diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 1414789 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/19714-h.htm | 12406 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 79955 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 88994 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/3.jpg | bin | 0 -> 121818 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/4.jpg | bin | 0 -> 99606 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/5.jpg | bin | 0 -> 125384 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/6.jpg | bin | 0 -> 86198 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/7.jpg | bin | 0 -> 148620 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/a.jpg | bin | 0 -> 36273 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/b.jpg | bin | 0 -> 33063 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/c.jpg | bin | 0 -> 33724 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/d.jpg | bin | 0 -> 28846 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/e.jpg | bin | 0 -> 35737 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/f.jpg | bin | 0 -> 33879 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/g.jpg | bin | 0 -> 31195 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/h.jpg | bin | 0 -> 31737 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/i.jpg | bin | 0 -> 33239 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/j.jpg | bin | 0 -> 32523 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/k.jpg | bin | 0 -> 34953 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714-h/images/l.jpg | bin | 0 -> 33652 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714.txt | 14439 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 19714.zip | bin | 0 -> 261708 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
26 files changed, 26861 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19714-h.zip b/19714-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d831ff6 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h.zip diff --git a/19714-h/19714-h.htm b/19714-h/19714-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3d9ff1a --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/19714-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12406 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of With Frederick the Great, by G. A. Henty</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + body {background:#ffffff; + color:black; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + font-size:14pt; + margin-top:70px; + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align:justify} + caption { font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-family: "Arial"; + text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18pt; } + div { text-align: center} + em {font-weight: bold} + h1 {text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em} + h1.pg {text-align: center; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: 0em} + h2 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3 {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0.04em} + h3.pg {text-align: center; letter-spacing: 0em} + h4 {text-align: center; } + hr {height: 5px} + p {text-indent: 4% } + table {text-align: center} + td { font-family: "Arial"; text-align: left} + td.ltoc { letter-spacing: 0.04em; font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; + text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; vertical-align: top } + td.rtoc { font-weight: bold; font-size: 18pt; text-align: left} + thead { font-weight: bold;} + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + border: solid black; + height: 5px; } + pre {font-size: 70%;} +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, With Frederick the Great, by G. A. Henty, +Illustrated by Wal Paget</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: With Frederick the Great</p> +<p> A Story of the Seven Years' War</p> +<p>Author: G. A. Henty</p> +<p>Release Date: November 4, 2006 [eBook #19714]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH FREDERICK THE GREAT***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Martin Robb</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>With Frederick The Great:</h1> +<h2>A Story of the Seven Years' War<br /> +by G. A. Henty.</h2> +<p> </p> +<h3>Illustrated by Wal Paget</h3> +<p> </p> +<h4>1910</h4> +<p> </p> +<hr /> +<p> </p> +<center> +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<caption>Contents</caption> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"></td> +<td class="rtoc"><a href="#Preface">Preface</a>.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch1">Chapter 1</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">King and Marshal.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch2">Chapter 2</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Joining.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch3">Chapter 3</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">The Outbreak Of War.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch4">Chapter 4</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Promotion.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch5">Chapter 5</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Lobositz.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch6">Chapter 6</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">A Prisoner.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch7">Chapter 7</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Flight.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch8">Chapter 8</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Prague.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch9">Chapter 9</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">In Disguise.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch10">Chapter 10</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Rossbach.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch11">Chapter 11</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Leuthen.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch12">Chapter 12</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Another Step.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch13">Chapter 13</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Hochkirch.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch14">Chapter 14</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Breaking Prison.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch15">Chapter 15</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Escaped.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch16">Chapter 16</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">At Minden.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch17">Chapter 17</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Unexpected News.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch18">Chapter 18</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Engaged.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch19">Chapter 19</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Liegnitz.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch20">Chapter 20</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Torgau.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch21">Chapter 21</a>:</td> +<td class="rtoc">Home.</td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr /> +<br /> +<table summary="Illustrations"> +<caption>Illustrations<br /> + </caption> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicA">The king walked round Fergus as if he were +examining a lay figure</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicB">Two of the newcomers fired hastily--and both +missed</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicC">Not a blow was struck, horse and rider went +down before them</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicD">As the man was placing his supper on the table, +Fergus sprang upon him</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicE">Fergus was received by the count, the countess +and Thirza with great pleasure</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicF">As Fergus was sallying out, a mounted officer +dashed by at a gallop</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicG">The roar of battle was so tremendous that his +horse was well-nigh unmanageable</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicH">Before he could extricate himself, Fergus was +surrounded by Austrians</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicI">"Why, Karl!" Fergus exclaimed, "where do you +spring from--when did you arrive?"</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicJ">Lord Sackville stood without speaking, while +the surgeon bandaged up his arm</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicK">"Take her, Drummond, you have won your bride +fairly and well"</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#PicL">As Fergus fell from his horse, Karl, who was +riding behind him, leapt from his saddle</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr /> +<br /> +<table summary="Maps"> +<caption>Maps<br /> + </caption> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map1">Map showing battlefields of the Seven Years' +War</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map2">Battle of Lobositz</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map3">Battle of Prague</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map4">Battle of Leuthen</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map5">Battle of Zorndorf</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map6">Battle of Hochkirch</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><a href="#Map7">Battle of Torgau</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</center> +<hr /> +<h2><a name="Preface" id="Preface">Preface</a>.</h2> +<a id="Map1" name="Map1"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/1.jpg" alt= +"Map showing battlefields of the Seven Years' War" /></div> +<p>Among the great wars of history there are few, if any, instances +of so long and successfully sustained a struggle, against enormous +odds, as that of the Seven Years' War, maintained by Prussia--then +a small and comparatively insignificant kingdom--against Russia, +Austria, and France simultaneously, who were aided also by the +forces of most of the minor principalities of Germany. The +population of Prussia was not more than five millions, while that +of the Allies considerably exceeded a hundred millions. Prussia +could put, with the greatest efforts, but a hundred and fifty +thousand men into the field, and as these were exhausted she had +but small reserves to draw upon; while the Allies could, with +comparatively little difficulty, put five hundred thousand men into +the field, and replenish them as there was occasion. That the +struggle was successfully carried on, for seven years, was due +chiefly to the military genius of the king; to his indomitable +perseverance; and to a resolution that no disaster could shake, no +situation, although apparently hopeless, appall. Something was due +also, at the commencement of the war, to the splendid discipline of +the Prussian army at that time; but as comparatively few of those +who fought at Lobositz could have stood in the ranks at Torgau, the +quickness of the Prussian people to acquire military discipline +must have been great; and this was aided by the perfect confidence +they felt in their king, and the enthusiasm with which he inspired +them.</p> +<p>Although it was not, nominally, a war for religion, the +consequences were as great and important as those which arose from +the Thirty Years' War. Had Prussia been crushed and divided, +Protestantism would have disappeared in Germany, and the whole +course of subsequent events would have been changed. The war was +scarcely less important to Britain than to Prussia. Our close +connection with Hanover brought us into the fray; and the weakening +of France, by her efforts against Prussia, enabled us to wrest +Canada from her, to crush her rising power in India, and to obtain +that absolute supremacy at sea that we have never, since, lost. And +yet, while every school boy knows of the battles of ancient Greece, +not one in a hundred has any knowledge whatever of the momentous +struggle in Germany, or has ever as much as heard the names of the +memorable battles of Rossbach, Leuthen, Prague, Zorndorf, +Hochkirch, and Torgau. Carlyle's great work has done much to +familiarize older readers with the story; but its bulk, its +fullness of detail, and still more the peculiarity of Carlyle's +diction and style, place it altogether out of the category of books +that can be read and enjoyed by boys.</p> +<p>I have therefore endeavoured to give the outlines of the +struggle, for their benefit; but regret that, in a story so full of +great events, I have necessarily been obliged to devote a smaller +share than usual to the doings of my hero.</p> +<p>G. A. Henty.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch1" id="Ch1">Chapter 1</a>: King and Marshal.</h2> +<p>It was early in 1756 that a Scottish trader, from Edinburgh, +entered the port of Stettin. Among the few passengers was a tall +young Scotch lad, Fergus Drummond by name. Though scarcely sixteen, +he stood five feet ten in height; and it was evident, from his +broad shoulders and sinewy appearance, that his strength was in +full proportion to his height. His father had fallen at Culloden, +ten years before. The glens had been harried by Cumberland's +soldiers, and the estates confiscated. His mother had fled with him +to the hills; and had lived there, for some years, in the cottage +of a faithful clansman, whose wife had been her nurse. Fortunately, +they were sufficiently well off to be able to maintain their guests +in comfort; and indeed the presents of game, fish, and other +matters, frequently sent in by other members of the clan, had +enabled her to feel that her maintenance was no great burden on her +faithful friends.</p> +<p>For some years, she devoted herself to her son's education; and +then, through the influence of friends at court, she obtained the +grant of a small portion of her late husband's estates; and was +able to live in comfort, in a position more suited to her former +rank.</p> +<p>Fergus' life had been passed almost entirely in the open air. +Accompanied by one or two companions, sons of the clansmen, he +would start soon after daybreak and not return until sunset, when +they would often bring back a deer from the forests, or a heavy +creel of salmon or trout from the streams. His mother encouraged +him in these excursions, and also in the practice of arms. She +confined her lessons to the evening, and even after she settled on +her recovered farm of Kilgowrie, and obtained the services of a +tutor for him, she arranged that he should still be permitted to +pass the greater part of the day according to his own devices.</p> +<p>She herself was a cousin of the two brothers Keith; the one of +whom, then Lord Marischal, had proclaimed the Old Pretender king at +Edinburgh; and both of whom had attained very high rank abroad, the +younger Keith having served with great distinction in the Spanish +and Russian armies, and had then taken service under Frederick the +Great, from whom he had received the rank of field marshal, and was +the king's greatest counsellor and friend. His brother had joined +him there, and stood equally high in the king's favour. Although +both were devoted Jacobites, and had risked all, at the first +rising in favour of the Old Pretender, neither had taken part in +that of Charles Edward, seeing that it was doomed to failure. After +Culloden, James Keith, the field marshal, had written to his +cousin, Mrs. Drummond, as follows:</p> +<p>"Dear Cousin,</p> +<p>"I have heard with grief from Alexander Grahame, who has come +over here to escape the troubles, of the grievous loss that has +befallen you. He tells me that, when in hiding among the mountains, +he learned that you had, with your boy, taken refuge with Ian the +forester, whom I well remember when I was last staying with your +good husband, Sir John. He also said that your estates had been +confiscated, but that he was sure you would be well cared for by +your clansmen. Grahame told me that he stayed with you for a few +hours, while he was flying from Cumberland's bloodhounds; and that +you told him you intended to remain there, and to devote yourself +to the boy's education, until better times came.</p> +<p>"I doubt not that ere long, when the hot blood that has been +stirred up by this rising has cooled down somewhat, milder measures +will be used, and some mercy be shown; but it may be long, for the +Hanoverian has been badly frightened, and the Whigs throughout the +country greatly scared, and this for the second time. I am no lover +of the usurper, but I cannot agree with all that has been said +about the severity of the punishment that has been dealt out. I +have been fighting all over Europe, and I know of no country where +a heavy reckoning would not have been made, after so serious an +insurrection. Men who take up arms against a king know that they +are staking their lives; but after vengeance comes pardon, and the +desire to heal wounds, and I trust that you will get some portion +of your estate again.</p> +<p>"It is early yet to think of what you are going to make of the +boy, but I am sure you will not want to see him fighting in the +Hanoverian uniform. So, if he has a taste for adventure let him, +when the time comes, make his way out to me; or if I should be +under the sod by that time, let him go to my brother. There will, +methinks, be no difficulty in finding out where we are, for there +are so many Scotch abroad that news of us must often come home. +However, from time to time I will write to you. Do not expect to +hear too often, for I spend far more time in the saddle than at my +table, and my fingers are more accustomed to grasp a sword than a +pen. However, be sure that wherever I may be, I shall be glad to +see your son, and to do my best for him.</p> +<p>"See that he is not brought up at your apron string, but is well +trained in all exercises; for we Scots have gained a great name for +strength and muscle, and I would not that one of my kin should fall +short of the mark."</p> +<p>Maggie Drummond had been much pleased with her kinsman's letter. +There were few Scotchmen who stood higher in the regard of their +countrymen, and the two Keiths had also a European reputation. Her +husband, and many other fiery spirits, had expressed surprise and +even indignation that the brothers, who had taken so prominent a +part in the first rising, should not have hastened to join Prince +Charlie; but the more thoughtful men felt it was a bad omen that +they did not do so. It was certainly not from any want of +adventurous spirit, or of courage, for wherever adventures were to +be obtained, wherever blows were most plentiful, James Keith and +his brother were certain to be in the midst of them.</p> +<p>But Maggie Drummond knew the reason for their holding aloof; for +she had, shortly before the coming over of Prince Charlie, received +a short note from the field marshal:</p> +<p>"They say that Prince Charles Edward is meditating a mad scheme +of crossing to Scotland, and raising his standard there. If so, do +what you can to prevent your husband from joining him. We made but +a poor hand of it, last time; and the chances of success are vastly +smaller now. Then it was but a comparatively short time since the +Stuarts had lost the throne of England, and there were great +numbers who wished them back. Now the Hanoverian is very much more +firmly seated on the throne. The present man has a considerable +army, and the troops have had experience of war on the Continent, +and have shown themselves rare soldiers. Were not my brother Lord +Marischal of Scotland, and my name somewhat widely known, I should +not hang back from the adventure, however desperate; but our +example might lead many who might otherwise stand aloof to take up +arms, which would bring, I think, sure destruction upon them. +Therefore we shall restrain our own inclinations, and shall watch +what I feel sure will be a terrible tragedy, from a distance; +striking perhaps somewhat heavier blows than usual upon the heads +of Turks, Moors, Frenchmen, and others, to make up for our not +being able to use our swords where our inclinations would lead +us.</p> +<p>"The King of France will assuredly give no efficient aid to the +Stuarts. He has all along used them as puppets, by whose means he +can, when he chooses, annoy or coerce England. But I have no belief +that he will render any useful aid, either now or hereafter.</p> +<p>"Use then, cousin, all your influence to keep Drummond at home. +Knowing him as I do, I have no great hope that it will avail; for I +know that he is Jacobite to the backbone, and that, if the Prince +lands, he will be one of the first to join him."</p> +<p>Maggie had not carried out Keith's injunction. She had indeed +told her husband, when she received the letter, that Keith believed +the enterprise to be so hopeless a one that he should not join in +it. But she was as ardent in the cause of the Stuarts as was her +husband, and said no single word to deter him when, an hour after +he heard the news of the prince's landing, he mounted and rode off +to meet him, and to assure him that he would bring every man of his +following to the spot where his adherents were to assemble. From +time to time his widow had continued to write to Keith; though, +owing to his being continually engaged on campaigns against the +Turks and Tartars, he received but two or three of her letters, so +long as he remained in the service of Russia. When, however, he +displeased the Empress Elizabeth, and at once left the service and +entered that of Prussia, her letters again reached him.</p> +<p>The connection between France and Scotland had always been +close, and French was a language familiar to most of the upper +class; and since the civil troubles began, such numbers of Scottish +gentlemen were forced either to shelter in France, or to take +service in the French or other foreign armies, that a knowledge of +the language became almost a matter of necessity. In one of his +short letters Keith had told her that, of all things, it was +necessary that the lad should speak French with perfect fluency, +and master as much German as possible. And it was to these points +that his education had been almost entirely directed.</p> +<p>As to French there was no difficulty and, when she recovered a +portion of the estate, Maggie Drummond was lucky in hearing of a +Hanoverian trooper who, having been wounded and left behind in +Glasgow, his term of service having expired, had on his recovery +married the daughter of the woman who had nursed him. He was +earning a somewhat precarious living by giving lessons in the use +of the rapier, and in teaching German; and gladly accepted the +offer to move out to Kilgowrie, where he was established in a +cottage close to the house, where his wife aided in the housework. +He became a companion of Fergus in his walks and rambles and, being +an honest and pleasant fellow, the lad took to him; and after a few +months their conversation, at first somewhat disjointed, became +easy and animated. He learned, too, much from him as to the use of +his sword. The Scotch clansmen used their claymores chiefly for +striking; but under Rudolph's tuition the lad came to be as apt +with the point as he had before been with the edge, and fully +recognized the great advantages of the former. By the time he +reached the age of sixteen, his skill with the weapon was fully +recognized by the young clansmen who, on occasions of festive +gatherings, sometimes came up to try their skill with the young +laird.