, Fritz then carved a rude cross,
which he fixed in the ground at the head of the poor young fellow's last
resting-place, inscribing on it the words: "To a French officer. Peace
to his remains. The grave knows no enmities! 18th August, 1870."

The date on this unknown victim's grave was exactly one month later than
that on which he must have parted from his sweetheart. What a strange
fatality, pondered Fritz and his companion, that one who had probably
been so much loved and cared for, should be indebted for the last
friendly offices which man or woman could render him--to strangers!
"May he rest in peace!" said Fritz, uncovering his head as he turned
away, and then putting on his helmet again.

"So, too, I wish," echoed Heinrich. "We can do no more for him, poor
youth!"

"No," said Fritz; "we'd better go now. Come on, old fellow!" he added,
with a whistle to the retriever, who, wise dog that he was, seeing he
could do no further good to the one to whom he had been faithful in life
and watched in death as long as he was able, now answered the call of
the new friend whom Providence had sent him. Without any demur he
returned with Fritz and Heinrich to the Hanoverian camp, following close
behind the heels of the former, as if recognising him as his master in
the place of him whom he had lost.

Fritz christened this treasure trove of the battlefield "Gelert"; and
like that trusty hound of old, the animal became known to all the men in
a very short while. He was formally adopted, indeed, as the pet of the
regiment, besides coming in for Fritz's own special care, being known
even to the general in command of the division as "the dog of the sub-
lieutenant of Gravelotte."

CHAPTER FIVE.

BAD NEWS.

If it had seemed dull and lonely in the little household of the Gulden
Strasse at Lubeck after Eric had gone to sea, how much more so was it
not to the two sad women left alone to console each other when Fritz,
also, had departed from home!

For days, Madame Dort appeared borne down by a weight of woe, and even
Lorischen lost that customary cheeriness with which she usually
performed her daily duties in her endeavours to console her mistress.
Mouser, too, went miaow-wowing about the house at nights, as if he
likewise shared in the family despondency--not once being caught in the
act of stealing the breakfast cream, a predilection for which had
hitherto been an abnormal failing on his part. So changed, indeed,