frederick the great and his family-第89章

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e　village　justice　stood　before　him；　and　gazed　at　him　with　a　melancholy　smile。

〃I　knew　I　would　find　you　here；　Father　Buschman；　and　I　came　for　you。　The　time　is　come；　we　are　all　assembled　on　the　square　awaiting　you。〃

〃I　come！〃　said　the　old　man；　as　he　stood　up　resolutely；　giving　a　last　loving　farewell　glance　at　his　wife's　grave。

The　old　man　no　longer　needed　his　friend's　arm　to　support　him；　his　steps　were　firm；　his　form　manly　and　erect；　his　venerable　countenance　glowed　with　energy。

By　the　side　of　the　village　justice　he　walked　to　the　square；　under　the　great　linden。　There　every　thing　looked　bright　and　gay。　The　boys　had　taken　advantage　of　the　dinner　hour　to　make　worthy　preparations　for　their　festival。　They　had　brought　fresh　evergreens　from　the　woods；　and　had　made　wreaths　and　festooned　them　from　tree　to　tree　around　the　square。　The　ground　was　covered　prettily　with　flowers　and　leaves；　and　the　bench　under　the　tree　was　decorated　with　a　wreath　of　field…flowers。

On　one　side　of　the　square　stood　several　tables　covered　with　bottles　of　wine　and　beer　and　cake　and　bread；　not　far　from　the　tables　was　a　throne　adorned　with　flowers；　where　sat　the　fiddler；　gazing　proudly　around　him；　like　a　king　who　knows　he　is　the　crowning　point　of　the　feast。

It　certainly　had　been　a　long　time　since　the　merry　sound　of　the　fiddle　had　been　heard　in　the　village　of　Brunen。　The　throne　was　surrounded　by　little　boys　and　girls　listening　with　wondering　delight　at　the　gay　music。　But　the　grown　girls　stood　afar　off　and　did　not　look　even　once　at　the　enticing　fiddler；　but　hid　themselves　timidly　behind　the　mothers；　who　were　standing　with　stern　faces　gazing　at　the　groups　of　men　waiting　anxiously　on　the　other　side　of　the　square。

The　stillness　and　universal　silence　began　at　last　to　make　the　boys　uneasy。　They　had　tried　in　vain　to　engage　the　men　in　conversation。　They　received　no　answer　to　their　questions；　and　when　they　turned　to　the　women　and　the　maidens；　they　also　remained　dumb。　The　returned　soldiers　then　went　to　the　other　side　of　the　square　to　talk　to　the　fiddler　and　the　children；　but　when　they　began　to　fondle　and　play　with　the　little　ones；　they　were　called　by　their　fathers　and　mothers　and　bade　to　remain　at　their　side。

The　boys　gazed　questioningly　at　one　another。

〃I　am　curious　to　know　what　this　means；　are　we　to　remain　standing　here　all　night？〃　muttered　one　of　them。

〃It　appears　to　me　that　they　are　waiting　for　some　one；〃　murmured　another。

〃They　are　expecting　my　father；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　〃and　see；　there　he　comes　from　the　churchyard。　The　justice　went　for　him。〃

When　the　old　man　arrived　at　the　square　the　men　advanced　to　meet　him；　conducted　him　gravely　to　the　bench　under　the　great　linden；　and　assisted　him　to　stand　upon　it。　There　he　towered　above　them；　and　his　pale；　venerable　face；　his　silver　hairs　were　visible　to　all。　Every　eye　was　directed　to　him；　and　breathless　silence　ensued。　The　old　man　raised　his　arm　and　pointed　toward　the　side　where　the　twelve　boys　stood。

〃Come　to　me；　Charles　Henry　Buschman；〃　he　said；　solemnly；　and　as　his　son　advanced　rapidly　to　him；　he　continued：　〃I　ask　you　in　the　name　of　God；　if　what　you　told　me　yesterday　is　true？　Have　you　secretly　left　the　flag　of　your　king；　our　sovereignthe　great　King　Frederick　of　Prussia？　Is　it　true　that　you　have　forsaken　your　regiment　and　the　flag　to　which　you　swore　to　be　faithful？〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　with　assumed　daring；　〃but　we　were　not　only　justified　in　doing　soour　duty　compelled　us。　We　are　no　longer　Prussian　subjects；　but　subjects　of　the　King　of　France。　You　all　heard　to…day　what　the　minister　read　to　us　in　churchhow　the　archbishop　commanded　us　to　be　faithful　to　our　new　sovereign。　We　could　no　longer　wear　the　Prussian　uniform　or　be　Prussian　soldiers；　therefore　we　returned　to　our　village。〃