</p> +<p>From Rudolph, too, he came to know a great deal of the affairs +of Europe, as to which he had hitherto been profoundly ignorant. He +learned how, by the capture of the province of Silesia from the +Empress of Austria, the King of Prussia had, from a minor +principality, raised his country to a considerable power, and was +regarded with hostility and jealousy by all his neighbours.</p> +<p>"But it is only a small territory now, Rudolph," Fergus +said.</p> +<p>"'Tis small, Master Fergus, but the position is a very strong +one. Silesia cannot well be invaded, save by an army forcing its +way through very formidable defiles; while on the other hand, the +Prussian forces can suddenly pour out into Saxony or Hanover. +Prussia has perhaps the best-drilled army in Europe, and though its +numbers are small in proportion to those which Austria can put in +the field, they are a compact force; while the Austrian army is +made up of many peoples, and could not be gathered with the speed +with which Frederick could place his force in the field.</p> +<p>"The king, too, is himself, above all things, a soldier. He has +good generals, and his troops are devoted to him, though the +discipline is terribly strict. It is a pity that he and the King of +England are not good friends. They are natural allies, both +countries being Protestant; and to say the truth, we in Hanover +should be well pleased to see them make common cause together, and +should feel much more comfortable with Prussia as our friend than +as a possible enemy.</p> +<p>"However, 'tis not likely that, at present, Prussia will turn +her hand against us. I hear, by letters from home, that it is said +that the Empress of Russia, as well as the Empress of Austria, both +hate Frederick; the latter because he has stolen Silesia from her; +the former because he has openly said things about her such as a +woman never forgives. Saxony and Poland are jealous of him, and +France none too well disposed. So at present the King of Prussia is +like to leave his neighbours alone; for he may need to draw his +sword, at any time, in self defence."</p> +<p>It was but a few days after this that Maggie Drummond received +this short letter from her cousin, Marshal James Keith:</p> +<p>"My dear Cousin,</p> +<p>"By your letter, received a few days since, I learned that +Fergus is now nearly sixteen years old; and is, you say, as well +grown and strong as many lads two or three years older. Therefore +it is as well that you should send him off to me, at once. There +are signs in the air that we shall shortly have stirring times, and +the sooner he is here the better. I would send money for his +outfit; but as your letter tells me that you have, by your +economies, saved a sum ample for this purpose, I abstain from doing +so. Let him come straight to Berlin, and inquire for me at the +palace. I have a suite of apartments there; and he could not have a +better time for entering upon military service; nor a better master +than the king, who loves his Scotchmen, and under whom he is like +to find opportunity to distinguish himself."</p> +<p>A week later, Fergus started. It needed an heroic effort, on the +part of his mother, to let him go from her; but she had, all along, +recognized that it was for the best that he should leave her. That +he should grow up as a petty laird, where his ancestors had been +the owners of wide estates, and were powerful chiefs with a large +following of clansmen and retainers, was not to be thought of. +Scotland offered few openings, especially to those belonging to +Jacobite families; and it was therefore deemed the natural course, +for a young man of spirit, to seek his fortune abroad and, from the +days of the Union, there was scarcely a foreign army that did not +contain a considerable contingent of Scottish soldiers and +officers. They formed nearly a third of the army of Gustavus +Adolphus, and the service of the Protestant princes of Germany had +always been popular among them.</p> +<p>Then, her own cousin being a marshal in the Prussian army, it +seemed to Mrs. Drummond almost a matter of course, when the time +came, that Fergus should go to him; and she had, for many years, +devoted herself to preparing the lad for that service. +Nevertheless, now that the time had come, she felt the parting no +less sorely; but she bore up well, and the sudden notice kept her +fully occupied with preparations, till the hour came for his +departure.</p> +<p>Two of the men rode with him as far as Leith, and saw him on +board ship. Rudolph had volunteered to accompany him as servant, +but his mother had said to the lad:</p> +<p>"It would be better not, Fergus. Of course you will have a +soldier servant, there, and there might be difficulties in having a +civilian with you."</p> +<p>It was, however, arranged that Rudolph should become a member of +the household. Being a handy fellow, a fair carpenter, and ready to +turn his hand to anything, there would be no difficulty in making +him useful about the farm.</p> +<p>Fergus had learnt, from him, the price at which he ought to be +able to buy a useful horse; and his first step, after landing at +Stettin and taking up his quarters at an inn, was to inquire the +address of a horse dealer. The latter found, somewhat to his +surprise, that the young Scot was a fair judge of a horse, and a +close hand at driving a bargain; and when he left, the lad had the +satisfaction of knowing that he was the possessor of a serviceable +animal, and one which, by its looks, would do him no discredit.</p> +<p>Three days later he rode into Berlin. He dismounted at a quiet +inn, changed his travelling dress for the new one that he carried +in his valise, and then, after inquiring for the palace, made his +way there.</p> +<p>He was struck by the number of soldiers in the streets, and with +the neatness, and indeed almost stiffness, of their uniform and +bearing. Each man walked as if on parade, and the eye of the +strictest martinet could not have detected a speck of dust on their +equipment, or an ill-adjusted strap or buckle.</p> +<p>"I hope they do not brace and tie up their officers in that +style," Fergus said to himself.</p> +<p>He himself had always been accustomed to a loose and easy +attire, suitable for mountain work; and the high cravats and stiff +collars, powdered heads and pigtails, and tight-fitting garments, +seemed to him the acme of discomfort. It was not long, however, +before he came upon a group of officers, and saw that the military +etiquette was no less strict, in their case, than in that of the +soldiers, save that their collars were less high, and their stocks +more easy. Their walk, too, was somewhat less automatic and +machine-like, but they were certainly in strong contrast to the +British officers he had seen, on the occasions of his one or two +visits to Perth.</p> +<p>On reaching the palace, and saying that he wished to see Marshal +Keith, he was conducted by a soldier to his apartment; and on the +former taking in the youth's name, he was at once admitted. The +marshal rose from his chair, came forward, and shook him heartily +by the hand.</p> +<p>"So you are Fergus Drummond," he said, "the son of my cousin +Maggie! Truly she lost no time in sending you off, after she got my +letter. I was afraid she might be long before she could bring +herself to part from you."</p> +<p>"She had made up her mind to it so long, sir, that she was +prepared for it; and indeed, I think that she did her best to hurry +me off as soon as possible, not only because your letter was +somewhat urgent, but because it gave her less time to think."</p> +<p>"That was right and sensible, lad, as indeed Maggie always was, +from a child.</p> +<p>"She did not speak too strongly about you, for indeed I should +have taken you for fully two years older than you are. You have +lost no time in growing, lad, and if you lose no more in climbing, +you will not be long before you are well up the tree.</p> +<p>"Now, sit you down, and let me first hear all about your mother, +and how she fares."</p> +<p>"In the first place, sir, she charged me to give you her love +and affection, and to thank you for your good remembrance of her, +and for writing to her so often, when you must have had so many +other matters on your mind."</p> +<p>"I was right glad when I heard that they had given her back +Kilgowrie. It is but a corner of your father's lands; but I +remember the old house well, going over there once, when I was +staying with your grandfather, to see his mother, who was then +living there. How much land goes with it?"</p> +<p>"About a thousand acres, but the greater part is moor and +mountain. Still, the land suffices for her to live on, seeing that +she keeps up no show, and lives as quietly as if she had never +known anything better."</p> +<p>"Aye, she was ever of a contented spirit. I mind her, when she +was a tiny child; if no one would play with her, she would sit by +the hour talking with her dolls, till someone could spare time to +perch her on his shoulder, and take her out."</p> +<p>Marshal Keith was a tall man, with a face thoughtful in repose, +but having a pleasant smile, and an eye that lit up with quiet +humour when he spoke. He enjoyed the king's confidence to the +fullest extent, and was regarded by him not only as a general in +whose sagacity and skill he could entirely rely, but as one on +whose opinion he could trust upon all political questions. He was +his favourite companion when, as happened not unfrequently, he +donned a disguise and went about the town, listening to the talk of +the citizens and learning their opinions upon public affairs.</p> +<p>"I have spoken to the king about your coming, lad, and told him +that you were a kinsman of mine.</p> +<p>"'Indeed, marshal,' the king said, 'from what I can see, it +appears to me that all Scotchmen are more or less kin to each +other.'</p> +<p>"'It is so to some extent, your majesty. We Scotchmen pride +ourselves on genealogy, and know every marriage that has taken +place, for ages past, between the members of our family and those +of others; and claim as kin, even though very distant, all those +who have any of our blood running in their veins. But in this case +the kinship is close, the lad's mother being a first cousin of +mine. His father was killed at Culloden, and I promised her, as +soon as the news came to me, that when he had grown up strong and +hearty he should join me, wherever I might be, and should have a +chance of making his fortune by his sword.'</p> +<p>"'You say that he speaks both French and German well? It is more +than I can do,' the king said with a laugh. 'German born and German +king as I am, I get on but badly when I try my native tongue, for +from a child I have spoken nothing but French. Still, it is well +that he should know the language. In my case it matters but little, +seeing that all my court and all my generals speak French. But one +who has to give orders to soldiers should be understood by +them.</p> +<p>"'Well, what do you want me to do for the lad?'</p> +<p>"'I propose to make him one of my own aides-de-camp,' I replied, +'and therefore I care not so much to what regiment he is appointed; +though I own that I would far rather see him in the uniform of the +guards, than any other.'</p> +<p>"'You are modest, marshal; but I observe that it is a common +fault among your countrymen. Well, which shall it be--infantry or +cavalry?'</p> +<p>"'Cavalry, since you are good enough to give me the choice, +sire. The uniform looks better, for an aide-de-camp, than that of +the infantry.'</p> +<p>"'Very well, then, you may consider him gazetted as a cornet, in +my third regiment of Guards. You have no more kinsmen coming at +present, Keith?'</p> +<p>"'No, sire; not at present.'</p> +<p>"'If many more come, I shall form them into a separate +regiment.'</p> +<p>"'Your majesty might do worse,' I said.</p> +<p>"The king nodded. 'I wish I had half a dozen Scotch regiments; +aye, a score or two. They were the cream of the army of Gustavus +Adolphus, and if matters turn out as I fear they will, it would be +a welcome reinforcement.'</p> +<p>"I will give you a note presently," continued the marshal, "to a +man who makes my uniforms, so that I may present you to the king, +as soon as you are enrolled. You must remember that your favour, or +otherwise, with him will depend very largely upon the fit of your +uniform, and the manner in which you carry yourself. There is +nothing so unpardonable, in his eyes, as a slovenly and ill-fitting +dress. Everything must be correct, to a nicety, under all +circumstances. Even during hot campaigns, you must turn out in the +morning as if you came from a band box.</p> +<p>"I will get Colonel Grunow, who commands your regiment, to tell +off an old trooper, one who is thoroughly up to his work, as your +servant. I doubt not that he may be even able to find you a +Scotchman, for there are many in the ranks--gentlemen who came over +after Culloden, and hundreds of brave fellows who escaped +Cumberland's harryings by taking ship and coming over here, where, +as they supposed, they would fight under a Protestant king."</p> +<p>"But the king is a Protestant, is he not, sir?"</p> +<p>"He is nominally a Protestant, Fergus. Absolutely, his majesty +has so many things to see about that he does not trouble himself +greatly about religion. I should say that he was a disciple of +Voltaire, until Voltaire came here; when, upon acquaintance, he saw +through the vanity of the little Frenchman, and has been much less +enthusiastic about him since.</p> +<p>"By the way, how did you come here?"</p> +<p>"We heard of a ship sailing for Stettin, and that hurried my +departure by some days. I made a good voyage there, and on landing +bought a horse and rode here."</p> +<p>"Well, I am afraid your horse won't do to carry one of my +aides-de-camp, so you had best dispose of it, for what it will +fetch. I will mount you myself. His majesty was pleased to give me +two horses, the other day, and my stable is therefore over +full.</p> +<p>"Now, Fergus, we will drink a goblet of wine to your new +appointment, and success to your career."</p> +<p>"From what you said in your letter to my mother, sir, you think +it likely that we shall see service, before long?"</p> +<p>"Aye, lad, and desperate service, too. We have--but mind, this +must go no further--sure news that Russia, Austria, France, and +Saxony have formed a secret league against Prussia, and that they +intend to crush us first, and then partition the kingdom among +themselves. The Empress of Austria has shamelessly denied that any +such treaty exists, but tomorrow morning a messenger will start, +with a demand from the king that the treaty shall be publicly +acknowledged and then broken off, or that he will at once proclaim +war. If we say nine days for the journey there, nine days to +return, and three days waiting for the answer, you see that in +three weeks from the present we may be on the move, for our only +chance depends upon striking a heavy blow before they are ready. We +have not wasted our time. The king has already made an alliance +with England."</p> +<p>"But England has no troops, or scarcely any," Fergus said.</p> +<p>"No, lad, but she has what is of quite as much importance in +war--namely, money, and she can grant us a large subsidy. The +king's interest in the matter is almost as great as ours. He is a +Hanoverian more than an Englishman, and you may be sure that, if +Prussia were to be crushed, the allies would make but a single bite +of Hanover. You see, this will be a war of life and death to us, +and the fighting will be hard and long."</p> +<p>"But what grievance has France against the king?"</p> +<p>"His majesty is open spoken, and no respecter of persons; and a +woman may forgive an injury, but never a scornful gibe. It is this +that has brought both France and Russia on him. Madame Pompadour, +who is all powerful, hates Frederick for having made disrespectful +remarks concerning her. The Empress of Russia detests him, for the +same reason. She of Austria has a better cause, for she has never +forgiven the loss of Silesia; and it is the enmity of these women, +as much as the desire to partition Prussia, that is about to plunge +Europe into a war to the full as terrible as that of the thirty +years."</p> +<p>Keith now rung a bell, and a soldier entered.</p> +<p>"Tell Lieutenant Lindsay that I wish to speak to him."</p> +<p>A minute later an officer entered the room, and saluted +stiffly.</p> +<p>"Lindsay, this is a young cousin of mine, Fergus Drummond. The +king has appointed him to a cornetcy in the 3rd Royal Dragoon +Guards, but he is going to be one of my aides-de-camp. Now that +things are beginning to move, you and Gordon will need help.</p> +<p>"Take him first to Tautz. I have written a note to the man, +telling him that he must hurry everything on. There is still a +spare room on your corridor, is there not? Get your man to see his +things bestowed there. I shall get his appointment this evening, I +expect, but it will be a day or two before he will be able to get a +soldier from his regiment. He has a horse to sell, and various +other matters to see to. At any rate, look after him, till +tomorrow. 'Tis my hour to go to the king."</p> +<p>Lindsay was a young man of two or three and twenty. He had a +merry, joyous face, a fine figure, and a good carriage; but until +he and Fergus were beyond the limits of the palace, he walked by +the lad's side with scarce a word. When once past the entrance, +however, he gave a sigh of relief.</p> +<p>"Now, Drummond," he said, "we will shake hands, and begin to +make each other's acquaintance. First, I am Nigel Lindsay, very +much at your service. On duty I am another person altogether, +scarcely recognizable even by myself--a sort of wooden machine, +ready, when a button is touched, to bring my heels smartly +together, and my hand to the salute. There is something in the air +that stiffens one's backbone, and freezes one from the tip of one's +toes to the end of one's pigtail. When one is with the marshal +alone, one thaws; for there is no better fellow living, and he +chats to us as if we were on a mountain side in Scotland, instead +of in Frederick's palace. But one is always being interrupted; +either a general, or a colonel, or possibly the king himself, comes +in.</p> +<p>"For the time, one becomes a military statue; and even when they +go, it is difficult to take up the talk as it was left. Oh, it is +wearisome work, and heartily glad I shall be, when the trumpets +blow and we march out of Berlin. However, we are beginning to be +pretty busy. I have been on horseback, twelve hours a day on an +average, for the past week. Gordon started yesterday for Magdeburg, +and Macgregor has been two days absent, but I don't know where. +Everyone is busy, from the king himself--who is always busy about +something--to the youngest drummer. Nobody outside a small circle +knows what it is all about. Apparently we are in a state of +profound peace, without a cloud in the sky, and yet the military +preparations are going on actively, everywhere.</p> +<p>"Convoys of provisions are being sent to the frontier +fortresses. Troops are in movement from the Northern Provinces. +Drilling is going on--I was going to say night and day, for it is +pretty nearly that--and no one can make out what it is all +about.</p> +<p>"There is one thing--no one asks questions. His majesty thinks +for his subjects, and as he certainly is the cleverest man in his +dominions, everyone is well content that it should be so.</p> +<p>"And now, about yourself. I am running on and talking nonsense, +when I have all sorts of questions to ask you. But that is always +the way with me. I am like a bottle of champagne, corked down while +I am in the palace, and directly I get away the cork flies out by +itself, and for a minute or two it is all froth and emptiness.</p> +<p>"Now, when did you arrive, how did you arrive, what is the last +news from Scotland, which of the branches of the Drummonds do you +belong to, and how near of kin are you to the marshal? Oh, by the +way, I ought to know the last without asking; as you are a +Drummond, and a relation of Keith, you can be no other than the son +of the Drummond of Tarbet, who married Margaret Ogilvie, who was a +first cousin of Keith's."</p> +<p>"That is right," Fergus said. "My father fell at Culloden, you +know. As to all your other questions, they are answered easily +enough. I know very little of the news in Scotland, for my mother +lived a very secluded life at Kilgowrie, and little news came to us +from without. I came from Leith to Stettin, and there I bought a +horse and rode on here."</p> +<p>His companion laughed.</p> +<p>"And how about yourself? I suppose you know nothing of this +beastly language?"</p> +<p>"Yes; I can speak it pretty fluently, and of course know +French."</p> +<p>"I congratulate you, though how you learnt it, up in the hills, +I know not. I did not know a word of it, when I came out two years +ago; and it is always on my mind, for of course I have a master +who, when I am not otherwise engaged, comes to me for an hour a +day, and well nigh maddens me with his crack-jaw words; but I don't +seem to make much progress. If I am sent with an order, and the +officer to whom I take it does not understand French, I am floored. +Of course I hand the order, if it is a written one, to him. If it +is not, but just some verbal message, asking him to call on the +marshal at such and such a time, I generally make a horrible mess +of it. He gets in a rage with me, because he cannot understand me. +I get in a rage with him, for his dulness; and were it not that he +generally manages to find some other officer, who does understand +French, the chances are very strongly against Keith's message being +attended to.</p> +<p>"First of all, I will take you to our quarters. That is the +house."</p> +<p>"Why, I thought you lodged in the palace?"</p> +<p>"Heaven forbid! Macgregor has a room in the chief's suite of +apartments. He is senior aide-de-camp, and if there is any message +to be sent late, he takes it; but that is not often the case. +Gordon lodges here with me. The house is a sort of branch +establishment to the palace. Malcolm Menzies and Horace Farquhar, +two junior aides of the king, are in the same corridor with us. Of +course we make up a party by ourselves. Then there are ten or +twelve German officers--some of them aides-de-camp of the Princes +Maurice and Henry, the Prince of Bevern and General +Schwerin--besides a score or so of palace officials.</p> +<p>"Fortunately the Scotch corridor, as we call it, has a separate +entrance, so we can go in or out without disturbing anyone. It is a +good thing, for in fact we and the Prussians do not get on very +well together. They have a sort of jealousy of us; which is, I +suppose, natural enough. Foreigners are never favourites, and +George's Hanoverian officers are not greatly loved in London. I +expect a campaign will do good, that way. They will see, at any +rate, that we don't take our pay for nothing, and are ready to do a +full share and more of fighting; while we shall find that these +stiff pipe-clayed figures are brave fellows, and good comrades, +when they get a little of the starch washed out of them.