What's the +matter with Heppner? Isn't he steady in his work and first-rate in the +stables?" + +The sergeant-major answered slowly: "In his work, and as far as the +horses are concerned--oh, yes." + +"But----?" + +Schumann shrugged his shoulders again. + +The captain began to be angry. "Good God, man! so----" +but he swallowed the sentence and continued more mildly: "Look here, +Schumann. I'm not asking you for any gossip about your comrades; I only +speak in the interest of the service. What is all this about Heppner? +Is it that story about his wife and his sister-in-law?" + +"No, sir, that's his private affair. But he won't do for the office, or +to--to assist in money matters." + +"But why?" + +"He gambles, sir." + +Wegstetten walked up and down the room for a few moments, plunged in +thought; then came to a stand in front of the sergeant-major. + +"Thank you for being so open with me, Schumann," he said; "but I don't +see how we can avoid it. Heppner has served eleven years, the colonel +likes him well enough,--and he really is a capable man in all practical +work." + +He looked at the clock and went on: "Thank goodness, you will be here +another six months, and we shall be able to get this year's recruits +well started. Now it's half-past ten, and I must be off to the +riding-school. What else was there? Oh yes, Frielinghausen. Have him +here at eleven." And with a friendly "Good morning, Schumann," he left +the room. + +Schumann sat down again to his writing; but he did not take up the pen. +What his captain had said about "desertion" kept running in his head. +He himself sometimes had the feeling that it would be wrong of him to +quit the service. Especially now, when these new-fangled ways made men +of the good old stamp all the more necessary. + +He had worked his way upwards through long years of service, only +getting promotion by slow degrees; and eight years ago he had been made +sergeant-major, Wegstetten getting his battery on the self-same day. +Nowadays any young fool of a gunner might be made bombardier in a year, +in another six months corporal, and then be set to teach others. Raw, +empty-headed fellows that only thought of their own comfort, and +disappeared from barracks the moment their time of service had expired, +without leaving a trace behind. Chaps without the least pride or +interest in the service;--nice sort of non-commissioned officers! + +He looked round. Just so; Käppchen was still away. Where was that lazy +beggar? and where was the bombardier? He shut up his book and went off +on the hunt. + +The bombardier was waiting outside the door: he "thought the captain +was still in the orderly-room." That might be true, of course. He +didn't know where Käppchen was. + +The sergeant-major knew where to look, and went straight to the +canteen. There indeed was Käppchen, just lighting a cigarette, after +wiping from his thin black beard the froth of a freshly-drawn glass of +beer. + +Schumann would not make a fuss before the other non-commissioned +officers who were standing about, so only said: "Käppchen, you're +wanted in the orderly-room." Whereupon the corporal was off like a +shot, not even finishing his beer. + + +Wegstetten sauntered along the sandy road that led from the +riding-school to the barracks. Now and then he stopped to switch off +the dust scattered over him by the galloping hoofs. Now and then he +flung an oath or so at the riders, but on the whole he was contented +enough. It could not be gainsaid, Heppner was the man for him. Yes, the +battery was all right, and he, Wegstetten, would see to it that it +remained so. On every speech-making occasion when the chief held it up +as an example, he had rejoiced to see the envious faces with which the +commanders of the other batteries congratulated him. + +Undoubtedly on this account he was given extra hard nuts to crack--such +as this case of Frielinghausen. + +Baron Walter von Frielinghausen was a second-year student, expelled +from the gymnasium for repeated misdemeanours. His mother, a very poor +widow, had not the means to continue his education, neither was the +family ready to do so. They had therefore suggested that the young +scapegrace should be brought under strict soldierly discipline, with +the view to his eventually entering the Fire-Workers' Corps, and +perhaps being made an officer therein. + +And it was the sixth battery that was selected as the scene of action +for this young man's talents! Wegstetten resolved to take all the +nonsense out of him, and to destroy any delusions the youth might have +as to his being in any way privileged. + +But when Frielinghausen stood before him, an overgrown stripling, whose +somewhat angular limbs looked still more immature in the coarse, +ready-made uniform; and when he met a pair of anxious young eyes fixed +on him, his tone softened perceptibly. There occurred to him, too, the +consciousness of another bond: Frielinghausen, like himself, belonged +to the old Thuringian nobility--possibly even to an older family than +Wegstetten's. Although this youngster had undoubtedly caused his mother +grave anxiety, yet he had not stolen copper-wire, nor taken part in any +socialistic demonstration. Wegstetten at the moment did not know of +what worse he could be accused. Naturally he would see to it that this +sympathy with the fate of a common soldier should not be wasted on an +unworthy object. Directly Frielinghausen did amiss, he would be down on +him; just as with that other sprig of nobility, Count Egon Plettau, who +had actually managed to serve nearly eight years and of that time to +spend, first six months, then two and then five years confined in a +fortress--always on account of insubordination. Now this incarnate +disgrace to the German nobility was nearing his release, and was +expected to be back again soon in the battery. Accident would determine +whether he would finish his remaining two months before he was put on +the Reserve, or would again get himself into prison. + +Wegstetten had sufficient knowledge of men to recognise the difference +between the two. Count Plettau was a mere hopeless idler and vagabond. +Frielinghausen was at least inspired with a wish to pull himself +together and become good for something. + +Accordingly Wegstetten spoke to him like a father; told him in a few +pointed words that he must try to be independent and steady, and must +not expect to be treated exceptionally; enjoining him by zeal and good +conduct to earn promotion as quickly as possible. But at the door he +added softly, for he did not wish the non-commissioned officers to +hear: "Be worthy of the name you bear! That alone should be sufficient +inducement to make you try to get on." + +Frielinghausen stood breathless for a moment after he had closed the +door of the orderly-room. His heart was full of gratitude for the warm, +humane words, which, after all the dry exhortations and admonitions, +put new life into his heart. He earnestly resolved to repay his chief +by his deeds, and to take all possible pains to please him. + +The boy, than whom a few weeks ago none had been more light-hearted and +careless, had been forced into serious reflections the night before. He +had been a favourite with all his fellow-students, even outdoing the +others in boyish exuberance, looking only at the sunny side of life and +laughing at the censure of his teachers. Now suddenly he found himself +banished to surroundings the misery of which made sweet by comparison +even the bitterest hours of the past, which he could only remember with +shame. He thought of the times when his mother had implored him with +anxious, fervent words to be good. How ill he had succeeded as to that +"goodness"! That dear tender mother had not grudged him the freedom of +youth; often she had told him that she had no wish to see him a +priggish, model boy, but had urged him not to lag behind the others, +nor to fall short of his goal. This was chiefly because of the stingy, +well-to-do relations, whose goodwill she had to secure in order that he +might not have an utterly joyless youth. She had borne every burden, +and was prematurely aged through her anxiety that he should attain the +object which had shone so brightly in the future: namely, the family +scholarship at the University of Jena, an endowment founded by a +Frielinghausen of old for the benefit of his descendants. + +Then came the catastrophe. Never in all his life would he forget the +blank dismay of his mother when the head of the gymnasium interviewed +her and told her of the inevitable expulsion. "Levity, carelessness, +lack of industry, superficiality in almost every subject," thus ran the +reports of his teachers. + +Hereupon followed a period of dreary inaction, and again a feverish +succession of petitions and persuasions, with the object of obtaining +means for three years' private coaching, but the relations declined to +open their purses. So they had fallen upon this last expedient for +providing him with a career as a sort of mongrel, half officer, half +non-com. + +He envied the simple lads who were his comrades. They had, it is true, +entered into new and strange conditions, but after all they remained in +their natural environment. Many of them had never been so well off as +in barracks. There was no bridge between the heights of culture to +which he had aspired and the uncivilised depths in which his comrades +dwelt so contentedly. Possibly they numbered among them fine and +loveable natures: he was most attracted by the shabby clerk Klitzing, +and by Vogt, the rough peasant-boy; but all these men, with their +scanty words and awkward gestures, fought shy of him, fearing to be +despised by an educated gentleman. + +The prospect of intercourse with the non-commissioned officers, who, on +promotion, would be his comrades, promised to be but little better than +with the recruits. Among them he met, for the most part, with the same +distrustful reticence that he had experienced among the men, though a +few of them made up to him, thinking him the _protégé_ of the captain, +and this he resented. Käppchen, in particular, a little man, with +unpleasant cunning eyes, offered to his "future comrade" sundry little +favours which, being battery-clerk, were in his power to bestow. + +Look at it as he would, the life of both the present and the future had +seemed to him scarcely worth living. Upon such reflections broke the +captain's hearty, friendly words, bringing a glimmer of light into the +terrible darkness. To merit the goodwill of this man, to show him that +his sympathy had not been unworthily bestowed, was at least an object +to live for. Frielinghausen set himself to attain it. + +He paused near the door sunk in thought, he hardly knew for how long. +He was startled by a hand on his shoulder and a voice saying: "Just let +me pass, my son." + +Frielinghausen stood aside at the bidding of an officer who, in +full-dress helmet, with aigrette, epaulettes, bandolier, and scarf, +strode into the orderly-room. He thought sadly how he had himself as a +youngster dreamt of being an officer, until his mother had talked him +over to the safer career of letters. Now he glanced at his own shabby +uniform and compared it regretfully with that of the other. + +In the orderly-room Wegstetten rose briskly to meet the new-comer, and +held out his hand: "Delighted to have you in my battery, Reimers; you +are heartily welcome!" cutting short the lieutenant's acknowledgments +with: "Yes indeed, I am pleased to have a man with me who has some +actual experience of soldiering; of possibly something even more severe +than that of Madelung with the fourth battery in China." + +Laughingly he held up a warning finger as he added: + +"Even though it was entirely contrary to orders that you should have +fought for the Boers. How did you get on in the fortress?" + +Reimers answered, smiling: + +"Pretty well, sir. I have scarcely ever been so well treated as during +that arrest." + +"Very likely. And his majesty did not let you languish there long?" + +"No, indeed, sir." + +Wegstetten glanced at his watch. + +"Well, I'm sorry I can't stop any longer now, for I must go back to the +riding-school again. So good-bye, my dear fellow. But let me say once +more how glad I am to have a man who has really smelt powder. They are +only to be found among colonels and generals as a rule nowadays." + +As soon as the captain had gone, Reimers put his helmet on the table, +and drew off his gloves. + +He glanced round the orderly-room and nodded with satisfaction as he +noted that everything was as it used to be. Then he held out his hand +to the sergeant-major. + +"Good-day, Schumann!" he said cheerily. "You're still here? How are +you?" + +"I'm well, sir, thank God. And, beg pardon, sir, but how are you?" + +Reimers looked surprised. "I'm quite well, of course. Why should I not +be?" + +"Well, sir, you had sick-leave last year----?" + +"Ah, yes, that's all gone, Schumann; all gone--not a trace of it left." + +"I'm delighted to hear it, sir," said the sergeant-major; "and, if you +will excuse me, sir," he went on somewhat hesitatingly, "I'm glad, very +glad, you've come back to the sixth, especially after you've fought for +the Boers. I should like to go out there myself, you know, sir." + +"Oh, no, Schumann," said Reimers, "you must not think of that. I don't +believe you would like it. There's another side to that affair. Stay +contentedly here. This is the place for you. Besides, the poor devils +have next to no artillery left." + +Lieutenant Reimers took Schumann's familiarity in good part. He +recognised that it was the strong love of justice which made him +espouse the cause of the weak. + +"No, Schumann," he went on: "that is no place for you. Wait; wait +quietly here. Mark my words! There will be work enough! The lessons +learnt over there in China, too, will have to be worked out here, and +for that we shall want our best men. You will be wanted. If only we had +more like you!" + +Reimers emphasised the last words, and heartily wrung the +sergeant-major's hand. + +Then he put on his helmet again and strode out of the room; a man, +indeed, over whom the soldier heart of Schumann rejoiced. One could +have confidence in a man like that, with his quick penetrating glance +and his easy, erect carriage. He was a handsome fellow too, fair-haired +and of open countenance, only just a trifle thin from his campaigning +experiences. Not one of those young puppies, like some of the officers, +who caused the sergeant-major, notwithstanding his due respect for his +superiors, to shake his head sadly at times. + +Schumann seated himself at his table. But despite all his efforts he +could not concentrate his attention on the recruiting papers. The words +of Reimers haunted him: that he, Schumann, would be wanted. That was +the second time the same thing had been said to him this very day. +There must be something in it. He felt as though he had a bad +conscience. + +But all day long he was busy, and it was only towards evening, when +work was nearly done, that he had time to think. He left what he could +for the next day, and went into his own quarters at the end of the +corridor. Here he would earnestly think it out, whether he would not +remain for a few more years with the battery. + + +Two families were quartered at the end of the corridor, that of +Sergeant-major Schumann and that of the deputy sergeant-major, Heppner; +each had a bedroom, sitting-room, and kitchen, and they shared the +entrance-hall between them. + +As Schumann entered he could hear through the door the rough, +blustering voice of Heppner. + +That was the worst of these quarters; the thin walls and doors let the +faintest sound through, to say nothing of rows and quarrelling. Unless +one positively whispered, one's neighbours could overhear everything +one said, even though they were not intentionally listening. + +The Heppners were always noisy. It was the old story that caused the +bickerings of the ill-mated pair: a sickly wife stricken with lung +disease, drawing daily nearer to her grave, and a husband of rough +exuberant physical strength. + +Heppner had married his wife when she was already with child by him; +and he never could imagine afterwards how he had come to tie himself to +her. He had at no time really cared for the pale, thin woman; but she +had a quiet way of managing, inch by inch, to attain the end she aimed +at. She had caught him by appearing humble and patient; so humble and +patient that he fancied she would make a submissive wife--a wife who +would let him go his own way and would wink at his shortcomings. For he +had never had the smallest intention of playing the faithful spouse. + +Devil take it! Wasn't he a jolly young chap who looked thoroughly well +in his smart uniform; tall, broad-shouldered, strong of limb, with full +ruddy face and black moustache; a fellow all the women ran after; was +such as he to belong solely to a broomstick like his wife? It would be +a sin and a shame! Lucky for her that she was so tame and yielding! + +But after marriage the pliant, patient woman altered suddenly. She +turned out a regular scold; a perfect vixen, who was ever at his heels, +distorting his most harmless acts, and starting a new jealousy every +day. Once she went for him with finger-nails and scissors; but he had +given her such a drubbing that she never attempted that game again. She +used her tongue all the more; and when, driven to extremity, he sought +to chastise her, she screamed so that the whole barracks ran to the +rescue. + +In the end Heppner completely gave up troubling about her. He went his +own way, going out evening after evening, enjoying himself after his +fashion. He hardly ever gave his wife money enough for housekeeping. +When he did come home it was he who was the aggressor now, and the +reproaches of his wife were indifferent to him. + +Thus things went on for months. It was not exactly pleasant for +Heppner; but one can get used to anything. He seemed only to grow +handsomer and more robust, while his wife became daily thinner and +uglier. Finally she did him an ill turn by falling sick. The doctor +declared her case to be hopeless from the first, and gave her but a +short time to live. But even the approach of death did not silence her +evil tongue. + +Once the wretched wife went to Wegstetten, the captain of their +battery, in the vain hope that he might be able to help her. + +"Just consider a little, Frau Heppner," he suggested, "whether you +yourself may not be somewhat to blame. For it is impossible that a man +so regular in his duties, who never has to be found fault with, can be +as violent as you make out. You exaggerate a bit, my good woman." + +After this she resigned herself angrily to her miserable fate. + +Wegstetten was not wrong in his praise of Heppner. Outside his own +quarters Heppner was a blameless non-commissioned officer; one who knew +his duties as well as any, and was strictly obedient to rules and +regulations. He handled the men smartly, his brutal, leonine voice +being audible all over the parade-ground; yet he never permitted +himself any undue licence of speech. + +In general, if his men took the trouble to try, he got on well enough +with them. It was a satisfaction to him to command a well-drilled body +of men; if they behaved themselves he showed them thorough good-will. +Only now and then he would fix on a man and worry him to the utmost +permissible limit in a grim, cold way almost past endurance. It would +always be one of the weaker sort; pale-faced lads he could never +endure. And occasionally in other ways the rough animal nature of the +man would show itself. If any one got hurt, Heppner was the first to +run up--not to help, but to see the blood; he would watch it flow with +unmistakable pleasure in his eager eyes. + +His special forte was the breaking-in of chargers. In the riding-school +he was thoroughly in his element; particularly under cover in +the winter, when the horses steamed and the dim lamps glowed red +through the dust. With the air of a conqueror he would mount some horse +which had refused a jump. His hand could be as soft as satin or as hard +as steel, and he would always try gentle means first. Throwing himself +back on the hind-quarters, where the weight tells most, and thus +driving the brute involuntarily forward till with his powerful legs he +had forced it up to the obstacle, with one final squeeze he would get +it over. If a refractory horse fell with him, he would be out of the +saddle in a moment, and would wait, rein in hand, smiling quietly, +until the animal was up again snorting. Then he would remount, and four +or five times must the rebellious horse take the jump; then at last his +rider would be satisfied. + +Heppner's voice would sometimes sound quite good-humoured during riding +instruction; he would then relax somewhat. He knew that his men would +ride well when it came to the point; for that the sixth battery must +have the best horsemen was an understood thing. + +Thus it will be seen that the brutality Heppner displayed at home he +could successfully repress when on duty. But the most remarkable thing +about this man, who behaved like a brute to his wife, and had no +affection for his comrades, was the metamorphosis he underwent if the +horses were in question. Towards those beautiful animals he showed an +almost womanly tenderness. They all knew him, and he loved them all, +though naturally he had his favourites among them. There was Udo, a +light-brown gelding, who could kneel down. And Zulu, almost black, +would shake his head when asked if he were French, but nodded when one +said, "A German artillery-man, aren't you?" Heppner would take them +sugar every day, or other tit-bits, which he would divide among them +with scrupulous fairness. + +If by chance a horse fell ill, Heppner's devotion amounted to actual +self-sacrifice, and he would anticipate the orders of the vet. with +marvellous acuteness. Once only had he mal-treated a subordinate, a +driver whom as a rule he particularly liked. He gave him a blow which +caused the blood to spurt from both nose and mouth, because he had, +when on stable duty, allowed Dornröschen to get caught in her chain. +Dornröschen was Heppner's own riding-horse, and the very apple of his +eye. + +It was chiefly among these beautiful and intelligent animals that the +more human element in Heppner's nature came out, and his love for them +almost amounted to superstition. There must always be a goat about the +stables, for it was an old belief that the strong smell of that animal +was a preventive of disease, and the long-bearded Billy was the special +_protégé_ of the deputy sergeant-major. Now and then there were +difficulties concerning him; as, for instance, when an unexpected +attack in the rear knocked the major down in the dust before the whole +corps. It was only by desperate entreaty that Heppner succeeded in +saving the life of the bleating culprit, and then a curious chance +led to his reinstatement. The very first night that the goat was +turned out of the barracks, two of the horses began to cough the vet. +hinted at bronchitis--four weeks only from the man[oe]uvres, and +bronchitis!--Billy was at once restored to his place in the stables, +and both horses ceased to cough. + +The deputy sergeant-major would have found it difficult to answer had +he been asked which he preferred: to play cards in a beerhouse with a +buxom Bohemian waitress beside him, or to be in the neat stables amid +the chain-rattling, snorting, stamping company of the horses. Both were +to his taste; but perhaps on the whole he was really happiest walking +up and down before the stalls, with the goat trotting after him, and +the horses turning their heads to follow him with their sagacious eyes. + +But as soon as the stable-door closed behind him the soft look would +vanish; and as he opened the door of his own quarters an evil +expression would overspread his face, as if he were ready at once to +fall upon his defenceless wife. + +Through grief and illness the unfortunate woman became at last +incapable of attending to her domestic duties. She cast about for +an assistant, and at last wrote to her sister Ida, who was in +service in Lusatia. Ida willingly threw up her situation, came to her +brother-in-law's dwelling, and immediately took over the management of +the little household and of the invalid. + +For a time it seemed as if the loathsome atmosphere of hate and squalor +must disappear in presence of the tall fresh country girl; the deputy +sergeant-major put a restraint upon himself before his sister-in-law, +and the sickly wife found comfort and relief in talking to her. But +eventually the presence of this third party transformed the house into +a veritable hell. + +The eyes of hatred are as keen as those of love. Julie Heppner soon +discovered that her husband loved her sister with his usual coarse +passion, as he had loved so many others before. She recognised the +ardent fixed gaze that rested lustfully on the young girl, following +her every movement. This, then, was to be the last, bitterest, +deadliest drop in her cup; this betrayal, in her own home, under her +very eyes. + +The sick woman watched her sister's conduct in agonised suspense. At +first Ida had been honestly indifferent to the behaviour of her +brother-in-law; after a while, however, a faint embarrassed flush would +sometimes overspread her pretty youthful countenance. From the fugitive +glances which she now and then intercepted between the two, the invalid +foresaw the most sinister results. + +Heppner himself, not being particularly quick-witted, and being used +only to coarse associates, did not quite know what to make of his +sister-in-law. Of only one thing was he certain, this beautiful girl +must be his. He was even prepared, if he could not otherwise succeed, +to resort to violence. + +One evening Heppner had been exercising Walküre, Wegstetten's charger, +for an hour. Having seen her wisped down in the stable and covered with +a horse cloth, he went towards the canteen for a drink, when he +remembered that there was a bottle of beer in his own kitchen. He +strolled slowly and somewhat stiffly towards his quarters. + +Ida was washing in the kitchen. He said briefly, "Good evening," poured +out the beer, and drank it in great gulps. Then he shook the last drops +in the glass to make them froth up, silently watching his sister-in-law +the while. She had round white arms; and as she bent over the tub, the +outline of her hips showed broad and firm. + +Through the open door came the shrill hoarse voice of his wife. + +"Ida, who is there?" + +"Who else should it be but Otto?" answered the girl. + +Again the shrill voice called, yet more insistently, "Why does he not +come in?" + +Heppner finished his glass, put it down, and said: "Because I won't. +Because I'm better off here. Because Ida's a pretty girl, and you're an +old crone." + +At this, as though in fun, he put his arm round the girl and pressed +her to him. + +Ida kept still for a moment. She shivered. Then she shook him off: "Let +go, stupid! Go to your wife." + +Heppner let her go. The single moment that she had permitted his +embrace convinced him that here, too, he would conquer. How she had +quivered in his arms! He understood such signs. + + +Meanwhile Sergeant Schumann, only separated from the Heppners by a +partition wall, sat at the round table by the sofa with his wife. + +Their room, with its antimacassars, its upholstered furniture, its +flower-pots and canary-bird, its sewing-machine in the window, was more +like an old maid's best parlour than a soldier's sitting-room. The +small, neat-featured mistress herself, who was not very strong, and +always, even in summer, wore a little shawl round her shoulders, suited +her surroundings admirably. + +She had a thousand small cares, and one great grief: that they were +childless. But she never troubled her husband with her sorrow, taking +care to bear it alone. He had bothers enough in the service; how often +did she not hear his voice storming outside! He should have peace at +home. One thing only she could not bear without complaining to him: the +terrible quarrellings of their neighbours. She shuddered whenever she +heard the strife begin afresh; and gradually out of this had grown an +aversion from all this noisy life. She became a most zealous advocate +of her husband's plans for retiring; and could scarcely find patience +to await the moment when he would put off the richly-laced coat beside +which she had formerly been so proud to walk. In her heart she had +always been rather against the martial calling, and would take +Schumann's sword from him as though it dripped blood. + +All this would cease when he changed his military coat or the handsome +dark uniform of a railway-official; all this discomfort would come to +an end; above all, this noise: the shouts and curses with which +recalcitrant recruits had to be knocked into shape, the trampling of +nailed boots on the stone stairs, the bellowing of commands on the +parade-ground, and--last, but not least--the hideous racket next door. + +The sergeant-major had almost finished his time of service. A post +awaited him as assistant at a small railway-station in the +neighbourhood; and once when Schumann was away at the practice-camp, +she had not been able to resist the temptation to see the place for +herself. It was on a branch-line, which wound up among the hills. The +station was a little distance from the village in a green plantation. +She yearned after the peaceful spot. + +And now Schumann had again begun to speak of remaining on in the army! + +His wife let him talk, listening patiently. She sat quietly opposite to +him, giving him his supper as usual, as busy and attentive as though he +were only speaking on indifferent topics. But when he had finished she +spoke out, saying that, as a rule, she was not the woman to meddle in +her husband's affairs, but that _this_ was a matter which concerned +herself as well. His notion that to quit the service now would make him +feel like a deserter and a scoundrel seemed to her utter unpractical +nonsense. He would be sacrificing a couple of years to a mere fancy. + +Finally she produced her trump-card. She knew that the rural quiet of +the little station had wound itself round her husband's heart during +the week of trial he had already passed there. So she confessed her own +secret journey. + +And she conquered. + +Each could describe as well as the other the charms of the unassuming +little retreat. What one omitted the other supplied. Thus the picture +in the sergeant-major's mind was revived afresh, and in such vivid +colours that it regained its old power over him, dissipating the cloud +of self-reproachful doubt. He saw before him a calm bright future in +the narrow valley between wooded heights, and it came over him suddenly +that there in the stillness, where one could live in touch with nature, +he would for the first time begin really to live. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + "I vow to thee my duty, + My heart and my hand, + O land of love and beauty, + My German fatherland!" + (_Massmann._) + + +Lieutenant Reimers had reported himself to the colonel of the regiment +and to the major. + +These officers had given him a hearty welcome, each after his own +fashion. + +Major Schrader, who never let pass an opportunity of making a joke, +received his report at first in a very stiff official manner, assuring +him with a frown that he was very loth to have in his division officers +who had been in disgrace; then almost fell on his neck, and asked him +if it were true that the Kaffir girls had such an abominable smell. + +Colonel Falkenhein gave him only a prolonged handshake; but Reimers +could read the great gladness in his eyes. + +The colonel had treated the young man almost as a son; and a year +before, when the doctors had sent Reimers to Egypt as a consumptive +patient with a very doubtful prospect of recovery, had seen him depart +with a heavy heart. Now, looking upon him once more, he was doubly +glad. Reimers had not developed into a broad-chested, red-cheeked, +powerful man, but every trace of illness had vanished from the bronzed +face; the thin features and the rather spare rigid figure gave an +impression of tough endurance, a characteristic of greater value in +resisting disease than mere well-nourished sleekness. + +"You are well out of that, thank God! Reimers," he said, once more +shaking the lieutenant's hand; "and it looks as if the improvement +would be permanent, considering the test to which your health has been +put." + +"It was rather _va banque_, sir," replied the lieutenant. "Either all +or nothing." + +"I decidedly prefer the all," said Falkenhein, in such a hearty, +affectionate tone that a rush of devotion carried the lieutenant past +the barriers of formality. He bent quickly over the colonel's hand and +kissed it. Tears stood in his eyes--tears of grateful pleasure. Now he +indeed felt himself back in his native country. + +How he had longed for it, day after day, during this year of furlough! + + +At first when, in Cairo, he was again laid low by the fatigues of the +journey, he had thought of his country with pensive melancholy. Later, +as his strength returned, homesickness asserted itself increasingly; he +suffered from it more than from his gradually-subsiding bodily malady, +and the aimless life of a health-resort only increased his sufferings. +He could never have resigned himself to pass long months of such +inaction in a strange land; and when he joined the Boer forces, it was +to no small extent in order to counteract the torturing longing for +Germany. + +He loved his country with a passionate ardour. The ideas of greatness, +power and sovereignty were inseparably connected in his mind with the +name of the German Empire. But his chief enthusiasm was reserved for +the diligent, unostentatious work, quietly accomplished and conscious +of its aim, which, begun by Stein, Scharnhorst and Boyen, had led +through long struggles to such a glorious result. He reviewed the whole +story with the eye of a soldier from the collapse at Jena onward to the +last great war he seemed to trace an uninterruptedly ascending line, +not diverted even by Prussia's temporary political defeats. In the +unparalleled siege of Sedan a height of military efficiency had been +reached from which no further ascent was possible. He could not imagine +anything in the whole world more honourable than to belong to that +splendid army of Sedan; and he wore his officer's sword-knot with a +pride far removed from any kind of conceit: in fact, nearly akin to +religious veneration. + +As a boy, it had been his bitterest grief that his mother's wishes and +the doctor's opinion were against his becoming a soldier,--an officer +like his dead father, who had fought in the great campaign. His mother +and the doctor had feared that he was too weakly for the military +profession. In order to remove this objection, the boy voluntarily +subjected himself to heroic discipline, and by strictly following a +graduated system of physical exercises inured his body to hardships, +until he was actually found fit for service. Conquered by such +persistent devotion, his mother at last yielded to his wishes; but she +saw him wear his father's familiar old uniform only a few times, for +she died shortly after, barely forty years old. + +Bernhard Reimers thus became doubly an orphan. But he had far more than +the death of a mother to deplore. With his mother he also lost the only +person who had loved him, and the only one whom he in return had loved. + +So closely was the boy encircled by his mother's love, that the need +which led his schoolfellows at the gymnasium to form friendships was +never felt by him. Whenever he wanted to learn something, to solve a +doubt or to confide a secret, he could count on his mother's +tenderness; she would explain, soothe, or sympathise, as the joys and +sorrows of the growing youth became ever more serious. From this +relation he retained a touch of womanliness in his character, even +after he had left home to enter the regiment: a shrinking from +everything coarse, a reserve before all that was unlovely. This +instinctive feeling did not, indeed, altogether protect him from +temptation, but it withheld him from yielding to excess. He joined in +the little drink and love follies of the other young subalterns from a +sense of comradeship; alone they would never have appealed to him. + +As at school, so in the regiment, he had many comrades, but no friend. +He did not trouble himself about this, and until his mother's death he +felt no want. Then he recognised sadly that he was quite alone; but he +was incapable of setting to work to seek a friend, so he just waited +for some happy chance to bring the right person across his path. + +When, at last, he found the friendship he sought, it did not come in +the way he had dreamed, suddenly, like a gift from heaven thrown into +his lap; but was a gradual strong growth, a slow mutual recognition. + +It would be difficult to find a greater contrast than that presented by +Reimers and this Senior-lieutenant Güntz; externally and internally +they differed radically. Reimers was tall and lean, with golden-brown +hair, and a noble, but somewhat melancholy expression; Güntz was small +and very fair, with a tendency to stoutness, and with a red jovial face +like the full moon. The one was romantic and even exuberant, slightly +fantastic in his moods; the other firmly rooted in prosaic fact. + +Both were prized as able officers. Reimers was referred to on questions +of military history and science; Güntz was considered an authority on +mathematical technicalities, especially in connection with the +artillery. Thoroughness was a characteristic of each alike; and on the +strength of this, and despite all difference, they were daily attracted +more and more to each other. Güntz, the more expansive nature, soon +opened his whole heart to his friend; though Reimers, partly from a +kind of timidity, still kept his deepest and innermost feelings +somewhat hidden. For Güntz, with his sober sense and terrible logic, +must necessarily, since he could never be otherwise than sincere, +destroy most of the ideals and illusions to which Reimers passionately +clung, and without which he believed he could not live. + +Little by little, however, the wall of separation between them gave +way, and their friendship and mutual confidence had become almost +ideal, when Güntz was ordered to serve in the Experimental Department +of the Artillery in Berlin. This was a distinction; but it meant +absence for a year. + +Reimers had thus found a friend only to lose him again. + +The exchange of letters between the two was not specially brisk. Things +which could be instantly understood in conversation had to be treated +in such detail on paper! They would have had to write each other +scientific treatises, and for that there was no time; Reimers was too +zealous in his garrison duty, and Güntz too much absorbed in the +technical problems on which he was engaged. His loneliness only caused +Reimers to devote himself with the greater zeal to his profession. + +Even the irksome duties of the service did not trouble him, and he took +special interest in his recruits, superintending, correcting, and +instructing them. In times of peace this was, indeed, the greatest and +most important work of the young officer, to mould this stubborn human +material into soldiers--soldiers who, after the first rough shaping, +had to be trained till finally they attained their highest end: fitness +for active service. + +At the same time he had to pursue his own studies in military science. +But he would have been ashamed to call that work; he knew no nobler +pleasure, and would gladly have sat up the whole night over the plans +of the general staff, only refraining so that the next morning might +find him fresh with the needful, or, as he smilingly called it, the +"regulation" vigour for practical duty. + +Thus, when Güntz had gone, Reimers was in danger of becoming somewhat +shy of his fellow-creatures. He had honestly to put constraint on +himself to fulfil the claims of comradeship with a good grace, and more +especially his social obligations. He was most at home in outdoor +recreations; he played tennis with enthusiasm, and had nothing against +excursions on foot or bicycle with a picnic thrown in, or the +regimental races, or hunting. These all meant healthy exercise, and +afforded a wholesome change from the confined life of the garrison. But +winter, with its obligatory dinners and balls, was a torment to him. + +On one occasion, standing in the doorway of a ballroom, he had closed +his ears so as to exclude all sound of the music, and then had +seriously doubted the sanity of the men and women he saw madly jumping +about. He felt almost ashamed afterwards when he had to ask the no +longer youthful Frau Lischke for a dance; but the fat lady hung smiling +on his arm, and did not spare him a single round. Reimers thought sadly +of his honest friend Güntz, and the rude things he had been wont to say +about such follies as these. + +But chance threw in his way a gift which to some extent compensated him +for the loss of his friend. He and Colonel von Falkenhein were brought +together; and, by the irony of fate, at one of these same odious balls. + +After working through his duty dances, Reimers had allowed himself to +omit a polka, and was leaning out of a window in the end room of the +suite, when Colonel Falkenhein tapped him on the shoulder. + +The colonel was bored; for those of the older men who were not occupied +with the ladies had set themselves down to cards, and he--a widower, +whose only daughter was still at school--could not bear cards, and +liked dancing still less. This Lieutenant Reimers, standing alone +gazing out into the night, seemed a kindred spirit. + +The young officer had already excited his interest; his behaviour as a +soldier was loudly praised by his superiors; and then unprofessionally +he was distinguished from the average type of young lieutenant by a +certain attractive maturity of bearing, without, however, impressing +one as a prig. Priggishness was even less endurable to Falkenhein than +play and dancing. + +The colonel had the gift of making people open their hearts to him by +means of a few judicious questions, and could very well distinguish +between genuine and spurious sentiment. + +Reimers answered with a candour which astonished himself most of all, +and Falkenhein listened with a pleased attention. Here was a man after +his own heart, possessed by a manly seriousness, and with a deliberate +lofty aim in life; not merely dreaming of substituting a general's +epaulettes for the simple shoulder-knots of a lieutenant. Here, too, +was a fine enthusiasm, which touched the veteran of fifty and warmed +his heart. It recalled the old warlike days and the cry: "Only put us +to the proof! and rather to-day than to-morrow!" Ah! since those days +he had learnt to judge such things rather differently; but nevertheless +it was the right way for youth to regard them. Such enthusiasm was a +little exaggerated, at any rate as things stood at present, and also a +trifle shortsighted. It was now no longer as in the days of 1870 and +after, when the watch on the Rhine had to be kept for fear of +vengeance. He could not join as heartily as he might then have done in +the proud joy of the young officer. + +He felt inclined to take himself to task for this, and on no account +would he pour cold water on this fine flame of enthusiasm. It was the +very thing in which the present time was most lacking: patriotism as a +genuine conviction rooted firmly and deep in the breast, not venting +itself in mere cheering and hurrahs; and accompanied by a steady +comprehension of the soldier's profession as simply a constant +readiness for war. + +From the time of this conversation, Reimers began to feel heartily +enthusiastic about his colonel. He was almost ashamed to find that his +good friend Güntz was thus slightly forgotten; but this was not really +the case--the two might safely share in his affection without wrong to +either of them. The honest, faithful fellow in Berlin remained his dear +friend; the colonel he began to look on as a second father. + +Falkenhein's partiality was not, of course, openly expressed; but by +many little signs he let the young man see how much he thought of him. +Reimers, fully aware of the fatherly sympathy, was happy in the +knowledge of it. His comrades were, indeed, surprised to find how +lively and almost exuberant the hitherto staid Reimers could become; +and particularly was this so during the artillery practice and the +autumn man[oe]uvres, when--garrison and parade drills at an end for a +time--conditions were somewhat akin to those of real warfare. + +Then the even course of things was broken by his illness. + +When, before his enforced furlough, he took leave of the colonel, the +latter's hearty liking for the first time broke through the barriers of +official form. His clear eyes became dim, and his voice slightly +trembled as he said: "Come back well, my dear Reimers--come back to me. +Be sure and do all you can to get cured!" + +Now, when at last Reimers found himself once more standing face to face +with this honoured colonel, joy overpowered him, and he kissed the hand +of his fatherly friend. + +The colonel tolerated this altogether unmilitary excess with a +good-natured smile. He would have been delighted to clasp in his arms +this young man, who was as dear as a son to him; but he, an old +soldier, could not allow his feelings to get the better of him as the +lieutenant had done, rejoiced though he had been by the latter's +outburst. + + +Out on the parade-ground Reimers looked about him with interest. +Everything seemed to have become different and delightful; even the +bare, prosaic yard of the barracks appeared no longer devoid of charm. +He passed through the gate and went slowly along the high road towards +the town. Then it was that the glad feeling of being in his native +country asserted itself in full force. He realised that it was just the +tender green of those beeches and alders edging the brook that he had +longed to see when, in Cairo, the fan-like palm-leaf hung motionless at +his window; just this slope of meadow land that he had remembered on +the arid veldt of South Africa. It was this mild sunshine of his native +land, this blue German sky that he had pined for in the glowing furnace +of the Red Sea. The tiny engine which puffed along asthmatically up the +valley, dragging its little carriages and ringing its bell from time to +time when a browsing sheep strayed between the rails, had been ever +present in his mind during his journeyings to and fro. + +As he walked along, the young officer thought of his comrades whom he +would now meet again. + +In this glad moment he could tolerate them all. Their various defects, +whether small or great, now appeared less offensive than of yore; and +in any case it was kind of them and a great compliment to him that on +this very day of his return they should have arranged a feast. It is +true he rather dreaded this feast, which was sure to end in the usual +way--general drunkenness--but it was well meant, and there was at least +one advantage in it, that he would at once be made acquainted with all +the details of garrison gossip; for, though altogether beneath +contempt, they must be known in order to avoid giving unintentional +offence. + +At the door of his quarters he found waiting the gunner who had been +appointed as his servant. + +"Gunner Gähler, as servant to Lieutenant Reimers," he announced +himself. + +Reimers took a good look at the man. The sergeant-major seemed to have +done well for him in this respect. Gähler was a smart fellow, not +exactly tall, but well proportioned, and very clean. His hair smelt a +little too strongly of pomade, and wax had not been spared on his +fashionably-stiffened moustache. + +When Reimers drew his bunch of keys out of his pocket to unlock the +door, Gähler hastened to take them from his hand, and opened the door +for the lieutenant to pass in before him. He quickly laid his bundle of +clothes upon a chair, and at once helped to take off Reimer's helmet, +shoulder-belt, and scarf. + +The officer smiled at such excessive zeal. + +"How is it that you are so well up in this work?" + +"I was for a time servant to Captain von Wegstetten, sir." + +"Indeed? And why did you leave him?" + +Gähler hesitated a little; then he resumed glibly: "Please do not think +badly of me, sir. There were difficulties; the servant-girl slandered +me; you will understand, sir." + +He stood there embarrassed, polishing the chin-piece of the helmet with +the sleeve of his coat. + +Reimers felt amused at his choice manner of expressing himself. "So you +can't leave the women alone?" he asked. "Well, with me you will not be +led into temptation." + +Gähler modestly demurred: "I beg your pardon, sir; but in that case it +was really not at all my fault." + +The lieutenant laughed. "Oh, all right!" he said; "but before that, +where were you?" + +The gunner drew himself up proudly, and replied with dignity: "I was +groom to Count Vocking, in Dresden." + +"Aha, that accounts for it!" + +Reimers was no longer surprised. The aristocratic cavalry-officer was +considered the richest and smartest sportsman in Germany. + +First, Reimers asked for his smoking-jacket, and then told Gähler to +help him in unpacking the case of books which had just arrived from +Suez. + +Gähler handed him the volumes, and could not help remarking: "You have +an awful lot of books, sir!" + +The lieutenant did not look offended, so he went on: "The count hadn't +so many, and none at all of this sort." + +He stole another glance to assure himself that he had not displeased +his master, and then added: "The count only had books about horses, and +a few about women, and the Regulations for cavalry-exercise." + +At this Reimers could not help laughing, and his "Hold your tongue," +did not sound to Gähler particularly angry. + +But if Count Vocking possessed fewer books than the lieutenant, he +apparently surpassed him greatly in other respects. + +As Gähler was arranging the washhand stand, he remarked: "The count had +lots of little boxes and bottles, with real silver tops." + +And when he fetched Reimers some sandwiches and a glass of beer for +lunch from the kitchen on the ground floor, he informed his master, +"The count had his own kitchen, and used to drink Burgundy at lunch." + +And here another result of his training in the Vocking household came +to light. In a few moments the table was covered with a clean cloth, +with knife, fork, and spoon neatly in place; and it was certainly not +the rough maid down below in the simple kitchen to whom it had occurred +to decorate the dish so prettily with parsley and radishes. The meal +looked far more appetising than usual, and this was Gähler's work. + +"Where did you get the radishes from?" Reimers asked. + +"The cook gave them to me, sir," his servant replied. + +"So you are at it again, making yourself agreeable?" + +This time Gähler was not in the least confused, but replied frankly, "I +beg your pardon, sir; the cook is very old and very fat, I----" + + +That evening, in the mess-house, the officers, both his seniors in rank +and those of his own age, vied with each other in pleasant speeches. +But it ended just as it had done a year before; when all had greeted +him, he was left standing alone in the doorway of the reading-room. + +His only friend, Güntz, was still in Berlin, and the officers chatted +together in the other rooms of the mess-house, standing in groups which +in almost every case denoted circles of friends. There was hardly any +change in the composition of these circles, which was usually due +to similar length of service, but in certain cases they were held +together by some other bond. There was the Keyl-Möller group of two +senior-lieutenants and a lieutenant, who were brothers-in-law in a +double sense, two Keyls having married two Fräulein Möllers, and a +Möller a Fräulein Keyl. There was also the trio of musical officers, +one of whom sang and played the violin and also the French horn, while +the second was an excellent pianist, and the third only whistled, but +in a most artistic manner. Then, finally, there was the philosophic +group, to which little Lieutenant Dr. von Fröben gave the tone. He had +taken his doctor's degree in jurisprudence at Heidelberg, and had +recently become an officer, as during his year of military service he +had lost all taste for legal science. He bore his academic honours with +that dignity which often accompanies the unusual; he was considered +extremely up-to-date, and at times rather extravagant in his opinions. +Among his friends were two officers still very young, one of whom was +always reading Prevost and Maupassant; and the other blushingly +acknowledged himself to be the author of an ode, printed in a daily +newspaper, welcoming the troops just returned from China, among whom +had been Captain Madelung of the regiment. + +Everything at the mess-house seemed to be just as of old; it seemed to +Reimers as if he had not been away for a day. He looked around him: all +were as before, the elder men, with thick moustaches and hair growing +thin in places, with the cares of a future command already on the brow; +those of his own age, easy-going and assuming nonchalant airs; and the +youngest of all very spick and span and extremely correct. Just as of +old the three brothers-in-law stood close together (two of them had in +the meantime become fathers, and the wife of Keyl II., _née_ Möller, +was in an interesting condition), and chatted about their various +uncles and aunts. As of yore, the singing, violin and horn-playing +Manitius was at the piano, turning over the leaves of a pianoforte +arrangement of the "Trompeter von Säkkingen." And again, as of old, the +little red-haired Dr. von Fröben held forth learnedly to every one who +would listen. There were only two new men who had entered the regiment +during his illness, and had just got their commissions as lieutenants. +One of them, Landsberg, had introduced himself to Reimers as belonging +to his battery. + +Reimers was not much taken with him. This youth, with his somewhat +vacant expression, hair glossy with pomade, and single eye-glass +squeezed into his eye, was too artificial and dandified to suit his +taste. But he seemed somehow to be an object of interest to Landsberg, +though the latter was evidently shy of addressing his elder comrade. + +Reimers thought he could guess what was coming. No doubt it was again +some question about his experiences in the war, of the kind he had +already answered twenty times this evening in a more or less evasive +fashion. This curiosity did not offend him, for such questions must be +in every officer's mind, and especially in that of one who was fresh to +the soldier's calling. + +Sure enough Landsberg came up. He began rather slowly. "Excuse me, may +I ask you a question?" + +"Certainly, I shall be most happy," answered Reimers. + +"Do tell me," Landsberg proceeded hesitatingly, "I would like so +much--in fact, the shape of your boots pleases me immensely; they are +awfully smart, and I--in fact, you would confer a tremendous favour on +me if you would give me the address of your bootmaker." + +Reimers considered for a moment, then replied coldly: "I bought these +boots in passing through Berlin." + +"Just what I expected! They do look awfully smart, really! And do you +remember the address of the shop?" + +"No." + +"What a pity! But, if you don't mind, I will send my servant to you to +copy it off the lining. May I?" + +Again Reimers was silent for a moment, then he said: "I have no +objection, if you think it important." + +Landsberg brought his heels together with a click, bowed, and murmured: +"You are very kind; I shall certainly do so." + +Then he moved away with, "Thank you so much." + +Reimers turned away. He suddenly found the room too hot, and he walked +up and down for a time in the cooler air of the vestibule. All the +doors were open. In the mess-room the staff-officers and the captains +were standing near the table, which was already laid. It was a few +minutes before half-past seven. Only the colonel had not come yet. + +Andreae, the senior staff-surgeon, gave Reimers a friendly nod through +the doorway. Reimers was his show patient. The specialist had shrugged +his shoulders, but he, Andreae, had not thrown up the sponge. The thing +was in reality quite simple. It only needed, like other military +affairs, initiative. The right diagnosis must be made as promptly as +possible, and the right treatment must follow without delay. Then all +went well, as in this case--unless, indeed, something went wrong. Yes, +indeed, this patient was a triumph which should finally reduce to +silence those civilian colleagues of his who considered a military +surgeon competent at most to deal with venereal diseases and broken +bones. + +Reimers listened in an absent-minded way to his long-winded +deliverances on the subject of acclimatisation, taking furtive glances +the while at the other officers in the mess-room. + +They also seemed in no way changed. Major Lischke and Captain von +Wegstetten were still at loggerheads, Lischke blustering away in his +loud voice, and Wegstetten assuming his most ironical expression. +Captain Stuckardt was listening in a half-hearted way; he had quite +recently been put on the list for promotion to the staff, and +consequently wore a rather preoccupied look. Hitherto he had found the +charge of one battery difficult enough, and now he would have to +command three. Undisturbed by the dispute, the captain of the fifth +battery, Mohr, had sat down to the table by himself; he was always +thirsty, and had already disposed of half a bottle of champagne. +Madelung, fresh from the Far East, paced up and down with short nervous +steps between him and the disputing officers. In passing, he glanced at +the two fighting-cocks with a kind of scornful pity, and at the silent +toper with contempt. Major Schrader and Captain von Gropphusen were +whispering and chuckling together in a window nook. They had one +inexhaustible theme--women; while forage was the favourite topic of the +two men standing beneath the chandelier--Träger and Heuschkel, the +officers commanding the first and second batteries. The third battery +had the fattest horses in the regiment--"and the laziest," said the +colonel; nevertheless, it must be allowed, that when the inspector from +the Ministry of War paid his visit, it was an uncommonly pleasant sight +to see the hind-quarters of those horses shining so round and sleek in +their stalls. + +"Carrots! carrots!" cried Heuschkel. "They're the thing!" And Andreae, +who, as a healer of men must also have some knowledge of the inside of +beasts, was called on to endorse this view as to the excellence of +carrots as fodder. + +Thus Reimers felt himself rather out of it all, and was just about to +leave the mess-room and join his younger comrades, when Madelung came +towards him. + +The lieutenant waited expectantly. He was interested, for it was almost +an event when Madelung spoke to any one. + +This lean, black-haired man, with the thin dark face and the deep-set +penetrating eyes, was undoubtedly the most unpopular officer in the +regiment. He was characterised as an unscrupulous place-hunter, and +gave himself not the slightest trouble to disprove the accusation. The +one excuse that could be offered for him was that, his father having +been ruined through no fault of his own, he was almost entirely +dependent on his pay, and had been able to keep up his position as an +officer only by means of the strictest economy, and with the help of an +extra allowance from the royal privy-purse. It may have been this that +embittered him so that he avoided all social intercourse with the other +officers, and devoted himself entirely to his profession. By means of +relentless industry he had now won for himself the prospect of a +brilliant career; on leaving the Staff College he had been presented by +the king with a sword of honour, and he could look forward to a +position on the general staff. Naturally he had volunteered for the +expedition to Eastern Asia, and had recently returned from China +decorated with an order, thinner and more pinched-looking than ever, +and still less amiable. + +Reimers stood before him in a strictly correct attitude, for the +captain was not to be trifled with. But Madelung put him at his ease +with a nod, and said, glancing sharply at him, "So you are the other +exotic prodigy who is being fêted to-day!" + +He laughed drily. + +The lieutenant made no response, and Madelung went on rapidly: "I may +tell you that I envy you!" + +Reimers felt the captain take his hand and give it a quick, hearty +shake; but before he could answer, Madelung had turned and walked away +to the table. + +At this moment the colonel appeared. He greeted each of the older +officers with a couple of words, and the younger with a general nod. +Reimers alone, on the day of his return, had a special greeting and a +hearty handshake. + +Then they sat down to table. From the colonel in the seat of honour, +downwards, the officers were placed according to rank and length of +service. The youngest and the last was an _avantageur_[A] who had +joined the regiment on October 1st. He had been on stable duty from +half-past four that morning, and had to pull himself together now not +to fall asleep; till at last a bottle of Zeltinger was placed before +him by the orderly, and then he became livelier. + + +[Footnote A: A one-year volunteer who elects to remain on in the army +and await promotion.--_Translator_.] + + +Reimers had chosen a place near the little lieutenant of doctor's +degree, who was quite an amusing fellow, and chattered away so glibly +that his neighbour hardly needed to contribute to the conversation. + +Of course Fröben had begun: "Well, Reimers, fire away! Give us some +leaves from your military diary. We are all ears!" But Reimers soon +changed the subject. What he had seen and gone through down there among +the Boers was still in his own mind a dim, confused chaos of +impressions, and it was repugnant to him to touch on it even +superficially, so long as he was not clear about it himself. + +The little doctor began to dilate on the splendid German East-African +line of steamers, which conveyed one for a mere trifle from Hamburg to +Naples, by way of Antwerp, Oporto, and Lisbon, and he enlarged at great +length on the educational influence of long journeys in general and of +sea-voyages in particular. + +Reimers listened patiently, letting his eyes wander round the table. +Just as of old, the various groups still kept together, and were +continuing their conversations uninterruptedly. Falkenhein, in +their midst, listened with amusement as the senior staff-surgeon +chaffed Stuckhardt about that oldest and yet newest of nervous +diseases--"majoritis." Madelung was looking rather glum, and kept +twirling the little silver wheel of the knife-rest. Next to him, Mohr +was staring straight before him with glassy eyes, and Schrader leant +back in his chair laughing, while Gropphusen still kept on talking to +him. + +"He's got something to laugh about!" said Fröben to his neighbour, +interrupting his discourse. + +"How do you mean?" asked Reimers. + +"Well, to put it delicately, Schrader has got a flirtation on with Frau +von Gropphusen--a very intimate flirtation!" + +"Indeed!" Reimer responded indifferently. + +Here was a fine piece of gossip, and strange to say, in this, too, +things were as before; it was not the first time that Major Schrader +and Frau von Gropphusen had afforded material for conversation. + +Dr. von Fröben continued: "But you must not think, Reimers, that in +such matters I am a bigoted moralist. Ideas of morality are subject to +just the same fluctuations as----" + +And he dealt out what remained in his memory of a newspaper article, +the writer of which had entirely misunderstood Nietsche. + +After the toast of "The King," a momentary silence fell upon the +company, contrasting strangely with the clatter of voices which had +preceded it. + +During this lull in the conversation the word "China" was spoken +somewhere near the colonel, and all eyes involuntarily turned to +Madelung. + +He sat there stiffly with his cold face, a cynical smile on his thin +lips. "Dangers!" he cried in his hard voice, which had the shrillness +of a musical instrument that has lost its resonance, "Dangers! I knew +nothing about them." + +He laughed drily. + +Captain Heuschkel, who was always worrying about his fat horses, +inquired: "Well, against such an opponent, surely cover had to be +considered most of all. Wasn't it so? that cover was of more importance +than action? Ten thousand of those yellow fellows were not worth a +single trained soldier, surely?" + +"Or one of my horses," he added in his own mind. He would probably have +committed suicide if he had seen one of his horses shot by a dirty +Chinaman. + +"Surely it was a question of good cover, wasn't it?" he insisted. + +"No," answered Madelung in a loud voice. "It was a question of keeping +your fingers out of your mouth." + +"What on earth had that to do with it?" put in Captain von Stuckardt, +rather hesitatingly. + +Madelung bowed with ironical politeness. + +"Infection with the typhus bacillus," he replied, "was the principal +danger in China, Captain von Stuckardt." + +After a little pause the shrill voice continued: "We had a +senior-lieutenant in our cantonment, belonging to some Prussian +grenadier regiment, a gay fellow, and, indeed, quite a useful officer +besides." + +Madelung paused a moment, and again his dry, mocking laugh resounded. + +Then he continued: "He had a queer fad. He cultivated one of his +finger-nails, that of the little finger of his left hand, with the +greatest care. Just like a Chinese mandarin. At last the nail was fully +a centimetre long, and made holes in all his gloves. Now, whenever a +speck of dirt lodged in this nail, he was in the habit of removing it +with his teeth. It wasn't exactly a nice thing to do; but, you see, he +had a passion for that nail. I often said to him, 'My dear fellow, do +keep your finger away from your mouth--it's just swarming with typhus +bacilli.' He did try, but sometimes he forgot; and so in the end he was +caught." + +Every one looked inquiringly at Madelung, and he added: "He died of +typhus." + +He sipped his wine, and continued, rather more gently: "I firmly +believe that it required greater self-control in that senior-lieutenant +to refrain from putting his little finger into his mouth than to lead +his men under the heaviest fire against one of those Chinese clay and +mud walls." + +Then he raised his voice again, as if ashamed of the rather gentler +tone of his last words, and concluded, harshly and shrilly: "Besides, +it really is a bad habit, putting one's fingers in one's mouth." + +And again he sat silent and stiff, twirling the little silver wheel of +the knife-rest. + +The feast then took the usual course. + +After the table had been cleared some of the officers remained in the +mess-room sitting over their wine, while others went off to the reading +or smoking-rooms with a _schoppen_ of Pilsener. In the mess-room the +talk became more and more noisy, while in the adjoining rooms quieter +conversation was the rule. A couple of inveterate card-players started +a game of skat; and in the billiard-room Captain Madelung amused +himself alone, making cannon after cannon. At his first miss he put +down his cue and waited impatiently for the colonel's departure, that +being the signal for the official close of the festivity. Madelung left +almost immediately after Falkenhein, and the majority of the married +men followed his example. + +At last only lieutenants remained, except Major Schrader and Captain +von Gropphusen. The one other senior officer, Captain Mohr, did not +count. He had not quitted his seat the whole evening, and still went on +persistently drinking with the assistant-surgeon, an exceedingly stout +man, with a face scarred by students' fights. The scars were glowing +now as if they would burst. + +The subalterns could feel quite at their ease, for Schrader and +Gropphusen were no spoil-sports. + +Manitius now sang his "Behüet dich Gott," rather unsteadily, +accompanied by Frommelt, who was quite tipsy. The song was a great +success, for the young _avantageur_ was overcome by emotion, and began +blubbering about a certain Martha whom he loved prodigiously, and whom +he must now abandon, because he would never be permitted to marry a +barmaid. On this Schrader suddenly tore open his uniform and offered +him nourishment from his hairy breast, and the boy sank weeping into +his arms. + +At last the comedy grew wearisome. The _avantageur_ was sent off to +bed, and Frommelt had to play a cancan, to which Gropphusen and +Landsberg danced. Gropphusen was supple and agile, and, with his pale, +handsome, rather worn face, looked a perfect Montmartre type. +Landsberg, on the contrary, cut a grotesque figure, kicking up his long +shoes in the air, and as he did so almost choking in his unduly high +collar. + +The company became smaller and smaller, and at last only two groups +were left. + +In the card-room half-a-dozen men still sat awhile at one of the +tables, and in the mess-room Captain Mohr and the junior surgeon +continued drinking. They had long ago given up conversation; but +occasionally one of them would say "Prosit!" and then they would both +drink. When at last they left their seats they found the orderly in the +ante-room half-asleep, half drunk, fallen from his chair, and lying +snoring on the ground. + +Growling "Damned swine!" the assistant-surgeon kicked the man till he +rose, and with an effort stood upright. + +When the last two officers had left the mess-house he locked the doors, +drank the end of a bottle of champagne, and lay down to sleep on the +sofa in the smoking-room. + +The sofa-cover was a sacred relic, a present to the mess-house from an +officer in the East African forces, who had formerly belonged to the +regiment. It was a magnificent specimen of Oriental art. The orderly +found the thick gold embroidery very uncomfortable to his cheek; but +then it certainly was a fine thing to scratch his head with! + + +When Reimers, who had left early, reached his quarters, he was +surprised to find his servant waiting up for him. + +"Why on earth are you not in bed?" he inquired. + +Gähler answered respectfully, "Beg pardon, sir, on such occasions the +count used sometimes to need me; he often went out again." + +"Well, I don't. So remember that in future," enjoined Reimers. + +Gähler still waited, and asked, "Would you like some tea, sir?" + +Reimers looked up. Not a bad idea that! He was too much excited to +sleep, for he had been obliged to pledge his comrades far too often, +and a cup of tea would be just the thing. After that he would read a +few pages, and only then try to go to sleep. + +"Yes, make me some tea," he assented, "but not too strong." + +He put on a comfortable smoking-jacket. Gähler brought his tea almost +immediately, and with it a plate of anchovy sandwiches. + +Reimers smiled. It certainly paid to have for one's servant the quondam +groom of an elegant cavalry officer. He gave Gähler a friendly nod, and +said, "I think, Gähler, that we shall get on capitally together." + +The gunner stood at attention. + +"Any other orders, sir?" he asked. + +"No. Good-night." + +"Good-night, sir." + +Reimers ate a few mouthfuls as he walked up and down the room; then he +carried the green-shaded lamp to his writing-table, and took down a +volume of the official history of the great Franco-Prussian War. + +He spread out the marvellously accurate maps, and began, as he had done +so often before, to follow the various phases of his favourite battle, +the three days' fight on the Lisaine. That was the only great defensive +battle of the campaign, clearer and easier to follow than any other in +its simple tactics, almost suggesting the typical example of a +textbook, and yet what a living reality! Almost at the same moment +when the German Empire was being proclaimed at Versailles, Bavarians +were fighting shoulder to shoulder with East Prussians, regiments +from Schleswig next those from Upper Silesia, soldiers from the +Rhine-provinces side by side with soldiers from Saxony: a glorious +demonstration of the newly achieved unity. + +His admiration for the valiant defenders was no greater than his pity +for the tragic fate of the attacking army, which, almost dying of +starvation, had fought with the wild courage of despair, and had +deserved a more honourable reward than to be driven along that terrible +path of suffering to the Swiss frontier. Not less tragic was the fate +of its commander; a fate, indeed, which Bourbaki shared with the other +military leaders of the Republic. All those generals, Aurelle de +Paladines, Chanzy, Faidherbe, Bourbaki, who at the brave but somewhat +futile summons of the Committee of National Defence tried to arrest the +victorious advance of the German army, were inevitably doomed to +defeat; and even the inspiration of a military genius could not have +got over the fundamental mistake that had been made, of considering the +impossible possible. + +Reimers looked up from the book with a glowing face. He had followed +the French army as far as Pontarlier. That was the moment in which the +German forces commanded the largest area. In the west the Rhinelanders +were gazing astonished at the winter waves on the canal, while to the +east, Pomeranians greeted the sentinels of the Swiss frontier. + +Where in all the world could a nation be found richer in honour and in +victories? + + +During the next few days Reimers had to make calls on the ladies of the +regiment. + +It was wearisome work, answering the same questions over and over +again; and once more he had proof of the fact that against certain +conditions time seems powerless. Some of the young married women had +during his absence become mothers; but most of the ladies of the +regiment presided without change over the solid domestic comfort of +their house-holds. The main thing noticeable was that they had +sacrificed themselves with greater or less success to fashion, which +was just now in favour of slender figures. + +The course of their conversation was almost literally the same as of +yore, and in each case the curiosity shown was of exactly the same +degree, except that Captain Heuschkel's wife, who was president of the +Red Cross Society, inquired as to the care of the wounded in South +Africa; while the lady who presided over the Home Missions wished to +know if the Boers were really as pious as they were represented to be. + +This monotony was, to a certain extent, the result of natural +selection. Most of the officers had chosen their wives very carefully, +and this had brought about a fine similarity in their views, a +similarity which even found expression in the rather unattractive +arrangement of their dwellings, in which the upholsterer's hand was but +too evident. + +Only two ladies, the wives of Captains von Stuckardt and von +Gropphusen, differed from this type. + +Frau von Stuckardt was unjustly considered haughty. She was merely +unfortunate in being unable to adapt herself to the mental atmosphere +of the other ladies. She had been placed for a couple of years in an +institution for the daughters of the nobility, and was just preparing +to enter a convent when Stuckardt, who was a distant cousin of hers, +proposed to her. In her heart she regretted the worldly emotion to +which she had then yielded; she believed that, by her marriage, she had +defrauded the Church, and felt her conscience constantly oppressed by +this grave offence. The interests of the other officers' wives puzzled +her, doubly separated from them as she was by creed and by education; +and when, under social compulsion, she gave a coffee-party, she sat +among her guests like a being from a strange world, a pale and slender +figure, always dressed in dark colours and wearing a cap of old lace +upon her smoothly parted black hair; a striking contrast to the other +fair, rosy, lively women in their gay gowns. + +Frau von Gropphusen's parties were much more amusing. You could not be +quite sure that she was not making fun of you; but you were certain to +carry away on each occasion a supply of gossip which would last for +weeks. + +Externally, Gropphusen and his wife were exceedingly well matched. He +was of medium height, with slender limbs and a pale, finely chiselled +face, vivacious eyes, wavy dark hair, and a small black beard. She was +one of those dainty blondes who remind one of iced champagne, with a +marvellously graceful figure, a droll little nose, and steel blue eyes +under dark eyebrows. + +When first married they were madly in love with each other; but when +the fire burnt out, Gropphusen went back to his old habits. + +Truth to tell, he was a rake, who, even after marriage, thought nothing +of spending dissipated nights week after week in the capital, returning +by the early morning train. He seemed to have cast-iron nerves; for +even the envious had to admit that his official work did not suffer. He +had a clever head, and was an artist into the bargain, an excellent +painter of horses; experts advised him to hang up his sword on a nail +and devote himself to the brush. But he had not yet made up his mind to +that. + +Irregular in all other departments of life, he was regular only in his +excesses. He was very rich, so that he could give the rein to almost +all his whims. Indeed, reports of a rather fantastic kind, somewhat +recalling Duke Charles of Brunswick, were current about him, the most +extravagant being of a ballet he had had performed for him by fifty +naked dancing girls. There was a certain amount of exaggeration about +this, perhaps. In any case he troubled himself no longer about his +young wife. + +Hannah Gropphusen indemnified herself in her own way by coquetry and +flirtations, and she was soon gossipped about as much as her husband. +But those that whispered and chattered about her felt their consciences +prick them when they carried their backbiting further; the young wife +could never be accused of anything more serious. + +It was noteworthy that Reimers had always felt more attracted by these +exceptions among the officers' ladies than by the typical +representatives of that class. He did not know why exactly, but he +thought he saw a certain similarity between the position of these +ladies and his own; these two and he were different from the average. + +Unlike his comrades, he enjoyed visiting Frau von Stuckardt. She never +talked platitudes, she would rather remain silent, and she was a little +given to proselytising. Reimers liked to hear her subdued voice +extolling the mysteries of the Catholic faith; he was proof against her +endeavours, but a beneficent calm emanated from this unworldly woman, +and he could feel with her that the spiritual renunciations of +Catholicism offered a quiet resting-place to the world-weary. + +The Gropphusen interested him. She was considered superficial and +frivolous, but he did not think her really so. There was too much +system in her frivolity and superficiality. + +He had purposely left these two visits to the last. But Frau von +Stuckardt was away from home; and when he handed his card to Frau von +Gropphusen's servant he was told that the lady was unwell, but the man +would ask if she could receive. + +Reimers felt rather vexed, and was just turning away when the gunner +returned and asked him to come in. + +He conducted the lieutenant along the corridor. "My mistress is in her +boudoir," he said. + +Reimers was shown into a small room, the only window of which was +darkened. Frau von Gropphusen half raised herself from a broad couch. +She wore a loose tea-gown of soft silk, and had a light covering spread +over her knees. + +"Welcome back, Herr Reimers!" she said, and stretched out her hand to +him. + +Reimers bent over it respectfully, and kissed the tips of her fingers. + +Then his young hostess let herself fell back again upon the couch and +drew her hand across her forehead. + +"I am not very well," she resumed; "but I could not refuse to see you." + +"No, no, you must stay," she went on; for Reimers looked as if he meant +to take leave at once. "There, sit down. Just wait a minute; I feel +better already." + +Reimers took a seat and glanced round the room. The couch almost filled +it, the only other furniture being a dainty little writing-table in the +window and a couple of chairs. Above the couch hung the only picture, a +fine print of Gainsborough's _Blue Boy_. + +In the meanwhile, Frau von Gropphusen had recovered herself. Her pretty +pale face was lighted up by a somewhat melancholy smile, and she began +softly: "No, really, I couldn't let you go!" + +She raised herself again, drew her knees up beneath their covering, and +clasped her arms round them. It was done quite simply and naturally, +without any touch of coquetry. And then she stretched out her hand +again to Reimers and said: "You, the champion of the Boers!" Then, +supporting her chin on her knees, she continued: "But now you must tell +me exactly why you fought for them?" + +As Reimers was preparing to answer, she interrupted him: "No, I will +question you. Wait a minute. Was it from love of adventure?" + +"No. At least, that is not the right way of putting it. I wanted for +once to see something of the serious side of my profession. But even +that was not the chief reason." + +"Well, then, was it in search of fame?" + +Involuntarily Reimers deviated from his usual rule of answering +evasively, and replied: "No; that was not it either. I wanted nothing +for myself personally, or at most only to prove my fitness for my +profession." + +"But neither was that your principal motive?" + +"Oh, no." + +"Perhaps it was indignation against the strong who were oppressing the +weak?" + +Reimers was silent for a moment. Then he said: "Perhaps. But other +things contributed; above all, boredom. And--I wanted a decision as to +whether I was to live or not. I could not remain an invalid for ever." + +"But still your chief, your final motive was the love of justice, +wasn't it?" + +"Well, yes." + +Hannah Gropphusen sank back again languidly. For the third time she +stretched out her hand to Reimers: "It rejoices me to find that such +people still exist, and to know one of them!" + +Reimers had held her hand for a moment in his own. It was a small hand, +almost too thin, with slender fingers. As he looked at it, he was +reminded of the gentle hands of his mother. He respectfully touched the +beautiful fingers with his lips and rose. Frau von Gropphusen made no +effort to detain him. + +"It is perhaps better for me," she said wearily; and as he reached the +door, she added: "But it has given me great pleasure to see you again," +and she dismissed him with a friendly nod. + +Reimers stood for a moment before the front door, thoughtfully +buttoning his gloves. + +It was certainly odd; the very woman whom every one else seemed to +distrust appeared to him more worthy of esteem than any of the others. +He realised this only after the visit just paid. To her alone had he +answered frankly, and although they had hardly exchanged a dozen words, +he felt they under-stood each other perfectly. He could not avoid the +thought that their souls were akin. Each of them yearned after what was +great and beautiful in life. This woman, indeed, deserved pity, for she +had suffered shipwreck in the greatest and noblest end for which woman +is created--in her love; but he, thank God, was a man; and his ideal, +Germany, still stood out clear and definite, dwarfing mere personal +aims. + +In that dim room a sinister thought had seized upon him, oppressing and +paralysing him; a vague foreboding that his fate would resemble that of +this pale woman. But he chased the dark clouds away. His star did not +vary in its light as does the shifting and drifting human mind; it was +like the sun, steady, unchangeable, inspiring. