t; you've been sleeping. I have been
waiting an eternity for your salute; but I will show you, you hog,
what punishment awaits a fellow of your stripe!"

With that he passed the sentinel, and the latter was almost paralyzed
with fear. Arrived at the regimental headquarters, Mueller made the
following report:

"The sentinel keeping guard between twelve and two o'clock
this night I found asleep during an inspection which I made.
He answered my call only after a considerable time. I must
declare in advance that the man, in case he should urge his
inability to recognize me in the dark, is stating what is
not true, since I noticed particularly that he was asleep."

This report he placed on the desk of the commander of the regiment.
Then he aroused the regimental chief clerk from a sound sleep in the
adjoining room, kept that poor fellow shivering in his night garments
in the corridor for about ten minutes, and then went home. Having
discharged what he considered a grave duty, he was able to sleep the
sleep of the just.

* * * * *

On the afternoon of December 22d, Sergeant Schmitz returned from jail.

The poor fellow had greatly changed. The black moustache, formerly
twisted and waxed so as to describe an angle in exact imitation of the
Kaiser's, was drooping, and his face was pale and worn. He looked
shyly at all the privates whom he met in the streets, and when one of
them saluted him, he deemed it a special act of courtesy. He thought
he read in everybody's eyes:

"This man is a criminal,--a man punished for grave insubordination!"

When he reported himself to the chief of the squadron, the latter
said, with some show of feeling:

"Sorry, my dear Schmitz, that I have to lose you. You were always a
man of whom I felt proud, and who did his duty as few others did. But
the colonel has commanded me to cancel the capitulation agreement[14]
and to dismiss you forthwith. Console yourself with the thought that
you have become the victim of a dirty intrigue. I wish you well, and
if I can be of any service to you, you know where to find me. And so,
farewell!"

[14] "Capitulation" means an arrangement by which a
non-commissioned officer agrees to serve the government for a
certain term of years.--TR.

Schmitz felt the tears spurting from his eyes, as his chief went
towards the stable. His captain was really sorry to lose him. Schmitz
had always