〃You　returned　as　dishonored；　faithless　soldiers！〃　cried　the　old　man；　looking　angrily　at　his　son〃　you　returned　covered　with　shame　miserable　desertersto　the　disgrace　of　your　fathers；　mothers；　your　brothers；　sisters；　sweethearts；　and　your　friends。　You　have　deserted　the　flag　of　your　rightful　king；　to　whom　you　swore　the　oath　of　allegiancean　oath　which　God　received；　and　which　no　man　can　annul。　Men　of　Brunen！　shall　we　stand　this　shame　that　our　sons　bring　upon　us？　Shall　the　world　point　their　fingers　at　us　and　say：　'These　are　the　fathers　of　soldiers　who　deserted　their　regiment；　and　were　false　to　their　king？'〃

〃No！〃　cried　they　all；　as　with　one　voice〃no；　we　will　not　stand　thiswe　will　have　no　deserters　as　sons！〃

The　old　man　bowed　his　head　in　silence；　then　turned　slowly　to　the　side　where　the　women　stood。

〃Women　and　maidens　of　Brunen！　Will　you　allow　your　sons　and　brothers　who　are　covered　with　shame；　to　stay　amongst　you？　Will　you　receive　the　deserters　in　your　houses　and　at　your　tables？　Will　you　open　your　arms　to　them　and　call　them　sons　and　brothers？〃

〃No；　no！〃　cried　the　women　and　maidens；　simultaneously；　〃we　will　not　receive　them　in　our　houses；　or　at　our　tables。　We　will　have　no　deserters　for　sons　or　brothers！〃

The　old　man　stood　erect；　and；　as　if　inspired　with　a　mighty　enthusiasm；　raised　his　arm　toward　heaven；　and　his　countenance　beamed　with　holy　light。

〃They　must　return　to　their　flag；〃　he　cried；　in　a　commanding　voice　〃With　your　blood　you　must　wash　the　shame　from　your　brows；　and　from　ours。　If　God　preserves　your　lives；　and　you　redeem　your　honor　as　brave　soldiers　of　the　King　of　Prussia；　then　and　then　only　we　will　receive　you　as　our　sons　and　welcome　you　to　our　arms。〃

〃So　shall　it　be！〃　cried　the　men　and　the　women；　and　the　maidens　murmured　their　acquiescence。

The　old　man　stepped　from　the　bench　and　walked　forward　slowly　to　the　other　side　of　the　square　where　the　twelve　young　men　were　standing　gazing　at　him　with　terrified　faces。

〃Return！〃　cried　the　old　man；　stretching　his　arm　toward　them〃return　to　the　flag　of　your　king；　we　want　no　deserters　amongst　us；　away　with　you！〃

〃Away　with　you！〃　cried　the　men〃away　from　our　village！〃

The　children；　influenced　by　their　parents；　cried　out　with　shrill　voices：　〃Away　from　our　villageaway！〃

The　youths　were　at　first　stunned；　and　gazed　with　staring　eyes　at　the　crowd　of　angry　faces　and　flashing　eyes　which　menaced　them；　then　seized　with　terror；　they　fled。

〃Away　with　you！　away　with　the　deserters！〃　was　thundered　after　them。　〃Away　with　you！〃　cried　their　mothers；　fathers；　brothers；　sisters；　and　friends。

This　fearful　cry　sounded　to　them　like　the　peal　of　the　last　judgment。　With　trembling　knees；　and　faces　pale　as　death；　they　rushed　down　the　principal　street　of　the　village。　The　crowd　started　after　them；　and　like　the　howling　of　a　storm；　shouted　behind　them：　〃Away　with　you！　away　with　the　deserters！〃

On　they　ran；　as　if　pursued　by　furies；　farther；　farther　down　the　street；　but　the　villagers　still　chased　them。　Once　only　Charles　Henry　dared　to　look　around　at　the　pursuers。　It　was　a　fearful　sight。　At　the　head　of　the　rest　he　saw　his　old　father；　with　his　pale　face；　his　white　hair　flying　in　the　wind；　raising　his　arms　threateningly　toward　him；　he　cried　out　in　a　thundering　voice：　〃Away　with　you！away　with　the　deserters！〃

Charles　Henry　rushed　onwarda　cry　of　terror　escaped　his　lips；　and　he　fled　like　a　madman。

They　had　passed　the　borders　of　the　villageit　was　quiet　behind　themthey　dared　to　look　backthey　were　alone。　But　on　the　boundary…　line　the　villagers　stoodtheir　faces　turned　toward　the　fugitives　and　like　the　distant　croakings　of　a　raven　there　sounded　in　the　air：　〃Away　with　you！away　with　the　deserters！〃

Breathless；　with　tottering　knees；　the　boys　sank　downwith　hollow　eyes；　speechless　with　terror；　sorrow；　and　humility；　they　gazed　at　each　other。