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + "For oh! I had a comrade, + And a better could not be." + (_Uhland._) + +During the first days of December Corporal Wiegandt would sometimes +observe, in a pause of the drill, that the recruits were beginning to +look a little like soldiers; and in the bar-rack-room, after drill was +over, he occasionally even went so far as to give them some praise. + +When he was getting ready to go out in the evening, and, with sabre +buckled on and forage-cap stuck jauntily on his head, brushed his +moustache before the little looking-glass, he would say: "Boys, I am +almost pleased with you to-day. I shall tell my Frieda." + +Whereupon the recruits would laugh, as in duty bound. They might all +hate the corporal; he would not dispense with a fraction of their +drill, and did not express himself in a complimentary way during the +exercises; but he made things easy for them as far as possible, +changing about from difficult to less difficult movements, and giving +them long intervals between those that were the most exacting. His +division never had to stand for minutes together with their knees bent, +like Heppner's. Moreover, despite his roughness, there was about him a +certain kind-heartedness which took the form of good-natured little +extra lessons to the least efficient after drill. + +His Frieda was a merry industrious girl who sewed muslin in a frilling +factory, and hoarded up the groschen she earned in order to save enough +money to be married some day. + +And Wiegandt, who, despite his martial appearance, was an ardent lover, +added the pfennigs of his pay, and deprived himself of his evening +beer, going for walks with his sweet-heart instead, and kissing her +over and over again. + +"That tastes better than beer," he would say, "and costs nothing." + +As the pair had not much to talk of except their lover-like wishes, +Wiegandt used to tell the girl about the recruits, so that by degrees +Frieda learnt to know all their names and idiosyncrasies, and +began to take a certain interest in them. Above all had the case of +Frielinghausen appealed to her. The sympathetic little seamstress saw +in him something of the romantic disguised prince; and it amused her to +make the credulous Wiegandt a little jealous, until at last she would +assure him with a hearty kiss that he was her dearest and best. + +When the corporal had gone off to his rendezvous, Frielinghausen was +left in supervision of Room IX. The sergeant-major had arranged it +thus, in order that from the very beginning the young man might become +accustomed to responsibility. And the charge was quite an easy one. By +evening none of the recruits had much inclination to make a noise or to +get into mischief. All the day-time, from morning till evening, was +occupied in the various branches of their duty; and the hours which +then remained were completely filled up with the brushing and polishing +of their clothes and accoutrements. It they could have done as they +liked, they would have gone to bed directly after evening stable-duty; +but that was not permitted until nine o'clock. + +So when their cleaning up was done and they sat on their stools round +the table, most of them would stretch their arms on the top and fall +asleep; occasionally some one would scribble a few lines home. When +bedtime came at last, none of them tarried; but, drunken with sleep, +would tramp one after the other up the stairs to the dormitory. + +Some, of course, were more fatigued by the work than others. Vogt and +Weise were among those who got on best. Both were strong, healthy lads, +and, moreover, not stupid; so that the theoretical instruction was as +easy to them as the foot-drill, gun-practice, and gymnastics. To be +attentive and quick--that was the chief thing. + +Among the worst were Truchsess the fat brewer, the clerk Klitzing, and +Frielinghausen. + +The brewer, it is true, was a strong, powerful man, but far too slow in +his movements. Klitzing, on the other hand, was too weak for the +demands of the drill. It was impossible for him, in the gun-practice, +to raise the end of the gun-carriage as "Number 3," or as "Number 5" to +direct the pole of the carriage; in gymnastics he would hang helplessly +on the horizontal bar; and even in the foot-drill it was difficult for +him to stand up straight. + +When Vogt advised him to report himself as ill he refused. "No, I won't +go into hospital. Never!" + +"Why not?" asked Vogt. + +"I don't wish to," replied the clerk; and as Vogt insisted, he said, +"Well, Vogt, I'll tell you: I should never come out again; I should die +there." + +And with a strained smile he added: "It doesn't matter where I die; but +I shouldn't like it to be in hospital." + +Frielinghausen, though an active and agile young fellow, seemed to be +constitutionally flighty and superficial. He had been one of the +quickest to pick up a general idea of things; but afterwards the minute +details of instruction, which sometimes appeared so unpractical and so +apt to make more of the "how?" than of the "what?" would not stay in +his head. What difference could it make whether one sprang forward with +the right foot or with the left, or whether in pulling the lanyard the +right hand had rested upon the left? Surely the essential things were +that one should spring over the line and that the shot should go off! + +So, despite his honest zeal, he made many mistakes, and the +everlastingly warning calls of his name maddened him. In the +theoretical work he was naturally far in advance of his comrades; for, +despite idleness at school, this was mere child's play to his practised +memory. He, who had had to learn hundreds of lines of the "Odyssey" by +heart, could easily remember facts about the bores of guns! + +Klitzing also distinguished himself in these instruction-lessons. The +delicate clerk possessed another advantage, in his own calling almost +surprising, and particularly useful to an artilleryman: that is to say, +unusually sharp sight, which found the mark in a moment and took aim +with absolute accuracy. + +This somewhat atoned to Wiegandt for his other faults, and it was only +for Lieutenant Landsberg that Klitzing remained nothing but a +scapegoat. + +During drill Landsberg generally stood at the end of the parade-ground, +looking utterly bored and staring at his boots, which he had had made +in the style of Reimers'. It was only if Wegstetten was in sight that +he troubled himself about the recruits. Then he would run to Corporal +Wiegandt's division, and always began to abuse Klitzing, the "careless +fellow," the "lazy-bones." + +He was constantly threatening the poor devil with extra drill; but he +never enforced the punishment, as that would have meant that he himself +must put in an appearance at the same time. + +At last Reimers, who was commanding the battery during a brief absence +of the captain, put an end to this little game. + +"Tell me, Landsberg, have you ever consulted Corporal Wiegandt about +that wretched Klitzing?" + +"No, sir," answered Landsberg. + +Reimers called Wiegandt to him. + +"What's the matter with Klitzing?" he inquired. + +The corporal replied: "Beg pardon, sir; the man means thoroughly well +and takes great pains; but I think he is far too delicate." + +"Very good, Wiegandt," said Reimers, and dismissed him. Then he turned +seriously and officially to Landsberg. "I think, Landsberg, you had +better leave the man in peace." + +Landsberg murmured: "Yes, sir," and looked out for another victim. + +During the week the recruits in Room IX. had got to know each other +better. The band of comradeship had wound itself imperceptibly around +them, and within it some closer, more cordial friendships had sprung +up. + +The most varied types of men found themselves thrown together. + +If, in the evening, the fat brewer happened for once not to be resting +his tired body in sleep after the fatigues of the day, he would squat +down near Listing, who had been a wanderer and a vagabond. He would +listen with many a shake of the head to the stories Listing related of +his life on the roads, especially of the nights the fine ones, in which +one lay on the dry grass beneath the twinkling stars, or in the forest +under a beech in the branches of which the screech-owl was calling; and +of the wretched, rainy, cold nights of late autumn. Then one would pull +a few trusses of straw out of a stack and creep shivering into the +hole, which would gradually become wet through from the dripping rain, +and through the opening of which the east wind would blow in icily. + +Then the brewer would clap his comrade on the knee with his broad, fat +hand, and say: "Well, friend, it must feel first-class to you now when +you roll into a good bed?" + +But Listing replied: "Well, no. Not exactly. But perhaps I shall get +used to it. I have often slept better out of doors; but worse too." + + +Vogt soon formed his own opinions about his comrades. + +The best of them all, the one who put the whole lot into the shade, was +without doubt Klitzing. The courage with which the weakly clerk +performed his duties filled him with an almost reverential admiration, +and the honest fellow was ready to stand by the poor, harassed lad +whenever it was possible. + +During the dinner hour, if Klitzing were too much fatigued to go to the +dining-hall, Vogt would carry his rations to him, and if possible would +add his own piece of meat to the other's portion. Then he would quickly +polish up boots and buttons for him and hand him his cap when it was +time for the after-noon drill to commence. + +"Come, Heinrich, I have made you smart," he would say with an attempt +to joke. "Now we shall be all right." + +And Klitzing would go down the steps with aching limbs and fall into +line. + +Vogt's care for him only ceased at night and began anew every morning. +It was the source both of joy and shame to the clerk; he deprecated it +to his comrade, but Vogt shut him up with good-natured roughness. So +Klitzing let the matter be, and thought that a mother's care for her +child must be something like this. For he had never known his parents, +but after their early death had grown up as the adopted child of some +distant relations. + +Vogt himself had also the feeling that instead of a comrade Klitzing +was more like a child, or, rather, a younger brother to care for; but +that suited his strength of character, and anyhow Klitzing was a very +different fellow from the gay, clever, Weise, and a far better one. + +Weise tried to make himself a favourite with all, but the others +noticed that he kept a check upon himself and never showed himself as +he really was. Moreover, even when he was alone with them, he evidently +felt a certain constraint. + +One morning while washing there was almost a quarrel, when Vogt caught +him by the arm and tried to examine the tattoo marks on his skin. Weise +angrily shook himself free; but Vogt had seen that on the right forearm +the words "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" were inscribed, surrounded by +a broken chain and a wreath of flame, and above them something that +looked like a nightcap. + +His father had never discussed politics with him, but Vogt had learnt +enough by himself to recognise the significance of the tattooing; Weise +was a social-democrat! Well, that was nothing so very bad. At home in +the village there were numbers of social-democrats, chiefly workers in +the large fire-clay factory by the river, and they were all very good +sort of people. Certainly, such tendencies were strictly forbidden in +the army, so Weise must take care of himself. + +On the whole this meant nothing to Vogt. He had almost forgotten about +the tattooed arm, and the recollection of it was only once forced upon +his memory when taking the oath. Then Weise had sworn fealty to the +king, raising the arm on which was inscribed the motto of revolution. +His sleeve had slipped up a little, so that the word "Fraternity" could +be distinctly seen. + +Surely there was some inconsistency here! But then Vogt reflected: how +could Weise help the hypocrisy? If he had objected to taking the oath, +he would simply have been imprisoned. Weise's swearing falsely was +practically on compulsion; he was in the same case with Findeisen and +all the others. + + +At Christmas the greater number of the "old gang" went on leave. For +those who remained behind there was a tree in the large Room VII., with +something on it for every one; a penknife, a cigarette holder, or a +wooden pipe, together with a few cigars; but Listing, who could not +even yet be got to wash himself properly, received a large piece of +soap with his cigars. At the same time a big barrel of lager-beer was +broached. + +But before the battery Christmas-tree most of the men had had a +special rejoicing of their own. The orderly had had the precaution to +take a small hand-cart with him to the post-office, and had brought +it back full of boxes and packages. Then the men stood round the +sergeant-major, and each one pricked up his ears to hear whether there +was anything for him. + +Klitzing had moved aside, he had nothing to expect. Suddenly his name +was called. There was a small box for him, and it was not very light +either when he took it in his hand. He thought it must be a mistake, +but there were his name and address sure enough: "Gunner Heinrich +Klitzing, 6th Battery, 80th Regiment, Eastern Division, Field +Artillery." He looked at the label, the sender was Friedrich August +Vogt; and on the back was written, "To my boy's best friend, for +Christmas!" + +The clerk went to Room IX. and showed the label to Vogt, who was +already unpacking his parcel. Klitzing could say nothing; he could only +press his friend's hand, while tears stood in his eyes. + +But Vogt shouted cheerfully: "I say! the old man has done finely! Let's +see what else there is." + +And when they compared their gifts--sausages, Christmas fare, and warm +woollen underclothing--it looked almost as though his father had given +more presents to his friend than to himself. At the bottom he found a +letter from the old man: + + +"My Dear Boy,--Herewith are a few trifles for you for Christmas. I +think I shall have done as you would wish by sending half of what I +intended for you to your friend and comrade, Klitzing, of whom you are +always writing to me. You know I was an orphan myself, and I can +understand his feelings. I had my dear sister; but he has nobody. So a +merry Christmas to you! and keep well and hearty. + "Your loving father, + "FRIEDRICH AUGUST VOGT." + +Frielinghausen also had a letter, which he read with streaming eyes and +a glowing face. He held his mother's pardon in his hands, and the love +which trembled in her words poured balm and healing on his heart, and +raised his desponding spirits. + +He was another man after this Christmas Eve. Duties which before had +been a burden to him, which he had, besides, despised, he now performed +willingly and zealously. + +If now Wegstetten inquired about him, Corporal Wiegandt always +answered, "He could not be doing better, sir." + +The captain took an opportunity of praising him; and when he had +finished, Frielinghausen, his face quite red with pride and joy, +remained standing before him. + +Wegstetten asked, "Well, is there anything you want to ask me?" + +The tall youth choked a bit over his reply, but finally he got it out: +"Pardon me, sir--I don't know whether my request is in order--but, sir, +if you would have the goodness to write to my mother and tell her that +you are satisfied with me?" + +Wegstetten was silent with astonishment. The request did seem a little +unusual and unmilitary; but he consented, and wrote to "The high and +well-born Baroness von Frielinghausen" a letter over which a mother +might well rejoice. + +It seemed the more terrible for Frielinghausen when in February, after +the examination of the recruits, he received a telegram briefly +announcing his mother's death. + + +Work became lighter for the recruits after the examination. Certainly +the battery foot-drill and gun-drill was no joke; but things went more +quietly than they had done during the wild rush of the training, and +between-whiles one had occasionally time to take breath. + +And now the recruits were gradually allotted their respective duties. +Horses to look after were given to the young drivers and to some of the +gunners. Vogt, Klitzing, and Weise, however, were not among these. +Corporal Wiegandt, who had been promoted to sergeant after the +examination, and had been put in charge of the guns and waggons of the +battery, knew them for industrious, trustworthy fellows, just such as +he needed to assist him. + +The recruits were also being trained in sentry-duty; though this was +not made very much of. The field-artillery would never be put on +sentry-duty in time of war; gunners only equipped with swords and +revolvers would not be sufficiently armed for that work; for it the +infantry, or in case of necessity the cavalry, must be responsible. +So all that was necessary was easily learnt, and in the peaceful +garrison-town it was merely a question of guarding the official +buildings. + +However, Vogt felt as if something very important were taking place +when he was the first recruit to be put on sentry-duty. + +The second-year soldiers, on the other hand, rejoiced over their lazy +days. They took things easy, and laughed at the recruits, who adhered +conscientiously to every detail of the instructions, and would not take +off their uncomfortable swords while sleeping on the hard benches, even +after the orderly-officer had inspected them. + +Vogt was posted inside the back gate of the barracks, through which the +road led towards the riding-school on one side, and straight on to the +wood on the slope of the hill. The first two hours from five to seven +o'clock in the after noon seemed to him terribly wearisome and +purposeless; but during the night from eleven to one o'clock he felt +stimulated by the sense of responsibility. The sentries were then +locked outside, and had to patrol two sides of the great quadrangle +surrounded by the public offices. + +The night was pitch dark, so that Vogt was unable to distinguish his +narrow path. But he stumbled bravely up and down by the buildings for +his two hours. Even if he often missed his footing, it was better than +standing still. For then one heard all kinds of strange noises, the +cause of which could not be perceived in the baffling darkness. The +forest was never quite silent; there were always cracklings and +rustlings from its boughs and bushes. But in going the rounds these +things went unheard in the noise of one's own footsteps; and one passed +the quarters in which comrades were sleeping, and the stables, whose +dimly-lighted windows showed small squares in the night, and one could +indistinctly hear the rattling of the halter chains. + +When Vogt went into the dormitory from the fresh, pure, night air he +thought at first that he would choke in the atmosphere laden with stale +tobacco-smoke and foul odours; but in the end he slept splendidly, +despite his hard bed. + +At five o'clock he was again on sentry-go. It was still dark, but there +was already movement in the kitchen and the stables. At the gate there +was a delay; the watch about to be relieved was nowhere to be found. +The bombardier in charge cursed and swore unavailingly; finally, he +consented to the suggestion of the others and organised a search. In a +small shed, which served for the storing of hurdles and such-like, the +gunner was discovered fast asleep. He had covered himself up with +straw, and his sword lay by his side. The bombardier kicked him in the +ribs with his heavy boots, and stormed at the rashness of such conduct, +when at any moment an officer might come by. + +But the sentry, a tall, strong fellow, answered crossly, "Shut your +mouth, you stupid swine! And if you dare to report me I'll break every +bone in your body!" + +The bombardier grumbled something about "not going too far and getting +into trouble." + +"Any one might happen to fall asleep," continued the gunner. He yawned +a few times, brushed the dust off his uniform, and said laughingly to +Vogt: "It is nothing unusual on sentry-duty, you raw booby of a +recruit! Nothing for you to gape about!" + +And he walked off solemnly behind the bombardier. + +Vogt stood thoughtfully beside the sentry-box. That was pretty bad +discipline! At the same time the case was quite clear: if the +bombardier reported the sentry, then the latter would naturally be +punished, and severely too; but he would certainly revenge himself on +the bombardier. Despite the buttons on his collar, the bombardier was +not technically superior to the gunner; it would only bring about a +quarrel, and in a fight it would certainly be the bombardier who would +come off worst. It was quite the rule for the men to stick loyally +together, and never expose a comrade if it could possibly be avoided. + +Vogt, however, considered that there was a limit to comradeship, and +that the sentry ought to have been punished. For in such ways respect +was lost for other still more important rules. And, finally, he +congratulated himself on having nothing to do with the matter. + +This morning, for the first time for weeks, the memory of his home and +the longing for it overwhelmed him. + +He thought of how at home in the early days of the year he and his +father had finished preparing the fields for the spring cultivation. He +remembered how the young sun, in those fresh morning hours, had seemed +to caress the long-deserted wintry earth with his kindling rays; and +the black soil turned up by the harrow had exhaled a refreshing odour +as of incense offered by nature's maternal heart. The daily increasing +heat of the sun, the milder air, and the grateful receptivity of earth: +all betokened the end of idle winter and the beginning of a new year of +fruitfulness, the gospel of labour and of blessing. The ardent forces +of nature welled up also in the hearts of men; and though his father +had seemed to him old in the short cold days of winter, the scent of +spring-time always made him young again. + +He almost felt like a deserter not to be at home working. But no! the +contrary was really the case. It was these thoughts that were disloyal. +Was he not now a soldier, called to protect the soil of his beloved +fatherland, if an enemy threatened it? + +If----? he reflected further. There had been peace for thirty years +now, and it might quite well last thirty more, or even a hundred. Was +not this, then, mere waste of time? But, on the other hand, there was +nothing to prevent a war breaking out to-morrow. He knew that it was +improbable, but not impossible. The devil! then of course war must be +prevented. But how? + +His simple mind saw no solution of these contradictions. He gazed +contemplatively at his sentry-box, and almost omitted to present arms +to his captain, who was passing to the riding-school with the remount +division. + +After being relieved he watched two comrades who were playing at _skat_ +in the guard-room with dreadfully dirty cards. Suddenly he had a kind +of waking vision. It was like the taking of the oath, when each man +stretched out an arm to swear. The tattooed letters on Weise's arm, +where the sleeve had slipped off, began suddenly to glow as brightly +and clearly as if the sun were shining on them. Fraternity! that was +not merely an empty word, then, not simply talk? If all men, Germans, +French, Russians, and all others, stretched forth their arms and swore +to be brothers, then--yes, then--there would be no more war. + +But would that ever happen? + +The card-players brought his reflections on the question of fraternity +to a hasty close; they began to quarrel furiously, and wound up by +throwing the cards at each other's heads in a very unbrotherly manner. + +The recruit had to pick up the scattered cards, and when a king and a +ten were missing there was nearly a fight. Finally the corporal in +charge angrily stopped the noise. + + +When Vogt returned from his sentry-duty between eleven and one, he +found his comrade Klitzing singularly depressed, and after a time the +clerk confided to him that he had been very unlucky all the day before. + +"You see, Franz," he said, "I can't get on at all without you. If you +are my neighbour at foot-drill, I know just where I am. But yesterday +you were absent, and I was a regular blockhead. Just because of me the +drill lasted nearly an hour longer than usual." + +"Well, now I shall be back again," Vogt replied. + +Klitzing continued: "Yes, but this morning it was the same thing; and +after drill the deputy sergeant-major said that slack fellows like me +should be given a lesson by the other men, and so----" + +Here he was silent, and nothing more could be got out of him, so that +Vogt was quite angry over this lack of confidence. + +By and by the fat brewer (who, however, was no longer fat) joined them, +and said: "Well, mate, aren't you a bit dense to-day? The 'old gang,' +especially the drivers, mean to be at him, to do for him, all because +of that little bit of extra drill." + +Vogt could not but smile at his comrade's good-nature. Truchsess, the +most easy-going of them all, whose clothes after drill were as wet with +perspiration as if they had been in water, Truchsess called it "a +little bit of extra drill"! + +But before he could speak, Klitzing began again: "Franz, you mustn't +mix yourself up in this. If they mean to do it you can't prevent it. +The best thing will be for me to submit quietly." + +And with a little bitterness he added: "The most they can do is to beat +me to death." + +But Vogt interrupted: "Don't talk such nonsense! I don't know what they +are thinking of doing, but I can tell you it shall be prevented. I +promise you that. Don't be afraid. I shall find a way out." + +He began to ponder how he could protect his friend from the roughness +of the "old gang." + +Should he ask Sergeant Wiegandt to give up going to see his Frieda for +one evening? If he told him, of course not officially, but in a sort of +way privately, about the intentions of the elder soldiers, then +Wiegandt would certainly stay in. But his feeling of solidarity with +his comrades forbad this. + +Only, were they any longer comrades when they could ill-treat a poor +weakling? Surely not. + +Still he rejected this plan, and in the end decided himself to defend +Klitzing regardless of consequences. If he challenged the fellows +fearlessly and cheekily they would be sure to turn on him, and he would +be able to defend himself. At any rate he could better stand a good +hard blow than the clerk could. + +Evening came, and Sergeant Wiegandt went to his rendezvous as usual. An +expectant silence lay over Room IX. The recruits cleaned their things +and glanced now and then in an embarrassed way at the corner where Vogt +had seated himself close to Klitzing. The brewer had joined them also. + +All was quiet until shortly before bed-time. Then heavy clanking steps +approached from the large Room VII. on the other side of the corridor, +and eight or nine old drivers pushed themselves in, armed with whips, +belts, and snaffle-reins. + +Vogt placed himself full in front of Klitzing. + +"You be off!" they said. + +"I shan't!" answered Vogt. + +"We'll soon make you!" + +"We shall see about that!" + +In a moment a dozen hands had seized him; but the big, strong fellow +defended himself bravely. He lashed out powerfully with fists and feet, +making the attacking party more and more furious; but finally he was +dashed to the ground, dragging several of his opponents with him. As if +they had been waiting for this, the others now threw themselves upon +him, and their blows fell thick as hail. + +Klitzing, with his whole body trembling, stood by as if he had been +paralysed. But the brewer bent his round head like a furious bull, and +charged, using his skull as a battering ram, right into the middle of +the scrimmage. Now there were two against ten. The odds were still far +too great; and the brewer also was soon on the floor. The fighters made +a tremendous noise, but whereas usually at the least sound a corporal +would come running up to enjoin quiet, to-day nobody seemed to heed. + +With a sudden effort Vogt succeeded in shaking two of his opponents +off, and in half raising himself; he just caught Weise's eye, who, with +his hands in his trousers pockets, was looking on at the row and +laughing a little. He shouted to him goadingly: "Is this what you call +liberty, equality, fraternity, you lousy fellow? Liberty, equality, +fraternity!" + +And he gave a shrill, scornful laugh. + +But, as if summoned by the words, the haggard, sombre-visaged Wolf came +to the door from the opposite room. He had at once understood why the +row was going on. It was only to be expected, after the deputy +sergeant-major's words! It was one of those injustices that he hated so +intensely; worse and a thousandfold more cowardly even than a blow +given to a soldier on the parade-ground by his superior officer. + +He felt he had been summoned by those three words. + +"Here I am!" he shouted, and his long thin arms brought substantial +help. + +But the "old gang" also received reinforcements. The struggle became +wilder and wilder, and the combatants grappled with each other more and +more furiously. The shouts had ceased, and one noticed now only the +gasps of the fighters, the grinding of their teeth, the dull sound of +blows, and now and then a grim oath. + +Vogt was bleeding from a wound in his brow, in return for which he had +bitten his opponent in the hand. But now the heavy buckle of a belt +caught him full in the face. Sparks flew before his eyes, he reeled +from the force of the blow, and, like an infuriated animal, his only +desire was to revenge himself, to hit out and to kill his enemy. A +newly polished sword lay near him, where it had fallen from the table. +He seized it and struck and thrust with it in blind fury. + +The recruits shrieked as they saw this development, but no one had the +courage to seize the arms of the furious man. + +Then an inspiration came to one of them. + +"The sergeant-major!" he yelled at the door. + +The struggling _mêlée_ dispersed in a twinkling, the "old gang" +vanished from Room IX., and only a great cloud of dust betrayed what +had taken place. + +The sergeant-major of course did not appear. But it was just as well; +blood poured down Vogt's face, and when Klitzing awakened from his +torpor he was seized with a kind of convulsive attack. He threw himself +down, weeping and shrieking before his brave comrade, embracing his +knees, and no talking could soothe him. + +The other recruits stood frightened and helpless around the two. The +brewer sat down on his stool to get his breath, and wiped the +perspiration off his face. + +Listing, the quondam tramp, was the most sensible. On the roads there +is occasionally a fight or an accident, therefore one must know how to +render assistance. He ran to the water-tap, and returned with a bowl of +fresh water. He washed the wounded man's face, and then put quite a +respectable bandage round Vogt's head. It is true that the folds were a +little thick, as two towels were applied, and they looked almost like a +turban, but they stopped the bleeding and held together. + +The tattoo sounded over the courtyard. + +It was high time to get ready for bed. The corporal in charge came into +the room and told them to be quick. Suddenly he noticed the wounded +man. + +"What's the matter?" he asked. + +Listing lied fluently: "He fell down the dormitory stairs, sir, just a +little while ago, when the wind had blown out the lamp." + +"Indeed!" said the officer in charge. "Is he badly hurt?" + +"No, sir," answered Vogt. + +"Then off to bed!" + +Vogt and Klitzing were the last to leave Room IX. Klitzing went +silently along by his wounded comrade and looked at him timidly. + +"Does it hurt, Franz?" he asked on the stairs. + +Vogt began hesitatingly: "Well, you know----" but then when he saw his +friend's sad eyes he continued: "Oh, no; it's not a bit bad." + +Tears stood in the clerk's eyes. + +"Franz, what a dear good fellow you are!" he said softly. "I don't know +how I can thank you; but never doubt that I _shall_ thank you some +time." + +In the bedroom Listing whispered to him that the "old gang" would +beware of beginning it again. Wolf had told them that he should at once +report them if they did, and he was known to keep his word in such +matters. + +When the two friends were in bed, the tall man came round to their +corner. + +"How are you?" he asked Vogt. + +"All right, thanks," he answered. + +"Glad to hear it." + +He stretched out his hand to the recruit, and the two men exchanged a +hearty grip. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + + "So pass the bottle about, hurrah! + Gaily sing and shout, hurrah! + Jolly artillerymen are we!" + (_Artillery song._) + +Sergeant Schumann looked once more round the two rooms and the kitchen; +no, nothing had been left behind. Only his overcoat and hat hung on the +window-bolt, and his stick stood in the corner. + +The civilian clothes did not please him at all. Every other minute his +hand was up at his neck, feeling for a collar-band which seemed to be +much too loose, but which, in reality, was not there at all. + +His wife came in, busy as ever, in her hat and cloak, a little +leather bag and an umbrella in her hand. She was to start at noon for +the little mountain railway-station, where she would get the house +ready for the furniture, which should arrive during the day. The +sergeant-major, or rather the station-master's assistant, had some +money matters to settle in the garrison town, and would not follow her +until the next morning. + +Frau Schumann was quite out of breath. Those stupid gunners had been so +disagreeable when she wished to have her flowers put in the furniture +van. She began excitedly: "Thank God, Schumann, the van is ready. Here +are the keys. It's quite time for me to go to the station, isn't it?" + +Schumann looked at his watch and growled: "Certainly, quite!" + +"Then I'll be off," said the little woman. + +But she remained standing in the middle of the room, seemingly unable +to tear herself away. + +"Dear, dear!" she said, "for years I have wished to leave this place, +and now that we are really going I feel quite sad; don't you, +Schumann?" + +The sergeant-major muttered something unintelligible. If it had +depended on him the house would not now have been empty and the +furniture-van before the door. It was his wife who had worried him into +it, and yet now probably she would begin to snivel. + +Indeed, she had just taken her handkerchief out of her pocket and +raised it to her eyes, when suddenly her face changed: "Good gracious! +our bean-poles are still in the garden! I'm not going to leave them +behind. Fancy it's only occurring to me now!" + +She was hurrying out. But the sergeant-major got in the way and held up +his watch in her face. + +"Look here!" he said. "If you don't stir your stumps you'll miss your +train." + +She was alarmed: "Good heavens, yes, of course! I'm going. Good bye, +Schumann! Look after everything, and--and--good bye." + +Standing on tiptoe she reached up for a kiss from her husband and was +quickly out of the door. + +Schumann drew a long breath. She was his dear wife, but now that he had +to say farewell to the battery he preferred to be alone, without her. + +He stood still in the doorway. + +A driver had just brought two horses out of the stable and was +harnessing them to the furniture van. + +Schumann had not taken much to do with the horses of late years; he +knew that they were thoroughly well cared for under Heppner's +superintendence, and the deputy sergeant-major was rather apt to resent +any interference with his department. But he would have failed in his +duty if he had not, in spite of this, kept himself informed of all that +concerned the horses; if, in fact, he had not been individually +acquainted with each one of them. + +Sergeant Schumann went down the steps. He must begin his +leave-taking--so he would first say good-bye to the horses. + +Slowly he passed between the stalls. At that moment the strong smell of +the stable seemed to him more delicious than the most fragrant scent, +more delicious than the resinous forest breeze which blew through the +valley where the little station of the mountain railway lay surrounded +by pine woods. + +There stood the beautiful creatures side by side in splendid condition +and with coats like satin. Nearly all of them were dark bay, and +according to temperament they stood stolidly staring before them, or +pawed impatiently at the straw, or playfully bit and teased each other. +Only four stalls were empty. "Sybille" and "Achat" were drawing his +belongings to the station. Another pair had been borrowed by Major +Schrader, who had been invited to a hunting party on a neighbouring +estate. + +Last he came to his own riding-horse in the loose box, a pretty +creature with four white fetlocks, who was rather nervous, and +unusually tender-mouthed. Baldwin shrank from the man in the dark brown +suit, and it was only when the sergeant-major spoke that the animal +recognised him. Even then he was shy, and sugar and bread failed to re +assure him. Schumann called him by his pet name, rubbing his cheek +against the velvet nostrils, and then only did the horse become quiet. +The sergeant-major could have shed tears. But he wanted to make an end +of it, and clear out from these barracks, where he no longer had his +place. Lingeringly he quitted the stable, and going out on to the +parade-ground, stood once more before the battery's memorial tablet. +The sixth was one of the oldest batteries; there were therefore a +goodly number of skirmishes and battles engraved upon the tablet. Sedan +was the most disastrous and at the same time the most glorious day--the +day on which the battery had fired nearly eight hundred shots, so that +by evening the gunners had become so deaf that they could hardly +understand the orders which were shrieked into their ears. + +Oh yes, it had been an honour to belong to the battery, and it was only +right that in times of peace also the sixth should always have been an +example for others. + +"To commemorate the fallen; to inspire the living!" he read softly. + +He nodded in earnest assent; then turned round suddenly and re +entered his house. + +He put on his overcoat hastily, and seized his hat and stick. Then he +locked up, and knocked at the deputy sergeant-major's door, in order to +give up the keys. + +Frau Heppner was alone. + +"Are you just going, Herr Schumann?" she asked softly. + +The sergeant-major nodded, and said: "I am putting the keys here, in +front of the looking-glass." + +Then he went up to the sofa on which the invalid was lying and took her +hand. "Good-bye, Frau Heppner." + +"Good-bye," answered the woman; and whispering softly she added: "And +as we shall not meet again, I must thank both you and your wife." + +"But what for?" + +The invalid was silent for a moment, then she replied: "Well, when +one's own house has always been a perfect hell, one learns to +appreciate the peace and quiet of others. At least, it helps one to see +there is something better than one's own lot." + +The sergeant was silent. What could he say to the unhappy woman? + +"So, good-bye, Herr Schumann!" she went on. "I sincerely wish you +well!" + +Schumann breathed more freely as the door closed behind him. He felt +deeply for the poor woman, and was relieved to have got over the +parting from her. + +With the giving up of the key the last cord was loosened which had +bound him to the battery and to the military life as a whole. +Everything else had already been done. + +The evening before there had been a small _fête_, to which the captain +and the two subalterns had invited him and all the non-commissioned +officers of the battery. Then in the morning, in the presence of the +officers, including the colonel, and before all the men of the +regiment, the good-service cross, which the king had granted him, had +been handed him by the commanding officer; he had also received +permission to wear his old uniform at any patriotic festivities. +The colonel had spoken of him warmly as a pattern soldier, and had +concluded with a cheer for the emperor and the king. Then the +sergeant-major had requested that he, on his side, might be allowed to +say a few words; and with a voice which failed many times he led a +cheer for the beloved regiment, and especially for the splendid sixth +battery. Afterwards handsome presents were given him: from Wegstetten +and the two lieutenants a beautiful gold watch; from Major Schrader a +heavy gold chain for it; from the non-commissioned officers an album +with views of the town and the barracks, and with photographic groups +of officers, non-commissioned officers, men, and horses. Finally, the +commanding officer presented to him that service sabre which he had +worn for ten long years, to be now his own private property. + +He had only been able to thank them by a silent grasp of the hand, for +fear that if he spoke he would begin to cry like a girl. Afterwards he +had also said farewell to all the men. So now he was ready and could +go. + +It was about half an hour before the time for the afternoon drill. As +Schumann entered the parade-ground he heard a voice shout from the +steps: "The sergeant-major is going!" And in a moment all came running +towards him, the drivers and gunners, old stagers and raw recruits, the +entire battery crowding round to shake hands with him once more. + +Again the sergeant-major had to clench his teeth; he passed silently +along, shaking the hands that were stretched out to him. + +Suddenly he stopped in astonishment, thinking he must be mistaken. But +no, Wolf was there too--Wolf, the social-democrat, whose whole +existence as a soldier was a cynical mask, the revolutionist who was +only waiting for the moment when, free from the green uniform, he might +preach his faith again! And he, Schumann, had never been at any pains +to conceal what he thought of such disgraceful opinions. + +Wolf had not exactly run up, but had come with the rake over his +shoulder with which he had been raking the riding-ground, and was at +any rate associating himself with the others. + +"What, you too, Wolf?" Schumann involuntarily exclaimed. + +"Yes, sir," answered the soldier. "You never were hard on any-one. You +were always just." + +Schumann was just a little bit shamefaced at this obviously sincere +praise. Generally speaking, he had honestly tried to deserve it; but +with regard to this social-democrat, he knew quite well he had many +times been lacking in justice. He remembered how often, when Wolf's +turn came, he had ordered him to perform some specially unpleasant +work. + +Embarrassed and hesitating, he replied: "Well, well, and you have +always been a good soldier yourself, at any rate in externals. Only +that you--well, there was no getting at you there!" + +It was a good thing that after Wolf others came up to grasp his hand in +farewell; or else, notwithstanding order, watch, and sabre, he would +have left the barracks with a bad conscience. + +The last, who kept on moving further down in order to be the very last +to say good bye, was Niederlein, a smart little gunner, who had +polished his accoutrements for him during the last year. + +The sergeant-major pressed his hand with special heartiness, and +breathed freely: Thank God, Niederlein made up for Wolf! Once when ill, +and left alone in the dormitory, Niederlein had broken open a locker +and appropriated a piece of sausage therefrom. Schumann had caught him +red-handed. Thieving from a comrade was a serious offence, entailing +severe punishment and public disgrace; but Schumann knew Niederlein was +only thoughtless and greedy, and it had been more a stupid prank than a +crime, for the money which lay near the sausage was untouched. So he +had held the boy across the table and given him five-and-twenty strokes +with his leather belt. He was not quite clear in his mind whether this +had been entirely in order--it might have been technically an assault; +at any rate it turned out right. Niederlein was now about the best +soldier in the whole battery, and would have, gone through fire and +water for the sergeant-major. + +The lad watched awhile how Schumann went slowly out through the back +gateway and disappeared into the little wood. Then he hurried off to +his quarters, for the battery was collecting for foot-drill. + +Schumann had purposely chosen to go to the town by the lonely way +through the wood, because if he had gone by the high road he would have +met the battery officers again. That would have meant another delay; +and then besides he felt he belonged far more to the men than to the +officers, despite his double stripes. + +He paused on the hill and gazed at the well-known landscape beneath +him, where in the foreground lay the great drill-ground at his feet. + +With his sharp eyes he could even recognise individual men. The fourth +battery had just brought its six guns up to the gate; the fifth had not +stirred as yet--Captain Mohr was not fond of duty so soon after dinner; +and now his own battery, the sixth, arrived on the ground to perform +foot-drill. The ornaments on the helmets shimmered in the sun, and he +almost fancied he could hear the even tread. Wegstetten and the two +lieutenants were behind. + +The drill began, and the breaking up into files, the deployment, and +finally the parade-march, first in file and then in battery column--all +went splendidly. It was a joy to look down upon the smart, well-ordered +straight lines as they moved. Instead of himself, Heppner marched in +the sergeant-major's place, and Keyser, as the senior non-commissioned +officer present, led the file of drivers instead of the deputy +sergeant-major. + +All was thoroughly well done, there was not a hitch anywhere. + +And he, Schumann, had believed that he was indispensable, he had +thought things could not go on without him! + + +At supper Julie Heppner said to her husband: "Otto, the money you give +us for housekeeping isn't enough. Ida couldn't pay the milkman to-day." + +"No affair of mine," replied the deputy sergeant-major, with his mouth +full. "You must manage things better." + +When he had finished eating he put his coat on, buckled on his sabre +and put on his forage cap. + +His wife watched him from the sofa with angry eyes as he brushed his +heavy beard and put on his gloves. + +Heppner looked her straight in the face, laughed scornfully and said: +"Yes, you are thinking again: 'Now he is going to the public-house and +will spend all the bit of money!' Well, as it happens, it's not so this +time. But you had better believe it all the same, and make yourself +really angry." + +This perpetual lack of money was, however, no joke to the sister-in-law +either, as she was always having to put off and conciliate the +creditors, and she joined in angrily: "It's the truth! You squander the +money and we have to manage as best we can." + +Heppner went round behind her and mockingly retorted: "So you're +beginning to scold like your dear sister? It seems to be catching. But +I'll tell you how it is: there was a good lot of the farewell beer left +over yesterday, and I saved it up for myself. Now, who's right?" + +He tapped his sister-in-law's round shoulder playfully, and added: "Who +knows? Perhaps to-morrow I may give you quite a lot of money." + +With that he left the house. + +He was in a good temper. It had long been a grievance to him that +Schumann--grumbling old plodder!--instead of packing up his few sticks +and being drafted into the civil service, should have remained so long +stuck fast to the battery, thus preventing his own promotion. Now at +last the old man had disappeared, and he was certain of becoming +sergeant-major. + +To-day was a lucky day for him, he felt sure; and this must be taken +advantage of: a little game must be arranged for the evening. + +Therefore, he had taken care only to invite men on whom he could +rely to this second instalment of the farewell drinking party: the +sergeant-major of the fifth battery, who imitated his chief in +drinking, and Trumpeter Henke of his own, the sixth battery, two +seasoned gamblers. The two other members of the party were to be the +landlord of the White Horse, and the fat baker, Kühn, who held the +contract for the white bread supplied to the regiment. To the baker in +particular he had allotted the _rôle_ of loser, as he had the most +money. + +At the gate it suddenly occurred to Heppner that it would be much +pleasanter to walk the half-mile to the town in company, and he decided +to fetch the trumpeter. + +Sergeant Henke was a lively young fellow, with a fresh, rosy face, a +flowing black beard and curly hair, rather beyond the regulation +length. He was of a handsome soldierly appearance, and contrasted well +with his wife, Lisbeth, a beautiful blonde, who with her slender figure +always looked like a young girl. + +This fair woman was blindly in love with her husband. She almost +worshipped him, but he did not trouble himself much about her. He +regarded himself as a great artist, because in the choir concerts he +played the cornet solos, and always received much applause from the +female part of the audience, and he considered that his marriage alone +had prevented him from becoming a "celebrity." Once he had received a +passionate love letter, signed by "a lady of high degree, who deplored +with tears of blood" the dividing difference of rank between them. It +was transparently the coarse work of a practical joker; but Henke in +his conceit believed in the high-born heiress, and this dream quite +turned his head. He ever afterwards posed as a fine gentleman, ogled +all the elegant women of the town, and had hardly a glance left for his +wife. She worked and pinched for him in order that he might be able to +enjoy his aristocratic tastes, and thought herself happy because he +bore with her. And he was always urging her to work and earn money, as +he longed to become rich and be the equal of really fashionable people. + +Gambling was to help him to this; besides, in itself it gave him +intense pleasure. + +He was ready dressed to go out, and was only lingering before the +looking-glass, when he heard outside the signal-whistle with which +Heppner, his boon-companion, was accustomed to call him. He soon joined +the deputy sergeant-major in the street, and after a brief greeting the +two walked rapidly towards the town. + +A few steps from the White Horse the trumpeter suddenly stopped, felt +in his pocket, and exclaimed, "Damnation! I've left my money behind at +home!" + +"Never mind!" said Heppner, in his genial mood. "You shall eat and +drink free to-day, and I'll lend you a thaler into the bargain. There, +catch hold!" + +He gave him the piece of money before they reached the door, and the +trumpeter rejoiced: borrowed money brought luck. + +The landlord of the Horse had laid the table neatly in the little +parlour. The leavings of the previous evening had been freshly dished +up, and the barrel, which must still contain nearly forty litres of +beer, had been cooled with ice. + +But only one of the five banqueters was in the vein--Blechschmidt, +sergeant-major of the fifth battery. He was still eating and drinking +when the four others were already sitting at the half-cleared table +playing cards. + +"Something moderate to begin with!" the master baker Kühn had +suggested; so each one put down three marks. + +It was a long time before the last fifty-pfennig piece was played out +of the pool; but Heppner triumphed. He had been right in his +premonition; when he counted his money he had won nearly two marks. + +After this exertion the players took a little refreshment, and while +eating talked the game over. + +Heppner swallowed his bread and meat eagerly, and the last plate had +hardly been cleared before he began, his eyes twinkling craftily, "And +what next, gentlemen?" + +The master baker laughed pleasantly and replied, "Well, as we've been +lying low, we may afford to let ourselves go a bit now." + +Thereupon the landlord bolted the door and saw that the shutters were +firmly closed. They drew closer together, and even Blechschmidt came +nearer. + +The players bent over the table, their eyes followed the dealing of the +cards with eagerness, their faces glowed. They lighted their fresh +cigars on the stumps of the old ones, and when their throats became +parched from excitement, they gulped down rapid draughts of the beer, +which was gradually becoming flat and muddy as it flowed from the tap +into the glasses. + +They had lost all thought of time. + +Suddenly Blechschmidt, the tireless toper, grumbled, "No, I shan't play +with you any more. Beer's best." + +The landlord looked at the clock. "It is nearly five," he said. + +None of them could believe it; they thought they had not been playing +above an hour at most. + +But late or early they must finish the game, and they all heaved deep +breaths as the last round ended. While playing they had been quite +unconscious of the terrible fatigue, which, now that they had stopped, +utterly overpowered them. + +Now they had to calculate the gains and losses of the night. The +trumpeter got through quickest. He tossed Heppner the borrowed thaler, +and laughed contentedly to himself. He had every reason to be cheerful, +he, who had not brought a single red pfennig with him, and who now had +more than a hundred marks--chiefly in silver, but with a few gold +pieces also--clinking in his pocket! + +The other four had all lost. The deputy sergeant-major was quite thirty +marks poorer. He glanced darkly at the small sum which still lay before +him. How stupid he had been! He had thrown away his luck with the +thaler which he had lent Henke, that was quite certain. Now, instead of +himself, this fop had hauled in the fat baker's money. That was the +reward of his good nature! + +Then suddenly Henke had an idea. + +"Gentlemen!" he began, "I see that I have had tremendous luck. I must +really give some of it away." + +He dug the sleepy landlord in the ribs, and shouted in his ear, "Now +then, Anton! I want two bottles of champagne." + +The landlord was quite alert in a moment. He stood to win by this sort +of play. + +"Bring the most expensive!" trumpeted the trumpeter. "Eleven marks the +bottle, Henke!" + +"No matter! What our officers can do I can do also. Bring it along!" + +Mine host hurried down into his cellar and fetched two bottles of +Pommery from the furthermost corner, a good dry brand with which +horse-dealers sometimes christened a concluded bargain. + +There was no more ice to be had; so he opened the bottle as it came out +of the cellar. The cork sprang to the ceiling with a loud pop, and the +wine poured from the neck like a fountain. + +The two sergeants had given the word of command, "Fire!" as the cork +flew out, and the trumpeter had blown a fanfare. All five buried their +noses in their glasses and let them be tickled by the rising bubbles. +Then they drank off the wine, which was far too warm, and could not +praise it enough. + +The trumpeter, who was always imitating the officers, considered +himself a judge of wine. He smelt the champagne, let it lie on his +tongue, while at the same time his face took on an enraptured +expression, and he shouted enthusiastically, "Gentlemen, gentlemen! in +this bouquet one recognises the true French brand. It is utterly +different from German champagne!" + +The others imitated his action and were in complete agreement with him. + +Only Kühn remarked discontentedly, "The hog-wash tastes like bitter +almonds!" + +At which the landlord took offence. "Don't you know then, baker," he +snarled, "that that is just the way to know genuine French champagne?" + +And he looked lovingly at the two corks which he had placed carefully +in a corner. + + +When Captain von Wegstetten entered the orderly-room on the morning of +April 1st, he at once said to the deputy sergeant-major, "What is the +matter with you? You look quite green." + +Heppner answered, "Excuse me, sir, my wife has had a very bad night." + +"Indeed!" drawled Wegstetten. "I am sorry to hear it." + +But to himself he thought: "If that is at all true, the man must have +been consoling himself with whisky; one can smell it five paces away +from him." + +However, the captain offered to let him dispense with riding; but +Heppner objected, and begged to be allowed to take part in the drill. +He felt that would help him to shake off his unpleasant sensations; an +hour's ride and he would be fresh again. A fine thing if a night's +dissipation could really upset a man like himself! + +His commanding officer was pleased at such enthusiasm; and as during +the drill the deputy sergeant-major managed his horse--the most +troublesome of all the remounts--exceedingly well, he remarked to him, +"Heppner, I think I shall be able to bring you some good news at noon." + +Afterwards it occurred to him that he had intended to raise objections +to the colonel with regard to Heppner's elevation to the rank of +sergeant-major, but now that he had committed himself to the man this +was no longer possible. + +He did just mention his doubts in the colloquy with Falkenhein, but he +made no impression, and in the end the colonel himself covered the +retreat. + +"What do you expect, my dear Wegstetten?" he said. "I ask you, just +take all your non-commissioned officers. Who is there you cannot accuse +of gambling? It is a fatal characteristic of these mongrels that they +will copy the officers, and unfortunately only in what is stupid or +bad. The fine gentlemen all play, drink, fool with women, gamble; it's +only a question of the one a little more, the other a little less." + +Wegstetten objected modestly. "Pardon me, sir, not all. My old +sergeant-major----" + +He got no further. Falkenhein interrupted quickly: "You mean Schumann? +Yes; there you are quite correct. But then he was the last of another +generation, one of the old type--steady, quiet, discreet, honest, and +trustworthy to the last fibre. But they are dying out, my dear +Wegstetten. Such perfect specimens of non-commissioned officers, that +used to be the rule, are now more and more the exception. I ask you for +the truth: since you entered the army, have our non-coms. become +better, or--well, less good? What do you say?" + +"Less good, sir, unfortunately," replied the captain. + +"Yes, unfortunately. Exactly my opinion." + +The colonel rummaged among the papers lying on his desk, and selected +two. + +"Now, my dear Wegstetten," he said, "here are the appointments. I can't +settle such details. That is not my business. I put it to you, +therefore; will you try with Heppner?" + +"As you wish, sir." + +"Good; I think you are right." + +Falkenhein signed the document and gave it to the captain. + +"There! now he is sergeant-major!" he said, and continued: "What I most +regret is, that you should partially lose him in the active work. That +was his real field. But a younger man cannot be promoted over his +head." + +He took the second document and handed it to Wegstetten. "And here, at +the same time, is the other promotion. I have followed your advice. +Sergeant Heimert is to-day appointed deputy sergeant-major and relieved +of his present duty. He will report himself to you to-morrow. + +"Thank you, sir," replied the captain. + +Wegstetten stuck the documents into his sleeve and took leave. The +colonel accompanied him to the door and shook hands with him very +cordially. + +The captain reflected, however, as he went down the steps, that every +one must have at least one fault. He, like the whole contingent, was of +opinion that Falkenhein was one of the finest officers in the army, +certain to become a major-general, if not a full general. And with an +artilleryman this was of double significance. But why, because a man +had had the good fortune to work under the sainted Moltke on the +general staff, he should, therefore, always describe anything that had +occurred since that time as "less good,"--that he could never +understand. + +That evening after roll-call Heppner read out his own promotion to the +rank of sergeant-major, and that of Sergeant Heimert to the post of +deputy sergeant-major. + +Everybody was surprised. Heimert? Who was Heimert? No one could say. + +Ah! It went on: "Deputy sergeant-major Heimert will therefore be +relieved from his management of the forage department of the infantry +and artillery ammunition columns and will return to his battery." + +So it really was that fellow with the gigantic nose, who was always +slouching about the coach-houses and baggage sheds! + +Heppner returned to the orderly-room and sat down at his table, on +which lay a mass of unfinished writing. Now the wakeful night was +making itself felt. The sergeant yawned and took up his work +unwillingly. Evidently the post of sergeant-major had some drawbacks! +To be kept shut up in this room! It was not pleasant to retire from +drill, riding remounts, giving riding-lessons, and leading a line in +driving exercises--all that had been so much after his own heart. And +this eternal scribbling would be altogether against the grain. + +If only he had a clever clerk, like Blechschmidt of the fifth battery, +who did not over-exert himself! But Käppchen was a lazy fellow; and yet +on Käppchen he must rely, asking his advice about all kinds of things, +because he himself did not know the routine yet. + +It was very late before he locked his desk and went home. + +His sister-in-law greeted him with news which did not improve his +temper. "The tailor has been here," she said, "and wanted the money for +your uniform, which you have owed for a month. He will come again +to-morrow." + +Heppner grumbled: "The fellow must wait!" He had no more money. It had +nearly all vanished yesterday, and to-day he had been obliged to give +the greater part of what remained to the women for housekeeping. + +With a surly face he sat down to his supper. + +"Have you been made sergeant-major?" his wife asked. + +He saw his sister-in-law's eyes too fixed on him questioningly. He +muttered, "Yes," to her, and then turned roughly on his wife: "What +business is it of yours?" + +She lay back, and answered gently: "I am so glad." "Really?" he +sneered. He cast a sharp glance at her and snarled between his teeth: +"Don't gush!" + +Then he pushed his plate away, tossed off two glasses of beer, and lay +down to rest in the bedroom. + +The two sisters remained together, the invalid stretched on the sofa, +the other sewing near the lamp. They heard Heppner snoring. + +His wife's face was in shadow, but her eyes blazed at her sister +and rested with an uncanny expression of hatred on the strong, +well-developed beauty of the young girl. + +There was a knock at the door. The battery tailor had brought the +sergeant-major's tunic, on the sleeve of which he had stitched the +double stripes. Ida took it from him and hung it up silently. + +The invalid watched her indifferently. A short time before she had been +mildly excited with joy at her husband's promotion; he had quite spoilt +this feeling for her. Now she was callous to everything. + +Suddenly she pressed her lips together and clenched her hands +feverishly. + +Had not her sister just handled his tunic lingeringly with a kind of +furtive tenderness? + +Had the scandal already gone so far? + + +Julie Heppner believed that she would die betrayed and forsaken by all; +but during her last days she gained a sympathetic friend in the newly +appointed deputy sergeant-major Heimert. + +Heimert had taken possession of the Schumanns' empty house. True that +at the time he was still single; but as his marriage was to take place +in a few weeks, the captain had at once allotted married quarters to +him. Now the deputy sergeant-major was furnishing the rooms and decking +the bare walls and windows with touching care. He would arrange and +rearrange the furniture, and would drape a curtain a thousand different +ways, and yet nothing was ever beautiful enough for him. + +On holidays he was seldom able to visit his sweetheart, Albina Worzuba. +At other times he devoted every spare hour to her; but she was the +barmaid of a small tavern in the town, and had no time to spare for him +on holidays. Besides, Heimert did not like watching how the guests +would go up to the counter for glasses of beer, and joke with Albina, +or even dare to pinch her cheeks. He had on several occasions made +scenes about this till the landlord had almost forbidden him the place. +Albina herself, too, advised him to come as seldom as possible. She +considered that as long as she was a barmaid she must be friendly, and +not too sensitive to the chaff of the guests; and if it pained him to +see this, it was better that he should remain away. And with an ardent +glance she added that when she was his wife he would have her all to +himself. Heimert had constrained himself to agree to this. + +On one of these Sundays it befell that Heimert was startled from his +carpentering by the sound of a groan. He went outside and listened; the +moaning sounds came from Heppner's quarters. He burst the door open and +entered. + +The sick woman had been left alone. Her sister had gone for a walk, and +the sergeant-major was doubtless at a public-house. Such neglect of her +had often occurred before; but this time she had suddenly been seized +by an attack of pain so severe that she thought she was dying. + +To die alone! With no one even to hold her hand; without a ray of light +from a living eye to brighten the dark porch of death! + +Between the attacks of pain she called feverishly and breathlessly for +her husband: "Otto! Otto! Otto!!" + +Heimert ran to her anxiously. He gave her his hand, which she seized +and held convulsively, spoke to her soothingly, and wiped the drops of +sweat from her brow with his handkerchief. + +He quietly gave her time to recover from her exhaustion, then said to +her gently: "Frau Heppner, would you like me to send to find your own +people?" + +She shook her head energetically: "No, no!" and whispered wearily: "But +if you would only stay just a little while, Herr Heimert!" + +The sergeant nodded, and remained sitting silently beside her. + +It was some time before Julie Heppner had the strength to explain to +him what had happened to her. While so doing she looked at him more +attentively, and was almost frightened by his ugliness. The coarse face +with the outstanding ears was made half grotesque, half repellent, by +an enormous nose, which was always red. What did it matter that two +beautiful, kindly child-like eyes shone from this countenance? Would +any one trouble to look for them in the midst of such hideousness? + +The invalid remembered she had heard that Heimert was going to be +married. In the light of her own unhappiness she thought to herself +that this marriage could only turn out well if the man had chosen a +woman as ugly as himself, so that in their common misfortune the pair +could comfort each other. + +As she gradually became able to talk to him she inquired about his +bride, and the enamoured swain raved to her unceasingly of Albina's +beauty and charm. + +Heimert now appeared to her as a fellow-sufferer; only she was about to +lay down the heavy burden, and he was but just going to take the load +upon his back. + +The two talked together as if they had known each other for years; they +were nearly always of the same opinion. Finally, the invalid invited +the deputy sergeant-major to come over often when she was alone; she +would always give him a sign, and he could bring his carpenter's bench +with him, the hammering would not disturb her in the least. + +After this, Heimert always appeared directly Julie Heppner called him. +He gained distraction from his jealous fits in this way, and he thought +the sergeant-major's wife a really good woman, who had been unfortunate +enough to marry the wrong man, when with another she would perhaps have +been happy. The brutality with which Heppner treated the dying woman +was revolting to him, and his sympathy with the injured wife gradually +inspired him with a positive hatred for the sergeant-major. + +The sergeant-major laughed at Heimert. "The Prince with the Nose" he +called him, and sneered at his wife about this "lover." + +"You two would have suited each other well!" he jeered. "You would have +nothing to reproach each other with in the way of beauty!" + +One day in passing he looked into the neighbouring quarters, and found +the deputy sergeant-major gazing at a cabinet photograph of his +betrothed. Heimert, startled, tried quickly to hide the portrait; but +Heppner begged to see it. + +He had expected to see a girl,--well, something like his wife, or +perhaps uglier, for surely it would be impossible for any one else to +fall in love with Heimert; but as he took the picture in his hand an +involuntary expression of surprise escaped him: "By Jove! Isn't she +beautiful!" + +From that moment he was always asking Heimert to take him with him to +see his sweetheart. + +"Why?" Heimert asked suspiciously. "Do you want to cut me out with +her?" + +Heppner laughed at him. "The devil!" he said. "I have two women in the +house myself, and that's more than enough. Surely one may make the +acquaintance of a comrade's sweetheart?" + +"And," he added craftily, "have you so little confidence in her, then?" + +Heimert burst out: "Oh, that's not the reason!" + +"Well then," said the other, "you know you won't be able to lock her up +and hide her when she is your wife. Where's the harm in my just saying +good-day to her?" + +The deputy sergeant-major was forced to agree that there was really +nothing against it. Moreover he was rather proud of having won such a +beautiful girl; he enjoyed seeing the sergeant-major's envious eyes; +and finally he said he would take him to Grundmann's the following +Monday. Grundmann was the name of the landlord of the tavern in which +Albina was barmaid; and as on Monday business there was at its +slackest, they might hope to exchange a few quiet words with the +girl. + +On the Monday evening appointed he met Heppner on the parade-ground. + +Heimert had made himself as smart as possible. He had put on his new +extra uniform, which he had meant to keep for his wedding, and had +forced his big hands into shiny white kid gloves. The collar of his +tunic was very high, and so tight that he could hardly turn his head. +Heppner, on the other hand, had only put on his best undress uniform. +He was in a very good temper and very talkative, whereas Heimert walked +beside him depressed and silent. + +They arrived at Grundmann's very opportunely. They were the only +guests, and the landlord had no objection to Albina's sitting at their +table with them. + +Heppner chose a place from which he could gaze undisturbed at the +girl's profile. She pleased him. She was just to his taste, this +full-bosomed girl with salient hips and rounded arms. In his opinion +her face was more than pretty; her eager, passionate eyes, and her +mouth with the full, rather pouting lips, on which one longed to plant +a big kiss, seemed to him quite beautiful. She wore her dark hair, +which was as coarse as a horse's tail, dressed in a new-fashioned way +which gave her a certain "individuality"; and, above all, she had some +scent about her of a kind that was only used by the most distinguished +ladies. + +Heppner was annoyed that she noticed him so little. She was quite taken +up with her betrothed, who was telling her of the progress made in the +preparation of the house, and she only gave Heppner a glance at rare +intervals. + +At first she did not talk much; but when, in order to say something, he +asked her where her home was, she immediately began to relate her whole +history. + +She came from Prague, and was the daughter of a shoe-maker--or, rather, +of a boot and shoe manufacturer--and, moreover, not of an ordinary boot +and shoe manufacturer, but of a Court boot and shoe manufacturer by +Royal and Imperial appointment, who did not work for just any one, but +only for the Archdukes and for the high Bohemian nobility. And she, +Albina, had always to write down the figures when her father was taking +measures, and so it had come about that a Count Colloredo had fallen in +love with her. He had wished to educate and marry her; but she had at +last refused because the noble relations of her beloved had threatened +to disinherit him if he married the "shoemaker's daughter." She could +never have endured causing him to discard his beautiful Thurn and Taxis +dragoon's uniform. + +Now came a pause in Albina's narrative, which however did not last +long. Next, she had fled from her father's house. Why? She kept that a +secret. And finally, after many vicissitudes she had found a refuge +here, where she was safe from her father. For he had wished later to +marry her to a master chimney-sweep, and although the latter was a +millionaire she would have none of him. + +In reality she was the child of a miserably poor cobbler; and after a +stormy youth she had brought her somewhat damaged little ship of life +to anchor in the small garrison town at the bar of Grundmann's +alehouse. + +Heimert waited impatiently for the conclusion of her romance, which he +had heard many times before. But if Albina had a chance of telling the +story of her life, she became like a freshly wound-up clock, which +ticks on inexorably until it runs down. + +She simply left unanswered the questions her lover interposed now and +then; and when he interrupted her to say that Count Colloredo had been +in the Palatine hussars, and not in the Thurn and Taxis dragoons, she +said crossly that he had better pay more attention the next time she +told him anything. Heppner, on the contrary, who appeared to listen +with interest, rose in her favour, and in answer to his questions she +launched still further into detail. + +And now she looked at him more closely, and took his measure with those +bright eyes of hers. But having brought her story up to the present +date, she turned once more to Heimert, regarded him tenderly, and said, +"Shall I not be happy with him, after having had such hard times in the +past?" + +A few newly-arrived guests now called her to her duties at the bar, and +the two non-commissioned officers remained behind alone at the table. +Heimert felt the sergeant-major looking at him, as he thought, with a +sneering, incredulous sort of expression. He was embarrassed, and began +describing figures on the table with a little beer that had been spilt. + +"Well, well," he began at last, "women are always like that. She draws +the long bow, of course--as to her origin and so forth." + +"Yes," answered Heppner; "girls love doing that." + +"But," Heimert continued, "there is some truth in it. Her father is a +shoemaker--was, at least, for he is dead now--even if he wasn't a Court +shoemaker. And he must have been wealthy. He only left her what he was +obliged to, and yet she receives fifty crowns interest monthly. I know +that for certain." + +"By Jove! that is over forty marks. You certainly are a lucky dog! Why, +she's almost rich." + +"Well, not quite that. But it is very pleasant, naturally. However, I +didn't choose her for that reason. I first heard of it quite +indirectly, long after I had proposed." + +Heppner was almost overcome with envy as he saw sitting opposite +to him this picture of hideousness, this perfect monster, who had +succeeded--how, Heaven alone knew!--in winning a beautiful and also a +rich woman. For he was obliged to believe that about her income. It was +plain that Heimert was not lying. + +As a matter of fact the barmaid did receive fifty crowns every month. +The money, however, did not come as interest on capital inherited from +her father, but was an annuity which a former lover had settled on her: +a good-natured, fat tallow-chandler, who had been with great regret +obliged to give the youthful Albina Worzuba the go-by, as his wife had +caught him tripping. He had sweetened the farewell for Albina with this +annuity. + +Albina was careful not to reveal this to her future husband. Why should +she? She argued that ignorance was bliss, and beyond everything she was +weary of the unsettled life she had been leading, now as waitress, now +as barmaid, or as something quite different, and she wanted to find +rest in an honest marriage. She could attract most men as lovers, but +as a husband she could only hope for one who was as simple and as much +in love as Heimert. So she had fastened upon him, and she had no +intention of endangering her plans by any unpleasant communications. +Prague was a long way off; and, moreover, many years had passed since +those days, and the money itself could tell no tales as to its source. + +Apparently the barmaid would have no more free moments. So at last the +two non-commissioned officers rose, paid their bill, and then went up +to the bar to say good-night to her. + +Now it was that Albina first noticed the full difference between her +future husband and the sergeant-major. As the men stood side by side, +Heppner was more than a head taller than Heimert. He was strongly +built, and, despite a certain fulness, he was well-proportioned; +strength, however, untrammelled, powerful, raw strength was his salient +characteristic. Heimert's frame, too broad and too short, and crowned +by its mask of a comic clown, looked almost deformed by the side of the +other. + +The girl's eyes rested with unfeigned admiration on Heppner's +appearance; and when she finally turned towards her lover, a scornful +smile played about her coarse mouth. But in an instant she changed it +to a tender expression. + +To Heppner she said: "I am glad to have made the acquaintance of one of +my future husband's comrades." + +"When you are married, Fräulein, we shall be living in the same +building," replied Heppner eagerly. "We shall be great friends, shall +we not?" + +And the beauty raised her eyes to his with a peculiar glance as she +answered softly: "Oh yes, I think so." + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + + "For now the time to pack has come, + And love is put away; + Farewell! I hear the roll of drum, + And may no longer stay." + (_Hoffmann von Fallersleben._) + +Towards the end of March Reimers was turning over the pages of the +_Weekly Military Gazette_ before dinner, when he saw the announcement +that his dear friend Senior-lieutenant Güntz was to rejoin his regiment +on April 1st. The red order of the Eagle was to be given to him upon +the expiration of his work in Berlin. + +Güntz to return! Dear old pedantic Güntz, who had so often and so +ruthlessly opened his eyes for him! To tell the truth, this friend had +almost passed out of his thoughts; yet now he suddenly felt a genuine +longing for him. + +During the past winter Reimers had grown much more at home in the +regiment, feeling as a wanderer returned. He felt himself freer and +more light-hearted, and his comrades seemed more congenial. Never had a +winter flown by so swiftly; and yet he counted the days till the 1st. + +He had made a special resolve to spend his evenings over his books, and +had plunged with renewed zeal into his studies for the examination of +the Staff College, which had been interrupted by his illness. And then +the feeling of loneliness had suddenly returned. But now all would be +well, now that Güntz was coming back--Güntz, from whom no difference of +rank or age had ever divided him; to whom he could speak straight from +the heart, and on whose sympathy he could at all times rely. + +Güntz's return was scarcely alluded to by his brother officers. After +all there was nothing extraordinary about it; every year some one took +up or left a post of the kind he had been filling. + +The ladies of the regiment made somewhat more of a stir; for one +question, which had previously been theoretically discussed, now became +suddenly of burning importance. + +Güntz had married in Berlin, _and his bride was a governess_. This much +only was known: that she was not even particularly pretty. He had, of +course, obtained the requisite official sanction, so that there could +not be anything actually against her family; but concerning the +reception into their midst of this young person, who had formerly +filled a "menial position," the ladies of the regiment felt somewhat +troubled. + +Frau Lischke laid the case before her husband, and begged him to ask +instructions of the colonel. + +"H'm," answered the major, "I'll do it; but I don't care for the job. +Falkenhein can be pretty sharp-tongued upon occasion." + +"Sharp-tongued?" retorted his wife. "My dearest, surely you are more +than a match for him there! And there's another matter. While you are +about it, you might just mention that stuck-up Reimers. This entire +winter he has kept away, quite without excuse, from all society. Just +tell the colonel that I don't think that proper in a young officer." + +Lischke was not as a rule shy or in awe of his superior officer, but +his wife's commission gave him an ill-defined uneasiness, so that he +boggled over his errand. + +The colonel let him have his say out. Then he began, in his somewhat +nervous, quick way: + +"My dear major, give my compliments to Frau Lischke, and tell her that +young Reimers is preparing for an examination, so that she will +understand his seclusion. For my part, Lischke, if Reimers had turned +up at every dance of which your wife is patroness, or which she has +helped to get up, I should have been surprised. There may be C.O.'s who +think differently; for my own part, so long as I have the honour of +commanding the regiment, such festivities shall only be obligatory on +those youngsters whose manners need touching up. That that is not the +case with Reimers does not, I hope, escape the penetration of your +excellent wife. That is my official view of the case; as to my personal +feeling, which I give Frau Lischke in strict confidence: it is that I +wish the devil would take all these everlasting balls and parties! + +"With regard to Lieutenant Güntz's wife, I beg you to express to your +good lady my very respectful surprise at her question. If the Ministry +of War has found no fault with the young lady, then surely the ladies +here may be satisfied. Perhaps they are afraid that one who has been a +governess may outshine them in wisdom? Well, of course, that may very +well be! I do not want to be disagreeable, my dear major; so please +make my views known to the ladies as tenderly as you can." + + +Reimers met Güntz at the station. The dear fellow had grown somewhat +stouter. No wonder, considering he had been away from duty for a good +year. + +As they walked away the elder officer looked keenly at the younger. + +"Reimers," he said, delightedly, "you look thoroughly well. African +traveller! Boer campaigner! Prisoner in a fortress! Which has suited +you best?" + +"Probably all three," answered Reimers; "the one counteracted the +other." + +"Was that so? Am I not the only destroyer of illusions? You must tell +me all about everything, won't you?" + +"All to _you_ certainly." + +"That's right. Well, to begin with, how does the garrison air suit +you?" + +"So-so. And you? How will you like this after Berlin?" + +"Oh, all right, I think. If not----Well, we shall see." + +For a while the friends were silent; then Güntz was about to speak, +when Reimers interrupted him. + +"But I must ask you, above all things, how is your wife, and where is +she now?" + +Güntz looked at him smiling. "She is very well, thanks, and is at the +moment with her brother, a parson in Thuringia. But you don't ask after +my boy!" + +"What? Have you got one?" + +"Rather! A fat little cub, as round as a bullet. Ten weeks old. You +must help us christen him." + +"Güntz, you should have told me." + +"Told you what, my son?" + +"That you were a father." + +"Why, there was time enough. Anyhow, it was in the _Weekly Military_. +So it is your own fault if you didn't know. But will you be godfather?" + +"Of course, of course, gladly." + +"Then next Saturday afternoon at five. Morning dress." + +Reimers laughed gaily. + +"Since when have you taken to talking like a telegram, Güntz? Are words +expensive in Berlin?" + +"Expensive? Pooh! Cheap, cheap! A hundred thou-sand for a farthing," +broke out the new arrival, with somewhat unaccountable fierceness. His +open, friendly face suddenly darkened and took on a grim, bitter +expression. + +"Well," he said, as they parted, "we shall meet again, very often, I +hope. So long, old chap!" + + +In fact, Reimers became a constant guest at the Güntzes'. He feared at +times that he came too often. + +"Güntz, old boy," he said, "tell me frankly, am I not a nuisance?" + +"How so?" asked his host, sitting up in his easy chair. + +"I am afraid I come too often." + +Güntz knocked the ash off the end of his cigar, and reassured him; "No, +certainly not, old chap. If you did I should not hesitate to tell you." + +So it came about that every Sunday at mid-day, and on every Wednesday +evening, Reimers found himself at the dinner-table of the snug little +villa, Waisenhaus Strasse No. 57. + +Frau Kläre Güntz, a little lady with a fresh, pretty face, and bright, +clever eyes, called these her "at home" days. + +"You see, Fatty," she said to her husband, "I am trying to follow in +the footsteps of Frau Lischke." + +She lifted her eyebrows and went on, sarcastically: "When you have only +been a governess you have to be so very careful. And it's difficult! +Sometimes I have my doubts whether I shall ever attain to the standard +of Gustava Lischke." + +She sighed comically and nodded at her husband. + +He threatened her: "Mind what you are about, Kläre. I will not permit +disrespect. Gustava!" he added, chuckling, and turned to Reimers: "We +were neighbours as children," he explained, "Gustava and I; but now she +denies the acquaintance. My old father--God bless him!--was a builder. +Gustava's papa dealt in butter and eggs; a worthy, most worthy man. But +now, of course, according to the new fashion, they must pile it on, and +Gustava's papa was a merchant." + +He laughed, and then went on, more bitterly: "If you weren't present, +Kläre, I should use a strong expression to set the whole dirty pack in +their true light. Gustava is unhappily only a symptom, and one +among many. And I tell you, Kläre, if you were to behave like her, +then--then----" + +"Well, what terrible thing would befall me?" asked the young wife. + +Güntz checked himself. He smiled slily. "Why, then I should make use of +the right which the good old law allows me, and administer corporal +punishment." + +Kläre laughed aloud. + +"Anyhow," said she, "the women really aren't as bad as you make them +out, Fatty." + +The senior-lieutenant would not agree: "Now, now, Kläre, I was within +earshot when all the divinities sat together discussing whether you +would have hands roughened by "service," by polishing glasses, washing +children, and such like." + +Kläre was a little vexed. "Well," she cried, "would you have had them +eat me up out of affection at the first go-off?" + +"That's just what does happen sometimes," said her husband. "The moment +Frau Kauerhof first appeared on the scene, a perfect stranger to them +all, they threw themselves upon her neck, and hugged and kissed her, as +if they had been her adoring sisters. Of course, Frau Kauerhof was a +von Lüben, the daughter of a colonel and head of a department in the +War Office, and you, my Kläre--shame on you!--were a governess!" + +But the young wife insisted more vehemently: "Now do be reasonable!" +she cried. "It has really become quite an _idée fixe_ with you that I +have not been received with due respect. I can only assure you again +and again that all the ladies have been most polite and amiable towards +me." + +Güntz growled on: "Geese, a pack of stupid geese!" + +"For shame, Fatty!" Kläre remonstrated. + +But he continued to grumble. "Has a single one of them embraced you as +they did Frau Kauerhof? Has one of them even kissed you? Has one been +really nice and friendly to you?" + +"Look here," cried Kläre quite roused, "I don't want any of them to +fall on my neck when they scarcely know me. And as it happens, one has +been kind to me, very kind indeed!" + +"Pooh! Who, then?" + +"Frau von Gropphusen!" + +"Oh, I am not surprised. I except her. She is not a goose. But she's a +crazy creature, all the same." + +"Fatty! Don't be abominable! What has the poor woman done to you?" + +Güntz rose from his chair. He took a few turns up and down the room to +work off the stiffness, and grumbled on: "Done? To me? Nothing, of +course. But she's hysterical out and out. That's it, hysterical!" + +Kläre warmly took up the defence of the accused woman. "You may be +right," she said, "but there's a reason for it." + +"Certainly, certainly," answered Güntz. "Her husband is--forgive the +coarse expression, Kläre--a regular hog. But an hysterical woman is an +utter horror to me." + +"I can only feel sorry for Frau von Gropphusen." + +"And so do I. But I don't want her to hang on to you." + +"She does not hang on to me," answered his wife simply. + +But at this moment a subdued wailing was heard, and Kläre instantly +hastened from the room. + +The men, left alone, dropped into reflection. Neither spoke for a +while. + +At last Reimers broke the silence. + +"I think, Güntz, that you exaggerate a bit. Senseless and silly +prejudices are not only to be found in military circles. Anyhow, +there's no good in running your head against a brick wall." + +"True," assented Güntz. "But if a dung-cart were driven right under my +nose, I should have to give it a shove." + +He resumed his perambulations of the room, and lapsed for a while into +silence. + +"Anyhow," he began again, smiling contentedly, "Frau Gropphusen may +come to Kläre for consolation if she likes to have her. I am sure my +wife is proof against the hysterical bacillus. Eh?" + +Before Reimers could answer, Kläre returned, a little flushed. She bore +the baby on a pillow, rocking him in her arms. + +Güntz answered his own question. + +"Yes, yes, she's proof," he said. + + +Reimers was thoroughly happy in the Güntzes' society. The atmosphere of +security and candour in which they lived influenced him unawares; it +wrought as a useful antidote when his spirit was inclined to soar too +high into the realms of the unsubstantial. He was much delighted to +find that his friend shared his admiration for his honoured and beloved +Falkenhein. Indeed, in this matter, the dry and reserved man sometimes +outdid his young fellow-officer. + +"There's a _man_!" he would say. "Head and heart, eyes and mouth in the +right places! A good fellow. In one word--a man!" + +This word was the highest in Güntz's vocabulary. The opposite to it, +until his marriage, had been woman. After marriage he naturally +excepted Kläre. + +How sick he was of the way people went on in Berlin! He could hardly +speak too strongly about the weaknesses of certain officers. + +Reimers did not hold it necessary to be absolutely blind to the faults +of one's superiors and comrades; still, he thought that his friend went +a bit too far in his strictures, and he did not conceal his opinion. + +"Dear boy," responded Güntz, "why should I not speak freely to you? Do +you think it gives me any pleasure that so many of our superiors and +comrades do not merit the respect which, as officers, they command? +This has nothing to do with their personal character. The only question +for me is: are they fit for their profession? If not, they are only a +nuisance in it, so far as I can see." + +"You used to be less severe." + +"Possibly. But when one has rubbed the sleepiness of habit out of one's +eyes one sees more clearly and sharply. Besides, take an example. +Stuckhardt will be a major soon. Do you consider him fit to lead a +division?" + +"No, he has already made a terrible mess of his battery. He won't stay +on the staff for a year, that's certain." + +"Why should he be there at all? I tell you he should never even have +been made a captain. What about Gropphusen?" + +"Ah! There you are! He has missed his vocation!" + +"Why is he still where he is then?" Güntz laughed grimly to himself. +"What ought he to have been?" + +"A painter," answered Reimers. + +The other made a grimace. "Possibly!