602 Lieutenant Strauenbach, the Sharpshooter. [June, 



and he was in a moment dragged away among the rocks, until, between 

 exhaustion and surprise, he tainted. 



When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a hut with two or 

 three long-bearded wild-looking figures, warming themselves over a 

 stove. Beside the bed on which he lay, there was sitting a handsome, 

 athletic young man, in the uniform of a Yager ; the Colonel thought that 

 he had seen the face before, and inquired into whose hands he had 

 fallen. 



" Better hands than a Frenchman's," was the rough answer ; " for if 

 we had fallen into theirs, we should have been shot; you are now among 

 the freehunters df Carniola." 



" And who are you ?" said the prisoner. 



" Me ! why I am all things in turn," said the Yager, laughing. 

 " Y'esterday I was a grave citizen of Laybach, attending the order of 

 Colonel de Talmont to shoulder my musket and mount guard in honour 

 of Napoleon ; this morning I am the King of the Mountains. I wish 

 you joy at your arrival in my dominions, Colonel !" 



" So, I am to thank your Majesty for last night's work ; I wonder you 

 did not shoot me at once — if I had caught you, it would have gone hard 

 with your Kingship." 



" Why, then, to tell you the truth, you were spared for the sake of a 

 little piece of service that you did to a friend of mine." 



The Yager started up, and throwing a cloak over his shoulders, came 

 forward tottering towards the bed. 



" Ah, by Jove, our old guide — that infernal old rogue ; I suspected him 

 once or twice, but the rascal seemed so decrepid, there was no use in 

 killing him ; a pistol-shot would scarcely have hurried him out of the 

 world. Yes, I could have sworn that he was mortally wounded by the 

 first fire. All a ruse, then ?" 



" All," said the Yager, " all was fictitious, but the generosity of Colonel 

 de Talmont, that would not let even an old peasant go to the other world 

 without a cup of wine. I was the old peasant — I had gone into the city 

 to see what you were about. I threw myself in the way of your patrol said 

 the Colonel, and became your guide. I had intended, as soon as I had 

 broughtyou thoroughly into mischief, to make myescape,and takethecom- 

 mand of my mountaineers. But you watched me too well — I had then no- 

 thing for it, but to pretend to be wounded in the first fire. The manoeuvre 

 succeeded tolerably, but, upon my honour, when I caught a glimpse of 

 you, turning round to examine me, I expected to have found the business 

 settled by the point of your sabre. I was agreeaM}' disappointed by 

 finding your canteen at my mouth, and from that moment I wished to 

 be of what sei-vice I could to you. On your advance I was free, and 

 you know the rest. The flashing of the rifles shewed me where you 

 stood ; and, as the only chance of saving you, I took the liberty of 

 making a dash at your neck ; it was no time for ceremony, and I was 

 lucky enough in carrjing you off without being touched myself. This is 

 my palace. Colonel, and here you may command." 



" And who the devil are you, after all ?" said the Colonel. 



*' M3'stery is a source of the sublime," answered the Yager. " That 

 must remain a secret till better times." 



In a few days the Colonel was sent to Laybach. He found the greater 

 part of his expedition there before him, for the random firing of a night 

 Altnck had produced little besides terror. The dispersion of the troops, 