</p> +<p>"Now, this is my room, and I see my man has got dinner +ready."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch2" id="Ch2">Chapter 2</a>: Joining.</h2> +<p>In answer to the shout of "Donald," a tall man in the pantaloons +of a Prussian regiment, but with his tunic laid aside, came out +from a small room that served as a kitchen, and dormitory, for +himself.</p> +<p>"I am just ready, sir," he said. "Hearing you talking as you +came along, and not knowing who you might have with you, I just ran +in to put on my coat; but as you passed, and I heard it was +Scottish you were speaking, I knew that it didna matter."</p> +<p>"Put another plate and goblet on the table, Donald. I hope that +you have meat enough for two of us."</p> +<p>"Plenty for four," the soldier said. "The market was full this +morning, and the folk so ta'en up wi' this talk of war, and so +puzzled because no one could mak' out what it was about, that they +did more gossiping than marketing. So when the time came for the +market to close, I got half a young pig at less than I should hae +paid for a joint, as the woman did not want to carry it home +again."</p> +<p>"That is lucky. As you are from Perth, Donald, it is possible +you may know this gentleman. He is Mr. Fergus Drummond, of +Tarbet."</p> +<p>"I kenned his father weel; aye, and was close beside him at +Culloden, for when our company was broken I joined one that was +making a stand, close by, and it was Drummond who was leading it. +Stoutly did we fight, and to the end stood back to back, hewing +with our claymores at their muskets.</p> +<p>"At last I fell, wounded, I couldna say where at the time. When +I came to myself and, finding that all was quiet, sat up and felt +myself over, I found that it was a musket bullet that had ploughed +along the top of my head, and would ha' killed me had it not been +that my skull was, as my father had often said when I was a boy, +thicker than ordinary. There were dead men lying all about me; but +it was a dark night, and as there was no time to be lost if I was +to save my skin, I crawled away to some distance from the field; +and then took to my heels, and did not stop till next morning, when +I was far away among the hills."</p> +<p>While he was talking, Donald had been occupied in adding a +second plate and knife and fork and glass, and the two officers sat +down to their meal. Fergus asked the soldier other questions as to +the fight in which his father had lost his life; for beyond that he +had fought to the last with his face to the foe, the lad had never +learnt any particulars, for of the clansmen who had accompanied his +father not one had ever returned.</p> +<p>"Mr. Drummond will take the empty room next to mine, Donald. I +am going down now with him, to the inn where he has left his horse. +As he has a few things there, you had best come with us and bring +them here."</p> +<p>The landlord of the inn, on hearing that Fergus wished to sell +his horse, said that there were two travellers in the house who had +asked him about horses; as both had sold, to officers, fine animals +they had brought in from the country, there being at present a +great demand for horses of that class. One of these persons came in +as they were speaking, and after a little bargaining Fergus sold +the horse to him, at a small advance on the price he had given for +it at Stettin. The landlord himself bought the saddle and bridle, +for a few marks; saying that he could, at any time, find a customer +for such matters. Donald took the valises and cloak, and carried +them back to the palace.</p> +<p>"That matter is all comfortably settled," Lindsay said. "Now we +are free men, but my liberty won't last long. I shall have to go on +duty again, in half an hour. But at any rate, there is time to go +first with you to the tailor's, and put your uniform in hand."</p> +<p>"I wish to be measured for the uniform of the 3rd Royal Dragoon +Guards," Fergus said, as he entered the shop and the proprietor +came up to him.</p> +<p>"Yes, Herr Tautz; and his excellency, Marshal Keith," Lindsay +put in, "wishes you to know that the dress suit must be made +instantly, or quicker if possible; for his majesty may, at any +moment, order Mr. Drummond to attend upon him. Mr. Drummond is +appointed one of the marshal's aides-de-camp; and as, therefore, he +will often come under the king's eye, you may well believe that the +fit must be of the best, or you are likely to hear of it, as well +as Mr. Drummond."</p> +<p>"I will put it in hand at once, lieutenant. It shall be cut out +without delay; and in three hours, if Mr. Drummond will call here, +it shall be tacked together in readiness for the first trying on. +By eight o'clock tomorrow morning it shall be ready to be properly +fitted, and unless my men have bungled, which they very seldom do, +it shall be delivered by midday."</p> +<p>"Mr. Drummond lodges in the next room to myself," the lieutenant +said; "and my servant is looking after him, till he gets one of his +own, so you can leave it with him."</p> +<p>While the conversation was going on, two of the assistants were +measuring Fergus.</p> +<p>"Will you have the uniform complete, with belts, helmet, and all +equipments?"</p> +<p>"Everything except the sword," Fergus said.</p> +<p>"At least I suppose, Lindsay, we can carry our own swords."</p> +<p>"Yes, the king has made that concession, which is a wonderful +one, for him, that Scottish officers in his service may carry their +own swords. You see, ours are longer and straighter than the German +ones, and most of us have learnt our exercises with them, and +certainly we would not fight so well with others; besides, the iron +basket protects one's hand and wrist vastly better than the foreign +guard. The concession was first made only to generals, field +officers and aides-de-camp; but Keith persuaded the king, at last, +to grant it to all Scottish officers, pointing out that they were +able to do much better service with their own claymores, than with +weapons to which they were altogether unaccustomed; and that +Scottish men were accustomed to fight with the edge, and to strike +downright sweeping blows, whereas the swords here are fitted only +for the point, which, although doubtless superior in a duel, is far +less effective in a general melee."</p> +<p>"I should certainly be sorry to give up my own sword," Fergus +said. "It was one of my father's, and since the days when I was big +enough to begin to use it, I have always exercised myself with it; +though I, too, have learned to use the point a great deal, as I had +a German instructor, as well as several Scottish ones."</p> +<p>"Except in a duel," Lindsay said, "I should doubt if skill goes +for very much. I have never tried it myself, for I have never had +the luck to be in battle; but I fancy that in a cavalry charge +strength goes for more than skill, and the man who can strike +quickly and heavily will do more execution than one trained to all +sorts of nice points and feints. I grant that these are useful, +when two men are watching each other; but in the heat of a battle, +when every one is cutting and thrusting for his life, I cannot +think that there is any time for fooling about with your +weapon."</p> +<p>They had by this time left the shop, and were strolling down the +streets.</p> +<p>"Is there much duelling here?"</p> +<p>"It is strictly forbidden," Lindsay said, with a laugh; "but I +need hardly say that there is a good deal of it. Of course, pains +are taken that these affairs do not come to his majesty's ears. +Fever, or a fall from a horse, account satisfactorily enough for +the absence of an officer from parade, and even his total +disappearance from the scene can be similarly explained. Should the +affair come to the king's ears, 'tis best to keep out of his way +until it has blown over.</p> +<p>"Of course, with us it does not matter quite so much as with +Prussian officers. Frederick's is not the only service open to us. +Good swords are welcome either at the Russian or Austrian courts, +to say nothing of those of half a dozen minor principalities. At +all of these we are sure to find countrymen and friends, and if +England really enters upon the struggle--and it seems to me that if +there is a general row she can scarcely stand aloof--men who have +learned their drill and seen some service might be welcomed, even +if their fathers wielded their arms on the losing side, ten years +ago.</p> +<p>"Of course, to a Prussian officer it would be practical ruin to +be dismissed from the army. This is so thoroughly well understood +that, in cases of duels, there is a sort of general conspiracy on +the part of all the officers and surgeons of a regiment to hush the +matter up. Still, if an officer is insulted--or thinks that he is +insulted, which is about the same thing--he fights, and takes the +consequences.</p> +<p>"I am not altogether sorry that I am an aide-de-camp, and I +think that you can congratulate yourself on the same fact; for we +are not thrown, as is a regimental officer, into the company of +Prussians, and there is therefore far less risk of getting into a +quarrel.</p> +<p>"I have no doubt the marshal, himself, will give you a few +lessons shortly. He is considered to be one of the finest swordsmen +in Europe, and in many respects he is as young as I am, and as fond +of adventure. He gave me a few when I first came to him, but he +said that it was time thrown away, for that I must put myself in +the hands of some good maitre d'armes before he could teach me +anything that would be useful. I have been working hard with one +since, and know a good deal more about it than I did; but my +teacher says that I am too hot and impetuous to make a good +swordsman, and that though I should do well enough in a melee, I +shall never be able to stand up against a cool man, in a duel. Of +course the marshal had no idea of teaching me arms, but merely, as +he said, of showing me a few passes that might be useful to me, on +occasion. In reality he loves to keep up his sword play, and once +or twice a week Van Bruff, who is the best master in Berlin, comes +in for half an hour's practice with him, before breakfast."</p> +<p>After Lindsay had left him at the entrance to the palace, Fergus +wandered about the town for some hours, and then went to the +tailor's and had his uniform tried on. Merely run together though +it was, the coat fitted admirably.</p> +<p>"You are an easy figure to fit, Herr Drummond," the tailor said. +"There is no credit in putting together a coat for you. Your +breeches are a little too tight--you have a much more powerful leg +than is common--but that, however, is easily altered.</p> +<p>"Here are a dozen pairs of high boots. I noticed the size of +your foot, and have no doubt that you will find some of these to +fit you."</p> +<p>This was indeed the case, and among a similar collection of +helmets, Fergus also had no difficulty in suiting himself.</p> +<p>"I think that you will find everything ready for you by +half-past eight," the tailor said, "and I trust that no further +alteration will be required. Six of my best journeymen will work +all night at the clothes; and even should his majesty send for you +by ten, I trust that you will be able to make a proper appearance +before him, though at present I cannot guarantee that some trifling +alteration will not be found necessary, when you try the uniforms +on."</p> +<p>Fergus supped with the marshal, who had now time to ask him many +more questions about his home life, and the state of things in +Scotland.</p> +<p>"'Tis a sore pity," he said, "that we Scotchmen and Irishmen, +who are to be found in such numbers in every European army, are not +all arrayed under the flag of our country. Methinks that the time +is not far distant when it will be so. I am, as you know, a +Jacobite; but there is no shutting one's eyes to the fact that the +cause is a lost one. The expedition of James the Third, and still +more that of Charles Edward, have caused such widespread misery +among the Stuarts' friends that I cannot conceive that any further +attempt of the same kind will be made.</p> +<p>"In fact, there is no one to make it. The prince has lost almost +all his friends, by his drunken habits and his quarrelsome and +overbearing disposition. He has gone from court to court as a +suppliant, but has everywhere alienated the sympathies of those +most willing to befriend him. I may say that as a King of England +and Scotland he is now impossible, and his own habits have done +more to ruin his cause than even the defeat of Culloden. There are +doubtless many, in both countries, who consider themselves +Jacobites, but it is a matter of sentiment and not of passion.</p> +<p>"At any rate, there is no head to the cause now, and cannot +possibly be unless the prince had a son; therefore, for at least +five-and-twenty years, the cause is dead. Even if the prince leaves +an heir, it would be absurd to entertain the idea that, after the +Stuarts have been expelled from England a hundred years, any +Scotchman or Englishman would be mad enough to risk life and +property to restore them to the throne.</p> +<p>"Another generation and the Hanoverians will have become +Englishmen, and the sentiment against them as foreigners will have +died out. Then there will be no reason why Scotchmen and Irishmen +should any longer go abroad, and all who wish it will be able to +find employment in the army of their own country.</p> +<p>"This, indeed, might have happened long before this, had the +Georges forgotten that they were Electors of Hanover as well as +Kings of Great Britain; and had surrounded themselves with +Englishmen instead of filling their courts with Germans, whose +arrogance and greed made them hateful to Englishmen, and kept +before their eyes the fact that their kings were foreigners. +Hanover is a source of weakness instead of strength to Great +Britain, and its loss would be an unmixed benefit to her; for as +long as it remains under the British crown, so long must Britain +play a part in European politics--a part, too, sometimes absolutely +opposed to the interests of the country at large."</p> +<p>After supper was over, two general officers dropped in for a +chat with the marshal. He introduced Fergus to them, and the latter +then retired and joined the little party of Scottish officers at +Lindsay's quarters. Lindsay introduced him to them, and he was very +heartily received, and it was not until very late that they turned +into bed.</p> +<p>At half-past eight next morning Fergus went to the tailor's, and +found that he had kept his promise, to the letter. The uniforms +fitted admirably, and were complete in every particular. As Marshal +Keith had, the evening before, informed him that he had received +his appointment to the 3rd Royal Dragoon Guards, he had no +hesitation in putting on a uniform when, a quarter of an hour +later, it arrived at his quarters. Donald went out and fetched a +hairdresser, who combed, powdered, and tied up his hair in proper +military fashion. When he left, Donald took him in hand, attired +him in his uniform, showed him the exact angle at which his belt +should be worn, and the military salute that should be given.</p> +<p>It was fortunate that he was in readiness, for at half-past ten +Lindsay came in with a message from the marshal that he was, at +once, to repair to the palace, with or without a uniform; as the +king had sent to say that he should visit Keith at eleven, and that +he could then present his cousin to him.</p> +<p>It could not be said that Fergus felt comfortable, as he started +from his quarters. Accustomed to a loose dress and light shoes, he +felt stiff and awkward in his tight garments, closely buttoned up, +and his heavy jack boots; and he found himself constrained to walk +with the same stiffness and precision that had amused him in the +Prussian officers, on the previous day.</p> +<p>"So you have got your uniform," the marshal said, as Fergus +entered and saluted, as Donald had instructed him. "It becomes you +well, lad, and the king will be pleased at seeing you in it. He +could not have blamed you had it not been ready, for the time has +been short, indeed; but he will like to see you in it, and will +consider that it shows alacrity and zeal."</p> +<p>Presently the door opened and, as the marshal rose and saluted, +Fergus knew that it was the king. He had never had the king +described to him, and had depicted to himself a stiff and somewhat +austere figure; but the newcomer was somewhat below middle height, +with a kindly face, and the air rather of a sober citizen than of a +military martinet. The remarkable feature of his face were his +eyes, which were very large and blue, with a quick piercing glance +that seemed to read the mind of anyone to whom he addressed +himself. So striking were they that the king, when he went about +the town in disguise, was always obliged to keep his eyes somewhat +downcast; as, however well made up, they would have betrayed him at +once, had he looked fixedly at anyone who had once caught sight of +his face.</p> +<p>"Good morning, marshal!" he said, in a friendly tone. "So this +is my last recruit--a goodly young fellow, truly."</p> +<a id="PicA" name="PicA"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/a.jpg" alt= +"The king walked round Fergus as if he were examining a lay figure" /> +</div> +<p>He walked round Fergus as if he were examining a lay figure, +closely scrutinizing every article of his appointment, and then +gave a nod of approbation.</p> +<p>"Always keep yourself like that, young sir. An officer is unfit +to take charge of men, unless he can set an example of exactness in +dress. If a man is precise in little things, he will be careful in +other matters.</p> +<p>"Although he is going to be your aide-de-camp, Keith, he had +better go to his regimental barracks, and drill for a few hours a +day, if you can spare him."</p> +<p>"He shall certainly do so, sire. I spoke to his colonel +yesterday evening, and told him that I would myself take the lad +down to him, this morning, and present him to his comrades of the +regiment. It would be well if he could have six months' drilling, +for an aide-de-camp should be well acquainted with the meaning of +the orders he carries; as he is, in that case, far less likely to +make mistakes than he would otherwise be. Your majesty has nothing +more to say to him?"</p> +<p>"Nothing. I hope he is not quarrelsome. But there, it is of no +use my hoping that, Keith; for your Scotchman is a quarrelsome +creature by nature, at least so it seems to me. Of the duels that, +in spite of my orders, take place--I know you all try to hide them +from me, Keith--I hear of a good many between these hot-headed +countrymen of yours and my Prussian officers."</p> +<p>"With deference to your majesty, I don't think that that proves +much. It would be as fair to say that these duels show how +aggressive are your Prussian officers towards my quiet and patient +countrymen.</p> +<p>"Now you can retire, cornet."</p> +<p>Fergus gave the military salute, and retired to the +anteroom.</p> +<p>"Have you passed muster?" Lindsay asked with a laugh.</p> +<p>"Yes; at least the king found nothing wrong. He was not at all +what I thought he would be."</p> +<p>"No; I was astonished myself, the first time I saw him. He is a +capital fellow, in spite of his severity in matters of military +etiquette and discipline. He is very kind hearted, does not stand +at all upon his dignity, bears no malice, and very soon remits +punishment he has given in the heat of the moment. I think that he +regards us Scots as being a people for whom allowances must be +made, on the ground of our inborn savagery and ignorance of +civilized customs. He does not mind plain speaking on our part and, +if in the humour, will talk with us much more familiarly than he +would do to a Prussian officer."</p> +<p>In a few minutes the bell in the next room sounded. Lindsay went +in.</p> +<p>"Are the horses at the door?"</p> +<p>"Yes, marshal."</p> +<p>"Then we will mount at once. I told the colonel of the 3rd that +I should be at the barracks by twelve o'clock, unless the king +wanted me on his business."</p> +<p>Fergus had already put on his helmet, and he and Lindsay +followed Keith downstairs. In the courtyard were the horses, which +were held by orderlies.</p> +<p>"That is yours, Fergus," Keith said. "It has plenty of bone and +blood, and should carry you well for any distance."</p> +<p>Fergus warmly thanked the marshal for the gift. It was a very +fine horse, and capable of carrying double his weight. It was fully +caparisoned with military bridle and saddle and horse cloth.</p> +<p>They mounted at once. The orderlies ran to their horses, which +were held by a mounted trooper, and the four fell in behind the +officers. Lindsay and Fergus rode half a length behind the marshal, +but the latter had some difficulty in keeping his horse in that +position.</p> +<p>The marshal smiled.</p> +<p>"It does not understand playing second fiddle, Fergus. You see, +it has been accustomed to head the procession."</p> +<p>As they rode along through the street, all officers and soldiers +stood as stiff as statues at the salute, the marshal returning it +as punctiliously, though not as stiffly. In a quarter of an hour +they arrived at the gate of a large barracks. The guard turned out +as soon as the marshal was seen approaching, and a trumpet call was +heard in the courtyard as they entered the gate.</p> +<p>Fergus was struck with the spectacle, the like of which he had +never seen before. The whole regiment was drawn up in parade order. +The colonel was some distance in the front, the officers ranged at +intervals behind him. Suddenly the colonel raised his sword above +his head, a flash of steel ran along the line, eight trumpeters +sounded the first note of a military air, and the regiment stood at +the salute, men and horses immovable, as if carved in stone. A +minute later the music stopped, the colonel raised his sword again, +there was another flash of steel, and the salute was over. Then the +colonel rode forward to meet the marshal.</p> +<p>"Nothing could have been better, my dear colonel," the latter +said. "As I told you yesterday, my inspection of your regiment is +but a mere form, for I know well that nothing could be more perfect +than its order; but I must report to the king that I have inspected +all the regiments now in Berlin and Potsdam, and others that will +form my command, should any untoward event disturb the peace of the +country.</p> +<p>"But before I begin, permit me to present to you this young +officer, who was yesterday appointed to your regiment. I have +already spoken to you of him. This is Cornet Fergus Drummond, a +cousin of my own, and whom I recommend strongly to you. As I +informed you, he will for the present act as one of my +aides-de-camp."</p> +<p>"You have lost no time in getting your uniform, Mr. Drummond," +the colonel said. "I am sure that you will be most cordially +received, by all my officers as by myself, as a relation of the +marshal, whom we all respect and love."