----Well, thirdly, what of my +revered chief, Captain Mohr? What do you think of him?" + +"He has already got a knife at his throat. I bet he'll be sent off +after the man[oe]uvres." + +"He goes on drinking just as he has ever since I've known him." Güntz +sighed deeply. "And I tell you, Reimers, it's no joke to serve under +such a man." + +Reimers nodded. "I feel with you, old man. And yet half the regiment +envies you for being in the fifth battery." + +"Pooh!" laughed Güntz bitterly, "there you see them. They would all +like to idle under a sot. They just want to be where they think they're +least looked after. They may do as they choose; but I want to know what +I'm here for. If I have a profession I like to live up to it; I +consider myself too good to be merely ornamental. I tell you, Reimers," +he went on, "I was thoroughly upset when I joined the battery. The way +things go on there you would hardly believe. I wondered at first how it +could be kept dark. But there's a regular planned-out system of +hurrying things into shape somehow for inspection--fixing up a sort of +model village. And as for honour! Well, one must admit that they all +stand by one another in the most infernal way, from the respected chief +of the battery down to the smallest gunner, so that they'll rattle +along somehow. There's a show of some sort of discipline; but really +and truly it's just an all-round compromise. A man does a couple of +days' work, and earns by that the right of idling all the more +shamelessly afterwards. And that _I_ should be let in for this sort of +thing! Dear boy, you know how few palpable results, naturally, an +officer can show in time of peace; but still it's too much that one +should do one's duty with no possible chance of any _kudos_. Old man, +it's too bad! I can't stand it. I know this, that if it goes on I shall +quit the service, dearly as I love it." + +He glanced with deep sorrow at his dark green coat, and strode up and +down the room. + +"This is my only hope," he went on, with grim satisfaction, "that my +beloved captain will soon succumb to D.T." + +Reimers reflected. "You must allow that this battery's unfortunate +condition is quite exceptional. Let me make a suggestion. Provoke Mohr +to a quarrel! You'll be sure to be backed up. Every one knows he can't +control himself when he is drunk. And you can go to Madelung, or, still +better, come to us under Wegstetten." + +"That's an idea," observed Güntz. "But it won't do. For, in confidence, +Falkenhein has let it transpire that in the autumn I shall get my +captaincy; and probably--indeed certainly--I shall succeed Mohr." + +Reimers jumped up, delighted. + +"But, dear old chap, then it's all right! You'll bring the fifth out of +the mud. You're just the chap to do it! And your reward will be the +greater in proportion to the wretched state of affairs now. Jerusalem! +What a splendid division it will be! Madelung, Güntz, Wegstetten! The +best heads of batteries in the whole corps! Without any flattery, old +chap!" + +But the other did not join in his rejoicing. "Dear old fellow," he +answered, "you may think so. But I confess that it seems to me as if we +had got a bit off the right track with our whole military system; as if +Madelung's and Wegstetten's and my own work were bound to be labour in +vain." + +He stopped suddenly. His usually cheerful face had grown careworn and +gloomy. + +"How do you mean?" asked Reimers. + +The other sighed, and answered, "Dear boy, I cannot say more as yet; I +have not fully thought it out. I will first make an attempt to settle +down to the work here. I promise you, as soon as my own mind is clear, +I will tell you honestly what is bothering me." + +Reimers suspected moisture in the eyes of his friend, as they clasped +hands. + +Güntz went on softly: "Dear old boy, it's pretty hard when a man finds, +or thinks he finds, that he has devoted his life to a fruitless, +hopeless business! What is such a man to do? But it is possible that I +am right in my fears--and of that I cannot bear to think." + +"What fears do you mean?" + +"I can't help myself. I am often forced to remember that we've had a +bad time before." + +"Before when?" + +"Before Jena." + +Reimers started. The ominous word struck his pride like a lash. He drew +himself up stiffly. "Why not before Sedan?" + +The other calmly answered: "Sedan? Jena? Perhaps you are right, perhaps +I am. No one knows." + +After this conversation Güntz avoided such topics with his friend. If +Reimers tried to draw him again on the subject, he answered evasively, +"I have told you I must fight it out with myself. Until then I don't +want to talk at random." + +But for all that he grew calmer and more equable. The biting, sarcastic +tone he had adopted gradually disappeared; and it almost seemed as if +the mood had been merely a survival of his Berlin experience. + + +At Easter a small event occurred in the little garrison, + +During Holy Week Colonel von Falkenhein took a short leave of absence +in order to fetch his daughter Marie home from school at Neuchatel. +After Easter she was to come out into society. + +Reimers debated whether he ought not to pay his respects to the +Falkenheins during the holidays. Most of the unmarried officers had +gone away on leave, and on Easter Monday he was alone in the mess-room +at the mid-day meal. + +Finally he decided to pay his visit that afternoon. + +He was not in the least curious about the young lady. He remembered her +as Falkenhein's little Marie, three years ago, before she went to +school; a pretty, rather slender little girl, with a thick plait of +bright gold hair down her back, blushing scarlet when one spoke to her +and responding quickly and daintily with the regulation childish +curtsey. + +She was now just seventeen; still slender, and her little face framed +by the same bright golden hair, that seemed almost too great a weight +for her head. Beautiful clear grey eyes she had also; and Reimers +particularly remarked her delicate straight nose, by the trembling of +whose nostrils one could judge if the little lady were excited about +anything. She bore the dignity of being the colonel's daughter +with modest pride. She handled the tea-things with the style of +an accomplished matron, and led the conversation with a sort of +old-fashioned self-possession. + +Falkenhein never took his eyes off his child. Sometimes he smiled to +himself, as he noted how unconcernedly she did the honours to her first +guest, knowing well her secret anxiety to play her new part with +success. + +When Reimers rose to go, the colonel invited him to supper. The +lieutenant accepted with pleasure. He was sure that intercourse with +his commander would be of a thousand times more value to him than the +dry wisdom of books. + + +Hitherto when Reimers had supped at the colonel's, after the meal, as +they sat smoking, the senior officer would dilate on his reminiscences +and experiences. + +This time, however, there was a little alteration. Before a young girl +the two men could not discuss specially military matters. Nevertheless, +Reimers was not bored. + +When Fräulein Marie showed symptoms of beginning again in her quaint +universal-conversationalist style her father interrupted her. + +"Little one," he said, "leave that sort of chatter alone! Keep it for +others. Lieutenant Reimers does not care for that kind of thing. And I +know him well, I assure you, my child; he is one of my best officers." + +The little lady opened her eyes wide on the young soldier. "If papa +says that," she said gravely, "I congratulate you, Herr Reimers." + +The colonel laughed aloud. Conversation flowed fast and free after +this. The young girl could talk brightly of her little life, and asked +intelligent questions. + +She began confidentially to question her guest about the ladies of the +regiment, whereupon Falkenhein said abruptly: "Tell me, Reimers; you +often go to the Güntzes', don't you?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Of course Güntz is an old friend of yours. Do you know, I am much +taken by his wife. She seems to me to be amiable, straightforward, +sensible. We are neighbours; I should like Marie to see something of +her. But they keep themselves to themselves rather, don't they?" + +"Oh, not altogether. Only Güntz finds ordinary shallow society +uncongenial." + +"So do I, and so do you; eh, Reimers? But I see what you mean." + + +Next day Lieutenant Güntz and Frau Kläre called at the colonel's, and +regular intercourse soon established itself between the neighbours. +Marie von Falkenhein was secretly enraptured with Kläre Güntz and her +"sweet baby"; while Kläre took to her heart the fair young girl who had +so early lost a mother's love. + +From this time the social status of the former governess was completely +changed. Frau Lischke invited that "delightful" Frau Güntz to her +select coffee parties. But Kläre excused herself on the plea that she +was nursing her baby and could not be away from him for more than two +hours together. + +Later in the year, when the evenings were warmer, and it was tempting +to linger in the open air, the neighbours took to meeting together for +supper in one garden or the other. The occupants of Waisenhaus Strasse +No. 55 and those of No. 57 alternately provided the comestibles. + +Reimers was always free of the table. Once he triumphantly contributed +a liver sausage with truffles; but he was ruthlessly snubbed by Kläre +for bringing such a thing in the dog-days. + +The little clique was much censured by the regiment. Such familiar +intercourse, it was thought, undermined the authority of the colonel. +Nevertheless, people were eager for the goodwill of Frau Güntz. + +Thus it came about that Güntz had the satisfaction of seeing his wife +one of the most popular ladies of the regiment, and was able to tease +her with the new discovery that she was "exclusive, not to say stuck up +and proud." + +In reality Kläre had only become intimate with two of the ladies. After +Marie von Falkenhein she foregathered chiefly with Hannah von +Gropphusen. + +The latter was a real puzzle to her new friends. She was always +alternating in her moods from one extreme to the other. Sometimes she +would not appear for weeks at a time; then she would come down day +after day, each time seeming unable to tear herself away. Now she would +be full of nervous, overwrought vivacity, and again would sit perfectly +silent, staring gloomily before her. + +Güntz fled from her presence; he said she made him feel creepy. Once he +whispered mysteriously in his wife's ear: "Do you know, I believe she +and Gropphusen have committed a murder between them: and this terrible +bond holds them together, although they fight like cat and dog." + +But Kläre strongly objected to such jokes. "How can you tell what that +poor woman may have to bear? There may have been a murder in her +history; but it was done by Gropphusen, and on her soul. Joke about +something else, Fatty." + +The happy young wife entertained the warmest sympathy for the other +unhappy one, who always had the look of being pursued by some terrible +evil. More than once a sisterly feeling impelled her, not from +curiosity, but from genuine sympathy, to put a question to Hannah about +her sorrow; but she read in the sombre, hopeless eyes of the sufferer +that the burden must be borne alone; so she left Frau von Gropphusen in +peace. She listened patiently when the nervous woman talked ceaselessly +about a thousand different things, in short, jerky sentences as if to +drown some inner voice; neither would Kläre interrupt with a single +question the heavy silence in which, at other times, Hannah would sit +for hours, watching her as she busied herself with her little +housewifely tidyings and mendings. It was only in watching this +peaceful activity that Frau von Gropphusen recovered her equanimity. +Her face would then lose its unnatural fixity of expression, and she +would draw a deep breath, as though eased of a heavy burden. + +"It is so peaceful here with you, Frau Kläre," she said sometimes. "It +does one good." + +Güntz shook his head over her weird conduct. One thing gratified him +concerning her, however: it was that she admired his little son +unreservedly, and could be given no greater treat than to be allowed to +hold the boy on her lap. She would sit as though worshipping the child, +who, indeed, was no angel, only a quite ordinary, fat, chubby infant. +At such times her small finely-chiselled features would light up with a +glorious beauty; so that Güntz one day whispered to his wife, "Do you +know what the Gropphusen needs? A child!" + +And in his open-hearted way he once said jokingly to Hannah: "Wouldn't +you like a beautiful boy like that for yourself, dear lady?" + +At that Hannah Gropphusen sprang up wildly. Her hands shook so that she +could scarcely hold the baby, whom Kläre snatched from her only just in +time. + +"I, a child?" she cried. "For the love of God, never, never!" + +A look of horror was in her eyes. She held her hands before her face as +though to shut out something horrible. + +Güntz drew back shocked, and stole softly from the room, taking with +him the baby, who had set up a mighty howling. Kläre put her arm round +the trembling woman, led her to a seat, and soothed her like a child. + +Sitting motionless, Frau von Gropphusen listened to the gentle, +comforting sound of the words, without taking in their meaning, +Suddenly she sprang up and said in a voice of enforced calm: + +"Forgive me, dear kind Frau Kläre, for having caused such a +disturbance. It is wrong of me not to be able to control myself better. +Don't be vexed, or angry with me, but please just forget what has +happened." + +She began hurriedly to prepare for leaving. Her hands still shook as +she pinned on her hat before the mirror. + +"Let me go with you, dear Frau von Gropphusen," urged Kläre. + +Hannah von Gropphusen, however, was smiling once more; though in sooth +on her pallid countenance the smile had something of a ghastly look. + +"No, no, Frau Kläre," she assured her; "I am better alone." + +Once more saying, "Forgive me, won't you?" she departed. + +Güntz meanwhile had not been able to quiet the little screamer, and was +glad enough when Kläre took the child from him. + +"What is the matter with her?" he asked. + +Kläre shrugged her shoulders. "She did not tell me; perhaps she could +not. The trouble may be too profound, too terrible." + +"You have left her alone?" + +"She has gone." + +The senior-lieutenant looked out of window. His wife, with the baby in +her arms, came and stood beside him. + +"See!" he cried. "There she goes! Young, beautiful, rich, +fashionable--has she not everything to make her happy?" And shaking +his head he added, "Poor, poor woman!" + +He vowed to himself not to make depreciatory remarks about the +Gropphusen in the future. One thing, however, he felt he must impress +on his wife: "Look here, Kläre," he cautioned her, "you won't let her +hold the boy often, will you?" + + +With the returning spring Hannah von Gropphusen seemed to awaken from +her depression. She had one great passion, to which she eagerly +resorted as soon as the days became fit for it: this was tennis. + +In their small garrison she had no real match; the only person who came +anywhere near her was Reimers. He had, of course, been absent from the +tennis club for a whole year, and she was all the more delighted at the +approach of fine weather. + +Frau von Gropphusen and Reimers were always the last to leave the +ground, when the balls were often hardly discernible in the gathering +twilight. She soon found that her opponent had, during his absence, +come on very much in his play. At Cairo he had played with English +people, acknowledged masters of the game; whilst she herself, through +playing with indifferent performers, had lost much of her former +facility; so now they were well matched. + +Feeling this, Reimers played more easily and surely than of old, and +consequently had greater leisure to remark what he had formerly been +indifferent to--the beauty and grace of his opponent. + +Meeting her during the winter in society, when she was as though bowed +down by her secret sorrow, and took little part in the gay life around +her, he had thought her looking older. But now, in the budding +springtime, in the warm sunshine, animated by the game, she seemed to +have bathed in the fountain of youth. + +Her tennis costume--with which, of course, she wore no corset, but only +a narrow belt--was very becoming: a light blouse, a mouse-coloured +skirt, close fitting over the hips and not reaching to her ankles, grey +silk stockings, and white suede shoes guiltless of heels. + +The ladies of the regiment pronounced this attire "indecent"; though +not one of them would have hesitated to dress similarly, if it had +suited her as well as it did Frau von Gropphusen. + +Frau Kauerhof (_née_ von Lüben) had indeed once attempted to appear in +a like toilet, only her skirt was navy-blue. It was difficult to say +wherein the difference consisted,--perhaps her skirt was a little +longer than the other's,--but the whole effect was not so successful. +And yet Frau Kauerhof was a pretty creature enough; not exactly slim, +but rather of a blonde plumpness, and this was somewhat noticeable in +her loose shirt. The glances of the young lieutenants dwelt rather +insistently thereon. They were also able to make another interesting +discovery. Frau Kauerhof's calves began immediately above her ankles. +They were very fat calves. + +Furthermore, Frau Kauerhof's white shoes advertised the fact that her +feet were enormous. This the ladies decided with absolute unanimity; +and they begged Frau Wegstetten, the highest in rank among the women +tennis-players, to give her a hint. + +That lady shrank from the commission. It was unpleasant to offend one +whose papa was in the Ministry of War; and the situation might +therefore have continued, perhaps to the satisfaction of the younger +officers, if a fortunate chance had not brought Kauerhof himself to the +tennis-ground. + +He escorted his wife chivalrously home, and led her, without a word, to +the mirror. + +Her starched shirt was crumpled, and wet through with perspiration, +also her shoes were trodden all out of shape. + +"Dear Marion," he said, "I have no objection to your going to balls as +_décolletée_ as ever you please, for you are beautiful ..." and he +kissed her neck; "but I do beg you not to exhibit yourself like this +again." + +Marion coloured and answered: "Yes, you're right, Hubby! Now I know why +Fröben and Landsberg were staring at me so." + +Then she pouted: "But Frau von Gropphusen looked nice dressed like +this!" + +Her husband answered quietly: "My child, '_quod licet Jovi, non licet +bovi._'" + +"What? What does that mean?" + +Kauerhof translated gallantly, "You are prettier than the Gropphusen, +my Marion; but she is thinner than you." + +For one must be polite to a wife who is by birth a von Lüben, and the +daughter of the head of a department in the War Office. + + +Reimers was not, like his comrades, accustomed to spend the greater +part of his leisure in frivolity and flirting. It therefore never +occurred to him to conceal his admiration for Frau von Gropphusen. + +It often happened that he missed the easiest balls, fascinated in +watching the movements and graceful attitudes of his opponent. Her +feet, which even in the unflattering tennis-shoes looked small and +dainty, seemed merely to skim over the ground like the wings of a +passing swallow; and the most daring bounds and leaps, which in others +would have been grotesque, she accomplished with the easy agility of a +cat. + +Reimers asked himself where his eyes had been that all this should +hitherto have passed him unnoticed. He thought he had never seen +anything so exquisite. But Hannah Gropphusen would scold him when he +stood gazing thus in naïve admiration. + +"Herr Reimers," she would cry, "how inattentive you are. You must +really look after the balls better!" + +But when she noted the direction of his admiring glances, a delicate +flush would overspread her face and mount to her white brow, on which a +single premature furrow was curiously noticeable. + +"You see, Herr Reimers," she said, one evening in May, "we are the last +again." + +The sun had just set. A light mist rising from the river was faintly +coloured by the last red rays. + +Frau von Gropphusen rested her foot on a garden chair and refastened +the strap of her shoe. Reimers stood watching, with his racquet in his +hand. The stooping posture, though unusual, was so graceful, that he +said simply and with conviction, but without the least passion or +sentimentality in his voice: "Dear lady, how wonderfully beautiful you +are!" + +Hannah von Gropphusen bent closer over her shoe-lace. She wanted to say +something in reply just as simple as his own words had been; but she +could find nothing except the banal rejoinder: "Please do not flatter +me, Herr Reimers!" and her voice rang a little sharply. + +They walked silently side by side towards the town, by the footpath +across the meadows, and then along a little bit of the high-road until +they came to the first houses. + +Reimers was under a spell. He could not speak. He listened to the light +rapid footfall that accompanied his longer stride to the rhythm of her +silk-lined skirt as she walked; and as the evening breeze from the +river wafted a faint perfume towards him, he thought of the lovely +slender arm he had seen through the transparent material of her sleeve. +This perfume must come from that fair soft skin. He felt a sudden +longing to kiss the beautiful arms. + +Frau von Gropphusen avoided looking at her companion. Once only she +stole a glance at him with a shy, questioning, dubious expression. It +chanced that Reimers was looking at her. Their eyes met, and parted +reluctantly. + +At the garden gate he kissed her hand in farewell. She started a little +and said with an assumption of gaiety, "Heavens! what can have come to +us? On a warm spring evening like this our hands are as cold as ice!" + +Reimers hastened homewards, much perturbed in spirit. He was due at the +Güntzes' to supper at half-past eight. It had already struck the hour, +and he had yet to dress; for the colonel, who would probably be there +too, objected to see his officers in mufti, except when shooting or +some great sporting occasion was the excuse. + +He found everything ready to his hand. Gähler was very satisfactory and +most thoughtful, even to setting a bottle of red wine and a carafe of +cool spring water on a table. A glass of water with a dash of wine in +it was the best thing to quench one's thirst after playing tennis. + +He hastily tossed off a glassful. It cooled him wonderfully. He poured +out a second and drank it more slowly. The water was so cold as to dew +the glass, yet it seemed powerless to quench the fire which consumed +his throat, his breast, his head. + +He began to dress hurriedly. He had but a few minutes. He was ready but +for his coat, when suddenly everything around him seemed to vanish into +endless distance. He felt loosed from time and space. + +Mechanically he let himself slip into a chair, covering his face with +his hands and closing his eyes. + +He thought of Hannah von Gropphusen. How beautiful she was! How +marvellously beautiful! He thought of that one look she had bestowed on +him; of the silent question spoken by her lovely shy eyes. He guessed +it to be: "Shall I really be happy once more? Dare I hope it? Is it +indeed you who will bring me happiness?" Out of an unfathomable abyss +of doubt and misery she appealed to him thus. + +How unhappy was this woman! and how beautiful! + +The door opened. Gähler came in. + +"What do you want?" demanded Reimers. + +"Beg pardon, sir," stammered the fellow, "I thought you were ready." + +He held in his hand his master's cap and sabre. + +"All right, give them to me!" + +The lieutenant quickly completed his toilet, and hurried away to +Waisenhaus Strasse. + +His passion for Frau von Gropphusen increased day by day. He took no +pains to combat it. True, his beloved was the wife of another, of a +brother-officer; but he did not even in thought desire to draw nearer +to her, and, should ever the temptation arise, he believed himself +strong enough to resist it. + +Indeed, no words passed between them that might not have been overheard +by a third party. At their meeting and parting there was no meaning +pressure of the hand; only their glances betrayed the secret +understanding of a mighty, burning love: the deep sorrow of the one, +and the sweet, tender consolation of the other. + +Needless to say, the gossips of the garrison were soon busy over such a +welcome morsel. Since the Gropphusen's flirtation with Major Schrader a +winter ago, she had furnished no cause of scandal. All the busier now +were the evil tongues. + +It was not long before the subalterns began to make more or less +pointed remarks, half jestingly, to Reimers. + +Little Dr. von Fröben shook his finger at him, and let fly a solitary +shaft: "Aye, aye, still waters run deep!" he said. + +Landsberg actually congratulated him. "Happy you!" he cried with mock +sorrow, "as for me----" And he proceeded crudely to extol the physical +charms of Frau von Gropphusen--"that rattling fine woman," as he called +her. + +Reimers shut him up sharply. + +These attacks ended by opening his eyes to the comparative jejuneness +of his own outlook on life. + +"You are an extraordinary young idealist," the colonel had said to him +not long before; Reimers began to think so too. Concerning a woman +whose favours were to be bought, one might think as did Landsberg; but +not concerning a lady of social standing. It never occurred to him to +think whether Frau von Gropphusen was or was not high-bosomed; he only +knew that she was lovely. + +He would dearly have liked to knock down that reptile Landsberg. But +that would only have caused a scandal, which, for the dear woman's +sake, must not be. + +He avoided her somewhat. No one should speak ill of her on his account. +He absented himself from the tennis-ground, and when he appeared there +did not play exclusively with her. + +Hannah Gropphusen felt crushed. She did not understand him. What matter +if the gossips did amuse themselves at her expense? And with +falsehoods, too! She was used to it, and had a sufficiently thick skin +not to feel the stings of such insects. Was he going to turn from her +for such a reason as this? From her, who would gladly have thrown +herself at his feet, saying, "Leave me your love; I only live through +you"? + +A choking sob clutched at her throat. In order not to feel herself +utterly overcome, she went to all the biggest parties, and mingled in +the gayest company. She would be talkative and noisy, merely to make +him aware of her presence. A wild desire seized her to make him notice +her at any cost, even at the risk of wounding him; yes, she wished to +wound him. + +She flirted outrageously; uttering in shrill, tremulous tones loathsome +things which were monstrous in her mouth. + +One evening she lingered on the recreation-ground with Reimers and +Landsberg, to the latter of whom she, by preference, directed her +unnatural merriment during this miserable period--just because she knew +that Reimers hated him. And the booby Landsberg was deeply flattered by +it. + +They were resting a little before turning homewards. Landsberg had +thrown himself down on the grass, and was gazing fixedly upwards. + +Reimers disapproved of the attitude, thinking it too cavalier +altogether, and glowered at him. Unintentionally he followed the +direction of his brother-officer's gaze. + +Hannah von Gropphusen had seated herself upon a chair, carelessly +crossing her legs so that the grey silk stockings were visible from +ankle to knee. Presently she became conscious of Landsberg's regard; +she moved disdainfully, and slowly rearranged her skirt. + +Reimers felt furious. He longed to kick the offending youth. He sprang +to his feet. He felt he must break some-thing, destroy something, dash +something to pieces. Tremblingly he swung his racquet, as if to hurl it +at the fellow's head. But suddenly his arm dropped to his side; he had +twisted his wrist. The racquet fell from his hand. + +"What's the matter?" asked Frau von Gropphusen. + +"Nothing," he answered roughly. "Excuse me, I must say good-night." + +He bowed stiffly. All grew dark before his eyes. He saw dimly that the +lady had risen. + +For a moment she stood perplexed. Then she said in a much softer voice: +"But won't you see me home to-night, Herr Reimers?" + +"I am at your service," he answered. + +Landsberg hastened to take his departure, and the two followed him +slowly. + +Black clouds lowered overhead; now and then a gust of wind swept over +the fields. + +Reimers quickened his pace. + +Once only Hannah Gropphusen broke the silence: "You have hurt your +hand?" she asked. + +"Yes--no--I don't know." + +It was almost dark when they reached her garden gate. + +"Show me your hand," she said gently. + +Reimers held it out to her in silence. His wrist was a good deal +swollen. + +Hannah bent down suddenly and breathed a hasty kiss on the injured +member. When she raised her head again tears were running down her +cheeks. + +Reimers stooped a little. He seized her cool white fingers and kissed +them lingeringly. "Hannah!" he murmured. + +She tenderly stroked his brow and bent her head sadly. Then he left +her. + +When he had gone some distance he looked back. All was dark. A flash of +lightning shimmered on the horizon. It revealed an indistinct figure, +which was instantly swallowed up again by the darkness. + + +"Nothing much, old man," pronounced the surgeon-major, when he had +examined the injury. "You have strained it a bit. A tight bandage and +an application of arnica. You can go on duty, but you will not be able +to play tennis for the present." + +In any case there would have been an end to that, as the order to start +for the practice-camp had already been issued. + +Reimers learnt from his comrades that Frau von Gropphusen appeared no +more at the tennis club. It was said that she was not well and was +going away to some watering-place or other. There was much chuckling +over the news. "There has been a split," opined the gossips. + +Reimers did not care. He knew better. + +But the quartette at the supper-table in Waisenhaus Strasse did not +seem displeased with the way in which things had turned out. + +Formerly, if he came late to supper, and excused himself on the plea of +having been detained at tennis, there had been a fatal air of +constraint, which would only gradually wear off; sometimes even lasting +the whole evening. + +Now they received him at once with their old cordiality; they did not +believe in his sprain, taking it to be but a convenient pretext. He +made as much of it as he could. He showed the swelling; but, to be +sure, it had nearly gone down, and he still was not believed. + +Finally, an amazing thing happened. Frau Kläre had been taking a turn +in the garden one evening with Marie Falkenhein, when she was called in +to her baby. On his way out, Reimers encountered the colonel's daughter +alone. He said good-night to her politely. + +The young girl looked him full in the face with her clear grey eyes, +and said: "I am very glad, Lieutenant Reimers, that you have put an end +to that hateful gossip. It distressed me, on Frau von Gropphusen's +account, and also on yours, to have to hear horrid things said, and not +to be able to contradict them." + +Reimers bowed and withdrew, in his astonishment forgetting to take +leave of Frau Kläre. Marie Falkenhein had spoken so warmly and +heartily, had looked at him so kindly and honestly, that he felt quite +overcome. + +It struck him that the man who should win this maiden for his bride +would find through her an assured and tranquil happiness; there was a +sense of security in her steady gaze. Yet behind the clear placid eyes +of the young girl he saw the sorrowful orbs of the unhappy woman he +loved. He saw the heavy tears coursing down her white cheeks, as she +stood motionless in the fleeting gleam of the lightning ere she +vanished in the darkness of night. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + + "Now off and away, lads, + With merry sound of horn!" + (_Methfessel._) + + +The lithographed regimental orders for May 31, the Saturday before +Whitsuntide, contained the following announcement: + +"On June 3, at 6.30 A.M., the regiment will be ready in the Waisenhaus +Strasse to march to the practice-camp in the following order: Batteries +1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Corps of trumpeters and band. + + * * * * * * * * * * + +"On no pretext whatever will leave be granted for Whitsuntide. It is to +be duly notified to the troops that their Whitsuntide leave--cancelled +for official reasons--may be made good, so far as they deserve it, +after the gun-practice.... Night-passes may be granted for Whitsun-Day. + (Signed) "VON FALKENHEIN, + "Colonel and Commandant." + + +The news that no leave would be granted for Whitsuntide drew deep +curses from many of the recruits. They would have liked to go home and +exhibit themselves in uniform to their friends and relations. But what +was the good of swearing? they had to submit. + +The two friends, Vogt and Klitzing, were much upset in their +calculations. They had got on so well together that Vogt had asked his +father if he might bring his friend home with him. Still, it was only +put off; better luck next time! They did not apply for night-leave on +the Sunday, as neither of them found any pleasure in spinning round hot +dancing-saloons with any women they could pick up. Weise, on the +contrary, was quite at home under such circumstances, and had managed +to find himself a sweetheart directly permission was granted the +recruits to go into the town. It is true she was neither pretty nor +particularly youthful; but then she never failed to pay for all his +drinks, and when he had promised to marry her she had even bought him +new regimentals. + +Vogt had taken a favourable opportunity of begging Sergeant Wiegandt to +put him and Klitzing together, when, on the completion of their +preliminary training, the men were grouped into detachments. Wiegandt +had not only acceded to the request, but had taken them both to serve +on his own gun, the sixth; Klitzing, with his sharp eyes, as gun-layer, +or No. 2; Vogt as No. 1, whose duty it was to fire. + +And now they sat, this Whitsun-Tuesday, side by side on the +gun-carriage, with the muzzle of the gun between them; and when +Wegstetten called out in his clear, strident voice, "Battery, mount!" +Vogt whispered gaily across to Klitzing, "Now we're off!" as the long +procession of thirty-six guns and six ammunition-waggons began slowly +to move. + +It was not half bad to be riding along like this. Certainly, the +gunners' seats were not provided with cushions, and the guns were not +mounted on C-springs; but the shaking and jolting were not very great +on the smooth high-road, it was only when the wheels crunched over +newly-strewn rubble that their seats vibrated roughly under them. + +There had, fortunately, been a heavy thundershower on the previous +afternoon, and it had washed the roads clear of dust. Now the sun shone +mildly, the air was fresh after the rain; what could be better than to +get out into the country on such a day? Vogt and Klitzing rolled along +contentedly on their hard-seated chariot, between the white-blossoming +cherry-trees which bordered the highway. + +Their halting place for the night was a large farm, where were +quartered the fifth and sixth guns and the ammunition waggon, one +sergeant, one trumpeter, two corporals, twenty-one men, and twenty +horses. The farmer's entertainment left nothing to be desired. The +litter for the beds was thick and soft; clean sheets were laid over the +straw; and there were warm blankets for covering. For supper there were +two gigantic hams and many other dainties, a meal for the gods; and the +noble peasant had even provided beer and cigars. The second day's march +had a no less successful ending. Vogt and Klitzing were quartered +together on a cottager, and though the poor fellow did not even own a +cow, the older men proved right who had told them that the poor were +generally better hosts than the rich. + +On the third day the regiment was to arrive at the practice camp. The +country now became more level. The black soil gradually lightened in +tint; green copses gave place to pine-woods; stretches of barren sandy +waste land appeared more and more frequently between the cornfields. At +last a flat table-land was reached, bounded in the far distance by an +immense forest; and on a still nearer approach isolated white houses +could be descried on the forest's edge, while on one side a tall +water-tower reared itself high above the level ground. + +Captain von Wegstetten ordered his men to halt and dismount. The sixth +battery had arrived the first. + +Further back along the road just traversed and also on a neighbouring +highway the other batteries were seen slowly approaching. At length the +commandants of the two divisions arrived with their adjutants, and +finally the colonel with his staff. He received the reports of the +staff-officers, and then after a short interval placed himself at the +head of his regiment. + +The long line of men, horses and vehicles, with the band preceding +them, then entered the encampment. The sentry at the gate had to +present arms so incessantly that he became quite exhausted. A +considerable time elapsed before the last officer had passed in. + +The guns and carriages were taken to the gun-park. The horses were +unharnessed, and the knapsacks unfastened from the guns. Then the +drivers made their way to the stables, and the gunners to their +barracks. The quartermaster had pointed out his place to every one, so +that each man had only to take possession of his cupboard and his bed. + +The young soldiers, who had never been in camp before, gazed about with +much interest. Things, on the whole, looked very inviting. A wide road +with broad footpaths on either side traversed the whole camp, almost +further than the eye could see, and along it stood the barracks on the +left, and the stables on the right. The houses were all alike; in the +middle a square one-storied building, and running out from it a wing +containing lofty, airy rooms for the men, open to the wooden rafters +that supported the slated roof. At the back were covered verandas, in +which, during bad weather, instruction could be carried on and the roll +called. Beyond these outbuildings began the outskirts of the wood, +beautiful stately pines growing thick and close. The resinous scent of +pine-needles was wafted into the rooms through the open windows. + +"Heinrich," said Vogt to Klitzing, "this is just like a summer holiday +for us, isn't it? Isn't this air splendid?" + +The clerk stopped his unpacking for a moment and drew in a deep breath +of the invigorating odour. + +"Oh yes," he answered; "we can do with this all right!" + +However, it was not a "summer holiday" by any means, and the two +friends found that out soon enough. There was a lot of real hard work +to do during these weeks; but it was all done with a good will. Actual +gun-practice was a very different thing from that dull work in garrison +with blank cartridges. + +The magazine where the ammunition was stored lay at some little +distance from the other buildings, near the gun-park, and was +surrounded by a thick high wall of earth. One realised from this how +dangerous were its contents. But the store-men, who gave out the +shrapnel-shells and the fuses, went about their work as if regardless +of the fact that in each one of these lurked death and destruction. And +yet in every shrapnel-shell were a couple of hundred bullets that could +easily put a whole company _hors de combat_. + +The beginning of the gun-practice did not, however, seem likely to be +very dangerous. Only twenty-four shrapnel, _i.e._, six shots for each +gun, were given out next morning. It was a first experience, meant +especially for the younger officers, and Lieutenant Landsberg was to +command the battery. + +The men were very curious to know what he would make of it. The +affected young dandy was extremely unpopular with every one. Besides +which, he was clearly not blessed with much intelligence; for at +garrison-drill more reproofs and reprimands were showered upon him +alone than upon all the rest of the battery put together. Again and +again would Wegstetten's trumpet-tones ring across the parade-ground: +"Lieutenant Landsberg, you are not in your right place!" "Lieutenant +Landsberg, you are allowing too much distance!" The little captain had +sworn many a fierce oath as he galloped to and fro on his long-legged +"Walküre": "Lieutenant Landsberg! attention, please. What in thunder +are you about?" or "Good God, sir! don't go to sleep! Time's getting +on!" + +And to-day he was to command the whole battery. Wegstetten took the +precaution of accompanying the young man himself, so that he might be +able to come to the rescue in case of necessity. + +He was soon needed. The battery started from the gun-park and left the +camp, turning off the road and crossing the heather towards the broad +level stretch of the exercise-ground. + +Suddenly Landsberg's snapping voice crowed out: "Battery, halt!" and +immediately afterwards: "Open with shrapnel!" + +The men grinned at one another. + +Two or three of the gunners got down and stood there, quite at a loss. +They ought to load; yet the word of command, "Prepare for action!" +had not been given. And how could they load when the seats and the +limber-boxes were still locked, and when the gun was still covered? + +The clever lieutenant had forgotten the word of command that should +properly have been given before leaving the gun-park. And the best of +it was that he didn't even now notice what was wrong. + +Wegstetten, close at hand, kept quite still. He had taken his feet out +of the stirrups and was swinging his short legs carelessly to and fro. +His eyes flashed scorn as he looked at the hapless lieutenant. + +"Well, Lieutenant Landsberg," he said, shrugging his shoulders, "if I +were one of the men myself I shouldn't know what to do either." + +The lieutenant raised his spotlessly gloved hand to his helmet and +replied, "Yes, sir." But as yet no solution of the riddle had dawned on +him. + +Then at last the captain sat upright in his saddle, and his clear voice +rang out over the battery: "Prepare for action!" + +It put life into the men at once, and all set about their various +duties with the utmost zeal. + +Wegstetten turned to the subaltern, who stood stupidly looking on, and +said, "Well, Lieutenant Landsberg, you may take over the command again +now." + +Truchsess, the brewer, as No. 4 of gun six, brought out the shrapnel +very gingerly. How easily such stuff as that might go off! + +The old hands had gruesome tales to tell of accidents that had happened +during gun-practice. Once while being loaded, a gun had prematurely +exploded backwards, making a great hole through gunner No. 3, right +through his chest, a hole just the same size as the bore of the gun. As +the corpse was being carried away afterwards the sun shone right +through it; so that in the middle of the shadow cast by the body was a +bright round spot exactly the same size and shape as the bore of a gun. + +The brewer could not help thinking of this as he very cautiously pushed +the shrapnel into the bore. Klitzing, however, shoved it vigorously +with the rammer, so that its metal casing clinked against the inside of +the gun. + +"Now then, old fellow, easy on! The thing might go off!" whispered +Truchsess. + +But Klitzing only smiled, and the brewer sullenly thought to himself, +"Well, if that clerk has no use for his life, I have for mine, anyhow!" + +Carefully he pushed in the cartridge, and heaved a sigh of relief as +the lock slipped back once more. At any rate, it couldn't explode at +the back now and hit him. + +The battery now started again and went on at an easy trot to the +exercise-ground. In the midst of a luxuriant growth of heather they +unlimbered. It was a wonderful picture, the guns and the scattered +gunners on that peaceful sea of purple. The waves of blossom reached +nearly to the axles of the blue wheels and above the knees of the men, +and closed over the trail of the gun-carriage as it passed. The men had +to make their way through the heather almost as if it had been a wood. + +"Open with shrapnel! Straight in front! At the battery before the +guide-post at the edge of the wood. Third gun! Two thousand eight +hundred!" commanded Lieutenant Landsberg. "Fire from left flank! Fire +from left flank!"--that meant that gun six should begin; that of the +whole regiment it was to have the honour of firing the first shot in +this year's practice. + +Klitzing, as gun-layer, set the sight in a twinkling to 2800 yards, got +astride the box, and laid the gun in the right direction. + +The enemy's battery was not very hard to find. The young officer had +not been given too difficult a task. Far away over the heath, where the +sand gleamed yellow in the distance, six dark, rather broad patches +showed up against the light ground, each surrounded by smaller objects. +They were the six guns that were to be attacked, with the dummy men +belonging to them. It was Sergeant Wiegandt's duty to verify the aim; +he gave a satisfied nod, and then the word of command, "Gun six, fire!" + +Upon which the men sprang out of the way of the backward recoil of the +carriage, and Vogt, with a jerk of the body, pulled the lanyard and +fired. + +There was a loud report, and the gun rolled heavily back quite eight +paces. In another moment it was moved into its original place again. + +After a few seconds, far away on the heath, a light cloud of dust rose +into the air, as if a giant's hand had stirred up the sand, and +immediately afterwards--almost at the same moment--all the dark patches +disappeared in a dense grey cloud of smoke. When this had cleared away, +the dummies on the left of the gun had vanished, and the gun itself +appeared to have been damaged, as it was leaning over on one side. + +The first shot had hit the mark full. This simply showed that excellent +aim had been taken. The actual distance had corresponded exactly with +the calculation. Still, it caused great satisfaction. + +Colonel von Falkenhein, on his big chestnut, was stationed near by. He +had been watching the target through his field-glasses, and a scarcely +audible exclamation had escaped him as he saw the splinters flying +about through the smoke. + +Turning to the battery he called out a short "Bravo, gun-layer!" + +Wegstetten, who had dismounted near him, smiled. Well, at any rate, +battery six was all right, even when commanded by a noodle! + +The shooting went on steadily. Now the distance had been ascertained +the shrapnels were fired off by means of time-fuses; and they exploded +regularly each time over the mark, the little clouds of smoke showing +up picturesquely against the dark background of the wood. Over there it +was as if heavy raindrops were falling on a dusty road; everywhere +little columns of sand were spurting up into the air. + +After the first shot the men lost all nervousness. Even Truchsess took +hold of the shells quite courageously; and when the twenty-four that +had been served out to them were used up, the men would willingly have +gone on longer. + +In the criticism of the result Landsberg came out well. He had had four +good hits from one shrapnel--a very fair result; mainly due, of course, +to the luck of the first shot, which by itself would have placed all +the men belonging to one of the enemy's guns _hors de combat_. + +The lieutenant's face took on a self-satisfied expression, which seemed +to say: "Of course from me nothing less could have been expected." + +Falkenhein, who always kept a watchful eye on each one of his officers, +and who up to that moment had not heard much in favour of this young +man, thought it best to take down his pride a little. + +"You know, Lieutenant Landsberg," he said, "your commanding officer +made things very easy for you. As the youngest officer in the regiment +you had the lightest task. Remember that in taking credit to yourself; +and let me tell you that they won't build such barn-doors for you to +aim at next year!" + +Upon which he turned pleasantly to Wegstetten and asked: "Did you ride +over and see that target, my dear Wegstetten?--I mean the one that was +hit full?" + +"Yes, sir; the shrapnel must have exploded almost inside the gun." + +"I thought so. Capital thing, the very first shot of the year being +such a good one. No one like you for that, Wegstetten!" + +The captain smiled, much gratified, and modestly answered, "A bit of +good luck, sir!" + +But the colonel continued, more seriously: "Well, partly luck, perhaps. +Just one thing more, my dear Wegstetten. That gun-layer who made the +lucky shot--has he been ill? He looked pretty bad to me--like a perfect +death's-head." + +Wegstetten gave as many particulars about the man as he himself knew, +and Reimers added some information, Landsberg meanwhile standing by in +silence. + +"It is really you, Lieutenant Landsberg, who ought to be telling me all +this," said Falkenhein with some warmth. "You trained the recruits, and +therefore ought to know all about them." Then, turning to Wegstetten: +"If the man is as capable as I hear," he continued, "you might manage +to make things a bit easier for him." + +"Yes, sir," the captain hastened to reply. "I had been thinking of +employing him in the autumn as assistant clerk." + +This was not true. To think of such details so long beforehand was +impossible, even for the commander of the most efficient battery +in the whole army-corps. But it served its purpose. Falkenhein nodded +pleasantly: "Quite right, my dear Wegstetten. You have hit the +bull's-eye again! You see one can never deal with men all in a lump; +you must take them separately. Some best serve the king with their +sturdy arms and legs, but your gun-layer with his eyes and pen." He +then raised his hand to his helmet, and the two men parted. + +As they all repaired to their respective quarters they had very +different thoughts in their minds. Reimers was full of admiration: +"What a man is that," thought he, "who, with all his heavy duties, yet +occupies himself with the insignificant destiny of a poor devil of a +gunner!" + +Wegstetten's face wore a rather self-satisfied smile. "One must speak +up for oneself, and not hide one's light under a bushel! Better say too +much than too little. In doing one's superior officer a small service, +one may be doing the greatest of all to oneself." + +Landsberg said to himself, with a sneer: "The man prates about that +whipper-snapper of a gunner nearly as much as about my splendid firing. +And so that's the celebrated Colonel von Falkenhein!" + + +Next day almost all the men would have liked to go on with the +shell-firing; but the subsequent cleaning of the guns was not at all to +their taste. The smokeless powder left in the bore of the gun a horrid, +sticky slime that must not be allowed to remain there. This meant +sousing with clean water again and again, washing out with soft soap, +and then going on pumping and working with the mop until the water came +out again as clean as it had gone in. + +"Now, boys," Sergeant Wiegandt used to say, "if you don't feel inclined +to drink the water as it comes out of the gun, then that means it isn't +clean enough yet. So go ahead!" + +And then the drying afterwards! They had to wrap rags and cloths round +the mop until it was so thick that it would scarcely go through the +muzzle of the gun. If this were not done the inside edges and corners +remained wet; and one spot of rust on the bright metal--well! that +would be almost as bad as murder! So they had to push and to twist, to +pull and to drag, till the perspiration streamed from their foreheads. +Finally the barrel was thinly oiled; and the next day the firing took +place once more, and then there was the drudgery of the cleaning all +over again. + +Yet the men endured these exertions far better than the garrison life. +This was partly owing to the variety of the work; but, above all, the +greatest torment of a soldier's life had been left behind,--that +monotonous drilling under which all groaned, and the object of which no +one could ever pretend to understand. Even the dullest--to say nothing +of Vogt with his simple, sound common-sense--could see that the +gun-practice here in the practice-camp was the most important part of +the whole training. What the men had already learnt was now found out +practically. But where did the parade-marching and all the other +display drill come in? + +Here was Klitzing, who in the garrison had been looked on as the most +feeble soldier of the lot, now all at once distinguishing himself! Vogt +shook his head as he thought it over. + +He often felt glad that at any rate he was an artilleryman, for others +had a much worse time of it. A few days earlier an infantry regiment +had moved into the neighbouring barracks; and looking through the +palings of their parade-ground they could see the battalions +exercising. + +There was a yellow, dried-up looking major who was never, never +satisfied. He would keep his battalion at it in the sun till past noon; +and then after a short pause for refreshment the same cruel business +would begin all over again. The devil! How could a couple of hundred +men be as symmetrical as a machine? + +The artillery-drivers had climbed on to the fence. They were polishing +their curbs and chains, and laughed at the spectacle before them. But +to Vogt it did not seem amusing. What was the use of making those two +hundred men do such childish things there on the parade-ground? Would +they ever march into battle like that? He thought of how those dummies +had all been riddled by the bullets when a single shrapnel burst in +front of them. Why, it would be sheer madness! They would have to +crawl, to run, to jump--then to crawl again! That wasn't what they were +doing when every morning on the parade-ground one heard a continual +tack--tack--tack--tack, as if a thousand telegraph clerks were hard at +work. What was the good of all this senseless show, which only +aggravated the men? + +Their comrades of the infantry looked very far from cheerful, and +darted glances full of suppressed hatred at the yellow-faced major. And +when, dead-tired, they had finished the drill, and were putting away +their guns in the corner, they would curse the very uniform they wore +as if it had been a strait-waistcoat. + +Certainly it was not necessary to agree in everything with a +social-democrat like Weise; but there was no doubt what-ever that he +was perfectly right about some things. In the evenings, when the +non-commissioned officers were sitting in the canteen, the men took +their stools out on the open veranda that looked over the forest; and +then Weise would begin to hold forth, his comrades, either smoking or +cleaning their clothes and accoutrements, grouped round him listening +to his orations. When some of the men, fresh from the country, +complained of the hard work there, the endless long hours, and the +small pay, he laughed outright. + +"Why do you allow your landed-proprietors to treat you so?" he scoffed. +"Why are you so stupid? Of course if you won't utter a word of protest +you don't deserve anything better." + +And he explained how things were managed in his trade, at the factory. +If one of the workmen was unfairly treated, or if the pay was +considered too small, then they had a thorough good strike. They took +care to choose the best possible time for it, when the manufacturers +had the most pressing work to do. The trade-union, to which of course +they all had to belong, kept blacklegs at a distance, and they went on +doggedly righting until new terms had been won. Certainly the workmen +did not invariably carry all their demands; but a strike seldom ended +without their gaining some solid advantage. Yes, the workers had only +to show the world that they were a power; that they were not going to +be trampled on for ever; that they intended henceforth to have their +share of the profits which they had hitherto been putting into the +pockets of the rich, although earned by their own toil and sweat. + +Or Weise would reckon how much was spent in one day's gun-practice. +Each shot cost about fifteen marks; and the sixth battery alone had +fired about a hundred and twenty shots that morning. There were six +batteries in each regiment, four regiments in each army-corps, and +twenty-three army-corps in the whole of Germany. + +"Any-one who likes can reckon it up," said Weise. "In any case the +money would be enough to give every poor devil in the whole world one +happy day!" + +He pulled out a sheet of paper and read from it the sum that Germany +spent annually on her army. It made the men open their eyes pretty +wide. An incredible sum, truly, of which they could form no clear idea +at all. + +Sometimes one of them would say! "But look here, old man; suppose there +was war, and we had no soldiers?" + +"War! war!" said Weise. "What is war, pray? Who is it that makes war? +Do you want war? Do you want to have to go and stand up like those +targets out there and be hit on the skull or in the belly by the +shrapnel?" + +"Not I." + +"Perhaps you would, Findeisen?" + +"I? God damn me--no!" + +"Or you, Truchsess?" + +The brewer thought a moment, and answered: + +"No, certainly not. I wish for peace. But the French might want to +fight us, or the Russians." + +"Ha, ha!" laughed Weise. "Well, now, think about it a moment. Over +there in France are sitting together just such poor simple fellows as +we are here. Ask them if they want to let themselves be shot dead in a +moment without rhyme or reason? Do you expect them to say yes?" + +"No, of course not. But--but--then who is it who really does want war?" + +Weise did not speak for a moment, but laughed softly. Then he answered, +shrugging his shoulders: "Ah, that I don't know. Probably nobody. So +much only is clear: _we_ don't want it." + +During these conversations, Wolf, the lean gunner of the "old gang," +was always careful to hold aloof. He listened to the talk, but never +joined in it. When his comrades had gone in to bed, he would stay on, +gazing out into the beautiful night of the woods. No one longed as +fervently as he did for the end of the term of service. He, who had +been wont to grudge every day on which he had done nothing to further +the cause of revolution and social-democracy, was forbidden for two +long years to allow a word to pass his lips about what lay nearest his +heart! Yet he was all the more cautious not to commit any indiscretions +that might perhaps entail a prolongation of the hateful restraint. + +Hitherto he had had but a vague comprehension of the idea of freedom; +now he felt that he grasped it. Freedom! It meant the time after his +discharge--the time when he would no longer wear the soldier's uniform! +When, during these weeks, Wolf had been an auditor of Weise's covertly +inflammatory speeches, he had longed each time to step forward and +speak out too. He knew that his own words would have flowed far more +convincingly and more passionately than Weise's. But he knew also that +in such case he would only have the greater difficulty in restraining +himself afterwards; so he kept silence. + +However, the end was attained without his help. It was quite remarkable +how after such conversations these peasant lads and the others, who up +to now had heard nothing of socialism and labour movements, rapidly +assimilated the new and palatable wisdom, although no word of direct +propaganda had been spoken. And if this result was so marked in their +own corps, where the work was not very irksome or heavy, what must it +not be among the infantry over yonder, where any small spark of liking +for the soldier's life must be quenched by the deadly monotony of +eternal parade-drill! + +Not long before, a man had suddenly gone mad in the middle of drill. +What was responsible for this calamity? The sun, over-exertion, perhaps +an inherited tendency that would in any case sooner or later have +resulted in such a catastrophe? No one could say with any certainty. +But the men who had seen and heard how the poor fellow writhed and +shrieked, gripped their rifles tightly, and the same thought could +plainly be read in the eyes of them all. + +No wonder that the period of military service was extremely favourable +to the spread of social-democracy! Such sensational object-lessons were +not necessary; the circumstances of every-day life all pointed towards +socialism. + +Wolf understood the part that Weise played in the battery. It was +always the same. Each batch of recruits was a mixture of men from towns +and men from the country. The city-bred, even if fewer in number, +immediately established an ascendancy over the country yokels. They +were quicker-witted, and their town bringing-up had developed their +intelligence more. And just because of this they adapted themselves +more easily to the requirements of military service, so that they often +made better soldiers than the country recruits with their slower +comprehension. Most of them were entirely unaware that they were +socialistic agitators; they quite unconsciously imparted to their +fellow-soldiers ideas that to them appeared self-evident, but that for +the others meant an upheaval of their whole way of thinking. + +What was the use of searching every hole and corner of the barracks at +regular intervals for socialistic literature? They could confiscate red +rosettes and pamphlets; but how could they control transient, +intangible thoughts? + + +On Sundays the camp was as quiet as it was full of life on +week-days. The boundary-lines beyond which the men were not allowed to +pass without leave, were drawn round a considerable area. Within it +were three large villages; and on Sundays their taverns were thronged +by soldiers quartered in the camp. The enterprising innkeepers had made +ample provision for such crowds of visitors. They had erected wooden +platforms in the open air where dancing went on without intermission, +regimental bands supplying the music; and the amount of beer consumed +in one Sunday was greater than that drunk by the entire village the +whole winter through. Of course there were strong patrols set to keep +order at the dancing-platforms and licensed houses. As there were too +few partners for the soldiers quarrels were of constant occurrence, and +were seldom amicably settled; a brawl was the usual result, and at +times a regular fight. + +It was the custom in these villages to hire maidservants only by the +month, as sufficient work could hardly be found for them during the +winter; and there were also other members of the female sex--not +servants, but ladies who had taken up their summer quarters here. They +were the cause of much perplexity to the officers in command of the +troops. The soldiers would stand in queues at the doors of these summer +residences, like people at a baker's shop in time of famine; and then +if any of them were drunk and got a little impatient there was sure to +be a row. Censorious tongues passed severe comments on such +proceedings. The commanding officers were most anxious to rectify the +evil; but they could hardly post sentries at those particular houses, +and finally they got over the difficulty by bringing a little moral +pressure to bear upon the local authorities. These worthy civilians +achieved the desired end by the simple means of administrative +expulsions. + + +As the two comrades were getting ready to go out, Vogt asked the clerk: +"Well, Heinrich, what shall we do with ourselves? Shall we go along and +drink a glass of beer and look on at the racket for a bit?" + +"If you like, Franz," replied Klitzing. + +"Then we won't," said Vogt. "You ought to say at once when you don't +like a thing. I don't in the least want to go myself, and we can always +get beer in the canteen. We'll just walk a bit through the wood as far +as the butts, shall we?" + +Klitzing assented, and they waited till their comrades were off, then +strolled slowly into the cool forest. Troops of men were leaving the +camp gates to walk by the hard high road towards the villages that +could be seen in the distance. + +Vogt looked after the cloud of dust they made. + +"Can you understand what they see in women?" he asked. + +"No, indeed I can't." + +"You don't care about women?" + +The clerk shook his head. "And you, Franz?" he inquired. + +"Not I. At any rate, not yet." + +Walking on in the shade of the forest's edge they came at last to the +butts. The black, tarred, wooden target had been put up ready for the +next day, and cheerfully awaited the terrors of the firing that lay +before it. A little to one side of the principal erection a ruined +village stood out against the blue of the summer sky. It had been +purchased by the Government and left standing to be used for testing +the effect of shots upon buildings. + +The shells had certainly done their work. Substantial walls had gaping +fissures right through them; gables and chimney-stacks had been laid +low. Some of the houses seemed to have been set on fire by the shots, +and any wood-work spared by the devouring flames had been stolen and +carried away by some-one or other. No stairs were left leading to the +upper storeys, nor boards to any of the floors. Rafters and beams had +been hewn down; doors and windows with their frames had been torn out. +On some of the walls rude drawings had been scrawled in paint or red +chalk, with facetious inscriptions and obscene jokes; but from most of +them the whitewash had fallen, leaving bare the rough masonry. It was a +depressing picture of desolation. One could almost imagine that the +smell of burning still hung about. + +Vogt gazed gloomily at the ruins and said: "And that's what things look +like in war! By God, it's true! we must do away with war!" + +Klitzing smiled quietly to himself: "Yes, but who'll be the first to +begin?" he asked. + + +The regiment stayed fully three weeks at the practice-camp, and then +accomplished the return journey to the garrison in three days. + +The two friends were anxiously looking forward to the leave that had +been promised the men after the gun-practice. They were to start on the +first Saturday in July, and had eight days' leave granted to them. Only +very few had been allowed as much, and their captain did not fail to +point out in a little speech that this favour was due to their +blameless conduct at the practice-camp. + +It was one of Wegstetten's little methods, when he found good qualities +in his men and wished to spur them on, to make the meagre rewards that +the service held out to them appear in a specially brilliant light. +Regardless of exaggeration, he spoke of that week's leave as if it were +an extremely rare mark of distinction unheard of for years. And on the +whole he gained his object. As Vogt and Klitzing stood before their +commanding officer blushing with pride, they had the feeling that they +must thank him, and promise to go on doing their duty. They only did +not know how. At length Vogt plucked up courage and stammered a few +words. + +Captain von Wegstetten listened kindly. He had soon perceived that he +had to do with two worthy, honest lads; and, with his own ends in view, +he proceeded to inquire in a condescending way about their homes. When +it then came out that the one had invited the other to stay with him, +he praised them for their faithful comrade-ship, and took the first +opportunity of relating this instance of the fraternising of town and +country to the colonel, who liked such proofs of an individual interest +being taken in the soldiers. + + +The first Saturday in July was a day of excitement for the +turnpike-keeper, Friedrich August Vogt. He was rather annoyed with +himself for losing his usual calm. Why? because his son--his only +son--was coming home for the first time? Really, that was not such an +event as to put him beside himself in this way! And then next he blamed +himself for having thought it unbefitting an old soldier, and too +soft-hearted altogether, to go and fetch his son from the station. He +could not remain in the house, so he went to a spot on the highway +whence he could watch the railway. He could see the train coming in, +and the clouds of white smoke from the engine rising up from behind the +station; then he heard the whistle--but still nothing was to be seen of +the two holiday-makers. Could Franz be stopping to have a glass of +beer? No; now the two men could be seen emerging from the village on to +the broad high-road, their helmets and uniform buttons glistening in +the sun--it must be they! The turnpike-keeper drew back a little, so +that he was out of sight. Why should the boy know that he had been +staring the eyes out of his head in order to catch the first glimpse of +him? + +When Vogt and Klitzing arrived at the house he looked out of the window +as if quite by chance. "Ah, here you are!" and with a hearty grip of +the hand he bade them both welcome. + +But it was no use fighting against it, he could not take his eyes off +his son. What a well set-up, vigorous young fellow his Franz had grown! +Yet he was still the same good honest lad; that was written in his +face. + +And Franz's friend, with his frank open countenance, inspired +confidence at once. He looked, to be sure, as if he had never in his +life had enough to eat. He must be properly fed up for once. While he +was on leave, at any rate, he should not want for anything. + +The two gunners settled down very quickly, and nothing could prevent +Franz from going round the fields the very first evening while his +father milked and fed the cows. He had almost hoped to find something +or other left neglected because he had not been there when it was put +in hand. But no, his father had allowed nothing to go wrong anywhere. + +And now in the company of the two young soldiers the old +turnpike-keeper became quite a different creature. He realised suddenly +that the quiet, sluggish peasant's blood had not quite replaced in him +the old, quick-flowing blood of the soldier. He listened, fascinated, +to the tales told by the two gunners about their soldier's life. How +things had changed since his time! He could never hear enough about it +all. + +Then Franz came to tell of his reflections during the gun-practice: how +through the fence he had seen the infantry battalion tormented with +drill for hours at a time; how the dried-up looking major had foamed +with fury; and how the poor devil of a private had been struck down +bodily and mentally in the middle of it all. + +Old Vogt quietly heard his son out, although he was burning to speak. +Then he began: "Look here, youngster, you as a simple soldier can't +understand it all. But depend upon it, this drill is the most important +thing that every soldier must first be made to learn. For it alone +teaches military obedience, soldierly subordination, discipline. It +alone can give that unity which preserves a company from utter +demoralisation if one of your horrible new-fangled shrapnel bursts +among them. But for drill the cowards would turn tail without further +ceremony, and take to their heels; and in the end even the brave ones +would follow them. It is the drill that teaches them to stay on and +stick together." + +He held to it, in spite of all his son could say about what he had seen +of the kind of drill that the troops were kept at. + +"You could not have seen aright," said his father. + +The elder Vogt would not allow his son to put his hand to anything in +the afternoons. He always insisted on sending the two young fellows out +by themselves. + +"Be off with you, youngsters," he would say. "Take a walk, drink a +glass of beer somewhere or other--whatever you like. Enjoy your few +days of freedom!" + +Then the two young men would march off and let the hot sun and the +fresh air burn them and brown them. Vogt had shown his friend his +favourite spot, whence they could look out over the river to the castle +in the neighbouring town. There they lay in the grass. + +The peasant felt impelled to get up every now and then. He was +restless; he felt that he must keep looking at the fields that lay +around them. But the clerk lay quite still in the short grass, and with +blinking half-closed eyes gazed up into the summer sky. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + + +[Illustration: Reveille] + + +Baron Walther von Frielinghausen was made bombardier on July 1st. + +He had now got his foot on the ladder of military distinction, but he +felt no special elation at the fact. What signified this little piece +of promotion in a career which had now no attraction for him? + +Wegstetten had arranged that he should at once begin doing some of the +work of a corporal; but this, too, had its inconvenient side. When +merely a gunner he had always imagined that he knew better than those +uneducated fellows the non-coms.; and he had occasionally looked +forward to the moment when he would be put in authority, and would be +able to show off some of his knowledge. But now to command had become +more difficult than to obey, and there was certainly just as much blame +going. One was scolded as if one were a silly boy, and the men always +took notice of the fact. + +Only one thing caused him pleasant anticipations: he would have riding +lessons. But this, too, proved unlike his expectations. Heppner, after +his fashion, kept him hard at it. Like every recruit, he had to begin +with riding bareback; then after a time came the more difficult task of +balancing on the slippery saddle without stirrups; and only after +considerable practice would the sergeant-major occasionally allow him +to let the stirrups down. There were days on which he had more than +twenty falls from his horse; and at last it was always in fear and +trembling that he went to riding instruction. Whenever his horse dashed +away riderless after a jump, Frielinghausen rejoiced in the few +minutes' respite that shortened by that much the hour of his lesson. He +could never manage to go over a hurdle with his hands placed on his +hips; at every jump they snatched at the horse's mane. Heppner raged +over this cowardice; but storm and shout as he would, Frielinghausen's +hands were for ever clutching at his only means of safety. + +At last the sergeant-major left the long-limbed youth alone in his +incompetence. He had an impression that Wegstetten wished to hear good +of the bombardier, and after all, in the fire-workers, it would not be +necessary for Frielinghausen to be a proficient at riding. But the less +Frielinghausen knew about horses the more he boasted of his +acquirements, when once the riding instruction had come to an end. + +As soon as he was made bombardier he was removed from Room IX. to the +non-commissioned officers' quarters. + +Wegstetten thought to do his _protégé_ a favour by this; but +Frielinghausen felt no happier in his new surroundings than in the +company of the recruits. The mental atmosphere was hardly more +enlightened than that of his former room-mates. The service, horses, +and women: these were the chief subjects of conversation. They all +appeared to be great riders before the Lord, though had Heppner been +questioned in the matter he might have expressed a contrary opinion; +but every mounted non-com, thinks it necessary to be a bit of a +Munchausen. He would far rather be called a blockhead than be told he +cannot ride. Though, of course, Frielinghausen contributed his mite to +such conversations, on the whole he felt very much in doubt which he +preferred: the narrow interests of the common soldiers in Room IX., or +the well-meant rough good nature of the non-commissioned officers. He +rather inclined to Room IX. + +All this was changed when the non-commissioned officers' room received +a new inmate, the one-year volunteer Trautvetter. + +Captain von Wegstetten fully intended that his one-year volunteers, +like his whole battery, should be distinguished above all the others in +the regiment. If they behaved well he was most charming to them; if +not, then he was all the more strict, because he considered them young +people whose superior education laid them under the greater +obligations. + +All his labour had been in vain with Trautvetter. The one year +volunteer was a ne'er-do-weel, a drunkard, a debauchee, and a useless +fool on duty into the bargain. And he had command of considerable +supplies of money, which, being an orphan and of age, he could spend as +he pleased. + +All means had failed with him: punishment drill, being reported, +deprivation of leave, and being put under arrest. So at last Wegstetten +decided to send him to live in barracks. + +Trautvetter, a bull-necked, square-shouldered man, with a broad chest, +took this punishment with great equanimity. He arranged his belongings +complacently in his locker and looked calmly round the bare room. His +little eyes had a bleary look of perpetual drunkenness, which obscured +the hearty, good-humoured expression really natural to them. + +It was all one to him where he lived: was there not beer in the +canteen? and if one paid for it the canteen-keeper, despite the +prohibition, would let one have a case of bottled ale. The non-coms, of +course would drink with him; then they would all be a pleasant company +together. + +He was right in his calculations: none of them could withstand the good +cigars and drinks which he distributed freely. Even the sergeant-major +took to joining them; such a chance was not to be let slip. But the +deputy sergeant-major, Heimert, kept his distance; he was occupied with +preparing for his approaching marriage. And Sergeant Wiegandt preferred +walking with his sweetheart Frieda in the quiet evenings. + +A special relation soon established itself between Frielinghausen and +the one-year volunteer. Trautvetter had been a couple of terms at +Breslau, and the education they had both received gave them something +in common. + +Frielinghausen had a good time now. Trautvetter paid for him and let +him take part in his amusements and pleasures. It even seemed as though +Trautvetter had some honourable feeling towards the young baron, for he +sternly refused ever to let him join in the gambling with which the +drinking-bouts soon came to be enlivened. + +The one-year volunteer had his reasons for this. His luck remained +faithful to him with almost puzzling persistency. His little swimming +eyes seemed to hypnotise the dealer when they were playing cards, and +his big fat hands had nothing to do but to rake in the winnings. + +He had not the least scruple in taking money from the sergeant-major +and Trumpeter-sergeant Henke, who were usually his adversaries--why +else did the fellows play with him? but he did not like winning from +Frielinghausen. + +When the two non-commissioned officers had lost all their money, +Trautvetter had no objection to lending, and let them give him +notes-of-hand, which at last amounted to very considerable sums. + +He had not, indeed, any real intention of claiming repayment; but these +I.O.U.'s were very useful weapons in his hand, and it was not long +before the sergeant-major had to dance to his piping. + +Every night when an inspection was not expected, Trautvetter and +Heppner would slip out of barracks. As soon as the sentinel had gone +round the corner, they would creep out of the window, and make off to a +neighbouring tavern, where gambling and drinking went on into the early +morning hours. + +Heppner ground his teeth as he bowed beneath this uneasy yoke; but +there was no help for him. He already owed Trautvetter more than a +thousand marks; and the one-year volunteer now became less willing to +lend, and caused the sergeant-major endless vexation and trouble. He +would suddenly demand to be made corporal, or to be given a couple of +weeks' leave: demands which it was quite impossible to grant. But if +Heppner pointed this out to him, he would flourish the notes-of-hand +under the sergeant-major's nose and threaten to lay them before +Wegstetten. + +Heppner could think of no other way of escape than the chance of a +sudden stroke of luck. Of course, however, he needed money in order to +go on playing. He himself had no more, and nobody would lend to him. + +At last he fell back on the cash-box of the battery. From time to time +he replaced a portion of what he had taken, but the deficit +nevertheless became greater and greater. + + +One morning, in the beginning of August, Wegstetten said to +him: "Sergeant Heppner, have the one-year volunteers paid their +board-money?