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ress in eight days!' 'We shall see,' answered the king, kneeling upon the inner scarp; leaning his head upon the parapet with his face turned towards the enemy, he looked long and anxiously towards the sappers, who were quietly and assiduously pursuing their labors. At this moment a confused noise was heard from the camp. 'Go and see what is the matter, Gyllenstierna,' commanded the king: 'and bring me a report.' 'Do you command it, your majesty?' replied Arwed, with a heavy heart; for at such a moment he dared not leave the king alone with the two Frenchmen. 'Hasten, captain,' whispered Siquier to him. 'The king loves not loiterers, and to-day, especially, he is not in the best humor.' Arwed obeyed with a sigh. As he came out of the trenches all had become still again, and from count Posse, whom he met, he learned that two unruly horses had been the whole cause of the alarm. While they were yet speaking of it Swedenborg came hastily up to them. With an ice-cold hand he seized Arwed's and drew him hastily aside. 'Where have you left the king?' asked he, with much earnestness. 'At the extremity of the trench,' answered Arwed. 'Megret and Siquier are with him.' 'Oh, why have you absented yourself from your lord?' cried Swedenborg, wringing his hands. 'I begged of you so earnestly!' 'By his command;'--answered Arwed, now much alarmed. 'For God's sake return immediately to him,' supplicated Swedenborg, dragging him forward. 'God grant that we come not too late!' They both proceeded rapidly along the trench. In the narrow passage, they were met by Siquier. 'Where is the king?' quickly asked Arwed of him. 'That is what I wished to ask of you!' returned Siquier, with an insolent yet trembling voice. 'I left him soon after you did, and in the darkness cannot find him again.' 'That is strange!' said Arwed. 'You had better go with me, and let us seek our lord where I left him in your company.' Siquier reluctantly obeyed. They came finally to the old place, which was well known to Arwed. Already at some, distance he saw the king still in the same position, leaning upon the parapet. At the same time Megret, joining them, suddenly approached the king and bent over him. 'He is dead!' said he after a while, very quietly. 'The king dead!' shrieked Arwed, with wild amazement, and running to the nearest guard post, he immediately returned with a blazing torch. The light disclosed a horrid scene. Cov
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