** They are running away. Frederick will be here to-morrow
night, or at any rate next day."

" The news seems too good to be true, master. How have
you learnt it?"

*' I have learnt it from no one here. I am one of the king's
officers, and I came on here to find out whether the enemy
would be likely to come out and fight, or would bolt when they
heard of his advance. ' '

'* The Lord be praised ! " the man said, piously, taking off
his hat as he spoke. ** I thought, sir, that there was some-
thing curious in your having such a horse, and still more so
in your wanting to find out all about the force of the enemy
here. But it was no business of mine, .and I felt that you
must be a friend, for had you been Austrian or French you
would have ridden boldly into the town. ' *

As they went along the road they were met by several troops
of cavalry riding at fiiU speed.
" Is the way we came this morning the shortest? "

"Yes, sir, by a good mile."

** Then we will return by it," said Fergus.
As soon as they left the main road they went at a run for
some distance, and then broke into a fast walk.
In an hour from the time of leaving Erfurt they arrived at
the hut.
" I will run along and fetch your horse, sir," the peasant said.