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"All right. Then get your cash-box ready for settling up accounts. I am +just going over to headquarters, and you can have the money and the +books for me when I return." + +Heppner hardly had the strength to reply with the usual "Very good, +sir." + +More than a hundred marks was missing from the box. Time pressed; +Wegstetten might be back again in half an hour. + +He went to find Heimert. Heimert was no friend to him, he knew; but he +had always been a good comrade. + +The deputy sergeant-major was away at the big parade-ground with the +pioneers. That was half-an-hour's distance. + +Trautvetter, where was Trautvetter? + +At last he discovered him in the canteen. + +"Trautvetter, you must lend me a hundred marks!" said the +sergeant-major breathlessly. + +"Must?" asked the one-year volunteer sarcastically. "Must? Not if I +know it!" + +Heppner had dragged him out of the canteen into the empty vestibule. + +"Yes, yes, you must, Trautvetter!" he repeated. + +Trautvetter now perceived the disturbed mien of the sergeant-major. +Something very particular must have happened, that was clear; and in +such case he could not refuse to help. For it was no part of his plan +to push this man to extremity. + +"What's up?" he asked. + +Heppner murmured, with some confusion: "Settling up accounts, all of a +sudden--there is some money missing; of course I had meant to replace +it." + +Trautvetter understood, and was beginning to pull out his purse, but he +suddenly hesitated. + +"Why, I have got no money left!" he cried in dismay. "Must it be at +once? To-morrow afternoon you can have as much as you want." + +"No, no, at once! Wegstetten has only just gone over to headquarters +for a minute." + +"Damnation! What are we to do?" + +The sergeant-major believed Trautvetter was doing this on purpose. He +became more insistent, and implored: "Trautvetter, for heaven's sake +help me just for once! I beg of you! I beg of you! lend me the money!" + +With a shrug the volunteer held out his open purse. There were only a +few silver pieces in it. + +"You can see for yourself, Herr Heppner," he said. "I am not the sort +of fellow to leave you in the lurch like that." + +But Heppner could not yet believe him. He begged and threatened. At +last the great big fellow threw himself on the ground and clung round +Trautvetter's knees: "Just this once, just this once!" + +The volunteer pushed him roughly away. The sight of the blubbering +giant revolted him. + +"Stand up, Heppner!" he insisted. "All this is no good. I would give +you the money, but God knows I have none at the moment. Let us consider +how we can get out of this." + +The sergeant-major stood up again, and looked at him in suspense. + +Suddenly Trautvetter pointed to the canteen: "He must lend us +something," he whispered. + +But the canteen-keeper objected to this. Even when Trautvetter offered +him ten, twenty marks for the loan, he remained obstinate. + +The volunteer struck the counter furiously. + +"Pig-headed fool!" he cried. "Will you do it for fifty?" + +The canteen-keeper hesitated. He had settled up the day before; there +was not much risk for him, and fifty marks----! + +"Give me your note-of-hand," he demanded, + +And Trautvetter wrote him an I.O.U. for one hundred and fifty marks. + +Heppner took the money, and when Wegstetten came into the orderly-room +he found the sergeant-major counting over his cash. + + +This event made a powerful impression on the one-year volunteer. From +the moment when Heppner had lain grovelling on the ground before +him a thorough change came over Trautvetter. The whole scene had +been unspeakably revolting to him; he was seized with a grim horror +on his own account too. Half unconsciously the sight of the big +imposing-looking man clamouring and petitioning on his knees made +Trautvetter suddenly realise how near he himself stood to a similar +degradation. + +The next morning he gave the sergeant-major back his notes-of-hand. + +Heppner coloured. "Why is this?" he asked. "Perhaps I shall be able to +pay them up." + +But Trautvetter answered quietly, "No, never mind! I only won the money +from you in play, and gambling debts are not legally reclaimable. I +ought never to have lent you the money in the first place." Then +suddenly Trautvetter assumed a severely respectful manner, and added, +"I should like to ask you something, sir; and that is that you would +promise me never to play again." + +Heppner looked at him, astonished. Was all this irksome dependence on +one of his subordinates, this degradation before the whole battery, +really to come to an end? He could scarcely believe that any one could +be so generous. But he could see that the one-year volunteer was in +earnest, not simply making fun of him. + +"Yes, I promise you, Trautvetter," he said firmly. "I will not play any +more." + +And for the moment he meant what he said; he felt that this was the +right minute for making good resolutions and turning over a new leaf. + +Some days later Wegstetten asked him: "How is the one-year volunteer +Trautvetter behaving? I have been quite pleased with him on duty these +last few days." + +And Heppner answered: "He has been much more steady, sir; there has +been no fault to find with him." + +The commander of the battery nodded, well pleased. + +"You see, sergeant," he said, "my plan has been a success. I think we +will let him out of barracks again. You can tell him so." + + +Trautvetter had also returned all his notes-of-hand to his other +debtor, Trumpeter-sergeant Henke. + +The cornet-player did not feel constrained to any special feeling of +gratitude for this. He had never had the smallest intention of repaying +the money, some hedge-lawyer having advised him of the fact that +gambling debts were not legally recoverable. + +Why therefore should he be grateful? + +Lisbeth, on the contrary, his pretty fair-haired wife, was profoundly +touched by Trautvetter's generosity. + +"Dear, dear!" she sighed, "what a kind good man that volunteer must be, +to give away such a lot of money!" + +The trumpeter laughed at her: "Silly goose!" he said, "haven't I told +you that they were gambling debts, and he could never have claimed +them?" + +"Well," remarked Lisbeth, "there were others too. Your new uniform was +bought with the borrowed money, your beautiful patent leather shoes +too, and half-a-dozen pairs of white gloves." + +Her husband did not care to remember this: "Hold your tongue!" he +growled; but his pretty wife insisted: "No, no, he must be a good kind +man!" + +"A drunken fat pig, that's what he is!" said Henke. "You can see that +at a glance." + +"That's as may be," replied Lisbeth calmly; and she proceeded to set +forth to her wondering husband a plan she had conceived for increasing +the financial resources of the household. + +She would do fine washing and ironing for the one-year volunteers; and +he, Henke, should arrange it with them. + +Henceforth the young wife spent her days over the wash-tub and the +ironing-board. She found plenty to do; for the young men liked to have +their things brought home by a lovely little person like the +trumpeter's wife, in her neat fresh attire. + +A special friendship soon established itself between her and +Trautvetter. She looked upon the plump volunteer as a good-natured +person, who did not, at any rate now, show any of the evil +characteristics imputed to him by her husband. He looked rather +embarrassed when she thanked him heartily for giving back the +notes-of-hand; and as he was acquainted with her husband's weaknesses +it came to pass that they often talked about Henke. The woman felt a +need of speaking out to some one about her husband, and Trautvetter +gave her the best advice he could. + +The young woman pleased him with her industrious, intelligent ways. +Formerly he would probably have thoughtlessly tried to seduce her; but +now he felt an involuntary respect for her diligent activity, and her +love for her husband impressed him. + +The trumpeter soon became aware that his wife had a certain influence +over the one-year volunteer, and he immediately used this discovery to +make Lisbeth a means of obtaining further small loans of money. + +Lisbeth was ashamed of the deception this entailed upon her; she always +refused to undertake the commission, but on each occasion Henke managed +to prevail upon her to do so. Then when she brought him the money he +would laugh sarcastically. It was capital to have a pretty wife who +could manage things so nicely. He had no need even to be jealous; she +was helplessly in love with himself! + +But in the course of time his wife's eyes were opened. She learnt to +examine her husband more closely, and saw through him more clearly +every day. How blind she had been! Now that her perceptions were +sharpened her fondness suddenly disappeared, and nothing remained but a +dim feeling of duty towards him. She would at any rate make good the +wrong she had done to Trautvetter in her foolish adoration for her +husband, and would not conceal the truth from the one-year volunteer. +She said nothing about a new request for money with which Henke had +charged her, but confessed to him instead that all he had already given +her for housekeeping and such-like had been appropriated by her +husband, who had used it to buy himself a gold watch-chain, an extra +sword, and silver spurs. + +Trautvetter looked down upon her fair head. She had hung down her +blushing face and would not look up at him. + +"I thought as much," he said. + +Without raising her eyes she asked: "Then why did you do it?" + +Trautvetter hesitated a moment, then he said gently: "I thought I was +doing you a pleasure, Frau Lisbeth." + +The young woman looked him full in the face for an instant. Then she +stood up quickly, took her washing-basket, and departed. + +Henke had been awaiting her at home anxiously. He had just engaged in a +love-affair with a music-hall singer, who had been entertaining the +country people of the neighbourhood with her ditties during the August +cattle-market season. "Countess Miramara" was a great success on the +boards, for her costume reached upwards and downwards only just as far +as was absolutely necessary; but she repelled the advances of the +farmers, though they jingled persuasively the coin they had received in +exchange for their oxen and pigs. She preferred to distinguish with her +favour the handsome black-bearded trumpeter. + +Henke now wanted to show himself a gallant lover. He intended to +present the countess with a bracelet. + +"Give me the money!" he cried to Lisbeth when she entered. + +"I have none," she replied. "Trautvetter won't give me any more." + +Henke tugged at his beard. This was a fatal upset to his calculations. +What would the countess say if he broke his promise? + +He began quietly; "Oh, yes, he'll give you some! You must just be a bit +nice to him." + +Lisbeth looked surprised. "What do you mean?" she said. + +"Well, you women can always manage a man if you only want to, don't you +see? Just be really nice to him. It's all the same to me." And he left +the room, much put out. + +His pretty wife shook her head thoughtfully. What had he meant by "a +bit nice"? + +Going into the town on an errand she met the one-year volunteer. They +walked part of the way together. Lisbeth had forgotten her +embarrassment, and chattered away gaily. + +Suddenly she remembered her husband's incomprehensible words, and she +began, smilingly; "Do you know, Herr Trautvetter, what my husband has +just been saying to me, that I was to be really nice to you. Have I not +been nice then?" + +"What did he mean by that?" Trautvetter asked sharply. + +"Well," she laughed, "I ought to have taken back some more money +to-day. But I never mean to do that again. And then he said that if I +were only really nice to you, you would give me lots of money." + +She started, so violently had the man struck his sword upon the ground, +and he looked at her quite red and angry. + +"Just like the low brute!" he cried. + +"What! What do you mean?" + +Trautvetter could not contain his wrath. He blurted out: "Don't you +know, Frau Lisbeth, what he meant?--that you should take me for a +lover!" + +She met his glance with a straight look; then she hung her head, and +walked dumbly beside him. + +"I will go back," she said suddenly. + +He took her hand and begged: "Forgive me, Frau Lisbeth! please!" + +She nodded silently and turned back on the road they had just +traversed. + +In her little sitting-room she sank limply into a chair. The windows +were wide open; she heard the rippling of the brook, and the insects +humming and buzzing in the big willow. At last she roused herself. She +must be certain if Trautvetter was right in his suspicion, and that +would need cunning. Her plan was soon made; it was very simple: she +need only behave as if she had been following her husband's hint, then +he would have to declare himself. + +"Henke," she began that evening, "Trautvetter has made a proposal +to-day. As soon as he has finished his service he is going to buy a +place in the country, far away from here, and he wants me to keep house +for him. If you agree, then you shall have a hundred marks a month." + +Henke was silent for a time; he was in some doubt what he should say to +this. Lisbeth was so queer and cold, almost uncanny; but on the other +hand she did not seem to be the least annoyed. + +In a tone of would-be resignation he said at last: "Well, Lisbeth, if +you don't love me any more, if you think it's for your happiness, and +you like to leave me----" he stopped. + +His wife was suddenly standing before him, deathly pale. She shook her +trembling clasped hands in his face, and spat contemptuously on the +boards in front of him. Then she fled from the room. + +He looked after her stupefied. + +"So she's gone!" he muttered. Well, it was no use being too tragic over +it. Either Lisbeth would be reasonable again, or----he was free of her. + +There was a third possibility. + +Countess Miramara had assured him that he could make an enormous +fortune if he would go on the stage as a cornet-player. To-morrow she +was going off to Bohemia. Suppose he were to join her? He did not +trouble himself about desertion: he had got his papers all right, and +desertion was not a crime for which one could be extradited. Austria +was a big place and a merry; so the countess asserted. And there was +Hungary too. + +Really that would be the best thing to do. + +Next day Henke was over the border. He had already converted all his +property into gold, and only took his trumpet with him. In place of his +artilleryman's coat he wore a gorgeous fancy uniform, which showed off +to the best advantage the excellences of his person. Evening after +evening he performed his most admired pieces. + +And he became a favourite with all the ladies. + + +Frau Lisbeth, however, obtained the dissolution of her marriage on the +ground of malicious desertion. + +At first she thought of furnishing a little shop in the town and +setting up a laundry; but Trautvetter begged her rather to go into +service for a time. + +"Why?" asked she. + +He found some difficulty in answering her. At last he came out with: + +"I am very fond of you, Frau Lisbeth; and if you could make up your +mind to it I should like to ask you if you would have me." + +Lisbeth smiled a little, and then said, "You may ask me that now!" + +Her voice sounded honest and friendly. + +Trautvetter took her hand in his and said: "Then that's all right!" + +But she continued gaily and cheerfully: "Besides, in any case, I should +have ended by being your mistress." + +"Oh, no!" said Trautvetter. "Under certain circumstances I prefer a +wife." + + +Despite the warmth of the August sun, Julie Heppner grew worse day by +day; but this was nothing to her in comparison with the burden of +mental suffering which almost overwhelmed her. + +She watched her husband and sister with a gaze that never faltered. She +saw with horror how Ida became less shy of her and abandoned herself +more and more to her passion. Nor was this hidden from her husband. He +noticed with cynical satisfaction how the young girl's power of +resistance diminished. The desired fruit must soon fall into his hands +almost of itself. + +Soon, under cover of the playful teasing which went on between the +sergeant-major and his sister-in-law, even in the presence of the +invalid wife, he began to indulge in passionate, lustful touches and +covert embraces which brought the blood to the girl's face and made her +shiver. + +She resented Julie's reproaches with the hard, insensitive egoism of +one in love. What! Did this wretched moribund creature still think to +claim the man whom she, the fresh, young girl, loved, and who loved her +in return? + +Julie laughed bitterly to herself. Would it not be best to resign +herself to it, to close her eyes, and to await the deliverance of +Death? + +Oh, no! She could not endure this shameless insult which they both, as +it were, hurled in her face. She racked her brain as to how she could +revenge herself on them; but in vain. Most terrible of all was it to +feel that though still alive she was virtually dead already, as +powerless and helpless as a corpse! + +Then the worst happened. + +The sergeant-major and his sister-in-law were invited to a _fête_ which +the military society, "The Fellow-Soldiers of 1870-1," were arranging +in memory of the battle of St. Privat. + +The programme included music, theatricals, and dancing. Towards +evening a fanfare of trumpets summoned the guests to the festival-play. +Even in the garden under the lime-trees the heat of the summer sun had +been great, and in the confined space of the overcrowded hall it became +unbearably intense. The rows of chairs were placed much too close +together, in order to accommodate the large audience. Once seated, +it was impossible to move; one remained wedged in between one's +neighbours. + +Shortly before the curtain was raised, Heppner and Ida discovered two +empty chairs. The sergeant-major sat down first. The narrow space +then left on the neighbouring chair was far too small for the girl's +fully-developed hips. + +Consequently his sister-in-law was almost sitting on his knee. He felt +the warmth of her blood and her firm limbs through her thin cotton +skirt. They were pressed close to one another in the darkened room. +Drops of sweat gathered on their brows, and their breath came gaspingly +and with difficulty. But, as if by mutual consent, they did not move a +limb. They were hearing nothing but the voice of their blood, and in +the close contact they could distinctly feel the pulse-beats. + +Neither of them took in a word of the play which was being performed on +the stage. + +At last the singing of the National Anthem announced the end of the +piece. The spectators breathed sighs of relief and pushed patiently and +slowly through the narrow doors out into the evening air of the garden, +wiping and fanning their hot faces with their handkerchiefs. + +Ida looked pale, and sank down exhausted on a chair. "I would rather go +home," she said. + +"Why not?" he agreed, and held out her jacket for her to put on. But +the girl took it from his hand and hung it over her arm. A rush as of +fire streamed through her body, making her skin prick and tingle. + +Walking silently side by side they left the restaurant garden. + +A house stood half-way up the hill, whence two roads led to the +barracks: the high-road down through the valley, and a footpath which +led to the little wood at the back of the barracks, and then went on +further. Heppner chose the footpath. + +The evening had not brought coolness. The leaves hung motionless on the +branches. The twilight began to give way to night. The girl felt the +tepid breeze like a warm bath on her bare neck and arms. + +At the edge of the little wood the pair turned and looked back. The +lights of the garden gleamed through the darkness. The noise of the +merry-making was hardly audible; only a trumpet and the rumble of a +double bass, marking the dance measure, could be heard distinctly. + +In the shadow of the trees Heppner put his arm round his +sister-in-law's shoulders. She shrank slightly, and shuddered as if at +a touch of frost. Pressed closely to each other they walked on slowly, +and still in silence. The man's hot hand weighed heavily on the woman's +shoulder; his throat was parched; his arms were as if paralysed; he +could not turn his head and look her in the face. + +They had reached the end of the wood. Fields stretched away on both +sides of the path; the darkness of night surrounded them. + +In the valley a train was passing. A cloud of sparks streamed from the +funnel of the engine; on the dark ground the windows of the lighted +carriages threw illuminated squares, which flashed along beside the +train and vanished with it in the dim distance of the night. Not a +glimmer remained to show the trail of man. + +Suddenly the girl stood still, and with a wrench freed her self from +the man's arm. She gave a stifled cry, like the wail of one vanquished +after a hard struggle--then flung herself on his breast. + + +After a night of terrifying visions and dreams Julie Heppner had become +quieter. She fought against the belief that her horrible suspicions +could have become truth. It was too monstrous; they could not have been +brutal enough to inflict this last injury on her as she lay dying! + +But her doubts became certainties as she observed the altered demeanour +of her husband and sister. The restless yearning had vanished. They +were more at ease; there was a complete understanding between them; and +their glances no longer desired and hungered, but rather told of a +happiness already tasted. + +From this time the invalid's mind was filled with schemes of vengeance, +and she gradually conceived a mad determination to kill the guilty +pair. She felt that she had no time to lose. Her life was nearly spent. +She could now only take a few tottering steps; and increasing weakness +would soon prevent her leaving her bed. + +From under her eyelids she watched the girl's every movement. Oh, how +she hated her, this healthy, blooming creature, with her splendid +stature, her round white arms, and her magnificent bust! How she hated +her! Her freshness, her youth, her beauty, her soft young body with +which she had seduced the man, which he had caressed! + +And Ida never suspected that vengeance was imminent, that death was +near her--nearer even than to the dying woman herself! + + +The sands ran unceasingly through the hour-glass of the nearly expiring +life. Constant and violent attacks of coughing kept the invalid from +sleep, until the staff-surgeon prescribed morphia for her in fairly +large doses. The poor woman was near death; why should not her last +days be lightened, her last sufferings relieved? He cautioned the +sergeant-major as to the danger of the drug, warning him to be careful +in pouring out the doses. + +Julie did not know how to praise the staff-surgeon enough; the rest was +such a wonderful refreshment. True that on awaking her limbs felt +rather heavy; but at the same time she felt the strengthening effect of +the long undisturbed night's sleep. Sometimes she even thought she +might begin to hope again; and when she felt particularly well she +regained a faint desire for life. That would indeed be the most perfect +vengeance, if she could live to spite them both, perhaps for years! + +Then her illness once more overcame her; she despaired anew, and hourly +planned revenge. + +One morning, as she lay on her bed in a kind of stupor, she tried to +recall the events of the night. Something had happened which she had +seen vaguely through the veil of her torpor. Despite her drowsiness, +she had been frightened, horrified by it; yet afterwards the incident +had vanished from her memory, and now she was endeavouring to bring +back the faint trace into consciousness. + +It was just before she had fallen completely asleep, when her senses +were becoming dulled, and the final action of the morphia was about to +set in, that a slight cough had brought her back from the void, +partially arousing her. While in this condition she had perceived that +Otto, her husband, had softly raised himself in bed. Sitting up he had +listened awhile, then had crept cautiously towards her, and had +remained standing by her bed for a long time. + +Now she remembered: she had been horribly afraid that he would do her +some injury; that with his big strong hands he would take her by the +throat and strangle her. She was far too weak to resist him; indeed, +she had felt that she had not even the strength to cry out. But nothing +of this had happened. He had only stood there motionless by her +bedside, looking into her face. She had felt his gaze through eyelids +that had closed with fatigue. Then she had gradually sunk into sleep; +and just at the very last she fancied she had been aware that her +husband was moving away from her bed. + +She pressed her hands to her brow as if to prevent the thoughts from +escaping. She closed her eyes and forced herself to live again through +the events of the night. At last they came back to her, and the memory +struck her like a stinging lash, so that she cowered on her bed, +clutching the coverlet with her hands, and biting her handkerchief to +keep herself from shrieking with horror and hatred. + +When he left her side her husband had turned towards the door--towards +the door beyond which her sister slept. And thus it was that the +shameless pair took advantage of that sleep for which she, poor +invalid, had been so thankful! Even this relief, this wretched remnant +of happiness, they embittered for her! + +Never again should the healing, sleep-giving drug cross her lips, to +give the opportunity for such abominations! Never! Not if it cost her +her life! For that life was no longer worth having. + +But stay! She would dissemble; would appear to take the drug and then +pretend to go to sleep, in order to gain a chance of revenging herself +on the adulterers how, she did not know; but it must be soon. In two +days the regiment would be off to the autumn man[oe]uvres, and by that +time her vengeance must be consummated; she felt her strength would not +last much longer. + +On the following morning there was much work and bustle going forward +in the battery, as early the next day they were to start for the +man[oe]uvres. The sergeant-major had barely time to throw together the +few things that he intended to take with him. + +"Ida," he shouted through the door, "cut some bread and butter for my +breakfast, and send it over to me in the orderly-room." + +Julie was as usual on the sofa, which was pushed close up to the table. +Her sister was sitting doing some needlework. + +Rather annoyed at the interruption Ida got up, and fetched bread and +butter out of the kitchen. With a large bread-knife she cut two slices, +buttered them, and carried them off. + +The bread and the knife had been left lying close to the edge of the +table. The knife swayed a moment on the round crust, then it slipped +slowly off the loaf, and fell flat upon the rug in which the invalid +was wrapped. + +At first Julie let it lie there unnoticed; Ida could take it away when +she returned. Suddenly, however, an inspiration, as it were, flashed +through her mind. It was fate that this knife should have fallen on her +sofa; it was to be the instrument of her revenge! She took it quickly +in her blanched hand and examined it. It had a sharp, pointed blade, +fit to go through flesh and bone; it seemed to have been freshly +sharpened. She felt the edge, and in so doing cut her finger slightly. +A few drops of blood spurted on to the shining steel, and near them +were the marks left by the bread which it had cut. Julie felt as though +she could not take her eyes off the blade. + +But she heard the outer door close, and swiftly hid the knife under her +coverings. + +Ida came in, and began to get her own breakfast. She looked about the +table. + +"Have you the bread-knife, Julie?" she asked. "It was certainly here." + +The invalid answered sullenly: "I?--No." + +"Didn't you see it lying here, Julie?" Ida asked again. "Just here on +the bread?" + +"No," replied the invalid, "It wasn't there. I should have seen it if +it had been. Perhaps you took it with you to the orderly-room by +mistake." + +"Perhaps I did," said Ida; and in the afternoon she asked her +brother-in-law: "Otto, can you tell me whether I left the bread-knife +lying in the orderly-room this morning?" + +The sergeant-major answered: "Perhaps so. I'll see." After which +nothing more was said about the missing knife. + +Julie Heppner felt strangely strong and well as she held the formidable +weapon in her hand. Now at last the hour had come in which she would be +revenged for years of suffering, and for the accumulated disgrace of +her married life. And she regarded her husband and sister with +triumphant glances, as two victims who must fall under her hand without +chance of escape. + +There was so much to pack up and arrange during the evening that no one +thought of giving the invalid her morphia. + +"Otto, will you give me the medicine?" she requested at last. "I can +prepare it for myself." + +The sergeant-major started, and glanced at his sister-in-law, smiling +cynically. The devil! In all this silly excitement they might have +sacrificed the last night before their long separation, if the very +person they were deceiving had not herself come to the rescue. + +Ida smiled back at him. + +He gave the bottle and a spoon to his wife with a "Mind you don't take +too much." But he thought to himself, "Perhaps she will take a little +more than is ordered, and so sleep the sounder." + +Then he went back to his sister-in-law and the packing. + +"There!" said Julie, as she held out the spoon. "I believe I did take +just a little more than usual. Ida, will you help me to bed? I begin to +feel tired already!" + +Just then it struck ten o'clock. The tattoo sounded. + +"So late already?" exclaimed the sergeant-major. "I must be off at once +with this to the baggage-waggon." + +He took up his box and turned to go. In the doorway he paused once more +and said, "I shall only just go through the battery and then come back +to bed, for I must be up betimes in the morning." + +The sick woman lay waiting. She had taken the knife with her into the +bedroom hidden under her shawl, and now held it grasped convulsively in +her hand. + +Close by in the sitting-room her sister was bustling about. The door +had remained half open, so that her movements and occupations could be +plainly perceived from the bedroom. At last she undressed herself +hurriedly, as if forced to hasten. + +Through the half opened door she called softly into the dark bedroom, +"Julie, are you asleep?" + +Then again, louder and more insistently, "Julie, are you asleep?" + +She stood listening awhile at the door, and then got into bed. The door +was still open and the sick woman heard how restlessly she tossed +about. + +An hour later the sergeant-major opened the outer door. He took his +spurred boots off in the corridor, and slipped cautiously into the +bedroom. + +Once more came a whispered, "Julie, are you asleep?" and the woman felt +as if she could have laughed aloud at the fools who let themselves be +thus led by the nose. + +Heppner stripped his uniform off rapidly. Then he moved again to the +side of her bed and listened--as on that other night. + +The invalid lay motionless. + + +The deceived wife suffered the tortures of the damned; and it seemed to +her that her agony must be as eternal as hell itself. She clutched so +hard at the knife-handle that her nails were driven into her flesh, and +she bit her lips until they bled to keep herself from shrieking with +frenzy. A thousand times she thought that morning must be breaking; yet +still the shameless pair were together. + +At last came an end to the horror. + +The woman was asleep already when the man left her. She did not reply +to the farewell which he whispered to her from the door. Then he lay +down, breathing heavily, and in a moment had fallen into a deep sleep. + +Julie waited a little while. Then she got up, her husband's snores and +heavy breathing drowning the slight noise of her movements. Now she was +standing with her bare feet on the boards. She had the knife in her +right hand. + +Which of the two should she punish first? + +She must kill them both, that was certain. But before she died that +shameless creature should know the truth. A flood of abusive words, the +most obscene and filthy she could conjure up, lay on her tongue. She +would shriek them into the ears of her dying victims, would shout for +joy, would exult over them! Oh, how she would triumph! After all the +shame, after all the sorrow, she would at last remain the conqueror! + +She dragged herself along by the bed carefully. With trembling steps +she crossed the threshold and went into the sitting-room. The feeble +light of breaking day struggled in, just clearly enough to enable her +to distinguish things. The room looked dreary, clothing was strewn +about, the chairs were out of their places, and the remains of the +evening meal were still on the table. A moist heat pervaded this scene +of disorder. The suffocating air seemed laden with a sense of the +horrible, unnatural crime. + +The sick woman staggered. There was a mist before her eyes. But with an +effort she pulled herself together and moved towards the bed. + +Her sister was asleep, her face hidden by her loosened hair and pressed +into the pillow. + +Suddenly she stirred, and as she stretched herself slowly the coverlet +fell rustling to the ground. + +In the dim light her white skin gleamed. + +The woman fixed her burning eyes on this beauty. Suddenly a mad smile +distorted her lips, and she raised the knife. She would plunge the +blade into her sister's adulterous bosom; and thus deal out justice, +measure for measure. + +But there came a rush of blood to her throat that choked her. She +swayed, and grasped at the empty air with clutching fingers. The knife +slipped from her relaxing hand and clanged on the floor. The dying +woman collapsed with a dull thud. + +The sleeping girl turned over lazily. + +"Be quiet, Otto!" she murmured. + +Suddenly she gave a shriek of horror, rushed into the bedroom, and +shook the man, who could hardly be aroused from his sleep. + +He followed her, still half dazed. + +Julie Heppner lay dead, bathed in her own blood. + +The husband and sister gazed at her horror-stricken, and shuddered as +they saw the knife lie gleaming near the corpse. + +Death had passed over them. + +Outside the trumpeter on duty blew the joyful fanfare of the +reveille:-- + +[Illustration: Reveille] + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + + "The bullets are all of iron and lead; + But it's not every bullet will strike a man dead." + (_Old Soldier-song._) + + +Kläre Güntz was nursing her child. Through the thick drooping branches +of the pear-tree the sun shone on the mother's breast and on the +infant's little round head. She bent over him with a happy smile, and +held him close. + +Sheltered on one side by a high wall, and on the other by the thick +leafage, the little garden seemed a haven of joy and peace far removed +from all turmoil and tumult of the outside world. The stillness of the +summer morning reigned unbroken. + +A few more sucks, and then, sleepy and satisfied, the little head sank +back on its cushion. Kläre laid the baby-boy in his perambulator. + +In the heavenly quiet of this secluded corner of the garden, in the +presence of her sleeping child, a picture of health, and from whose +lusty sucking her breast still ached a little: in the fulness of this +bliss she felt so overwhelmed with thankfulness that she could not help +shedding a few holy tears of joy over the blessedness of life. + +Suddenly she checked herself. + +Kläre Güntz did not exactly regard such moments of tender emotion as +inadmissible; but one should not give way to feelings of this sort too +long. Recognition of great happiness should always manifest itself in +cheerful activity. So she sat up, and began stitching energetically. + +But the work was almost mechanical. Like Cæsar, Kläre Güntz could do +two things at once: mend, darn, sew, or anything else of the kind, and +think at the same time. + +She was anxious about her husband, + +Not on account of his health; she tended and cared for him too wisely, +with her housewifely watchfulness and love. But he, who usually stood +so firmly before the world, was suffering now from inward uncertainty. +His moods were unequal; and sometimes the cheerful, determined man +would be quite overcome by irresolute depression. + +This depression was connected with the service. Kläre had found that +out at once. The eternal disputes with a disagreeable superior were +probably to blame. For Captain Mohr, who feared a rival and a successor +in the senior-lieutenant, opposed tooth and nail every improved +regulation that Güntz endeavoured to introduce in the battery, thus +causing endless discussion and unpleasantness. + +At last Frau Kläre had made a move. She came to the conclusion that she +must appeal to the colonel, who at once agreed to her request that +Güntz should be transferred, and Kläre was not a little proud of her +success. In reality, however, she was only responsible for it in the +very smallest degree. + +True, Falkenhein had heard her attentively, whereas he usually only +listened to ladies out of pure courtesy. He had a very high opinion of +this clever, capable woman. But he would have refused even her request +without hesitation had he not himself been convinced of the necessity +for the measure demanded. The discipline of the fifth battery, loose +enough already, suffered more and more from the constant friction +between the two officers. He regarded Mohr as a very harmful element in +the service. The captain, through some outside influence--a very +influential relative of high position, it was said--had managed so far +to retain his post; but he, as colonel of the regiment, would see to it +that the undesirable officer should receive his dismissal in the spring +at latest. And meanwhile Güntz must be transferred from the fifth +battery. It fell out conveniently that Wegstetten should be ordered +away just then to the Austrian man[oe]uvres. Güntz was put in charge of +the sixth battery; and the affair had a perfectly natural appearance, +since the command properly fell to the senior-lieutenant of the +regiment. + +Güntz had no idea of his wife's little intrigue. He assumed his new +position with fresh courage, and it seemed to please him; but +nevertheless he did not regain his former happy balance. + +Something still troubled him; and the young wife, pleased as she was at +her successful assumption of the good fairy's part, was again at her +wits' end to discover the cause. + + +The fact was that Güntz felt himself daily less and less satisfied with +an officer's career, and he almost began to believe that he had missed +his vocation. It was very hard to realise this only after he had +devoted the twelve best years of his life to soldiering. But he did not +think it was yet too late to make a decisive change, and he was +earnestly elaborating a plan to send in his resignation and devote all +his time to mastering the technique of engineering, his former +favourite study. + +He now determined to command the battery for a year, and then to decide +definitely whether to adopt this course or no. + +On August 15 he took over the command of the sixth battery. He felt +easier in the more congenial atmosphere of his new department; yet his +full zest for a soldier's life did not return. + +Wegstetten's battery seemed to be in excellent order; the only +exception being Lieutenant Landsberg. That young man had positively +raved with joy when Wegstetten's temporary absence was announced. +The captain's hand had pressed heavily on him, and Landsberg thought +that now he would be able to live his life more as he pleased. +Senior-lieutenant Güntz, who was to be in command, was after all +virtually his equal, and it was quite impossible that he should be as +strict about duty as the full-blown captain of a battery. + +So he at once began to behave with a self-satisfied independence which +under Wegstetten's rule would have been regarded simply as high +treason. He did not appear punctually on parade, and sometimes he would +remain away altogether, even when it was his week to be on duty. + +But Güntz shook off his doubts and depression of spirits, and said to +Reimers: + +"Look here, my boy, I shall have to make that Landsberg eat +humble-pie; there's more than one way of doing it. The worst of it is, +though, that the fellow is not an exception, but just a representative +of the whole species of decorative officers; and in the end it will be +little enough use if one of them is brought to book for once in a way. +Directly a more lenient officer is in command the whole thing will +begin over again. And just consider the prospect, my dear boy; if this +slack, unenthusiastic crew increases in number, what will happen then? +Now and then, perhaps, one of them gains a little sense by the time he +is promoted to captain. With the greater number the chances are that +during the ten or more years that they are subalterns, utter +superficiality will have become their rule in life; from which, despite +responsibility, they are unable to break loose, and according to which, +therefore, they act. Then, when they are found to be good for nothing, +they are either retired, and eat the unearned bread of pensioners +(unearned, of course, only in such cases as theirs), or, if they +have a cousin or great-uncle anywhere, who can put in a good word for +them, or if they belong to the best families, or if they are very +religious--why, then God Almighty intervenes, and the scandal waxes +still grosser; for the useless captains become staff-officers." + +Reimers tried to reply, but Güntz waived off his objection with an +impatient gesture, and continued: "As to the young officer of whom we +are speaking, the disinclination which he manifests for the actual +duties of his profession is a fact, and, unfortunately distinctly +typical. I assure you that most of our lieutenants look at their life +and work from the point of view of mere schoolboys. They lounge about, +do just the duty they are positively obliged to do, laugh in their +sleeves if they get rowed, and swear at every short hour demanded by +the service. Nothing but continuous lazing! Then in the end, every one +who has not been arrested for some piece of sheer stupidity is made +captain,--of course always supposing he has not been positively +dishonest, or done something criminal." + +Reimers interrupted him: "Come, you know, the thing's not quite so +simple as all that!" + +But Güntz replied: "Oh yes, it is! To master the elementary formulae +according to which the service is regulated, sufficiently to satisfy +the mere requirements of inspection--that is child's play. And yet on +that the superior has to found his judgment! But to work them out so +thoroughly that one has them at one's finger-ends at any moment and on +every emergency (for that alone can prove their efficiency) that is +really difficult, demanding long and exhaustive study. And who has the +patience or the inclination to do it? Everything is sacrificed to +making a good show at the reviews. If only one has been able to cut a +good figure then, one has got out of it well! A teacher must have good +and bad pupils in his class, of course; but woe to the commander of a +battery who is disgraced by having a bad officer under him! He has not +been able to educate him! So, instead of an incapable man being got rid +of when he deserves it, an enormous amount of pains and trouble is +wasted on him--absolutely wasted! Disgusting love of show! Instead of +our holding forth everlastingly to these young people about upholding +the honour of their position in the eyes of the world, they should +rather have it brought home to them that they ought to win their own +self-respect by honest and conscientious attention to duty." + +"You exaggerate!" murmured Reimers. + +"I wish indeed that I did!" rejoined Güntz. "But just you go to every +individual brother-subaltern and say: Is drilling recruits a pleasure +to you? Do you get up early, determined to work hard all day and to +endeavour to train good soldiers for the king? or, do you on awakening +growl that the devil may take the whole dirty pack of recruits?" + +"Why don't you rather ask with what thoughts they awake during +gun-practice and the man[oe]uvres?" + +"Because the one depends upon the other, my dear fellow. Without +the training of recruits there would be no gun-practice and no +man[oe]uvres. It is just as if we were military teachers. Well, +gun-practice is to a certain extent an examination for the men; while +the man[oe]uvres, as you know, don't teach the men anything new, but +are rather a test for the higher officers. But the teacher who only +wants to make a show at the examination, and who does not expend +all the enthusiasm and inspiration of his calling upon the teaching +itself,--I have no use for him!" + +"You really are unjust!" exclaimed Reimers. + +"Well, perhaps so----" + +"You see, you allow it yourself!" + +"But in a different way from what you mean. I say that the subalterns +themselves are only in part answerable for their faults, the other part +of the responsibility is borne by the entire system." + +"What system?" + +"Why, the system of our entire army service, of our military +education." + +"Has it not been tested in three campaigns?" + +Güntz was silent for a time, and then he answered, turning away: "Yes, +certainly. But you are not unaware of the fact that a system can go on +being tested until the moment when it collapses?" + +"And anyhow," he continued, "all this refers to private thoughts of my +own, about which I can't tell you just yet. I am now going to make the +final experiment, and then I shall have to decide." + +"What?" + +"Whether I remain an officer or not." + +This struck Reimers like a blow. "Güntz, you are mad!" he cried. + +His friend shook his head gravely, and said, "We shall see." + + +Meanwhile, Güntz coolly took up the glove which Landsberg in his +presumption had thrown down. He had decided that, if possible, he would +only meet the young man's impudence with the weapons which stood at his +command as the head of the battery. + +One day Güntz had ordered Landsberg to superintend the checking of the +stores ordered by the regiment, and found him instead fast asleep and +carefully covered up on a sofa. This was a gross breach of duty; for +according to the rules the officer in charge should have himself +supervised the checking of the stores by one of the sergeants. But this +was not all; Landsberg had had gunners posted on the watch, so that he +should not be surprised by his commanding officer, and that was +misappropriation of the service staff. + +When called to order, he coolly excused himself: "I beg your pardon, +sir; but I really thought it could not matter much about a few dozen +horseshoe nails more or less." + +Güntz felt it would have been trouble wasted to explain to the +lieutenant how it was perfectly possible that the lack of "a few dozen +horseshoe nails" might be the cause of a battery's immobility in time +of need. He simply rebuked him briefly and sharply. + +Landsberg took the punishment in strictly correct style. But a most +unreasonable anger gleamed in his eyes. He made up his mind in all +seriousness that he would complain of Güntz, and tried to get his +fellow-subaltern, Reimers, to associate himself with him. Reimers, +however, refused politely and decidedly, and moreover spoke to +Landsberg for his good, strongly advising him to submit to discipline +and amend his behaviour. + +Landsberg was apparently convinced, and for a time his behaviour rarely +gave occasion for blame. But in the circle of the younger officers he +let fall dark insinuations that he would be revenged for the "insult" +which the hateful martinet Güntz had inflicted on him. He gradually +worked up a genuine hatred of Güntz, and this hatred took an important +place in his previously empty life. He vowed Güntz must stand in front +of his pistol, even if it cost him his officer's sword-knot. With every +reprimand this fury increased, till Landsberg determined to pick a +quarrel with Güntz and somehow positively insult him, when a duel would +be unavoidable. + +At last an accident brought things to a climax. + +The officers of the second division of the regiment were in the habit +of going occasionally to the Auer, a lonely forest tavern, during the +summer months, to play skittles. The Auer was about an hour's distance +from the garrison, and lay nearly in the middle of the pine forest, +which extended over the mountains and beyond the frontier. The younger +men bicycled there and back, while their elders either rode or drove. +Major Schrader arranged these excursions, and bore the expenses +himself. They were partly intended to provide opportunities for +personal intercourse between him and his officers. + +He declared himself a lover of rural life, and the party always fell in +with country ways quite contentedly. Pilsener beer was the tipple, or, +at most, a little brandy or gin; and in the way of food, fresh eggs and +butter, black country bread and strong ham, played the principal parts. +Scandal-mongers of course wanted to know whether, the Auer's landlady +had been a former sweetheart of the major's, and Schrader defended +himself laughingly against the insinuation; although he need not have +been ashamed of the dignified, buxom woman, so scrupulously neat and +clean. It certainly was a fact that no one ever saw the landlord of the +Auer, and that the landlady's two smart boys, who helped so cheerfully +in picking up the skittles, bore a striking resemblance to the major. + +It was in the courtyard of the Auer tavern, when, after one of these +excursions of Major Schrader's, they were getting their bicycles out of +the shed, that Landsberg's rancour broke out. + +He had not been thinking about his grievances at the moment. He had +preferred a stronger drink than the light beer, had almost emptied a +half bottle of gin, and was more inclined for sleep than for anything +else, so that he did not find his bicycle quickly. Güntz made some +harmless chaffing remark, and a violent quarrel broke out. + +Finally Güntz turned away, shrugging his shoulders. He considered that +Landsberg was drunk. But the lieutenant suddenly ran after him and +aimed a blow at him, striking him on the arm. The other men at once +threw themselves between the two, and held Landsberg fast. The young +fellow, perfectly mad with rage, kicked out with his feet and literally +foamed at the mouth. + +Schrader had him taken home in a carriage by his adjutant and Captain +Madelung. To Reimers he said: "My dear Reimers, you will see that your +friend Güntz goes home quietly, won't you?" And Reimers replied: "Yes, +sir." + +Güntz signed to his friend to remain behind. From the dark +skittle-alley they could watch their comrades starting for the town, +all much depressed by the untoward occurrence, speaking in undertones, +and accompanying their whispered words with restrained gestures. + +For a few minutes Güntz walked silently up and down the gravel-strewn +skittle-alley. Reimers sat down in a small arbour, where the empty +barrel still lay upon a bed of ice. When Güntz stood still, Reimers +could hear the drops of the melting ice falling into the earthen basin. +Otherwise all was silent, until the steps on the crunching gravel +approached once more. + +"I think we can go now," said Güntz, in his calm voice, which only +sounded a little harder than usual. + +Reimers answered: "All right, if you like." + +"Yes. Let us go." + +In the courtyard the senior-lieutenant suddenly stood still. "The +devil! I am horribly thirsty!" he said, clearing his throat. + +"Shall I fetch you a glass of beer from the bar?" suggested Reimers. + +"No, don't bother. Water will do me more good," replied Güntz. + +He returned to the arbour, fetched a glass, and went to the well. The +pump creaked discordantly in the stillness of the night. + +In the moonlight Reimers saw how his friend drank the clear water with +eager gulps, filled the glass again, and again emptied it. + +Then they went towards the shed in which the bicycles had been stored. + +"That was delicious water," said Güntz, with a sigh of satisfaction. +"The strength of the forest and of the earth!" + +The shed was badly lighted by a miserable oil lamp. The two machines +were leaning against the wall. Outside was a third--Landsberg's. Güntz +pushed it in under cover. + +"It would be a pity," he said, "for the night dew to spoil the nickel." + +They wheeled their bicycles slowly through the gate, and as they were +starting Güntz said: "Look here, dear boy; will you go to Landsberg +early to-morrow morning and take him a challenge? I will see about the +announcement to the court of honour myself." + +Reimers answered simply, "Yes." And then he added: "But what are the +conditions?" + +The senior-lieutenant considered for a moment. + +"Oh, well," he said at last, "the court of honour will decide as to +that. Meanwhile, say fifteen paces, and three exchanges of shots." + +"Right." + +"Well, off then! But look out, it's horribly dark." + +The two friends rode in silence until they reached the garden gate of +Güntz's house. The senior-lieutenant would have said a mere brief +farewell, but Reimers held him fast. + +"Güntz," he said, "I can't help thinking that a challenge on grounds +connected with the service is incorrect. And--I believe that it is so +in the present instance." + +"Yes," replied Güntz, "the private reason is undoubtedly connected with +the service. Landsberg wishes to revenge himself because I reprimanded +him sharply. But overtly the affair has arisen quite otherwise. I have +no alternative but to challenge him." + +"Yes, you are right," acknowledged Reimers. He stood awhile leaning +against his bicycle, deep in thought, until Güntz pressed his hand, and +said, "Good night, dear boy!" + +And Reimers answered, "Good-night, my dear Güntz." Güntz put his +bicycle carefully away, and then quietly went upstairs. During the +summer months, when his duty sometimes began at five o'clock or even +earlier, he occupied a small bedroom next to the larger one in which +his wife and child slept. But the door of communication between the two +rooms was always open. + +In a few rapid movements he took off his sword and his spurred boots. +Then he went to the door of the bedroom and listened in the darkness. A +slight breeze came from the garden and moved the lowered window-blind +with the regularity of a pendulum. Somewhere in the grass a cricket was +chirping; and through the slight noises the deep contented breathing of +the two sleepers could be heard, slow and deep the mother's, and the +child's soft and light. + +Güntz leant against the lintel and listened lovingly to the sweet, +regular sounds. This room contained a world of happiness for him; and +the breathing of his sleeping dear ones was to him the most priceless +music. + +Suddenly he shivered in the warm August air. An over-powering fatigue +almost paralysed his limbs, and one single horrible thought filled his +mind. + +Wearily he pulled off his clothes, and was soon wrapped in heavy sleep. + +The court of honour endorsed the challenge but it modified the terms, +arranging that instead of three interchanges of shots there should be +two, at fifteen paces. The duel was to take place early the next +morning, at half-past five, on the pistol-practice ground of the +regiment. + +After Reimers had presented the challenge to Landsberg, he made all the +necessary arrangements to act as his friend's second. He whispered the +time and the place to Güntz while at the table in the orderly-room +signing despatches. + +The senior-lieutenant nodded curtly, and answered: "Right; I'll speak +to you later." + +Sergeant-major Heppner approached him, and said: "At what time +to-morrow morning do you wish the battery to be ready for the tactical +exercises, sir?" + +Güntz was at once on the spot. He signed the order and leant back. + +"To-morrow? H'm!" he murmured. + +The duel was to take place at half-past five. He considered; in a +quarter of an hour one could easily cover the short distance between +the shooting-ground and the barracks. + +"Six sharp," he then answered decisively. + +Heppner replied: "Yes, sir, six o'clock;" and wrote the time in the +order-book. + +"Yes, six o'clock," repeated Güntz. + +If it were no longer possible for him, then Reimers would command the +battery. + +It was Wednesday, the day on which Reimers was engaged to dine with the +Güntzes. He would have excused himself, so that his friend should +devote himself undisturbed to his wife and child, but Güntz refused: +"Nothing of the kind, my boy. Why, Kläre might smell a rat! No, no! you +must come. But you'll have to put on another expression, you know!" + +So Reimers went, but left unusually early, and when he returned to his +quarters Gähler handed him a letter from Falkenhein. + +The colonel wrote as follows: + +"MY DEAR REIMERS,--I return from Kühren about eleven o'clock, and I beg +of you to look me up this evening without fail. + "Yours, + "v. F." + +Here was a glimmer of hope! Perhaps this wretched duel might yet be +avoided! The colonel of a regiment had in certain cases the right to +suspend the judgment of the court of honour, and to refer the matter +directly to the throne for a decision. + +Frankly, Reimers could not think on what, in this case, such +interference could be based. The affair seemed just as clear and +distinct as could well be; a verbal quarrel whence resulted the actual +insult, which, though not serious, left not the smallest loophole for a +revocation. The duel seemed utterly inevitable. + +Falkenhein was already waiting for him. The firm, clear-headed man was +in a state of almost feverish excitement. He walked restlessly up and +down the room, constantly buttoning and unbuttoning a button of his +coat. + +"Thank you for coming, my dear Reimers," he said in a voice of forced +steadiness, and speaking in jerky sentences. "Tell me, you are his +second to-morrow, are you not?" + +"Yes, sir," answered Reimers. + +"It is a good thing that you will be there. Yes, it is a good thing. +I--I felt I must speak to you about it. It is true that a commander +should come to his decisions alone, and I have done that--but now I +must speak to some-one. I have not been to Kühren; I sent the carriage +away, and have been walking in the forest for a long time, and alone. +This duel--it is a mistake, a terrible mistake; that's certain. But my +hands are tied. I can do nothing to prevent it. And yet if things go +badly, I shall be partially responsible. My best officer, one of the +best, most excellent of men, against a lazy ne'er-do-weel! God knows +that laws are sometimes utterly unreasonable, and many of our ideas are +equally senseless. I have racked my brains to find a way out of this +difficulty, and it seems impossible. I know that Landsberg's real +reason is military antagonism; but despite that, I dare not interfere." + +The colonel stopped suddenly right in front of the lieu-tenant, and +looking him squarely in the eyes, asked: "Do you really think that +Güntz's honour is affected?" + +Reimers was silent. A "yes" seemed to him quite contrary to reason, and +yet he could not say "no." + +Falkenhein had again begun to walk up and down the room, not awaiting a +reply. + +At last he turned again to Reimers. + +"Well, the matter must take its course," he said, in a somewhat calmer +tone. "One thing, however, I ask you to do for me. Directly all is over +to-morrow, will you come and tell me--quite privately? I shall hear +officially from Kauerhof. He's to be umpire, isn't he? And be quick, +won't you, even if all has gone well?--a 'three-cross' ride!"[A] + + +[Footnote A: The necessary speed in conveying military despatches is +indicated by crosses. Thus, one cross signifies walking and trotting +alternately; two crosses, a quick trot; and three crosses, as fast as +the strength of the horse will permit.] + + +He held the lieutenant's hand in his, and pressed it warmly. His +depression seemed to have partly passed away. + +"But you must not break your neck," he concluded, smiling slightly. +"And now let us hope for a happy meeting!" + +In passing Reimers glanced at the Güntzes' villa. It was all in +darkness, save for the window of his friend's study on the ground +floor, whence a light was still gleaming. + +Within, Güntz sat at his writing-table, with several sheets of paper +lying before him. For more than an hour he had been staring at the +white sheets and reflecting. + +Shortly after ten Kläre had fed her baby; and then, the sleeping child +tenderly clasped in her arms, she had gone up-stairs. Her husband had +watched her through the half-open door, and the nursery-lullaby with +which she hummed the child to sleep sounded in his ears for long after. + +Now he sat there, not knowing whether he would ever again see his +wife's honest, sensible eyes, or the droll, wondering gaze of his +child. + +A hard battle was going on within him, and once or twice he raised his +hand as if to push a heavy weight from his brow. + +The cuckoo-clock in the corner by the stove cuckooed twelve times, and +then from without sounded the deep, full tone of the parish-church +clock. The new day had begun. + +With a strong effort Güntz raised himself, bent over the white leaves, +and with swift-moving pen filled page after page. + +He had decided to send in his resignation. + +The request should go up to the regiment before the duel, and now he +was explaining to Reimers the reasons which had decided him to take +this sudden step. To Reimers alone. But if he wished he might show the +letter to the colonel. The opinion of any one else was immaterial to +him. + +At the outset he begged his friend not to think that he had withdrawn +from the duel out of cowardice. He could point to his whole previous +life in support of this--the life of a quiet, resolute man, always +consistent with his principles. And, after all, Reimers knew and +trusted him. + +This duel was utterly senseless, brought about as it had been by a +laughably trivial occurrence; and, moreover, it was in the highest +degree unfair, despite the fact that both duellists would face each +other under similar conditions, with similar weapons, and with the same +sun and the same wind. It was unfair, because the stakes were of such +totally unequal value. A man in his prime, who had done good work in +his profession and promised to do still more, must pit himself against +an irresponsible young fellow, who up to the present had shirked +everything serious. And then Güntz's position as husband and father +must be compared with his opponent's irregular life. An absolute cypher +was opposed to a number that counted; and, moreover, to a number +doubled in its capacity. + +Güntz said roundly that he regarded his life as too valuable to be +thrown into the balance of this quarrel. + +Then he went more into detail with regard to the doubts which for weeks +had been harassing him and driving him towards the decision to renounce +his right to wear the uniform of an officer; the strong doubts as to +whether, under existing conditions, German officers were not +undertaking work of no benefit to the future. + +He did not mean to say that the calling of an officer was an altogether +unproductive vocation. The yearly training of a large number of +soldiers, who supported the credit of the kingdom, and thereby insured +peace, was, no doubt, a positive factor in both political and social +life. + +But was this bulwark, which year by year was rebuilt and strengthened +anew, really secure enough to withstand storms and assaults? + +That was just what he doubted. + +The organisation of the German army rested on foundations which had +been laid nearly a hundred years ago. Prussian institutions, tested by +many victories, had been transferred to the new empire, and were still +continued. Since the great war they had never seriously been put to the +proof; and during the three last decades they had only been altered in +the most trifling details. In three long decades! And in one of those +decades the world at large had advanced as much as in the whole +previous century! + +The system of the military training of the men, evolved in an age of +patriarchal bureaucratic government, had remained pedantically the +same, counting on an ever-present patriotism. Meanwhile, in place of +the previous overwhelming preponderance of country recruits, a fresh +element had now been introduced: the strong social-democratic +tendencies of the industrial workers, who, it is true, did not compose +the majority of the contingents, but who, with their highly-developed +intelligence, always exerted a very powerful influence. + +Now, instead of turning this highly-developed intelligence to good +account, they bound it hand and foot on the rack of an everlasting +drill, which could not have been more soullessly mechanical in the time +of Frederick the Great. And they expected this purely mechanical drill +to hold together men from whom all joyful spontaneity was taken by the +stiff, wooden formalism of their duty, and not a few of whom cherished +the very opposite of patriotism in their breasts! Drill was to maintain +discipline among them? It held them together as an iron hoop holds +together a cask, the dry staves of which would fall asunder at the +first kick! + +Confronting the men stood their officers, who, although many of them +actuated by the most honourable intentions, were quite incompetent to +guide the recruits to a convinced and conscious obedience, a voluntary +patriotism. The officer, as a consequence of his origin or education, +was separated by a veritable abyss from the sensations and thoughts of +the common soldier; and, on the other hand, the soldier was unable to +understand the spirit in which he was treated by the officer. It thus +came about that the officer for the most part had a pretty low opinion +of the privates, while the private did not fail to form his own +conclusions as to the officers. + +The constancy with which the German corps of officers clung to the old +principles of army organisation was worthy of a better cause. Pinning +their faith to their glorious traditions, all criticism was set down as +malicious gossip, even if it came from their own midst. To an ideal of +such doubtful value they devoted their industry and strength. And it +was strange how little the analogy of the miserable year 1806 +shook military self-confidence, despite the startling points of +resemblance. Now, as then, the complaint was of the one-sided +reactionary training of the officers, which must separate them from the +forward movement of the people; now, as then, there was a kind of +hidebound narrow-mindedness, too often degenerating into overweening +self-conceit, making them a laughing-stock to civilians; and, finally, +now as then, there were the same stiff, wooden regulations, the +mechanical drill, which, despite all personal bravery, failed utterly +before the convinced enthusiastic onrush of the revolutionary army. But +worse than defeat in battles was the cowardly capitulation of +strongholds which ensued. The commanders of those days certainly +understood how to command the evolutions of a battalion, how to direct +a parade march, and how to ensure that all pigtails were of the +regulation length; but despite all the drill and all the pedantry, they +remained strangers to the inspiration which inaugurated a new era of +military service--the new patriotism, the love of one's country. They +had stood in a strongly personal relationship to their king but it no +longer sufficed to save them. They had shouted "Long live the king!" +thousands of times; yet they betrayed the king when they presumed he +had lost because they knew no better. + +They had _played_ too long at being soldiers to be able really to be +soldiers. + +Subsequently such men as Scharnhorst, Boyen, and Gneisenau directed the +military service into the new paths of allegiance to the nation; a work +which was crowned by the unexampled successes of the years 1870-71. +But since that epoch, while the foundation of the system--the people +themselves--had with each new year altered and progressed in every +relation of life, yet the system itself had remained unchanged, and the +German officer's devotion to duty, similarly unchanged, was largely +wasted by being directed into worn-out channels. + +Again, it must be deeply deplored that promotions were no longer due to +military efficiency alone, but also to victories achieved at the courts +of princes. To this circumstance, opening up, as it did, an anything +but reassuring view of the good faith of the authorities, was to be +added yet another, also tending to undermine the soundness of the army: +the ever-increasing luxury apparent in military circles. Of necessity, +and in the true interests of the army, the best material in the +corps of officers--the members of the old noble and gentle "army +nobility"--were careful to shun this vice. These officers, whose +families had often served the king as soldiers for four or five +generations, held fast to a Spartan simplicity of life, and to the old +Prussian independence of material comforts, and with them were all +those who regarded their vocation as something loftier than an +amusement. Otherwise, a most unsoldierlike luxury was spreading +unhindered in all directions, causing the young subalterns especially +to neglect their duties, and rendering them in great measure absolutely +unfit for real hard work and privations. And despite the numerous +orders levelled against them, these tendencies continued to increase, +because of the lack of a good example in high quarters. + +The plain and simple uniform in which so many great victories had been +won no longer sufficed. New embellishments medals, cords, trimmings, or +what not were eternally being devised. As though such mere external +trumpery could create anew the now waning love for military service! + +In what striking contrast stood the magnificent goblets of delicate +porcelain and other costly materials, in which the officers of the +Chinese Expedition offered champagne to their French comrades, to that +broken-footed glass cup out of which--and in abominably bad wine--King +William drank to the victors of St. Privat! + +All became clear to Güntz as he wrote, and he felt as though a heavy +burden were being lifted from his shoulders. + +He concluded: "I can no longer regard as valuable the work which as an +officer it is my duty to perform, and have therefore decided to resign +my commission. Although I am only one small wheel in a large and +complicated machine, I have still the right to give my opinion; and I +am making use of that right because I recognise that the mechanical +power which drives this machine is threatened with paralysis, and will, +in my view, infallibly succumb unless there is an entire reconstruction +of the whole fabric. That, I fear, is not to be expected within any +reasonable time." + +He laid down his pen, and looked thoughtfully at the closely written +sheets. + +Everything that he had set down had been well considered and frequently +thought over; but was it right, after all, to send in his application +just at this moment? Was it right for him to break the vow he had made +to himself that he would test himself carefully, that he would pass a +year in command of the battery before making his final decision? Ought +he not to stand by the calling to which his life had been dedicated, +until he could resign quite voluntarily, fully convinced, and without +any extraneous considerations? Without, for instance, the danger of +losing his life through the custom of this calling--a custom, just or +unjust, but which at any rate was in operation and perfectly well known +to him? + +The lamp under the green shade began to burn less brightly, and +flickered with a quick hissing sound. The hands of the cuckoo-clock +pointed to half-past four. + +Güntz got up and stretched himself. He walked firmly to the window, +pushed the curtains far back, and opened both sides of the casement. + +Outside the warm summer's night was giving place to the dawn of day. A +cool morning breeze blew into the room, fluttering the curtains, and +extinguishing the lamp's weak flame. It cooled the man's eyes and +filled his lungs with fresh air. + +Güntz drew himself up. He returned to the writing-table, placed the +loose leaves carefully in order, and locked them in a drawer. + +Right or wrong he would keep his word. + +He scribbled a few words on a sheet of paper: "My Kläre, I love you +unspeakably. You and the boy. Be brave!" + +He glanced round to see where he should lay the paper. In the end he +folded it up, and put it under a meteoric stone, shaped like a fungus, +which during their honeymoon he had found on the sand-dunes of the +Heligoland coast. + +The servant knocked, and brought in the coffee. He had found the +senior-lieutenant's bed untouched, and his face showed his surprise. + +The coffee was too hot, but the water in the carafe was deliciously +cold. Güntz damped his handkerchief and wiped the ravages of the night +from his brow and eyes. + +Then he went again to the window and the refreshing morning breeze. He +was in good spirits. He felt as if nothing untoward could happen to him +that day. + +There was a sound of hoofs in the street outside. The groom had brought +the brown mare. He held the animal before the garden gate and carefully +took a piece of straw out of her mane. + +Güntz told him to walk her quietly up and down. He must wait for +Reimers, who would be sure to come directly. + +Soon in between the measured paces of the led horse came the sound of a +quicker step. Güntz recognised the fidgety trot for that of Reimers +horse "Jay." He went out of the house and through the iron gate into +the street. + +"Morning, my boy!" he said, and offered his hand to Reimers. Then he +mounted, and both trotted down the street in silence. + +Once outside the town Güntz let his mare slow down. "We are in plenty +of time," he said. + +Suddenly he stopped and listened. A horse's trot and the rumbling of a +carriage could be heard coming from the town. + +"The others," said the senior-lieutenant. "Let us get on." + +The pistol practice-ground lay half way up the incline upon a +shelf-like terrace of the hillside, a smooth grassy space, surrounded +on both sides by high bushes; at the lower end there was a shed built +of strong boards, in which tools and targets were stored. + +Güntz and Reimers dismounted at the shed, and fastened up their horses +by the bridle. Reimers pressed his friend's hand once more, gazing at +him with anxious eyes. He could not speak. + +They stood side by side on the edge of the terrace, whence they could +look down upon the country road in the valley below. A carriage was +approaching, followed by three riders: Landsberg, little Dr. von +Fröben, his second, and Gretzschel, who was brought chiefly to look +after the horses. + +The carriage stopped at the foot of the hill. Kauerhof got out, with +the pistol cases in his hand, and after him the surgeon-major and his +assistant, both with instrument cases. The three other men rode slowly +behind them up the steep incline. + +Before the shed, brief polite greetings were exchanged, Gretzschel +remaining there with the horses. + +There was a singular expression of shyness on the faces of all. One +might have fancied that these men were assembled for some guilty +purpose. Güntz alone looked frank and unembarrassed. + +The prescribed attempts at reconciliation were unsuccessful. Güntz +shook his head in refusal. + +Then Kauerhof began to measure the distance. He had long legs, and he +made the fifteen paces as lengthy as possible. + +Just at this moment the sun rose above the mountains on the other side +of the valley. + +Kauerhof loaded the pistols, and the seconds carried them to their +principals. Güntz nodded cheerfully to Reimers as he took his weapon. + +The umpire then took up his position and convinced himself with a +glance that all was prepared. The duellists were standing at their +marked lines, the seconds at a little distance alongside of them. He +took out his watch, and glancing at it said: "I shall count: ready, +one, then three seconds; two, and again three seconds; then, stop! +Between one and stop, the gentlemen may fire." + +He glanced round once more. The four officers stood motionless in the +clear light of the sun, Landsberg sideways, Güntz with his broad chest +facing his opponent. The junior surgeon wiped the moisture from his +brow; Andreae tugged nervously at his hair. + +The umpire counted. + +Landsberg raised his pistol at once and fired. Güntz heard the bullet +whizz past on his left. He had directed his barrel a little to the side +of his opponent's shoulder, and pressed the trigger. The shot missed +fire. He had forgotten to cock the pistol. + +The second attempt at reconciliation was also unsuccessful. + +Again Kauerhof gave the word. + +Güntz saw Landsberg's pistol aimed directly at his breast. Then +Landsberg looked up, and for the hundredth part of a second caught his +opponent's gaze. + +Landsberg's aim was unerringly directed on his man, when suddenly his +hand began to shake, and he fired blindly, just as he heard Güntz's +bullet whistle past him. + +Güntz stood unharmed, a happy smile on his good-natured, open face. + +Reimers hastened up to him and seized his hand. He would have liked to +throw his arms round the dear fellow's neck. + +Now the reconciliation took place, and when the opponents shook +hands Landsberg's glance fell before the honest eyes of the +senior-lieutenant. + +All traces of embarrassment vanished from the men's faces. There were +sighs of relief, and hearty congratulations; the two doctors packed up +their grisly instruments again; all were anxious to get away, and to +report the fortunate result of the duel to their comrades. Reimers was +on his horse and already starting off at a trot, when Güntz called to +him: "Where are you going in such a hurry?" + +And Reimers shouted back gaily: "The colonel's waiting. 