t 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
Kaeppchen 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, huddl