Just as Karl came back with an armful of firewood, a staff officer rode up.
"The king has sent me to inquire how Colonel Drummond is," he said. "His majesty has heard that he is badly wounded, and has been carried here."
"This is the colonel, major," Karl said, leading him to the side of Fergus.
"I am sorry to see you here," the officer said. "The king has sent me to inquire after you."
"Will you thank his majesty, Major Kaulbach; and tell him that it is nothing worse than the loss of a left arm, and that the surgeon's opinion is that I shall do well. How goes the battle?"
"Badly, badly; but Holstein will be up in a quarter of an hour, and then we shall have another try. We broke their line badly, last time; and if we had had cavalry to launch at them, we should have managed the business."
"The king is unhurt, I hope."
"Not altogether. He was struck from his horse by a piece of case shot, but his pelisse saved him. He was able to mount again in a few minutes, making very light of the affair; and was in the middle of the fight, as usual. I was next you when you were hit, and I saw your orderly lift you on to your horse before him and, as soon as we got down here, reported it to the king."
"Our loss must be terribly heavy."
"Terrible! There is no saying how severe it is, yet; but not half the grenadiers are on their feet.