ed 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 th