Ober did the same on the other side, and then lay down so that I was between the pair of them.
Presently the door opened, and half a dozen hussars coming in, wrapped themselves in their long coats, and settled down to sleep.
I cannot say how they had fared in the matter of food, but their breath made it plain they had discovered plenty of liquor.
Night came. The sound of conversation in the colonel's room died away. In the kitchen all was silent save the loud snoring of the half-drunken men.
In the silence and darkness I made an effort to set myself free; but a few trials convinced me that Ober had made no mistake.
True, he and Franz were so exhausted by their forced marches that even a smart tug failed to waken them; but, on the other hand, the knots were so skilfully tied that it was impossible to loosen them.
At last I abandoned the attempt and tried to sleep, but the haunting face of the dead count and anxiety on my own behalf made that no easy matter.
It was strange that Von Theyer had not hanged me at once, and I wondered why he should wish to save my life.
I felt sure it was not out of kindness, and concluded he was governed by the same feelings that lead a cat to play with its victim.
Just here my reverie was broken by an astounding circumstance.