</p> +<p>"I will now proceed to the inspection," the marshal said, and he +proceeded towards the end of the line.</p> +<p>The colonel rode beside him, but a little behind. The two +aides-de-camp followed, and the four troopers brought up the rear. +They proceeded along the front rank, the officers having before +this taken up their position in the line. The marshal looked +closely at each man as he passed, horse as well as man being +inspected.</p> +<p>"I do not think, colonel, that the king himself could have +discovered the slightest fault or blemish. The regiment is simply +perfect. I hope that during the next few days you will have every +shoe inspected by the farrier, and every one showing the least +signs of wear taken off and replaced; and that you will also direct +the captains of troops to see that the men's kits are in perfect +order."</p> +<p>"That shall be done, sir, though I own that I cannot see against +whom we are likely to march; for though the air is full of rumours, +all our neighbours seem to think of nothing so little as war."</p> +<p>"It may be," Keith said with a smile, "that it is merely his +majesty's intention to see in how short a time we can place an +army, complete in every particular and ready for a campaign, in the +field. His majesty is fond of trying military experiments."</p> +<p>"I hope, marshal, that you will do us the honour of drinking a +goblet of champagne with us. Some of my officers have not yet been +presented to you, and I shall be glad to take the opportunity of +doing so."</p> +<p>"With pleasure, colonel. A good offer should never be +refused."</p> +<p>By this time they had moved to the front of the regiment.</p> +<p>"Officers and men of the 3rd Royal Dragoon Guards," Keith said +in a loud voice, "I shall have great pleasure in reporting to the +king the result of my inspection, that the regiment is in a state +of perfect efficiency, and that I have been unable to detect the +smallest irregularity or blemish. I am quite sure that, if you +should at any time be called upon to fight the enemies of your +country, you will show that your conduct and courage will be fully +equal to the excellence of your appearance. I feel that whatever +men can do you will do.</p> +<p>"God save the king!"</p> +<p>He lifted his plumed hat. The trumpet sounded, the men gave the +royal salute, and then a loud cheer burst from the ranks; for the +rumours current had raised a feeling of excitement throughout the +regiment, and though no man could see from what point danger +threatened, all felt that great events were at hand.</p> +<p>The regiment was then dismissed, hoarse words of command were +shouted, and each troop moved off to its stable; while the colonel +and Keith rode to the officers' anteroom, the trumpets at the same +time sounding the officers' call. In a few minutes all were +gathered there. The colonel first presented some of his young +officers to the marshal, and then introduced Fergus to his new +comrades, among whom were two Scotch officers.</p> +<p>"Mr. Drummond will, for the present, serve with the marshal as +one of his aides-de-camp; but I hope that he will soon join the +regiment where, at any rate, he will at all times find a warm +welcome."</p> +<p>Keith had already told the colonel that, for the present, Fergus +would be released from all duty as an aide-de-camp, and would spend +his time in acquiring the rudiments of drill.</p> +<p>Champagne was now served round. The officers drank the health of +the marshal, and he in return drank to the regiment; then all +formality was laid aside for a time, and the marshal laughed and +chatted with the officers, as if he had been one of themselves. +Fergus was surrounded by a group, who were all pleased at finding +that he could already talk the language fluently; and in spite of +the jealousy of the Scottish officers, felt throughout the service, +the impression that he made was a very favourable one; and the +hostility of race was softened by the fact that he was a near +relation of the marshal, who was universally popular. He won +favour, too, by saying, when the colonel asked whether he would +rather have a Scottish or a Prussian trooper assigned to him, as +servant and orderly, that he would choose one of the latter.</p> +<p>After speaking to the adjutant the colonel gave an order and, +two minutes later, a tall and powerful trooper entered the room and +saluted. The adjutant went up to him.</p> +<p>"Karl Hoger," he said, "you are appointed orderly and servant to +Mr. Fergus Drummond. He is quartered at the officers' house, facing +the palace. You will take your horse round there, and await his +arrival. He will show you where it is to be stabled. You are +released from all regimental duty until further orders."</p> +<p>The man saluted and retired, without the slightest change of +face to show whether the appointment was agreeable to him, or +otherwise.</p> +<p>Half an hour later the marshal mounted and, with his party, rode +back to the palace. After he had dismounted, Lindsay and Fergus +rode across to their quarters. Karl Hoger was standing at the +entrance, holding his horse. He saluted as the two officers came +up.</p> +<p>"I will go in and see if dinner is ready," Lindsay said. "I told +Donald that we should be back at half-past one, and it is nearly +two now, and I am as hungry as a hunter."</p> +<p>Fergus led the way to the stable, and pointed out to the trooper +the two stalls that the horses were to occupy; for each room in the +officers' quarters had two stalls attached to it, the one for the +occupant, the other for his orderly.</p> +<p>"I suppose you have not dined yet, Karl?"</p> +<p>"No, sir, but that does not matter."</p> +<p>"I don't want you to begin by fasting. Here are a couple of +marks. When you have stabled the horses and finished here, you had +better go out and get yourself dinner. I shall not be able to draw +rations for you for today.</p> +<p>"After you have done, come to the main entrance where I met you +and take the first corridor to the left. Mine is the fifth door on +the right-hand side. If I am not in, knock at the next door to it +on this side. You will see Lieutenant Lindsay's name on it.</p> +<p>"You need not be in any hurry over your meal, for I am just +going to have dinner, and certainly shall not want you for an +hour."</p> +<p>On reaching Lindsay's quarters Fergus found that dinner was +waiting, and he and Lindsay lost no time in attacking a fine fish +that Donald had bought in the market.</p> +<p>"That is a fine regiment of yours, Drummond," Lindsay said.</p> +<p>"Magnificent. Of course, I never saw anything like it before, +but it was certainly splendid."</p> +<p>"Yes. They distinguished themselves in the campaigns of Silesia +very much. Their colonel, Grim, is a capital officer--very strict, +but a really good fellow, and very much liked by his officers. +However, if I were you, I should be in no hurry to join. I had two +years and a half in an infantry regiment, before Keith appointed me +one of his aides-de-camp, and I can tell you it was hard +work--drill from morning till night. We were stationed at a +miserable country place, without any amusements or anything to do; +and as at that time there did not seem the most remote chance of +active service, it was a dog's life. Everyone was surly and ill +tempered, and I had to fight two duels."</p> +<p>"What about?"</p> +<p>"About nothing, as far as I could see. A man said something +about Scotch officers, in a tone I did not like. I was out of +temper, and instead of turning it off with a laugh I took it up +seriously, and threw a glass at his head. So of course we fought. +We wounded each other twice, and then the others stopped it. The +second affair was just as absurd, except that there I got the best +of it, and sliced the man's sword arm so deeply that he was on the +sick list for two months--the result of an accident, as the surgeon +put it down. So although I don't say but that there is a much +better class of men in the 3rd than there was in my regiment, I +should not be in any hurry to join.</p> +<p>"If there is a row, you will see ten times as much as an +aide-de-camp as you would in your regiment, while during peacetime +there is no comparison at all between our lives as aides-de-camp +and that of regimental officers.</p> +<p>"I fancy you have rather a treasure in the man they have told +off to you. He was the colonel's servant at one time, but he got +drunk one day, and of course the colonel had to send him back to +the ranks. One of the officers told me about him when he came in, +and said that he was one of the best riders and swordsmen in the +regiment. The adjutant told me that he has specially chosen him for +you, because he had a particularly good mount, and that as your +orderly it would be of great importance that he should be able to +keep up with you. Of course, he got the horse when he was the +colonel's orderly; and though he was sent back to the ranks six +months ago, the colonel, who was really fond of the man, allowed +him to keep it."</p> +<p>"I thought it seemed an uncommonly good animal, when he led it +into the stable," Fergus said. "Plenty of bone, and splendid +quarters. I hope he was not unwilling to come to me. It is a great +fall from being a colonel's servant to become a cornet's."</p> +<p>"I don't suppose he will mind that; and at any rate, while he is +here the berth will be such an easy one that I have no doubt he +will be well content with it, and I daresay that he and Donald will +get on well together.</p> +<p>"Donald is a Cuirassier. After Keith appointed me as one of his +aides, he got me transferred to the Cuirassiers, who are stationed +at Potsdam. That was how I came to get hold of Donald as a +servant."</p> +<p>A few minutes after they had done dinner, there was a knock at +the door. The orderly entered and saluted.</p> +<p>"You will find my man in there," Lindsay said. "At present, Mr. +Drummond and I are living together. I daresay you and he will get +on very comfortably."</p> +<p>For the next fortnight, Fergus spent the whole day in barracks. +He was not put through the usual preliminary work, but the colonel, +understanding what would be most useful to him, had him instructed +in the words of command necessary for carrying out simple +movements, his place as cornet with a troop when in line or column; +and being quick, intelligent, and anxious to learn, Fergus soon +began to feel himself at home.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch3" id="Ch3">Chapter 3</a>: The Outbreak Of War.</h2> +<p>As Lindsay had predicted, the marshal had, on the evening of the +day Fergus joined his regiment, said to him:</p> +<p>"I generally have half an hour's fencing the first thing of a +morning, Fergus. It is good exercise, and keeps one's muscles +lissome. Come round to my room at six. I should like to see what +the instructors at home have done for you, and I may be able to put +you up to a few tricks of the sword that may be of use to you, if +you are ever called upon to break his majesty's edicts against +duelling."</p> +<p>Fergus, of course, kept the appointment.</p> +<p>"Very good. Very good, indeed," the marshal said, after the +first rally. "You have made the most of your opportunities. Your +wrist is strong and supple, your eye quick. You are a match, now, +for most men who have not worked hard in a school of arms. Like +almost all our countrymen, you lack precision. Now, let us try +again."</p> +<p>For a few minutes Fergus exerted himself to the utmost, but +failed to get his point past the marshal's guard. He had never seen +fencing like this. Keith's point seemed to be ever threatening him. +The circles that were described were so small that the blade seemed +scarcely to move; and yet every thrust was put aside by a slight +movement of the wrist, and he felt that he was at his opponent's +mercy the whole time. Presently there was a slight jerk and, on the +instant, his weapon was twisted from his hand and sent flying +across the room.</p> +<p>Keith smiled at his look of bewilderment.</p> +<p>"You see, you have much to learn, Fergus."</p> +<p>"I have indeed, sir. I thought that I knew something about +fencing, but I see that I know nothing at all."</p> +<p>"That is going too far the other way, lad. You know, for +example, a vast deal more than Lindsay did when he came to me, six +months ago. I fancy you know more than he does now, or ever will +know; for he still pins his faith on the utility of a slashing +blow, as if the sabre had a chance against a rapier, in the hands +of a skilful man. However, I will give you a lesson every morning, +and I should advise you to go to Van Bruff every evening.</p> +<p>"I will give you a note to him. He is by far the best master we +have. Indeed, he is the best in Europe. I will tell him that the +time at your disposal is too short for you to attempt to become a +thorough swordsman; but that you wish to devote yourself to +learning a few thrusts and parries, such as will be useful in a +duel, thoroughly and perfectly. I myself will teach you that trick +I played on you just now, and two others like it; and I think it +possible that in a short time you will be able to hold your own, +even against men who may know a good deal more of the principles +and general practice of the art than yourself."</p> +<p>Armed with a note from the marshal, Fergus went the next day to +the famous professor. The latter read the letter through carefully, +and then said:</p> +<p>"I should be very glad to oblige the marshal, for whom I have +the highest respect, and whom I regard as the best swordsman in +Europe. I often practise with him, and always come away having +learned something. Moreover, the terms he offers, for me to give +you an hour and a half's instruction every evening, are more than +liberal. But every moment of my time in the evening is occupied, +from five to ten. Could you come at that hour?"</p> +<p>"Certainly I could, professor."</p> +<p>"Then so be it. Come at ten, punctually. My school is closed at +that hour, but you will find me ready for you."</p> +<p>Accordingly, during the next three weeks Fergus worked, from ten +till half-past eleven, with Herr Van Bruff; and from six till half +past with the marshal. His mountain training was useful indeed to +him now; for the day's work in the barrack was in itself hard and +fatiguing and, tough as his muscles were, his wrist at first ached +so at nights that he had to hold it, for some time, under a tap of +cold water to allay the pain. At the end of a week, however, it +hardened again; and he was sustained by the commendations of his +two teachers, and the satisfaction he felt in the skill he was +acquiring.</p> +<p>"Where is your new aide-de-camp, marshal?" the king asked, one +evening.</p> +<p>It was the close of one of his receptions.</p> +<p>"As a rule, these young fellows are fond of showing off in their +uniforms, at first."</p> +<p>"He is better employed, sire. He has the makings of a very fine +swordsman and, having some reputation myself that way, I should be +glad that my young cousin should be able to hold his own well, when +we get to blows with the enemy. So I and Van Bruff have taken him +in hand, and for the last three weeks he has made such progress +that this morning, when we had open play, it put me on my mettle to +hold my own. So, what with that and his regimental work, his hands +are more than full; and indeed, he could not get through it, had he +to attend here in the evening; and I know that as soon as he has +finished his supper he turns in for a sound sleep, till he is woke +in time to dress and get to the fencing school, at ten. Had there +been a longer time to spare, I would not have suffered him to work +so hard; but seeing that in a few days we may be on the march to +the frontier, we have to make the most of the time."</p> +<p>"He has done well, Keith, and his zeal shows that he will make a +good soldier. Yes, another three days, and our messenger should +return from Vienna; and the next morning, unless the reply is +satisfactory, the troops will be on the move. After that, who +knows?"</p> +<p>During the last few days, the vague rumours that had been +circulating had gained strength and consistency. Every day fresh +regiments arrived and encamped near the city; and there were +reports that a great concentration of troops was taking place, at +Halle, under the command of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick; and +another, under the Duke of Bevern, at Frankfort-on-the-Oder.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, the public announcement that war was declared with +Austria, and that the army would march for the frontier, in three +days' time, came as a sudden shock. The proclamation stated that, +it having been discovered that Austria had entered into a secret +confederacy with other powers to attack Prussia; and the king +having, after long and fruitless negotiations, tried to obtain +satisfaction from that power; no resource remained but to declare +war, at once, before the confederates could combine their forces +for the destruction of the kingdom.</p> +<p>Something like dismay was, at first, excited by the +proclamation. A war with Austria was, in itself, a serious +undertaking; but if the latter had powerful allies, such as Russia, +France, and Saxony--and it was well known that all three looked +with jealousy on the growing power of the kingdom--the position +seemed well-nigh desperate.</p> +<p>Among the troops, however, the news was received with +enthusiasm. Confident in their strength and discipline, the +question of the odds that might be assembled against them in no way +troubled them. The conquest of Silesia had raised the prestige of +the army, and the troops felt proud that they should have the +opportunity of proving their valour in an even more serious +struggle.</p> +<p>Never was there a more brilliant assembly than that at the +palace, the evening before the troops marched. All the general +officers and their staffs were assembled, together with the ladies +of the court, and those of the nobility and army. The king was in +high good humour, and moved about the rooms, chatting freely with +all.</p> +<p>"So you have come to see us at last, young sir," he said to +Fergus. "I should scold you, but I hear that you have been +utilizing your time well.</p> +<p>"Remember that your sword is to be used against the enemies of +the country, only," and nodding, he walked on.</p> +<p>The Princess Amelia was the centre of a group of ladies. She was +a charming princess, but at times her face bore an expression of +deep melancholy; and all knew that she had never ceased to mourn +the fate of the man she would have chosen, Baron Trench, who had +been thrown into prison by her angry father, for his insolence in +aspiring to his daughter's hand.</p> +<p>"You must be glad that your hard work is over, Drummond," +Lindsay said, as they stood together watching the scene.</p> +<p>"I am glad that the drill is over," Fergus replied, "but I +should have liked my work with the professor to have gone on for +another six months."</p> +<p>"Ah, well! You will have opportunities to take it up again, when +we return, after thrashing the Austrians."</p> +<p>"How long will that be, Lindsay?"</p> +<p>The latter shrugged his shoulders.</p> +<p>"Six months or six years; who can tell?" he said. "If it be true +that Russia and France, to say nothing of Saxony, are with her, it +is more likely to be years than months, and we may both come out +colonels by the time it is over."</p> +<p>"That is, if we come out at all," Fergus said, with a smile at +the other's confidence.</p> +<p>"Oh! Of course, there is that contingency, but it is one never +worth reckoning with. At any rate, it is pretty certain that, if we +do fall, it will be with odds against us; but of course, as +aides-de-camp our chance is a good deal better than that of +regimental officers.</p> +<p>"At any rate, you have had good preparation for the campaign, +for your work will be child's play in comparison to what you have +been going through. How you stood it, I cannot make out. I worked +pretty hard when I first arrived; but the drill for the first six +months was tremendous, and I used to be glad to crawl into bed, as +soon as I had had my supper.</p> +<p>"Well, you have been a poor companion so far, Drummond."</p> +<p>"I am afraid I have been, but will try and make up for it, in +the future.</p> +<p>"I suppose there is no doubt that we shall march, in the first +place, on Dresden."</p> +<p>"I think that there is no doubt of that. There is no Saxon army +to speak of, certainly nothing that can offer any serious +opposition. From there there are three or four passes by which we +could pour into Bohemia. Saxony is a rich country, too, and will +afford us a fine base for supplies, as we move on. I suppose the +Austrians will collect an army to oppose us, in Bohemia. When we +have thrashed them, I expect we shall go on straight to +Vienna."</p> +<p>Fergus laughed.</p> +<p>"It all sounds easy enough, Lindsay. I only hope that it will +come off just as you prophesy."</p> +<p>"That is one advantage of fighting in a foreign service, Fergus. +One fights just as stoutly for victory as if one were fighting for +home, but if one is beaten it does not affect one so much. It is +sad to see the country overrun, and pillaged; but the houses are +not the houses of our own people, the people massacred are not +one's own relations and friends. One's military vanity may be hurt +by defeat; otherwise, one can bear it philosophically."</p> +<p>"I never looked at it in that light before, Lindsay, but no +doubt there is a great deal in what you say. If my father had +fallen on a German battlefield, instead of at Culloden, our estates +would not have been confiscated, our glens harried, and our +clansmen hunted down and massacred. No, I see there is a great +difference. I suppose I should fight just as hard, against the +Austrians, as I should have done against the English at Culloden, +had I been there; but defeat would have none of the same +consequences. No, putting it as you do, I must own that there is a +distinct advantage in foreign service, that I never appreciated +before.</p> +<p>"But I see people are leaving, and I am not sorry. As we are +going to be up before daybreak, the sooner one turns in the +better."</p> +<p>Karl had received the order to call his master at three, to have +breakfast ready at half past, and the horses at the door at four, +with somewhat less than his usual stolidity.</p> +<p>"You will have harder work in the future, Karl," Fergus +said.</p> +<p>"I shall be glad of it, sir. Never have I had such a lazy time +as I have had for the last month. The first three or four days were +very pleasant; then I began to think that I should like a little to +do, so as to remind me that there was such a thing as work. But the +last fortnight has been terrible. A man cannot sleep for +twenty-four hours, and if it had not been that Donald and I have +had an occasional quarrel, as to our respective regiments and over +the native land he is so fond of bragging about, I should have been +ready to hang myself.</p> +<p>"Ah, sir, how often have I to thank my stars that I did not take +my discharge!