"We are going away from the thunder of the cannon!" said the king. "There is a turn in the road to the left," replied Colonel Dammers. "Then we must ride to the right to keep near the fighting," said the king calmly, turning his head in the direction whence came the sound of firing. "Schweppe," he said to the major of guard cuirassiers who held his leading rein, "I command you to ride in that direction." "There is no road, your majesty," he replied. "Then we will ride through the fields." And the royal procession moved on, in the direction the king had indicated. The sound of the cannon was heard nearer and nearer, mingled with the rattle of small arms. The king and his suite rode to an eminence where the plain was bounded by a chain of hills; the party being rendered conspicuous to both sides from the dragoons, and the brilliant uniforms of the suite. A few balls flew over their heads and the horses began to be uneasy. Suddenly the enemy's artillery appeared to choose the king's party as their mark, and shells flew thicker and thicker over them, striking the ground now before them, now behind them. The adjutant-general sprang to the king's side. "Your majesty!" he cried, "we are under a heavy fire, I conjure your majesty--" Count Platen and General von Brandis also implored the king to withdraw from such imminent peril. The king reined in his horse. The whole escort stood still. "Can my troops see me here?" asked George V. "Certainly, your majesty," replied the adjutant-general, "your majesty's position is visible from the whole of the plain." "Good," said the king, simply. And he quietly remained on the spot. The shells flew hissing through the air, the bullets of the small arms whistled through the valley, and the frightened horses throwing up their heads snorted and trembled; the blind king, the Guelphic prince, who was ready to give his life for what his proud heart told him was the right, halted upon the brow of the hill, motionless as a marble statue, that his soldiers might see him. With a maddening hurrah the Hanoverian columns greeted the king as they marched past him, and sank their waving banners low before their royal master, who returned their greeting calmly and quietly each time it was announced to him. "If we stand here much longer," said Count Ingelheim to General Brandis, "a ball will sooner or later solve the Hanoverian question in a very simple manner." "Yes, indeed!" replied Count Platen, looking at a shell that had fallen unpleasantly near the king, "they are improving in their practice; but if we venture to tell him so we shall have to stay here all the longer." "Your majesty," said General Brandis, riding up to the king, "there is a turn in the fighting, and I think your majesty would be more visible upon the hill which was first selected for your position." "Are you quite sure, Brandis?" said the king. "I am sure your majesty would be in a better position there," replied the general.