第54章
He had now abandoned all hope.Since the verdict of the court-martial only a miracle could have saved him; and this miracle had not happened.For a few short minutes he had, after the accidental meeting with the Circassian, been foolish enough to entertain new hopes of life, but now even those had vanished.Even had she been animated by the keenest desire to save him, what, after all, could she do to make the impossible possible? He was sorry now that he had not confined himself to begging the Prince through her to allow him decent burial and to send word to the German General Staff.
These last wishes would, perhaps, have not been impossible of fulfilment, and he did not doubt that his amiable Russian acquaintance would have gladly rendered him this trifling service.
The word of command rang out, and the soldiers posted opposite to him had already, with clank and rattle, shouldered arms, when from the other side a loud peremptory shout reached Heideck's ear, and he saw a horseman in Russian dragoon's uniform dashing up, in whose dark red face he immediately recognised the Prince Tchajawadse.
Close before Heideck he reined in his dripping charger and sprang from the saddle.
"Little brother! little brother!" he cried, quite breathless from his ride in such hot haste, clasping, with genuine Russian impetuosity, his friend, whom he had found again under such strange circumstances, to his breast."By all the saints--I should think it was quite time that I came!"Then, turning to the astonished officer commanding the firing squad--"There must be a mistake here.No harm must happen to this gentleman, for he is not only a personal friend of my own, but he is also a comrade, an officer of the allied German army."The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders.
"I have to carry out my orders, Colonel! I can undertake no responsibility for any mistakes on the part of my superior officers or of the court-martial.""I take, then, all the responsibility on my own shoulders for preventing you from carrying out your instructions, lieutenant!
This gentleman will accompany me, and I give my guarantee for him."He gave his horse to one of the soldiers, linked his arm in that of Heideck, and took him off to the tent he occupied in the camp, giving the while most exuberant expression to his delight at having seen him again.The breakfast, from which Georgi's message had startled him, was still on the table, and Heideck needed not much encouragement to partake of it; for only now he properly realised how much he was in want of bodily sustenance.Prince Tchajawadse would not hear of any thanks for what he had done; but when Heideck asked him if he had really correctly understood that the Prince had spoken of an alliance between the Russian and German armies, the latter was not slow to give all information on this head.
"Yes! yes!--it is the fact! The German Empire is hand-in-hand with us.The first piece of good news that I heard on reaching the army was that William II.had declared war upon England.The world is in flames.Only Austria and Italy are neutral.""And I had no notion of it! But, after all, that is easy enough to explain.All the telegraph cables are in the hands of the English, and it was easy for them to suppress every unwelcome despatch.The Indian newspapers are only allowed, of course, to publish what is agreeable to the Government; but I am burning with curiosity to learn more.Do you perhaps know how matters have developed as yet, and in what way Germany thinks of carrying on the war?""It appears that an invasion of England is contemplated.Germany has mobilised one half of her army, and has occupied Holland.The French troops, on the other hand, have entered Belgium, so that the two Powers control the whole coast opposite England.""And has any action taken place at sea as yet?""No; at least down to the present no news has reached us of a naval battle having been fought.Things are evidently still in the stage of preparation, and nothing has been heard about the movements of the German and French fleets.However, the latest intelligence that I have is now fairly old.We with the army only learn the news that the Cossacks bring us."Heideck struck his forehead.
"I feel utterly astonished.To comprehend and digest at one time all that you have told me almost passes the capacity of a single brain.But pardon me, Prince, if I trouble you, who have already done so much for me to-day, with a further request.I am in great anxiety about a lady, the widow of an English officer who fell in yesterday's battle, and who was committed to my care.I only left her this morning early, when I was arrested to be taken before the court-martial, at the mausoleum of Anar Kali, where she had been interned with other prisoners.Advise me what to do, in order to send the lady, whose welfare is nearest my heart, a reassuring message as to my fate, and at the same time shield her from annoyance and discomfort.""That is a very simple matter.Do you object to giving me the name of the lady?""Not at all.It is Mrs.Edith Irwin, the widow of Captain Irwin, whom you also perhaps met in Chanidigot.""I think I have some recollection.There was something about a gambling affair, with which he was not very creditably connected--wasn't it so? Well, then, while you take a good sound sleep in my tent here I will ride over to Anar Kali, visit the lady, and find out how she is situated.Be quite sure that no unpleasantness shall happen to her, if only I succeed in finding her.""Your kindness puts me quite to shame, Prince.I--""You would do precisely the same if fate had happened to have exchanged our roles.Why, then, waste words about it? I cannot, unfortunately, offer you a more comfortable couch than my camp-bed there.But you are a soldier, and I think both of us have, before now, had a worse shakedown.So, then, pleasant dreams, my friend!
I will take care that you are not disturbed for the next two hours."Hurriedly, as though to escape all further expressions of gratitude, the Prince left the tent.