“Then it will be still longer before we get hold of the French,” exclaimed several soldiers. “We thought we had got him sure at last, and that he could not escape any more, and when he scented us, he again found a mouse-hole through which he might get away.”
“But we will close this mouse-hole for him, so that he cannot get out of it,” said a powerful voice behind them, and when the soldiers turned anxiously around, they beheld their general, the Prince von Hohenlohe, who, walking with his adjutants through the camp, just reached their tents.
The soldiers faced about and respectfully saluted the general, who kindly nodded to them.
“You would be glad then to meet the French soon?” he asked the soldiers, whose conversation he had overheard.
“Yes, we should be glad,” they exclaimed; “it would be a holiday for us.”
“Well, it may happen very soon,” said the prince, smiling, and continued his walk.
“Long live the Prince von Hohenlohe!” shouted the soldiers. The prince walked on, everywhere greeting the soldiers and receiving their salutations; everywhere filling the men with exultation by promising them that they would soon have a battle and defeat the French.
Now he stopped in front of the grenadiers, who were drawn up in line before him.
“Boys,” he said, loudly and joyously, “you will have to perform the heaviest part of the work. If need be, you must make a bayonet charge, and I know you will rout the enemy wherever you meet with him. I am sure you will do so!”
“Yes, we will!” shouted the grenadiers; “most assuredly we will! Would we had already got hold of the French!”