--which I could have asked for, as I have served my +time. I had thought of it, many times; and had said to myself how +delightful it would be to hear the morning call sound, at a +barracks near, and to turn over in my bed and go to sleep again; to +have no guard to keep, no sergeant to bully or provost guard to +arrest one, if one has taken a cup too much. This fortnight has +shown me the folly of such ideas. It has taught me when I am well +off, and what misery it is to be one's own master, and to be always +wondering how the day is to be got through."</p> +<p>"Well, you are not likely to have to complain that you have +nothing to do, for some time now, Karl."</p> +<p>"No, cornet. I have felt a new man, since I heard the great +news. There is always plenty to do, on a campaign. There are the +horses to be cleaned, food to be cooked, forage and rations to be +fetched. Then, too, on a campaign every one is merry and good +tempered, and one sings as one marches and sits round the campfire. +One may be cold and wet and hungry, but who cares? One swears at +the moment, but one laughs again, as soon as the sun shines."</p> +<p>"Well, Karl, you had best turn in at once, for at three o'clock +we shall want to be called."</p> +<p>"You can rely upon my waking, sir. Does my officer wish to take +a full-dress suit with him?"</p> +<p>"No; the order is that all are to start in marching order, and +that all baggage is to be cut down to the smallest proportions. No +officer is to take more than can be carried in his valises."</p> +<p>It was the first week in August when the three columns, each +twenty thousand strong, moved from their respective starting +points. Although the king was nominally in command of the central +division, Marshal Keith was the real commander. He rode with the +king at the head of the column, and his aides-de-camp, and those of +Frederick, were constantly on their way up and down the line, +carrying orders and bringing in reports as to the manner in which +the regiments maintained their respective positions, and especially +how the artillery and baggage train kept up.</p> +<p>There was no necessity, at present, for taking precautions. The +march would for some days lead through Prussia, and it was morally +certain that the Saxon army--which was small and scattered and, +even if united, would not equal the strength of one of the Prussian +armies--would not attempt any serious resistance; for the country +was flat, and there would be no defiles where a small force of men +could successfully oppose a larger one. Nevertheless, the daily +marches were long for the infantry and the baggage, but by no means +fatiguing for mounted men. The staff and aides-de-camp, with their +orderlies, rode behind the leaders. The troopers were sometimes +employed, instead of the officers, when a short written order had +to be sent back to the rear of the column.</p> +<p>The harvest having been gathered in, the cavalry rode across the +open country, thus reducing the length of the column. The day was +very hot, and the infantry opened their ranks, as much as possible, +to allow the passage of what little air was moving. At nine o'clock +the troops were halted. Each man had been served with a breakfast, +before starting; and the haversacks were now opened, and a meal +made of the bread they contained, washed down with an allowance of +rough wine, carried in each regimental waggon. Then the men sat +down, under the shade of greatcoats supported by ramrods and other +contrivances, and either slept or talked until half-past two; when +the bugle sounded. The greatcoats were rolled up and strapped on to +the knapsacks, then there was a vigorous use of the brush, to +remove the thick dust gathered on the march. At three the column +got into motion again, and halted for the night at half-past six; +when fires were lighted, coppers put on, and the main meal of the +day presently served.</p> +<p>The rations of the officers were the same as those of the men, +but the greater part of them supplemented the food by that carried +in their orderlies' saddlebags. Lindsay, Fergus, and the marshals +other two aides-de-camp had arranged that, when possible, they +should mess together; and their servants should prepare the meal by +turns, while those not so engaged looked after the horses, saw that +they were fed, watered, and groomed. The servants were all old +campaigners, and though neither Lindsay nor Fergus had thought of +giving them orders to that effect, both Donald and Karl had laid in +a stock of provisions.</p> +<p>Donald had cooked a pair of fowls on the previous evening. Karl +had bought a sucking pig. One of the German officer's servants had +a huge piece of salt beef, that had already been boiled, while the +other had a hare. It was agreed at once that the fowls should be +left for early breakfast; and the beef put aside for dinner, and +for supper, also, if nothing else could be obtained. Karl, as the +servant of the junior officer, was cook for the evening, and he +acquitted himself admirably.</p> +<p>Each officer carried in his saddlebag a tin plate, a drinking +horn, and a knife, fork, and spoon. There was no dish, but the spit +was handed round, and each cut off a portion. Soup made from the +ration of meat was first served, then the hare, and then the +sucking pig, while the four orderlies had an ample meal from the +ration of meat. A supply of spirits had been carried in the staff +waggon. This they took, plentifully watered, with the meal; with a +stronger cup afterwards.</p> +<p>The night was so fine that all agreed that it was not worthwhile +to erect the tent carried for them in the waggon. At eight o'clock +the order for the next day's march came out, and two of the king's +orderlies started on horseback with copies of it to the commanders +of brigades, who in their turn communicated to the colonels of +their respective regiments.</p> +<p>The next evening the force encamped round Torgau, a very strong +fortress, where a great store of provisions had been collected. +Ample quarters were assigned to the marshal and his staff in the +town. Here they halted for a day to allow the other armies, which +had both farther to march, to keep abreast of them on their +respective lines of route.</p> +<p>Then, following the Elbe, the army arrived after two marches in +front of Dresden. The court of Saxony had, for years, been wasting +the revenues of the country in extravagance and luxury; while +intriguing incessantly with Austria, and dreaming of obtaining an +increase of territory at the expense of Prussia. No effort had been +made to prepare to carry out the engagements entered into with +Austria; and the army, utterly neglected, numbered but some fifteen +thousand. These were scattered over the country, and but poorly +provided with artillery.</p> +<p>When, then, the news arrived that three Prussian armies had +crossed the frontier, there was no thought of resistance; but +orders were despatched for the whole force to concentrate at Pirna, +a strongly fortified camp among the defiles of the mountains +separating Saxony from Bohemia. The position was almost an +impregnable one, and they could receive reinforcements from +Bohemia.</p> +<p>On the arrival of the Prussian army the king fled, and Dresden +threw open its gates. As Frederick hoped to detach Saxony from the +alliance against him, the greater portion of the army were encamped +outside the town; three or four regiments, only, marching in and +quartering themselves in the empty Saxon barracks. The aid Saxony +could render Frederick would be insignificant, but it was most +desirable for him that he should ensure its neutrality, in order to +secure his communications with Prussia when he marched forward into +Bohemia.</p> +<p>Finding the king had gone, his first step was to send a general +officer, with a party of soldiers, to seize the archives in the +palace. Among these was discovered the prize he most desired to +find; namely a signed copy of the secret treaty, between Austria, +Russia, France, and Saxony, for the invasion and partition of +Prussia. Copies of this document were instantly sent off to the +courts of Europe, thus affording an ample justification for what +would otherwise have appeared a wholly unprovoked attack by Prussia +upon her neighbours. Had it not been for the discovery of this +document, Frederick would probably have always remained under the +stigma of engaging in an unprovoked and ambitious war; for the +court of Austria had hitherto, positively and categorically, +declared to Frederick's ambassador and envoys the non-existence of +any such treaty or agreement between the powers.</p> +<p>As the queen had remained in the palace, Frederick took up his +abode in another royal building, Marshal Keith and a large number +of officers being also quartered there. In order to prevent any +broils with the citizens, orders were issued that certain places of +refreshment were to be used only by officers, while the soldiers +were only to frequent wine and beer shops selected in the +neighbourhood of the barracks, and were strictly forbidden to enter +any others. Any soldier caught in an act of theft or pillage was to +be hung, forthwith, and all were enjoined to observe a friendly +demeanour to the people.</p> +<p>One evening, Fergus had been sent with a message to the camp, +two miles from the town. It was nearly ten o'clock when he started +to ride back. When within half a mile of the town he heard a pistol +shot, in the direction of a large house, a quarter of a mile from +the road.</p> +<p>Without hesitation he turned his horse's head in that direction. +In a couple of minutes he arrived at a pair of large gates. They +were closed, but he dismounted, fastened the bridle chain to them +and, snatching the pistols from his holsters, ran along by the side +of a high wall, until he came to a tree growing close to it.</p> +<p>With some difficulty, for his high boots were ill adapted to +such work, he climbed the tree, got on to the wall, and dropped +down. He was in large park-like grounds. Guided by a light in a +window, he ran to the house. The door was closed. After hesitating +for a moment he ran along and, soon coming, as he expected, to an +open window, he at once climbed through it. A door was open and, +passing on, he entered a large hall in which a light was +burning.</p> +<p>Pausing to listen now, he heard voices upstairs and, holding a +pistol in each hand and his drawn sword in his teeth, he lightly +ascended the stairs. On the landing two men lay dead. Light was +issuing from a half-closed door and, noiselessly approaching it, he +looked in.</p> +<p>It was a small room. At the end stood eight or ten scared women, +huddled together; while a soldier, with a pistol in one hand and a +sword in the other, stood sentry over them. These were evidently +the servants of the chateau, who had been unceremoniously hauled +from their beds and gathered there, under a guard, to prevent them +from screaming or giving any alarm. As Fergus was equally anxious +that no alarm should be given, at present, he retired quietly.</p> +<p>A pair of double doors faced the top of the staircase. This was +evidently the grand reception room and, listening intently, he +could hear a murmur of voices inside. Turning the handle and +throwing them suddenly open, he entered.</p> +<p>Upon the floor lay the body of a gentleman. A lady, pale as +death and in a half-fainting condition, leant back in a settee; +while a girl of thirteen or fourteen lay on a couch, with bound +hands and a handkerchief fastened across her mouth.</p> +<p>Three soldiers were engaged in examining the contents of a large +coffer of jewels. As the door opened they turned round and, on +seeing a solitary officer, sprang forward with terrible oaths. +Fergus shot one of them as they did so, dropped the pistol, and +seized his sword. Both men fired. Fergus felt a stinging sensation +in his left arm, and the pistol held in that hand dropped to the +ground.</p> +<p>Confident in his swordsmanship, he awaited the onslaught of the +two marauders. The swords clashed, and at the second pass one of +them fell back, run through the body. The other, shouting for aid, +stood on the defensive. Fergus heard the rush of heavy steps coming +down the staircase and, just as three other men rushed into the +room, he almost clove his opponent's head in two, with a tremendous +blow from his claymore.</p> +<a id="PicB" name="PicB"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/b.jpg" alt= +"Two of the newcomers fired hastily--and both missed" /></div> +<p>Two of the newcomers fired their pistols hastily--both +missed--then rushed at him with their swords; and as he was hotly +engaged with them the third, who was the sentry who had been placed +over the women, advanced slowly, with his pistol pointed, with the +intention of making sure of his aim. He paused close to the +combatants, waiting for an opportunity to fire between the shifting +figures of his comrades; when a white figure, after peering in at +the door, ran swiftly forward and threw herself on his back, +hurling him forward to the ground, his pistol exploding as he +fell.</p> +<p>One of the others started back at the sound, and as he did so +Fergus ran him through the body. He then attacked his remaining +opponent, and after a few passes laid him dead beside his comrade. +Picking up his own fallen pistol, Fergus blew out the brains of the +soldier, who was struggling to free himself from the girl's weight, +and then helped her to her feet.</p> +<p>"Well done, my brave girl!" he said. "You have saved my life. +Now run and tell those wenches to stop screaming, and to come and +help their mistress. These scoundrels are all killed, and there is +nothing more for them to be alarmed at."</p> +<p>Then he ran to the girl on the sofa, cut her cords with a +dagger, and freed her from the gag. As he did so, she leapt up and +ran to her mother's side; while Fergus, kneeling by the gentleman +who had fallen before he had entered, turned him over and, laying +his ear over his heart, listened intently.</p> +<p>"He is alive," he said. "His heart beats, but faintly. Tell the +maids to fetch some cordial."</p> +<p>The women were coming in now, some crying hysterically, some +shrieking afresh at the sight of the bodies that were strewn about +the room.</p> +<p>"Silence!" Fergus shouted sternly. "Now, while one runs to fetch +some cordial, do three others come here, and aid me to lift your +master gently on to this couch."</p> +<p>The maid who had overthrown the soldier at once came forward to +his assistance.</p> +<p>"Now, Truchen and Lisa," the young girl said, stamping her foot, +"come at once.</p> +<p>"Do you, Caroline, run and fetch the stand of cordials from the +dining room."</p> +<p>The two women approached timidly.</p> +<p>"Now," Fergus said, "get your arm under his shoulders, on your +side, and I will do the same. One of you others support his head +when we lift, the other take his feet."</p> +<p>So, gently he was raised and laid on the couch. By the time this +was done, the woman returned with a bottle of spirits.</p> +<p>"Now," he said, "water and a glass."</p> +<p>The young girl ran and fetched a carafe of water and a tumbler, +standing on a table by the wall. Her hands shook as she handed it +to Fergus.</p> +<p>"Are you sure that he is not dead, sir?" she asked, in a hushed +voice.</p> +<p>"Quite sure. I fear that he is grievously wounded, but he +certainly lives. Now, get another glass and put some spirits in and +fill it up with water, and make your mother drink it, as soon as +you have roused her from her faint."</p> +<p>Fergus now gave all his attention to the wounded man, poured two +or three spoonfuls of strong spirits and water between his lips, +and then proceeded to examine his wounds. He had three. One was a +very severe cut upon the shoulder. His left arm had been broken by +a pistol bullet, and he had a dangerous sword thrust in the +body.</p> +<p>Under Fergus' direction the servant had cut off the doublet and, +after pouring some more spirits down the wounded man's throat, he +bade one of the other women fetch him some soft linen, and a sheet. +When these arrived he made a pad of the linen, and bound it over +the wounded man's shoulder with some strips torn from the sheet. +Then he sent for some straight strips of wood, cut them to the +right length, wrapped some linen round them and, straightening the +arm, applied them to it and, with the assistance of the girl, +bandaged it firmly. Then he placed a pad of linen over the wound in +the body, and passed bandages round and round.</p> +<p>"Well done!" he said to his assistant. "You are a stout girl, +and a brave one."</p> +<p>Then he turned to the others, who were crowded round their +mistress.</p> +<p>"Stand back," he said, "and throw open the window and let the +air come to her. That will do.</p> +<p>"The young lady and this girl will be enough, now. Do the rest +of you run off and get some clothes on."</p> +<p>"She has opened her eyes once, sir."</p> +<p>"She will come round directly, young lady. Pour a spoonful or +two from this glass between her lips. It is stronger than that you +have in your hand. She has had a terrible shock, but as soon as she +hears that your father is alive, it will do more for her than all +our services."</p> +<p>"Will he live, sir?"</p> +<p>"That I cannot say for certain, but I have great hopes that he +will do so. However, I will send a surgeon out, as soon as I get to +the city."</p> +<p>The lady was longer in her swoon than Fergus had expected, and +the servants had returned before she opened her eyes.</p> +<p>"Now," he said, "do four of you lend me your assistance. It +would be well to carry this sofa with your master into the next +room; and then we will take your mistress in there, too, so that +she will be spared seeing these ruffians scattered about, when she +comes to herself."</p> +<p>The doors leading to the adjoining apartment were opened, +candles lighted there, and the wounded man carried in on his +sofa.</p> +<p>"And now for your mistress. It will be easier to lift her out of +the chair, and carry her in bodily."</p> +<p>This he did, with the assistance of two of the servants.</p> +<p>"Now," he said to the young girl, "do you stay by her, my brave +maid. I think she will recover in a minute or two. Her eyelids +moved as I brought her in. I will look round and see about +things.</p> +<p>"Were these the only two men in the house?" he asked the other +women, as he joined them on the landing.</p> +<p>"No, sir. There were six men. The other four have gone to bed, +but the two outside always waited up till the count and countess +retired."</p> +<p>"Where are their rooms?" he asked, taking a candle.</p> +<p>One of the women led him upstairs. As he expected, he found the +four men lying dead. One had apparently leapt up as the door was +opened, and the other three had been killed in their beds.</p> +<p>"Where can I get help from?"</p> +<p>"There are the men at the stables. It is at the back of the +house, three or four hundred yards away."</p> +<p>"Well, take one of the other women with you, and go and rouse +them. Tell them to dress and come here, at once."</p> +<p>He now went down to the gate, undid the fastening, and then led +his horse up to the house. In a few minutes the stablemen arrived. +He ordered them to carry the bodies of the six marauders out, and +lay them in front of the house. When they had done so, they were to +take those of the servants and place them in an outhouse. Then he +went upstairs again.</p> +<p>"The countess has recovered, sir," one of the women said.</p> +<p>"Tell her that I will send one of the army surgeons down, at +once. But first, bandage my arm. It is but a flesh wound, I know; +but I am feeling faint, and am sure that it is keeping on +bleeding.</p> +<p>"Here, my girl," he said to the one who had before assisted, "I +can trust to you not to faint."</p> +<p>With her assistance he took off his coat, the arm of which was +saturated with blood.</p> +<p>"You had better cut off the sleeve of the shirt," he said.</p> +<p>This was done, and the nature of the wound was seen. A ball had +ploughed through the flesh three inches below the shoulder, +inflicting a gaping but not serious wound.</p> +<p>"It is lucky that it was not the inside of the arm," he said to +the girl, as she bandaged it up; "for had it been, I should have +bled to death in a very few minutes.</p> +<p>"Has the count opened his eyes yet?"</p> +<p>"No, sir. He is lying just as he was."</p> +<p>"What is the gentleman's name?"</p> +<p>"Count Eulenfurst."</p> +<p>"You had better give me a draught of wine, before I start. I +feel shaken, and it is possible that riding may set my wound +bleeding again."</p> +<p>Having drunk a goblet of wine, Fergus went down and mounted his +horse. As he did so, he said to one of the men:</p> +<p>"Take a lantern, and go down to the spot where the road hither +turns off from the main road. A surgeon will be here in half an +hour, or perhaps in twenty minutes. He will be on the lookout for +you and your lantern."</p> +<p>Events had passed quickly, and the church bell chimed a quarter +to eleven as he rode through the streets of Dresden. In three +minutes he drew up at the entrance to the royal quarters. As he +dismounted, Karl came out.</p> +<p>"Keep the horse here, Karl," he said. "It may be wanted in a +minute or two again."</p> +<p>"Are you hurt, sir?" the man asked as he dismounted, for he saw +his face by the light of the torches on each side of the +gateway.</p> +<p>"It is only a flesh wound, and of no consequence; but I have +lost a good deal of blood."</p> +<p>He made his way up the staircase to the marshal's quarters. He +was feeling dizzy and faint, now.</p> +<p>"Is the marshal in his room?" he asked.</p> +<p>"He is in, sir, but--"</p> +<p>"I would speak to him immediately. 'Tis a most urgent +matter."</p> +<p>The servant went in, a moment later held the door open, and +said:</p> +<p>"Will you enter, sir?"</p> +<p>Fergus entered, and made the usual formal salute to the marshal. +Two or three other officers were in the room, but he did not heed +who they were, nor hear the exclamations of surprise that broke out +at his appearance.</p> +<p>"I beg to report, sir, that the house of the Count Eulenfurst +has been attacked by marauders, belonging to one of the Pomeranian +regiments. The count is desperately wounded, and I pray that a +surgeon may be sent instantly to his aid. The house stands back +from the road, about half a mile from the north gate. A man with a +lantern will be standing in the road to guide him to it. My horse +is at the door below, in readiness to take him. I pray you to allow +me to retire."</p> +<p>He swayed and would have fallen, had not the marshal and one of +the others present caught him, and laid him down on a couch.</p> +<p>"He is wounded, marshal," the other officer said. "This sleeve +is saturated with blood."</p> +<p>The marshal raised his voice, and called an attendant:</p> +<p>"Run to the quarters of staff surgeon Schmidt, and ask him to +come here immediately, and to bring another of his staff with him, +if there is one in."</p> +<p>In two minutes the king's chief surgeon entered, followed by +another of his staff.</p> +<p>"First look to the wound of Cornet Drummond," the marshal said. +"It is in the arm, and I trust that he has only fainted from loss +of blood."</p> +<p>The surgeons examined the wound.</p> +<p>"It is in no way serious, marshal. As you say, he has fainted +from loss of blood. He must have neglected it for some time. Had it +been bandaged at once, it would only have had the consequence of +disabling his arm for a fortnight or so."