"I beg you to note, Monsieur," he said, "that while we are talking Prince Eugene’s men are possibly being massacred by the brigands. They are at least forty to one." "Ha! Take that down. The enemy is in force; we must adopt every precaution. No doubt they are an advance-guard of the Elector’s army. How many do the enemy number?" "Some three hundred." "Three hundred!—And I have only two hundred and eighty-three. We are outnumbered. Take that down. We must arrange a _postirung_, according to rule, quartermaster; note that, strictly according to rule. I will write you the instructions. Lieutenant Spitzkopf will advance with ten men three hundred and twenty paces in front of our position; Lieutenant the Baron von Blindwurm will post himself with five men two hundred and sixty paces on our right flank—or is it two hundred and forty? Hand me my manual, quarter-master." "There is a swamp there, Excellency," suggested the quarter-master doubtfully. "Then they must post themselves in the swamp. A _postirung_ is a _postirung_; let there be no mistake about that. Let me see; yes, here it is: page one hundred and nine: ’Superior force: detachment in presence of, what steps to take’. Yes, it is quite clear; we must secure our position and send for reinforcements. ’Send for reinforcements’: that is it. You will at once send a messenger to Stuttgart; I will write a despatch to the general while he is saddling up." Then turning to Fanshawe he said: "I regret, Monsieur, that, having failed to give the countersign, you must consider yourself under arrest until your bona fides is established. Quarter-master, take the prisoner away; see that things are done in order, and be sure to wake me up when the enemy are sighted." Fanshawe protested, but the colonel was evidently impatient to get back to bed, and waved him peremptorily away. He was led out and deprived of his arms, boiling with anger, and, feeling that every moment was of importance, in a state of desperation. This was the officer to whom Prince Eugene had entrusted the urgent task of relieving his hard-beset troopers! The confederate camp was only ten miles distant; if only he could find some means of sending word thither of the dire straits in which Harry was!