"It is a dog-kennel!" cried the soldiers.
"And is that all you have to say to me?"
"No, sire, it is not. If our king can do nothing for us, at least let him rescue our horses from starvation. We are men, and our reason helps us to bear privations; but it is a sin to keep our horses here without food. We beseech your majesty, give us forage for our horses!" And the others repeated in chorus; "Forage, forage, give us forage for our horses!"
Meanwhile, the king had closed his window and had retired to the other end of his house. This made the soldiers frantic, and they screamed and shouted louder than ever
"Give us forage for our horses!"
Suddenly the voice which had so often led them to victory, was heard at the door
"Peace, you noisy rebels, peace, I say!"
And on the steps before his wretched cabin, stood Frederick, surrounded by the principal officers of his army.
"Sire," said one of the king's staff, "shall we disperse them?"
"Why-so?" replied Frederick, curtly. "Have my poor soldiers not the right to appeal to me for help? Speak, my children, speak without fear!" "Forage, sire, forage—our horses are dying like flies!"