A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Cathedral, The Third!

As Karlotte is led off, things look grim for the jagers. Time marches on and, in the surrounding night, there comes the giggling, laughter, and slurping sounds of Gelderland soldiers hard at the task of discrete sentrying - they seem to be everywhere. But there's nothing for it - Ziegler's force is committed and must see things through. Trusting to Karlotte's skills at persuasion and inventive violence, the colonel waits for his chance to advance with the remainder of his force. 

(Above) To the front, the remaining guard now looks to his left. Perhaps now is the opportunity!  Taking a risk, the colonel and Gefreiter Schultz prepare to rush forwards.
'Do you absolutely need to bring a musical instrument on this mission, corporal?'
'Sir, you would be surprised at how useful a horn is on secret missions'.
'Yes', says Ziegler. 'I would indeed be very surprised'.
'This horn has got me out of many tight spots, sir'.
'Wouldn't most spots be tight if you were lugging around that horn? I wouldn't like to share a coach with you'.
Just as the two are about to sprint into the dark, however, Lady Luck waggles her finger at them. There is another pair of guards nearby. (Below) These turn and are now both peering into the gloom in front of them and directly across Ziegler and Schultz's line of advance.

'Dammit!', expectorates the colonel. 'Come on, Schultz! We're going anyway!'

The two hurry forwards.

One of the Gelderland sentries turns to the other. 'I think I saw something'.

'You seem unsure', says the other.
'Well, it seemed to be carrying a sort of trumpet'.
'It was probably a badger'.
'Are they very musical?'
'Don't be ridiculous: badgers can't play trumpets'.
'So, it probably wasn't a badger, then?'
'Or, it wasn't a trumpet. It could have been a piccolo'.
'Badgers can play piccolos?'
'No, of course they can't. But he could have been carrying a piccolo'.
'Why would a badger carry a piccolo if he can't play it?'
'He could have been holding it. For an otter'.
'I ... uh, no: I don't think that there was an otter'.
'Let me look'.
'It's gone now - there's nothing there'.
'Very stealthy, otters'.
'It could have been a weasel, I suppose'.
'Was he carrying a violin?'
'No'.
'Then it wasn't a weasel'.



By some miracle, the two jager manage to make it across the open ground safely. Even better, the nearby sentry is still presenting his back to them.
'Well, that was a surprise, Schultz', breathes the colonel softly. 'Now, deal with that sentry'.
'Yessir. I shall use my horn to play him a melancholy song, reminding him of home, and of lost loves: disconsolate, he will cry himself into a deep slumber'.
The colonel nods. 'Or, you could hit him very hard over the head with it'.
'Yes sir', admits the corporal, 'that would be quicker. Although not musically so challenging'.

Quickly, he creeps forward ...