"What can I do?" said the young man in a low voice--"what can I do to regain Your Highness's favour? I can't live if I know that Your Highness is angry with me--me who owe everything, all that I am, to you." "Always be on your guard, my little brother," said the king; and now, seeing how distressed he was, and wishing to comfort him, he spoke in the kind, pleasant voice which won all hearts. "Do only what you can give a right and satisfactory reason for, and then you will never miss the mark." So Michael went back to his quarters comforted, and promising himself to lay the king's simple advice well to heart. There was a grand banquet at the court that night, and many of the great nobles were present; but Miska did not venture to show himself, though when once the king had given a reprimand and made the delinquent understand what he thought of his conduct, his anger was over and done with, and he spoke in his usual kindly way again. Miska thought, however, that by thus punishing himself he should soften him. After all, as he reflected, the king was right: it was the thought of making a soldier's name for himself which had led him to run into such obvious danger. And yet he had a reason to give for what he had done--a good reason too, he had thought; for he had considered that his life belonged to the king, who had given him his career and all that made his life of any importance. And so he had resolved with himself never to trouble his head about risk and danger, when he had an opportunity of proving his fidelity to the king. But now, as he turned over in his mind the advice which the king had given him, he began to see things a little differently. "My life belongs to the king, it is true," thought he, "and I must be ready to sacrifice it whenever there is any reason to do so; but just _because_ my life is the king's, I have no right to throw it away." From that time Tornay tried to make himself more and more useful to the king, by learning all that he could of his profession. The courage of a private was not enough--it was not what was wanted of him, now that he was an officer in command; and he felt that the courage which made a man strive to acquire the knowledge necessary to those in his own position--generals and commanders, that is to say--was courage of a higher, nobler sort than that which led to deeds of mere daring. Of course the courage of the private was also needful--quite indispensable, indeed, in every soldier, officer or not, who must always be ready to sacrifice his life if need be; but he strove to acquire besides the cool courage which does not let itself be carried away by excitement, which can listen to the sound of the trumpets and the din of battle without being intoxicated, which remains calm and collected, retains its presence of mind, and is capable of seeing and hearing, and, above all, of thinking for others, even when the issue looks most doubtful.