Calm yourself, officer. OFFICER Your Highness! I have the honor to report to you that the Belgians have burst the dams, and our armies are flooded. Water! _With horror._ We must hurry, your Highness! COMMANDER Hurry! I ask you to calm yourself, officer. What about our guns? OFFICER They are flooded, your Highness. COMMANDER Compose yourself, you are not behaving properly! I am asking you about our field guns-- OFFICER They are flooded, your Highness. The water is coming this way. We must hurry, your Highness, we are in a valley. This place is very low. They have broken the dams; and the water is rushing this way violently. It is only five kilometers away from here--and we can hardly--. I beg your pardon, your Highness! _Silence. The commotion without is growing louder. Glimmering lights appear. The beginning of a terrible panic is felt, embracing the entire camp. All watch impatiently the reddening face of the Commander._ COMMANDER But this is-- _He strikes the table with his fist forcibly._ Absurd! _He looks at them with cold fury, but all lower their eyes. The frightened officer is trembling and gazing at the window. The lights grow brighter outside--it is evident that a building has been set on fire. The voices without have turned into a roar. A dull noise, then the crash of shots is heard. The discipline is disappearing gradually._ BLUMENFELD They have gone mad! OFFICER They are firing! It is an attack! STEIN But that can't be the Belgians! RITZAU They may have availed themselves-- BLUMENFELD Aren't you ashamed, Stein? Aren't you ashamed, gentlemen? COMMANDER Silence! I beg of you-- _Suddenly a piercing, wild sound of a horn is heard ordering to retreat. The roaring sound is growing rapidly._ COMMANDER _Shots._ Who has commanded to retreat? Who dares command when I am here? What a disgrace, Blumenfeld! Order them to return! _Blumenfeld lowers his head._ COMMANDER This is not the German Army! You are unworthy of being called soldiers! Shame! I am ashamed to call myself your general! Cowards! BLUMENFELD _Stepping forward, with dignity._ Your Highness! OFFICER Eh! We are not fishes to swim in the water! _Runs out, followed by two or three others. The panic is growing._ BLUMENFELD Your Highness! We ask you--. Your life is in danger--your Highness. _Some one else runs out. The room is almost empty. Only the sentinel remains in the position of one petrified._ BLUMENFELD Your Highness! I implore you. Your life--I am afraid that another minute, and it will be too late! Oh, your Highness! COMMANDER But this is-- _Again strikes the table with his fist._ But this is absurd, Blumenfeld! _Curtain_ SCENE VI