'Three +crosses,' my orders say!" + +The senior-lieutenant rode slowly down. He himself had plenty of time +to spare. It was only ten minutes after the half hour, and it was not +until six o'clock that he was due at the tactical exercises. + +The carriage and the three riders overtook him. Dr. von Fröben and +Gretzschel greeted him with candid joy in their faces; Landsberg was a +little stiff. The surgeon-major blew him a kiss from the carriage. +Güntz responded cordially, and continued at his leisurely pace. + +The colonel was looking out into the street from his high summer-house +in the garden. Reimers recognised him from a distance, and as nothing +better occurred to him he took off his cap and waved it in the air. + +Falkenhein checked him energetically when he was preparing to dismount. +"Stay where you are! Stay where you are!" he cried. "So all has gone +well?" + +"Yes, sir," answered Reimers, still out of breath with his quick ride. + +The colonel heaved a sigh of relief. + +"I am glad; very, very glad!" he said. + + +In the barrack-yard Gähler was waiting for his master. He handed him +his helmet and bandolier and took the forage-cap in exchange. + +The battery was ready to move on. Reimers set his horse to a short +gallop and rode up to Güntz. "I beg to report myself, sir," he said. +Güntz nodded to him smilingly, and gave the words of command in his +clear, resonant voice. + +In the midst of the exercises two riders suddenly approached from the +town. At first it was difficult to recognise them in the thick dust; +but Sergeant-major Heppner announced that he saw the colonel's big +sorrel horse. It was in fact the colonel and his adjutant. + +Güntz galloped up to them and gave his report. + +Falkenhein thanked him. + +"I only wanted to watch you for a little," he said simply. And his eyes +shone joyfully on seeing the officer he had learnt to love stand unhurt +before him. + +He approached the battery and greeted them with his powerful voice: +"Good morning, sixth battery!" + +And the many-voiced reply was shouted back: "Good morning, sir!" + +Falkenhein rode slowly along the ranks, taking stock of everything with +his sharp eyes; then he spoke: "Senior-lieutenant Güntz, be kind enough +to continue!" + +It was a lucky day. Everything went like clockwork; there was not a +hitch, not the smallest oversight. + +At the conclusion of the exercises the colonel ordered the officers and +non-commissioned officers to come to him. His criticism contained +nothing but approbation, and he crowned his praise by saying: "I +rejoice that the sixth battery, though under new leadership, has again +proved its excellence. And I am proud of commanding a regiment to which +belong such admirable officers and non-commissioned officers and such a +faultlessly trained battery." + +He shook hands with Güntz, and whispered to him softly: "I rejoice +doubly--threefold--a hundredfold, my dear Güntz." + +Güntz gave the order to march. + +He rode thoughtfully beside Reimers at the head of the battery. The +colonel's unstinted praise was a great joy to him; but besides that he +had found a still higher prize: for the first time during many months +he had a heartfelt conviction of his vocation as an officer. He had +done his duty this morning as if rejuvenated; all doubts had left him, +and it did not seem as if a tinge of bitterness remained behind. + +He thought of all those written sheets which he had locked in his desk +during the night. When had he found his way through the wood? At the +writing-table, or here in the rye-stubble in which the tracks of the +gun-carriage wheels had made deep ruts? + +Well, in any case he had done right not to break away suddenly from the +time of probation on which he himself had determined; for it was +certainly strange how a calm, stead-fast man, such as he believed +himself to be, could be so swayed backwards and forwards in opposite +directions in such a short time. During the night he had been firmly +resolved to retire; a few hours later this step seemed an impossibility +to him. + +Was there really so little, then, in his imagined calmness and +steadfastness? + +But he was glad that the time of probation, though not shortened, +would, on the other hand, not have to be extended. He would command the +battery for a year; by then he must have made his decision. + +And for to-day he was determined to put no check on his joy and good +humour. + +Frau Kläre wondered at her husband, who would not leave her a moment in +peace with his teasing and nonsense, and even waked the baby up from a +sound sleep. + +And Güntz stood beaming before the mother and child, laughing heartily +at the angry howl set up by his little son, and lighted his cigar with +a spill until the whole piece of paper was reduced to a cinder. + +He had made that spill out of the farewell note he had placed under the +fungus-like letterweight. + + + + + CHAPTER X + + "Morning red, morning red, + Light me to my dying bed!" + (_Hauff._) + + +Room IX. was still to remain "aristocratic"--as Weise satirically +remarked--even after Baron Walther von Frielinghausen had moved over to +the non-commissioned officers' quarters. A few days before the regiment +left for the man[oe]uvres, Count Egon Plettau arrived and took +possession of Frielinghausen's locker. + +All kinds of wild reports had been circulating in the battery about +Plettau. Judging from these he appeared to be a perfect terror. A +lieutenant who had had his ears boxed, and a sergeant who had been +flung against a wall, played the chief part in these reports. But, as +a matter of fact, of the whole battery only Heppner and the senior +non-commissioned officers knew the mad count personally, and during the +five years' detention in a fortress that Plettau had had to undergo, +two sets of recruits had already come and gone without having made his +acquaintance. + +The inmates of Room IX. expected to see a pale man, bent and bowed with +long imprisonment; but the new comrade bore a tolerably healthy +appearance, and had a good-tempered, friendly face. + +The count was handled very tenderly by the non-commissioned officers. +They had received an intimation that as far as their duty permitted +they were to do all they could to enable this child of misfortune at +last to complete his military service. + +Count Egon Plettau received these attentions with calm complacency. +"Children," he used to say--for so it was his habit to address his +comrades--"people know quite well that they owe me respect. To have +been eight years accomplishing a two-years' term of service, and not to +have finished it yet--that is a performance that cannot be sufficiently +appreciated. Really, I ought to be shown at a fair! Strive, therefore, +to follow my example!" + +He looked forward to the man[oe]uvres with a real and almost child-like +pleasure; for, in spite of his eight years' service, he had never taken +part in them. "Something" had always come in the way. + +Even Güntz had often to bite his lips to keep himself from laughing at +Plettau's absurdities. He, too, had been curious to make the +acquaintance of the notorious gunner-count, and he, too, was agreeably +surprised. Plettau seemed to him to be a very good fellow, terribly +frivolous, no doubt, but not bad by any means. He was glad to find he +had not been mistaken in his judgment: viewed impartially, the cause of +Plettau's first two acts of insubordination had been malice on the part +of his superior almost amounting to cruelty; and even the last five +years had been added to his term of imprisonment simply because he had +knocked down a sergeant who was proved to have ill-treated a comrade. +All things considered, the gay placidity of temper with which the count +had borne his fate was really remarkable. + + +For the autumn man[oe]uvres the men and horses were all redistributed +to serve the various guns. Vogt and Klitzing remained in their places, +and for the rest gun six was served as follows: + + Gun Six. + + (Horses) + Gun-leader Corporal Vertler Christine + Lead-driver Driver Nowack Zenobia, Egon + Centre-driver Driver Inoslavsky Viper, Eidechse + Wheel-driver Bombardier Sickel Turk, Cavalier + Gunners Count Plettau, Wolf, + Truchsess, Klitzing, Vogt. + + +The leader of the third column was Ensign Gysinger, who had just joined +the regiment from the Military Academy, and had exchanged with +Lieutenant Landsberg, transferred to the first battery. Heimert had for +the first time taken over the distribution of the horses. But when +Heppner saw how the six horses for gun six had been placed, he shook +his head. + +"That won't do," said he to Heimert. "The lead and centre horses are +all right, but the wheel-driver must have another beast under him. The +Turk is too old; especially as gun six has always the longest way to go +on the march." + +"That's just what I told the captain," put in Heimert. "It's all +Wegstetten's doing. I wanted Cyrus for the wheel, and old Turk for the +baggage-waggon, but as the other five are light bays, Wegstetten +insisted on having the Turk, That's why he has put Sickel on him, our +best driver. He thought _he'd_ make him go at any rate, if the worst +came to the worst." + +Heppner remained thoughtful. At last he said, "Yes; but then old Turk +hasn't much more go left in him. Don't you think we could arrange it +differently?" + +"No," answered the deputy sergeant-major; "you know that when +Wegstetten has once got a thing into his head there's nothing more to +be done." + +The sergeant-major shrugged his shoulders. "We two, at any rate," he +said, "won't have the responsibility. I only hope it will turn out all +right! We've got some damned hilly country for the man[oe]uvres this +time, as it happens. One part lies close to the frontier, and is over +2000 feet high. Downright mountain-artillery I call it!" he growled in +conclusion. But it was impossible to oppose the express orders of the +captain. + + +On August 30 the battery was ready in the barrack square at six o'clock +in the morning to start for the man[oe]uvres. + +Shortly after reveille various rumours had been current in the stables +and in the barrack-rooms that something had happened at the Heppners'; +and just as the men were getting into their places the news spread from +one to the other that the sergeant-major's wife was dead. As this was a +private and personal matter, it could not give cause for the slightest +delay. Heppner, of course, remained at home for the funeral, and +Käppchen meanwhile took over his duties as sergeant-major. However, it +considerably damped the spirits of the men in setting out; and a fine +rain which began to fall did not tend to restore their good humour. The +sixth battery marched just behind the corps of trumpeters; but the +inspiriting strains of the Hohenfriedberger March were entirely out of +harmony with the moody faces of the men and the dismal weather. + +Klitzing again sat next to Vogt on the limber of gun six. How unlike +the day on which they had started for the gun-practice at Whitsuntide! + +"It's a bad beginning," said he to his friend; and half to himself he +added, "Who knows how it will end?" + +The rain gradually became heavier, and at the first halt the colonel +ordered the men to put on their cloaks. The gunners, huddled up in +their seats, kept fairly dry; but the riders got their high boots full +of water, so that as they went up and down in their saddles their feet +splashed with a sound like butter in a churn. During the longest halt +the drivers lay on their backs in the grass, and as they stretched +their legs up in the air, the water trickled down out of their boots in +streams. + + +The man[oe]uvres began, and continued their course, one day very much +like another, only the scene changing. The brigade would assemble in +the early morning. Cavalry scouts told off for the purpose, had +generally gone on in advance and sent back their reports. These hussars +or Uhlans were marvellously clever fellows, who never failed to find +out the enemy. Then the advance-guard was set in motion, and after a +certain time the main body followed. The batteries were usually ordered +to the front during the march. If they reached the scene of action +unnoticed by the enemy and wanted to open fire upon him unawares, the +men had to crawl almost on all-fours in line; then there was a mad +gallop forwards over hedges and ditches when they found themselves +within range of the hostile fire; and when the gunners were almost +jolted out of their seats the men of the infantry would burst into loud +peals of laughter as they lay sideways on the ground. It was all very +well for them to laugh then; but when the man[oe]uvres were over, and +they were on the march back to their quarters, they cast envious +glances at the artillerymen as they took their seats and were driven +home on their hard-seated chariots. + +In the skirmishes, too, during the man[oe]uvres, it was the artillery +who got the best of it. The infantry had to be always on the march, +then firing off their blank cartridges either stooping or lying down, +and at last making a bayonet charge on the disorganised foe. The +batteries, on the other hand, generally remained in the same position, +and only now and then fired a shot, reserving their ammunition for +doings on a larger scale during the last few days of the man[oe]uvres. +In this way they had a splendid view of the fighting, and could quietly +look on as the dark lines of rifles approached nearer and nearer; or +when an officer commanding a squadron of cavalry, thirsting for fame, +made an impossible, but very daring attack. + + +On off-days Vogt lent a sturdy helping hand in gathering in the +harvest. It delighted him to be able, as of old, to reach up and put +the sheaves on the top of the well-loaded waggons, and to find that he +could still wield a scythe with the same vigorous strokes, mowing the +scanty second crop of grass on the mountain meadows just as close to +the ground as ever. While Klitzing lay down after his exertions and +rested his weary limbs, Vogt would spend hours over such field-work; +and the fatigue after this heaven-blest labour was far more grateful to +him than the idle, lazy time a soldier often enjoys directly the +arduous period of his early training is over. In the evenings after +bugle-call, out he would go again to mow a strip of grass before dusk; +and when returning, scythe on shoulder to the court-yard of his +quarters, he would sometimes quite forget that he still wore the +uniform of a soldier. + +The sight of the various couples who, lovingly entwined, promenaded the +green lanes, suddenly appearing and as suddenly disappearing behind the +thick hedges, would recall him to actuality. He would then bethink him +how odd it seemed that he himself cared so little about womenfolk, Now +and then a pretty fresh girl would take his fancy, and he might have +liked well enough to take her face between his hands and give her a +hearty kiss; but he was too bashful, and he felt no desire to put +himself under the tutelage of the painted ladies of the garrison town +who smiled so engagingly at all the lads. The rough village maidens +suited him better; but one evening he had an experience which raised +grave doubts in his mind as to the virtue of even those rustic +beauties. + +A woman's voice shrieking for help had suddenly resounded from a little +shady hollow not far from where Vogt was strolling, smoking his evening +pipe. He instantly ran forward, crying out in clear tones the first +words that came into his head: "Halt! halt! Who goes there?" Drawing +nearer he saw first a couple of soldiers in hasty flight through the +trees, and afterwards a curious something which he could not at once +make out. + +When he came closer he discovered that some of his comrades had been +playing off one of their jokes upon a village girl. They had gathered +up her skirts above her head and tied them together with string; this +they called "making a tulip." She was running round in a comical +enough fashion, her lower limbs being entirely exposed, as she wore no +under-clothes; while her arms and the upper part of her body were +imprisoned in the woollen skirts, whence issued her muffled protests. + +Vogt said, very politely: "Wait; I will set you free;" and pulling out +his knife, cut the string, whereupon the petticoats fell down, and a +touzled head made its appearance. The girl hid her face in her hands, +as if ashamed; but through her fingers she peeped expectantly up at the +soldier. Then she let her hands fall, making manifest her hard and +coarse but yet undeniable beauty; and her rather large, full mouth +smiled tenderly at the gunner. + +But the doughty champion stood dumb and unresponsive; so after a moment +the girl swung sharply round, muttering "Stupid ass!" and departed +through the gathering dusk. + + +It was on the Monday of the third week after leaving the garrison that +the two divisions of the army-corps began man[oe]uvring against each +other. The troops, now doubled in number, presented a gay and lively +picture as they assembled at the meeting-place in the brilliant +sunshine. Summer seemed to have returned that day for a short while, so +hot were the rays that poured down upon the earth from the deep-blue +vault of heaven. The heat, however, was not oppressive, modified as it +was by the cool mountain breezes. + +The sixth battery of the 80th Regiment, Eastern Division Field +Artillery, had been told off to join the advance-guard, and was +awaiting the signal to start. Gunners and drivers stood behind the +guns, or close to the horses, all ready to mount at the word of +command. Vogt was lost in amazement at Klitzing's demeanour, for he had +never seen his friend in such high spirits. His eyes shone and +his cheeks were slightly flushed. Vogt thought to himself what a +good-looking fellow the clerk was with this touch of animation. His +appearance had certainly been much improved by soldiering. Vogt was +quite pleased; shaking his finger good-naturedly at him, "Hullo, +Heinrich!" he asked, "haven't you been liquoring up a bit on the sly? +or is this one of your lucky days?" + +And Klitzing answered, "Ah! I feel to-day--I don't know myself how I +feel. I feel so strong, so well--I that am usually so shaky, I feel as +if some great piece of luck were going to happen to me to-day. Do you +know, if I had ever felt like this at home I should have bought a +lottery ticket and should certainly have won the biggest prize!" + +"Well," rejoined Vogt, "mind you don't miss the opportunity the next +time such a day comes!" + +The clerk shook his head. "Ah, no!" he returned; "such days only come +once, and then never again. I shall just have to give up the Great +Prize and die a poor devil. But it's good to feel so jolly for once!" + +He took Vogt by the shoulders and looked into his face with happy eyes. + +Suddenly, a gruff voice called out from beyond the horses: "You fellows +have far too good a time of it! I don't know what you're always +grinning about!" + +Bombardier Sickel was looking round at them with a surly expression, +and he shook his head contemptuously. He, being a driver, did not think +much of the gunners. What an easy life fellows like them had! While +he--what had he not got to see to? He went up to his team and looked +anxiously at Turk, the horse he was to ride. With drooping head the +gelding stood there limp and spiritless. He had refused his food that +morning. What could one do mounted on a sick wheeler? Sickel had told +the gun-leader about this; but it was too late to replace the horse, +as the baggage-waggon was already under weigh. Poor Turk must do for +to-day somehow. + +The advance-guard began to move, a battalion of infantry in front, then +the battery, and behind it the two other battalions of the regiment. +They made their way upwards from the bottom of the valley along a +moderately steep road, on each side of which was very hilly ground. + +They had proceeded for about an hour or more when at last the +cavalry-scouts bringing further orders were seen returning; coming not +from in front but from the left, down a hill covered with undergrowth. +They seemed in a great hurry, and their horses were covered with foam. +The fore-most portion of the advance-guard at once, therefore, wheeled +round, and leaving the road took the nearest way up the hill: a steep +zig-zag, and a stiff piece of work. The gun-teams strained every muscle +and took short, quick steps, trying to overcome the weight of the guns. +Sergeant-major Heppner, who was riding behind the last gun, growled +out: "I tell you, it's downright mountain artillery, this!" and he +trotted a few steps on in front to find out how the Turk was getting +on. The light bay was panting with exhaustion and dripping with sweat. +Heppner scratched his head: little more could be expected of the poor +beast that day. But worse was to come. + +The battery had scarcely accomplished the climb up the hill when the +order came to form line. A gentle slope of even ground had still to be +covered, and the battery was to get into position as quickly as +possible behind the crest of the hill. The words of command rang out in +quick succession: "Trot!" and "Gallop!" The ensign wheeled his column +much too far to the right, just where the lie of the land was steepest; +and Corporal Vertler, the leader of gun six, thinking it too near, took +a circuit twice as great as was necessary. To get to the crest of the +hill in this way was utterly impossible. + +Heppner looked anxiously across. With swift determination he gave over +his duties as sergeant-major to Sergeant Wiegandt, then galloped to the +right flank to try and mend matters somehow if possible. But the +disaster had already begun. + +Gun six had from a gallop dropped into a trot, and from a trot into a +walk. At last the six horses could not drag the gun one inch further. + +The ground was covered with smooth coarse grass that gave the horses +very little foothold. Trembling and snorting, the animals just managed +to support the weight of the gun, while, straining forwards and pawing +the ground, they tried to get a firmer footing. The gunners had got +down, and grasping the spokes of the wheels did what they could to +assist. + +The sergeant-major kept close by and tried especially to egg on the +wheel-driver. + +"Buck up, Sickel!" he cried. "Show us what you can make of this! You +want to be thought our best driver, and you can't get up a little hill +like this! Get on! Put your back into it!" + +The bombardier almost hung on the Turk's neck so as to release the +weight on his haunches, while the gun actually moved forward two or +three fractions of an inch. But suddenly Turk's hind legs gave way +under him, the animal collapsed and slid down upon the slippery ground. + +The jerk caused by the fall made the other five horses also lose their +hold. They began to tread backwards. + +"Put on the dag-chain!" roared Heppner. + +Vogt darted forward, quick as lightning, and slung the chain on the +spokes of the wheel. It bore the strain for a moment, then there was a +sharp metallic sound: the chain had snapped. + +The gun began to roll down the hill, faster and faster, dragging the +six powerless horses behind it. One after the other they stumbled, +slipped down, and were whirled away, kicking wildly, or entangled in +the drag-ropes. + +The sergeant-major swore a terrible oath when he saw what had happened. +Springing from his horse he threw the reins to Plettau, who was +standing near, and ran down the hill. Chance had prevented the worst +from happening. At the upper edge of the precipice there was a hollow +where formerly stones may have been broken after having been quarried +below; the surface was now level, and here the gun had come to a +standstill. + +But the scene was terrible enough. The six horses lay together in a +heap. Again and again they tried to raise themselves, but in such close +proximity one hindered the other. Amidst the panting and snorting of +the frantic animals could be heard the groans of Sickel, who was lying +somewhere under one of them. + +Heppner had recovered his self-possession in a moment. He called the +four gunners to him, and was himself the first to jump down into the +hollow. Vertler, the gun-leader, was close by on his horse, but +scarcely seemed able to grasp what had happened. Heppner caught sight +of Sickel at once. He lay with his left leg under the Turk's body, and +was shielding himself behind the neck of the gelding to avoid being +struck by the hoofs of the centre horse, who was kicking furiously. + +"Here! Vogt and Truchsess!" commanded Heppner. "We'll pull him out." +They grasped the bombardier under the arms and tried to drag him out +from under the horse. But it was not so easy, and at the very moment +when they stooped for a second attempt, one of the lead horses made a +sudden movement which knocked Vogt down. The gunner got entangled in +the drag-ropes and could not get up again. + +Eidechse, the centre horse, again began to kick. She had a yawning +wound in the buttock from which the blood streamed, and she writhed, +mad with pain. Lying on her back she turned herself to and fro, and the +gleaming iron shoes flashed nearer and nearer to Vogt's head, at last +striking him so that his helmet flew off and the blood gushed from +beneath his fair, close-cropped hair. + +Klitzing saw the increasing peril, and of a sudden flung himself +blindly beneath the infuriated, plunging hoofs. + +Like lightning it had flashed across his brain how Vogt had once shed +his blood for him. Was not this the time to show his gratitude? This +was perhaps the object of his existence to save the life of that other, +stronger than he. And was not this his lucky day? He felt in him the +strength of a giant. Yes, he would stop those terrible hoofs until his +friend could get free. And in an ecstasy of confidence he threw himself +like a shield between his friend and danger. + +The next moment he had received a furious kick in the side. He was +hurled to a distance, and fell lifeless to the ground. + +Vogt in the meanwhile had freed himself and risen quickly, only to turn +faint a moment later. He sat down on the hill-side and supported his +aching head in his hands. + +Again the sergeant-major swore violently. In despair he looked up for a +moment from the terrible medley and noted the gun-leader still staring +down into the hollow with vacant eyes. + +"You fellow!" he shouted, "it's no time to go to sleep, at any rate!" +With admirable clearness he gave his orders: "Ride as fast as your +beast will go, and fetch the doctor and the veterinary surgeon! And +ambulance-orderlies as well!" And immediately afterwards he added: "And +send the team belonging to gun five here, and report the mess we're +in!" For the service must not suffer, and the gun should be brought up +to the line of fire as soon as possible. + +The corporal galloped away and was soon out of sight. + +Heppner now approached the entangled heap of bodies from the other +side. He then set himself to extricate the lead horses from the +different parts of the harness that trammeled them, and helped them to +get up. They appeared to be uninjured, shook themselves and moved +restlessly to and fro. He made the lead-driver take them to one side, +and then turned to the centre horses. Inoslavsky gave him a helping +hand. The near centre horse was uninjured, but Eidechse had a gaping +wound in the buttock. Wolf had to hold her by the snaffle, and found it +difficult to manage her. The near wheeler got up readily; but the Turk, +beneath whose body Sickel was writhing in agony, was badly hurt. The +near hind fetlock seemed to be crushed. At last the gelding managed to +raise himself a little on his fore-legs, and at the same moment +Truchsess dragged out the wheel-driver from under the saddle. Sickel +made a weak attempt to stand up, but fell back in a swoon. + +The sergeant-major wiped the perspiration from his brow. Damnation! +That had been a bad piece of work! He looked round him: three men and +two horses knocked out of time. Well, it might have been even worse. + +Klitzing's was the most serious case. The clerk still lay there +motionless, and only the blood-stained froth at his mouth, stirring as +he breathed, showed there was still life in the motionless body. The +sergeant-major went up to the unconscious man and carefully placed his +head on the haversack. He had never been able to endure this sickly +fellow, but, by Jove, what he had done that day was first-class! It +was grand! Would he never recover from his swoon? Heppner took a +brandy-flask from his saddle-bag, and gently moistened the gunner's +forehead with the spirit. He tried to force a drop between his lips, +but in vain; there was no sound or movement in response. + +The sergeant-major looked impatiently for some sign of the doctor's +arrival. The other two wounded men seemed in less serious case. The +bombardier regained consciousness as the brandy touched his lips; he +took a good mouthful, and answered the sergeant-major's question as to +his condition with: "All right, sir. Only my left leg feels a bit +queer. I must have given it a wrench." + +Vogt even tried to stand up and assume the regulation attitude in +speaking to the sergeant-major but he staggered back again, and said +faintly that his head was going round, otherwise there was nothing +wrong with him. + +From the heights above was now heard the sound of horses' hoofs and the +clanking of harness. It was Corporal Vertler with the team belonging to +gun five; he announced that a trumpeter had gone to find a doctor, and +that the ambulance-orderlies would soon be here. + +The sergeant-major had now no more time to bestow on the wounded men, +who could be left to wait for the doctor. He busied himself with the +harnessing of the gun. + +Vogt leaned against the slope of the hill, resting his dizzy head in +his hands. + +The blood trickled through his fingers and dropped upon his knees. +Although he tried to think it all over, he could not understand what +had happened to him. The horse had kicked him on the forehead--that +much he was able to recollect, and he also clearly remembered that +afterwards he had again seen the hoof coming in his direction; but from +that moment his memory was a blank. + +Sliding and slipping, the hospital-orderly now came hurrying down the +hill. He saw that three men were lying there; two of them had their +eyes open, but not the third, so he addressed himself to the latter. He +gave him ether to smell, tried to administer a stimulant, and moistened +his forehead. He unfastened and opened his coat and shirt, and slapped +the palms of his hands. All in vain; but at least the poor devil still +breathed, though with a gurgling and rattling in his chest. + +The orderly then turned to the two others. He gave Vogt a piece of +medicated cotton-wool to press on his wound, put the bottle of cordial +to his lips and made him drink. Vogt took a good mouthful; the liquid +tasted acid and refreshing, and cleared his head wonderfully. + +Sickel declined the draught with impatience. "Get away with your slops, +you bone-breaker!" he said; "but if you've got any brandy I'll have +it." + +The hospital-orderly had none. "Well, what's the matter with you, +then?" he asked. + +"Something's wrong with my pins," answered the driver, and pointed to +his leg. + +"Is that it?" said the orderly. "You don't seem very bad on the whole. +But what's wrong with this one? I can't get him to come to," and he +pointed to the motionless form of Klitzing. + +"Perhaps cold water would bring him round," said Sickel. "Down there to +the left there must be a stream. You can hear it running." + +"Then I'll just go down there," returned the orderly. He laid the +bottle of cordial at Vogt's feet and climbed down through the +brushwood. + +Vogt slowly raised his head and looked about him in surprise. The +draught had revived him wonderfully. Where was he? A horse was standing +near him bleeding from a gaping wound in the flank. Not far off lay one +of his comrades stretched out like a corpse, and pale as death, with +eyes closed and blood-stained froth on his lips. Why, it was Klitzing! +He clutched at his forehead, and all at once the curtain that had +clouded his memory parted. He realised what had happened after he +had seen the hoof coming in the direction of his skull. A dark body +had thrown itself between him and the glistening iron--and then the +blow had been struck. There had been a terrible, hollow sound, and +then--then that body had been hurled into the air. + +Suddenly he understood it all: Klitzing had sacrificed himself for him, +his friend had saved him from the death-dealing blow of that iron-shod +hoof, and there he now lay upon the grass, pale, unconscious--perhaps +dead. + +At this moment the unconscious man's eyelids opened at last with +difficulty, his dull gaze went searching round, then rested upon Vogt +with an expression of boundless devotion. Vogt darted to the clerk's +side, threw himself down, and took the pale face between his hands. + +"Heinrich!" he cried. "My dear good Heinrich! What have you done for +me?" + +Bright tears ran down his cheeks, and through his sobs he could only +stammer again and again: "Heinrich! my dear good fellow!" + +Klitzing tried to speak. His lips moved slightly, but no word came from +them. A feeble hand was raised to his friend's shoulder, stroked it +languidly, then fell heavily back. Again the eyes closed and remained +shut, although Vogt went on earnestly begging and praying: "Heinrich! +Heinrich! Tell me what is the matter! Can't I help you?" + +Sickel gazed thoughtfully at the two friends. He remembered the moment +of departure, and how gay and merry the two gunners had been together. +Suddenly he turned his head to one side and listened. + +"The doctor is coming," he said. + +Immediately afterwards the portly assistant medical-officer, +Rademacher, came down into the hollow. "Well, what is the matter here?" +he asked. + +He turned first of all to the driver, but Sickel motioned him away; +"Excuse me, sir, but there's plenty of time for me. The other man there +needs you more." + +Rademacher bent down over Klitzing. When he saw the blood-stained froth +on the lips his face involuntarily put on a grave expression. He laid +his ear to the chest and listened for a long time. + +"What happened to the man?" he inquired. + +Vogt pointed to Eidechse, who was gazing across at them with dull eyes, +and answered: "She kicked him in the chest." + +"Badly?" + +"Yes, sir. He threw himself between, so that I should not be kicked +again." + +The fat doctor looked up surprised. This was an unusually touching +incident in the rough life of a soldier. He saw the tears in the young +man's honest eyes, and he understood. + +"Then you were great friends?" + +"Yes, sir. And--and--how is he now?" + +Rademacher looked hesitatingly down at the mortally wounded man, and +answered evasively: "Well--we must wait and see." + +Once more he listened to the breathing, then stood up. According +to his diagnosis the injured man had but a few hours to live, at the +most--perhaps even only minutes. + +"Has he recovered consciousness at all?" he asked. + +"Yes, sir; but only for a very short time." + +The doctor shrugged his shoulders. + +"But what's wrong with you?" he said, turning to the bombardier. + +"My leg's rather queer, sir. Old Turk fell on it, and it's sprained, I +suppose. But I expect you can soon put it right, sir." + +Rademacher removed the driver's riding-trousers with the aid of the +hospital-orderly. + +His examination was soon over. + +"You have a double fracture of the thigh," he said. "But we'll soon set +it for you." + +Sickel listened open-mouthed. + +"Then I shall be ready to leave when I get my discharge?" he inquired. + +The medical officer smiled. "No, my friend, it will take from four to +six weeks." + +This was too much for the driver, and he grumbled loudly. He would +cheerfully have been more hurt, although, as it was, he had had a +narrow shave--but not to be able to get his discharge--it was hard +lines indeed! + +Meanwhile the ambulance-orderly had put a bandage round Vogt's head. +Rademacher gazed thoughtfully down on Klitzing. At last he turned away; +it was a hopeless case. He sent the trumpeter, who had come with him +for an ambulance-waggon. He had seen one standing in the road not far +off. + +Restlessly he walked up and down, trying to shorten the time of +waiting. Every time he passed the clerk he looked at the lips through +which still came that heavy breathing. It was a perfect marvel that the +man still lived. Three ribs were broken, and they had wounded the lung +so severely that a violent hæmorrhage had ensued. + +Four stretcher-bearers came down the hill at last, carrying two +stretchers. Klitzing was first placed on one of them. + +"Where is he to go?" asked the foremost stretcher-bearer. Rademacher +considered a moment, and then answered: + +"Up yonder, right on the brow of the hill, there's a farm, manor-house, +or something of the sort. Take him there. On my responsibility." + +The stretcher-bearers set out, Vogt joining them. The doctor had nodded +assent to his beseeching glance. + +Sickel was just going to be carried away when two veterinary surgeons +arrived to look after the injured horses. + +"Beg pardon, sir," said the driver, "but I should like so much to know +what's wrong with my beast." + +Rademacher told the stretcher-bearers to wait. The case of the horse +was diagnosed as quickly as that of the rider. The vet. raised himself +and said to his colleague: "The off hind-pastern is fractured." + +"Can anything be done?" asked the driver. + +The other shrugged his shoulders: "No, it's all up with him," he said. + +Sickel looked across at the Turk. "Poor old fellow!" he muttered to +himself. Then he made them carry him up to the bay's head, and gently +took hold of the tuft of hair on his forehead, caressing him. Turk +raised himself with difficulty, and rubbed his nose against his +driver's leg. Then the bombardier turned himself impatiently on to the +other side, and cried to the stretcher-bearers to make haste. "Now get +me away quickly!" Turk gazed after the stretcher with his large, +mournful eyes, and as it disappeared behind the edge of the declivity +he snorted piteously. + +Soon after the hollow was just as peaceful and deserted as it had been +early that morning, with blackbirds building their nests in the wild +luxuriance of the beech-trees. But the grass and the bushes were +trampled down everywhere; the spot looked like the scene of a fight, +and in the middle of the battle-field lay the carcase of poor Turk. +Late that evening some soldiers came with lifting apparatus and took +the ponderous dead beast to the nearest knacker's yard. + +When Vogt and the stretcher-bearers had climbed to the top of the hill +and saw the building to which the doctor had directed them, they +stopped short. Dr. Rademacher had spoken of a manor-house or farm; but +what they saw before them looked more like a castle. However, as there +was not another roof to be seen near or far, they could not be making +any mistake. + +The stretcher-bearers looked through a gate surmounted by a count's +coronet, and saw the front door of the building. Not a sign of life was +anywhere visible. Vogt pulled the bell; but a considerable time elapsed +before there was any movement on the other side of the grating. Just as +he was about to ring a second time, a white-haired old woman appeared +on the threshold of the door at the top of the front steps. She was +dressed like any other old peasant woman of the neighbourhood. She +walked slowly to the gate along the paved pathway, a bunch of keys in +her hand. + +One of the soldiers addressed her: + +"Tell us, please, can you give this man here a bed, and let us have one +for another as well? They have both met with an accident, and for the +present cannot be moved any further." + +The old woman looked at the unconscious corpse-like form on the +stretcher for a time without speaking, then said, in a tranquil voice: + +"Oh, yes, there is room enough here." + +She unlocked the gate, and let Vogt and the stretcher-bearers in. + +"Where is the other?" she then asked; and the soldier answered: "He +will soon follow." + +The woman nodded silently. She locked the gate behind them, and then +turned towards a wing of the building. The stretcher-bearer, walking +close behind her, whispered: "This one won't be a burden to you long. +The end must soon come." Again the old woman gazed thoughtfully at the +face that looked so deathly pale on the grey linen cushion of the +stretcher. She hesitated; then all at once she turned right round and +went up the front steps of the main building. "We can find him a bed +here," she murmured. The three soldiers stepped into a lofty hall. A +softened, mellow light from without fell through a stained-glass +window, and the floor was paved with shining tiles, on which the +soldiers' nail-studded boots clattered discordantly. Vogt and the other +two men opened their eyes in wonder; but the woman went on further, +threw wide open two high folding-doors, and ushered them into a +spacious room. "I will bring sheets," she said, and did not herself +enter. + +The stretcher-bearers put down their burden and gave a deep breath, +gazing round them in surprise. The room was square. The bright daylight +streamed in through two windows that reached to the ceiling. The floor +was beautifully inlaid with wood of different colours, and carved oak +panelling covered the walls. Against a side wall stood a broad, low +bed, over which a faded quilted silk coverlet was spread, and there was +a carved wooden canopy fixed to the wall above, from which curtains had +formerly hung. The design of the wood-work was surmounted by a royal +crown. + +The old woman soon returned with a pair of fine snow-white linen +sheets. + +"He's to go in there?" asked the soldier, pointing to this bed of +state. She assented with a nod of the head, and made haste to prepare +the bed, which she had ready in a few moments. + +The loud, clear sound of the bell was heard once more. "That's the +other one," said the soldier; and the woman left the room with her +quiet, shuffling steps. + +The two stretcher-bearers now began to undress Klitzing with their +practised hands, and the clerk was soon lying beneath the silken +coverlet, the royal crown over his head. Then one of the men asked: +"What shall we do now?" and the other answered: "Well, we'd better go +back to the ambulance waggon, anyhow. The doctor will have arrived by +this time. You can stop here," he said to Vogt, and they left the two +friends alone. + +Vogt had been standing still in the middle of the room, his head +feeling quite clear again; but suddenly once more all became dark +before his eyes, and he had to sit down on one of the huge armchairs +that stood against the wall. Was this not all a bad dream? There on the +white pillow lay Klitzing, still unconscious, looking more dead than +alive. Vogt went and knelt down beside him, and pressed his hot face +against the cool silk of the coverlet. Would his faithful friend never +wake again, not even for a moment, so that he might thank him? But +Klitzing's eyelids remained closed, and there was no movement of the +body, only the rapid, stertorous breathing. + +The shrill sound of the bell broke the silence for the third time, and +immediately after the senior staff-surgeon, Andreae, entered the room, +followed by Dr. Rademacher and a hospital orderly. He gave a rapid +glance of surprise at the unusual surroundings, and went at once to the +bed. + +Vogt had risen at his entrance. Andreae nodded to him, and pointing to +Klitzing, asked: "Has he never recovered consciousness?" + +"No, sir." + +The medical-officer then bent his head to the injured man's chest, and +listened to his breathing for some time. Finally he felt his pulse. The +hand fell back as if lifeless upon the coverlet. + +"Unfortunately you are right," he said to Rademacher; and as the other +looked questioningly at him he added, shrugging his shoulders, "Nothing +can be done." + +So saying he went up to Vogt, and laid his hand kindly upon the young +man's arm: "Dr. Rademacher has told me," he said, "how the poor fellow +sacrificed himself for your sake. It grieves me very much to have to +say it, but I cannot hide the truth from you. Your friend has indeed +given his life for yours; he has but a short time to live." + +Vogt remained fixed in the stiff soldierly attitude he had assumed; +otherwise he felt he would have fallen to the ground. "Then, sir," he +stammered, "will he never wake up again?" + +"That no one can tell," answered the surgeon. "I hardly think so." + +"But I may stay with him?" + +"Yes, certainly. You are quartered here for to-night. You yourself are +invalided in any case, and to-morrow your friend will not last till +then, I fear, probably not even till this evening. So pull yourself +together, my man, and be proud that you have had such a brave fellow +for a friend. Friendship even unto death! There are not many like that +nowadays. God knows, I wish we could help the poor fellow!" + +Andreae was quite affected by the unusual circumstances of the case; +but he had other duties, and dared not indulge his feelings. He drew +himself up, and continued in firm tones: "We must dress your wound for +you too, Vogt; but first I ought to set the driver's leg." + +"We must go," he said, turning to the others; "the gunner will remain +with his comrade for the present." + +Vogt followed the doctor with his eyes. When the door closed he turned +them towards the pale face of his dear friend. It was true then? +Klitzing had given his life for him. And no one could do anything to +help. There was a hot sensation in his throat, and then at last his +sorrow found relief in a flood of tears. + +After a time he looked again at his friend. How white he looked as he +lay there! And how thin the face appeared against the white sheet! +Klitzing had indeed refined, distinguished-looking features, and one +could easily take him for a real gentleman lying in that magnificent +bed, if the shabby dust-covered uniform were not hanging over the back +of the chair close by. Vogt remembered how he had sometimes teased his +friend about his sickly pallor; he racked his brains to think whether +he had not wounded his feelings in other ways, and reproached himself +for every harsh word he could remember using towards Klitzing. How much +more friendly and affectionate he might often have been! + +The doctors left the castle at last, having given the hospital-orderly +the necessary instructions to carry out during their absence. As +Rademacher was the medical officer on duty, he went the rounds once +more before leaving; and Vogt, whose head had been re-bandaged and who +had scarcely thought of meat and drink, now took some milk-soup at his +desire. + +Nerve-exhaustion and loss of blood soon made themselves felt. +Ensconcing himself on a hard sofa that stood at the head of Klitzing's +bed, he fell into a heavy sleep. + +The sound of voices roused him. He opened his eyes, and it was a +considerable time before he realised where he was. Again the voices +spoke. A conversation was evidently going on in the garden outside +between two people, a man and a woman. Vogt went to the window and +looked out. Close to the wall of the house vegetables had been planted. +A bearded man was digging the beds with a spade; the old woman was +assisting him by breaking up the clods of earth with a hoe. + +"But I can't understand, mother," said the man, "why you gave him the +Princes' Room." + +The old woman stopped her work for a moment and leant upon the handle +of her hoe. Then in her quiet monotonous voice she replied: "They told +me he would soon die, and the dead are the greatest kings on earth. +They are free. They have no more desires, no more cares. No one can +help or harm them any more." + +The son said nothing, and both worked on busily. + +Without thinking what he was doing Vogt watched them for a time at +their digging and hoeing, and when he turned back into the room the +heavy atmosphere of the long unventilated apartment gave him a +momentary sense of oppression. + +But in the meantime something had happened, something that made him +suddenly stand still, speechless. Klitzing had awakened. + +The sick man had moved his head to one side; his eyes were wide open, +and he was looking through the long window. His gaze wandered till it +rested on his friend, and apparently recognising him brightened with +intense pleasure; then it returned to the picture framed by the window. +Undazzled, his eyes looked out upon the radiance of the setting sun, +already half below the horizon. The face of the dying man was lighted +up by quiet happiness. He stood on the threshold of Paradise, and +seemed already to behold it in that fair vision of distant landscape +bathed in the departing glow of daylight. The sun's rays kissed the +eyes of the dying man, and he appeared to live but by their light. He +gazed fixedly on the vanishing disk until it sank out of sight. When he +could see it no longer an expression of fear passed over his +countenance, as though he dreaded the darkness and sought something +that had disappeared from view. + +Then he closed his eyes, and found Paradise. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + "Reservists they may rest, + Reservists may rest, + And if reservists rest may have, + Then may reservists rest." + (_Song of the Reserve._) + +Thursday, September 19th, four P.M., was fixed for the funeral of +Gunner Heinrich Karl Klitzing, "accidentally killed on September 16th, +and to be buried in the nearest convenient churchyard." The order ended +with the words; "The cost of the funeral shall be provisionally +defrayed by the regiment." + +During the intervening three days the man[oe]uvring force had moved on +to the plain, so that they lay at a distance of nearly fifteen miles +from the castle. On foot this would mean a march of four hours, and it +was therefore impossible to allow many of the men to take part in the +funeral. On Wednesday evening the sergeant read out the order that +"those who wished to attend the ceremony, and felt able to undertake +the fatiguing march there and back, should come forward." + +The men looked grave. Nearly all of them would have liked to show this +last sign of respect to the comrade who had died so honourable a death; +but to be on their feet for eight hours, and that after the fatigue of +the man[oe]uvres, was too much. + +Only three gave in their names: Count Plettau, Wolf, and Truchsess, + +Senior-lieutenant Güntz looked surprised. He had never expected it from +the first two, and such a decision from the fat brewer certainly showed +great devotion. But, in any case, their intentions were excellent, and +so they must have their way. + +He himself would see to Vogt, who was again on duty, the wound on his +forehead covered with plaster; the gunner should ride on the box of his +own carnage. For he, as the officer commanding the battery, Reimers as +its lieutenant, and the sergeant-major, were, in a way, obliged to +attend the funeral. Besides these, Sergeant Wiegandt was to go with +them as representative of the other non-commissioned officers; while +head-quarters Colonel Falkenhein and Major Schrader had notified their +intention of being present with their adjutants. + +At the end of one of the wings of the castle there was a small room +arranged as a chapel, and an enclosure which adjoined the park was used +as a graveyard. + +A fine drizzle was falling, so the short service was held in the +chapel. + +Nothing was lacking in the obsequies of the poor clerk. The major, from +his private means, had doubled the sum to be spent on the funeral, A +beautiful oak coffin therefore stood in the centre of the little +chapel, covered with the wreaths sent by the battery comrades of the +dead man, by Schrader on the part of the division, and by Falkenhein on +that of the regiment. They were thick wreaths of laurel, adorned with +simple ribbon bows. The white-haired widow of the keeper of the castle +had also picked all the flowers she could find still spared by autumn, +and had made wreaths of many-coloured asters and dahlias, with which +she had decorated the coffin, somewhat fantastically. While rummaging +in the attics, she had found in some corner a chest, forgotten for +perhaps a hundred years, full of old-fashioned moulded candles, and +with these she had filled two many-branched candelabra. + +The pastor stood at the head of the coffin and began the service; +behind him the sexton had taken up his position with folded hands. On +either side sat the officers and men, holding their helmets on their +knees and looking on with serious countenances. The old woman knelt +crouching on a prie-dieu, and hid her face in her hands. When the +pastor had pronounced a final "Amen," the four gunners raised the +coffin on their shoulders and bore it to the little graveyard. The +sexton preceded the coffin, and behind it followed, in order, the +pastor, the two staff officers, Güntz and Reimers, the two adjutants, +Heppner and Wiegandt, and last came the woman and her son. + +At the grave the pastor pronounced the blessing and prayed. Then the +four soldiers lifted the coffin up by the black straps, the sexton +removed the supporting boards, and the dead man was slowly lowered to +his place of rest. + +The colonel now stepped forward and spoke a few simple words in +remembrance of the dead. He recalled his genuine loyalty to his +comrades, proved even by his death, and pronounced happy that prince +and that country in whose army so brave a soldier was counted. + +Every man present threw three handfuls of earth on the coffin, and the +funeral was at an end. + +The little procession left the graveyard at a quicker pace than when it +came. Vogt remained alone at the graveside. + +The carriage drove up, but Vogt was still missing, and they had to +fetch him from the grave. As he sat on the box, he looked back +wistfully at the spot where his dear friend lay buried. + + +The last day of the man[oe]uvres had come. A light mist which veiled +the autumn sun made the heat bearable. The exercises ended in the early +forenoon, and, after a final parade, the troops marched off to their +garrisons. The infantry were despatched in long railway-trains, while +the mounted branches of the service covered the ground by moderate +marches. The 80th regiment was lucky; its garrison could be reached by +a four hours' march. + +In order to avoid the inevitable stoppages of an immoderately long +marching column, the colonel had appointed different roads for the +separate batteries, and had fixed on a meeting-place at a short +distance from the barracks, whence they could march in together. + +The sixth battery had trotted down a slight incline on the high road, +and afterwards climbed the next rise at a slow pace. The horses no +longer tugged at their traces. They drew the guns patiently and +bravely, but with subdued spirits. Sergeant Heppner looked on +thoughtfully; the animals were certainly more used up this time than on +former occasions of the kind. Their sleek sides had fallen in; and a +couple of them looked very rough in the coat, too. This in addition to +the facts that away somewhere in a bone-mill poor old Turk's bones had +perhaps already been ground into dust, and that Eidechse was not +exactly improved by that gigantic wound in the buttock, which had been +sewn up by the farrier with innumerable stitches. + +But this was all because the officers would not listen to such an +experienced counsellor as himself. His contention against Wegstetten in +pronouncing the six light bays too weak to drag gun six had indeed been +proved correct. That, of course, afforded him a certain amount of +satisfaction; but to have one horse dead and another disfigured was +paying too high a price for it! + +They had now reached the top of the ridge, and the barracks could be +descried far below in the valley. There was plenty of time before the +rendezvous, so the battery might still keep to their easy pace. +Nevertheless, the time of the march was gradually accelerated the +horses of course could not yet scent the nearness of their stables; but +the men were impatient, and involuntarily urged the animals on. Having +once seen the barracks, they wanted to be home as soon as possible. + +Half of them, it was true, were only to sleep one more night within +these walls; then they would doff the green coat and be once more their +own masters. To these men it felt as if their time of service had ended +with the parade which closed the man[oe]uvres. When they had marched +past the commanding general they had still been soldiers; but if now +they received orders, they would not carry them out with the prompt, +alert movements to which they had been trained during the last two +years. They took things more leisurely now. The drill which had been +thrashed into them already began to be forgotten; only a perfunctory +obedience remained. + +It was as though a spirit of revolt had taken possession of the men. +There were many among them who had never thought of concerning +themselves with the aims of Social-Democracy; who might perhaps have +returned to their ploughs and their spades in a docile and dutiful +spirit. But now it dawned upon them all at once how the little +they as soldiers had been obliged to learn had been made quite +unnecessarily difficult for them. They stripped off, like a troublesome +strait-waistcoat, the superfluity of petty rules to which they had been +subjected; and the recognition of the needless compulsion they had so +long endured produced, as its inevitable consequence, a violent +reaction, which quite naturally manifested itself in a hasty change of +opinion. Many of those who, on their discharge the next morning, would +have to join in the cheers for the Emperor and the King, had, no doubt, +already on their lips the socialist song which would be sung after +midnight in the taverns of their native places. + +And the rest, who, from either stupidity or laziness, were not +completely converted to such political views, were nevertheless not +entirely free from their influence. There would remain in their minds +some vestige of these ideas, and this seed would be carried back by the +peasant lads to their remote villages, where the new wisdom from the +city would bring forth fruit an hundredfold, sounding as it did so +pleasantly to the ear. And yet the mighty lords of the soil wondered at +the growth of the socialist vote among the purely agricultural +electorate! Of course it continued to grow and to increase every year, +because the army, under its present conditions simply constituted a +school of Social-Democracy. + +Vogt sat on his gun-carriage and cast sad glances at the man next to +him, who had taken Klitzing's place: the blue-collared hospital-orderly +On the outward march his friend had been his neighbour, and the talk +between them had been hearty, merry, and familiar; it had been almost +snug on the gun-carriage. But now that dear old comrade lay away there +in the hills, and Vogt had to shift for himself during this last year +of his service. He kept thinking how lonely it would be for him now in +the barracks with the excitement of the autumn man[oe]uvres a thing of +the past, and with the monotonous winter work beginning again. + +Above, on the limber, Wolf sat between Truchsess and Plettau. The +nearer the wished-for day of freedom approached the more nervous Wolf +became. He tried not even to think of life after his discharge, always +fearing that some slip might still occur to detain him longer in his +fetters. There was now only this one last day and this one last night +to endure--then he would be free. He felt as if now he might dare to +breathe freely. What could possibly happen amiss? There was no more +duty, merely the formal giving up of his kit. Then he would take his +certificate of discharge and would be able to go wherever he wished. + +And so it came about that Wolf was filled with joy as they passed in +through the barrack gates. + + +That very afternoon the men whose time was expired handed over their +packing materials and all that could be spared of their outfit and +uniform, only retaining the suit they had on. Of course, until the +morning of the day of their discharge, they remained soldiers; but it +was impossible to keep up the usual discipline, and the authorities +gave every one, from first to last, a loose rein. + +After the orders of the day had been read, the half-demoralised crew +dispersed themselves through the town. They stood at the doors of +houses, clasping servant-maids round the waist. When a superior officer +passed by they assumed the regulation attitude slowly and carelessly, +and the officers and non-commissioned officers took pains not to see +the incipient insubordination. Rebellious phrases passed from mouth to +mouth, and many a one boasted how he would thrash this or that corporal +or sergeant--when once he was in civilian dress. + +"When once one is in civilian dress"--that seemed to be the noisy +pass-word given out for the evening. It was as though these swaggering +men could no longer endure the last hardly perceptible signs of the +discipline to which they had so long obediently submitted; as though +this evening would end in open mutiny. + +Wolf took no part in these noisy demonstrations; he was perhaps the +only reservist in the whole regiment who held aloof. He could not +stand the noise and the drunkenness. The whole of that free afternoon +he stayed in the barrack-room, dreaming away comfortably, and +looking at the first-year men, who now, when the "old gang" had left, +would suddenly have about twice as much to do as hitherto. If a +non-commissioned officer crossed the threshold, he jumped up and stood +at attention, quickly and accurately, just as he had done at any time +during these last two years. Why not still continue to play the comedy +for these few remaining hours, after having been an actor so long? + +With almost affectionate zeal he cleaned and polished the accoutrements +he had to hand over; and he had the satisfaction of having his kit held +up as an example by Sergeant Keyser, his former enemy, to others who +gave in things insufficiently cleaned. The sergeant, it is true, +promptly ceased his praises when, seeing the name marked on the various +articles, he realised who the exemplary gunner was; however, that was +no matter. + +After the orders of the day had been read, Wolf walked restlessly up +and down the courtyard of the barracks. Would this day never end? +The sun had set behind the heights in the west some time since, +but a dull glow still overspread that part of the sky. He quitted the +barracks by the back gate and walked round the great quadrangle of the +drill-ground. The vast space had been freshly strewn with that fine +coke refuse which, in the wet seasons of the year, works up into such +an ugly black slush. In an absent-minded way he stirred the loose grit +with the toe of his boot, then smoothed the surface with the sole, and +dug little channels in it. + +When he looked up from this amusement it was growing dark; and then the +last evening was succeeded by the last night. Most of the men slept the +heavy sleep of drunkenness; Wolf never closed his eyes. He heard every +stroke of the clock, and the intervening half-hours seemed to him of +infinite duration. + +Half an hour before the reveille he rose. A cold sponge waked him up +thoroughly, and after this sleepless night he felt a thousand times +fresher and stronger than at other times after enjoying his full share +of rest. He opened the window of the bathroom, and let the cool air of +the grey morning fan his chest. A fine autumn day was dawning for this +feast-day of freedom, so long desired. A thin haze still veiled the +prospect, but was retiring shyly before the approach of the conquering +sun. + +With sparkling eyes he gazed over the opposite roofs towards the hills, +from behind which the lord of day must soon emerge. He stood erect and +stretched his arms out wide. + +Now for the first time he dared to believe in his happiness. + +He took his civilian clothes from the chest as if they had been +precious treasures. The trumpet was just sounding the reveille while he +dressed himself. The white shirt, the clean collar, the comfortable +jacket, and the soft slouched hat--how light they were and how easily +they fitted! Another sign that this cramping restraint was at an end! + +He stood there ready, as his comrades came yawning and rough-headed +from the dormitory. They looked at him in surprise. + +"You're in a damned hurry," said one of them. And Wolf answered gaily, +"Yes, indeed, I've waited long enough!" + +Now came the last falling into line as a soldier, and the handing over +of the clothing and kit which had been used at the last. + +Sergeant Keyser went into each room and superintended the counting over +of the separate articles. Then he threw them over the arm of a gunner +who was to carry them to the kit-room. + +He had intentionally left Wolf's room to the last, and had despatched +all the other reservists before him. For he meant to pay out the +socialist fellow who had let him in for six weeks' arrest; Wolf should +have to wait about as long as possible before being finally released +from military discipline. + +At last, however, his turn came. He counted out just the right number +of articles; the buttons of the jacket shone again, and not a rent was +to be found anywhere. He folded the trousers and beat them with his +hand--not a particle of dust rose from them. The leather things also +were unimpeachable, and the boots were in the exact regulation +condition--not brightly polished, but merely rubbed over with grease to +prevent the leather from drying up. + +Keyser muttered a surly "all right," and turning away threw the things +over Findeisen's arm and put the boots into his hand. But the gunner, +who was already holding four pairs by the tags, let them fall to the +ground. + +Sergeant Keyser picked them up, scolding furiously. The dust from the +floor had stuck in thick streaks on the greasy leather. + +Then a bright idea occurred to the sergeant. He held the boots up +before Findeisen's face and bellowed at him, "Lick that off, you +swine!" + +It was not really meant literally, that was plain; but an ungovernable +fury began to glow in his eyes. + +Findeisen had drawn back. He ground his teeth and looked defiance +straight into the sergeant's eyes. + +This maddened Keyser. His face became purple with passion, and again he +hissed out, "Dog, lick it at once!" + +Suddenly the resolute spirit of opposition died out of Findeisen's +eyes. The strong, broad-shouldered man bowed as if under the lash; he +became pale as death, and actually touched the boot with his tongue. + +The sergeant rubbed the leather roughly over his face, leaving patches +of dirt and grease on the skin. Then he turned and looked Wolf straight +in the eyes. "Do you see that, fellow?" the triumphant challenging look +seemed to say: "Your comrade must abase himself to the level of the +beasts, if we so will it,--we, who have the power!" + +Wolf hit him full in the face with his clenched fist. + +The sergeant staggered. He uttered a gurgling cry and tried to throw +himself upon the reservist. + +Then something unexpected happened, taking place so suddenly and so +quickly that afterwards Wolf was hardly able to picture it. Findeisen +had thrown to the ground all that he carried--the boots and the outfit. +In a flash he seized the sergeant, held him raised for an instant in +his powerful arms, and then flung him head forwards against the wall. + +The skull struck the wall with a dull thud, and the body fell heavily +to the ground. + +There was a cry of "Stop that!" Deputy sergeant-major Heimert rushed +through the doorway and flung himself upon Findeisen. The gunner +defended himself wildly, hitting, biting, and scratching; he felt that +he was fighting for his life, but Heimert was a match for him. + +Others soon came, too,--non-commissioned officers and men. They dragged +the raving soldier to the ground and bound him. + +Wolf stood motionless, and let them tie his arms behind his back. His +head was in a whirl, and it all seemed a confused dream. + +It really was quite ludicrous that his first dream, of happy release +from the service, should have such a horrible sequel. This was +certainly a nightmare. + +He shook his head and tugged at the cords which bound his hands, trying +to awake from the hideous delusion. The cords pressed deeper into the +flesh, and the pain brought him back to reality. + +He gazed round, not trusting his eyes. + +This was indeed the old dormitory in which he had slept these two +years. A lot of people were standing together and speaking with excited +gestures. The air was thick with dust, as if from a fight; and just by +the press, near a bundle of clothing, lay a man, his arms tied behind +his back, his face deadly pale, and his chest heaving. It was +Findeisen. And four soldiers were lifting another--Sergeant Keyser--who +lay stretched out by the wall near the window. The sergeant's face was +quite white, and his limbs hung limply down from his body. + +"He's done for!" said the voice of Sergeant-major Heppner. "Carry him +to his room and lay him on his bed." + +And four soldiers carried the dead man past Wolf out through the door. + +The sergeant-major sent away the other loitering gunners, and only the +non-commissioned officers remained in the room with the two bound men. + +Heppner stepped up to Wolf and looked him over from head to foot. + +"Your fine civilian clothes, my lad," he said, "will have to lie a bit +longer in the chest." + +He picked out Wolf's things from the bundles scattered about the room, +and threw them over the reservist's shoulders. + +"There," he said mockingly, "that will suit your complexion better. And +what'll suit you best of all is a convict's grey suit. In the meantime, +just get yourself up as a gunner again, my son." + +He ordered two of the non-commissioned officers to put Wolf and +Findeisen under arrest. + +"Look out!" he warned the corporals. "These two scoundrels are capable +of anything. And if they utter a word, then you know why you've got +swords dangling at your sides!" + +The two prisoners were led across the yard to the guard-house. The +reservists were just collecting before the barracks. Most of them went +about arm in arm, and in their uproarious spirits made passes in the +air with their betassled walking-sticks. + +As the little procession passed the noisy crowd, the merry songs +ceased. The reservists, taken aback, stepped aside, and amid startled +whispers looked after the prisoners. + +Findeisen walked with bowed head. They had put his cap on right over +his forehead, so that he could hardly see from under it. Wolf looked +straight ahead, but walked as if in a fog. He saw nothing of what was +passing before him, and stumbled as he stepped across a gutter. + +The corporal on guard was going to unlock two contiguous cells for the +prisoners, but one of the men in charge of them objected. + +"They might communicate with each other by knocking or somehow," he +said. "Better lock them up as far apart as possible." + +So Wolf was put into the cell nearest to the road, and Findeisen into +one at the other end of the corridor. + +The corporal placed the reservist's uniform on a stool, and near by the +pair of boots which had caused the dispute, still bearing traces of +dust. + +"Change your clothes quickly," he said. "I must take back your plain +clothes with me at once." + +But Wolf stood there motionless. + +He heard the key turn in the lock without realising what was happening. +Then the steps retreated from his door, once more the great bunch of +keys jingled, another door was opened, creaked unwillingly on its +hinges, and was slammed to and locked. + +The voices of the non-commissioned officers resounded in the +stone-paved corridor as they returned to the guard-room. + +"What have the fellows done?" asked the soldier on guard. + +The answer was almost lost behind a corner of the passage: +"Murder--Sergeant Keyser." + +The reservist still stood motionless beside the stool. He was trying +in vain to think why he was here. What was he doing here, when it was +to-day that he was at last released from the hated discipline? He +passed his hand over his eyes, as if to remove something that was +covering them, and mechanically he pressed down the latch of the door. + +It was indeed true; he was locked in. + +Again the key sounded in the lock, and the corporal on guard entered. +Behind him a gunner brought a jug of water into the cell, set it down, +and at once retired. + +"Why haven't you changed yet?" asked the corporal. + +The reservist stared at him blankly, without comprehension. + +"Damnation!" thundered his superior. "Change your clothes this moment, +do you hear?" + +And Wolf sat down obediently on the stool. Automatically he took off +his coat and trousers, undid his collar, and pulled off his shoes. Then +he took off his hat also; and in the same mechanical way dressed +himself again in uniform. + +The corporal had bidden him a couple of times to make haste, and now he +threw the civilian clothes over his arm. + +"Everything must be taken away from you," he said as he went. + +Wolf nodded, and dully looked on. Once he moved as though to seize at +something--the corporal's fingers were not clean, and were dirtying his +white collar; he might at least hold it by the edge--but the +outstretched hand sank back languidly. + +Such behaviour made the corporal look serious. When in the guard-room +he handed over the clothes to the non-commissioned officer who had +brought in the prisoners, he pointed with his thumb back over his +shoulder, and said: "That fellow there's not quite right in his head." + +"Do you think not?" asked the other. + +"Yes, I do. So I took away his braces, and now at least he can't hang +himself." + +Wolf had involuntarily stood at attention as the corporal left the +cell, and when the door closed he put forward his right foot and +relaxed his position just as if the order "Stand at ease" had been +given. + +He looked down at his worn uniform, the green cloth of which was grey +and threadbare, while the madder-red facings had faded to a dirty pink. +The well-polished buttons shone, and a darker patch in a corner of the +tunic showed up clearly against the shabby material. + +By that patch he recognised the coat which he had worn for two endless +years, and which he still wore; and all at once he understood his fate. + +Under the horror of the revelation he broke down. He sank helplessly on +the stool, and hid his face in his hands. + +He was still incapable of ordered thought. Only one thing could he +grasp, that his dream of freedom lay shattered and destroyed before +him. This single, fearful, desperate certainty so entirely filled his +mind, that his capacity for other thought seemed paralysed. His senses +received external impressions, but did not transmit them to the brain. + +Wolf's cell was situated in the outermost corner of the guard-house. At +a distance of about ten paces the high-road ran past the brick wall, +which was none too thick. Besides this, a small pane of the window was +open; so that the crunching of the wheels as they turned on the +freshly-laid metalling, the encouragements of the drivers to their +horses, and the cracking of the whips, could be distinctly heard. Even +the steps of the passers-by were audible, and a word here and there of +their conversation. + +Wolf still sat upon the stool. All these noises reached his ear, but he +paid no heed to them. + +Suddenly he raised his head. + +An indistinct sound of distant singing came in snatches through the +little window, borne by gusts of wind. Nearer and nearer it approached. +Now the singers seemed to be turning a corner, their measured tread +became audible, and their hearty voices rang out: + + "Reservists they may rest, + Reservists may rest, + And if reservists rest may have, + Then may reservists rest." + +The song of the reservists who were leaving the barracks and marching +to the station. + +From time to time the rough joke of some passing wit interrupted the +song. Then the reservists would break out into a loud laugh and call +back some still more spicy retort. But they always took up their +jingling refrain, repeating the childish words again and again, and +jogging along clumsily, keeping time to the song. + +Wolf heard the harsh sounds gradually retreating, till finally they +died away in the direction of the town. + +Once more he buried his face in his hands. + +When at last he sat up again, he had conquered himself. He had +determined to wage war against fate. + +Upright and with firm steps he paced up and down his cell. He thought +over everything that could serve for his defence: how he had held +himself in check, so as not in any way to prolong by his own fault his +time of service; how he had even looked on quietly when Findeisen +obeyed the sergeant's humiliating order; but how Keyser's provocative +look had made his blood boil and had driven him to his unlucky deed. He +had, it is true, raised his hand against a superior; but the sight of +the gunner licking the dust off the boots had seemed to him an insult +to humanity itself. + +The judges would not be able to disregard this, and at least they would +judge his offence leniently. Even if their outlook on life were +diametrically opposed to his own, surely in pronouncing their verdict +on him that could not prevent their taking into consideration the +purity of his motives. + +And he thought out a speech of defence which must penetrate the hearts +of the judges, a speech full of eloquent, inspiring words about that +dignity of man which none should wound with impunity, and about that +justifiable wrath which is not only excusable, but even praiseworthy. + +He intoxicated himself with his thoughts. Hope dazzled him, and +already he saw himself acquitted. He piled up argument after argument, +and planned artistically-turned periods and effective antitheses, +concluding his apology with a sublime appeal to the sense of justice of +his judges. + +The hours passed. He paced incessantly up and down the narrow cell, +with a glowing face and sparkling eyes. The bowl of food which had been +brought in for his dinner stood untouched. What had he to do with food +and drink? He was contending for something higher--for his freedom. + +In the afternoon he was taken before the officer who was to conduct +the inquiry, who had been summoned by telegraph from the divisional +head-quarters. + +The proceedings took place in barrack-room VII. of the sixth battery, +the scene of the fatal incident. At the table sat the presiding +officer, a stout man, whose head rose red and swollen above his tight +collar. He had a couple of sheets of paper before him, and while +interrogating constantly fidgeted with a pencil. A clerk waited with +pen to paper. + +The hearing began. + +Findeisen, when questioned, maintained a stubborn silence. The +examining officer tried by reasoning and by scolding to get something +out of him; the gunner remained dumb. He kept his eyes on the +ground, from time to time glancing furtively at the door. But two +non-commissioned officers were posted on the threshold. + +Wolf gave an accurate and connected account of what had occurred. The +clerk's pen flew swiftly over the paper. Then the examining officer +read the report aloud. "Is that correct?" he asked Wolf. "Yes, sir." + +He turned to Findeisen: "I ask you also, is that correct? If you have +any objection to make, out with it! For as it stands, the account is +not exactly favourable to you. Therefore I ask you if you have anything +to say against this version?" + +Then Findeisen gave his first answer during the proceedings, he shook +his head. + +"Nothing, then?" asked the examining officer. The gunner repeated, +"Nothing." + +Deputy sergeant-major Heimert, as the only witness, had nothing else to +depose beyond what Wolf had already said: and Findeisen again persisted +in his silence. + +After this, the officer closed the judicial examination. He gave orders +that Wolf should be conducted back to his cell, while Findeisen was to +be confronted with the corpse of the sergeant. + +Keyser's death had resulted from fracture of the skull, due to its +forcible impact against the wall. The medical report, however, stated +that fatal consequences had resulted on account of the unusual thinness +of the skull. + +The two orderlies took Findeisen between them and escorted him to the +infirmary. Wolf went with the soldier on guard diagonally across the +yard back to the guard-house. He mounted the steps composedly. Before +the door he stopped for a moment, drew the fresh air deep into his +lungs, and looked all round him. Then he was locked into his cell +again. + +The examination had opened his eyes; he had been on quite a wrong tack +when he had hoped to convince his judges by a fiery speech. In the +midst of this cold calm procedure, his words would sound distorted and +fantastic, and his eloquent tongue would fail him. The views of these +men were separated from his by an impassable gulf. However good a will +they might have, they were absolutely incapable of understanding him. + +No, he would undergo his examination quietly and without any attempt at +eloquence. Would not the naked facts speak loudly enough in his favour? + +He no longer had any hope of an acquittal. On the contrary, he knew he +would be condemned; but his punishment could not be severe. He called +to memory all the similar cases that he had known. They had almost +always resulted in less than a year of imprisonment. It was true that +in none of these had there been an actual assault on the person of a +superior, such as he had committed. But could that make a very great +difference? + +On the whole he thought it most likely that he would get off with about +six months, and he already began to arm himself with patience to bear +the hundred and eighty dreary days. It was quite certain that even one +hundred and eighty days must have an end. + +Suddenly he felt hungry, greedily hungry, and he hastily attacked the +food he had hitherto left untouched. The meat lay in the cold gravy +surrounded by congealed fat. The first mouthful gave him a strong +feeling of disgust; nevertheless, he swallowed the meat down quickly, +and finished the gravy to the last drop. + +It was soon disposed of, and then he began to take stock of his +surroundings: the grey walls, the water jug, and the stool in the +corner; the plank bed, strapped up to the wall during the day. The +grated window was high above the ground; but he could reach it by +standing on his stool. Even that, however, was not of much use; for all +view was cut off by a wooden screen, so arranged that the light only +penetrated from above, and he had to twist his head considerably in +order to catch the least glimpse of the sky. + +Wolf remained in this cramped position as if fascinated, gazing upward, +with his cheek against the cold stone of the wall. Grey clouds were +passing over the tiny bit of sky visible to him. Occasionally the whole +of the narrow space was filled in with a clear deep blue. + +One of the panes of the window was open, admitting a breath of fresh +pure air. It seemed to the prisoner that without this mouthful of free +air he would not be able to breathe, and he pressed his face against +the woodwork of the window as if suffocating. + +Gradually it grew dark outside. The wind rose, and a few heavy drops of +rain pattered on the boards of the screen. In the yard outside the +trumpeter sounded the call to stable-duty. The poor fellow in the +narrow cell remembered that this evening he should have rejoined the +circle of his socialist comrades. Instead of which, here he was +twisting his neck to see even a little bit of the sky, rather than the +ghastly grey walls of his prison. + +As the evening went on even that comfort failed. Everything was grey in +the grey light around him. + +As a gust of damp air blew in he once more drew a deep breath and got +down from the stool. + +Within the cell it was quite dark; but suddenly a square of light +appeared in the door,--the little window through which the prisoner +could be observed from without. The gas had been lit in the corridor, +and the unsteady light of the unprotected, flickering jet penetrated +the gloom of the cell. + +At the same moment the corporal on guard appeared on the threshold. He +brought with him the third of a loaf of bread, and he proceeded to let +down the bed from the wall. + +"Shall I shut the window?" he asked. + +Wolf answered hastily, "No, no, sir." + +The corporal nodded, looked round once more to see if everything was in +order, and quitted the cell, turning the key twice in the lock. + +The reservist heard him go along the passage to Findeisen's cell. +Shortly after, the click of the spurs was again audible passing his +door, and then everything was as still as before. + +Wolf lay on the bed and munched hard lumps of bread, from time to time +taking a drink of water. After that he fell into a soothing reverie, +more and more forgetting his position, till at last he settled himself +down comfortably on the hard wood, and fell fast asleep. + +In the middle of the night he began to feel very cold. Instinctively he +tried not to awake, as if even in sleep he knew how comfortless his +surroundings were. He thrust his hands up his coat-sleeves and curled +himself up on the bed; but at last the cold waked him completely. + +More benumbing still than the frost of the autumn night was the +consciousness of his misery. He shivered with cold, and yet could not +rouse himself sufficiently to get up. + +In the darkness of the night, the clear light of the hopes which had so +heartened him grew pale. An unspeakable fear assailed him that he might +be condemned to long years of imprisonment, and the darkness which +engulfed him now seemed like a symbol of that terrible time,--an +endless horror. + +Through the window could be heard the monotonous pouring of the rain. +The night wind was caught in the wooden screen, sent a damp breath into +the cell, and swept on with a low moan. + +In the intervals between these sounds, Wolf thought he could hear an +indistinct scraping and scratching. From time to time it ceased, then +began again. Could it be rats in the drain under the cell? + +In the morning he started up suddenly. The key was thrust hastily into +the lock, and the door opened violently. + +The corporal on guard appeared on the threshold. + +"Is _this_ one here, at any rate?" he cried. + +The dawn only lighted the cell faintly; but he could make out the form +of the prisoner, and gave a sigh of relief. + +"Thank God!" he said. "I am spared that, anyhow. They aren't both +gone." + +He called a gunner in, and searched every corner with a lantern. + +While he was on his knees lighting the space under the bed, the gunner +whispered furtively to Wolf, "The other man has escaped." + +At first the reservist did not understand. Escaped? How was that +possible? + +He looked round the cell, and was unable to imagine how any one could +escape from such a place. + +Suddenly he remembered the scratching and scraping in the night, and +his eyes sought for some tool with which it might be possible to break +a hole through a wall. He noticed the strong iron trestles which +supported the bed when it was let down; it might perhaps be done with +one of them. But no. Up by the window the thickness of the wall could +be seen; it must be close on twenty inches. + +And yet Findeisen had escaped! + +Necessity had quickened the wits of the dull lad, and had made him +inventive. When they confronted him with the corpse of the sergeant, he +realised that he had committed a murder; and from that moment he felt +his head no longer safe on his shoulders. The fear of death lent him a +subtlety of which he would never otherwise have been capable. + +He had, as Wolf guessed, used the iron bed support as an implement. He +had at once recognised that it would be impossible to break through the +principal external wall; the other walls, however, might be expected to +be considerably less strong, and they sounded hollower when he tapped +them. Findeisen knew that one of them merely divided his cell from +another, and so was useless for his purpose. But beyond the other wall +lay a shed in which the fire-engine was kept. Its window, he knew, was +only covered with wire-netting, and opened on to a field. + +And as soon as all was quiet in the guard-house he had set to work, +listening anxiously in the direction of the corridor during the pauses +of his boring and levering. The wall was only the length of a brick +thick, and after the first stone had been broken out bit by bit, it +cost but little labour to widen the hole enough to let a man pass. + +The night sentinels declared that they had not remarked anything +unusual. Besides, they had an excuse in the regulations; for in such +pouring rain they were permitted to take shelter in the sentry-boxes. +So it was not even known when the prisoner had escaped. + +A warrant for his arrest was sent out, but in vain. Gunner Findeisen +had disappeared. + +Later during the same morning on which Findeisen, avoiding all +frequented paths, had slipped away through undergrowth and thickets to +the frontier, Wolf, a prisoner awaiting trial, was removed to the house +of detention in the capital. + +The train in which he and the soldier who guarded him travelled passed +another at an intermediate station. Reservists were looking out of +every carriage; men from every branch of the service were mixed +together, and all were alike in the wildness of their spirits. + +The two trains started again at the same moment, and the reservists +began to sing: + + "Reservists they may rest, + Reservists may rest, + And if reservists rest may have. + Then may reservists rest." + +Wolf kept his eyes fixed on the dusty floor of the compartment. + +As the song died away in the distance, he lifted his head courageously. +The bright light of day gave him new confidence. Looked at from a truly +enlightened standpoint, and regarded fully and clearly, his act had +indeed been of the most excusable kind. + +Perhaps in six months he would be free again. + +A week later, Gunner Heinrich Wilhelm Wolf, of the Sixth Battery, 80th +Regiment, Eastern Division Field Artillery, was condemned by the +military tribunal of the 42nd Division, for actual bodily assault on a +superior officer, to three years' imprisonment. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + +Sergeant-Major Heppner married his sister-in-law[A] Ida very quietly +during Christmas week. It was quite necessary, unless there was to be a +christening before the wedding. + + +[Footnote A: Marriage with a deceased wife's sister is legal in +Germany.--_Translator._] + + +The terrible death of his wife had somewhat chastened the coarse +recklessness of the man's bearing. Throughout the autumn and far into +the winter he seemed entirely changed. He restrained himself, his harsh +voice being seldom heard in the corridors of the barracks; and he +attended scrupulously to his duties, so that the inner wheels of the +battery ran smoothly in perfect order. + +Captain von Wegstetten sometimes took himself to task. He could not but +be pleased with his sergeant-major, and yet he could not quite overcome +the antipathy he had hitherto felt for Heppner. The certain degree of +intimacy that otherwise might be expected to arise from their common +care of the new recruits appeared to him quite impossible. He could not +bring himself to feel complete confidence in Heppner's uprightness. + +The sergeant-major, however, was unaware of anything lacking in their +relations; when he felt he had discharged his duty thoroughly his heart +glowed with satisfaction, and he resolved never to fall back into his +old follies. + +He felt very awkward about his compulsory marriage; but happily no one +seemed to think the worse of him for it. People considered it natural +enough that a healthy young couple under one roof, with only a dying +woman between them, should have been carried away by their passion. + +The peace which now reigned in his dwelling seemed to him something +unwonted and delightful. He began to change his manner of life +completely, and, instead of frequenting public-houses, spent his +evenings cosily at home. In order to save fuel, Ida had made the +kitchen more habitable; and the sergeant-major, luxuriously ensconced +in Julie's armchair, would watch the fire glowing through the stove +door, and Ida bustling about her household tasks. Then, before turning +in, he had to go once more through the stables, between the ranks of +sleeping horses, the stable-guard emerging from the darkness of some +corner to make his report. The sharp frosty air of the nights, after +the moist aromatic warmth of the stables, would make the sergeant-major +shiver and draw his cloak closer around him. He would settle himself +anew by the stove, watching his young wife, whose quick, clever hands +were busy with baby-clothes; and at such moments, tired by an honest +day's work, Heppner felt himself to be a thoroughly good fellow. + +During the course of the summer, Albina Worzuba had been brought home +as a bride by Deputy sergeant-major Heimert, to the Schumanns' old +quarters next door. + +The married life of the young pair began happily. Albina was brimming +over with affection for her husband, and Heimert felt he could not show +his wife too much attention. + +Ere long Frau Heimert played a leading _rôle_ in the little world of +the barracks. The wives of the non-commissioned officers listened more +or less dubiously to the romantic tale of her origin, and envied her +the all-powerful money at her disposal. For not only did she give one +pure coffee from the bean,--no chicory mixture,--but she was also +extremely fashionable in her attire, rustling about in silk-lined +skirts, so that folk turned to look as she passed them. The good women +considered her gowns altogether too noticeable. And such undergarments +as she possessed! Red and yellow silk chemises and drawers, trimmed +with the finest lace. Such lovely jewellery, too! Yes, indeed, Frau +Heimert must come of well-to-do people. That was obvious in everything +belonging to her, her house, her clothes, her linen. Her expensive musk +scent penetrated even into the men's quarters. + +Albina accepted the honour paid her with the airs of a little queen. +She spared neither her good coffee nor her good nature; she wore her +dresses, which she said came from one of the leading firms, with an +easy grace. In reality, she bought them from an old "friend," part of +whose business it was to be always in the latest Paris mode. + +The non-coms.' wives envied Frau Heimert's taste, and tried to copy +her manner and deportment. Only the fair-haired little Berlin +seamstress, Frieda, Sergeant Wiegandt's sweetheart, found fault with +her. Once at the non-commissioned officers' summer fête, that young +person--who, by-the-by, was almost suspected of being a red-hot little +social-democrat--saw Albina, and had the courage to declare, "That +creature?