He
remained standing when all the others lay down, and the captain at
last called out to him, "In the devil's name, do you want to be a
target for the French?" making him seek shelter behind a little
mound, which left him nearly as uncovered as he was before. And
after hours of solid exertion, straining nerves and muscles to the
utmost, when peace came with night, Wilhelm began a tiring piece of
work with sticks and brushwood, out of pity for a weary comrade.
On the strength of these first days before the enemy his position as
a soldier was established. A few harmless jokes were made on the
march and in the camp on Wilhelm's anxiety as to the removal of mud
on his clothes, and on the example he set in going out at night to
save the dead and wounded enemy from plunder, but the whole company
loved and admired the "Fraulein."
The officers, however, did not entirely share this feeling. This
lieutenant was not smart enough. They did full justice to his
courage, but thought that he was wanting in alertness and
initiative. He lacked the proper campaigning spirit, and they found
it chilling that he should be so distant in his manners after so
long a time together. Another said that Lieutenant Eynhardt went
into action like a sleep-walker, and his calmness had something
uncanny about it.
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