the soldiers in the king's army. But the spirit of obedience,
discipline, and self-denial of the latter seemed hardships to one of
William's loose turn of mind. When he began to murmur, some good old
soldier clapped him on the back, saying, Cheer up lad, it is a
kingdom you are to strive for, if we faint not, henceforth there is
laid up for us a great reward; we have the king's word for it, man.
William observed, that to those who truly believed this, their
labors were as nothing, but he himself did not at the bottom believe
it; and it was observed, of all the soldiers who failed, the true
cause was that they did not really believe the king's promise. He
was surprised to see that those soldiers, who used to bluster and
boast, and deride the assaults of the enemy, now began to fall away;
while such as had faithfully obeyed the king's orders, and believed
in his word, were sustained in the hour of trial. Those who had
trusted in their own strength all fainted on the slightest attack,
while those who had put on the armor of the king's providing, the
sword, and the shield, and the helmet, and the breast-plate, and
whose feet were shod according to order, now endured hardship as
good soldiers, and were enabled to fight the good fight.

An engagement was expected immediately. The men were ordered to
prepare for battle. While the rest of the corps were so preparing,
William's whole thoughts were bent on contriving how he might
desert. But alas! he was watched on all sides, he could not possibly
devise any means to escape. The danger increased every moment, the
battle came on. William, who had been so sure and confident before
he entered, flinched in the moment of trial, while his more quiet
and less boastful comrades prepared boldly to do their duty. William
looked about on all sides, and saw that there was no eye upon him,
for he did not know that the king's eye was everywhere at once. He
at last thought he spied a chance of escaping, not from the enemy,
but from his own army. While he was endeavoring to escape, a ball
from the opposite camp took off his leg. As he fell, the first words
which broke from him were, While I was in my duty I was preserved;
in the very act of deserting I am wounded. He lay expecting every
moment to be trampled to death, but as the confusion was a little
over, he was taken off the field by some of his own party, laid in a
place of safety, and left to himself after his wound was dressed.

The sk