n I rode till it was perfectly dark. Couldn't see a
single wicked enemy. Didn't I just get a rowing! A whole winter
practice thrown away! Two infantry regiments with a mile of transport,
and behind them four batteries and four squadrons of horse. All had
marched gaily past each other at about half an hour's interval! Not a
shot fired! No, thanks--never again!"

At a cross-road Ottensen took leave of them. From afar he waved once
more his immaculately-gloved right hand.

Reimers rode on in silence.

On the horizon appeared the white walls of the barracks and stables,
and the water-tower of the practice-camp.

It was an unwelcome thought this that his old companion of the Military
Academy had suggested to him. Here was another proof of how everything
in the army was worked up simply to present a smooth outward
appearance. How he would laugh now if any one spoke to him of a
similarity between the conditions of real warfare and those of the
man[oe]uvres! It was a thoroughly planned-out game, in which no
ill-timed mischance was allowed to disturb the preordained harmony of
the arrangements.

But what a crying shame that such splendid material should be spoilt by
this dangerous system! Ottensen was not a highly-gifted soldier; he was
no model military instructor; but he was a fine horseman, had a cool
head, plenty of dash, and some keen mother-wit to boot: a born leader
of scouts. And yet these brilliant qualities were sacrificed to outward
show, and were let go to waste for want of use! One good cavalry
officer the less; that was bad enough. But had not Ottensen spoken as
though these were quite usual practices? It looked as though this
purely external unwarlike training of the army were being erected into
a principle.

The first day at the practice-camp was entirely taken up by settling
into quarters. The tables were laid at six o'clock in the evening. Most
of the officers were perfectly exhausted with standing about and
running hither and thither; and directly the meal was over they retired
to their rooms to get half an hour's nap before their evening duty.

Reimers left the camp by the back gate and went slowly along the edge
of the forest towards the butts.

The sun was setting, and the rim of the red disk seemed to be just
resting on the dark line of the tree-tops. The heath glowed with colour
in the evening radiance.

Some men with pickaxes and spades over their shoulders met him; behind
them a waggon lad