Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/248

 marks of his thiefish profession, and to spare himself the trouble of a tedious examination. His size and the robust make of his limbs rendered him a very acceptable acquisition to the recruiting officer, and he was enrolled as a Prussian soldier to his unutterable joy.

Wolf the robber was now at once appointed to fight the battles of Frederic the Great, and made a solemn vow to fulfil cheerfully the duties of his honorable calling.

The transport arrived safe at Magdeburg, and the new soldier was with his companions instructed in the art of killing lawfully his fellow creatures. The Corporal who was appointed to instruct him in the manual exercise, was famous for his severity, conforming strictly to the military principles of his royal master, who, as it is universally known, had it laid down as a rule to inspire his martial bands with heroism by the frequent application of wooden arguments. Wolf who was not in the least partial to that sort of