--Otto, she's a----no! I won't soil my mouth with the dirty +word. But I know that sort of truck! In some matters you men are just +as blind and as stupid as new-born kittens." + +Seeing Albina surrounded by lieutenants and non-coms., dancing first +with one and then with another, Frieda grew quite excited. + +"Otto," cried she, "if you dare to dance with that baggage, all is over +between us. It's like flies buzzing about a sugar-cake." + +Wiegandt had fully intended to dance the next dance with Frau Heimert; +but he dutifully abandoned the idea, and conducted Frieda into a +secluded little plantation, where other couples wandered lovingly +entwined like themselves. + +They chatted about the future, which now lay plain before them. +Wiegandt had not again signed on, and by the following autumn he would +have a good position in the town-police, with thirteen hundred marks a +year, free quarters, and a hundred and twenty marks allowance for +clothes. The burgo-master of the little town, being a senior-lieutenant +of the reserve, had been present at the performance of some exercises +by the sixth battery, and had personally chosen out his man. Wegstetten +was furious at losing his best non-commissioned officer, and pressed +Wiegandt to stick to the flag; but the sergeant was not to be prevailed +upon, for he was impatient now to quit the service. With such a noble +competency in view, therefore, he might well venture on marriage. + +"All right, even when the children come," he whispered to his +sweetheart; and Frieda nodded sagaciously, whispering back: "They'll +come, sure enough!" + +Albina Heimert never noticed that such a humble and inconspicuous +little person gave her the go-by. As the wife of the deputy +sergeant-major, she felt herself at last on firm solid ground. She +carried her head high in the barrack-yard, and ordered her house with a +fine matronly dignity. + +She met the admiring glances of her neighbours, even if only prompted +by some matter of domestic economy, with an indescribable little smile. +No word might be spoken, but it would be quite evident that she was +gratified by the admiration. It was Venus triumphing over Mars. + +The person who was least affected by the beautiful Frau Heimert's +charms was, curiously enough, Sergeant Heppner. Once, when Albina +chanced to meet him in the corridor, she said: "When I first met you, +Herr Heppner--you remember that day at Grundmann's--you were perfectly +different--ever so much smarter and livelier! Really, I almost think +you must be ageing, Herr Heppner!" And she burst into a shrill, +affected laugh, which rang rather unpleasantly in his ears. + +As Heppner sat in his armchair by the stove he contrasted his pretty, +healthy, buxom Ida with the woman next door, and would be seized with a +veritable horror of the all-pervasive odour of the scent she used. + +He would make a disdainful grimace when Albina, in a huge hat, rustled +past him, and would greet her carelessly, almost discourteously. + +But with the spring the old spirit of restlessness possessed the +sergeant-major. + +Ida was expecting her confinement in May, and had no thoughts but for +the child. Heppner began to marvel at himself for having been so +domestic all the winter. Surely his limbs must have been benumbed and +this brain addled! He really must rouse himself now and get a few new +ideas into his head. So he easily slipped back into his old wild ways +of life, and could less and less understand how he had come to live +otherwise during so many months. + +His former boon-companions welcomed him back joyfully, and it was not +long before he was once more at cards with them. The promise he had +given to Trautvetter he should construe after his own views; he would +be careful to keep within bounds, under all circumstances. + +It happened, nevertheless, that he lost at times; and to meet +such little reverses he was obliged to borrow from the battery +cash-box, for Ida kept a tight hand on the purse-strings, and he could +not bring himself to cut down her housekeeping money. Of course, to +balance these bad days there were runs of good luck, when he had a +considerable surplus; but, like a true gambler, he did not set his +winnings against his losses, considering them as so much pure gain, +which enabled him to indulge in extravagances. He made new holes in +order to stop up the old ones. + +About this time Frau Albina Heimert spoke to him again one day. + +"Thank heaven!" she said. "You seem to have roused up a bit, Herr +Heppner! I quite began to fear you were becoming a hopeless rustic." + +The sergeant-major watched her thoughtfully as, with her provoking +little air, she disappeared into her own quarters. + +The devil! How utterly absurd! He had actually positively disliked this +beautiful creature all the winter! He was astonished at his own bad +taste. Before him stood his wife on the kitchen hearth, her figure +rendered shapeless by her advanced state of pregnancy. And he had once +thought her prettier than Albina! + +From this time he began to show Frau Heimert small attentions. He would +walk with her if they met in the barrack-yard, would carry her parcels, +or stand aside politely to let her precede him up the stairs, and then +open the door for her. He would inquire earnestly after her health; and +once, when she complained of a headache, he brought her all sorts of +remedies, besides enjoining the men to be very quiet and to tread +softly as they passed her door. + +But Albina played the prude. She received the sergeant-major's +attentions very coolly, and cut short his conversational efforts so as +to excite him the more. At the same time her mockingly triumphant and +provocative glances would contradict the virtuous compression of her +lips. + +Heppner did not at all despair. Unobtrusively he gradually multiplied +the proofs of his gallantry; and by slow degrees the object of his +attentions suffered her demeanour towards him to soften. + +Suddenly Heimert noticed their intercourse, and, stirred by suspicious +jealousy, tried hard to put a stop to it. But was that possible? +The deputy sergeant-major was often detained for hours at the +exercise-ground half a mile away. Heppner, as sergeant-major, could +order it so; and thus he and Albina could be together undisturbed as +often and as long as they pleased. + +Heimert would learn from the other men who had been on duty at the +barracks what Heppner had been about during the morning. He always +tried to find out stealthily and without exciting comment; but his +comrades knew very well what was up, and enjoyed playing on the +jealousy of the young husband. + +At last the deputy sergeant-major hit on a curious plan. This was to +bring the two together in his presence. He thought that if there really +was a secret understanding between them they would betray themselves in +a moment of thoughtlessness. So he invited Heppner to drop in now and +then, in a neighbourly way, for a cigar and a bottle of beer. + +The sergeant-major accepted. Once or twice he brought Ida with him; +then, as the time for her lying-in approached, he came alone. + +Heimert watched them closely; every word, every movement, almost every +look. But his suspicions were not justified. Heppner was polite, +easy, and perfectly unconstrained; while Albina chatted easily and +naturally, and accepted the homage of their guest with a kind of +haughty tranquillity. Towards her husband she displayed quite unusual +tenderness, so long as the sergeant-major was present. + +Heimert was somewhat reassured by this. When Heppner rose to take leave +Heimert would fling his arm confidently about Albina's waist, with a +gesture which seemed to say: "You see, my wife is my own. I have her +and hold her, and you won't get her, however much you may covet her. +That's the right of possession. And so it will be, no matter how much +you may hate and envy me. And when you have gone I shall claim my +rights, and this woman must obey my will." + +The sergeant-major read this defiance plainly in Heimert's face, and it +had the effect of causing him to swear inwardly that he would seduce +his comrade's wife. + +In the middle of May Ida bore a child,--a fat, strong, healthy boy, +weighing nine pounds. A splendid weight for a new-born baby! + +At first the sergeant-major rather fancied himself as a father. Every +one said that the fine boy was his living image. Certainly there was no +need to be ashamed of being seen with such a child. Of course this son +of his should be a soldier, an artilleryman. He should learn to ride as +soon as he could sit on the saddle, and woe to him if he showed any +fear! + +Ida was happy beyond measure, and there could not have been a tenderer +or more careful mother. Motherhood awoke in her much that had hitherto +been unapparent in her somewhat stolid nature. + +Heppner thought her little occupations silly and tiresome. The first +sight of his boy at the healthy young mother's breast seemed to him +charming enough. But before long he was continually scolding Ida for +her over-indulgence of the child, telling her he would grow up a +milksop, always hanging on to his mother's skirts. + +And it soon bored him to be much with the child. If one wanted to rest +the youngster was sure to start whining and squalling or if one felt +inclined to play with him, to tickle his fat sides and toss him in the +air, he was certain to have just dropped off to sleep, and Ida would +stand sentinel over him, not suffering him to be disturbed at any +price. She, indeed, seemed now to be nothing but mother, and to have +forgotten altogether that she was also a wife. + +Heppner consequently redoubled his attentions to Frau Heimert. + +Albina could not endure little children, and took no interest whatever +in his remarkable baby. This he thought rather stupid of her; +nevertheless the Bohemian girl completely turned his head. + +Uninvited, he constantly dropped in now on the Heimerts "to smoke a +cigar with the deputy sergeant-major," as he said. Almost shamelessly +he pursued his object, grossly flattering Albina, and making risky +jokes with her. + +Heimert sat by nearly choking with rage. He hardly knew why he did not +seize the seducer by the throat. But the culprits would have a complete +defence ready. Was it not all mere harmless jesting? Whatever anguish +of jealousy he might feel, he must wait for fuller evidence. + +And into the midst of the laughter would come through the thin walls +now the cry of the infant, and then the low singing of Ida as she +lulled her little one to sleep. + +Albina wished to enjoy her revenge to the full. During the winter the +sergeant-major had treated her as a cast-off love; he should suffer +awhile for that. She exercised all her arts to augment his pain; it +gave her a half fearful, half delicious pleasure to note his +impatience. + +One evening Heppner seized an opportunity when he imagined himself +alone with her. He caught her head in his hands almost savagely and +pressed a wild, passionate kiss on her lips. Albina's defiant +resolution broke down; she returned his kiss with equal passion. + +Heimert, standing in the dark kitchen, screened by the door, saw it +all. + +He had been to fetch a bottle of beer, now he suddenly re-entered the +room. + +"There's no beer, Albina," he said; "you must have been mistaken." + +He sat down slowly at the table, and drummed gently with his fingers on +a plate. The guilty pair were as if stunned by the fervour of their +embrace; though little suspecting that the betrayed husband had +witnessed it. They did not respond to his remark, and seemed lost to +time and space. Neither did they notice that a long, oppressive silence +had fallen on them, that the lamp was burning low, and the room +darkening. + +At last Heimert drew out his watch. "It's time to go to bed," he said; +"we've got to get up to-morrow morning." + +Heppner and Albina awoke suddenly from their entranced condition, and +the sergeant-major hastened to say good night. + +Quickly Albina prepared for bed. Usually she went through many +ceremonies with a view to preserving her beauty: she rubbed her skin +with lanoline, or sprinkled it with powder, to keep it soft and smooth; +she spread a perfumed emollient on her hands, afterwards drawing on +gloves to prevent them from losing their whiteness with rough work. But +to-night she merely loosened her hair, and was between the sheets in a +trice. + +Heimert lay sleepless. Hour after hour he heard strike; the short May +night seemed to him an eternity. + +The woman beside him had sunk into a deep slumber. Now and then her +breathing quickened, and she gave almost a gasp, flinging herself about +as though in a troubled dream. + +With the dawn of morning Heimert came to a decision. He would not allow +himself to believe in Albina's guilt. He had noticed that when Heppner +threw his arm around her she had shrunk from him. (This was true +enough; Albina had winced; but it was on account of her artistically +dressed hair.) She had submitted, he forced himself to think, in the +paralysis of surprise. In such a case Heppner, no doubt, would have +scolded his wife for not confessing. By right she ought certainly to +have told her husband. But Heimert found a thousand excuses for her. +Albina knew his jealousy, and desired, possibly, to avoid scandal, +which would have been inevitable had she told him. Or perhaps she would +speak to him about it after she had thought it over quietly by herself. +Or, again, she might intend to deal with the sergeant-major in her own +way. Or, once more, perhaps she was just beginning to yield to the +temptation. + +That was as might be. Anyhow, the affront was there: his wife had been +insulted, and he, Heimert, must obtain satisfaction. He would set about +it quite quietly, so as to avoid the gossip; but between men such an +injury must mean a duel. + +The officers always acted on that principle, and what was right for +them must be right for the non-coms., who also wore swords at their +sides. But all the ceremonial of a court of honour and seconds was not +necessary among common folk like Heppner and himself. Alone, without +witnesses, as man to man they would fight it out. + +Heimert thought at first of selecting swords as the weapons; but their +swords were not sharpened, and it might attract attention if he had +them put in order. Besides, he thought it more becoming to use pistols +when such a weighty matter as the honour of a husband was in question. + +It was a piece of good luck that some years before he had picked up a +couple of live cartridges after a shooting-practice. + +Now he handled the little things with a grim satisfaction. They were +not quite so small as those of the infantry, for the regulation +revolver had a range of ten millimetres. The brass cases had grown a +little dull, so he rubbed them until they shone. + +Nothing more was wanting. The duel could take place. + +The only remaining difficulties were locality and time; but concerning +these also Heimert soon decided. Sloping up behind the barracks, the +road led straight to an open bit of overhanging ground. There could not +be a better spot. And of course the affair could only take place at +night. He consulted the calendar: in two days there would be a full +moon, so they would have light enough to see each other clearly at ten +paces. The moon rose shortly before ten o'clock; she would be high in +the heavens by midnight. + +At daybreak the deputy sergeant-major went about his duty, cool and +punctual as usual, only taking pains to avoid meeting Heppner. He +did not wish to see him until the evening,--or, better still, till +night,--so that the duel might follow immediately upon their interview. +He knew the sergeant-major would not flinch, but would fall in with his +arrangements. Heppner was no coward. + +Albina behaved just as usual during the day, and said nothing to her +husband about the kiss. But that, of course, made no difference to +Heimert's plans. He learned from the stablemen that Heppner would be at +the White Horse with Blechschmidt, the sergeant-major of the fifth, +that evening. That was capital. He would catch him as he came home, and +the affair would be arranged in two minutes. + +Heimert ate his supper in silence. Albina imagined that he had had +words with the captain or somebody, and did not bother him with +questions. After she had cleared the table, she sat down to read the +sensational _feuilleton_ of the local daily paper, eating pralines all +the while. Then she performed her evening toilet and went to bed. It +was not yet nine o'clock; but that did not matter. She liked lying in +bed. + +On the stroke of nine Heimert heard the sergeant-major go out. In the +corridor he caught some of the men larking about without their caps, +and rebuked them sharply. Then he clanked down the stairs, and all was +still. + +Heimert carried the lamp to the table in the window and sat down to +write. In order to pass the time until Heppner should return, he was +going to check the shoeing account in his register by the entries in +the ordnance books. In his slow, neat handwriting he inscribed one +careful entry after another, and became so absorbed by his task that he +never even heard the tattoo. When he looked up from the books it was +already past eleven; but that was all right, for the sergeant-major was +safe not to be going home till midnight. + +Heimert opened the window and looked out. It had rained during the day, +and now all nature seemed to be sprouting and budding. The odour of the +young fresh green things was wafted in by a breath of wind, which +gently swayed the cotton curtains. Forest and hills were illuminated by +the brilliant moonlight; and like a white ribbon the foot-path climbed +the steep ascent behind the barracks, till it lost itself in the +shadows of a thicket. On the grassy slope stood a group of young +birches, their white stems gleaming, and their shimmering leaves--still +wet from the rain--shining as though made of silver. + +Heimert gazed at it all with no thought for the beauty of the May +night. He was glad that the moon shone so brightly, as he would be able +to see his man with ease in such a light. + +He fetched his revolver, and returning to the window looked across at +the notice-board opposite, which threatened trespassers in the barracks +or parade-ground with "a fine of sixty marks or five days' +imprisonment." The white-lettered notice-board was fixed to the trunk +of a beech-tree by a huge nail, and at the head of this nail Heimert +took careful aim. + +Satisfied, he laid down the pistol and returned to the table. But +almost immediately he jumped up again and took a light out into the +corridor. Yes, Heppner's revolver was in its usual place on the rack. +He took the weapon with him into the kitchen, and sat down once more. +Just midnight! The twelve strokes were sounding slowly from the great +clock of the barracks. + +Heimert still waited. After a little his head sank down on the table, +and he fell asleep. + +At half-past two Heppner came home. He had had a run of bad luck at the +White Horse, had lost over a hundred marks, and that amount was now +missing from the battery cash-box. He was quite overcome by this sudden +misfortune. As if stunned he groped his way home to the barracks, +scarcely seeing where he was going, stumbling at times over his sword, +or entangling himself with his spurs. + +When he rang at the gate for admittance he was ready to fly into a +passion. He thought he had not heard the ringing of the bell, and he +began to rage at somebody's carelessness in not having a broken bell +mended on the instant. But the corporal on guard opened to him; so the +bell was all right, and the sound must have escaped him. He stumbled +over the threshold. + +The corporal gazed after him in astonishment. Was the sergeant-major +asleep or awake? He had staggered past with wide-open, staring eyes, +like a sleep-walker. Perhaps he was simply drunk. + +In the passage Heimert came to meet him. He looked distraught, as +though just awakened out of sleep. He beckoned Heppner into the +kitchen. Heppner entered and shut the door behind him. The light +blinded him; he blinked stupidly, and thought he saw in the lamp-light +two shining revolvers lying on the table. + +"You kissed my wife yesterday," said Heimert, in a half whisper. "Isn't +that so?" + +Heppner nodded. "Yes, yes." What had the silly fellow got in his head? +Of course he had kissed the woman; and he meant to do it again, and +again too. + +"And so you have got to fight it out with me," continued the other. +"Man against man. Are you agreed?" + +Again the sergeant-major nodded stolidly. Why not? Their betters acted +thus. + +"Shall we settle the thing now at once?" + +Heppner nodded for the third time. It was all one to him, so long as he +could get to rest at last. + +Heimert took up the two revolvers in one of his big hands; with the +other he pointed over his shoulder out of the window. + +"We'll go up there," he said. "There's plenty of room there. And we'll +take our own two revolvers with us. Look here! I will load them, each +with one cartridge." + +Under Heppner's eyes he placed the cartridges in the chambers of the +revolvers, the shining brass gleaming beside the dull steel. He +gripped the pistols by the barrel, and held out the butt-ends to the +sergeant-major. + +"Now choose," he said. + +Heppner languidly took with his right hand the revolver which the other +was holding in his left. Heimert held the remaining pistol in the lamp +light, and read off the number. + +"I have got yours," he said, "and you have mine. And now we'll wait +till the sentry has gone round the corner." + +He leant out of the window cautiously, and took a look round. The moon +was in the zenith; houses, trees, and bushes cast but short shadows. +The sentinel was strolling along by the hedge of the jumping-ground. +His sword was in the scabbard, and he had buried his hands deep in his +breeches-pockets. Every now and then the lubberly fellow would whistle +a stave, or stand still and kick a stone from his path, or gape so +loudly that the moon shone into his open mouth. At last he disappeared +round a corner of the buildings. + +"Now!" whispered Heimert. "You go first, but take off your sword." + +Obediently Heppner unbuckled his belt and laid it down. He pushed the +revolver carefully into his coat-pocket, and swung himself out of the +window. The deputy sergeant-major extinguished the lamp and followed +him. + +Side by side, like two good friends, the two men climbed the path that +led up the hill-side; Heimert striding on with quiet even pace, and +Heppner, with unsteady knees and panting breast, trying involuntarily +to keep step with the other man. + +They vanished into the deep shadow of the wood, and after a short time +stepped out again into the bright moonlight above. The moon was almost +exactly overhead. + +The deputy sergeant-major went thoughtfully along the path till he +arrived at the spot where the ascent ceased and the ground became quite +level. + +"This is the best place, I think," he said. With the spurred heel of +his riding-boot he drew a deep furrow in the clayey soil. + +"Will you stand here?" he said to the sergeant-major. Without a word +Heppner walked up to the mark. He carefully placed his feet with the +toes against the marked line. Heimert went on another ten paces, not +the leaping strides that are usually taken in arranging a duel, but +fairly long ordinary paces. + +At the tenth he paused, and again dug his heel into the earth. + +The two men stood opposite to each other, separated by the terribly +narrow interval of scarcely nine yards. + +"Cock your pistol, Heppner!" cried Heimert to him. And the +sergeant-major did as the other desired. He seemed quite unaware of its +being a matter of life and death; he moved as in a dream. + +Suddenly Heimert let out a curse. A difficulty had presented itself at +the last moment, and threatened to upset his whole plan. + +How were they to shoot? + +By counting, of course. He had intended to count "one," then, after a +couple of seconds by his watch, "two," and then again, after another +couple of seconds, "three." Between "one" and "three" they were to +fire. But, damn it all! how could he take aim if he was holding the +watch in his hand and counting the seconds on the dial? + +Irresolutely he looked down at his watch. This was like a bad joke, and +perfectly maddening. + +Suddenly an idea came to him. The minute-hand showed just two minutes +to the hour. In two minutes then the barrack clock would strike three. +That would be as good as counting. + +In a clear voice he called out to his opponent: "Listen to what I say, +Heppner. In two minutes the clock down there will strike three times. +At the first stroke we must lift our revolvers, before that they must +be pointed to the ground. Between the first and the third strokes we +may fire, but not after the third. Do you understand, and are you +agreed?" + +For the first time the sergeant-major made an articulate sound. "All +right," he said. His voice sounded husky, and he cleared his throat. + +"Very good," said Heimert; "then it's all settled." + +He took up his position, and looked coolly before him. The moon shone +down from a clear sky. A single light cloud floated against the dark +background, looking like a little white skiff. + +Heppner watched the cloud. He tried to think how he came to be in this +place, up on the hill in the wood, in the middle of the night, like +this. He could not quite make it out. More than all there weighed on +him a leaden feeling of weariness. He would have liked to throw himself +down on the bare earth. + +The seconds dragged on slowly. + +Suddenly a night-bird screamed loudly from a neighbouring tree-top, and +immediately afterwards sounded the first stroke of the hour. + +The sergeant-major pulled himself up. With suddenly awakened senses he +looked about him. Opposite him stood Heimert with his revolver, and he +himself felt the butt-end of a weapon in his right hand. + +But this was all madness. It was a crime. He wanted to cry out, "Stop!" +This folly was impossible. If anything happened to him he was lost. +There was money missing from the battery cash-box; at least he must put +that right. + +Then came the second stroke. Stop! Stop! Why was his tongue tied? + +Heimert saw him draw himself up. He thought his adversary was going to +fire, and he raised his revolver hastily. His forefinger pressed the +trigger. The sound of the shot echoed through the air, and almost +simultaneously the clock struck for the third time. + +Heppner remained a moment standing. His revolver rattled to the ground, +his left hand clutched at his breast. Then the tall upright figure +lurched forward, and fell like a lifeless mass. A violent shudder ran +through the limbs; the body contracted, stretched itself again, turned +over on itself, and fell on its back. + +Then all was still. + +Heimert stood in his place. The hand with the revolver had slowly sunk, +and hung down limply. His glance wandered from the corpse to the +boundary line at his feet. He had not stepped over it. Everything was +according to order. + +At last he aroused himself from his stupor. He forced himself to pass +the little furrow in the ground, and went towards his opponent. His +footsteps were heavy and uncertain; it felt to him as if his soles +adhered to the earth. + +The sergeant-major was dead; there was no doubt about that. On the left +breast were a slight blood-stain and a quite diminutive hole. His head +was thrown back. The wide-open eyes of the dead man stared into the +moonlight. + +Heimert gently closed the eyelids. He paused for a time beside the +corpse with folded hands, and softly muttered the Lord's prayer. Then +he began to descend the hill. + +But he seemed to bethink himself of something. He dived again through +the shadow of the trees and knelt beside the sergeant-major. With great +care he laid his own discharged revolver in place of the loaded weapon +which Heppner had dropped. + +When he stood up again a shifty, vague, cunning expression passed over +his face. + +Between the white stems of the young birch-trees he looked out for the +sentry, who must have heard the shot. Redoubled precautions would be +necessary in regaining the barracks. + +The sentry was staring fixedly up into the woods hence he had heard the +firing. With his head still turned towards the heights he walked up to +the gates, and waited to be relieved. When the bombardier and the +relieving sentry appeared he made his announcement. He pointed several +times to the wood. The bombardier shrugged his shoulders and asked +questions; finally he disappeared through the gateway with the sentry +who had been relieved. The gates clanged together, and the keys rattled +as the lock was turned. + +The new sentry listened awhile to his comrades' retreating steps; then +he strolled along his beat at a leisurely pace, occasionally looking up +the hill. He took his time, but at last he turned the corner of the +officers' quarters. + +Heimert made use of the opportunity. He ran hastily down the +pathway to the barracks. He drew himself up with the aid of the +lightning-conductor till his feet reached the top of the wall, and soon +after was standing, breathing heavily, in his own kitchen. + +A moonbeam fell on something shining that leant against a kitchen +chair. It was Heppner's sword. Heimert took it up and carefully hung it +on its nail in the passage. + +For a moment he stood listening. The Heppner baby was crying; the +soothing murmurs of its mother could be plainly heard: "Sh, sh!" + +He stepped back on tiptoe, drew the door gently to, and began hastily +to undress. Then he lay down quietly in bed, taking pains not to make +the bedstead creak. + +His precautions were superfluous; Albina slept soundly. An earthquake +would hardly have awakened her. + +The deputy sergeant-major lay and listened. He could only hear the +beating of his own heart, and through the wall the muffled sound of the +child's crying. + +"Widow and orphan," he thought. + +The wailing voice subsided by degrees. The child had fallen asleep, or +the mother had taken it to her breast. + +Its father was lying up there on the hill-side, his huge body blocking +the pathway. + + +Schellhorn, the fat paymaster of the regiment, whom Surgeon-major +Andreae sent every spring to Carlsbad for a cure, found the corpse +during his early morning constitutional. + +He hastened to the barracks and gave the alarm. + +After all particulars had been noted, the dead man was carried away. +Four gunners bore the heavy body down the hill on a stretcher, and laid +it on the bed in the Heppners' dwelling, the poor wife looking on with +bewildered eyes. + +There was no doubt as to the case being one of suicide. The direction +of the shot, as shown by the post-mortem examination, was not against +this theory; but the most unmistakable proof lay in the motive for the +deed, which was only too clear. From the various cash-boxes under the +charge of the deceased one hundred and twenty marks were missing. + +Sergeant-major Heppner, in dread of this being discovered, had shot +himself. + +The colonel, Major Schrader, and Captain von Wegstetten unanimously +decided to hush up the affair, in view of the certain censure of the +higher authorities; and Schrader replaced the missing sum without more +ado. + +Heppner's gambling companions were seriously warned. + +Sergeant-major Blechschmidt, who was most to blame, received an +official intimation that he must not count upon a further term of +service. + +Finally the widow was informed that her husband had committed suicide +in a moment of temporary mental aberration. + + +A few days after the funeral Heimert was installed in Heppner's place. + +It gave him an immense deal of trouble to fulfil his new duties, and +yet no man could have set himself to the task more zealously and +conscientiously. + +Captain von Wegstetten sometimes raged with impatience when his new +sergeant-major could not meet his requirements. Mere indications and +suggestions were not sufficient for the dull and somewhat limited +understanding of Heimert. Every detail had to be pointed out to him and +explained at length; but once he comprehended them he showed himself +capable of carrying out orders punctually and carefully. + +From the time of his promotion Heimert troubled himself little about +Albina. His behaviour towards her became shy and odd; he avoided as +much as possible being alone with her. He preferred to sit at his desk +in the orderly-room, while she on her side felt no regret in being +relieved from the too particular attentions of her unloved husband. + +Käppchen came to the conclusion that the sergeant-major must have a +screw loose somewhere. Heimert exhibited certain strange whims. He +would become perfectly furious if the many-coloured penholder which +Heppner had used were offered him, and he strictly forbade the corporal +ever to put it on his desk. Käppchen would sometimes for fun hand him +this penholder "by mistake" if a signature were wanted in a hurry. The +sergeant-major looked so comic with his blazing eyes and crimson face, +his nose shining reddest of all. + +But the days were always too long for the sergeant-major. Even his +writing came at last to an end, and there was still time left on his +hands. He was not long in finding an occupation. + +In the mounted exercises he had hitherto led the third column, but as +sergeant-major he now had to take an entirely different place in the +formation. His work was, as a matter of fact, much easier than +formerly; but he seemed to find it twice as difficult to understand. He +often did not know where he ought to be, and when Wegstetten found +fault with him he took it much to heart. What sort of an impression +would it give, if even the sergeant-major did not know his work, the +senior non-commissioned officer of the battery? + +When he went over his book, puzzling out the regulations with his +fingers in his ears, his thoughts seemed to become more and more wildly +confused. He could form no clear picture of all these evolutions. He +therefore took his pen-knife, and with endless trouble made little +wooden figures, roughly representing the guns, the ammunition waggons, +and the individual mounted men. He coloured these figures so that they +might be perfectly distinguishable: the commander of the battery, the +leader of the column, the sergeant-major, the trumpeter, and the +corporal in the rear. And then he made them exercise on the table, +advance and retire, form into line, and wheel round; but his chief care +was always to keep the yellow-striped sergeant-major in his right +position. + +Soon Wegstetten had no complaint to make of his sergeant-major, but +Heimert still went on playing with his little figures. For these wooden +guns and horsemen he was now the commander of the battery, and he would +not be contented till his miniature troop was brought to as great a +state of perfection as reigned under the captain of the sixth battery. + +Albina shook her head over her husband's conduct. The man was ill, of +that she was convinced. She spoke to him once of consulting the doctor, +but Heimert repulsed her roughly. + +"Thank God!" he said; "there's nothing the matter with me. I wish +everybody were as healthy as I am!" + +After this she left him in peace. In her opinion some insidious disease +was advancing upon him, and sooner or later the trouble would break +out. + +Heimert's appetite began to fail at last; he hardly ate any-thing. He +had always been extremely ugly, but people now shrank back at the sight +of his face. His eyes had become sunken, and had acquired an unnatural +brilliancy, while his hideous nose jutted out prominently from the +middle of his ashy countenance. + +Albina sighed. What sort of show could one make with a husband like +that? It was fortunate that he kept out of the way so much. + +But the time began to hang very heavy on her hands. From sheer ennui +she took to having her hair curled. + +The barber who shaved the sergeant-major every morning had already +offered his services, commenting in a most flattering manner on the +magnificent hair which he said she did not show off to the best +advantage. + +Albina had hitherto passed him proudly by. She despised barbers. But +now she began to observe him more closely. He appeared to her a polite, +agreeable, young man; he was good-looking too, even elegant. And he was +entertaining. He could tell her the most interesting things about all +sorts of people. + +"You see, madam," he used to say, "a barber is one of the family +almost. He sees people in _déshabille_, as it were. And sometimes one +learns all manner of strange things. Of course the honour of the +profession forbids gossiping. But there is no harm in repeating little +trifling occurrences. Don't you think so? It amuses one's clients; and +that is quite permissible." + +Albina entirely agreed with him. + +Here was at least a man with whom one could have some rational +conversation. + + +During the exercises one morning the captain came riding up to the +sergeant-major. + +"You must go back home at once, Heimert," he cried. "The major wants +the regulations that were in force at the last man[oe]uvres. Look them +out, and send them over to the division at once, will you?" + +"Now, at once?" asked Heimert. + +"Yes, yes! Make haste and get them!" + +The sergeant-major hastened back to the barracks. With helmet on head +and sword by his side he set off at once on the quest. He gave Käppchen +the regulations to carry over to the orderly-room of the division, and +he himself returned home. + +In the bedroom he found Albina and the barber together. + +The shameless woman had felt so secure that she had not even troubled +to bolt the door. + +Her gallant lover disappeared through the window like a shot. + +Albina was not so quick. Heimert seized hold of her and dragged her +through the doorway just as she was, clad only in a dressing-jacket and +a thin petticoat. + +The jacket tore in his hands. Then he seized her by her thick hair. She +screamed, but he pushed her before him down the passage. + +A heavy riding-whip was hanging on a nail; as he passed he tore it +down, and the leathern thong descended in furious blows on the woman's +head, and on her bare shoulders and bosom. + +She gave a loud yell of pain. The few men who had remained away from +the exercises came running, and stared open-mouthed. The whip made deep +red marks on the smooth skin, and the shrieks of the woman became more +and more piercing. But Heimert drove her down the steps into the +barrack-yard. She stumbled, and lost a shoe. No matter! on she must go! + +If she stopped for a moment the whip lashed round her feet, her ankles, +her knees. She cowered, shrieking. With outstretched arms she tried to +parry the blows. Her husband pulled her upright; she staggered, but was +again dragged along by her hair under the pressure of that remorseless +hand. The blood ran from her shoulders, but the blows still rained down +like hail. + +At last, on reaching the back gate the iron grip was loosened. One last +furious stroke tore her garments and dyed the white linen red. She +stood there for a moment, with bleeding hands pressed to her head, with +shut eyes and trembling knees. + +Suddenly she realised that she was free, and with wild leaps she fled +towards the forest. On the slope of the hill she turned. Her bare skin +gleamed in the bright sunshine, and her dishevelled hair hung down over +her brow. She shook her naked arms with furious gestures towards the +sergeant-major, and screamed a hideous curse in his face. Then she +disappeared into the wood. + +Heimert looked after her with a dull expression of countenance, till no +trace of her white garments was to be seen among the green bushes. Then +he returned home with firm footsteps. + + +Wegstetten gave orders that the sergeant-major should not be disturbed +that day. Under such circumstances a man had better be left to himself. +But when Heimert did not put in an appearance next morning, Käppchen +was sent to look him up. + +The battery-clerk came back much disturbed, and announced: "Excuse me, +sir, I think the sergeant-major's gone mad." + +"Mad? You are mad yourself, man!" was the captain's reply; and he went +in person to the sergeant-major's quarters. + +Heimert was sitting at the table, his little wooden guns and horsemen +before him. With smiling looks he was drilling them, giving the words +of command in a soft voice. + +He did not seem to recognise the commander of his battery, but gazed +stupidly at Wegstetten when he spoke to him. + +"Don't you know me, sergeant-major?" asked the captain. + +Heimert smiled at him, and pointed to the little horses. + +"I ask you, Sergeant-major Heimert, don't you know your captain?" +demanded Wegstetten once more. + +The sergeant-major shook his head, grinning. Then he set to work again, +and the guns were made to advance, each at an equal distance from the +other, with the leaders of the columns and the mounted men all in their +places. + + +Heimert was taken to the lunatic asylum of the district. In general he +was a very manageable patient, and it was only if a woman approached +him that he began to rave. His greatest delight was to play with some +wooden toys that were given him,--mimic guns and mounted soldiers of +all descriptions. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + +[Illustration: ("Das Ganze--halt!")] + + +Shortly before Christmas Senior-lieutenant Güntz was promoted to be +captain, and was placed in command of the fifth battery, _vice_ Captain +Mohr, discharged from the service for incompetence. + +New brooms sweep clean, and Güntz set to work with ardour at the +difficult task of bringing order and efficiency into the neglected +troop. By means of stringent discipline, and even severity, he +succeeded in this more easily than he himself had expected, and soon +began to notice with satisfaction that his labour was gradually bearing +fruit. + +After a time the fifth battery could be ranged alongside the pattern +fourth and sixth batteries. Major Schrader rubbed his hands cheerfully: +to have three such excellent officers commanding batteries in one +division at the same time was indeed unusual good fortune, and he well +knew how to make use of them. + +At the spring inspection he received a string of compliments at least a +yard long from the commander of the brigade, and in his joy showered +thanks upon Güntz for having helped him to achieve such a success. +Güntz himself was greatly pleased that the inspection had gone so +smoothly. He had not been sure that this would be so, as he did not +feel his battery quite well enough in hand even yet. + +"Yes, it went off tolerably, didn't it, sir?" he replied modestly. + +"Faultlessly! faultlessly!" said the major. + +"Well, sir, it was partly good luck. The officer in command of a +battery is right in the middle of it all, and sees lots of things which +look as if they might go wrong. Then some happy accident occurs, and +the situation is saved." + +The major, however, seemed to have something more on his mind, and +stood stroking his whiskers in embarrassment. + +"Certainly, certainly," he answered. "A man must have good luck, or he +will have bad! But your merit is there all the same, my dear Güntz." + +And then he continued, rather haltingly: "And therefore, you know, it +is all the more painful to me. But there is something more behind. +These superior officers never seem to give unstinted praise." + +Güntz's hand went up to his helmet, and he said, in a level voice: "Of +course I am at your orders, sir." + +"No, no, my dear Güntz," said Schrader, deprecatingly; "the colonel is +kind enough to undertake the unpleasant part of my duty for me, and I +am glad of it; for it would have been very much against the grain with +me. Well, well! just you go quietly to the colonel, and don't worry +about it at all. Thank you, my dear Güntz. Good morning, good morning!" + +He turned towards his quarters, and from the steps nodded in friendly +fashion to the captain. + +Güntz did feel a little anxious about the interview which lay before +him. He was conscious of having performed his duty to the best of his +ability. But heaven knows what commanding officers won't sometimes get +their backs up about! + +Colonel von Falkenhein received him very cordially. + +"My dear friend," he said, "I congratulate you! You could not have +wished for a better _début_ as the youngest officer in command of a +battery." + +"Thank you very much, sir," replied Güntz; and then went straight to +the point about the mysterious affair. His curiosity was surely +pardonable. + +"Excuse me, sir," he continued, "Major Schrader informs me that----" + +Falkenhein interrupted him: "Yes, quite right. You will take it +to heart, but you must know that our esteemed brigadier has still +something _in petto_. As you have heard, he was highly satisfied +with your direction of your battery to-day; but he considers +that in regard to discipline you do not seem to be quite at home +yet in your new position." + +This was just what Güntz had not expected. He had imagined his best +work to have been precisely in this direction. + +Falkenhein smiled at his puzzled look as he asked for further +explanation, and shrugging his shoulders went on: "Yes, so the general +said, But, my dear Güntz, I have only formally repeated this to you as +I was commanded to do so. Now let us talk it over as colleagues. I can +understand your astonishment, and you will soon be more puzzled than +ever. The reason the general gives for his strictures is that there has +been so much punishment in your battery--more than double as much as in +the fourth and the sixth together." + +Güntz restrained a gesture of impatient surprise. This was rather +beyond a joke! + +"But, sir," he said, "you know under what circumstances I took +command!" + +"Know? why, of course I do!" answered Falkenhein; "and of course I +explained to him. But he regarded my description as exaggerated. I may +tell you in confidence that he belongs to the very clique who managed +to keep Mohr in the service so long. And he regards his opinion as +infallible--namely, that too many punishments in a troop are the +consequence of a lack of discipline. He considers that a certain +similarity in the punishment-registers of the batteries should be aimed +at unconditionally. Otherwise unfavourable conclusions as to the +capability of individual captains must be drawn, he says." + +Güntz was honestly indignant, and when anything struck him as unjust, +it never mattered to him in whose presence he was; he must speak his +mind, even to his colonel. + +"Pardon me, sir," he began, "but the general has surely lost sight of +the fact that for similar results similar previous conditions are +necessary. I consider, with all respect, that even in normal batteries +the material on which we have to work is different; and that in the +very same battery perhaps the new year's recruits may effect an +enormous difference in the punishment-register. To say nothing of such +circumstances as there were in my case. If my punishment-register were +_not_ greater than those of the fourth and sixth batteries, then +that would reflect unfavourably upon me. And I most respectfully hope +that it is not a more important matter to the general to receive +punishment-registers of the same length, than that the discipline of a +battery should suffer." Almost out of breath, he added! "Pardon me, +sir, I beg!" + +Falkenhein had become very serious. + +"I take nothing you have said amiss, my dear Güntz," he replied. "I +cannot but admit that you are perfectly right. And exactly what you +have just argued I myself said very plainly to the general, very +plainly indeed. He became damnably cold to me at the end of it." + +The colonel paused, and smiled a little to himself as he thought over +the conversation. The general had been nearly bursting with rage, and +would not have permitted such opposition from any one else to go +unpunished. But Falkenhein was a recognised favourite of the old +monarch; he had been the king's hunting-companion for days together, +and was surer in his position than even the general in his. So he could +not cut up too rough. + +"Nevertheless," continued the colonel more cheerfully, "he regarded it +as desirable that a greater similarity should gradually be obtained." + +Güntz answered firmly: "Forgive me, sir, I cannot promise the general +this in anticipation. I could not bring it into harmony with my +conception of the duty of an officer." + +"Good," answered Falkenhein. "You have given me that answer as your +friend and colleague. As your commander, I have perfect confidence that +you will do all you can that is useful and desirable for the king's +service, and that in this sense you will accede to the general's wish." + +Güntz bowed, and answered: "Certainly, sir." + +In the orderly-room he asked the sergeant-major whether Zampa had been +exercised that day. + +"Not yet, sir." + +"Then please have him saddled, and I will take him out for a little +myself." + +He rode down towards the valley. Yonder on the left among the fresh +green plantations lay the pistol-practice ground, on which a few months +ago his duel with Lieutenant Landsberg had taken place. He thought less +of that episode itself than of the night before it, during which he had +written down his reasons for contemplating resignation. + +To-day he felt himself enriched by a fresh argument. + +Deuce take it! Was not this passion for similarity enough to madden +one? Must everything be tainted by this damned, regular, grinding +drill, this parade-march sort of principle? Must things everywhere run +smoothly and according to rule, just in order that the authorities +might be convinced of the excellence of the whole system? + +So even the punishment-register should be carefully edited! No one must +lift his head above his fellows! It was really laughable. Teachers +might have bad pupils; but it seemed to be against the rules for the +captain of a battery to have bad soldiers in his troop! + +Luckily for him, he happened to be in very favourable circumstances. He +had a colonel who stood up for him, and who could dare to express a +difference of opinion from his superior officer, because he himself +chanced to be in the good books of the king. So that this affair would +pass by all right and do nobody any harm. But what would have happened +if the colonel himself had felt uncertain of his position? Would he +have found the moral courage to oppose his influential superior, even +if only by a modest remonstrance? Would he not rather, for the sake of +his career, have said, merely: "Certainly, sir!" + +And then the pressure would have gone on downwards; and among a hundred +captains there were certainly but few who, in the struggle between +their better knowledge and their future career, would remain true to +their convictions. Most of them would bring the punishment-register up +to the "desirable" regularity, and just do as best they could with the +bad elements in their batteries: the men who sneered at all discipline, +and whom nevertheless their captain dared not punish properly; who +spoilt the good soldiers, and increased the dislike of the reservists +for the service. Otherwise the punishment-register might exceed the +average demanded, and "that would cause unfavourable conclusions as to +the discipline of the battery and the capability of the captain." + +Güntz rode slowly back along the grassy lane. He looked around him. +Yonder the white walls of the barracks gleamed in the sunshine; a fresh +wind gently shook the budding branches, and all around everything was +sprouting, filled with the vigour of youth. He guided his horse +carefully round a patch of primroses, which covered the whole width of +the path with a sheet of yellow blossoms. + +He bade dull care begone. Could he not at any time quit the service +directly he became convinced of its ineffectiveness? To-day's +experience was simply a fresh weight in the scales of his doubt. + +He had once more determined to apply all his strength to the solution +of a problem, which had been in his mind even at the time of his +employment in Berlin. + +There seemed to him no doubt that the French field-artillery with its +anti-recoil construction had gained a great advantage over all other +armies; an advantage which could only be prejudiced if the utility of +the invention were proved on the field of battle to be less than was +expected. Up to the present time the French gun-carriage had only been +tested on a small scale in peace man[oe]uvres, and it had not been +absolutely demonstrated that its construction would stand the +continuous high pressure of a campaign. He was now absorbed in a scheme +for simplifying and strengthening the anti-recoil attachments in such a +way that they would keep in working order under the severest test. And +at the same time he had been directing his attention to the steel +shields used in the French field-artillery for the protection of the +men who served the guns. German military authorities were for the most +part opposed to the introduction of this method of protection; but the +shield seemed to him very worthy of adoption. In the battles of the +future the percentage of probable losses must be computed quite +mathematically; and it would be a great advantage if, by virtue of the +shield, a large number of the combatants could be considered safe. +The opponents of the measure gave it as their opinion that the men +would shirk quitting the protection of the shield; or that, at any +rate, they would take aim so hurriedly that their accuracy must +necessarily suffer. Well, one might equally well argue that the +infantry would refuse to leave their trenches. The other objection was +more convincing: shooting would become too difficult if this steel +shield were associated with the anti-recoil construction. It was a +question of mobility; therefore Güntz set to work to find out some +method of lightening the gun. Why should the gun-carriage be loaded +with such a large quantity of ammunition as was customary--more, +probably, than would ever be needed? He was constructing the model of a +carriage in which the quantity of ammunition carried was to be +diminished by one-third; so that the extra weight of the anti-recoil +construction and the steel shield should be more than counterbalanced. + +When he was in Berlin he had gone into the details of his invention +with the head of a large Rhenish gun-foundry. This man proposed that +Güntz should send in his resignation and enter the service of the firm +at a handsome salary. Güntz at that time was not prepared to decide in +the matter; but at the close of the interview the manager had said: +"Who knows? perhaps we shall see each other again." + +Had the man been right? + +In any case, Güntz felt strong enough to make his own way through life. + +The servant took his horse from him at the garden gate. + +"Well, did it go off all right?" asked Kläre. + +The captain answered, "Yes, first-rate." He did not conceal the "but," +however. The calm good sense of his wife always helped him to test his +own impressions. Kläre was, indeed, a woman whose like was not to be +found in the whole world; a woman who had been created just for him. + +She had her own methods in everything. If, at dinner, her husband were +worried with thoughts of the black sheep in his battery, and would keep +introducing such topics at their comfortable board, then she would snub +him quite severely. But when he came to her with his real doubts and +anxieties she was ever ready to comfort and advise him. She knew all +about his plan of testing himself for a year in the command of a +battery; and sometimes she was inclined to advise him to shorten the +period of probation. She was shrewd enough to foresee that within a +year and a day he would have discarded his officer's uniform. + +Lieutenant Reimers continued as hitherto to be a welcome guest in the +Güntz household. + +He had realised that his frequent visits were in no way a bother to his +friend; and when Frau Kläre, with the amiability of a careful hostess, +considered his little idiosyncrasies of taste, he could but protest +feebly: "Really, dear lady, you spoil me too much! What shall I do if, +for instance, I have to go to the Staff College next year?" + +To Güntz he once said, "I must say that in contemplating you and your +wife, one realises what a half-man a bachelor is." + +The stout captain laughed good-naturedly. + +"Kläre," he shouted to his wife, who was just coming into the room, "it +appears that I wasn't making a mistake when I chose you for my wife." + +"How's that, my Fatty?" asked his wife. + +"Reimers has just been saying that the sight of our wedded life gives +him an appetite for matrimony. What do you say to that?" + +"A very sensible remark, Herr Reimers," laughed Kläre. + +Reimers blushed a little and rejoined: "Well, then, I shall soon go +bride-hunting. For your advice is always good, dear lady." + +"Now then, flatterer!" growled Güntz. "Don't make my wife conceited." + +But when Reimers had bidden them good-bye he said to Kläre: "I really +believe it would be a most sensible thing for Reimers to marry; he is +not the sort to become a mere mess-house or tavern _habitué_. He ought +to go about and study the daughters of our country a little." + +"Why go about? There's good enough near at hand," said Frau Kläre. + +The captain looked up: "Eh?" + +Smilingly his wife pointed over her shoulder to the neighbouring villa. + +"Marie Falkenhein?" asked Güntz. + +Frau Kläre nodded. + +"You don't want to earn a match-maker's reward, do you, now?" inquired +her husband. + +"Oh, Fatty, darling! don't you know me better than that?" +his wife protested. "No, no, nothing of the sort! But seriously, I do +mean that those two young people would suit each other very well. With +regard to Marie, I know positively this much, she thinks Reimers very +nice; and that is, at any rate, something to go on, until our dear +Reimers opens his eyes." + +"But let him open them quite by himself, please; no assistance, I do +beg!" the captain interrupted. + +"Of course, Fatty, quite by himself." + +"But, Kläre, how about that episode of the Gropphusen? That was a bit +off the rails, wasn't it?" + +"Nothing of the kind. Nothing but a mere passing flirtation." + +Güntz shook his head thoughtfully. + +"No, Kläre," he replied. "I understand Reimers. He would never have +anything to do with mere passing flirtations. It is just the dear +fellow's misfortune that he takes everything so damned seriously. It +went pretty deep with him that time with the Gropphusen; you can +believe me as to that." + +"Still, one does not cling for all eternity to such a useless sort of +business." + +Güntz was not quite convinced. + +"Well, we must hope not," he said. "And, really, the two would suit +each other excellently." + +Walking up and down the room he continued: "Yes, in all respects. +Reimers has an income of about seventy thousand marks, and the colonel +would certainly be able to give his daughter a bit of money without +having to pinch himself. I should say about twenty thousand. True, he +is no Cr[oe]sus; but then he will soon be made a general. Our dear +Reimers will have to keep his passion for books in check. Yes, yes! The +thing would answer admirably." + +He stood still and knocked the ash off his cigar. + +"Why are you laughing, you sly little woman?" he asked, glancing down +at her. + +"How funny you are, Fatty!" Kläre answered. "You accuse me quite +sternly of the worst intentions, and then you make plan after plan, and +even begin to reckon up their joint income!" + +But Güntz parried the accusation gallantly: + +"Just another compliment for you, my Kläre. Only happy couples try to +bring about other marriages." + + +A short time afterwards, without any prompting from the Güntzes, +Reimers said to his stout friend: "Güntz, doesn't it strike you that +Mariechen Falkenhein is a very nice girl?" + +Güntz leant back in his chair reflectively, and answered: "A nice girl? +how do you mean? Certainly she has a pretty face, her eyes are +especially sweet, and she has a good figure. Just a little too slight. +For my taste, of course I mean." + +"No," replied Reimers, "I don't mean that so much. Certainly she is +pretty. But, after all, that's a secondary matter. I mean more the +effect of her personality. There seems to be something so sure, so +comfortable, so restful about her. Don't you think so?" + +"Well, you know, I have not made such detailed observations. But I +daresay you are right. And I should say that she will make a splendid +wife some day. Quick and accurate, without a trace of superficiality, +with a strong instinct for housewifely order; a simple, clear, shrewd +intellect--the man who wins her for his wife will be a lucky fellow!" + +Reimers unconsciously drew himself up a little, and he said doubtfully: + +"But surely she is still much too young." + +"Not a bit," replied Güntz. "She will be eighteen in the autumn, and +she is not even engaged yet. And after that there would be the +betrothal time of the educated European--not less than six months. +Well, that would bring her nearly up to twenty, and at twenty a woman +in our geographical area is quite eligible for marriage." + +Reimers appeared to meditate upon this. Finally, however, he only +replied by a prolonged "H'm," and dropped the subject. + +But the ladies of the regiment had soon a fresh subject for gossip. +Lieutenant Reimers was paying his addresses to Marie Falkenhein. There +was no doubt that his intentions were serious. Well, he had no rivals +to fear. Falkenhein was poor every one knew that. He could have very +little income beyond his pay. And his daughter? Oh, yes, she was a +pretty, graceful creature; but she was not brilliantly beautiful, and +therefore could not have any very great expectations. No question of +anything beyond just a suitable and satisfactory marriage in the +service. + +From this time onward the matter was almost regarded as settled; and in +the garrison gossip Marie von Falkenhein and Lieutenant Reimers were +soon spoken of as though their betrothal had been already announced. + +Naturally the interesting news was eagerly carried to Frau von +Gropphusen, and she was narrowly watched for the effect of the +communication; but nothing could be detected. No flinching, no pauses +in the conversation, no alteration in the expression of her face or of +her voice. What a pity that there was no theatre in the town, when they +so thoroughly enjoyed such little dramas! + +Hannah Gropphusen did not discontinue her visits to Frau Güntz. She +came neither more rarely nor more frequently. She seemed to have +regained self-control. + +Frau Kläre's birthday was celebrated in the arbour of the Falkenheins' +garden, by the second _Maibowle_ of the season. They had drunk to the +health of the birthday-queen, and were just sitting down again when +there was the tinkle of a bicycle-bell outside in the street. The soft +sound of the quick wheels came nearer, and just in front of the garden +there was the thud of a light pair of feet jumping to the ground. + +A clear voice, which would have sounded merry, but that for the moment +it seemed a little breathless, called up to the arbour: "Hurrah! +hurrah! And for the third time hurrah! Can one get anything to drink +here?" + +Güntz hurried to the balustrade. + +"My dear lady!" he exclaimed astonished. "Certainly you can! There's +still lots left." + +He turned round: "Pardon me, sir, but here's Frau von Gropphusen." + +Falkenhein went quickly to his side: "Do give us the pleasure of your +company, dear Frau von Gropphusen. I will have your bicycle taken in at +once." + +He went to the gate and conducted Frau von Gropphusen to the arbour. +Güntz had already placed a chair at the table for her and poured out a +glass of _Maibowle_. + +"Who rides so late through night and wind?" asked Kläre merrily, +holding out her hand cordially to the new arrival. + +Hannah Gropphusen greeted the festive circle with a bright smile, and +replied: "Do forgive me, Colonel von Falkenhein. The lights and the +festivity in your arbour were too inviting." + +She raised her glass, and drank to Kläre Güntz: "To your happiness, +dear Frau Kläre, from the bottom of my heart." + +"I have been delayed at Frau von Stuckardt's," she then said; "or, +rather, Frau von Stuckardt would not let me leave." + +"Stuckardt told me," interrupted the colonel, "that his wife was not +well." + +"Yes, she has got the old pain in her face back again, which no doctor +can relieve, and that was why I had to stay so long. I had to keep my +hands on her cheeks. She says I have soothing hands and can do her +good." + +Reimers looked across at her. She was sitting a little in the shadow, +so that her white straw hat and light blouse stood out distinctly. On +her bosom sparkled a small diamond. Only the tip of her foot was +visible in the lamplight, a beautiful, narrow, elegantly-shod foot, +which was swinging rapidly backwards and forwards. + +To avoid catching her eye, Reimers turned to Marie Falkenhein, his +neighbour. The _Maibowle_ had got into his head a little. He chatted +away cheerfully, the young girl listening with flushed cheeks and +radiant eyes, and answering laughingly from time to time. They neither +of them noticed that meanwhile Frau von Gropphusen had emptied her +glass and was preparing to go. + +"Many thanks," she said. "I was nearly fainting. The _Maibowle_ has +done me good. But it's getting late; I must go home." + +"Of course they are expecting you at home?" asked Falkenhein. + +Hannah Gropphusen laughed rather bitterly. + +"Expecting me?" she replied. "Who? Oh no, I don't suppose my husband is +at home. But pray, colonel, don't punish him for that!" + +This was rather painful. However, Frau von Gropphusen afterwards said +good-bye to them so simply and naturally that no one thought anything +more about it. + +The colonel accompanied her to the gate, and the four in the arbour +went over to the balustrade. Güntz had put his arm tenderly round Frau +Kläre, and Reimers was standing beside Marie Falkenhein. They watched +Hannah Gropphusen mount her bicycle and ride slowly away. She turned +round in the saddle, waved her right hand, and shouted out a laughing +"Good-night." + +A little further along she looked back, and the white-gloved hand waved +again, but they could no longer distinguish her features. + +Then the rushing wheels disappeared in the darkness. + +Frau von Gropphusen rode quietly home. + +The servant was waiting at the door. He took the machine from her, +asking if she would take tea. + +"No," she answered. "I have had it. You can clear the things away." + +She threw herself on the couch in her room just as she was, in her +bicycling costume. She drew up the rug and wrapped herself in it. + +And Hannah Gropphusen lay thus till far into the night, staring with +wide-open eyes into the darkness of the room. + + +A few days later Marie Falkenhein came through the garden gate to Kläre +Güntz's house. + +"Kläre," she said, "I am going into the town to inquire after Frau von +Stuckardt. Would you like me to call in at the chemist's and tell him +he is to send you the sugar-of-milk for the baby?" + +Frau Kläre took stock of the young girl, and shook her finger at her +laughingly. + +"Mariechen! Mariechen!" she said. "I never would have believed you +could become such an accomplished hypocrite, my child." + +Marie turned crimson. + +"Yes, yes," continued Kläre. "Because you have heard me call vanity a +vice, you were ashamed to show off your new dress and hat to me. But +you hadn't quite the heart to pass by your old friend's house. Isn't +that the way of it?" + +The young girl nodded, her face scarlet. + +Kläre stroked her cheek caressingly, and went on: "You silly little +goose! But really, you know, when one's as pretty as you are, a little +vanity is excusable. And now tell me, where in the world did you get +these things?" + +"Oh, Kläre," replied the girl, "not here, of course. Frau von +Gropphusen went with me and helped me to choose them. I can tell you, +Kläre, she does understand such things." + +The young woman stood in front of her friend and looked her over from +head to foot. It would have been impossible to find any costume which +lent itself more happily to Marie's dainty appearance than this of some +light-grey soft silken material, trimmed with white, and with a little +hat to match, the shape of which softly emphasised the delicate beauty +of the young face. + +Kläre gave the girl a hearty kiss, and said: "You are as pretty as a +picture, little one. Quite lovely. Well, and what did the stern father +say to all this?" + +Marie was quite flushed with pride. + +"At first he said, 'By Jove!'" she answered. "Then I made him give me a +kiss; and next he got quite anxious and wanted to know whether I hadn't +been running into debt. I had to swear to him that the whole turn-out +didn't cost me more than what he had given me for it." + +"And is that the truth, dear child?" + +"Well, I had just to add four marks from my pocket-money." + +Kläre shook her head smilingly. "Dear, dear! So young and already so +depraved! Hypocrisy and perjury! Well, at least it is worth it." + +Frau von Gropphusen now made quite a business of helping Marie von +Falkenhein about her clothes. Hannah's slender hands were quicker and +cleverer than those of the deftest maid, and she knew how to transform +the young girl's plain boarding-school frocks into something quite +pretty and original. + +She did all this with a soft motherly tenderness, hardly in accordance +with her own youthfulness. Marie Falkenhien's school-girl stiffness +disappeared gradually, and a dainty young woman blossomed out. + +"By Jove!" said Güntz to Frau Kläre. "How Mariechen is coming on! She +is getting a deuced pretty little girl!" + +And Reimers looked at the young girl with eyes which no longer +contained the brotherly indifference of past months. + + +Shortly before the departure of the troops for the practice-camp the +regimental adjutant, Senior-lieutenant Kauerhof, had a fall from his +horse, and injured one of the tendons of his knee-joint. This would +probably keep him away from duty for about six weeks, so Lieutenant +Reimers was appointed to take his work. Being the eldest lieutenant in +the regiment his promotion to senior-lieutenant was expected any day. + +The young officer was in the seventh heaven of delight at this mark of +distinction. He embarked on his new duties with boundless and untiring +zeal. He almost divined the wishes of Falkenhein; and sometimes it was +not even necessary to give explicit directions as to the manner in +which this or that order was to be carried out. The colonel knew that +Reimers, with his powers of intuition, would do the right thing. + +Falkenhein could not imagine a more painstaking adjutant, nor one who, +when off duty, on the march, or at the practice-camp, could have looked +after his colonel's comfort with more tender consideration. He had +noticed that Reimers had of late paid his daughter attention, and the +idea of some day entrusting his child to the care of this excellent +young man--already like a beloved son to him--gave him real pleasure. +This gratifying prospect made him more unreserved than was usually his +custom. It was well known that the colonel was not exactly delighted +with the hundred and one innovations that had been introduced into the +army at the accession of the young emperor. And now, feeling that he +could trust his acting adjutant implicitly, and that not a word of +misrepresentation or misconstruction would ever reach the ears of any +evil-disposed person, he freely unburdened his mind of the cares and +anxieties that weighed upon it. + +Some of these confidential communications struck Reimers with +amazement. He had expected to find in Falkenhein an officer who would +entirely dissipate all the doubts that Güntz had awakened in his mind; +and now he discovered that this honoured superior also was filled with +the gravest views as to the thoroughness and efficiency of the +organisation of the German army. The more important of these +conversations he noted down each evening in the following manner:-- + + + _June 2nd._ + +The colonel happened to talk about the supply of officers for the +German army. In his opinion, the best material to draw from is the +so-called "army nobility"--that is to say, those families (not +necessarily noble) members of which have in many successive generations +been German officers--German meaning Prussian, Saxon, Hanoverian, +&c.--(examples: the colonel himself, Wegstetten, and also my humble +self). These families are mostly of moderate means, and often +intermarry. That conscientious devotion to their calling as officers is +thus ingrained in their flesh and blood must be self-evident. It is +born in them; and by their simple, austere up-bringing, with their +profession ever in view, they become thoroughly imbued with it. But +there is a danger that in such a mental atmosphere their range of +observation may be so restricted that they cannot view the life of the +world around them with intelligence or comprehension. Therefore it +is of immense importance that the corps of German officers should +be strengthened by the infusion of fresh blood from the middle and +lower-middle classes, whose members, having been brought up and +educated according to modern ideas, are of great service to the other +officers in enlarging their range of view. They provide unprejudiced +minds and clear intellects capable of dealing with the more advanced +technical problems of modern warfare (Güntz, for instance). + +The most! unsatisfactory material consists of those officers who, on +account of inherited wealth, look upon their profession as a kind +of sport, attractive, abounding in superficial honours, and for +that reason very agreeable. They generally spring from well-to-do +middle-class families (Landsberg), or, in the smart regiments of +Guards, from the families of large landed proprietors and wealthy +manufacturers. These latter are apt to regard court ball-rooms and +racecourses as more important fields of action than drill-grounds and +barracks. They are wholly without ambition, because they only intend to +spend a few years in the army, and then retire to the comforts of +private life on their own estates. They are neither good officers +because to be that demands a man's whole attention and energies; nor, +subsequently, good citizens--because the proper management of a large +estate needs training and experience, which cannot be acquired during +their years of military life. + +"Yet sometimes these very officers become generals in command, or +something of the sort!" said he. "That's the worst of it!" + + + _June 3rd._ + +The colonel continued the conversation of yesterday. We talked about +the aristocracy and the middle-class in the army. He admits without +hesitation that the middle-class element is despised, from the +staff-officers downwards, owing to causes originating in the reflected +glory of the old personal relations between the monarch and his +feudal lords, now somewhat modified by the indiscriminate giving of +titles--the acceptance of which titles, moreover, on the part of the +middle-classes, he utterly condemns. He wound up by saying: "If only it +were always members of the aristocracy who were really the most +efficient, and attained the highest eminence!" + +Just as the colonel had argued before that there was danger of +one-sidedness from the prevailing influence of the "army nobility," he + now +pointed out that, on the other hand, an advantage arose: a kind of +accumulation of specific military qualities of a bodily as well as of a +mental kind. He may be quite right. + + + _June 6th._ + +Yesterday and to-day the Crown Prince lunched at the mess. He came for +these two days in order to inspect the regiment of dragoons here, which +belongs to his brigade. An amiable, good-tempered fellow (although our +cooking did not give him entire satisfaction), and one who likes to sit +over his wine a little. + +As we rode after dinner his Highness told us some most racy and amusing +stories in capital style. Then the conversation turned upon questions +of tactics during the last campaign, and at this juncture the colonel +became quite grave. These visits of exalted personages to regimental +officers, which are to a certain extent of a social character, may, he +says, bring about serious consequences. Such exalted persons are apt to +regard any intellectual cypher as a great military genius if he happens +to be an agreeable and versatile talker, and then the military +authorities have not always the courage to disturb the preconceived +notions of their sovereign. Result: Society-generals for dinners and +balls; after whom rank next the petticoat-generals. And then he +referred to the female ascendency in the reign of the third Napoleon. + + + _June 11th._ + +There is in the Reuss regiment of infantry an amusing little adjutant, +Senior-lieutenant Schreck. He was with the expedition in China, and for +that was awarded a medal. He is never to be seen without his little red +and yellow ribbon. In fun the colonel asked him: "Have you got a ribbon +like that on your night-shirt too?" + +"You are pleased to jest, sir!" answered the little fellow indignantly, +from the back of his long-legged bay mare. + +"After all," said Falkenhein to me later, "I was just as proud of my +first medal in the year 1870!" + +"But this deluge of orders," he continued, "that was showered upon the +China Expedition leads to a lot of self-delusion. It magnifies an +insignificant event to an unnatural degree. Trivial successes stand out +as if they were great victories, and cause exaggerated notions of +individual infallibilty. This was exactly what happened in the Dutch +campaign of 1787, upon which followed the disasters of Valmy and Jena." + +Jena!----Güntz said that too. Moreover, the colonel does not deny that +the Expedition achieved all possible success. But he considers most +objectionable that self-asserting propensity to boast about it +associated as it so often is with an unctuous piety. "Of course," he +said, "it's only one of the signs of the times; and it is just these +times that don't please me. All this outward show in religion is +detestable. It was just so in Berlin and Potsdam in the time of +Bischoffswerder and Woellner." + +That again was before--Jena. + + _June 13th._ + +For the first time the colonel asked me about my experiences in the +South African War. He was reminded of it because a lieutenant belonging +to the South-West African Defence Corps happened to call upon him at +the practice-camp. I could only say that I had brought away with me +from the Transvaal an unspeakable abhorrence of war. + +"Of war in general?" asked Falkenhein. + +"Yes, indeed," I answered; and then it suddenly struck me what a +preposterous reply this was for an officer to make. I qualified the +assertion by saying I had assisted at the most unfortunate period of +the Boer War, during the panic that followed Cronje's capture, and +had got to know only the seamy side of warfare: demolished farms, +trampled-down fields, no real steady fighting, scarcely any skirmishing +even, but just one continual rout. + +The colonel listened to my torrent of words in silence. Then at +last--"Good God!" he said, "a thoughtful man _must_ detest war--all +war. But it does not do to be sentimental. Sentimentality in this +matter is synonymous with stupidity." He spoke of this for a long +time, then about other topics, and finally wound up by saying: "There +are many such enigmas in this world that must remain unsolved for +the present, and with which men are yet forced to deal in a +practical manner, even at the risk of making mistakes. So that we just +have to choose a sensible middle course. We must be neither too +superficial nor too profound. And above all, we must not think too +much!" Unfortunately, I am not the man for such compromises. + + _June 16th._ + +The colonel lunched with me in the canteen, sitting on benches in the +middle of the wood; our fare being bread, sausage, and some excellent +lager-beer. Close by were several one-year volunteers, and two or three +non-commissioned officers with them. They looked uncomfortable, for +they are forbidden to be on familiar terms with the non-commissioned +officers. The colonel, however, did not mind it much. + +"I believe," he said, "that it cannot always be avoided." Then he spoke +of the one-year volunteer system, which in his opinion is a two-edged +sword. It furnishes most efficient reserve-officers,--it has that +advantage, certainly. But the drawbacks are as follows: + +It is apt to demoralise the non-commissioned officers. True, bribery is +strictly forbidden; but that is a mere empty form, a prohibition which +is daily infringed, such infringement being purposely overlooked, +whether for good or evil. The non-commissioned officer then ceases to +depend on his pay alone; and that puts temptations to dishonourable +conduct before many a perhaps otherwise conscientious man, besides +inevitably engendering dissatisfaction with his profession. +Furthermore, the one-year volunteer system takes away just those men +who, with their higher intelligence and culture, might most effectually +oppose the socialistic propaganda that goes on in the ranks, and who +might in a certain sense exert an enlightening influence on those +around them. The colonel regards all prohibitions and regulations +against the inroads of the revolutionary spirit in the army as more or +less futile. The only practicable expedient is the influence over the +privates of thoroughly trustworthy elements in their midst. The fact +that the one-year volunteers live in barracks among the privates +certainly makes severe demands on the patriotism of the younger ones; +but then it renders careful surveillance possible, and affords a +valuable insight into the life of the common soldier, into his ways of +thinking and his views of the world in general. Falkenhein maintains +that for the same reason this arrangement, although in some respects +inconvenient, is highly desirable for the _avantageur_ as a future +officer. The French military authorities, who have lately instituted a +similar system, have, in his opinion, done perfectly right. + +The hardships of the life serve both to sift out the incapables, and to +produce officers who are more mature, more manly, and who do not look +upon their inferiors as utter aliens. + + +The inspection of the regimental shooting went off without a hitch. In +his subsequent criticism the general spoke of the pleasure it +invariably afforded him to inspect the 80th Regiment of the Eastern +Division Field-Artillery,--a pleasure of which he had never been +disappointed. He ended by saying: "I congratulate both the regiment and +yourself, Colonel von Falkenhein. The regiment, because it has such an +excellent commanding officer at its head; and you, because you have +made your regiment such a splendid body of men." Hardly a very +brilliant or very witty remark, this; but it sounded pleasantly, and +one could not reasonably expect higher praise. + +Falkenhein was in the best of good humours. "Come, Reimers," he said +after lunch, when he had accompanied the general to his carriage, +"We'll give my two bays a little exercise. They've had none yet +to-day." + +The two officers started off at an easy trot towards the butts, +chatting as they went. + +"Here's something that will interest you, my dear Reimers," said the +colonel presently. "Wednesday, the day we arrive home, is your day to +go to the Güntzes. Mariechen has written to say there will be a +surprise in the evening--vegetables of her own growing and poultry of +her own rearing. The child makes one's mouth water, after our fare +at the mess! The ladies promise us asparagus, home-bred chickens, +new potatoes, salad, rhubarb shape, and a bowl of strawberries, +too--everything home-grown. They drew lots as to which of the fowls +were to be sacrificed, and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the +men, because not one of the kitchenmaids will consent to wring the neck +of a chicken. My daughter also thanks you very much for your kind +message; and I was to give you her kind remembrances, and to thank you +heartily for taking such excellent care of her old papa." Reimers +thanked him in a low voice. + +"It is wonderful," continued Falkenhein pleasantly, "what a change a +little creature like that girlie of mine can make in one's home. It +used to be quite immaterial to me where I slept whether here, in +barracks, or in my own house. After my dear wife died I never cared to +be at home. And now this little girl makes things so pleasant again +that I once more enjoy being within my own four walls." + +The lieutenant did not think this at all extraordinary. And as the +colonel went on chatting gaily about his little daughter, Reimers, so +silent hitherto, became quite talkative. Falkenhein turned and glanced +at him now and then. The young man threw his heart and soul into his +subject, and his eyes shone as he related various little instances of +Marie Falkenhein's amiability and charm. + +Suddenly Reimers paused. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask the +colonel at once for this jewel of a girl. It would, indeed, be the most +natural end to their conversation, and he felt sure that he would meet +with no rebuff. But then he had not meant to approach the colonel on +the subject so long as he was a mere simple lieutenant. He would at +least wait for his promotion to senior-lieutenant. Therefore he held +back the proposal he had so nearly made. + + +It fell out that the very next day an official telegram arrived, +promoting Reimers to the rank of senior-lieutenant. Colonel von +Falkenhein was the first to congratulate his acting adjutant, and it +astonished him that an event of the kind, bound to occur in the natural +order of things, should throw the sedate Reimers into such a state of +excitement. + +The new senior-lieutenant, too, was surprised at himself, having +hitherto imagined that he regarded such externals with considerable +equanimity. The delight with which he now fastened the stars upon his +epaulettes was little less than that with which, seven years earlier, +he had attached the epaulettes themselves to his uniform, feeling +himself the happiest man in the whole world. + +When Senior-lieutenant Reimers reported himself to the colonel, +Falkenhein made him an unexpected proposition. + +"My dear Reimers," said he, "you know that Kauerhof is now the eldest +senior-lieutenant in the regiment. Before he gets his captaincy he will +have to return to ordinary duty for a time, and I must therefore look +about for another adjutant. So I thought of you, my dear Reimers. You +have been so entirely satisfactory as acting adjutant that I cannot +wish for a better man. But what do you think of it yourself?" + +Reddening with pride and pleasure, Reimers replied: "If you are kind +enough to think me worthy of such a mark of distinction, sir, I can +only promise to do my best." + +The colonel nodded, and continued: "I can well believe in your good +intentions. But now, how about the Staff College?" + +"Under these circumstances," replied Reimers quickly, "I will of course +gladly give up the Staff College." + +"That's just what you shall not do!" returned Falkenhein. "You shall go +to the Staff College. It is my wish, in your own interests and in that +of your career, my dear Reimers. Perhaps the matter could be arranged +by your postponing your examination for a little while. You will +probably in any case have to wait patiently for quite six years to come +before you get the command of a battery. Be my adjutant for the first +two years of that period, and then go in for your examination. By that +time I shall probably be no longer in the regiment. Well, what do you +say?" + +Reimers agreed with pleasure. There seemed nothing but good fortune for +him that day. Apparently all his wishes were to be fulfilled. Would it +not perhaps be best to propose at once for the hand of Mariechen? Was +not this just the right moment, after receiving such a conspicuous +proof of Falkenhein's esteem and goodwill? But finally a piece of pure +punctilio prevented him from carrying out his intentions. It was not at +all correct to make a proposal of marriage at the time of receiving an +official notification. + + +At luncheon that day it was continually, "Your health, Reimers!" "Good +luck to you, Reimers!" or the orderly would be at his elbow with a +message: "Captain Blank, or Lieutenant So-and-so, would like to drink a +glass of wine with you, sir." And Reimers pledged his friends gaily +across the table. He had invited Güntz and little Dr. von Fröben to a +bottle of champagne, and grew more reckless as time went on. When +lights were brought for the cigars Güntz said to him: "You're a bit +screwed, my boy. You'd better go and sleep it off." + +But Reimers had become exceedingly jovial. "Oh, it's nothing at all!" +he declared. "I'm going for my ride now It was postponed on account of +the announcements to-day." + +"That'll do nicely, my son," said Güntz; "that will put you right +again." And he looked on smiling as the new senior-lieutenant swung +himself into the saddle. The first attempt miscarried, and even the +successful one was accomplished with difficulty; but the rider sat +firmly enough in his seat when he got there and Dorothy had no tricks. +Güntz waved merrily to his friend as he turned off into the forest. + +The mare's hoofs sank deep into the soft sand; she soon allowed herself +to fall into a lazy pace, and Reimers did not press her. Dorothy +stretched out her neck and drew the bridle through her rider's fingers; +he let it hang loose. + +Reimers now became aware for the first time that the glasses and +half-glasses in which he had answered his friends' congratulations must +have amounted to a considerable number. If he tried to concentrate his +thoughts on any particular subject, they slipped away from him in the +most perverse manner. He reflected vaguely that this was the kind of +mood in which he had of old committed all manner of pleasant follies +and youthful indiscretions. And why not? Was he not young, and a free +man? + +How delightful was this solitude after the noise and smoke of the +mess-room! It was now about six o'clock, and a heavenly June evening. +The sun was still high, but the heat was no longer oppressive; the air +felt soft and caressing. The dense forest on either hand was wrapped in +stillness; no sound penetrated between the slender stems of the trees; +the horse's tread in the soft sand made only a slight swishing noise. + +At a crossing of the ways the mare came to a standstill, stretching out +her nose towards a narrower lane, and snuffing the air. Finally she +turned off the sandy road on to a grassy bridle-path. Reimers gave her +her head; this was probably a short cut to the neighbouring village. + +Now the wood became thinner. Cleared patches or young plantations +alternated with the groups of tall pine-trees, and presently a fairly +large meadow appeared on the left. The hay had already been carried; +but in one corner the last remains of the crop had been collected and +heaped together. This little haycock exhaled a penetrating fragrance, +the essence of forest, grass, and sunshine, which the mare sniffed at +longingly. + +Suddenly there came over Reimers an irresistible desire to stretch +himself out in the hay and rest there for a little. Without further +thought he dismounted, pushed some hay to the mare with his foot, +passed the bridle round the trunk of a pine that stood solitary at the +edge of the field, and threw himself down on the soft grass. He +pillowed his head on his cap, and buried himself deep in his rustling +couch. He drew out along stalk and chewed at it; it still retained the +sweet grassy taste. Thin wisps fell across his face, and between them +he looked up into the blue sky, lazy and contented. Perfect stillness +reigned around him; only as from time to time he turned his head the +dry grass crackled and rustled, sounding in his ears like the snapping +of twigs and branches. + +At last his eyes became painful from staring so long into the dazzling +blue of heaven. He shut them; all now was red instead of blue, and to +lie with closed lids was grateful and delicious after the blinding +light. He cast one sleepy glance at the mare. She stood there flicking +her sides with her tail, and kept trying vainly to get some hay from +the ground into her bit-encumbered mouth. He thought of slackening the +curb for the poor beast, but was too lazy to stir. + +While he was dozing off it seemed to him as if something light and +fluttering passed him by; and for a moment he became aware of another +perfume added to the scent of the hay--something faint, yet distinct. +But he kept his eyes closed; nothing external mattered to him. + + +Reimers was awakened by a gentle pricking and tickling. It felt as +though a wisp of hay were passing lightly over his mouth, backwards and +forwards. He snatched at it, and a long stalk remained in his hand. His +eyes were slightly dazzled; he was gazing straight at the sun, already +considerably lower in the sky. + +Lazily he looked around him. Thank goodness, the mare was still there, +her head turned towards him, her ears pricked attentively. + +And here--close beside him? A woman sat there; a dainty little figure, +dressed in some light silken fabric, on her fashionably-curled golden +hair an enormous straw hat, above which nodded brilliant scarlet +poppies. She sat with her back to him, and was trying to pick out the +longest stalk from a tuft of grass that grew at the edge of the meadow. + +Reimers rubbed his eyes. Devil take it all! was he still dreaming? A +subtle odour came wafting from the rustling silk of her attire, a +breath of depravity, as though hailing from the corrupt life of some +big city; a bewildering, insinuating atmosphere, that had of a sudden +overpowered the delicious freshness of hay and pine-trees. + +He shut his eyes dizzily. His senses were still somewhat dazed from his +potations; he could not rouse himself to a clear awakening. + +The woman turned towards him. A charming, rather bold face bent down +over him, and a pair of hot, eager lips were pressed to his. And +Reimers, after the space of years behind him, was once again in that +mood in which he had of yore committed acts of folly. + + +A few weeks later Senior-lieutenant Reimers had a consultation with the +surgeon-major, Dr. Andreae. + +"What you tell me, doctor," he said at the end, "is very much like a +death-sentence, so far as a man's domestic happiness is concerned. He +must never hope to found a family?" + +"No," replied Andreae; "a decent man does not marry under such +circumstances. If he does, he commits a crime, consciously or +unconsciously, not only upon a woman, but upon his children." + +"Thank you, doctor." And Reimers would have taken leave, but Andreae +stopped him at the door. + +"I beg of you, my dear Reimers," he said, "not to take too tragic a +view of your case. I assure you, many men in like circumstances make +out a very tolerable existence. Among the younger men of the present +generation the average is enormously high, though fortunately most +cases are not so serious as yours. Quite alarmingly high, the average, +to us doctors. + +"But after all, life is not entirely concerned with this one relation +to the other sex. Those who find themselves cut off from domestic +happiness in this particular are often most excellent officers. In +peace they can devote themselves entirely to their profession without +other distractions; so that it benefits somewhat, as does the Catholic +Church by the services of her celibate priesthood. And in active +warfare it seems to me that such men must enjoy something of the +fatalism of Islam. All is not lost, my dear fellow! I hear everywhere +the greatest praise of your capacity and talents as an officer. So be +brave, and throw the others as mere ballast behind you. You have a +guiding star in your profession--is it not so?" + +Reimers nodded. + +"You are right, doctor," he said, "and I am much obliged to you." + +He looked weary and broken as he went out at the door. In a thoughtless +moment he had destroyed his one chance of happiness. That moment he +must expiate, and he knew he was strong enough to bear the burden. + +But it seemed to him that it was not this alone that had decided his +fate. He felt as though a grey veil had descended over his whole +future; even over all that in his imagination had elevated him above +the more sordid chances of destiny. + +Could this be because that star to which the doctor had pointed him was +losing its brilliancy? + +Gloomily he trod the woodland path to the town. Down below in a field +behind the barracks an old sergeant was giving the assistant trumpeters +a lesson. The lads blew forth a horribly ill-tuned unison. Then the +sergeant set his own trumpet to his lips, and the notes of the +dismissal rang clearly through the air:-- + +[Illustration: (musical score)] + +The signal that in the man[oe]uvres indicated the close of each +evolution. