The awful excitement sustained him; he did not falter again, but followed with feverish attention every movement of the troops.
Falkenried looked at him and then asked:
"Which way did you come?"
"Over the mountain passes."
"Over the passes! The enemy stands there."
"Yes, there they stand."
"And you came over that way?"
"I had to, otherwise the news would not have reached here in time. I started only last night."
"But that is an heroic deed without an equal! Man, how could you accomplish it?" exclaimed one of the higher officers, who had just brought a report and heard the last words.
Hartmut was silent; only he slowly raised his eyes to his father. He no longer feared the eyes he had feared so long, and what he read in them now told him that here, too, he was free from that awful suspicion.