</p> +<p>The assistant had already hurried away to get lint and bandages. +Another voice now spoke.</p> +<p>"Surgeon Schmidt, you will please at once mount Mr. Drummond's +horse, which is standing at the door. Ride out through the north +gate. When you have gone about half a mile you will see a man with +a lantern. He will lead you to the house of Count Eulenfurst, who +has been grievously wounded by some marauders. Surgeon Morfen will +follow you, as soon as he has bandaged Mr. Drummond's wounds. There +may be more wounded there who may need your care.</p> +<p>"Major Armfeldt, will you order a horse to be brought round at +once for the surgeon, then hurry to the barracks. Order the colonel +to turn out a troop of horse instantly, and let him scour the +country between the north gate and the camp, and arrest every +straggler he comes across."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch4" id="Ch4">Chapter 4</a>: Promotion.</h2> +<p>As soon as the bandage was applied and the flow of blood ceased, +a few spoonfuls of wine were poured down the patient's throat. It +was not long before he opened his eyes and struggled into a sitting +position.</p> +<p>"I beg pardon, sir," he said faintly, as his eyes fell on the +marshal, who was standing just in front of him. "I am sorry that I +came into your apartments in this state, but it seemed to me--"</p> +<p>"You did quite right, sir," said a sharp voice that he at once +recognized, while the speaker put his hand upon his shoulder, to +prevent him from trying to rise. "You were quite right to bring the +news here at once of this outrage; which, by heavens, shall be +punished as it deserves. Now drink a cup of wine, and then perhaps +you will be able to tell us a little more about it. Now don't be in +a hurry, but obey my orders."</p> +<p>Fergus drank off the wine; then, after waiting a minute or two, +said:</p> +<p>"Count Eulenfurst is sorely wounded, sire, but I cannot say +whether mortally or not. When I came away, he was still lying +insensible. His wife and daughter are, happily, uninjured."</p> +<p>"Was anyone else hurt?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sire, the six menservants who were sleeping in the house +were all killed--four in their beds, two while hastening from below +to assist their master."</p> +<p>The king gave an exclamation of fury.</p> +<p>"You said these men belonged to a Pomeranian regiment. Had they +left before you got there? But I suppose not, or else you would not +have been wounded. How was it that you heard of the attack?"</p> +<p>"I had carried a despatch from the marshal to the camp, sire, +and was on my way back when I heard a pistol shot. The sound was +faint, for it came from a house a quarter of a mile away, and was +fired indoors; but the night was still, and fortunately some of the +windows were open. Thinking that some evil work was being done, I +rode straight for it, climbed the wall and, making my way on foot +to the house, happily arrived in time."</p> +<p>"You saw the fellows, then? How was it that they suffered you to +escape with your life? They must have known that your evidence +would hang them all."</p> +<p>"There were but six of them, sire; and they will need no +hanging, for they are all disposed of. Though had it not been for +the assistance of a brave servant maid, who threw herself upon the +back of one of them, my career would certainly have been +terminated."</p> +<p>"But who had you with you to help you?" the king asked.</p> +<p>"I had no one but the maid, sire."</p> +<p>"Do you mean to say, Mr. Drummond, that with your own hand you +slew the whole of the six villains?"</p> +<p>"That was so, sire; but in respect to the one thrown down by the +girl, I had but to blow out his brains before he could gain his +feet."</p> +<p>"Can you give us the particulars?" the king asked quietly. "If +you do not feel equal to it, we will wait till morning."</p> +<p>"I can tell you now, sire. I am feeling better and +stronger."</p> +<p>And he related the incidents of the fight.</p> +<p>"One with his pistol, Keith," the king said. "Four with his +sword, after his left hand was disabled, to say nothing of the +sixth.</p> +<p>"That is not a bad beginning for this aide-de-camp, +gentlemen."</p> +<p>"No, indeed, sire. It is a most gallant deed, though it was well +for him that he was able to dispose of the first three before the +others appeared on the scene."</p> +<p>"It was a most gallant action, indeed," the king repeated; and a +hearty assent was given by the general officers standing round.</p> +<p>"I congratulate you on your aide-de-camp, Keith," he went on. "A +man capable of killing, single handed, six of my Pomeranians is a +treasure. Do you see that his commission as lieutenant is given me +tomorrow to sign.</p> +<p>"No, sit still, young sir. It is I who have to thank you, for so +promptly punishing these marauders, who would have brought disgrace +upon my army; and not you who have to thank me. Now, be off to your +bed."</p> +<p>Two of the attendants were called in, and these assisted Fergus, +who was almost too weak to stand, to the apartment that he shared +with Lindsay. Keith himself accompanied them. Lindsay leapt out of +bed as they entered.</p> +<p>"Don't ask any questions, Lindsay," the marshal said. "Drummond +has performed a very gallant action, and has been wounded and, as +you see, can scarce stand from loss of blood. He will be asleep as +soon as he lies down. You will hear all about it, in the +morning."</p> +<p>The marshal then returned to his apartment. The king was on the +point of leaving.</p> +<p>"I have left orders," he said, "that as soon as either of the +surgeons returns, I am to be wakened and informed of the state of +Count Eulenfurst. He is a nobleman of distinction and character; +though, I believe, in no great favour at the court here since he +resigned his seat on the council, because he disapproved of the +resources of the state being wasted in extravagance, instead of +being spent in maintaining the army in proper condition. Should he +die, it will cause an extremely bad impression throughout +Saxony."</p> +<p>At daybreak the next morning, finding that the surgeons had not +returned, Keith despatched an officer to request them to furnish +him, at once, with a written report of the state of the count. He +returned in three-quarters of an hour, saying that the count had +just recovered consciousness; that two of his wounds were serious, +and the other very grave; but that having probed it, they were of +opinion that it might not prove fatal. The countess was completely +prostrated, and had gone from one fainting fit into another, and +required more attention than her husband. The rest of the household +were uninjured.</p> +<p>Lindsay got up quietly and dressed without awaking Fergus. He +was disappointed at a despatch being at once handed to him to carry +to the Prince of Brunswick's army, which was ten miles away; and +was therefore obliged to mount and ride off, without obtaining any +news whatever as to the nature of Drummond's adventure. As he +passed through the camp of the Pomeranians, he saw the bodies of +six soldiers swinging from the bough of a tree, close to the camp. +He rode a little out of his way to discover the cause of this +strange spectacle. In front of them was erected a large placard of +canvas, with the words painted upon it:</p> +<p>"Marauders killed in the commission of crime, and their bodies +hung by order of the king, as a lesson to anyone who ventures to +break the law against plundering."</p> +<p>Then he rode on his way, and did not return until one o'clock. +The marshal was occupied. He therefore simply handed in the reply +to the despatch that he had carried, and immediately retired.</p> +<p>"Is Mr. Drummond up?" he asked one of the attendants.</p> +<p>"He is still in his room, sir. His servant is with him, and he +is taking food."</p> +<p>He went straight to the room. Fergus was sitting up in a chair, +eating a basin of strong chicken broth.</p> +<p>"This is a nice hour to be breakfasting, Lindsay," he said with +a smile. "I feel quite ashamed of myself, I can tell you; but I am +under orders. The doctor came here half an hour ago. I had just +woke and got out of bed, and was going to dress, when he told me +that I was not to do so. I might sit up to take breakfast, but was +to keep perfectly quiet for the rest of the day. He said I only +needed feeding up, that he would send me some strong broth, and +three hours later I was to have some soup and a pint of Burgundy; +and that if I obeyed his instructions, and ate and drank well, I +should be able to leave my room tomorrow; though of course, I +should not be fit for active service till my arm began to +heal."</p> +<p>"But what is it all about, Drummond? I was sent off to +Brunswick's camp, as soon as I got up, and have heard nothing about +it; and the marshal forbade me to speak to you, when you were +brought in last night. He merely said that you had done a very +gallant action."</p> +<p>"There was nothing very gallant in it, Lindsay; but it turned +out very fortunate."</p> +<p>Then he gave a very brief account of the previous evening's +events.</p> +<p>"Well I should call that a gallant action, Drummond, if you +don't. It is no joke for one man to tackle six, and those not +ordinary marauders but Pomeranian soldiers. Of course, it was +somewhat lucky that you had rid yourself of three of them, before +the other three entered the room; and had it not been, as you say, +for that girl, things might have turned out differently. Still, +that does not affect the matter. It was a gallant business.</p> +<p>"What happened when you came in?"</p> +<p>"I don't know much about what happened. At first I made some +sort of report to the marshal, and then I believe I fainted. When I +came to, I found that they had bandaged up my shoulder, and poured +some wine down my throat. I felt very shaky at first, but I know +that I drank some wine, and was then able to give some sort of +account of what had happened. The king was there, then, and asked +me questions; but whether or not he was there, at first, I cannot +say. I have a vague idea that he told the marshal, too, that he +promoted me; but I am not quite sure about that, nor do I know how +I got here."</p> +<p>"Well, if you are not mistaken about your step, I congratulate +you most heartily. It is seldom, indeed, that anyone gains one in +six weeks after his first appointment. I thought myself lucky, +indeed, in getting it after serving only two years and a half; but +I got it simply on nomination as one of the marshal's +aides-de-camp. It is customary to get promotion, on such +appointment, if there has been two or three years' previous +service.</p> +<p>"Well, you have drawn the first blood in this campaign, +Drummond; and have not been long in giving very striking proof that +your month's hard work in the fencing school has not been thrown +away."</p> +<p>The conversation was broken off by the entry of the marshal, +himself.</p> +<p>"Pooh, pooh, Fergus!" he said, as the latter rose, "there is no +occasion for saluting in a bedroom. I am glad to see you looking so +much better. You could not have looked more ghastly, when you came +in yesterday evening, if you had been your own wraith.</p> +<p>"There, lad," he said, handing him a parchment. "It is not usual +to have a new commission on promotion, but the king told me that he +had had it done, in the present case, in order that you might have +a record of the exploit for which you have been promoted. You will +see it is set down inside that, although but six weeks in service, +you were promoted to the rank of lieutenant for a deed of +extraordinary gallantry. You had attacked and killed, with your own +hand, six marauding soldiers; who had entered the chateau of Count +Eulenfurst, well-nigh murdered the count, killed six of his +servants, and were occupied in plundering the house. In token of +his thankfulness, that the life of so distinguished and enlightened +a nobleman had been saved by you; as well as of approbation for the +gallantry of your conduct, his majesty promoted you to the rank of +lieutenant.</p> +<p>"You should keep that paper, Fergus, and pass it down to your +descendants, as an heirloom. I congratulate you, my boy, with all +my heart; and feel some satisfaction on my own account, for such an +action as this shows those who are inclined to grumble, at what +they may consider the favour shown to Scotchmen, that at any rate +the favour is not misplaced. A general order to the army has been +issued this morning saying that, some scoundrels, having disgraced +their uniform and brought discredit upon the army, by a murderous +and wicked attack upon the house of Count Eulenfurst, the king +reiterates and confirms his previous order that any man caught when +engaged in pillaging, or upon whose person any stolen goods are +found, will be summarily hung by the provost marshal, or by any +general officer before whom he may be brought.</p> +<p>"The king himself has ridden to the count's chateau, this +morning, to make personal inquiries into his state, and to express +his deep regret at the outrage that has taken place. It is a +politic action, as well as a kind one. Of course, the event has +occasioned great excitement in the city."</p> +<p>"And may I ask how the count is going on, sir?"</p> +<p>"The last report of the surgeons is a favourable one. He has +partly recovered consciousness, and at any rate recognizes his +daughter, who has divided her time between his bedside and her +mother's. The latter has fallen into a deep sleep of exhaustion; +but will, I doubt not, recover. The girl came down into the hall +when the king called. She bore herself well, they tell me, and +would have retained her composure, had it not been for the king +himself. She came down the grand staircase, with four of her maids +behind her--for a notice had been sent, half an hour before of his +coming--prepared, no doubt, to meet a stiff and haughty king; but +though Frederick can be every inch a king, when he chooses, there +is, as you know, no kinder-hearted man alive.</p> +<p>"He went forward bare-headed to meet her and, as she stopped and +curtsied low, he took her two hands and said:</p> +<p>"'My poor child, I am sorry, more sorry than I can tell you, for +what has happened; and hope with all my heart that your father, +whom all respect and honour, will not be taken from you. No doubt +you look upon me as an enemy; but although compelled to come here, +because your king is leagued with those who intend to destroy me +and my country, I bear no ill will to the people; and have given +the strictest orders that my soldiers shall, in all respects, treat +them as firm friends. But unfortunately, there are scoundrels +everywhere. These men have been punished as they deserved, and the +whole army will join with me in deep regret at what has happened, +and in the fervent hope that your father's life will be spared. I +grieve, too, to hear that the countess, your mother, has suffered +so greatly from the shock; and hope soon to be able to express to +her, in person, the regret I feel for what has taken place.'</p> +<p>"The kindness of his tone, in saying all this, broke her down +more than the words of the king. He saw that she was unable to +speak.</p> +<p>"'There, there, child,' he said. 'I know what you are feeling, +and that you are longing to go upstairs again, so I will say +goodbye. Keep up a brave heart. The surgeons have every hope that +your father will recover. And believe that you will always have a +friend in Frederick of Prussia.'</p> +<p>"He kissed her on the cheek, and then turned and left the hall, +followed by his staff."</p> +<p>Three days later the doctors were able to say confidently that, +unless some change occurred for the worse, they believed the count +would recover. On the fourth day, Fergus was sufficiently well to +mount his horse. The countess and her daughter had repeatedly asked +after him, and expressed their desire that he would come over, as +soon as he was well enough to do so.</p> +<p>One of the aides-de-camp had gone over, twice a day, to inquire +as to the progress the count was making. A guard had been placed at +the gate, and an officer stationed there to receive the names of +the stream of visitors from the city, and to inform them that the +count was making satisfactory progress. By the doctor's orders, +even the count's most intimate friends were refused admission, as +absolute quiet was needed.</p> +<p>Fergus dismounted at the gate, and walked up to the house. The +maid who opened the door recognized him at once.</p> +<p>"Will you come in, sir?" she said, with a beaming face. "I will +tell the young countess you are here; and she will, I am sure, see +you."</p> +<p>A minute later, the girl ran down the stairs. As she came +forward she stopped, with sudden shyness. Absorbed in her anxiety +for her father and mother, she had taken but little heed of the +appearance of the officer who had saved them. That he was kind as +well as brave she was sure for, although he had scarce spoken to +her, the gentleness with which he had moved her father and her +mother from the bloodstained room, and the promptness and decision +with which he had given his orders, had inspired her with absolute +confidence in him. She had a vague idea that he was young, but his +face, flecked here and there with blood, had left but a faint +impression upon her memory; and when she saw the young officer, in +his spotless and imposing uniform, she almost felt that there must +be some mistake.</p> +<p>"Are you Lieutenant Drummond, sir?" she asked timidly.</p> +<p>"I am, countess."</p> +<p>"Was it really you who saved us, the other night?"</p> +<p>"I had that good fortune," he said with a smile.</p> +<p>She took the hand he held out, wonderingly, and then suddenly +burst into tears.</p> +<p>"Oh, sir," she said, "is it possible that you, who look so +young, can be the one who came to our assistance, and killed those +six evil men? It seems impossible.</p> +<p>"I have been so unhappy, since. I did not know that you were +wounded until the maids told me, afterwards. I had never even +asked. I let you go, without one word of thanks for all that you +have done for us. What must you have thought of me?"</p> +<p>"I thought that you were a very courageous girl," Fergus said +earnestly; "and that, after what you had gone through, the sight of +your father as you believed dying, and your mother in such a state, +you were wonderfully calm and composed. It would have been strange, +indeed, had you thought of anything else at such a time."</p> +<p>"You are very good to say so, sir; but when I heard, from the +surgeons you sent, that you had fainted from loss of blood after +delivering your message, I felt that I should never forgive myself. +You had thought so much of us, and not of yourself. You had gone +about seeing to our comfort, and giving orders and arranging +everything, and all the time you yourself needed aid."</p> +<p>"The wound was a mere trifle," he said, "and I scarce gave it a +thought, myself, until I began to feel faint from loss of blood. I +can assure you that the thought that you were ungrateful has never +once entered my head."</p> +<p>"And now, will you please come up to see my mother, sir. She +will be most anxiously expecting you."</p> +<p>They went upstairs together and, turning to the right on the top +of the stairs, entered a pretty apartment that was evidently the +countess's boudoir.</p> +<p>"This is our preserver, mother," the girl said, as she +entered.</p> +<p>The countess, who was advancing towards the door, stopped in +surprise. She had been able, from her daughter, to gain no idea of +the age of their rescuer; but the maids had all asserted that he +was quite young. As he was, for so the surgeons had told her, one +of Marshal Keith's aides-de-camp, she had pictured to herself a +fierce soldier; and the sight of this youth, with his smooth +pleasant face, surprised her, indeed.</p> +<p>"Yes, mother, it is himself," the girl said. "I was as surprised +as you are."</p> +<p>"I have no words to thank you, sir, for the most inestimable +service which you have rendered us," the countess said warmly, as +she held out her hand. "Assuredly my husband would have died, had +aid been delayed but a few minutes. As to my daughter and myself, +they would probably have killed us, to prevent our ever recognizing +or giving evidence against them. They only spared our lives, for a +time, in order to learn where our jewels were kept. This was but a +comparative trifle, though the jewels are precious, and there are +none more valuable in Saxony. I have no doubt that after stripping +the house of its valuables they would have buried them, intending +some day to recover them; and would then have fired the house, in +order to conceal all evidence of the crime that had been committed. +It seemed to me wonderful, before, that one man should, single +handed, have attacked and slain them; but now that I see you, it +seems almost a miracle that you performed in our favour."</p> +<p>"It was no great feat, madam. I have the good fortune to be a +fair swordsman; and soldiers, although they may know their military +drill, have little chance with one who can use his weapon well. +Then, too, I had fortunately but three to deal with at a time; and +even then, I should not have come off victorious had it not been +for the courage of the maid, who ran boldly in, sprang on the back +of one, and threw him to the ground, while he was waiting to get a +steady aim at me with his pistol. I assuredly owe my life to +her."</p> +<p>"The King of Prussia left twenty gold crowns for her, when he +was here, saying that it was payment for saving the life of one of +his officers; and you may be sure that we shall not be ungrateful +to her. Your death would have involved that of my husband, and us. +The king also ordered that inquiry should be made as to whether our +men who were killed had families dependent upon them; and that if +so, pensions were to be given to these, as their loss had been +occasioned by the evil deeds of some of his soldiers. It was very +thoughtful and kind, and my daughter seems quite to have fallen in +love with him.</p> +<p>"I hope that in a few days my husband will be able to see you. +He does not know that you are here. If he did, I am sure that he +would wish to see you now; but the surgeons have insisted so +strongly on absolute quiet, that I dare not let him hear of your +coming."</p> +<p>"I am delighted to learn that he is going on so well, madame. I +sincerely trust that he will not long remain an invalid."</p> +<p>"I suppose you would not have recognized me?" the countess +asked.</p> +<p>"I should not, indeed. Of course, I could do nothing to aid you, +and was chiefly occupied by the count. But indeed, you were then so +pale that I might well be excused for not knowing you again."</p> +<p>The countess was a very handsome woman, of some seven or eight +and thirty, with a noble figure and a gracious air; and bore no +resemblance to the almost distraught woman, with her hair falling +over her face, whom he had seen before.