Helga persuaded
me to lie down, and I was very tired, so at last I fell asleep.
Then it came. I saw him, Fritz--I saw him as plainly as I see
you. They all called him king, as they did to-day; but they did
not cheer. They were quiet, and looked at him with sad faces. I
could not hear what they said; they spoke in hushed voices. I
heard nothing more than 'the king, the king,' and he seemed to
hear not even that. He lay still; he was lying on something,
something covered with hanging stuff, I couldn't see what it was;
yes, quite still. His face was so pale, and he didn't hear them
say 'the king.' Fritz, Fritz, he looked as if he were dead! Where
is he? Where have you let him go?"
She turned from me and her eyes flashed over the rest. "Where is
he? Why aren't you with him?" she demanded, with a sudden change
of tone; "why aren't you round him? You should be between him and
danger, ready to give your lives for his. Indeed, gentlemen, you
take your duty lightly."
It might be that there was little reason in her words. There
appeared to be no danger threatening him, and after all he was
not our king, much as we desired to make him such. Yet we did not
think of any such matter.
Pages:
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366