The Daltons Volume II Part 25

Austrian troops enjoy so much of freedom on a march, that it is difficult often for the most exacting martinet to seize opportunities for the small tyrannies of discipline. Frank's ingenuity was now to be tried in this way, and, it is but fair to confess, not unsuccessfully.

He compelled the men to appear each morning as smart as if on parade,--their carbines in the bandoleers, and not slung at the saddle,--he inspected every belt and strap and buckle, and visited even the slightest infraction with a punishment Ravitzky accepted all this as the ordinary routine of discipline, and never, even by a look, appeared to resent it. Tyranny would seem to be one of the most insidious of all pa.s.sions, and, if indulged in little things, invariably goes on extending its influences to greater ones.

At Maltz a new occasion arose for the tormenting influence of this power, as the military post brought several letters from Vienna, one of which was addressed to the cadet Ravitzky. It was about a week before Frank was indignantly complaining to his sister of the shameless violation of all feeling exhibited in opening and reading every soldier's letter. He was eloquently warm in defending such humble rights, and declaimed on the subject with all the impa.s.sioned fervor of an injured man, and yet so corrupting is power, so subtle are the arguments by which one establishes differences and distinctions, that now he himself saw nothing strange nor severe in exercising this harsh rule towards another.

He was out of temper, too, that morning. The trim and orderly appearance of the men gave no opportunity of a grumble, and he strutted along on foot in front of his party, only anxious for something to catch at. On turning suddenly around, he saw Ravitzky with his open letter before him, reading. This was a slight breach of discipline on a march where infractions far greater are every day permitted; but it offered another means of persecution, and he called the cadet imperiously to the front,

"Are you aware, cadet," said he, "of the general order regarding the letters of all who serve in the ranks?"

"I am, Herr Lieutenant," said the other, flus.h.i.+ng deeply, as he saluted him.

"Then you knew that you were committing a breach of discipline in opening that letter?"

"As the letter is written in Hungarian, Herr Lieutenant, I felt that to show it to you could be but a ceremony."

"This explanation may satisfy you, sir; it does not suffice for me. Hand me your letter."

Ravitzky grew scarlet at the command, and for an instant he seemed as though about to dispute it; but duty overcame every personal impulse, and he gave it.

"I see my own name here," cried Frank, as the one word legible to his eyes caught him. "How is this?"

Ravitzky grew red and pale in a second, and then stood like one balancing a difficulty in his own mind.

"I ask again, how comes a mention of me in this doc.u.ment?" cried Frank, angrily.

"The letter, Herr Lieutenant, is from my cousin, who, aware that I was serving in the same troop with you, offered to make me known to you."

"And who is this cousin with whom I am so intimate?" said Frank, proudly.

"Count Ernest Walstein," said the other, calmly.

"What, he is your cousin? Are you really related to Walstein?"

The other bowed slightly in a.s.sent

"Then how is it, with such family influence, that you remain a cadet?

you have been two years in the service?"

"Nearly four years, Heir Lieutenant," was the quiet reply.

"Well, four years, and still unpromoted; how is that?"

Ravitzky looked as if unable to answer the question, and seemed confused and uneasy.

"You have always been a good soldier. I see it in your 'character roll;'

there is not one punishment recorded against you."

"Not one!" said the cadet, haughtily.

"There must, then, be some graver reason for pa.s.sing you over?"

"There may be," said the other, with a careless pride in his manner.

"Which you know?" said Frank, interrogatively.

"Which I guess at," said Ravitzky.

"Here is your letter, cadet," said Frank, banding it back to him. "I see you will not make a confidant of me, and I will not force a confession."

Ravitzky took the letter, and, saluting with respect, was about to fall back, when Frank said,----

"I wish you would be frank with me, and explain this mystery."

"You call it mystery, sir?" said the other, in astonishment "You are an Irishman born, and call this a mystery?"

"And why not? What has my birth to do with it?"

"Simply that it might have taught the explanation. Is it truth, or am I deceived in believing that your nation is neither well received nor kindly met by the prouder country with which you are united; and that, save when you stoop to blush at your nationality, you are never recognized as claimant for either office or advancement?"

"This may have been the case once to some extent," said Frank, doubtingly, "but I scarcely think such differences exist now."

"Then you are more fortunate than we," said Ravitzky.

"But I see men of your nation the very highest in military rank,--the very nearest to the Sovereign?"

"Their's be the shame, then," said Ravitzky. "There are false hearts in every land."

"This is a puzzle to me I cannot comprehend."

"I 'll tell you how to understand it all, and easily, too, Herr Lieutenant. Take this letter and forward it to the Council of War; declare that Cadet Ravitzky acknowledged to yourself that he was a Hungarian, heart and soul, and, save the eagle on his chako, had nothing of Austria about him. Add, that a hundred thousand of his countrymen are ready to a.s.sert the same; and see if they will not make _you_ an Ober-lieutenant, and send me to Moncacs for life." He held out the letter, as he spoke, for Frank to take, and looked as proudly defiant as if daring him to the act.

"You cannot suppose I would do this?"

"And yet it is exactly your duty, and what you took a solemn oath to perform not a week back."

"And if there be such disaffection in the troops, how will they behave before an enemy?" asked Frank, eagerly.

"As they have always done; ay, even in this very campaign that now threatens us, where men are about to strike a blow for liberty, you 'll see our fellows as foremost in the charge as though the cause at stake was not their own."

"Ravitzky, I wish you had told me nothing of all this."

"And yet you forced the confession from me. I told Walstein, over and over, that you were not suited for our plans. You rich men have too much to lose to venture on so bold a game; he thought otherwise, and all because you were an Irishman!"

"But I have scarcely ever seen Ireland. I know nothing of its grievances or wrongs."

"I believe they are like our own," said Ravitzky. "They tell me that your people, like ours, are warm, pa.s.sionate, and impatient; generous in their attachments, and terrible in their hatred. If it be so, and if England be like Austria, there will be the same game to play out there as here."

Frank grew thoughtful at these words. He recalled all that the Abbe D'Esmonde had said to him about the rights of a free people and the duties of citizens.h.i.+p, and canva.s.sed within his own mind the devoirs of his position; meanwhile Ravitzky had fallen back to the men and taken his place in the ranks.