My brother first delivered his message to the colonel; but as no secret was made of it, we soon learned that the assault was fixed for the first streak of dawn.
Several of the officers now went to get an hour's rest, but Stephen and I passed the time with the colonel, who maintained a cheerful conversation.
Just at the last he left us alone, and it was only then I discovered the real state of my feelings.
Stephen, too, was much affected; but he carried it off well--not lightly or vaingloriously, but as a brave lad should.
I thought, and think still, he was greatly to blame for getting into such a scrape; but no one could blame his conduct afterwards.
"Let us say farewell, dear old fellow," he whispered, "in case one of us should not return. If I fall, remember you are the head of the Botskay family, and that our father died fighting for his king."
"I don't forget; and if my time has come, take this ring and portrait to the ladies at Vienna, and say a word of farewell to the fräulein."
At this he threw off his grave air, and joked me pleasantly, so that when the signal was made to fall in, we took our places in quite a cheerful humour.
My brother, of course, went with the stormers, while we followed closely in support.
It was still dark, but we trusted the guides to keep us straight, and calculated on arriving at the breach as soon as dawn broke.