Page:Stories after Nature.pdf/44

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CHRISTIAN AND HIS COMPANIONS;

away, and he buried him, and mourned for him sincerely.

The king, finding he had gained nothing by this move (by which he had expected to gain everything), became more wary and cautious; and endeavoured to recruit himself by ceasing to provoke hostilities. The patriot captains finding this, began to plan some measure for assaulting the city and carrying it by storm; in consequence of which, Frederick undertook with a body of chosen men to go out, with an intention to discover the state and power of the enemy's outposts. This adventure he performed successfully the first time; but on the second, other fortune awaited him. The king's scouts having discovered his first attempt, alarmed the captain of the guard; but he was then too weak to attack men, whom he knew would fight desperately; and moreover he judged, that by keeping close in the bushes and the fern, where they were in ambush, and suffering them to return unalarmed, they would make an excursion of the same nature, when he would be better provided to repulse them. In this he was right; and having set a spy upon a hill, he waited patiently for the signal of their approach; which, when he saw, he ordered his men to fall flat upon their faces amongst the