, 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 u