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + +After eighteen months of service Gustav Weise was made bombardier. +Captain von Wegstetten thought this would now be a safe experiment with +the erstwhile social-democrat. + +But more non-commissioned officers were still required. + +Sergeant Wiegandt had gone away on April 1: Wegstetten's best +non-com., and now the blissful husband of the beaming Frieda. He would +have been made deputy sergeant-major very shortly; but not even this +prospect had been sufficient to retain him. At Michaelmas two more +non-commissioned officers would obtain their discharge; Heppner was +dead; Heimert was in a mad-house; there were strange faces everywhere, +instead of the old tried experienced men. And even so there were not +enough of them. + +In this embarrassment Wegstetten bethought himself of Vogt. He was an +honest steady lad, on whom one could depend. All his superiors praised +him, and, besides, he had good blood in his veins, inherited from his +father, the brave old sergeant, with his iron cross and his medal for +bravery. + +Vogt did not prove to be particularly willing. Every plough in its +furrow, every mower deftly at work, awakened in him longings for his +old agricultural pursuits. He wore his uniform with a good grace; there +was no help for it, and grumbling would have only made the life harder. +But to stay on longer than necessary--for that he had no hankering. + +Wegstetten knew how to tackle his men. He talked glibly to the gunner +about the honour and distinction to be won as a non-commissioned +officer, not forgetting to observe how much the father at home would +rejoice to see the son following in his footsteps. + +Vogt asked his father's advice, and the turnpike-keeper wrote back: +"Jump at your captain's offer, my lad. As an old soldier, I am very +glad to think of my boy as a non-commissioned officer. Never mind about +me. The pleasure you give me will make me young and strong, so that I +shall be able to keep the place going till you come home again at +last." + +So Vogt signed on for another year. + +But directly he found himself committed he began to regret his +decision. + +He had been very lonely in the battery since his comrade Klitzing's +death. He had not felt inclined to strike up a friendship with any one +else; none of them were quite his sort. Despite his good nature, +Truchsess was a lazy obtuse kind of fellow. Count Plettau, to be sure, +was different; for though one never quite knew whether he was in jest +or earnest, still one could have something like rational conversation +with him. And Plettau took a real interest in the sturdy peasant lad, +in whom he recognised an outlook on life so different from his own as +to fill him with constant amazement. He told Vogt about the peasants of +his own Westphalian home, who in many cases had lived on their land +from generation to generation, and knew no higher source of pride than +to call themselves peasant-farmers. + +Then Vogt's eyes would brighten up. These men of the red mother-earth +were people after his own heart. + +"Yes," he said, "so it should be everywhere in Germany: + + Peasant farm by peasant farm, + Then shall none have hunger or harm!" + +Vogt was grateful to the count for talking to him so sensibly and +kindly; but still things were totally changed: he could not find any +one to replace his faithful friend Klitzing. The poor fellow felt more +and more lonely every day. + +In addition to this he had many vexations to bear when on duty. Captain +von Wegstetten and Lieutenant Reimers, who certainly both knew their +business well, had always shown themselves satisfied with him; but a +new senior-lieutenant was imported into the battery, a certain +Brettschneider, who was always pulling Vogt up and finding fault with +him. + +Senior-lieutenant Brettschneider came from the Staff College, and the +non-commissioned officers whispered it about that he was considered no +end of a swell. Well, he might be clever and smart enough; but, +nevertheless, the new officer was not infallible. When the exercises +were going on he could make mistakes like every one else. One thing was +certain: he was tremendously well-set-up. He always stood as straight +and stiff as a ramrod, and he could scarcely turn his carefully groomed +head, so high was his collar! Moreover, his pink, clean-shaven face +never for one moment lost its expression of haughty disdain. The men +avoided him as far as they could, for one seldom came near him without +being called back and found fault with; and everybody--non-coms. and +all--felt exasperated by the young man's conceited behaviour. + +Devil take the fellow! Wegstetten and Reimers certainly did not make +themselves cheap with the men. But when things were going right, they +always had time for a word of praise and an appreciative smile. Even +the sharp eyes of little Wegstetten could look quite good-humoured +on occasion. But Senior-lieutenant Brettschneider always remained +stand-offish, looking as if he had swallowed a poker. + +All this incensed our honest Vogt. Of course it was true--confound it! +that a soldier was only doing his duty; still, one is but human, and +one deserves a little recognition for hard and faithful service. And +isn't that the right way to knit a lasting bond between officers and +men, one that should prove valuable when hard times come? + +During the gun-practice Vogt had been several times called over the +coals by Senior-lieutenant Brettschneider. The bombardier did his duty +in a cheerful spirit, and sometimes let fall half-audible jokes and +chaff for his comrades' benefit. This much annoyed the officer in +question, and he spiced his rebuke with the remark that he didn't know +how a man who couldn't observe the first rudiments of discipline could +aspire to being a non-commissioned officer! + +Vogt laid this scolding to heart. He had meant no harm when he had +called out "Hurry up!" to that dilatory old Truchsess. On the other +hand, it could not be denied that Brettschneider was in the right: +they were forbidden to speak unless it was absolutely necessary, and +"necessary" his admonition had certainly not been. + +Nevertheless, a bitter feeling of having been unjustly treated remained +in Vogt's mind. + +When they came back from the practice-camp he rejoiced to be once more +doing ordinary drill; for at this he knew he was especially good, +particularly in the gun-drill. He would be able now to show the +senior-lieutenant what a capable fellow he was. And this time they +would have to be more than usually particular over the exercises; the +colonel himself was going to review the sixth battery. + +The mantling and dismantling of the guns needed great promptitude and +dexterity. Imaginary accidents were therefore said to have happened, +and the men keenly competed together to see who should remedy them most +quickly and satisfactorily. + +The pole of Vogt's gun was supposed to be broken. In a second he had +put on the spare iron bands that should in reality be fixed with nails, +and then he wound coil after coil of stout rope round the join, till +the pole was as if held in a strong web of cordage, and would be more +likely to break in a new place than to give way again where it had +broken before. + +He had just finished this piece of work, when a gunner came running to +say that the off-wheel of the gun-carriage had been destroyed by a +shot, and must be replaced by a new one. + +This was a serious piece of business. Three men would have to hold the +heavy carriage while the two others fixed the scarcely less heavy wheel +on to the axle. To make things worse, that blockhead Truchsess had hurt +himself in removing the wheel that had been "destroyed," so that only +four men were left. Vogt rolled up the spare wheel, but it was almost +impossible to fix it; the heavy wheel was too cumbersome for a single +man. + +The sweat ran in streams down Vogt's forehead into his eyes, making +them smart terribly; but he would not give up, and at last with a +tremendous effort managed to lift the wheel into place and slide it on +to the axle. There was nothing to do now but to run the linch-pin +through the axle and screw on the nave to keep all safe. This he did +with trembling fingers. + +Vogt raised himself. Thank God! Neither of the other five guns had got +as far as his, and yet his had been the heaviest job. He told his men +to keep still, and ran over to Senior-lieutenant Brettschneider to +report the completion of his task. + +Brettschneider was standing at the edge of the parade-ground in the +shade of the baggage-shed, talking to Senior-lieu-tenant Reimers. + +It was only while he was running that Vogt first noticed how severely +he had strained himself. His heart hammered as though it would burst +from his body, and his legs were trembling. With the back of his hand +he wiped the sweat from his brow, and drew himself up in the prescribed +fashion as he reported: "Gun six ready, sir. Pole mended and spare +wheel fixed." + +As through a mist he saw that Senior-lieutenant Reimers was smiling a +little, probably at his over-heated appearance. Then suddenly he heard +the sharp high voice of Brettschneider. + +"Please stand in a more respectful attitude, Bombardier Vogt, when you +have something to say to me," the voice snapped out. + +Vogt pulled himself up and repeated his announcement. + +But now the senior-lieutenant began to correct him and find fault with +him: he was to put his right shoulder higher, his cap was not straight, +he must place the tip of his little finger on his trouser-seam, and put +his feet wider apart. + +"Straighten your knees!" commanded he at last. + +Vogt felt how his legs were trembling. He might have been able to obey; +but he was at the end of his patience. + +Brettschneider again and in a louder tone commanded: "Bombardier Vogt, +straighten your knees!" + +But Vogt did not care; a mad resentment surged up in him. He would not +obey this idiot at any price. He raised his head, and looked the +officer straight in the face with eyes full of open mutiny. + +Brettschneider shouted again: "Bombardier Vogt, I order you to +straighten your knees. Do you know that you are being guilty of +disobedience to orders, and that that is a military crime?" + +But Bombardier Vogt remained unmoved, with his mutinous eyes fixed on +the senior-lieutenant. + +Brettschneider waited a few seconds, then he called quietly to one of +the corporals: "Put Bombardier Vogt under arrest!" + +The corporal looked blankly, first at Brettschneider, then at Vogt. + +The senior-lieutenant repeated his order, whereupon the corporal took +the bombardier by his right arm and marched away with him through the +gate into the courtyard of the barrack. + +When they were out of hearing, Reimers turned to his companion: "Were +you not a little hard on him, Brettschneider?" + +The clean-shaven face turned towards him languidly, and Brettschneider +asked coolly: "How do you mean, my dear fellow?" + +"Well, you must know yourself!" pursued Reimers. "The man had just done +a good piece of work, he came running to you and expected a word of +recognition,--he deserved it, Brettschneider,--and you let him be taken +off like that! I don't think that's the way to make men love their +work." + +"One must preserve discipline, and prevent these rascals from getting +thoroughly demoralised." + +Reimers shrugged his shoulders. "Vogt was the best soldier in the whole +battery," he declared. + +"Then the battery is in a bad way!" retorted Brettschneider +impatiently. "The man commits an undeniable piece of disobedience +before your eyes and you defend him? I am much obliged!" Brettschneider +put on his haughtiest expression, smiled with the utmost politeness, +and said amiably: "You must confess, my dear Reimers, that I am +entitled to my own opinion about the matter." + + +In Room IX. that evening the conversation was of a heated description. +Truchsess swore that he would not put up with that low fellow, that +Brettschneider. All of them were furious with the stuck-up young man; +and though they had hitherto gone through their duty without much fuss +or grumbling, they were now filled with a thorough repugnance for the +soldier's uniform and a perfect hatred for military life in which one +had to knuckle under to idiots like that. You half killed yourself and +what did you get by it? More kicks than halfpence, or perhaps you even +get clapped into prison! + +"Keep your hair on, brewer!" said Count Plettau to Truchsess; and +putting on a superior tone: "We don't understand all this, you see! +this is the higher kind of patriotism! Lieutenant Brettschneider ought +to have a medal, instead of being blamed by such as you!" + +He also was beside himself with rage over the exasperating piece of +folly he had witnessed. Hang it all! if he had not been so seriously +concerned to get to the end of his long years of service he would +certainly have put a spoke in the wheel of this young gentleman, the +senior-lieutenant. But no; that would be too foolish. Only a few days +more and he would be free at last; he could not play tricks with his +chances. + +Suddenly he laughed aloud. + +"You keep your mouths shut, boys!" he said, "otherwise you may get into +trouble yourselves. But don't worry! When I have got over the next few +days I'll give the senior-lieutenant the lesson he wants!" + + +The turnpike-keeper, Friedrich August Vogt, was gazing in surprise on a +letter which the postman had just pushed in at the little window. The +superscription was in the hand-writing of his son, but the post-mark +bore the name of the capital. + +What was the boy doing there? He had written nothing as to any +prospective change. Well, the letter itself must explain. + +At first the old man could not understand the written words. He read +them through a second and a third time. At last he comprehended what +had happened. He sat on his chair as if paralysed, and read the last +page of the letter over and over again without attaching any meaning to +it. + +His son wrote from the prison where he was now detained as a prisoner +awaiting trial. He related all that had passed straightforwardly and +without excusing himself. + +"To-day I have been shown the charge against me," he concluded. "It is +a case of wilful disobedience before all the other men. I believe it is +an offence that is rather severely punished, and I know, too, that I am +not without blame. But perhaps, dear father, you will not condemn me +altogether; perhaps you will be able to imagine what my feelings must +have been. For your sake alone I ought to have been able to control +myself, and I beg you to forgive me for not having done so." + +The turnpike-keeper jumped up suddenly from his chair. He flung the +letter violently down on the table and struck it with his fist. He felt +full of uncontrollable anger against this boy, who had brought shame +upon him in his old age at the end of an honourable and blameless life. +And why? because my gentleman did not choose to obey orders! because he +had chosen to feel injured! A soldier to feel himself "injured" by the +blame of his superior! So these were the new-fangled times of no +discipline and no respect for one's betters! + +And this was the reward of his trouble in bringing up the boy to be +loyal and true: that he had now got a son in prison! When the +neighbours asked: "Your son is in the artillery, isn't he?" he must +reply: "Oh, no; he was once! Now he is carting sand." "What! carting +sand?" "Oh, yes; he is carting sand, dressed in a grey shirt, and with +a lot of other gentlemen in a long row A Oh, very honourable gentlemen, +all of them! A thief on one side of him, and on the other a person who +did not quite know the difference between mine and thine." "Your son!" +"My son, neighbour." + +The turnpike-keeper seized the letter again to see how the thing went +exactly. + +Nice sort of business this! There it was right enough: "Wilful +disobedience before all the other men!" Nothing else was to be made of +it. + +But this Senior-lieutenant Brettschneider--by God!--he was not one of +the right sort, if the boy was telling the truth. With all due respect +for an officer, he seemed to be a perfect popinjay. There were people +like that here and there who were ready to burst with pride and +conceit, and who looked upon an inferior as scarcely a human being. + +And again he snatched up the letter. + +What the boy wrote was all very clear and straightforward honestly and +truthfully put. One could not help believing what was there on the +paper; and, of course, it was easy to understand how the thing had come +about. After all, every man has his feelings, whether he be a gunner or +a senior-lieutenant. The devil! he himself would have done exactly as +Franz did; though, of course, in his case life in a charity-school had +made him used to giving in to people. But the boy had always been so +independent, no one could help feeling for him. + +And after all, when one looked at it rightly, it was a clumsy thing for +Lieutenant Brettschneider to have done, and his son's fault had been +the outcome of an unfortunate set of circumstances,--not a very serious +fault either, though the poor lad would have to pay for it dearly +enough! + +Wilful disobedience--what sort of punishment would there be for that? +It had such an imposing, ceremonious sound! He racked his brains to +think whom he could ask about it. But there was no one in the village +who would be of any use. + + +After a sleepless night he rose from his bed with his decision made. He +milked the cow, and asked a neighbour to see to the animals during the +day. Then he put on his old-fashioned black Sunday coat and the top hat +which he only wore on great occasions, such as the king's birthday. On +his breast he fastened his medal and cross. Over all he wore his old +cloak, and he put some pieces of bread and sausage in his pocket. He +was ready for travelling. + +On the way to the station he passed a field of barley. It was ripe for +cutting, and he had meant to begin reaping that morning. But what did +it matter about the barley? He had got to see after his boy and +petition for him. He would go straight to the right person: he would go +to the garrison and seek out the head of his son's battery, Captain von +Wegstetten. + +Throughout the whole journey he was alone in the railway carriage; +other people did not travel so early. He looked stupidly out of the +window. It was all one to him to-day what the fields looked like and +how the harvest was getting on. He could only think of what he should +say for his boy. Perhaps it was still possible to make them give up the +charge against him. + +In the capital he sat for an hour and a half in the waiting-room, +waiting for his train. He got a cup of coffee, and ate his breakfast +from the provisions in his pocket. + +It was close and hot in the big room. He felt uncomfortable in such an +atmosphere, as every one must do who is accustomed to work in the open +air, and at last he threw back his cloak to relieve his oppression. +People stared at his medals, nudged one another, and would not take +their eyes off him, looking curious but respectful. + +The turnpike-keeper sighed and buttoned his cloak again. Oh, if people +only knew in what trouble he was! + +It was just eight o'clock when he reached the garrison town. Of course +that was somewhat early to be making such a visit as his; but he had no +time to lose, and he knew that an officer must always begin the day +early. + +The porter at the station did not know where Captain von Wegstetten +lived. But the turnpike-keeper had a piece of luck: outside the station +he met a gunner, who readily told him the address--"11 Markt Strasse, +up two flights of stairs"--and showed him the way to go. + +The two flights of stairs tried the old man sorely. He had to wait on +the first landing in order to get his breath. "Have I grown old all of +a sudden?" he asked himself in surprise. + +A soldier in a red coat opened the door to him. + +"Is the captain at home?" asked the turnpike-keeper. + +"Sorry, but he's not," answered the lad. + +"Can you tell me where I can find him?" + +"That would be no good. The captain's gone away--to a court-martial." + +The turnpike-keeper started violently. + +"Is the court-martial on Bombardier Vogt?" he asked. + +The soldier answered in the affirmative, and inquired in surprise, "Who +are you, then?" + +"Vogt's father. I--I wanted to talk to the captain about my son. But it +is too late, I see." + +He turned about, saying, "Thank you all the same," and went towards the +stairs. In the dark he missed the first step and stumbled; the lad ran +after him. He led the old man to the banister and said, "Take care you +don't fall; it is rather dark here. And you know, Herr Vogt, the men of +the battery all say it is a mean shame, what's happened to Vogt, a mean +shame." + +But the turnpike-keeper did not seem to understand him. He only nodded +and said, "Thank you, thank you," and tramped slowly down the stairs in +his heavy boots. + + +Whilst Friedrich August Vogt waited for his train in the station of the +little garrison town, the trial of his son was taking place before the +military court of the district. + +There was no doubt about the circumstances of the case. The two +eye-witnesses, Senior-lieutenant Brettschneider and Senior-lieutenant +Reimers, were unanimous on the subject, and the accused gave his assent +to the correctness of the particulars. + +The trial would therefore have come to an end very quickly had there +not been a number of witnesses for the accused. + +Captain von Wegstetten, as head of the battery; Captain Güntz, who had +commanded it during Wegstetten's temporary absence; Senior-lieutenant +Reimers and Lieutenant Landsberg, as officers in the battery; the +sergeant-major and other non-commissioned officers: all united in +giving Vogt the very best possible character. Wegstetten had had a +violent altercation with Brettschneider, not only from personal feeling +for the bombardier, but also from annoyance that his best candidate for +a non-commissioned officer's post was lost to him through a piece of +such tactless mismanagement. Brettschneider had complained about this +reprimand, but no notice had been taken of his complaint, and that in +itself spoke volumes for the accused. Güntz and Reimers were very warm +in their praise of Vogt, and even Lieutenant Landsberg remembered the +man as being particularly willing and diligent on duty. + +Things looked favourable for the accused. + +One of the officers present, a captain of the pioneers, asked Vogt: +"You had just been working very hard, had you not? had fixed the heavy +wheel single-handed, and had run very fast to tell Senior-lieutenant +Brettschneider?--were you not very much exhausted and out of breath?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"I mean, you were rather over-tired and your eyes were dazed?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Perhaps you did not quite know what you were doing?" + +The accused hesitated a moment. + +Wegstetten and Reimers had remained in the room. The former moved +restlessly from one foot to the other. If Vogt were only to say "Yes," +then the whole thing would be put down to a temporary aberration of +mind due to hurry and fatigue, and the affair would end with his +acquittal. + +But the bombardier answered: "No, sir, I knew quite well what I was +doing." + +Now that was honest, but distinctly stupid. + +The countenance of the prosecutor lightened up. He was a very young +man, with many scars on his face. He sat stiffly on his chair, tightly +buttoned into an immaculate brand-new uniform; and hitherto he had been +regarding with a bored expression a silver bangle that he wore on his +right wrist. + +The hearing of witnesses was at an end. The president of the +court-martial, a fat, good-humoured man of mature years, asked: "Is +there anything that you wish to say, Bombardier Vogt?" + +"No, thank you, sir." + +"You acknowledge your guilt, then?" + +"Yes, sir." + +But the president wanted to give the man a chance, and asked another +question, to which an affirmative answer would be a matter of course. + +"But you are sorry for your conduct?" he asked. + +The accused, however, again hesitated. Naturally every one expected him +to say "yes," so that people were not listening very attentively. But +when this "yes" did not appear to be forthcoming, all eyes were +suddenly fixed upon Vogt. + +"No," said he firmly. + +The president looked amazed. "You cannot have understood me," he said. +"I asked you if you were not sorry for your conduct?" + +But the answer came, clear and decided: "No, I cannot be sorry." + +Every one present looked dumfounded. Wegstetten thrust his sword +angrily against the ground. God in heaven! was the fellow an ass? Now +his fate was sealed! + +Those who were assisting at the court-martial looked indignant; the +chief of them, a major of dragoons, tapped impatiently on the table +with his gold pencil-case, and gave a condemnatory shake of his head. +The youngest of his colleagues, a senior-lieutenant in the grenadiers, +twirled his moustache briskly; the expression of his face said plainly: +"Just wait a bit! we'll give you a lesson!" + +The public prosecutor beamed. He rose with an air of triumph, and +demanded, "having full regard for all the extenuating circumstances of +the case, but also in consideration of the obstinate persistence of the +accused in his offence," a punishment of nine months' imprisonment. + +Vogt turned as pale as death when he heard these words. This was +impossible! It could not, it ought not to be! + +The court was not long in coming to its decision, and its judgment was +read out by the president in a quiet even tone of voice. + +The accused hung on his lips with anxious expectation. At last, after +all the formalities, came the verdict: "five months' imprisonment." He +leant against the railing that separated him from his judges. The wood +gave a creak. Long after the fat gentleman had sat down again Vogt went +on listening. Surely something more was coming; some mitigation of this +terrible sentence? But the trial was at an end. + +The condemned man was taken away by a non-commissioned officer; he +walked with unsteady steps, his eyes staring into vacancy. In the +passage outside he caught sight of Wegstetten. The captain was talking +to an old man in civilian clothes. Vogt felt a thrill when he saw the +white hair that surrounded the old man's face. But it was only after he +had gone round the next corner of the passage that the recognition +struck him: great God, it was his father! + +Involuntarily he stopped and tried to turn back; but the non-com, took +his arm and pushed him forward, not roughly, yet in such fashion that +the prisoner gave up his attempt. + +"You fool, you!" said his companion; "if you had said you were quite +sick with shame for your silly behaviour, you'd have got off with a +month!" + + +After endless questions the turnpike-keeper had managed to find his way +to the court-house of the army-corps. He had been wandering through +street after street; the busy traffic of the capital had made his head +spin, and he was tired to death with this unwonted tramping over hard +stone pavements. + +He had arrived before the court-room door just as the witnesses were +leaving. He had recognised Captain von Wegstetten immediately--his boy +had so often described the little man with his gigantic red moustache +and sparkling eyes--and he was not afraid of addressing him on the +spot. + +Wegstetten was at first not particularly pleased at this encounter; but +the honest troubled face of the old soldier touched him, and he +listened patiently. + +The turnpike-keeper had not much to say; it only amounted to an earnest +representation of how well-conducted his son had always hitherto been; +of how glad he had been to be a soldier; and he ended with a bitter +lamentation that all this should have happened to such a good, brave +lad; the boy must have gone clean out of his senses. The old man said +it all with the most touching self-restraint. He took great pains to +preserve a soldierly bearing, and omitted none of the customary tokens +of respect, just as if he had been still clad in his old sergeant's +uniform, and standing before an officer of the most severe type. Yet +all the time the tears ran down his weather-beaten furrowed cheeks and +his snow-white beard, and as he tried to draw up his bent shoulders the +medals clinked together on his breast. + +Wegstetten had but little comfort for the poor old man. He told him how +favourably all the witnesses had spoken of his son, both officers and +non-commissioned officers; how he as captain of the battery had always +been glad to have such a capable man under him; and how the whole +wretched business had come about through the mismanagement of an +officer who had only lately returned to the regiment. + +The face of the turnpike-keeper lighted up as he listened to the +captain's words. He breathed again. Thank God! things could not go so +badly with the boy. A few weeks under arrest--and the affair would be +at an end. + +But Wegstetten proceeded to tell him of the continued obstinacy of his +son, and at last was forced to impart to the old man the severe +sentence that had been passed. + +Five months' imprisonment! It struck the old turnpike-keeper like a +blow. He staggered, and the captain was obliged to support him. +But the weakness soon passed, and Vogt begged the officer's pardon. +He could not, however, listen to Wegstetten's explanation of the harsh +verdict. This was a terrible, a crying piece of injustice; on the +one side was an offence, a perfectly trivial offence, committed +by a brave well-behaved soldier (as by common consent his boy +had been pronounced), who had been driven into it moreover by the +"mismanagement" of his superior; and on the other side was this heavy +punishment of five months' imprisonment! The disproportion between +crime and sentence was incomprehensible to his mind. + +He walked in silence beside Wegstetten, who was speaking to him +earnestly the while. At the door of the court-house the old man stood +still and saluted, meaning to take leave of the captain. + +Then the officer asked him: "Would you not like to speak to your son? I +will get you a permit." + +"Thank you, sir," said the turnpike-keeper, "if you would have the +kindness, sir." + +This was soon done. Wegstetten exchanged a few words with the +superintendent of the military prison and returned with the pass. He +himself conducted the old man to the gate of the prison building. + +"Don't take all this too hard, Herr Vogt," he said in farewell. "Your +son has committed an excusable offence, and has been very severely but +not unjustly punished. He remains an honourable soldier all the same." + +"Yes, sir," answered the turnpike-keeper. He looked darkly after the +little officer. What sort of talk was that? Was it any comfort to be +told that his boy was not a dishonourable rascal? He knew himself what +his boy was; none knew better! Bravery and honour, that was Franz all +over. Nobody need tell him that. + +And the poor lad had been punished as if he had stolen something! Many +thieves, indeed, got off easier. They had condemned his boy to a +dishonourable punishment,--and why? because he had too much sense of +honour! + +He rang violently at the entrance gate of the prison. A sentry opened +the door, took the permit, and ushered him into the waiting-room. "I +will tell the inspector you are here," he said, and left the room. + +After a few moments the door of the waiting-room opened again and an +inspector appeared on the threshold, a dried-up looking man with a +leathery complexion. He looked at the permit through his spectacles, +and turned curious eyes towards the medals on the breast of the +veteran. He shook his head deprecatingly, and called out an order from +the door. + +Shortly afterwards a grenadier announced: "Bombardier Vogt is here, +sir." + +"Let him come in," said the inspector. Then he turned away, and stood +looking out of the window. + +Franz Vogt went quietly up to his father and looked into his face with +his frank honest eyes. + +"Good-day, father," he said simply. + +The turnpike-keeper took his son's hand in both his own. The tears came +into his eyes and he looked at him as through a veil. Thank God, the +boy still wore his artillery uniform! The old man was spared the sight +of him in the grey prison garb. + +As the father was silent the son began to speak. He described in his +plain hearty way how the whole unfortunate business had played itself +out, and related truthfully everything that was in his own favour, +while acknowledging his fault without further excuse. "Do you know, +father," he concluded, "what the sentence is?" + +The turnpike-keeper nodded. Franz cast his eyes down and said in a +troubled voice: "It seems to me very hard, father." + +He felt a spasmodic pressure of his hand, and his father nodded his +head in assent. + +"The corporal said I had only myself to thank for it," the prisoner +went on. "They asked me if I was sorry, and I said 'no.' The corporal +said that was stupid. But I couldn't say otherwise. And I should have +to say the same if they asked me again." + +Then the turnpike-keeper opened his mouth for the first time since he +had entered the room. + +"You were _right_!" he said, so loudly and emphatically that the +inspector at the window started and gave a warning cough. + +Now that he had seen his son again, this brave honest lad, a change +seemed to have come over the old man. The boy had been a willing +dutiful soldier, everybody said so, and yet they were going to shut +him up in prison for five long months, all because of a piece of +fiddle-faddle! Devil take them all! What was the use of being a good +soldier? And at a stroke every trace disappeared of the obedient and +respectful old sergeant who had worn the uniform so proudly; he was +peasant pure and simple, hard-headed and stiff-necked, a peasant who +would stand up for what he thought right and defend it through thick +and thin. + +"You are _right_" he said, "and you were right all along." + +But the son was more discriminating than the father, even though the +punishment affected himself. + +"You are not in earnest, father," he remonstrated; "I know I was in +fault. But the punishment is too hard, even so; and I can appeal." + +The turnpike-keeper laughed softly. + +"Yes, you can be a fool," he said, "and get yourself into a worse mess! +No, boy, if you take my advice you will leave appealing alone. If they +have been unjust to you then you must put up with the injustice +proudly, it won't last for ever! but never beg for justice!" + +Franz Vogt looked disappointed. He had hoped that the higher courts +might mitigate his sentence, but his father's advice must be best. + +The inspector turned round from the window. The visitor's time was up. + +Once more the son regarded with loving pride the venerable appearance +of his father. + +"Why, you have put on all your medals, father!" he said, smiling a +little. + +"Yes," replied the turnpike-keeper. "I put on all my medals when I came +to see you." And, in a loud voice, that the inspector might hear, he +repeated: "I put them on for you, my dear good boy, and for you only." +And for the first time in his life he embraced his son, took the boy's +head between his hands, and kissed him on the forehead. Franz Vogt felt +the trembling of the old man's lips, and choked back his own tears. As +the warder was taking him back down the long passage he looked round +once more. His father was just going out of the door, and a ray of +sunlight fell on the venerable white head. Then the folding-doors +closed, and shut in the grey twilight of the corridor. + + +The villagers had always regarded the turnpike-keeper as rather an +eccentric person; but henceforth they began to look upon him as +downright crazy. The old widow who had hitherto done his housekeeping +was the first to spread this rumour. + +The old man took to shutting himself up more and more. Nobody was ever +allowed to cross his threshold. + +The peasants, however, let him go his way. Every one has a right to do +as he likes; and the turnpike-keeper's manner of life was beginning to +be looked on as a matter of course, when suddenly he drew upon himself +universal attention. + +There was to be a fresh election for the Reichstag in the district, the +conservative candidate's victory having been disallowed. He had only +been successful after a second ballot, in which the votes of the two +parties had held the balance almost even; and the election had just +been declared null and void, in consequence of the protest made by the +social-democrats. The two rival parties, social-democrats and +conservatives, were now preparing anew for battle. Every single vote +was of consequence, and canvassing went on busily. Election literature +flooded the constituency; it was thrown in at open windows and pushed +under door-sills. + +The turnpike-keeper had hitherto always placed himself at the disposal +of the conservative candidate. + +The conservative party liked to display names of the "small people" of +the neighbourhood on the list of their supporters, in addition to +signatures of councillors of state, burgomasters, landlords, &c. + +And now suddenly Friedrich August Vogt came and demanded to have his +name taken off the list. + +The president of the election committee, a cavalry officer in the +reserve and the lord of the manor, attempted to make him reconsider his +determination. He wanted to know the reasons for this sudden change of +conviction, and asked pathetically if the old soldier was going to be +unfaithful at this time of day to the motto: "God, King, and Country"? +Vogt stuck to his demand, but he declined to give any reasons. + +On the day of the election the turnpike-keeper was troubled with a +feverish unrest. Ten times and more he put on his hat and stood at the +house door with his big stick in his hand, but he always turned back +again. + +The polling was to end at six o'clock. Shortly before that hour he +strung himself up to a resolve. He left the house hastily, and hurried +to the ale-house, in the garden of which the polling-booth had been +erected. + +Before the door stood the two men who were distributing voting-papers. +Tired with their day's work, they were leaning against the paling in +front of the tavern. One of them, employed by the conservatives, was a +superannuated farm labourer from the manor; the socialist was an +invalided stonemason, who had lost a leg in consequence of a fall from +some scaffolding. They were chatting together in a friendly fashion, +notwithstanding the antagonism of their employers. + +The one-legged man did not even give himself the trouble to offer Vogt +one of his voting-papers. Everybody knew old Vogt. The blood of an old +soldier ran in his veins, he was conservative to the bone. + +The farm labourer held out a conservative voting-paper, and said: + +"You are nearly too late, Herr Vogt. Here is your vote." + +But the turnpike-keeper turned away with a lowering look. He stretched +out his hand to the other man and demanded a voting-paper, with which +the stonemason hastened to furnish him; and Friedrich August Vogt +stumped heavily up the steps into the polling-station. + +The magistrate of the district was taking charge of the proceedings. +Beside him sat the schoolmaster of the church schools, and the +inspector of the manor. A few peasants and a workman from the fire-clay +factory, his clothes covered with lime, were standing about. + +The schoolmaster announced the name: "Vogt, Friedrich August, retired +turnpike-keeper, registered number 41." + +The old man stretched out the folded voting-paper with a hesitating +movement; the magistrate took it and placed it in the tin-box which +served as a receptacle for the votes. He nodded familiarly to the +elector; this was a certain vote for the conservatives. + +But the turnpike-keeper did not respond to the greeting. He stood +stiffly by the table looking at the box that contained the +voting-papers; suddenly his erect figure seemed to collapse, and the +old man slunk out of the polling-station almost like an evil-doer. + +The results of the election were known in the village by seven o'clock. +One hundred and fifty-three votes had been registered: seventy-seven +for the social-democrats, seventy-six for the conservatives. It was the +first time there had been a socialist majority in this place. The +social-democrats had, therefore, every reason for rejoicing. They sat +in the little inn at the end of the village, which was only able to +maintain itself through the political disagreements of the villagers, +and drank success to their party in the ultimate result of the election +throughout the whole constituency. The peasants in the bar of the big +inn were not less hopeful; they comforted themselves by declaring +that the result in such a small place was of no real consequence. +Nevertheless, it was a disgrace to think that there were now in the +village more red revolutionists than loyal subjects. + + +The morning of August the 10th dawned bright and glorious; the day on +which Plettau, after so many long years, came once more under the +jurisdiction of civil law. It was one of those mornings when it is a +joy to be a soldier; when every wearer of the uniform feels heartily +thankful that his day's work is to be done out in God's free open world +of nature, and not behind a desk or in some overheated factory. + +The inspection of the battery was fixed for half-past seven. Lieutenant +Brettschneider had had his men out since six, and had already robbed +them of their last remnants of good temper. Here he had discovered a +helmet the polish of which was not bright enough to please him, there a +coat the sleeves of which were too long; or he had waxed wroth over +some head of hair that he considered insufficiently cropped. And all +this, while "stand at attention" was the order; so that the men got +cramp in their legs, and sneezing fits from staring the whole time in +the face of the morning sun. + +At last the battery was drawn up on the parade-ground, and +Senior-lieutenant Brettschneider was ready to do himself credit. The +colonel was seen slowly approaching, accompanied by Major Schrader on +one side, and by Captain von Wegstetten on the other. Brettschneider +hastened towards them to report that the battery was in position. + +The colonel received his announcement graciously. "Let the men stand at +ease," he commanded. And when Brettschneider had called out the order, +he returned to his place to begin the parade. + +Then occurred something very startling. + +A shout was heard: "Holdrio, hoho!" And then again: +"Holdrio--yoho-hoho o!" And again a third time: +"Holdrio--yoho--yoho--hoho--o--o!" + +The yodel was evidently sounding from the slope of the opposite hill. +Every one looked that way; and, behold, on the hillside appeared the +figure of Count Egon Plettau, still dressed as for his discharge, in +the grey drill trousers and much-patched coat. + +He waved his cap to the battery; then he lowered his hands, while the +eyes of the onlookers followed in suspense his every movement. + +He let down the grey drill trousers; and there in the full blaze of the +morning sunshine he went through a certain performance which even the +Scythians--suggesting though they did to Greek art the original +conception of the centaur--could certainly not have achieved without +descending from horseback. + +If Plettau, like Janus, had had eyes in the back of his head, down +below in the parade-ground he would have seen an array of wide-open +eyes and gaping mouths. + +After a short interval he arose, picked up a big piece of white +cardboard from the ground, and pointed to it as he brandished it in the +air. Then he laid it down again, and once more he yodelled gaily: +"Holdrio--yoho--yoho--hoho--o--o!" He then bowed politely, and vanished +precipitately among the bushes. + +Down on the parade-ground every one was speechless. The men looked +sheepish; they longed to burst into peals of laughter, but were afraid +of getting into trouble. So they took great pains not to commit +themselves, and tried to look as if something perfectly ordinary had +been happening. + +Wegstetten was beside himself with anger and resentment. "I beg you +will allow me, sir," he said to the colonel, "to send a couple of +non-commissioned officers to arrest that fellow. This is an unheard-of +insult to the whole army--a scandal a disgrace!" + +Falkenhein's lips twitched. He, too, thought this piece of impudence +quite beyond a joke. But he held the same opinion as did the Grand Duke +of Oldenburg concerning _lêse-majesté_: that the insult of a fool is no +insult. + +"Be calm, my dear Wegstetten," he said. "Let your count take himself +off. But you had better just send some one up there--one of the +non-coms, upon whom you can rely--to fetch down that placard before any +of the men can get hold of it. Who knows what impertinence the fellow +may not have scrawled?" + +Corporal von Frielinghausen was charged with the mission, and ascended +the hillside. The exercises were begun meanwhile. + +Frielinghausen found the piece of cardboard neatly placed against a +bank beside the last traces of Count Egon Plettau. Carrying the placard +with its back carefully turned to the battery, he descended the slope +again, and returned to the three officers. With the tips of his fingers +the colonel took the document from him. The inscription was short +enough: + +"Senior-lieutenant Brettschneider," cried Major Schrader suddenly, +"please be good enough to come here for a moment." + +Brettschneider advanced in haste: "You called me, sir?" + +Schrader pointed to the placard. "A few words in elucidation of the +demonstration up yonder!" he said, shaking with suppressed laughter. + +On the cardboard was neatly written in gigantic letters, coloured +artistically with red and blue: "A farewell greeting to +Senior-lieutenant Brettschneider!" + +"A reminiscence of 'Ekkehard,'" said the colonel. "This Count Plettau +has read a certain amount. One must give the devil his due!" + +But Major Schrader, who in his leisure hours occupied himself with +modern literature, who had seen "Die Weber" and "Seine Kleine" in +Berlin, and was even acquainted with "Rosenmontag," murmured softly to +himself; "A farewell to the regiment!" + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + "Freedom, that I sing--" + (_Von Schenkendorf._) + + +In August Corporal von Frielinghausen was ordered to the Fire-workers' +College in Berlin. The young fellow made a good appearance in his neat +uniform; his figure had filled out and become more manly, and on his +upper lip a slight moustache had begun to show. But his bronzed visage +had retained the old frank boyish expression, and altogether he was a +fine-looking lad, after whom the women already turned to gaze. + +After two years had passed, his friends received a formal notification +of his marriage; it was sent with the greetings of Baron Walther von +Frielinghausen and Baroness Minna Victoria von Frielinghausen, _née_ +Kettke. + +Frielinghausen had obtained his discharge from the army. Minna Victoria +was the only child and heiress of the manager of a large place of +entertainment, and Baron Walther von Frielinghausen played the part of +manager in place of his father-in-law, the rather impossible Papa Willy +Kettke. He went about attired in an unimpeachable black coat, and with +a well-bred little bow would himself usher into their places any +specially distinguished-looking guests. Then he would stand with the +air of a young prince in the neighbourhood of the bar, and the waiters +and cooks, barmaids and kitchenmaids, had a mighty respect for him. He +waxed portly in figure, and Minna Victoria often felt herself obliged +to call him over the coals for paying too much attention to some one of +the elegant ladies who patronised the establishment. + +The sixth battery of the 80th regiment, Eastern Division of the Field +Artillery, had occasion, however, to send another non-commissioned +officer to the Fire-workers' College--Gustav Weise. + +Captain von Wegstetten was very well pleased with Weise; he considered +he had made him a permanent convert to the cause of king and country, +But Weise was rather inclined to domineer over his subordinates--which +was not what might have been expected of a former social-democrat--and +on that account his captain had hit upon the idea of persuading him to +be a fire-worker. The non-commissioned officer had a clear head, and it +might be hoped he would make a career for himself. + +Under these circumstances Weise began more and more to curse the day +when he had had tattooed upon his arm that ridiculous jingle about +Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. It caused him serious annoyance if +one of his comrades noticed a scrap of the motto peeping out from under +his sleeve, and wanted to see the whole inscription. + +One day when he was out walking in the town he noticed on a door a +brass plate bearing the announcement: "Dr. Büchsenstein, specialist in +skin diseases, &c." It occurred to him that this gentleman might be of +assistance to him, and he put in an appearance at the hour of +consultation. + +The little dark-haired doctor could not entirely restrain his intense +amusement when the patient bared his arm and came out with the request +that the tattooing might be scraped away. + +"Well, my good man," he said, "I can't do that for you! You can't have +it scraped away! Anyhow, you're wearing the sleeve of the king's +uniform over the watchword of revolution; and if you want to do +more, you can put on a thick coating of lanoline and dust it with +rice-powder. Then nobody will see it." + +"Thank you, doctor," said Weise, standing up. "What do I owe you for +your trouble?" + +"Nothing at all, my man!" said the little doctor, laughing. "It's been +no trouble; only a pleasure!" + +And the non-commissioned officer went off to the nearest druggist's, +where he bought the largest tube of lanoline in the shop and half a +pound of rice-powder. + + +The military prisoner Wolf could hardly believe his eyes when he saw +his former comrade Vogt dressed in the grey prison clothes. The +prisoners had been ordered out for open-air work and were standing in +the corridor, but at some distance from each other; it was quite +impossible to get nearer together, and speaking was strictly forbidden. +The guard stepped into their places around the little band, and it was +as usual well rubbed into the minds of the latter that these armed +sentries carried loaded weapons, and were not supposed to hold their +hands in any case of attempted escape. "Halt!" would be called three +times, and they would fire if the word of command were not obeyed. The +non-commissioned officer in command made this announcement, and then +the doors were unlocked and thrown open. + +Out in the yard the sunlight only touched the upper storey of one of +the wings, and within the high walls the air felt icy cold. As from the +bottom of a shaft they looked up to the clear sky overhead, and then +stepped out into the real sunshine and felt the warmth of the bright +rays. + +During the time of the autumn man[oe]uvres, and until the early part of +the new year, the enormous parade-ground was deserted. The drilling of +the troops went on in the barrack-yard, and it was only after the +inspection of recruits was completed that exercises took place in the +big ground. + +The prisoners were ordered to get the place tidy for the spring +and repair any damages that had occurred during the summer. The +principal work, however, was the banking up of a high obstacle wall, +and beyond it to dig a deep ditch; both for use in the artillery +driving-exercises. This was an unspeakably fatiguing business. The +soil, to a depth of several feet, consisted of light fine sand. In this +they stood ankle deep, loading their wheelbarrows; yet the ditch never +seemed to grow any deeper, nor the wall any higher. It was like working +with water which continually flowed in again. + +Whilst work was going on it was easy for one man to approach another. +When Vogt and Wolf passed each other for the first time, one pushing +his wheelbarrow before him, the other trotting with his empty barrow +down into the ditch, they exchanged melancholy nods. Later it came +about that they were standing next each other shovelling the loose sand +into their barrows. True, speaking was forbidden; but it was possible +to murmur words almost without moving the lips, yet so as to be +perfectly intelligible. + +"How do you come to be here?" was Wolf's first question. + +Vogt related his story, often interrupted by the progress of their +work; but when he had deposited his barrowful up above, he always +managed to return to the neighbourhood of his erstwhile comrade in the +regiment, and at last he had told the whole history of his crime. + +Wolf gave a short bitter laugh. He was heartily sorry for this poor +fellow, but was not this a new example of the fact that socialists had +no need to work hard at propaganda? The ripe fruit was ready to drop +into their laps without any co-operation of their own. This Vogt, the +bravest of soldiers, the most amenable of men, fitted for a post in the +royal body-guard, was wheeling his barrow here amongst thieves and +ruffians of all sorts. And beside him the blood-red social-democrat! + +And then he listened as Vogt went on to tell of his other acquaintances +in the battery; each day, of course, his narrative was interrupted, and +sometimes they had only time for a few words. + +Weise had been promoted to be non-commissioned officer! That +everlasting chatterer, who only owed it to his gift of the gab that he +had been able to boast of himself as confidential agent of his union! + +Was not this a topsy-turvy world? + +But no. Weise fitted his position to a nicety. His fluent adaptability +was in its right place. Little Captain von Wegstetten would have no +non-commissioned officer under him better calculated to satisfy his +desires than Gustav Weise. If he had remained a social-democrat, +thought Wolf to himself, he would simply have been a pliant tool in the +hands of some stronger member of the party. He was not to be relied on +either here or there. + +How different was Vogt, the peasant! Honour and steadfast faith looked +out of his quiet grey eyes. Wolf began to take him in hand. + +The echoes of those hastily whispered words as to the great injustice +and oppression of the present, and the glorious equality and freedom of +the future, rang the clearer and the more insistently for being +awakened within the walls of a prison. Two men, who could with a clear +conscience acquit themselves of any guilty intention, were here herding +with common criminals and carting sand like them. + +The peasant yielded this point at once. Wolf and he were both being +punished unjustly. And the world was full of injustice. + +"Then you belong to us," said Wolf. + +"How do you mean?" asked Vogt. "To you?" + +"Why, you are a social-democrat!" + +"Am I?" said Vogt. "Perhaps. I don't know." + +"If you think like that you must be." + +"Well, but I don't want a revolution, or anything of the kind; though +it is all the same to me whether we have a king or a republic. I only +want to have my work, and to do it as I like, and to be left alone." + +"The one leads to the other," said Wolf. "If things are to become +better there must be a different form of government." + +He went on further to speak of the brotherhood which should include all +nations of the earth, so that there should be no more war and no more +soldiers. Who else was it but the princes and rulers that hindered +the coming of this fair unity of hearts? The people certainly desired +ever-enduring peace. The oppressive sense of captivity stirred him to +eloquence that fired his own imagination, and finally even inflamed the +sober judgment of Vogt. + +The peasant nodded: "Yes, yes. That would be fine!" + +He could form no clear picture of that brilliant future. All men +brothers? No more quarrelling and no more war? No one who would give +orders to others? No one who would demand taxes and rent? Was this +really possible? + +But the other man spoke in such a convinced manner, he seemed so +certain, that there was hardly room for doubt. And these were the aims +of those social-democrats of whom people were so afraid, thinking they +wanted to destroy and annihilate everything! + +Of course they were right. Everything would be better then, and more +beautiful. And to work for that would be worth one's trouble! One could +give one's life for it if need be. + +They were on the way back to the prison after their work. Vogt and Wolf +stepped along side by side in the ranks. The long lean man seemed to be +merely skin and bone; his cheeks had fallen in, the grey prison clothes +hung loosely on his limbs. But his eyes glowed and sparkled as though +with an inward fever, and a proud smile was on his lips. Vogt nodded to +him. The gesture was the expression of a solemn vow. + +The troop of prisoners arrived at the gate. A heavy shower of rain +drove them to take shelter in the arched doorway, and they stood +pressed closely together waiting for the door to open. + +Suddenly Vogt felt Wolf's hand seize his own in a firm grip. + +"I think we are now at one about this, comrade?" he heard him whisper. +And the peasant returned the strong pressure, and answered, "Yes, +comrade." + + +Each day in prison resembled every other; they passed slowly by like a +chain of exactly equal links. + +When the ground became frozen and neither spade nor pickaxe could be +used, the prisoners were given straw mats to plait or sacks to sew. + +Then Vogt used to swear to himself. "Damn it all! Why didn't I +straighten my knees? What did it matter to me that the lieutenant had +such a stuck-up way with him?" Thank God the first three months of the +five had passed by, and in January he would return to the garrison. +Then there would be two more months to serve; till in March, in the +first days of spring, he would be free. + +But before that, when December was just beginning, bad news came to him +from outside. + +His father was dead. And, worse still, he was already buried when the +son first heard of the occurrence. But that had been the old man's +wish. + +It all sounded like an old story, this that was told to the military +prisoner Vogt, as he stood in the office by the superintendent of the +prison, a little sickly-looking captain of infantry. + +The village-elder from home had come himself all this long way to +inform the son of his father's death. There he stood, big, fat, and +strong, in his sheepskin cloak; a freer breath of air seemed to have +come in with him, and he related all there was to tell. It was not even +certain when the turnpike-keeper had died. + +With the departure of summer the old man had seemed gradually to decay. +In spite of that, however, he steadily refused to have any one to help +him; and when the cold weather put a stop to work in the field he was +seen no more by the neighbours. + +The little house looked lifeless with its closed shutters, and only the +thin line of smoke which ascended from the chimney at morning and +midday betrayed the presence of a living creature. + +Then came the hard frost at the beginning of winter. The boy who daily +fetched away the milk that Vogt sold reported one day that the pitcher +of milk had not been left in the yard for him as usual. But there was +nothing extraordinary about that. Perhaps the queer old man had wanted +to make butter. The peasants thought it was just some new fancy of his. +At midday some one drove past the turnpike-keeper's house, taking corn +to the mill, and observed that no smoke was coming from the chimney. +Why had old Vogt got no fire? Even if he didn't want to cook food for +himself, the cows ought to have their warm meal. On his way home the +same peasant heard the cows mooing incessantly in a troubled manner, +and he related all this at the ale-house in the evening. + +Then the villagers put their heads together. Possibly the old +turnpike-keeper was really ill. The more curious among the neighbours +left the warm parlour of the inn, and tramped along the high-road in +the biting east wind. They knocked at the door of the turnpike-keeper's +little house, and tapped on the window shutters. Nothing could be heard +but the sighing of the wind; and at last they turned away homewards. +But next morning the milk-pitcher was still absent, and there was no +smoke from the chimney. The village-elder was then informed. He ordered +out the gendarme, and sent a locksmith to force the door. Half the +village went after them and crowded round the turnpike-keeper's +cottage, so that the gendarme had some trouble in keeping the women and +children at a distance. + +The village-elder banged on the door with his fist and rattled the +handle. "Herr Vogt!" he cried, "Herr Vogt! open the door!" And again: +"Herr Vogt! turnpike-keeper! open the door!" Then the gendarme, an old +comrade in arms of the turnpike-keeper, called loudly; "August! open +the door! or let us know if you are ill!" + +All was silent. The shutters were closed; the whole house seemed +asleep. + +Only the lowing of the cows sounded from their stable, and the rattling +of their chains, as if they had heard the cries that could not awaken +their old master. + +Then the village-elder turned to the locksmith: "We must break the door +open." + +The lock was soon forced, but the door would only open an inch or two; +an iron bar had been fixed across it, but that was soon lifted. + +A couple of young men were posted at the door to keep out the crowd, +which thronged around the house in silent breathless curiosity. + +The two officials stepped into the passage. The gendarme pushed the +kitchen-door open; the room was cold as ice. On the hearth a handful of +broken sticks had been placed, and the match-box lay beside them ready +for kindling the fire. + +The front room was darkened by the closed shutters, and a close smell +as from a vault met them when the door was opened. There sat the +turnpike-keeper at the table dead. His head had fallen forward; the +body sat stiff and stark in the narrow arm-chair, and his hand, which +had evidently been supporting his chin, was still raised, stiffened by +the paralysis of death and by the icy cold. Papers of various kinds +were spread out before the dead man: account-books, and gilt-edged +testimonials dating from the turnpike-keeper's time in the army. Beside +these were cardboard boxes filled with money, each neatly labelled: +"Money for milk," "Money for corn," "Money for cattle." The old man had +evidently taken them out of a cash-box which stood open before him, and +at the bottom of which lay his medals and cross of honour. + +The gendarme laid his hand on the shoulder of the dead man and said: +"You were just looking at your cross again, old comrade, were you, and +then you fell asleep?" + +The two men put the money and the papers back into the cash-box, which +the village-elder placed in a cupboard that stood open. This he locked, +and took possession of the key. + +"There is something else," cried the gendarme suddenly; and he pointed +to a folded paper lying on a little table by the door. + +"My last will and testament. To be opened immediately," was written on +the document in the rather shaky but distinct handwriting of the +turnpike-keeper. The "immediately" was underlined three times. + +Well, the injunction was plain enough; and the two officials did not +hesitate to comply with it. They had the legal right to do so, and +besides they were extremely curious. + +The paper was not even sealed up. It contained nothing at all +extraordinary. Old Vogt desired in case of his death that the crippled +neighbour who had sometimes helped him to look after the place should +keep everything in order until his son returned from his military +service. He was to have the money obtained from the sale of the milk as +a reward for his trouble. Then the will continued: "Everything I have +belongs, of course, to my dear son Franz. The expenses of my burying +are to be defrayed from the money contained in the box labelled +'funeral money.' I wish to have a very simple funeral, and desire +particularly that my son shall only be informed of my death after the +ceremony is over, in case it should happen before February 3rd next +year." + +"We shook our heads over that," said the village-elder to Franz. "It +seemed so funny that he should have fixed upon a date." He coughed and +went on in an embarrassed way. "Now of course we know that your father +did not want us to hear of your--misfortune, at least as long as he was +still above ground. Well, well, it has not been so bad after all, +according to what your captain told me." + +The superintendent of the prison cut him short rather nervously: "That +has nothing to do with the case, sir, has it?" + +Thereupon the peasant proceeded with his narrative. After they had left +the dead man, of course the first thing was to see to the cows. The +pigs had eaten all the straw in their sty and the poultry had rushed +like mad things upon the grain that was given them. + +Everything was in order, and he, the village-elder, would see to it +that it was kept so. Besides, old Wackwitz was an honest, stupid sort +of fellow; he was quite to be trusted. + +For the funeral, of course, everything had been arranged according to +the dead man's desire. But the old sergeant was not buried without +having the three salutes fired over his grave. And the lord of the +manor, in his uniform, with two old warriors of 1870-71, headed the +procession of mourners. + +Franz Vogt sat on the bench in his dark cell and wept hot tears for his +father's death. The poor fellow had indeed grounds for lamenting his +fate. Death had taken from him first his friend and then his father. +Was he always to be lonely? + + +During the frosty days of winter Vogt had hardly set eyes upon his +regimental comrade Wolf. But now a few days of damp weather brought the +severe frost prematurely to an end. There was a sudden change one night +at the end of January, and next morning the smiling sun beamed down +from a clear blue sky upon the surprised, drowsy earth. + +The military prisoners at once began their daily work again upon the +big parade-ground. The snow had to be removed before it could melt and +settle in pools upon the ground they had so carefully levelled. In the +grey morning twilight, therefore, a little troop of prisoners, with old +cloaks over their prison clothes, were set to work as usual, surrounded +by the armed sentries. + +For Vogt and Wolf it was a meeting after a long separation. The peasant +recounted the particulars of his father's death; not without a certain +pride in the unusual circumstances under which the old man had met his +end in self-appointed loneliness. + +"A true man to the last!" said Wolf. But he could not even press his +friend's hand in sympathy. + +Then Vogt began to speak of the day of release. For him that would soon +come. He knew that every word must cut his comrade to the heart, for +poor Wolf had still to endure long years of martyrdom in prison; but he +could not help it. He could not restrain himself from expressing the +great joy that filled his breast. He counted the hours and the minutes +as they passed, and could scarcely sleep at night. + +Vogt walked with uplifted head and bright eyes; he handled his spade +with cheerful zeal, and pushed his heavily-loaded wheelbarrow +energetically. Would he not be a free man in a few days? + +But Wolf compressed his lips together, and the brighter the sunshine +the darker grew the cloud on his brow. His cheeks had fallen in more +and more, and at the slightest exertion the sweat poured down his thin +face. He looked ready to break down, and his eyes glowed with a +feverish light. + +"I shall never last it out," he whispered to Vogt one morning. "I shall +go all to pieces. I would rather break away altogether and escape." + +"You are mad," said Vogt. "Do you not see the sentries? You would not +be able to get a hundred yards away." + +Wolf looked at him. The chance of escape out of this narrow circle was +indeed small. But he stuck to his project, adding: "What does it matter +if I am shot down? Would that not be better than going on in this way +for three more long years?" + +Of a sudden his plan appeared to him in a new light. If his flight were +unsuccessful, if a sentry's bullet put a stop to it, would he not +equally have suffered for his opinions? Would not this bloody sacrifice +to the cause of revolution win new adherents? And would that not be +better in the end than if he got free and lived out a painful existence +in some foreign country? + +Though formerly he had longed to be free at any price, death now shone +before him as a desirable goal. Better that than to be crippled merely. + +Next day he whispered to Vogt, "Next time that the Jägers are on duty I +shall try it." + +Vogt shook his head emphatically with a gesture of protest. His comrade +must have gone clean out of his wits. And why should Wolf want to make +the attempt just when the Jägers were mounting guard, the troops that +were most proficient in shooting? It looked as if he were courting +death. + +The kind-hearted fellow set it before himself to dissuade his comrade +from his intention. It would never do to let such a brave man commit +suicide in a fit of despair. But he must manage it soon; in five days +he himself would be free, and before that Wolf must give him his +promise to abstain from his folly. Unfortunately the Jägers would be +mounting guard the very next day. + +As he pushed his loaded wheelbarrow before him he sought to meet Wolf's +eyes; his comrade also had just filled his barrow. Vogt passed close by +him, and signed to Wolf to come with him. But Wolf purposely remained +behind and shook his head, smiling. + +Soon afterwards they were called in. The prisoners put away their tools +and their barrows, and Vogt stood waiting in the half-dark shed till +the others were ready. + +Suddenly he felt his hand gripped, and Wolf whispered in his ear: +"Farewell, comrade, and keep true!" + +Next minute the tall lean man had glided past him, and others had +crowded between; it was impossible to get near him again. + +On their way back to the prison he again intercepted a glance from +Wolf. His comrade looked cheerful and triumphant, like one who has +shaken off a heavy burden, and sees his future lie clear before him. + +The guard that came on duty next morning in the parade-ground wore the +green Jäger uniform. One of the sentries, a smart young fellow with a +carefully waxed black moustache and quick eyes, had on his breast the +mark of distinction for shooting. He was doing this duty evidently for +the first time, and he looked the prisoners up and down with a curious +glance, as if they were some queer sort of wild beast. Then he took up +his position, and marched stiffly beside the procession as they left +the gate. + +A thin mist covered the broad expanse of the big ground, but the sun +soon dispelled the damp vapour, and shone down warm and unclouded. + +Vogt looked anxiously at Wolf. But his comrade seemed to have given up +his intention; he was bending diligently over his work, and had not +even taken his place in the outside rank of workers, but was digging +busily among the others. At a little distance from the prisoners the +sentries strolled up and down their beat. + +Presently an orderly from head-quarters came riding by on a dark-brown +horse, which he was making step high in a stately manner as if on +parade. + +The Jäger with the black moustache held his gun negligently on his +shoulder and looked on with an interested expression. It was very +boring to be always watching the prisoners messing about in the dirt. + +Suddenly a lean figure detached itself from the little group of +workmen--it was Wolf. With long strides he fled behind the sentry in +the direction of the forest. The Jäger had not even remarked his +flight, and it was only the cry of the sergeant that drew his +attention. + +Then he hastily took the gun from his shoulder, made ready to fire, and +cried the first "Halt!" + +Wolf ran on without stopping. Then something happened which decidedly +bettered the chances of the fugitive: the mounted orderly felt called +upon to give chase. He set his horse to a gallop and dashed after the +escaping prisoner. + +Wolf heard the hoofs behind him and glanced round hastily. The rider +was between himself and the sentry. Only a few more steps and he would +be in the forest and under cover, if the horse did not reach him before +that. At a stroke the despairing wish for a martyr's death had +vanished. He no longer wished to die; he wanted to live and be free. +Freedom was awaiting him, there in the forest towards which his +hurrying feet were carrying him. How would they ever be able to find +him in that thick labyrinth of young pine-trees? He would break through +the undergrowth at the forest's edge and take a lateral direction; then +he would lie crouching on the ground and let the bullets whistle over +his head. + +From behind him sounded the second "Halt!" The sentry's voice rang more +sharply and insistently. + +Yes, shout as you like! He was only a few paces from the forest's edge; +a little ditch separated it from the parade-ground, but it was only +about a yard wide and easy to leap. + +Wolfs plan was made. + +He knew that the forest extended to the outskirts of the town. The +first houses of the suburb were built among the trees. Workmen dwelt +there--iron-founders and metal-workers--members of his party. They +or some compassionate woman would certainly give the fugitive some +cast-off clothes, and then he thought he could make for the frontier. + +From behind came the third warning "Halt!" + +The mounted orderly had apparently perceived the hopelessness of his +efforts, and had reined in his horse; the sound of hoofs was no more to +be heard. Now for the ditch! + +He sprang. He thought he could smell already the powerful odour of the +fir-trees. There, a little to the left, was an opening in the thicket; +he could slip in there and be safe. + +Then, midway in his leap, a bullet struck him in the nape of the neck. +He stumbled forward with his face buried in the haven of the +undergrowth, his eyes gazing forwards towards the land of freedom. + + +Some weeks later the head physician of the military hospital in the +capital gave a lecture, with illustrations, before the Medical Society, +"Upon an interesting case of the effects of small bore ammunition." + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + +[Illustration: (Trumpet-call at tattoo.)] + + +Senior-Lieutenant Reimers sought an interview with his colonel, and +frankly confided his trouble to him. In a sad, hopeless voice he told +the whole story, concealing nothing. + +There was, in fact, nothing to hide. The thoughtless behaviour which +had had such serious consequences was in itself one of those offences +which society looks upon as venial. But he reproached himself chiefly +with the breach of faith towards Marie Falkenhein, to whom he +considered himself to have been virtually betrothed, in allowing +himself to be carried away by the impulse of a moment's folly. + +When Reimers had finished the colonel sat for a long time silent. He +leant his cheek on his hand and looked gloomily before him. During this +confidential interview his daughter had not been alluded to in a single +syllable, but in every word that the young officer spoke sounded an +echo of painful regret for a much-desired happiness now lost to him. Of +a sudden those fair prospects that the colonel had thought based on +such a solid foundation had fallen to the ground. It was a bitter grief +to him to see the pleasant vision destroyed, and he knew that a heavy +sorrow was in store for his child. + +At last he broke the silence. + +"My poor boy," he said, "I wish I knew what I could say to comfort you, +for I do not want to reproach you. You have enough to bear already in +payment for a moment of thoughtlessness. You have gambled away one of +your best chances of earthly happiness. Nevertheless, be brave; set +your teeth and do not let your feelings overcome you. You have a proud +and honourable calling, and have a real vocation for it. Let that be +your consolation." His voice broke off short, trembling with inward +emotion. + +Reimers murmured in some confusion: "I am very much obliged to you, +sir." And the two men sat for awhile opposite each other in silence. + +"After this," the colonel continued with some hesitation and +difficulty, "you will probably wish to get away for a change. I +therefore advise you to go up for the winter examination at the Staff +College. There is no doubt about your getting through. The work will +prevent you from brooding over your thoughts, and afterwards there will +be Berlin and entire change of surroundings. All that will be helpful +to you." + +Falkenhein's voice became softer, and shielding his eyes with his hand, +he continued in a scarcely audible whisper: "It would be advisable that +you should withdraw a little from society; and of course to any +unavoidable questions it will be necessary to invent an answer of some +sort. It seems to me it will be best to say that your old lung-trouble +obliges you to take certain precautions. Is that agreed?" + +With a sob the senior-lieutenant stammered out, "You have always been +like a father to me, sir." + +He had stood up and was about to depart without another word. Then +suddenly the colonel took him in his arms. This seasoned, clear-headed +man had great difficulty in restraining his emotion. + +"I have long looked on you as a son, Reimers," he said. "And that all +this has turned out so differently from my expectations is a grief to +me, a very great grief. I cannot tell you how great." + +Reimers took his departure. The colonel looked after him till the +portière fell. + +Whose fault was it that the young man left the room with hanging head +and miserable face, instead of with the beaming eyes of an accepted +lover? Whose fault was it that the happiness of two young people had +thus been shattered to pieces? + +The colonel sat down before his writing-table and let his clenched fist +fall in helpless anger upon the desk. He had not even the satisfaction +of being able to direct his wrath against anybody or anything. The +fault lay in something uncalled-for and apparently unavoidable, an +evil, and at the same time necessary, outcome of the existing order of +things. + +Then he began to reflect. How should he break the bad news to +Mariechen? By many little scarcely noticeable signs he had become +convinced that she loved the unfortunate young officer. There was a +delicate understanding, an unspoken engagement, between the two. How +should he explain to her Reimers' sudden withdrawal? + +This talk about the examination at the Staff College, and Reimers' +necessary care of his health, was not sufficient to break off an +honourable attachment. He must rather think of some means for effecting +a permanent, even if painful, cure, and put an end once for all to his +daughter's dream of love. + +The colonel made out a regular plan of campaign. Among his relations +there had been a cousin, Otto von Krewesmühlen, the owner of a large +property in Franconia. The poor wretch had passed more of his lifetime +in Meran and Cannes than on his own estate; but he had married in spite +of that for the sake of the entail, and unfortunately had married an +acquaintance in the Riviera who also was not on the shores of the +Mediterranean solely for pleasure. Two boys had been born to them, but +Otto von Krewesmühlen had not long survived their birth. The eldest +child had followed the father not only in the entail but also in the +manner of his death, and the widow and the second son were only like +two feeble flames which the wind of life permits out of charity still +to flicker for a while. + +This cousin must serve to point the moral for his poor Mariechen, and +help her to forget her young love in as painless a manner as possible. +It happened fortunately that Marie kept up a correspondence with her +Franconian relations. + +"I had something to ask you, Mariechen," began Falkenhein at supper. +"Oh yes, of course; have you had any more news from your Aunt +Krewesmühlen?" + +"No, father," answered the girl, "not since the last letter, which you +remember." + +"I do not recollect quite well. Where was she then?" + +"At Cannes, I think. Or it might have been San Remo." + +"They have gone back again then?" + +"Yes, unfortunately. And my aunt wrote in perfect despair." + +The desired point had been reached; but his carefully-thought-out plan +now seemed to the colonel inexpressibly clumsy and cruel. Nevertheless, +he could not let the opportunity go by. + +"I am really very much grieved," he said. His voice sounded to himself +hollow and flat, like an ill-tuned instrument. But he went on speaking +painfully and with difficulty, whilst his fingers kept clutching his +collar. "As a matter of fact, Otto von Krewesmühlen committed a crime +in marrying at all. He is responsible for an enormous amount of trouble +and sorrow. He would have done a better and a nobler thing if he had +renounced the idea of happiness in marriage. We cannot but ask +ourselves: Was not this marriage simply a source of misery?" + +He stopped. Marie looked at him thoughtfully. + +Everything was very still in the lofty dining room. The colonel felt as +if his words must re-echo like a trumpet-call from the walls, and he +lowered his voice almost to a whisper. + +"Of course it requires strength and self-control to give everything up +when one is in love. But an honourable man should have both; he is +equally to be pitied and respected. And imagine, Mariechen, dear +Mariechen--one of our best friends--Senior-lieutenant Reimers--that's +how it is with him--just as with poor Otto Krewesmühlen; but he--will +renounce his happiness. He is a brave man." + +Falkenhein breathed more freely. Thank God! the mischief was out. + +He looked anxiously across at Marie. Her face had become as white as +the table-cloth. He was afraid she might faint. But no, the child +pulled herself together; the trembling hand laid down the fork, which +rattled gently against the plate and fell on the table. + +The colonel went round the table softly to his daughter and stroked her +fair golden hair with a gentle hand. Marie's shoulders began to heave, +and suddenly she threw herself on his breast, weeping bitterly. The +colonel was not quite sure what was the best way to meet this outburst. +He did not like to touch too pointedly upon the cause of his child's +grief. Then he fell back on a method with which he had quieted Marie in +days of old, before she had ever gone to school. + +When the motherless child was weeping her heart out over some trouble +that had possessed her, even when she was quite a big school-girl, he +would take her in his arms and carry her up and down the room, +consoling and comforting her, till the wild sobbing ceased at last. She +was now nearly twenty years of age; but the old method might still be +effective. Unresisting she let him take her in his arms, and leaned her +face against her father's cheek; bright tears ran down from his own +eyes as he whispered to her over and over again: "Yes, cry, my little +girl; cry, Mariechen!" + +And the first great sorrow of the woman calmed itself, even as had the +school-girl's trivial griefs. The colonel carried his daughter tenderly +to her room and laid her down on the sofa. With a shy gesture she +buried her face in the cushion. Once more the father's hand passed +lightly over her brow, then he went out on tip-toe. Time must be the +physician that would heal this wound. + +Falkenhein listened for a second at the door: Mariechen was still +weeping; but he could hope that the tempest would subside. That tearful +outburst, uncontrolled as it was, showed still the unruly grief of a +child. The blow that strikes deepest into the heart and embitters a +whole life-time is otherwise met and parried, with a grim, silent, +enduring pain. Traces of such pain he had seen in Reimers' hopeless +eyes; for his child he might expect a cure. + +The best thing would be to take Marie away into entirely new +surroundings. + + +As usual, each year during the partridge-shooting, the colonel one day +received an invitation to join the royal party. At breakfast the old +king asked him: "Well, Falkenhein, what do you say? That longlegged +Friesen in the War Office has obtained command of the Lusatian brigade. +How would you like to be chief of the department?" + +The colonel hesitated with his answer. + +"I know quite well," the old gentleman went on, "that you have a +disinclination for anything that smells of the office, even though +fifteen hundred others would lick their lips over it." + +"Your Majesty is very good," said Falkenhein. "I will do whatever your +Majesty desires." + +The king looked at him searchingly. + +"Really?" he said. + +"Certainly, your Majesty. Only, if you will allow me to say so, not for +too long a period!" + +"Very well, very well!