found him in a barn. He is wounded. Oh, he
looked so emaciated, so changed, that I scarcely knew him! But now all
is well.

Roland relates that a woman in man's clothing had him taken into the
barn, and he asserts that it was the Countess Bella. I saw her
once when I was at Mattenheim, I have seen her now. I think it was
she--rushing past on horseback, and dressed like a man. She looked at
me, and must have recognized me.

On, mother! it is very wonderful. Perhaps Roland has told you that he
gave me a pebble, and I gave one to him, when we saw each other at
Mattenheim. This pebble he kept and wore over his heart, and the pebble
saved his life.

I have sent an account of everything to New York, but I do not know
whether the letter will get there. Letters will reach Europe, and I beg
you to forward the tidings to my father and to Eric. Say, besides, that
Roland is wholly out of danger; a German physician in the army here
gives me this assurance.

Send the news also to Mattenheim, to uncle and aunt and all the
relatives.

Roland has just waked, having had a good sleep.

He wants me to request you to take the deaf mute to the Villa, and give
him something to do in the garden; he talks a great deal about him.

[Eric to Weidmann.]

Now the worst is over! I don't know how to put it into words.

It was a hot day, and the battle was a severely contested one on both
sides. We have gained the victory, and our loss is great. Adams came to
me; he was bleeding, and foaming at the mouth. I wanted to bind up his
wounds, but he pushed me away, crying,--

"Come! come! I did not kill him, he gave the masonic sign--I dared not
kill him--he's lying outside there."

"Who?"

"The man--the man."

I had great difficulty in getting him to speak the name. It was
Sonnenkamp.

I took a physician with me, and we hurried past the wounded calling for
help.

We came to a hill; there he lay. I could hardly get my breath as I
stood there before him, but at last I cried,--

"Father!"

"Father!" screamed he. "Away! leave me!"

He stared at me with glassy eyes. He tore up the grass, and digging out
the earth, he buried his face in the fresh mould, trying to inhale that
peculiar odor which had always refreshed him; but he shook his head,
appearing unable to perceive the earthy smell.

He now turned round and stared at me.

The physician made preparations to dress his wounds, from several of
which the