</p> +<p>"I am not a coward, Mr. Drummond," she said, "and when those +villains first ran in and attacked my husband, I struggled +desperately with the two who seized me; until I saw him drop, as I +believed, dead. Then my strength suddenly left me, and I should +have fallen to the ground, had the men not thrown me back into the +chair. I have a vague recollection of seeing Thirza, who had +retired for the night but a minute or two previously, carried in +bound and gagged. They asked me several questions, but I could not +reply; and I think they learned from the frightened servants where +the family jewels were kept. The clashing of swords and the firing +of pistols roused me a little, and after it was all over, and I +heard you say that my husband was still living, my heart gave one +bound, and I knew nothing more of what happened until next +day."</p> +<p>After chatting for a short time longer Fergus took his leave, +well pleased to have got through a visit he had somewhat +dreaded.</p> +<p>The king remained for nearly a month at Dresden, engaged in +carrying on negotiations with the Elector. By this delay he lost +most of the advantages that his sudden movement had given him; but +he was most anxious to detach Saxony and Poland from the +confederacy against him, as he would then be able to turn his +attention wholly to Austria, aided by the Saxons, while the Poles +would aid his army in the east to keep the Russians in check. The +Elector of Saxony--who was also King of Poland--however, was only +negotiating in order to give time for Austria to gather an army in +Bohemia; and so to relieve the Saxons, who were watched by the +eastern column, which had crossed the defiles into Bohemia and +taken post near Koeniggraetz; while that of Prince Maurice of +Brunswick pushed forward farther, to threaten their line of retreat +from the west.</p> +<p>The king at last became convinced that the King of Poland was +but trifling with him, and in the last week of September started to +take the command of the centre, which was facing the entrance to +the defile, at Pirna. Marshal Keith had been sent, a week after +Fergus was wounded, to assume the command of the western column, +hitherto commanded by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick.</p> +<p>Fergus remained behind for ten days, at the end of which time he +felt perfectly fit for service again. He still carried his arm in a +sling, but a generous diet and good wine had filled his veins +again, and upon the day the king left he rode with Karl to rejoin +the marshal.</p> +<p>He had been several times over to the chateau, and had on the +last occasion seen the count; who, although still terribly weak, +was now out of danger, and able to sit on a couch, propped up by +pillows. His thanks were as earnest as those of the countess had +been and, having heard that Fergus was to start on the following +morning to join the army on the frontier, he said to him:</p> +<p>"There is no saying how far your king may carry his arms, nor +where you may find yourself. The countess will, therefore, write +letters addressed to intimate friends at various large towns; +telling them that you have placed us under a vast obligation, and +praying them to do, for our sake, all in their power for you, under +whatever circumstances you may arrive there. She will write them on +small pieces of paper, each with its name and address on the back, +so that they will make a small and compact packet, not much bigger +than an ordinary letter.</p> +<p>"I trust that when you return to Dresden, lieutenant, I shall be +able, myself, to do my best to prove my gratitude for your +services."</p> +<p>After taking leave of the count, his wife, and daughter, Fergus +rode back to the royal quarters. As Karl took his horse, he +said:</p> +<p>"Herr lieutenant, I know not how we are going to manage."</p> +<p>"In what way, Karl?"</p> +<p>"Two magnificent horses, complete with saddlery, holsters, and +pistols, arrived here half an hour since. The man who brought them +said they were from Count Eulenfurst, and handed me this note:</p> +<p>"'Pray accept the horses we send you, as a feeble token of our +gratitude. May they, by their speed and staunchness, carry you +unharmed through dangers well nigh as great as those you faced for +us.'"</p> +<p>Fergus walked by the side of the soldier as he led the horse +round to the stable.</p> +<p>"There, sir," Karl said, pointing to a pair of splendid animals; +"they are fit for a king."</p> +<p>"'Tis a noble gift, and indeed, I doubt whether the king himself +has such horses in his stables. The question is, what is to be done +with them? My present charger is an excellent one and, as a gift of +the marshal, I could not part with it. As to the others, it is out +of the question that I can take both. It would be altogether +contrary to rules. I am entitled to forage for two horses--that is, +when forage is to be had.</p> +<p>"Ah! I see what had best be done. Come to my room with me. I +will give you a letter to the count."</p> +<p>He wrote as follows:</p> +<p>"Dear Count Eulenfurst,</p> +<p>"I cannot refuse the noble gift that you have made me, and thank +you and the countess for it, with all my heart. At present, +however, it places me in a difficulty. Aides-de-camp are allowed to +take only two horses; indeed, my orderly could not take with him +more than one led horse. The animal I have was the gift of Marshal +Keith. That being so, you will see that I could not part with it. +The only solution, therefore, that occurs to me is to beg you to +add to your kindness, by taking care of the one that I send back to +you by the bearer, until I return to Dresden; or find means to send +for it, in the event of one of the others being killed.</p> +<p>"The only fault with your gifts is that they ought to be kept +for state reviews, or grand occasions; for it seems wrong to take +such noble creatures into the midst of a heavy fire. I am sure that +I shall feel more nervous, lest a ball should injure my horse, than +I shall do for my own safety."</p> +<p>When he had folded and sealed this, he handed it to Karl, who +had followed shortly after him.</p> +<p>"I am sending back one of the horses, Karl, and asking the count +to take care of it for me, until I return or send for it. Do you +see any difference between them?"</p> +<p>"It would be hard to pick the best, lieutenant. They both struck +me as being perfect in all points--both are four years old."</p> +<p>"Well then, you must take one at random, Karl. Had one been +better than the other, I should have left it behind. As it is, take +whichever you choose."</p> +<p>"The man who brought them told me, sir, that both were bred on +the count's estates; and that he prided himself on having some of +the best blood in Europe, both for beauty and stamina. He thought +this pair were the pick of the stables."</p> +<p>"I almost wish I could leave them both behind, but I could not +do so without hurting the feelings of the count and countess. But +they are too good for an aide-de-camp's work."</p> +<p>"I don't think anything can be too good for that, sir. An +aide-de-camp wants a horse that will stop at nothing; and sometimes +he has to ride for his life, pursued by the enemy's cavalry. You +will be the envy of the division, on one of those horses."</p> +<p>Karl returned an hour later with a message from the countess, +saying that she could not disturb her husband, who was then +resting, but that she understood Mr. Drummond's difficulty, and +they should be very glad to take care of the horse for him, until +he wanted it.</p> +<p>"You did not see the countess, I suppose, Karl?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, I saw her. She had me taken upstairs to her room. She +asked if I was your servant, and when I said yes, she told me that +she hoped I would take great care of you. I said that was my +duty.</p> +<p>"'Nevertheless, do more than your duty,' she said. 'His life is +a very precious one to us.</p> +<p>"'Is it not, Thirza?'</p> +<p>"The young lady nodded.</p> +<p>"'Here are five gold crowns for yourself,' she went on, handing +me the money. 'They may help to make your bivouac more +comfortable.</p> +<p>"'And now,' she said, 'there is something else, but I do not +wish you to tell your master.'</p> +<p>"What am I to do, your honour?"</p> +<p>"You had better keep it to yourself, Karl," Fergus laughed. "I +daresay I shall hear of it, someday."</p> +<p>"Very well, lieutenant, then that is all there is to +report."</p> +<p>The next morning Fergus started early. Two days previously, a +Prussian governor had been appointed to Dresden, and three thousand +men were left under his command. Similar appointments were also +made to all the fortified towns in Saxony; for now that the +negotiations were broken off, and the King of Poland had declared +finally for the Confederates, Saxony was to be treated as a +conquered country. Nevertheless, strict injunctions were given that +all cattle, wheat, and other provisions taken for the use of the +garrisons, or for storing up in fortresses whence it might be +forwarded to the army, were to be paid for; and that any act of +pillage or ill treatment was to be most severely punished, as the +king was still most anxious to gain the goodwill of the mass of the +population.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch5" id="Ch5">Chapter 5</a>: Lobositz.</h2> +<p>In Dresden itself, the feeling was far from hostile to the +invaders. The discontent with the vicious government had been +extreme, and the imposts now levied were less onerous than those +which had been wasted in profusion and extravagance. The conduct of +the troops had been admirable; and in the case of Count Eulenfurst, +the personal visit of the king to express his regrets, and his +generosity to the families of the servants, had produced a most +excellent effect.</p> +<p>As Fergus rode into the camp, mounted on his new acquisition, it +at once caught the marshal's eye.</p> +<p>"Why, Fergus," he exclaimed, "have you been robbing the King of +Poland's stables? That is a noble animal, indeed."</p> +<p>"It was a present from Count Eulenfurst, marshal," Fergus +replied. "He sent me two, but one of them he is going to keep for +me until I return; for I could not part with Rollo, who is as good +a horse as anyone can wish to ride; and I know his paces."</p> +<p>"You are right, lad, for it is always well to accustom yourself +to a horse, before you want to use it in action; but in faith, it +will be a pity to ride such a horse as that through the heat of a +battle."</p> +<p>"I feel that, sir; but as the count, in his letter with the +horses, said that he hoped they would carry me safely through +dangers as grave as those I had encountered at his house, I feel +that he would be hurt if, on my return, I admitted to him that I +had saved it for show occasions."</p> +<p>"You are right," Keith said approvingly; "but that is the more +reason that you should accustom yourself to it, before you use it +for such work; as horse and rider should be as one on the field of +battle and, unless the horse has absolute confidence in its rider, +it is very difficult to keep it steady under fire."</p> +<p>"I suppose we shall not see the king for some time, marshal," +Fergus said later, as Keith was chatting with him.</p> +<p>"On the contrary, he will be with us tomorrow. He rides today to +have another look at the Saxon position, and to give his orders +there. He will, tomorrow morning, join us. It is we who are likely +to have the first fighting; for the Austrians must come to the +relief of the Saxons, who are shut up, as in a trap, by our +divisions. They made a great mistake in not retiring, at once, into +Bohemia; which they could have done without difficulty, had they +lost no time.</p> +<p>"There is no greater mistake than shutting a large force up, +either in a fortress or an intrenched camp, unless that fortress is +an absolute obstacle to an enemy. This is not the case with Pirna. +The mountains can be crossed at many other points and, by leaving +five or six thousand men in a strong position at the end of each +defile, we could disregard them altogether, and march on southward. +They have already been three weeks there, and we believe that they +cannot hold out very much longer. However, it is probable that they +may be able to do so until an Austrian force comes up, and tries to +relieve them.</p> +<p>"From what we hear, two armies have already entered Bohemia, and +we may expect that our first battle will not be far distant."</p> +<p>"Do we block the only line of retreat, sir?" Fergus asked.</p> +<p>"No, indeed. We do not absolutely close the direct road, but our +position, and that of Marshal Schwerin facing Koeniggraetz, so +menaces their line of retreat that they dare not venture from their +shelter; and our cavalry render it impossible for any supplies to +be thrown in, unless the convoy is supported by an army. There are, +we know, paths across the hills by which infantry might effect a +passage; but as there is nowhere a place for them to retire to, we +should easily overtake them and force them to surrender.</p> +<p>"No, their only hope is in the coming of relief."</p> +<p>A few hours later, the king himself rode in. In the evening, +orders were issued that a force of cavalry and infantry were to +march at daylight, and that the rest of the army were to follow, +two hours later. It was soon known that the king had received news +that Marshal Browne--an Irish officer of great distinction, who +commanded the Austrian force gathered at Budin, on the Eger--was +expecting the arrival of artillery and pontoons from Vienna, in the +course of a day or two, and was preparing to cross the river. It +was evident, then, that his intention was to relieve the Saxon +army, in the first place.</p> +<p>The roads through the defiles were very heavy and difficult, but +that afternoon the advance force reached Termitz. Late in the +evening the rest of the army arrived there.</p> +<p>A squadron of cavalry had been sent off, as soon as the vanguard +arrived, to ascertain the movements of the enemy; and they +returned, at ten at night, with information that the Austrians had +crossed the Eger that day, and were to encamp at Lobositz. The army +at once moved on across the mountains and, after a very difficult +and fatiguing march, arrived near Lobositz; and lay down for some +hours in the order in which they had marched, taking up their +position as soon as it was light.</p> +<a id="Map2" name="Map2"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/2.jpg" alt= +"Battle of Lobositz" /></div> +<p>The infantry were in two lines. Their left was posted on a steep +hill known as the Lobosch, part of whose lower slopes extended to +the village of Lobositz. A battery, with infantry supports, took +post on a hill called Homolka, which commanded the whole plain +between the two armies. The centre stretched across the valley +between those hills.</p> +<p>On the low hill on which stood the little town, the Austrians +had thrown up intrenchments, and posted a very strong artillery +force, whose fire would sweep a greater portion of the Prussian +position. Except at this point, the ground between the two armies +was low and swampy. The Austrian force was greatly superior in +numbers, consisting of 72 squadrons of horse, 52 battalions of +infantry, and 98 guns; while the Prussians had 55 squadrons, 26 +battalions, and 102 guns.</p> +<p>It was evident to both commanders that the village of Lobositz +was the decisive point; and indeed, the nature of the ground was +such as to render operations almost impossible, in the marshy plain +intersected by rivulets, which in many places formed large +ponds.</p> +<p>At seven in the morning the Prussian action began by a heavy +fire between the left, on the slopes of Lobosch, and 4000 Croats +and several battalions of Hungarians, scattered among the vineyards +and the stone walls dividing them. A heavy fog covered the whole +country and, until a full view could be obtained of the position of +the enemy, neither of the commanders deemed it prudent to move.</p> +<p>At twelve o'clock, however, the fog began to clear up. The main +body of the Austrians was still invisible; and the king, seeing but +a comparatively small force in the plain near Lobositz, thought +that this must be the rear guard of the Austrians; who, he +imagined, having found the line by which they intended to succour +the Saxons occupied in force, had retired, having thrown up +batteries and left a strong force at Lobositz, to prevent the +Prussians from advancing.</p> +<p>To ascertain this, twenty squadrons of cavalry were ordered to +advance; but on doing so, they were received by so tremendous a +fire from the batteries of the village, and from others at +Sulowitz, another village in the plain on their right, that they +fell back with much loss, pursued by the Austrian cavalry. By the +time they had resumed their positions behind the infantry, the fog +had entirely lifted; and the king and Marshal Keith obtained a full +view of the Austrian position, from the spot where they had +stationed themselves on the hill. They agreed that no attack could +be made against the enemy's centre or left, and that they could be +assailed only on their right.</p> +<p>The troops on the Lobosch Hill were, therefore, largely +reinforced; and the whole army advanced, inclining towards the left +so as to attack Lobositz from the side of the plain, as well as +from that of the mountain. A tremendous artillery fire, from the +guns on the hills, heralded the advance.</p> +<p>The troops on the Lobosch Hill made their way forward rapidly. +The ground was so steep that they commanded a view down into the +vineyard, and their fire was so heavy that the Croats and +Hungarians fell, as fast as they raised their heads above the stone +walls to fire; and although General Browne reinforced them by some +of the best Austrian infantry, they were rapidly driven down +towards Lobositz. At the foot of the hill they were supported by +several more battalions, brought from the Austrian centre. General +Lacy, who commanded these, was wounded.</p> +<p>The Prussians halted at the foot of the slope and were reformed; +having fallen into some disorder, from the irregular nature of the +ground over which they had been fighting. The guns were brought +forward, so as to cover their next advance; while a very strong +force was sent to support the batteries on the Homolka Hill, so as +to check the enemy's centre and left, should they attempt any +movement across the plain.</p> +<p>In the meantime, Marshal Browne was reinforcing the defenders of +Lobositz with the whole of his right wing. The village was defended +with desperate bravery but, owing to the position, the king was +able to reinforce the assailants very much more rapidly than the +Austrian commander could bring up his distant troops. The Prussian +artillery concentrated their fire upon the place, and set it in +flames from end to end; when its defenders were forced to abandon +it, and retreat with precipitation on their cavalry.</p> +<p>In order to cover their withdrawal, the Austrian left moved down +to the village of Sulowitz, and endeavoured to pass the dam over a +marshy rivulet in front of it; but the fire from the battery on the +Homolka rendered it impossible for them to form, and also set that +village on fire, and they were therefore called back. The Austrian +centre moved to its right, and occupied the ground behind Lobositz +as soon as the defenders of the village had fallen back, and then +Marshal Browne formed up his whole force afresh.</p> +<p>His position was now as strong as it had been when the battle +first began, for the Prussians could not advance except between the +swampy ground and the river; and would have been exposed, while +doing so, to the fire of batteries both in front and in flank. The +Austrians were still greatly superior in numbers, and all the +advantages that had been gained might have been lost by a renewal +of the action. The total loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners on +the part of the Austrians was 3308. That of the Prussians was about +the same.</p> +<p>Although indecisive--and indeed, claimed as a victory by both +parties--the consequences showed that the advantage lay with the +Prussians. Marshal Browne's object had been to relieve the Saxons, +Frederick's to prevent this; and for the moment he had wholly +succeeded.</p> +<p>On the other hand was the fact that Marshal Browne had drawn off +his army practically intact, and that it was impossible for the +king to winter in Bohemia, as he would have done had the Austrian +army been defeated and dispersed; and the latter were still in a +position to make a fresh attempt to rescue the Saxons.</p> +<p>To prevent this, the king despatched the Duke of Bevern with a +large force, as if to get between the Austrians and the river Eger. +This movement had the desired effect. Marshal Browne at once fell +back, recrossed the river, and took up his position at his former +camp at Budin. From there he opened communications with the Saxons, +and it was arranged that these should pass the Elbe; and that he, +with 8000 men, should also do so, and march to meet them.</p> +<p>The Saxons, however, were detained, owing to the terrible +weather and the enormous difficulty of the defiles, and only +crossed on the 13th. In the meantime the Prussians had taken up +positions to cut off the Saxon retreat, and after crossing they +found themselves hemmed in, and the roads so commanded by +newly-erected batteries that, being utterly exhausted by fatigue +and hardships, they had no resource but to surrender.</p> +<p>The terms enforced were hard. The officers were allowed to +depart, on giving their parole not to serve again, but the whole of +the rank and file were incorporated in the Prussian army.</p> +<p>Fergus Drummond and Lindsay stood by their horses, with the +other members of the staff, some short distance behind the king and +Marshal Keith, as they anxiously endeavoured to discover the +whereabouts and intentions of the Austrian army; while the crack of +musketry, between the Croats and the troops who were gradually +pressing them down the hill, continued unabated.</p> +<p>"This is slow work, Drummond," Lindsay said, as hour after hour +passed. "I should not like to have anything to do with the king, +just at present. It is easy to see how fidgety he is, and no +wonder. For aught we know there may be only three or four thousand +men facing us and, while we are waiting here, the whole Austrian +army may have crossed over again, and be marching up the river bank +to form a junction with the Saxons; or they may have gone by the +defiles we traversed the last two days, and may come down into +Saxony and fall on the rear of our camp watching Pirna, while the +Saxons are attacking in front. No wonder his majesty paces +backwards and forwards like a wild beast in a cage."</p> +<p>From time to time an aide-de-camp was sent off, with some order +involving the movement of a battalion farther to the right or left, +and the addition of a few guns to the battery on Homolka Hill. +Fergus had taken his turn in carrying the orders. He had, two days +before, abandoned his sling; and scarcely felt any inconvenience +from the wound, which indeed would have been of slight consequence, +had it not been for the excessive loss of blood.</p> +<p>"These movements mean nothing," Lindsay said, as he returned +from one of these rides. "The marshal makes the changes simply for +the sake of doing something--partly, perhaps, to take the king's +attention off this confounded delay; partly to interest the troops, +who must be just as restless and impatient as we are."