reached the practice-camp again when his brother-officers were
at mess.

It was only on alighting from the carriage that he remembered
Frommelt's commission. He was staggered a little at this neglect; but
after all what did such trifles matter? He smiled to himself that he
should trouble about it now.

In his own room he threw himself upon the hard camp-bed. The bare place
felt stifling, although the window was wide open. The white-washed
walls seemed narrowing about him, and he felt as if he would be
suffocated.

He shut his eyes wearily. Then the troubled vision disappeared, and he
had a feeling of freedom and deliverance, a grateful sensation of
release from the limitations of matter, as though borne aloft into the
unconfined regions of cosmic space.

The mounted sentry patrolling the forest passed by the window. The man
had settled himself comfortably on horse-back, and his hanging bugle
and accoutrements jingled. As he came near the creaking of the saddle
could be heard. By degrees the sounds subsided, though the metallic
tinkling was perceptible for a long time.

Perhaps, however, that gentle sound was but the prelude to some
illusion of the senses.

Then voices sounded from the mess-room: the high crowing tones of
Wegstetten and the mellow bass of Major Lischke, The little captain was
grumbling about the food.

"No, no, major," he piped. "The mess-steward sets disgusting stuff
before us, and that's the truth. Now, to-day beef and potato-soup? Pah!
It was lean old cow, as tough as shoe-leather! And soup? hot water and
Liebig!"

"But, my dear Wegstetten," Lischke tried to appease him, "think of the
difficulties of transport! A two-hours' drive, and we're not to run up
the expenses!"

Wegstetten's reply was lost in the passage.

Reimers rose quickly from the bed. He was afraid that Frommelt might
seek him out, and that he would have to invent some kind of excuse.

He took his little revolver out of the drawer and examined the chamber;
it was loaded with five cartridges. He had often thought of unloading
the weapon, but had then said to himself: "Why? Who knows if it might
not be wanted?"

He hastened down the steps of the officers' quarters and ran quickly
along the camp-road to the gate. The sentry stared after him in
surprise; he had not expected to have to present arms at such an hour.
Then he stepped into his place beside the sentry-box, and performed the
neglected salute; for so the regulations