--till you get the command of my household +brigade." + +His Majesty was holding in his hand a silver cup full of corn-brandy. +"Your health, Falkenhein!" he said. "I look forward to having you by me +at court." + + +The appointment was gazetted after the man[oe]uvres on October 1. + +There was certainly no officer in the regiment, even excepting Captain +Güntz and Senior-lieutenant Reimers, who did not hear of Falkenhein's +prospective departure with real regret. But that did not last long; +some one's departure must always be taking place in military life. How +else would room be made for successors? And besides, without this +appointment in the War Office, the colonel would in any case have +obtained his brigade in another two years, and the regiment would have +had to do without him. It was much more important now for the officers +to know who was to be their new chief. + +Major Mohbrinck was appointed to command the regiment; he had hitherto +commanded the mounted division of the artillery guard. He was an +unknown quantity in the Eastern Division, for he belonged to a +different army-corps; but military gossip gave a not very favourable +account of him. + +Little Dr. von Fröben received from an old chum of his, who was in the +mounted division, a telegram which ran thus: "Hymn No. 521." The hymn +indicated is the translation of the Ambrosian hymn of praise, +commencing: "Lord God, we praise thee; Lord God, we thank thee." + +Well, this was a piece of subaltern wit. + +It was more significant that Captain von Wegstetten had a letter from +his brother-in-law, the head of the first mounted battery, also written +in a remarkably Ambrosian vein. "I can tell you"--it ran--"we two heads +of batteries thank God on our knees that we are rid of Mohbrinck. My +joy thereat is no doubt damped somewhat by my brotherly sympathy for +you in having now to put up with that scourge of God. However--you can +keep calm, as I might have done. We sit too tight in our places for +him; thanks to our favourable relations with the powers that be. +Mohbrinck only seeks out absolutely defenceless victims whereon to +prove his capacity. He considers it a commander's chief task in time of +peace 'to purify the army from all incapable people.' In confidence, he +should himself have been purified away first of all. As those who know +assert, he has always from the first made it his business to shove +aside any one who stood in front of him. We of the cavalry heartily +wish never to set eyes on him again." + + +Mohbrinck arrived. + +He was overflowing with graciousness, and expressed his sense of "his +good fortune in having to devote his poor efforts (supported of course +by such able assistants) to so excellently trained a regiment." + +The speech with which he greeted the regiment held the happy mean +between theatrical gush and a sermon. It was adorned with pompous +imagery, and contained numerous eulogiums of the reigning family. +"Christian humility" and "God's assistance" played a great part +therein, and it dealt rude thrusts at those who waged war in secret +upon the sup-porters of throne and altar. The acidulated vituperative +voice of the major gave the whole performance an indescribably comical +effect; the bold artillerymen, standing at attention, got stiff necks, +aching knees, and dizzy heads from listening so long to these flowers +of speech. + +After this Major Mohbrinck had all the officers of the regiment brought +up and introduced to him. + +One thing was to be noted: he had a nice perception for everything that +was useful and paying. He had taken care to be well instructed in all +particulars before his arrival in the garrison. + +He seemed at once to be hand in glove with the adjutant, Kauerhof. This +was, of course, because the adjutant's wife, Marion Kauerhof, _née_ von +Lüben, was the daughter of an important personage in the War Office. +The adjutant presented the other men according to their seniority in +rank. First came the two majors. Lischke received a studiously polite +greeting; Schrader was far more graciously treated--was not the smart +bachelor a notable waltzer at court balls? He was often commanded to +dance with the princesses, and, people said, regaled the royal ladies +with many little stories which they would never otherwise have had a +chance of hearing. + +Next approached Staff-Captain von Stuckhardt. He found himself very +coolly received by the new chief. What was the use of troubling much +with any one who was known to be a predestined dead man? Stuckhardt +stepped back feeling considerably snubbed. + +Träger, Gropphusen, and Heuschkel got rather neutral pressures of the +hand; Gropphusen, perhaps, being of noble family, was greeted rather +more warmly than the others. + +Kauerhof proceeded with his introductions: "And now, sir, here is the +head of our sixth battery, Captain von Wegstetten." + +Mohbrinck twisted his lips into a honied smile. For Wegstetten had a +cousin, about seven times removed, who was something of a celebrity, +not so much on account of his martial exploits as because he was +ninety-eight years of age, the oldest soldier in the army, and a former +adjutant-general of his late Majesty. Uncle Ehrenfried, dried up like a +mummy, had some difficulty in even sitting upright in his wheel-chair; +and for years it had been impossible to carry on an articulate +conversation with him. But his immense age lent a certain _cachet_ to +his nephew, the chief of the sixth battery. If the mummy were really to +attain his century, or were to die on some marked day--a royal birthday +or funeral--the services of a Wegstetten to the reigning family would +show in a dazzling light, the reflection of which could not be +disregarded by an acute man like Mohbrinck. + +Little Wegstetten smiled a contented smile under his big red moustache. +Before a commanding officer like this he felt he had no cause to +tremble. + +"Captain Madelung, head of the fourth battery," proceeded Kauerhof. + +Mohbrinck greeted him with something like effusion: "Ah!" he cried, +"our celebrated warrior from China. I am delighted--delighted--to have +the honour of meeting you." He put on a rallying expression: "But you +must not go to the Far East now, my dear sir. I hear you have just made +happy domestic arrangements that will keep you at home." + +Madelung bowed; just before the man[oe]uvres he had married the eldest +maid-of-honour. + +The youngest captain of the regiment, Güntz, was now presented. Major +Mohbrinck assumed his would-be-agreeable smile, and said jokingly: +"Dear, dear! our youngest captain, and so stout already!" + +Güntz looked at him. Well, of course he was not exactly one of the slim +ones, but why should this rather uncomplimentary remark be fired in his +face? + +Major Schrader saved him the trouble of answering. He patted him +good-humouredly on the back, and said: "Well, yes, he has got something +of a corporation, like Dr. Luther; but that does not prevent him from +shining brilliantly in the constellation of my commanders of +batteries." + +Mohbrinck turned to him, and remarked sweetly; "Oh, I should never have +suggested such a thing, my dear sir. I am quite well aware of the +merits of Captain Güntz." And he touched Güntz's little red eagle; his +own breast was still undecorated. + + +It was the common talk of the army that the 80th Regiment, Eastern +Division, Field Artillery, had, under Falkenhein's command, become a +perfect pattern to all the troops. It would therefore have seemed most +expedient to carry on the methods of its former chief. But Mohbrinck +considered that to do so would make him appear an officer without +military distinction or views of his own. He posed as having studied to +a nicety every little whim and peculiarity of the major-general +commanding the brigade, and had made up his mind that at the review his +regiment should have no fault found with it, not even if for months +everything more important should be set aside in order to drill into +the men every little fancy of the brigadier. + +"I tell you, sir, I have heard the last word of the major-general on +this subject or that," was his ever-recurring refrain. + +Throughout the batteries this caused a certain sense of nervous +insecurity. The captains were instructed to lay stress on all manner of +insignificant details, and it was difficult to get on with the regular +training. Only such remarkably active and circumspect officers as +Wegstetten and Madelung could manage to satisfy both claims upon them: +their ordinary military duties, and the merely personal likes and +dislikes of the commander of the regiment and the brigadier. Gropphusen +let his battery go as it pleased; he was in one of his wild fits. But +Träger and Heuschkel quite lost their heads. Was the new commander +going to turn the world upside down? And yet they had thought they were +fairly good at their work; Falkenhein himself had told them so from +time to time. + +Güntz got sick of the whole affair. Under Mohbrinck's system the +battery might cut a very dashing figure before the commander of the +brigade at the review, and yet be worth the devil only knew how little +in sober reality. Güntz, for his part, would not bother about it; it +was his business to train capable soldiers for his king and country, +but not for Major Mohbrinck and Major-general Hausperg. + + +Captain Güntz had commanded the battery for a year; his time of +probation was over. Already he had brought his plans to such a point +that he could lay them in practical shape before the directors of the +gun-foundry in the Rhine provinces. + +After serious counsel with Frau Kläre, he concluded his letter to the +manager with the following sentence: "Therefore I beg you, sir, to give +my work your most serious consideration. In case you find my plans +workable, please remember that I should be very glad personally to +superintend the carrying of them out." + +"Fatty," said Frau Kläre, "that last sentence is shockingly expressed!" + +Güntz sat before his letter and looked down reflectively at his +signature--"Güntz, captain commanding the sixth battery in the 80th +Regiment, Eastern Division, Field Artillery." + +"Do you know, my Kläre," he said, "I don't quite like the look of it +myself." + +The answer to this letter was very long in coming, unreasonably long, +Kläre thought. Her husband comforted her: "Do you think people can come +to a decision in a week about a matter over which I pondered for many +years?" + +At last came a letter bearing the stamp of the gun-foundry. + +Güntz was just changing his coat for his smoking-jacket. He skimmed +through the document, and read aloud to Kläre the most important +phrase: "... plans extremely promising, ... their construction must +certainly be undertaken at once." + +Then followed a most dazzling proposal for Güntz to enter the factory +and occupy a leading position there. Compared with the modest pay of a +captain, the suggested salary of fifteen thousand marks seemed +positively fabulous. + +Frau Kläre's was an eminently practical nature, and she had often +lamented over the miserable income on which the claims of an officer's +position made such serious inroads; but now these words escaped her: +"Good God, Fatty! Isn't that far too much?" + +Güntz had not heard her exclamation. He had just taken off his coat; he +held it for a moment in his hand and stroked the epaulettes +caressingly. Then he hung it carefully over the back of a chair. + +"Of course I shall accept," he said, in a voice which was meant to be +calm, but in which strong emotion was evident. "I hope I shall be able +to serve my country and my king better than I could in that dear old +coat." + +Kläre stretched out her hand to him in silence; then she went softly +out of the room. It is better for a man to have that sort of thing out +with himself alone. + +What might have taken an enormous expenditure of time and writing +proved, as a matter of fact, to be very simply and easily accomplished. +Captain Güntz sent in his papers, and they were accepted before Easter. + +At the farewell dinner, Major Mohbrinck spoke of the heartfelt +concern with which the regiment must lose such a charming companion +and promising officer, and of the good wishes with which all the +officers would follow him to his new and important sphere of activity. +All this came from the heart. Who could know whether, as retired +lieutenant-colonel or colonel, a man holding such a post in a +gun-foundry might not be a very useful acquaintance? + +When Güntz took his departure from the little station he had got +over all his regrets. He only left behind one man for whom he +cared--Reimers. + +He looked out of the window of the railway-carriage and saw his friend +standing on the narrow platform, gazing after the departing train. That +thin face, with its sad eyes, became by degrees undistinguishable, and +at last he could hardly recognise the slender, slightly bent figure. + +He waved his handkerchief for the last time; but his friend probably +did not see, for he stood motionless. + +Then the train ran round a corner of rock; the carriage swayed +slightly, and the little station was out of sight. Güntz sat back +sighing in his corner. He had been able to give his friend no +consolation, and only one piece of good advice--to work. + + +Little Dr. von Fröben accompanied Senior-lieutenant Reimers to the +examinations at the Staff College. + +"One can only be plucked," he said in excuse when he was teased about +his presumption. Of course if he compared his knowledge with that of +his companion, Reimers, his candidature seemed to himself an +unwarrantable piece of bravado. And Reimers went on studying with an +indefatigable, almost feverish energy. + +"My dear Reimers," said the little doctor, "there will be nothing more +for you to learn at the Staff College, if you work like this. You had +better slack off, dear boy!" + +Reimers smiled a little half-heartedly. The good progress he was making +gave him no joy. He no longer prosecuted his studies with the inspired +devotion that had formerly possessed him; and only the strong feeling +of duty, which had become habitual with him, spurred him on to further +efforts. He often said to himself: "After all, what is the good of it?" + +There was no sign of any obstacle in his path; despite all that had +happened he was in a very fair way to achieve a distinguished military +career. But he could not rid himself of an oppressive feeling that all +his labour was in vain. + +And then again after a moment of hopeless depression he would be +possessed anew by the old fair vision, his enthusiasm for the wonderful +German army, to belong to which had been his pride and his salvation. +With eyes full of rapture he pored over the pages of the military +history, and for the thousandth time followed the army on its path of +conquest. + +Then suddenly he checked himself. Was the army of to-day, of which he +was a member, really that old victorious army? + +Güntz had handed over to him the justification for his resignation +which he had written out before the duel with Landsberg. It had been +unnecessary to add or to erase anything. + +Reimers had often in old days wished to have his friend's opinions in +black and white before him, in order to overthrow them singly, point by +point, brilliantly to overthrow them. He now held in his hand Güntz's +views, succinctly and definitely expressed; but whither had flown his +former keen spirit? He could no longer summon up the old impetuous dash +with which he had meant to fall upon his opponent's arguments one after +another, raze them to the ground and trample them underfoot like the +entrenchments and fortifications in some mock combat. + +He compared Güntz's statement with the notes he had taken of his +conversations with Falkenhein, during the short period of his +adjutancy. There was much in which they agreed, and this agreement +staggered him. Here were two men of fundamentally different nature +whose judgment concurred; both of them were distinguished by clarity of +perception and exhaustive knowledge of the circumstances with which +they were dealing, and both were entitled to their opinions by a past +record that excluded all idea of bias. + +Were they both right, then? The one with his vague uneasiness, the +other with his heavy disquietude? + +Reimers could not dismiss the doubts of these two men. At most he might +reply to Güntz that this unsatisfactory state of affairs was not so +widespread as his friend asserted. + +This inclination to outward show was a universal sign of the times, and +was not confined to Germany. In France a cavalry charge had been made +upon the grand stand where the President was seated beside the Tsar. +Was that not more theatrical than some of the impossible evolutions +undertaken in the German man[oe]uvres? + +But to this consolation was opposed the old teaching of experience, +that a nation in extremity is capable of the most unheard-of exertions +in reparation of its errors. The cheerful self-sacrifice of Prussia in +1813 was almost without parallel in the history of the world; and yet +the sensitive, heavily-chastened French nation was effecting a similar +arduous work, the more striking by reason of its long persistence. + +France had, besides, this advantage; in actual fact a great number of +the French people, through an artificially nourished feeling of +embitterment, were keen for war with their eastern neighbour. Germans, +on the contrary, thought no more of the "hereditary enemy" of 1870; in +the progress of science and the development of art they felt themselves +closely connected with France. Germany had linked herself to France +that they might march together arm-in-arm in the forefront of +civilisation. + +Germany _desired_ peace. It was not exactly that the German had become +unwarlike; but, because of his Teutonic thoroughness and sobriety, he +was deeply impressed with the necessity and utility of peace, as the +most truly rational condition of things. Once the danger of vengeance +from the west had blown over, any and every war would have been +unpopular in Germany, except perhaps one with England, which, as a +naval war, would less immediately affect the masses of the people, and +everybody in Germany held the conviction that warlike developments +would never arise from an irresistible outbreak of popular feeling, but +only from political or dynastic mismanagement. + +In this way--that is, as a failing in warlike ardour--did Reimers +account for the want of patriotism which Güntz pointed to as the most +significant inward danger of the present military system. + +Reimers had never interested himself particularly in parliamentary or +political controversies,--an officer should hold aloof from such +matters,--he was therefore not inclined to lay so much stress as his +friend did on the influence of revolutionary politicians. + +The evil was great enough without that. Was not an army that went into +the field without enthusiasm beaten beforehand? And the thoughts +suggested to him by the reflections of the colonel and of his friend +all pointed to a similar conclusion. They seemed to stand like warning +signposts beside the road on which the German army was marching; and +all, all, bore upon their outstretched pointing arms the ominous +word--Jena. + +The sinister idea haunted Reimers like a ghost. If he sat down to his +books it was there; and it fell across his vision like a dark shadow +when the sun shone its bravest on the imposing array of the batteries +at exercise. + +His old friends had gone far away; and if Reimers looked into his own +mind he was obliged to admit that he could not greatly regret this. It +was indeed better so. The delightful intimate relations between himself +and those dear people had already been destroyed by scarcely +perceptible degrees. + +The thought of Marie Falkenhein weighed on him the least heavily. When +he had once got over the first bitter sorrow at his ill fortune he +thought of her, strangely enough, with no desperate longing, but rather +with a feeling of shame. The young girl did not represent the immediate +necessity of his life which he now found lacking. That lay in a +different sphere. + +For this reason he was glad that Falkenhein and Güntz had left the +garrison. No one should be there to see how the guiding star which he +had followed so ardently all his days was now setting in diminished +glory: no one should be by when his whole life suffered shipwreck. + + +The regiment was now under orders to march to the practice-camp. A few +days before the departure Reimers ordered his man to bring him his +portmanteau. + +He wanted to see if the faithful old trunk, which had accompanied him +on all his travels, was still in proper condition. It needed no +attention. + +"Shall I take off the labels?" asked his servant. "Then perhaps, I +could freshen it up a little with varnish." + +The trunk displayed a vast number of hotel and luggage labels. His +journey to Egypt, in particular, had left brightly-coloured traces. + +Reimers stood buried in thought. Suddenly he observed the waiting +servant. + +"Yes, of course," he said; "see to it." + +He had been thinking of his return from that long furlough. + +What renewed vigour he had then felt in every limb! With what +exhilaration he had set foot on the quay at Hamburg, his first step on +German soil after a whole long year in foreign lands! He would have +liked to fall on the neck of the first gunner he met; and he could +hardly wait for the moment when he might again don the unpretending +coat that outshone in his eyes the most gorgeous robe of state in the +world, attired in which he might again perform the dear old wearisome +duty. + +Were those high hopes to end in this sordid fashion? + +He recollected how, amidst the jubilation of his home-coming, he had +been disquieted by a presentiment of evil, a visionary dream that now +confronted him in such cruel reality. + +It was during his first visit to Frau von Gropphusen that the shadow +had fallen upon him. He saw the room again before him in the dim light +from its darkened window, and it seemed to him filled with gloom and +hopelessness. + +The suffering woman lay wearily on the big sofa under the picture of +the "Blue Boy." She drew up the silken covering with her fair white +hands, leant her chin on her knees, and gazed at him with her wonderful +sad eyes. + +Suddenly he became aware of the reason why he only thought of Marie +Falkenhein with gentle resignation, with that fugitive feeling which +seemed to himself scarcely compatible with grief for a real attachment: +he had never ceased to love Hannah Gropphusen. + +Had his eyes been struck with blindness? + +His passion now revived in him as with the throes of an intermittent +fever. His spirit was free from all other prepossession. Enthusiasm for +his country, for his calling, had been driven out of him. His whole +being was defenceless against the might of this love, and he was +carried away by it as on the wings of a tempest. + +He now only lived in the thought of Hannah Gropphusen. How long was it +since he had seen her last? + +He had to go far back in his memory to the beginning of the past +winter. She had been the fairest at one of the first balls of the +season. Her face had shone with seductive charm; a black dress, +glittering with sequins, had enveloped her slender form, leaving bare +the tender whiteness of her arms and shoulders. She bore the palm of +beauty, and every one had acknowledged her sovereignty. And as he had +sat idly in one of the most distant rooms, a morose observer of the gay +throng, she had come gliding up to him like some dazzling messenger of +joy. She had spoken to him, few words only and on indifferent topics, +with a hasty, excited voice; but in her eyes had been once more that +expression of utter self-abandonment which had made him so happy on +their return from the tennis-ground during the previous spring. + +He had stood before her, his shoulders bowed beneath his adverse fate, +and had not dared to raise his eyes to hers. + +Since the night of that ball, Frau von Gropphusen had been absent for +the whole winter; she had gone on a visit to her parents, after (so the +gossips whispered) a terrible scene with her husband. And on this +occasion even the women had taken the side of their own sex. For +Gropphusen had been getting wilder and wilder; it could hardly fail +that legal proceedings would before very long be undertaken against him +for his scandalous behaviour. + +The injured wife had returned only a few days ago, probably for a last +painful attempt to preserve appearances. Gropphusen himself would be +leaving the garrison for the gun-practice, and she would at least +remain there during that time; but she did not go out, and nobody had +yet seen her face to face. + +Reimers was possessed with a restless impatience to meet the woman he +loved; he had wasted too much time already to brook delay. + +Then again he was thrown into dull inaction by an agonising doubt. How +could he think of approaching Hannah Gropphusen--he, a marked man, a +condemned man? He set it before himself a thousand times, and dinned it +into his own ears: he desired nothing, he wanted nothing but to be +allowed to live in her soothing presence. + +He racked his brains to discover a pretext for visiting her but could +find none. He directed his goings from day to day so as to pass by the +Gropphusen villa as often as possible. He sauntered near the house by +the hour together, possessed by the foolish hope of catching sight of +his beloved. Perhaps she would come to the window to breathe the fresh +air of the night, to cool her burning forehead in the soft breeze, or +to refresh her tear-stained eyes with a sight of the starry heaven. + +He waited in vain. + +On the morning of their march to the practice-camp, Captain von +Gropphusen, the head of the second battery, was missing. + +Major Lischke sent his adjutant to the Gropphusens' villa to ask for +news. The lieutenant came back with the answer that Captain von +Gropphusen had as usual gone to town the evening before, and had not +yet returned. + +Lischke grumbled. "The dissipated scoundrel has missed the early train, +of course. He might at least have telegraphed." + +Naturally Gropphusen could not be waited for. Senior-lieutenant +Frommelt took charge of the battery, and the regiment set off on its +march. + +But even at their first halting-place the missing man failed to put in +an appearance, and now came some enlightenment as to his proceedings. + +The police had made a raid upon the club to which Gropphusen belonged. +Rumours were spread abroad of unlawful and immoral practices carried on +there. A certain number of the members, Gropphusen among them, had +managed to escape; the rest were already in custody. + +Thereanent the regiment received an official letter, in which it was +pointed out to the authorities that Captain von Gropphusen was accused +of desertion, and was to be reported at once in case of his +reappearance. This was, of course, only a matter of form, for +Gropphusen had no doubt left the kingdom long before. + +Senior-lieutenant Frommelt was entrusted with the command of the +battery, and as Lieutenant Weissenhagen, the other officer belonging to +the detachment, had already been sent on to the practice-camp to look +over the barracks and stables, Senior-lieutenant Reimers was attached +to the second battery during the march, and until further orders. + +Reimers rejoiced that a fortunate turn of events had released the woman +he loved from her tormentor he was glad also that this alteration in +the arrangements for the march would withdraw him from surroundings in +which his thoughts had now become so completely and dizzily changed. + +Finally, a faint hope sprang up in his mind: perhaps at the +practice-camp, where the capacity of the army was put to its sharpest +test in time of peace, he might regain some of his old belief in the +unimpeachable superiority of the German forces. + +He greeted the open expanse of heath with joyful eyes. + +The battery had crossed a river, one of those quiet waters of the flat +country that glide along lazily between their sandy banks, and conceal +beneath their harmless-looking surface deep holes and dangerous +under-currents. + +From the rear came riding a troop of hussars, apparently engaged in +scouting-practice. The bridge was supposed to have been destroyed, and +they were trying to find a place for fording the river. The officer +first drove his horse into the water, and the animal sank at once up to +its neck, but then began to swim, and soon reached the opposite side. +The hussars followed smartly and quickly, and the troop proceeded +onward from the other bank, leaving wet traces on the light sandy soil. +The officer galloped up closer to the marching battery. + +Reimers recognised an old companion from the Military Academy. + +"You, Ottensen?" he cried. "What a strange chance!" + +"Isn't it?" said the hussar. "Pity I've no time to stop. I must teach +my chaps to scout!" + +They exchanged a pressure of the hand; then the cavalry officer spurred +on his horse, and disappeared in a cloud of yellow dust. + +Shortly after this the battery came upon the hussars for a second time. +The riders had dismounted at the edge of a fir plantation. One hussar +after another was being made to buckle on the climbing-irons and climb +up a tree-trunk in order to survey the surrounding country with a +telescope. + +The lieutenant was examining them, and testing their reports by the +map. + +"Not seen you for a long time, Reimers!" he laughed, as the battery +marched by. "Just look; these chaps climb like monkeys!" + +Reimers nodded gaily to his lively friend. It was indeed a pleasure to +watch the agile hussars. + +"Wait a bit!" said Ottensen, "I'll ride a little way with you." He +asked Senior-lieutenant Frommelt politely for permission, and sent his +men back in charge of a sergeant. Then he joined the battery, +chattering away gaily in his droll, staccato fashion, and making his +horse leap the ditch from time to time. He sat his magnificent steed +splendidly, and with his slender, neatly-made figure, looked the +perfect model of a cavalry officer. + +Reimers looked at him with honest admiration and pleasure. + +"Your hussars are smart fellows!" he said. + +Ottensen smiled, well pleased, and said: "Well, perhaps so!" + +"They climb the trees well," continued the artilleryman. + +"I should think so!" said Ottensen. "Trees, corn-stacks, +church-towers, roofs of houses, telegraph-posts, and devil knows what +besides--mountain-tops too, only there aren't any hereabouts." + +"Perhaps there will be during the man[oe]uvres." + +The hussar let his single eye-glass fall, and showed an astonished +face. + +"Man[oe]uvres, my dear fellow? Why, all's plain sailing in them!" + +"How do you mean? Plain sailing?" + +"The rendezvous all fixed up beforehand, with friends on the enemy's +side; simultaneous luncheons arranged for when possible. Every detail +settled in advance." + +The little hussar suddenly burst out laughing: "Reimers! my dear +fellow!" he cried, "don't pull a face like a funeral march! Do you mean +to say you didn't know it? You didn't? Well!" + +Reimers asked him: "But what do you take to be the object of the +man[oe]uvres?" + +"Object? Oh, there is plenty of object!" + +"Surely the object of the man[oe]uvres is to get the nearest possible +approach to the conditions of actual warfare?" + +"All rot!" declared the hussar. "You're still just the same old +bookworm as ever; an incorrigible old wool-gatherer! The object of the +man[oe]uvres is the most deadly punctuality in the meeting of the two +opposing parties, and not the training of young cavalry lieutenants in +scouting. The object is attained by careful consultations beforehand. +Oh, yes! I was once just such another innocent youth as you, dear boy. +Shall I ever forget it, my first scouting expedition, with no +rendezvous? On and on I rode till it was perfectly dark. Couldn't see a +single wicked enemy. Didn't I just get a rowing! A whole winter +practice thrown away! Two infantry regiments with a mile of transport, +and behind them four batteries and four squadrons of horse. All had +marched gaily past each other at about half an hour's interval! Not a +shot fired! No, thanks--never again!" + +At a cross-road Ottensen took leave of them. From afar he waved once +more his immaculately-gloved right hand. + +Reimers rode on in silence. + +On the horizon appeared the white walls of the barracks and stables, +and the water-tower of the practice-camp. + +It was an unwelcome thought this that his old companion of the Military +Academy had suggested to him. Here was another proof of how everything +in the army was worked up simply to present a smooth outward +appearance. How he would laugh now if any one spoke to him of a +similarity between the conditions of real warfare and those of the +man[oe]uvres! It was a thoroughly planned-out game, in which no +ill-timed mischance was allowed to disturb the preordained harmony of +the arrangements. + +But what a crying shame that such splendid material should be spoilt by +this dangerous system! Ottensen was not a highly-gifted soldier; he was +no model military instructor; but he was a fine horseman, had a cool +head, plenty of dash, and some keen mother-wit to boot: a born leader +of scouts. And yet these brilliant qualities were sacrificed to outward +show, and were let go to waste for want of use! One good cavalry +officer the less; that was bad enough. But had not Ottensen spoken as +though these were quite usual practices? It looked as though this +purely external unwarlike training of the army were being erected into +a principle. + + +The first day at the practice-camp was entirely taken up by settling +into quarters. The tables were laid at six o'clock in the evening. Most +of the officers were perfectly exhausted with standing about and +running hither and thither; and directly the meal was over they retired +to their rooms to get half an hour's nap before their evening duty. + +Reimers left the camp by the back gate and went slowly along the edge +of the forest towards the butts. + +The sun was setting, and the rim of the red disk seemed to be just +resting on the dark line of the tree-tops. The heath glowed with colour +in the evening radiance. + +Some men with pickaxes and spades over their shoulders met him; behind +them a waggon laden with planks toiled heavily through the sand. Even +the drill coats of the soldiers were tinted red by the sunset light. +Reimers strolled on further. A sandy pathway cut across the pink +blossoms of the heather; without thinking he turned into it. This was +the road which had formerly led from the forest towards the ruined +village; there was now no use for it, and it was being allowed to fall +into disrepair. + +The solitary wanderer approached the dilapidated dwellings. In the +village itself the perilously inclined walls of the ruins threatened to +fall into the roadway. Reimers stepped through a doorway into the +courtyard of one of the largest houses. A rose-tree spread its branches +over the wall. Everything was bathed in the red light of the setting +sun. Through the empty casements Reimers seemed to be looking at the +fierce glow of some incendiary fire. The white roses gleamed pink, and +a pool of water that had run down from a gutter shone like newly-shed +blood. The deserted garden, the empty casements, the smoke-blackened +walls, the glowing colour in the sky, and the red pool on the ground: +this was a picture of war, in which men were laid low beneath +blossoming rose trees, whose roots were drenched in their hearts' +blood. + +Reimers stumbled down the dim mud-stained passage and over the broken +threshold into the village street, and wandered back again to the camp, +gazing with thoughtful eyes into the gathering dusk. + +The picture of the ruined cottages had recalled his South African +experiences to his memory. + +He saw the cosy farm-houses burst into flames behind the fleeing +riders. The men shook their clenched fists as they looked back, and +sent up grim but child-like petitions to a patriarchal God on whose +help they had too confidently relied. But they made no stand, possessed +by the irresistible panic which had seized upon them after the +unfortunate episode of Cronje's capture. + +It was but now and then that a handful of brave men, together with a +few from the foreign legion, had made a short resistance at some pass +or ford; and these were the only experiences, during the time of that +gradual break-up, to which he could look back with any satisfaction. + +Like the others he had lain in the high grass or behind a jutting rock, +and had picked out his man; while beside him a twig would occasionally +be snapped by a bullet, or splinters of stone strewn over him. This had +been sharp, honest skirmishing, and he had had no scruple about doing +as much injury to the English as possible. He never knew whether he had +killed his man or merely wounded him. Either was possible; and did not +war necessarily involve this? + +At last, however, he had an experience that weighed more heavily on his +mind. + +It was near the Portuguese frontier on an open grassy expanse, somewhat +resembling the heath by the practice-camp. They were hurrying onwards, +hoping to reach neutral territory and escape capture by the English. +Between them and the pursuing lancers lay only the deep channel of a +river, whose waters lapped idly and languidly on the shore in the +peaceful summer stillness. + +An English officer came riding carelessly up to it, a fresh young lad. +He had slung his carbine on his saddle, and was gaily flourishing a +switch in the air and flicking at his brown leather gaiters. He was +within speaking distance, his men were trotting far behind him. + +Then one of the foreigners, a lean Irishman, reined in his flying +steed. With a wild expression of hatred he raised his loaded weapon, +took aim, and fired. The Englishman fell heavily backwards on his horse +and plump into the shallow water. + +The Irishman galloped up to Reimers' side. His ragged coat and brown +weather-beaten face proclaimed the seasoned fighter. + +"A good shot, mate!" he said. Reimers looked sideways at him and +answered nothing. + +The other waxed indignant, and began fiercely: + +"Damn it, sir! Thirty years ago my father rented a farm in county +Waterford that one of yon fellow's breed coveted. My father died in +Philadelphia, with nothing but a torn shirt to his back and his bones +coming through his skin. It's an old debt that I have just paid off!" + +Reimers nodded in assent; he could do nothing else. The man was one of +the many Fenians who had entered the ranks of the Boer army, instigated +by the age-long hereditary hatred of Irishman for Englishman; from his +point of view he was justified. This was warfare, and why had the young +officer ridden ahead in that boyish, foolhardy way? + +Nevertheless, the deed had filled the German with inexpressible +disgust. + +And suddenly, in this evening hour among the blossoming heather, within +view of the ruined village now fast becoming indistinguishable in the +twilight, the recollection of that nearly dry river-bed on the frontier +of the Transvaal Republic drove in upon his mind clearly and definitely +all the terrors of war: men falling upon each other like ravening +beasts, blood and fire, death and destruction. + +Innumerable thoughts conflicted in his brain. Whose was the guilt that +these immemorial horrors still existed, that they were even protected +by law? Who was it that desired war? Was it the nations, incensed +against each other by race-hatred? Was it their rulers seeking renown? +Was it greedy self-interested diplomatists? Secret, but so much the +more effectual, under-currents of Jesuitical intrigue? Fire-eating +generals, pining to justify their existence? Who was it that dared +assume responsibility for such a colossal crime against humanity? + +Reimers was loth to press such considerations further, By so doing he +might be led to conclusions before which he shrank, because from his +youth up they had been pictured to him as detestable and criminal; he +turned from them in alarm. + +One thing he saw clearly and distinctly: war, which seemed to be a +necessity in the life of a nation, demanded strong-minded men, hard as +steel. Men like himself, broken in spirit, were useless and unfit for +the profession of an officer. A soldier without fresh living enthusiasm +for his calling was nothing but a figure of straw. + +It was borne in upon him that he was a mere caricature of an officer, +such as he had hitherto despised; perhaps but a more thoughtful, +melancholy variation from the whole brainless type. + +But what had he to look for in the world beside? + + +Next morning Senior-lieutenant Frommelt, the temporary commander of the +second battery, came to Reimers in a hurry. + +"My dear Reimers," he said, "I must ask you to do me a kindness. After +the exercises to-day will you drive back at once to the garrison? +Somewhere in Gropphusen's house the punishment-book of the battery must +be lying about, and a few important orders with it. The sergeant-major +sent it over to him the evening before our departure, and now we want +it. Will you go?" + +And Reimers answered, "Of course I will, Frommelt." + +The commander of the battery continued, quivering with the anxiety +appertaining to his new dignity: "You know, I would have sent +Weissenhagen, as he is the youngest officer; but he is a little +flighty, and I don't quite like to trust him with such a delicate +matter as conversing with a lady about the failings of her absent +husband." + +"But is that necessary?" asked Reimers. + +"I think so. You see we have not been able to find the things anywhere. +You must describe the books--you know the usual binding--and then they +must be sought for very thoroughly." + +"Very good. I will go." + +Reimers went through the shooting-practice (in which, by-the-by, the +"flighty" Lieutenant Weissenhagen seemed to give a very good account of +himself), buried in a deep reverie. At every shot he started in his +saddle, and when the battery took up a change of position he entirely +forgot to ride into his place. But the good brown mare moved correctly +of herself. Her rider patted her neck in praise, and drew himself up +erect. The joy which had at first stupefied him made him now feel glad +and proud. Happiness smiled upon him once more, before the consummation +of his evil fortune--he would see Hannah Gropphusen again. + + +It was noon when he arrived in the garrison town. All the good citizens +were at their midday meal. The streets were deserted, and the little +colony of villas that formed the officers' quarters showed no sign of +living inhabitants. + +The Gropphusens' house, with its closed shutters and lowered blinds, +looked half asleep; but Hannah's windows were as usual draped in their +pale pink curtains. Reimers went through the garden and into the porch. +He hesitated a moment and listened; not a sound was to be heard. + +Then he rang. The electric bell echoed sharply in the deep stillness; +but everything remained quiet. He could only hear the beating of his +pulses. + +He rang for the second time, but silence still reigned. Had the unhappy +wife returned to her parents? Was the household broken up? + +Then a door banged within the house, and light steps approached. The +chain was taken down and the key turned in the lock. + +Hannah Gropphusen stood on the threshold, a weary expression on her +pale face; she was clad in a loose flowing gown of thin white silk. Her +shoulders scarcely seemed fit to bear the weight of anything heavier +than this light airy texture. Her small head was bowed as though unable +to support the burden of her hair. + +Her eyes expressed the astonished query: "How come you here?" And she +stepped back hesitatingly. + +"I have come on business," stammered Reimers. + +Hannah opened the door and signed to him to enter. Her noiseless steps +preceded him as she led him into her own little sitting-room. + +She seated herself on the edge of the sofa and pointed to a chair. + +"Won't you sit down?" she said gently. But Reimers remained standing, +gazing down upon the woman he loved. At last he was near her; he could +see her and hear her voice. + +She raised her eyes to his, as if asking why he would not be seated. +Their glances met, greeting and caressing each other in the first shy +emotion of love. + +The man threw himself down before the woman, covering her feet, her +dress, her hands, her knees with kisses, and sobbing out the +irrepressible confession of his love, over and over again, in unceasing +repetition: "I love you! how I love you! I love you! how I love you!" + +Hannah suffered his protestations silently. An unspeakable bliss +weighed upon her and paralysed her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and +as though in the far distance she heard the soothing call of love: "I +love you! how I love you!" + +She bent over him with a glad, loving look. Her deep blue eyes shone +darkly and protectingly, like the night sky. + +"Hannah, I love you. I have always, always loved you. Only you, Hannah, +only you!" + +Her beautiful hand cooled his burning forehead. "I know," she +whispered. + +And he asseverated: "Even when I was hovering round Marie Falkenhein, +it was you, you that I loved. You, only you! Hannah, do you believe +me?" + +She nodded: "I know." + +Suddenly her aspect changed, and instead of the overpowering happiness +came a hard, bitter expression. + +"I know, too," she continued, in a low voice, "why you have broken off +with Marie Falkenhein." + +The words struck Reimers like a blow. He started back and tried to +disengage himself from her. But the slender fingers held his hand with +a spasmodic grasp which almost hurt him. + +"You!" he cried. "How can that be?" Hannah had become calm. She stroked +his hair tenderly. "How can that be?" she repeated. "Dearest! a woman +can always find out anything she really wants to know. I wished to know +this, and I know it." + +In bitter shame the man broke down completely. He kissed the hem of her +robe, and would have turned to the door. + +"Forgive! forgive me!" he murmured. + +But the fair hands would not let him go, and close in his ear a +trembling voice whispered: "Stay, my beloved! For we belong to each +other. I am--what you are. We are damned together, both of us. Stay!" + +Reimers gazed up at her speechless, his eyes full of a terrible +question. + +Hannah rose. All signs of weariness had fallen from her; she stood +erect, a sombre dignity in the expression of her countenance. She +pointed back to that part of the house formerly inhabited by her +husband. + +"Through him," she said, in accents of denunciation, "I have been +ruined. He has destroyed my life, so that I am--what I am." + +She looked down upon the kneeling man before her, and suddenly the wild +look of hatred and unrelenting sternness died out of her face. + +"And now," she went on softly, "as things are, I could almost bless him +for what he has done." Bitter irony invaded her tone. "Besides, he has +bidden me adieu now like a man of honour. He is in Paris, and is going +henceforth to devote himself entirely to art." + +But then again lamentations burst from her lips, and long pent-up +confessions, which she poured forth with a self-accusing candour. + +"Listen, beloved," she said. "When he took me for his wife, a sort of +dizzy enchantment overwhelmed me. We lived as in a mad whirl of +intoxication. The hours that were not passed together we counted lost; +and there was nothing he could have asked of me in vain. He set my foot +on his neck and called me queen, goddess. And I--I gave him my beauty." + +She lifted her head with an imperial gesture, and a proud smile curved +her lips. + +"I was a spendthrift," she went on. "Undraped I have danced before him; +and down in the garden he had a tent erected--people never could guess +the purpose of those canvas walls, but there I sat to him, naked, on +his dun-coloured Irish mare, Lady Godiva. And he fell weeping on his +knees and worshipped me. He longed for a thousand eyes, that he might +drink in the twofold beauty--mine, and the noble animal's. He boasted +that he would not repine if his eyes were stricken with blindness after +having looked upon us." + +She paused for a moment. The eternal might of beauty illumined her brow +as though with an invisible crown. Then she bowed her head, and her +voice lost its resonance. + +"All that I gave him. I was no miser. The day came in which I repented +my generosity. I suffered when he turned from me; but jealousy I felt +none. Perhaps I was to blame for not recovering my pride at once. But +through my love he had taught me that it is bitter indeed to love in +vain." + +She was silent. Her features hardened, and a deep furrow was graven in +her smooth forehead. + +"And then," her voice continued; "then came the moment of that terrible +revelation. I do not know how I bore it. I was struck as by a +lightning-flash; I was shattered. I wanted to leave him; but my people +at home would not consent, and I--I could not tell him. Unresisting I +let them do with me what they would. I would lie like a corpse, without +movement or sensation; then I would rave, needing the most careful +watching. And he--he came to me again, as the culmination of his +misdeeds. I had become changed for him, more desirable. But I spat in +his face. He came crawling and begging to me on his knees, and I struck +him in the face and spurned him." + +She raised her clenched hand to her brow, and shook it as against an +invisible enemy. Her eyes glowed with resentment, and her breath came +pantingly. + +Then again the unnaturally excited bearing relaxed; she sank gently +down on the couch, and bent over her lover, who hid his face in the +silk of her gown. + +"Beloved," she whispered, in an infinitely softened tone; "it was then, +just when I had recovered from my delirium, that you returned. When I +saw you again, here in this room, it was borne in on me that we +belonged to each other, and I thought you must feel as I did." + +Reimers looked up at her, and made a movement to seize her hand. + +"I know now that I already loved you," he said, "but I fought against +it, because I feared unhappiness for you." + +Hannah gently shook her head. + +"Do not speak of unhappiness, beloved," she exhorted him. "Do I not +love you, and do you not love me? Are we not happy?" + +She stooped to him, and pressed her lips to his in a long kiss. + +"I could not see clearly through my dreadful doubts," she went on. +"What could I be to you--impure, defiled, ruined? There was only in me +the longing that you should love me. What was the mad intoxication of +my girlish folly to the happiness that possessed me when I became +certain that you did love me? I could have denied you nothing, dearest. +How happy I was!" + +She smiled softly to herself, sunk in tender recollection, and Reimers +felt her light hand touch his hair gently with a caressing motion. He +grasped that fair hand and kissed it reverently. + +"Ah, how happy I was!" repeated Hannah, with a sigh. "But the serpent +lurked in my Paradise. I came to know the pangs of jealousy, and I +hated Marie Falkenhein--hated her from the bottom of my soul. Ah, +beloved! it hurts, hurts deeply, to see the glance of the man one loves +passing one over for another woman. Do you remember the night of +Kläre's birthday, when you sat in the Falkenheins' garden? I did not +exist for you. I could have knelt before you, begging and imploring, +'Can you not even see me here?' But you had eyes only for Mariechen, +and when I went away into the night, you and she were standing together +by the railing like a betrothed pair. Happiness shone in your eyes. +Yes! in yours too, dearest." + +Reimers kissed the hand of his adored lady. "Forgive me!" he sobbed. +"Forgive me! darling, my poor darling! My eyes were drawn to follow +you; but I turned them by force to Mariechen. I know now that I loved +you alone even then. In dreams, and when half awake, when I let myself +go, it was you only for whom I longed. Dearest, forgive me!" + +Hannah shook her head gently, and looked fondly into his petitioning +eyes. + +"Be content," she whispered; "it was wrong of me, and I conquered it. +In the night, after I had seen you both like that, I fought it out +with myself. I recognised that it was hateful egoism that made me +grudge you your happiness, and that my love for you should be quite +otherwise--more unselfish. From thenceforth Marie Falkenhein became +dear to me; it was as though I were you,--I felt an involuntary +yearning towards her, warmer, apparently, than your own. I would have +liked to endow her with all that you found clever and charming in my +speech or actions; I would have given her all that remained to me of +beauty; above all, I longed to pour into her veins the fire of my own +great love, that you might be entirely happy and blest. I would have +decked your bride with my own hands, and have brought her to you; I +would have kept watch, that nothing profane should disturb your bliss." + +Tenderly her arms encircled her lover's neck, and her words flowed +faster. + +"Suddenly all this was changed, and I was not less so. I could not be +sad when I saw Mariechen's tear-stained eyes. I guessed that something +terrible had occurred; but I was groping in the dark till I got the +truth out of that good Andreae. Then I wept for grief that your +happiness was blighted; and I wept for joy that you were now wholly +mine. For you are mine?" + +Reimers clasped her to him passionately; she nestled quivering in his +arms. Their lips met, and she whispered: "If chance had not led you to +me to-day--then I should have gone to you. I love you so." + + +Late in the afternoon Frau von Gropphusen rang for the maid; but the +girl had been allowed to go out, and had not yet returned. The groom +from the stable came hastening to answer the second ring. He stood +still in the doorway, astonished. His mistress had let down her hair +and was standing in the sunshine as though wrapped in a golden mantle. + +"Is Betty not here yet?" she asked. + +"No, madam." + +"Well, it does not matter. Saddle Lady Godiva for me." + +"Very good, madam. But excuse me, madam; you will remember that Lady +Godiva has not been ridden for three days; she will be very fresh." + +Frau von Gropphusen smiled: "Do not be afraid. I shall be able to +manage her." + +"Shall I go with you, madam?" + +"No, I am going alone." + +Languidly she put up her hair before the mirror. Her pale cheeks were +faintly coloured, and her lips shone moist and red. She slipped on her +riding habit and settled her hat firmly. When the hoofs of the mare +clattered on the pavement outside she was quite ready. + +The maid met her at the garden gate, and was profuse in her apologies. + +Frau von Gropphusen replied lightly: "All right, all right." + +Lady Godiva was fidgeting about impatiently. She whinnied joyfully as +her mistress's hand stroked her delicate nostrils. + +The groom helped Frau von Gropphusen to mount, and inquired if he +should tighten the curb a little. + +His mistress nodded. + +The mare resented not being given her head at once; but finally trotted +off with a coquettish gait that showed her fine breeding and her +graceful proportions. And the beautiful woman on her back was like a +bride going forth to meet her beloved. + +Hannah Gropphusen chose the road that led to the big exercise-ground of +the regiment. Lady Godiva neighed with pleasure as she cantered along +the well-known path; the gentle ascent which she had to traverse in no +way exhausted her long-restrained impatience. + +The great level quadrangle of the exercise-ground lay at a high +elevation; in the valley below the air had felt hot and stifling, but +up here a soft breeze was blowing, and with gentle caressing touch it +brushed back the golden tendrils of hair from the rider's white +forehead. + +Upon the scantily growing grass of the plain Hannah Gropphusen gave the +mare her head, and the animal bore her at a light even gallop to the +far end of the ground. From thence ran a narrow cart-track, by which +their sluggish teams drew the loaded harvest-waggons down to the high +road. The track led straight on to the edge of the plain, the chalky +surface being there broken up by deep quarries. Here a strong rough +paling had been erected as a barrier, in case any stubborn horse should +prove unmanageable. This was no impediment to an unerring fencer like +Lady Godiva. She went over it easily at full stretch. + +After her landing Hannah Gropphusen gave the mare a touch of the whip. +The animal laid her ears back and increased the pace. At a little +distance a second obstacle showed itself, a whitethorn hedge that +looked like a hurdle. + +Lady Godiva scarcely seemed to touch the ground with her hoofs. Her +mane and tail gleamed golden as they streamed on the mild evening +breeze. A pair of quails started up from amid the ripe corn. + +The mare rose on her hind legs for the jump, then made a sudden violent +movement as though to avoid it. Behind the whitethorn yawned an abyss. + +But the impetus of her motion carried her on, and a firm grip kept her +head forwards. + + +Early next morning when the stone-breakers came to their work they +found at the bottom of the precipice a dead woman and a dead horse. + +There were no external injuries either to the animal or her rider. The +force of the fall must have killed them both. The terrified eyes of the +mare were staring into vacancy, but those of the woman--indeed she was +but a girl--were closed, and her small delicate hands still gripped the +bridle firmly. + +The foreman sent a boy to inform the village-elder; the other workmen +stood in a silent circle round the unfortunate pair. + +"Mates," said the foreman at last, "it's quite clear there is nothing +to be done. We'd better be getting back to work." + +A lean, bearded man protested: "We might as well say a prayer first for +the poor creature." For the stone-breakers are a pious people; they +stand always with one foot in the grave. A loosened mass of chalk, a +collapsing wall, a mine exploding prematurely, may threaten their +lives; and the chalk-dust chokes their lungs so that they die early. + +The bearded man took off his hat and began to pray. All the others +bared their heads. + +After the "deliver us from evil" he inserted another petition: "And +grant to this poor lady, who has met with such a terrible and sudden +death, Thy eternal rest, we beseech Thee, O Lord! For Thine is the +kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen." + +One only had gone back to his work, an aged man who, with trembling +knees, was pushing a loaded wheelbarrow before him. He was himself too +near death for the sight of a corpse to strike him as anything out of +the common. + +When he saw the others praying he set down his burden. His toothless +mouth stammered out his words with difficulty. + +"What are you praying for?" he said. "That the Lord will grant her +eternal rest? Look at her, then! Isn't eternal rest written on her +face?" + + +Reimers reached the practice-camp again when his brother-officers were +at mess. + +It was only on alighting from the carriage that he remembered +Frommelt's commission. He was staggered a little at this neglect; but +after all what did such trifles matter? He smiled to himself that he +should trouble about it now. + +In his own room he threw himself upon the hard camp-bed. The bare place +felt stifling, although the window was wide open. The white-washed +walls seemed narrowing about him, and he felt as if he would be +suffocated. + +He shut his eyes wearily. Then the troubled vision disappeared, and he +had a feeling of freedom and deliverance, a grateful sensation of +release from the limitations of matter, as though borne aloft into the +unconfined regions of cosmic space. + +The mounted sentry patrolling the forest passed by the window. The man +had settled himself comfortably on horse-back, and his hanging bugle +and accoutrements jingled. As he came near the creaking of the saddle +could be heard. By degrees the sounds subsided, though the metallic +tinkling was perceptible for a long time. + +Perhaps, however, that gentle sound was but the prelude to some +illusion of the senses. + +Then voices sounded from the mess-room: the high crowing tones of +Wegstetten and the mellow bass of Major Lischke, The little captain was +grumbling about the food. + +"No, no, major," he piped. "The mess-steward sets disgusting stuff +before us, and that's the truth. Now, to-day beef and potato-soup? Pah! +It was lean old cow, as tough as shoe-leather! And soup? hot water and +Liebig!" + +"But, my dear Wegstetten," Lischke tried to appease him, "think of the +difficulties of transport! A two-hours' drive, and we're not to run up +the expenses!" + +Wegstetten's reply was lost in the passage. + +Reimers rose quickly from the bed. He was afraid that Frommelt might +seek him out, and that he would have to invent some kind of excuse. + +He took his little revolver out of the drawer and examined the chamber; +it was loaded with five cartridges. He had often thought of unloading +the weapon, but had then said to himself: "Why? Who knows if it might +not be wanted?" + +He hastened down the steps of the officers' quarters and ran quickly +along the camp-road to the gate. The sentry stared after him in +surprise; he had not expected to have to present arms at such an hour. +Then he stepped into his place beside the sentry-box, and performed the +neglected salute; for so the regulations prescribed. + +At a little distance from the camp Reimers moderated his pace; at last +he walked quite slowly. His footsteps were hesitating, as if groping in +the dark. He could not hear his tread upon the ground, and his eyes +gazed into space like those of a sleep-walker. Everything seemed to him +far remote: the sandy path beneath his feet, the dark forest, and the +blossoming heather beside the way. And he felt strangely light, as if +he were floating or flying. + +Night was beginning to sink over the ruins of the deserted village. +Reimers found his way among the dilapidated dwellings and into the +courtyard of the big house where he had lingered the previous day. + +The white roses of the creeper on the wall still glimmered faintly +through the gloom. He bent aside a straggling piece of a box-tree and +sat down on the broken masonry of the smoke-blackened wall. Somewhere +in the corner of the ruins a screech-owl shrieked. The cry sounded +quite close. + +Reimers smiled. There is an old wives' superstition that where a +screech-owl cries there will soon be a corpse. This time the old women +would be right. + +He rested his head in his hands and reflected. + +Before him passed with bewildering rapidity many recollections and +impressions from his life's history: vague boyish impulses; enthusiasms +of youth; exalted strivings and ambitions of manhood; the +disenchantments and doubts of these latter days. It was as though he +had been already lifted into a clearer light, above all the errors of +earthly experience. + +The restless ineffectual arguing to and fro with which he had tormented +himself the day before was absent from this calmer mood. What was the +use of struggling against inexorable necessity? Certainly war was one +of the most terrible evils to which the world had ever been subjected, +and he who should deliver mankind from this curse would be a new +Saviour. But when would the Messiah come? Till then one must have +patience. + +The nations groaned under the weight of their armaments; but none would +set the example of throwing off the oppressive burden. And the German +people, who seemed to furnish an object-lesson in the world's history, +whose destiny had been fuller than any other of changes and +contradictions--the German people, at once so large-minded and so +petty, so admirable and so despicable, so strong and so weak; who had +done so much for the advancement of culture, and yet were so +unconscious of their great work; hated by the rest of the world, yet +divided amongst themselves--the German people had least call of all to +make a beginning. They must, like every other nation, look to a strong +army as their safeguard. + +But then came the crushing thought: that army was no longer the same +that had in one famous struggle forced the whole world to unwilling +admiration. + +Reimers took a mournful farewell of the beloved heroes of that mighty +epoch. Every name connected with it thrilled his memory: Saarbrücken, a +skirmish still scarcely imbued with the gravity of war, and assuming +rather the character of playful bantering provocation; Weissenburgh and +Wörth, where Bavarians and North Germans met as comrades in arms; +Spicheren, where a slight encounter with the rear-guard grew into a +serious conflict; Metz, which cost the enemy one of his two armies +in the field, and was the cause of weeping to countless German mothers; +Beaumont, the prelude to the huge tragedy of Sedan; and lastly, Paris, +and the grim tussle of the seasoned fighters with the young enthusiasm +of the republican army of relief at Orleans, Beaune la Rolande, Le +Mans, St. Quentin, and on the Lisaine. He saw the army returning from +the campaign crowned with victory; and then began that steady +persevering activity which, not content to rest on its laurels, +proceeded with the work of strengthening and protecting what had been +won. + +Then he thought of the present, and, still more gravely, of the future. + +A good part of that modest, quiet devotion to duty was still alive in +the army; but was not the new-fangled, shallow, noisy bustle of show +and glitter every day displacing the good old feeling that recognised +its power without any big words? A proud self-denying asceticism had +given way to trivialities and superficialities. And that in a time when +such follies were more than ever dangerous! + +And in proportion as the army pursued this course did disintegration go +forward within its ranks. The ever-increasing spread of socialistic +opinions among the men, and the growing disaffection for military +service, perfected the work which was already loosening the structure +from without. This army, lacking in martial ardour, and educated more +for parade than for war, was rushing with blinded eyes towards its +doom. The flames of annihilation already shone ahead; the heirs of +Sedan's conquerors marched straight onward, firm and erect in grand +ceremonial array--and the sign-posts by the way pointed to Jena. + +Reimers groaned in bitter distress of mind. + +Was there no salvation? + +He looked around him and gazed into the blackness of night. All about +him was gloom. A light breeze was blowing; it bore on its wings the +scent of the blossoming heather and the resinous odour of pine-trees. +And from the beds of the wasted garden arose another smell that mingled +with the per fume of the breeze: the invigorating smell of the soil, of +the mother-earth. It infused courage into the despairing heart of the +lonely man, and elevated his drooping spirit. + +The soil of their native land was the inexhaustible source from which +the strength of the German people constantly renewed itself. Thanks to +their love for the soil they could never utterly perish. + +To this was owing the continual unconscious longing that drove the +workmen out of the great cities on holidays, so that the green of woods +and meadows was dotted with colour by the gay summer attire of women +and children; a longing that made the lower classes crave to possess a +few roods of land, if only to stand on their own soil and cultivate +fruit whose flavour would be sweeter to them than any food that money +could buy: the mighty living love for the soil of their native land. + +And suddenly Reimers had a waking vision. He looked down upon the earth +from some point of vantage. Germany lay beneath him as though viewed +from the car of a balloon, with the familiar outlines pictured in the +maps; yet he seemed to distinguish every roof in the cities and every +tree in the woods. All parts of the country bore harvest; moors, +marshes, heath-lands, had been converted into orchards, fruitful +fields, or stately forests. But the extended boundaries of the large +estates had vanished. + +From the Baltic to the Vosges, from the marches of Schleswig to the +Bavarian highlands, one peasant-farm neighboured another. The towns had +grown no larger, for a new and happy race of men cultivated the soil: a +lusty race, who flooded the cities with fresh vigour; a free race, +loving its fatherland with a jubilant, willing, conscious love. And the +sun shone down joyfully on this land of peace and plenty. + +The pleasant picture vanished, and once more his eyes stared into the +gloom. + +From the distant camp came borne on the night wind the sound of the +tattoo. He listened vaguely. Distance muffled the clear trumpet-call, +and the final majestic roll of the drum was alike lost in the deep +melancholy of the darkness. The tattoo. All must now go to rest. He +thought of the beautiful pale woman whom he loved, who had given him +one last moment of ecstatic joy in life before death claimed him. + +Had she too gone to her rest? + + +The little weapon gave a faint report. + +The screech-owl fluttered out of its cranny in the wall. With an +apprehensive beat of its wings it sailed off over the deserted village +and sent forth its piteous cry. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + "Love of the fatherland, + Love of the freeborn man,--" + (_German National Anthem._) + + +Franz Vogt had calculated that his release from prison would take place +at the beginning of February. He had hoped for a clear sunshiny day, a +blue winter sky, a hard frost, and crackling snow beneath his feet. + +Everything turned out according to his wish; yet when the heavy +prison-gates opened, Vogt never noticed the beauty of the winter day. +He thought of Wolf, whom they had shot down in his attempt to escape. +He himself had helped to lift the dead man, whose skull had been +shattered by the shot. + +Vogt was escorted back to the garrison by a sergeant. He would have had +about two months more to serve, as the five months of his imprisonment +were not counted; but on account of his father's death he had in any +case to be given his discharge, in order that his little property might +not suffer by neglect. + +He had to wait a few days till all the formalities were gone through. +Gunner Vogt did everything he was told punctually and obediently, +though hardly with that cheerful frank readiness which had of old +proved him such a good soldier. During his punishment the fresh +open-hearted lad had become a gloomy, self-contained man. + +One evening Käppchen, the clerk, who among all the changes in the +battery seemed to be the only person who remained in his place, +announced to him: "Vogt, your papers are made out. To-morrow you can +go." + +And Vogt answered him respectfully: "Very good, sir." + +He was alone in Room IX. on the morning of his release, putting on his +civilian clothes. The battery had gone down to the big exercise-ground +for general foot-drill. He took his time over his dressing. What need +was there to hurry? Nobody was waiting for him outside; and nobody +would miss him here. He was quite alone in the wide world. + +At the door he gave a last look round the bare barrack-room. Once these +grey walls had seemed almost home-like to him; once, when the faithful +Klitzing had the locker next his own. But that was long ago. + +He went down the steps and out towards the back-gate, In the +drill-ground the battery, just returned from exercise, was drawn up. + +Vogt pulled off his hat and the captain slightly touched his cap. The +greeting looked almost embarrassed. + +This was a topsy-turvy world. Wegstetten's eyes chanced to rest on +Gustav Weise, who was in his place in the right wing as corporal in +charge of the first column. It would be unjust to complain of him; +Weise did his work very well. But the captain would have preferred to +see a Corporal Vogt in his stead. + +In front of Weise stood Senior-lieutenant Brettschneider as leader of +the first column. With his stiffened neck and proudly erect carriage he +gave the impression of wishing to point out what an immense gulf +separated him from the men. Between this officer and his subordinates +there was no kind of sympathy. + +And at that sight the commander of the battery looked still more glum. +Brettschneider might have been quite brilliant at the Staff College in +tactics and military history, but he was of no real use as an officer; +still less could he instil into the men either military efficiency or +convinced patriotism. + + +When Vogt arrived at the station the train he had meant to take had +already gone. + +Well, that couldn't be helped. He must wait for the next. + +The dull February day was drawing towards its close when he stepped out +upon the road that led to his native village. Joylessly he saw the +familiar details of the neighbourhood appearing out of the fog, and he +gave a casual, uninterested glance over the fields that bordered the +highway. + +Before the turnpike-keeper's cottage he stood still a moment. The dusty +windows looked strange and dead; and the closed door over the well-worn +threshold seemed to warn him off. + +The little side-gate into the yard was not locked. Franz Vogt entered +by it upon his paternal inheritance. + +Just then old Wackwitz came hobbling with his wooden leg across the +yard, carrying a pot of steamed potatoes. + +"Nobody has any business here!" he cried out to the intruder. + +Then he recognised "young Herr Vogt." He took him at once across the +yard, and pointed out to him, in his clumsy, babbling way, the fine +glossy appearance of the cows and the appetising sleekness of the pigs. +Who could be found to take more trouble with the beasts than he? And he +had been very economical with the food, although the local authorities +had not given him too liberal an allowance! + +Vogt listened perfunctorily. He nodded assent to all the garrulous old +man said. It was quite true, the beasts looked well cared-for. + +He patted the strawberry cow, who was in calf; and she turned her head +towards him as she lay in her stall comfortably chewing the cud. Yet he +could not feel easy. With his foot he pushed aside some straw that was +littering about the place, and he carefully avoided the dung that lay +on the stones of the yard. + +He went down to the village and got the keys. A stuffy, chilly +atmosphere met him in the passage and exhaled from every room. Thick +dust lay everywhere on floors and furniture. + +Nothing had been moved from its place, and every picture hung as usual +on the wall. But it seemed to Vogt as if the rooms were empty and the +walls bare. He shuddered with cold and with the sense of loneliness. + +In the living-room his father's plain easy-chair was pushed up to the +table, and beside it the stool on which the son had usually sat. It +looked as if they had both only been out into the field for a moment +and would return immediately; but yet he could not feel at home. + +Franz Vogt looked about him sadly. All else was as of old; but his +father lay in the churchyard beneath the heaped-up clay of his +newly-made grave, and the son stood like a stranger in his father's +house. + +The lowing of the cows aroused him from his dismal brooding. He had +sent away old Wackwitz after rewarding him liberally: for he meant to +do as his father had done, and manage all the work himself. + +He gave the beasts their food, which had already been prepared for +them. There was not a scrap of bread nor of butter in the house for +himself. He made his way down to the village in the dark, and was glad +to find that the baker's shop was not yet shut, and that a neighbour +could provide him with some butter. + +And when, dead tired after the varying experiences of the day, he went +upstairs, there were no sheets on his bed. He could not take the +trouble to rummage in the linen-chest, and crept heavy-heartedly +between the rough woollen blankets. + +Early next morning he was aroused by the uneasy mooing of the cows. He +sprang from bed and scarcely gave himself time to wash. He had to +bestir himself, and the fagging and worry lasted without intermittence +from morning until night. He had hardly time to go down to the village +inn in the middle of the day and get a hot meal. + +He would not allow himself to fall short in any way, and was +unremitting in his exertions. + +But was this the condition on which, while a soldier, he had looked +back with such longing? This haste and breathless labour, this hurrying +from one thing to another without pause or rest? + +He smiled bitterly to himself, and looked about him with dull, joyless +eyes. He was tired with his day's work, and his back ached with +fatigue; where was that joy of labour, which had formerly sustained +him, and had lightened the burden on his shoulders? + +Seed-time was coming on; when the young leaves of the lime-tree began +to show as tender brown buds on the twigs, then the corn must be sown +for the summer's harvest. But before that the fields, which had lain +fallow through the winter, must be ploughed and harrowed. + +Franz Vogt yoked the two dun cows, the strawberry remaining in her +stall. Wintry weather persisted obstinately this year. As he followed +the plough the hail lashed in his face, and the icy wind penetrated to +the skin through his jacket and warm knitted vest. He turned his back +to the storm in order to get breath, and hid his face behind a +sheltering arm. More than once he broke off work half-way, and took +back his team to their warm stable. + +He would then spare no trouble with the beasts, and the two cows would +soon be standing contentedly with their feet in the plentiful straw. +But he himself would crouch before the cold hearth, trying to blow up +the smouldering turf into a bright flame. He would throw his damp +frieze coat over the back of a chair, and wait shivering for the fire +to burn up and warm him. Sometimes he would dally with the thought that +it might be best for him to sell up the whole place--house, stock, and +field, and go into the town. Was he not living the life of a beast of +burden? Worse, indeed! He had not had a single day of rest since his +release: not one, among all these days of labour on which he had toiled +till his bones ached. Wolf had told him how easily any poor devil could +get on in town if he only had a fairly level head, how free and +independent one could be there; how much more, then, a man with a few +thousand thalers in his pocket! + +It so happened that at this moment the lord of the manor made a rather +advantageous offer for the land. He wanted it to "round off" his +estate. + +Would it not be his most prudent course to seize this opportunity? +Certainly the very least he could do was to turn the matter over +carefully. + +Perhaps the lord of the manor would offer more if one seemed unwilling +to sell. + + +At last the bad weather came to an end, and it seemed possible to begin +to think about the sowing. + +A suggestion of a warmer spell to come mellowed the freshness of the +morning air when Vogt came out of the yard with his team, The eastern +horizon was gaily tinted. The rising sun shone clear and bright, +sending forth prophetic rays that foretold fair weather. + +The young peasant glanced into the cow-house, where the strawberry +seemed scarcely able to sustain her heavy burden, though she was not +due to calve for another fortnight. For the first time Vogt began to +feel some return of joy and content. This strawberry cow was a +magnificent animal. She brought gigantic calves into the world; lively +little creatures too, that made the funniest leaps and bounds, and were +always beautifully marked. One could not but feel sorry when the +butcher fetched them away. + +The two dun cows lowed with pleasure when they came briskly out into +the yard, as though they already scented summer, with its mild air and +green grass. He yoked them to the small wooden cart. Then he brought +the sack of seed-corn from the barn. He had laid it in some time +before, and the sack had not been disturbed. But he opened it to +convince himself that all was right. He took up a large handful, and +let the grains of wheat run through his fingers. The seed lay plump and +heavy in the palm of his hand. + +Then a current of joy made his heart beat higher. He saw the crop +growing green, then ripening; the stalks crowded thickly together, and +as the summer breeze passed over the field the heavy ears bowed and +swayed like ripples upon the sea. + +With a happy glance he looked about him; house and yard were in good +order, the harrow lay waiting in the field, all was ready. And he drove +his team merrily onwards. + +The dun cows stopped of themselves when they reached their destination. + +Franz Vogt smiled. Yes, this must be a thorn in the flesh for the lord +of the manor! The corn-patch was small; but it stretched out amid the +turnip-fields like a long arm that could hold its own, and that would +not brook encroachment. Rich fruitful soil it was, that scarcely needed +the manure he gave it. + +Pride awoke in the heart of the young peasant-farmer. Oh no, it was not +so simple as the lord of the manor thought! It might be a good while +yet before the big estate was "rounded off." + +Franz Vogt opened the mouth of the sack and shook out a portion of the +seed-corn. The two cows stood chewing the cud by the wayside. He turned +to the field. + +The sun shone gaily as it mounted upwards. The black earth lay ready +and receptive; above the furrows hovered a light mist, and an +invigorating aroma ascended from the soil, like incense offered by the +maternal earth to the engendering sun to celebrate the new year of +fruitfulness that was just beginning. + +The untiring force of nature was in this fragrance, shedding courage +and strength into the hearts of mankind with the full benediction of +spring. + +An overpowering sensation made the young peasant fall on his knees, and +he touched the earth with reverent caressing hands as though it were +something sacred. + +He had found his home again. + +A troop of hired labourers, strangers from Galicia, were approaching a +field in the neighbouring property of the manor. They followed each +other wearily like a band of slaves, unwilling and half asleep. Behind +them came the inspector. + +"Avanti, avanti!" he cried, supposing, apparently, that this was +Polish. + +And the strangers set to work. Their heads were bowed wearily, and +their movements resembled the automatism of a machine. + +But Franz Vogt stepped out into the broad sunshine with head erect, and +strewed the seed into the furrows of his land with a free sweep of his +outstretched arm. + + + + + + Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. + London & Edinburgh. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of 'Jena' or 'Sedan'?, by Franz Beyerlein + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 'JENA' OR 'SEDAN'? *** + +***** This file should be named 31099-8.txt or 31099-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/0/9/31099/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from scans obtained from The +Internet Archive. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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