They　did　not　dare　return　to　the　village。　Perhaps　to　appease　the　anger　of　their　relations；　perhaps　because　they　repented　of　their　cowardice；　they　returned　to　their　regiment；　acknowledged　their　crime；　and　prayed　for　forgiveness。

Thus　the　brave　fathers　of　the　village　of　Brunen　punished　their　cowardly　sons；　and　drove　the　dishonored　and　faithless　boys　to　their　duty；　perhaps　to　their　death。　＇Footnote：　This　account　is　historical。＇




CHAPTER　VI。

THE　TRAITOR'S　BETRAYAL。


Count　Ranuzi　was　alone　in　his　apartments。　He　sat　at　his　writing…　table　reading　over　the　two　letters　he　had　just　written；　a　triumphant　smile　was　upon　his　lip　as　he　finished。　〃It　will　succeed；〃　murmured　he；　softly；　〃we　will　take　Magdeburg　without　a　blow；　and　thus　deprive　the　King　of　Prussia　of　his　most　valuable　fortress。　The　plan　cannot　miscarry；　and　then　I　have　only　to　convince　the　empress　that　I　was　the　soul　of　this　undertakingthat　I　led　the　intrigue。　Ah；　I　shall　succeed　at　lastI　shall　occupy　a　position　worthy　of　meand　as　general　of　our　order　I　shall　rule　the　world。　I　shall　earn　this　title　at　Magdeburgthere　I　will　build　my　thronethere　I　will　reign！　But　I　must　consider　it　all　once　more；　to　see　if　no　error；　no　mistake；　has　escaped　me。　I　first　formed　a　connection　with　the　officer　Yon　Kimsky；　an　Austrian　prisoner；　because　through　him　I　could　make　connections　between　the　town　and　the　citadel。　Kimsky；　at　my　wish；　made　some　of　his　town　friends　acquainted　with　the　officers　of　the　citadel。　It　was　then　necessary　to　give　these　new　friends　some　clew；　some　aim　that　would　appear　innocent　to　them；　and　conceal　the　real　plan。　I　chose　Trenck　as　the　protecting　shield　for　my　undertaking。　To　inspire　him　with　confidence　in　my　agents；　I　obtained　a　sort　of　credential　letter　from　Princess　Amelia；　and　interested　her　in　my　cause。　She　provided　me　with　money；　and　gave　me；　besides　the　one　to　Trenck；　a　letter　of　recommendation　to　a　sure；　trustworthy　friend　in　Magdeburg。　I　was　now　much　nearer　my　design。　On　the　pretence　of　working　for　Trenck；　I　worked　for　myself；　for　my　position　of　general　of　the　Jesuits；　and　for　a　fortress　for　my　empress。　And　thus　far　all　my　plans　have　succeeded。　Trenck　has　formed　a　connection　with　three　Prussian　officers　of　the　citadel。　These；　touched　with　sympathy　for　his　pitiful　condition；　have　determined　to　do　all　in　their　power　to　release　him；　and　are；　therefore；　in　constant　companionship　with　those　whom　Trenck　calls　his　friends。　These；　in　the　mean　time；　are　my　agents　and　subordinates；　they　act　for　me　while　acting　for　Trenck；　the　Prussian　officers　do　not　anticipate　that；　in　helping　Trenck　to　his　freedom；　they　are　helping　the　Empress　of　Austria　to　a　new　fortress。　But　so　it　is。　There　is　no　error　in　my　plan；　it　will　succeed。　I　can　rely　on　Trenck；　he　is　a　subject　of　Maria　Theresa；　and　his　thirst　for　revenge　is　mighty。　He　will　gain　a　fortress　for　his　empress。　The　avenger；　through　whom　God　has　chosen　to　punish　this　arrogant；　heretical　king；　will　arise　from　the　depths　of　a　subterranean　prison。　All　that　is　now　left　to　be　done　is　to　acquaint　Vienna　with　the　information　of　this　undertaking；　so　that　we　may　be　assured　that　an　Austrian　regiment　will　be　in　the　vicinity　of　Magdeburg　at　the　proper　time；　and　storm　the　citadel　at　a　sign　from　us；　and　not　have　that；　which　we　had　taken　by　strategy；　torn　from　us　by　the　King　of　Prussia's　superior　force。　Now　is　a　favorable　time　for　this。　For　Frederick；　the　humiliated；　defeated　king；　is　many　miles　from　Magdeburg；　he　has　been　compelled　to　raise　the　siege　of　Dresden；　and　the　Austrian　troops　are　lying　there　like　the　Russians　at　Frankfort。　Nor　are　the　French　far　off。　All　these　armies　will　be　prepared　to　hasten　to　our　aid。　All　that　now　remains　to　be　done　is　to　ge