the ground over which it sped; in a
wild gallop it went on over the snow-covered ground, through the
ice-clad forest, over frozen streams, on, on, into the mountain pass!

CHAPTER XVI.

The following day brought clear, frosty weather. The intense cold had
abated and the sun shone out warm and bright. Eugen Stahlberg and
Lieutenant Walldorf, free from duty for the time being, were in Prince
Adelsberg's quarters. Walldorf had been thrown from his horse the
previous evening, and his hand had been injured, and this prevented him
from going out with his company, as Egon had done. The gentlemen were
waiting for the return of their princely comrade, who must be back soon
now, and as they waited, they teased and guyed old Peter Stadinger, who
was on duty early at his master's quarters.

The young officers had heard nothing of the news which had been learned
over night at headquarters, they were as merry as could be, and
indulged in much raillery over old Peter's lectures to his master. But
the old man said little in answer to their banter this morning; his
master was long in returning, and Stadinger had reached the age when he
borrowed trouble, and it rested heavily upon him. Finally Walldorf got
out of all patience with him and said:

"I believe, Stadinger, you'd like to strap the prince on your back and
take him off to Rodeck with you. The camp is no place for anxiety or
alarm, remember that."

"Then the prince had to reconnoitre to-day," added Eugen. "He has to
make a detour from Chapel mountain to the valley beneath and through the
ravine, in order to see what the outlook is. We'll probably have a
pleasant exchange of civilities with the French gentlemen within the
next few days, and we want to be ready for them at all points."

"But there's plenty of chances for them to shoot now, isn't there?"
asked the old man with such anxiety that the officers had to laugh
aloud.

"Yes, there's chances enough to shoot," Walldorf asserted. "You seem to
be afraid of a gun. You're safe from any stray shots here!"

"I?" the old man straightened himself; he was deeply insulted. "I wish
to God I could be in the midst of it all."

"Yes, you'd stay by the prince, and when you saw a bullet coming you'd
give his coat a pull and say: 'Be careful, your highness, here comes a
bullet.' That would be great fun."

"Herr Lieutenant," said the old man so earnestly that their merriment
was silenced, "you should not talk so to an old