“How shall I prove it?” said Fritz Kober, somewhat embarrassed. After a short pause, he cried out, gayly, “I have it—I will prove it. Those over there are the cats because they are Russians and Austrians, and do not serve a king as we do; they have only two empresses, two women. Now, sir king, am I not right? Women and cats, are they not alike? So those over there are the cats and we are the bull dogs!”
Frederick was highly amused. “Take care,” said he, “that ‘those over there’ do not hear you liken their empresses to cats.”
“And if they are empresses,” said Fritz Kober, dryly, “they are still women, and women are cats.”
The king looked over toward the camp-fires, which were boldly shining on the horizon.
“How far is it from here to those fires?” said he.
“About an hour,” said Charles Henry, “not more.”
“One hour,” repeated the king, softly. “In one hour, then, I could know my fate! Listen, children, which of you will go for me?”
Both exclaimed in the same moment, “I will!”
“It is a fearful attempt,” said the king, earnestly; “the Cossacks are swarming in every direction, and if you escape them, you may be caught in the camp and shot as spies.”
“I will take care that they shall not recognize me as an enemy,” said Charles Henry, quietly.