</p> +<p>The messages were taken, alternately, by the king's +aides-de-camp and the marshal's.</p> +<p>At length, as the fog began to lift, the interest in the scene +heightened. The king and Keith talked long and earnestly together, +as they watched the village of Lobositz.</p> +<p>"They have got some strong batteries there," Lindsay said; "but +as far as one can see, there does not appear to be any large body +of troops. I suppose it is meant that the troops on the slopes +shall retire there, and make a strong stand. I am bound to say that +it looks very much as if Browne had only left a strong guard here, +to keep us from issuing from this defile; and that his whole army +moved away last night, and may now be some thirty miles away, on +their march towards Saxony."</p> +<p>As the fog lifted still more they could see the stream running +right across the plain, and the little village of Sulowitz on its +bank, apparently still and deserted. Presently Keith wrote an order +on a tablet, and Lindsay was sent off with it, to the general +commanding the cavalry.</p> +<p>"Something is going to be done at last, Drummond," he said, as +he mounted. "It is an order to the cavalry."</p> +<p>An order was then despatched to the battery on Homolka Hill, and +to the batteries on the left. Two more battalions of infantry then +moved up, to press the Croats more quickly down the hill.</p> +<p>Fergus watched Lindsay, and saw him ride up to the general. +Several officers at once galloped off. There was a movement among +the cavalry, and then twenty squadrons passed out through the +intervals between the brigades of infantry, and trotted out through +the mouth of the valley. They went on without interruption, until +abreast of Lobositz; and then a great number of men ran suddenly +up, from the houses of the village, to the batteries.</p> +<p>A minute later some thirty guns poured their fire into the +Prussian cavalry; while at the same moment the guns of a heavy +battery, hitherto unseen, poured in their fire from Sulowitz on +their left flank; while from rising ground, not visible behind it, +came the roar of thirty more pieces.</p> +<p>So rapidly had the aides-de-camp been sent off, that Fergus was +the only one remaining available. The king spoke a few words to the +marshal, and then said to Fergus:</p> +<p>"Ride, sir, with my orders to the officer commanding the cavalry +out there, and tell him to retire at once."</p> +<p>Fergus ran back to where Karl was holding his horse.</p> +<p>"Follow me, Karl," he said, as he sprang into the saddle; and +then rode rapidly down the steep hill and, as soon as he reached +the valley, dashed off at a headlong gallop.</p> +<p>"I have orders, Karl, to recall the cavalry, who will be +destroyed unless they return. Should I fall, carry the order to +their commander."</p> +<p>The din was now prodigious. The whole of the Prussian batteries +had opened on Lobositz and Sulowitz, and between the thunder of the +guns came the incessant crackling of musketry on the hill to his +right.</p> +<p>Passing through the infantry, Fergus dashed across the plain. He +was mounted on the horse the marshal had given him, as the other +was not yet accustomed to stand fire. The noble animal, as if +delighted to be on level ground again, and excited by the roar of +battle, carried him along at the top of its speed without any need +of urging. Fergus knew that on the heights behind the king and +Keith would be anxiously watching him, for the peril of the cavalry +was great; and the concussion of the guns was now causing the fog +to lift rapidly and, as he rode, he could dimly make out dark +masses of men all along the rising ground behind Sulowitz, and knew +that the Austrian cavalry might, at any moment, sweep down on the +Prussians.</p> +<p>He was drawing abreast of Lobositz, when suddenly a squadron of +cavalry dashed out from the village. Their object was evidently to +cut him off, and prevent any message that he might bear reaching +the Prussian cavalry, which were now halted half a mile ahead. +Their officers were endeavouring to reform them from the confusion +into which they had fallen, from the speed at which they had ridden +and the heavy losses they had sustained.</p> +<p>He saw, at once, that the Austrians would cross his line, and +reined in his horse to allow Karl to come up to him. Had not the +trooper been exceptionally well mounted, he would have been left +far behind. As it was, while pressing his charger to the utmost, he +was still some fifty yards in rear of Fergus.</p> +<p>As soon as he came up, the latter said:</p> +<p>"We must cut our way through the Austrians. Ride close to me. We +will ease our horses a little, until we are within fifty yards, and +then go at them at full speed. If I fall and you get through, carry +the orders to retire to the general commanding the cavalry."</p> +<p>The Austrian cavalry had formed up in two troops, one twenty +yards behind the other, and each in line two deep, extending across +the road by which Fergus was riding. Seeing, by the speed at which +he was travelling, that the Prussian staff officer had no intention +of surrendering, the Austrian in command gave the order to charge, +when they were some fifty yards away.</p> +<p>"Now, Karl, boot to boot. Go right at them!"</p> +<p>And with pistols in their left hands, and their swords in their +right, they sent their horses at full speed against the enemy. +These had scarcely got into motion when, like a thunderbolt, Fergus +and his orderly burst down upon them.</p> +<a id="PicC" name="PicC"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/c.jpg" alt= +"Not a blow was struck, horse and rider went down before them" /></div> +<p>The shock was irresistible. Their horses were much heavier and +more powerful than those of the Austrians, and their weight and +impetus carried all before them. Not a blow was struck. Horse and +rider went down before them, or were swept aside. They were +scarcely conscious that they were through, before they encountered +the second line.</p> +<p>Here the fight was much more severe. Fergus cut down two of his +opponents and, with a pistol shot, rid Karl of an antagonist who +was pressing him hard; and after a minute of wild confusion they +were through the line, and riding at headlong speed towards the +Prussians. Pistols cracked out behind them, but before the +Austrians had time to turn and aim they were already fifty yards +away, and going at a speed that soon left their pursuers behind. As +soon as the latter saw this they drew off, and trotted back to +Lobositz.</p> +<p>Fergus rode up to the officer commanding the cavalry.</p> +<p>"I bear the king's orders to you, general, to retire at once +with your command."</p> +<p>It was time, for a body of Austrian cavalry, of much greater +strength, could be seen galloping towards them from the high ground +half a mile distant. In half a minute the Prussians were in motion +but, as they returned, the storm of fire from the two villages +burst out again with redoubled violence. Men and horses rolled over +but, closing up quickly, the squadrons swept on.</p> +<p>The general remained stationary until his last squadron +thundered by, and then galloped forward again and took his place at +their head. Fergus had followed him, when there was a sudden crash, +and he was thrown with tremendous force over his horse's head, and +there lay stunned with the shock.</p> +<p>When he recovered he staggered to his feet, and saw that he was +surrounded by Austrian cavalry; these having halted just where he +fell, as pursuit of the Prussians was hopeless, and the balls from +the Prussian batteries were falling thick.</p> +<p>"You are our prisoner, sir," an officer said to him.</p> +<p>"So I see," Fergus said bitterly. "It is hard luck, just at the +beginning of the campaign."</p> +<p>"It is the fortune of war," the Austrian said with a smile; "and +indeed, I don't think that you have any reason to grumble for, had +that shot struck a few inches farther back, it would have carried +off both your legs."</p> +<p>A sharp order was now given to retire. One of the troopers was +ordered to give his horse to Fergus, and to mount behind a comrade; +and they rode back to the Austrian main position, on the rising +ground. Fergus was at once taken to the marshal in command of the +Austrians.</p> +<p>"What is your name, sir?" the latter asked.</p> +<p>"Fergus Drummond. I have the honour to be an aide-de-camp on +Marshal Keith's staff."</p> +<p>"A Scotchman, I suppose?" the marshal said, breaking into +English.</p> +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> +<p>"What force is there opposed to us?"</p> +<p>"That I cannot say, sir. I only joined the army two days ago, +and have been on the march ever since."</p> +<p>"Who is its commander?"</p> +<p>"Marshal Keith, sir; but the king himself is with it."</p> +<p>"I will see that you are made comfortable, presently, Mr. +Drummond.</p> +<p>"Captain Wingratz, will you conduct this officer to the rear, +and place a couple of soldiers to see that he is not annoyed or +interfered with, in any way?"</p> +<p>Fergus was led away. Captain Wingratz called up two troopers +and, choosing an elevated spot of ground, told them to dismount and +allow no one to speak to the officer.</p> +<p>"From here," he said courteously to Drummond, "you will get a +view of the field of battle."</p> +<p>Fergus sat down on the grass, and remained a spectator of the +fight to the end of the day. He marked at once that the combat had +rolled down the hill, and that the Prussians were making their way +in force towards Lobositz. Then he saw heavy masses of infantry, +from the Austrian right, move forward to aid in its defence. For +two hours the battle raged round the village, the whole of the guns +on both sides aiding in the fight. Then volumes of smoke and flame +rose, and the Austrians were seen retiring. Sulowitz still kept up +a heavy fire, and he saw a strong body from the Austrian left move +down there; while the centre advanced to cover the retreat of the +defenders of Lobositz, and to check the advancing masses of the +Prussians; and he thought, for a time, that a general engagement +was about to take place. Then he saw the Prussian advance cease, +the roar of cannon gradually died away, and the battle was at an +end.</p> +<p>For an hour he remained, apparently unnoticed, then Captain +Wingratz rode up with another officer.</p> +<p>"I am sorry to have neglected you so long, Lieutenant Drummond; +but you see it was the fault of your own people, who have kept us +so busy. This is Lieutenant Kerr, a compatriot of yours, who will +take special charge of you."</p> +<p>"I am sorry that our meeting cannot take place under more +favourable circumstances," Kerr said, holding out his hand. "It +might well have been the other way.</p> +<p>"Now come with me to my tent. I have no doubt that you are +hungry; I can assure you that I am."</p> +<p>The two walked together for about a quarter of a mile, the +Austrian officer having left as soon as he had introduced them.</p> +<p>"There were three of us here this morning," Kerr said, as they +entered the tent. "The other two are missing. One I know is killed; +the other badly wounded, but whether he is dead or a prisoner I +cannot say.</p> +<p>"By the way, are you not the officer who cut his way through the +squadron of our regiment, and went on and joined your cavalry, who +at once fell back? I was in Lobositz, myself. My squadron was not +ordered out. As I hear that you were found by our cavalry as they +followed the Prussians, it struck me that it might be you; although +from Lobositz we could only see that it was a staff uniform that +the officer wore."</p> +<p>"Yes, it was I. I was carrying an order for the cavalry to +retire."</p> +<p>"That was what we supposed, as soon as you were seen coming down +the valley; and as it would have suited us much better for the +Prussian cavalry to have stayed where it was for a little longer, +the general sent out a squadron to intercept you. It was a splendid +thing to do, on your part. Of course, there were a number of us +watching from the earthworks, and I can assure you that there was a +general inclination to cheer as you cut your way through our +fellows. I am sure that if I had known that it was a countryman I +should have done it, though the action was at the expense of my own +regiment.</p> +<p>"Our squadron suffered heavily as they rode back again, for that +battery from the Homolka turned its attention to them, as soon as +you had gone through. They had an officer and nearly thirty men +killed and wounded before they got back into shelter.</p> +<p>"How long have you been out here?"</p> +<p>"Only about two months."</p> +<p>"Really! You are lucky in getting onto Keith's staff."</p> +<p>"He is a cousin of my mother's," Fergus said.</p> +<p>"And he made you lieutenant, and aide-de-camp, at once."</p> +<p>"No. I was first a cornet, but I was promoted at Dresden. The +king had given strict orders about plundering, and it happened that +I came upon some marauders at their work, and had the good fortune +to rescue a gentleman of some importance from their hands; and the +king, who was furious at his orders being disobeyed, himself +promoted me.</p> +<p>"I had been lucky enough to get myself wounded in the affair. As +I lost a good deal of blood, I looked no doubt a good deal worse +than I was, and I expect that had a good deal to do with my getting +the step."</p> +<p>"Well, you are a lucky fellow. I was eight years a cornet before +I got promoted."</p> +<p>"I think my bad luck, in getting captured, balances my good +fortune in being promoted so soon."</p> +<p>"To some extent perhaps it does, but you will get the benefit +when you return. No doubt Fritz was watching you, as you rode. He +must have seen our cavalry coming down the slope, before the man in +command of your squadrons could have done so; and must have felt +that they were lost, unless his orders were received. He must have +been relieved, indeed, when he saw you reach them."</p> +<p>This had indeed been the case. The king and marshal had both +been watching through their glasses the Prussian cavalry, and +marked how the ground behind them was dotted thickly with the +bodies of horses and men.</p> +<p>"Will they never stop?" the king said impatiently. "These +cavalry men are always getting into scrapes with their impetuosity. +Gorlitz must have known that he was only sent forward to ascertain +the position of the Austrians, and not to fight their whole army. +He ought to have turned, as soon as that crossfire of their +batteries opened upon them."</p> +<p>"He knew that your majesty and the whole army would be watching +him, sire," Keith said quietly; "and I fancy that, under such +circumstances, few cavalry men would draw rein till they had done +something worthy of themselves."</p> +<p>At this moment the fog wreath moved away.</p> +<p>"See," the king exclaimed, "there is a great body of Austrian +cavalry moving along behind Sulowitz. That rise behind the village +must hide them from our men.</p> +<p>"Where is your messenger, Keith?"</p> +<p>"There he goes, sire. He is well out of the valley now and, by +the pace he is riding at, he won't be long before he reaches +them."</p> +<p>"He won't reach them at all," the king said curtly, a minute +later. "See, there is a squadron of horse riding out from Lobositz, +to cut him off. No doubt they guess what his errand is."</p> +<p>"I see them, sire, and he must see them, too. He is checking his +horse, for his orderly is coming up to him."</p> +<p>"Then the cavalry will be lost," the king said. "The enemy's +batteries are playing havoc with them, and they will have the +Austrians down upon them in a few minutes.</p> +<p>"Ah! I expect Gorlitz sees them now. Our men are halting, and +forming up. I suppose he means to charge the Austrians when they +come up, but there are three to one against him. He is lost."</p> +<p>"There is hope yet, sire," Keith said, as he again turned his +glass on Fergus. "My aide-de-camp is going to charge the Austrian +squadron."</p> +<p>"So he is!" the king exclaimed, lowering his glass, for the +distance was little more than half a mile from the spot where he +stood. "He must be mad."</p> +<p>"It is possible he may do it, sire. His orderly is riding boot +to boot beside him. You know already that he is a good swordsman. +He will have the advantage that the enemy won't dream of his +attacking them, and the rate at which they are riding will help +them through.</p> +<p>"There he goes!" and he raised the glass again to his eye. +"Bravo! They are through the first troop, and still together. Now +they are at it.</p> +<p>"There, sire, they are through the second troop. Bravo, +Fergus!"</p> +<p>The king made no remark until he saw the Austrian squadron draw +rein. Then he said:</p> +<p>"Thank God, he has saved the cavalry! It was a glorious deed. +Marshal Keith, make out his commission as a captain, today."</p> +<p>"He is very young, sire," the marshal said hesitatingly.</p> +<p>"By Heaven, sir, I would promote him if he were an infant in +arms!" the king replied. "Why, Keith, the loss of half our cavalry +would have crippled us, and cavalry men are not made in a day.</p> +<p>"There, he has reached them now. I see they are wheeling. Well +and quickly done! Yes, they won't be overtaken; but three minutes +later, and not a man would have come back.</p> +<p>"Colonel Rogner," he said to one of the group of officers behind +him, "you will please ride down and meet the cavalry, when they +come in, and convey to Lieutenant Drummond my highest satisfaction +at the gallant manner in which he has carried out my orders. You +will also inform General Gorlitz that, in my opinion, he pushed his +reconnaissance much too far; but that I am well content with the +bravery shown by the troops, and at the manner in which he drew +them off on receipt of my order."</p> +<p>In five-and-twenty minutes the colonel returned, and said:</p> +<p>"I regret to say, your majesty, that Lieutenant Drummond is +missing. I have inquired among the officers and find that, as he +was following General Gorlitz, he and his horse suddenly pitched +forward and lay without movement. Evidently the horse was killed by +a cannon shot, but whether Mr. Drummond was also killed, they could +not say."</p> +<p>"We must hope not," the king said warmly. "I would not lose so +gallant a young officer, for a great deal.</p> +<p>"Keith, if we take Lobositz today, let a most careful search be +made, over the ground the cavalry passed, for his body. If it is +found, so much the worse. If not, it will be a proof that he is +either wounded or unhurt, and that he has been carried off by the +Austrian cavalry; who passed over the same ground as ours, and who +certainly would not trouble themselves to carry off his body."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch6" id="Ch6">Chapter 6</a>: A Prisoner.</h2> +<p>The next morning a horse was brought round for Fergus, and he at +once started, under the escort of a captain and Lieutenant Kerr and +fifty troopers, with thirteen other officers taken prisoners at +Lobositz. Seven hundred rank and file had also been captured. +These, however, were to march under an infantry escort on the +following day. Fergus afterwards learned that sixteen officers, of +whom eleven belonged to the cavalry, had been killed; and +eighty-one officers and about eighteen hundred men wounded in the +desperate fighting at Lobositz.</p> +<p>Fergus found that among the Austrians the battle of the previous +day was considered a victory, although they had lost their advanced +post at Lobositz.</p> +<p>"I cannot say it seemed so to me," he said to the lieutenant, as +they rode away from the camp.</p> +<p>"Why, we have prevented the king from penetrating into +Bohemia."</p> +<p>"But the king could have done that three days ago, without +fighting a battle," Fergus said; "just as Schwerin did at +Koeniggraetz. There would have been no need to have marched night +and day across the mountains, in order to give battle to an army +nearly twice the strength of his own. His object was to prevent you +from drawing off the Saxons, and in that he perfectly +succeeded."</p> +<p>"Oh, there are other ways of doing that! We had only to keep +along the other side of the Elbe until we faced Pirna, then they +could have joined us."</p> +<p>"It sounds easy," Fergus laughed, "but it would not be so easy +to execute. These mountain defiles are terrible, and you may be +sure that the king will not be idle while you and the Saxons are +marching to meet each other.</p> +<p>"However, it was a hard-fought battle, and I should think that +our loss must be quite as great as yours; for your artillery must +have played terrible havoc among our infantry, as they marched to +the assault of the village."</p> +<p>"Yes. I hear this morning that we have lost about a hundred and +twenty officers killed and wounded, and about two thousand one +hundred and fifty men, and nearly seven hundred missing or +prisoners. What your loss is, of course, I can't say."</p> +<p>"I cannot understand your taking so many prisoners," Fergus +said.</p> +<p>"A great many of them belong to the cavalry. You see, all who +were dismounted by the fire of our guns were captured when our +horse swept down."</p> +<p>"Ah, yes! I did not think of that. I saw a good many men running +across the plain when I galloped out."</p> +<p>Two of the officers belonged to the 3rd Royal Dragoon Guards, +half of which regiment had taken part in the reconnaissance; and +both their horses, like his own, had been shot under them. As soon +as they were brought up from the tents where they had been lodged, +they exchanged a cordial greeting with Fergus. He no longer +belonged to the regiment, as on his promotion he had been gazetted +from it on to the staff; but during the time he had drilled with +them, in Berlin, he had come to be well known to all of them.</p> +<p>"I thought that it was you, lieutenant," one of them said. "I +was not far from you, when you charged through those Austrians. I +was unhorsed as we went forward, and was running back when I saw +them come out. There were a good many of us, and I thought their +object was to capture us. It was no use running, and I threw myself +down, in hopes they would think I had been knocked over. You passed +within thirty yards of me. Our guns opened so heavily on them, +after you had got through, that I thought it prudent to keep quiet +a little longer before I made a move; and the result was that the +Austrian cavalry, as it came along in the pursuit of our men, +picked me up.</p> +<p>"Do you know where we are bound for?"</p> +<p>"Prague in the first instance, but beyond that I cannot say. I +suppose it will depend a good deal on what takes place now. There +is no doubt the Saxons will have to surrender; and I suppose that, +anyhow, they will send us farther away, unless indeed there is an +exchange of prisoners."</p> +<p>A long day's ride took them to Prague. The news of the battle +had been sent off the night before, and as it had been reported as +a victory, the inhabitants were in a state of great delight. +Bonfires blazed in the streets, church bells rang in triumphant +peals, and the whole population was abroad. The arrival of this +party, with prisoners, afforded a welcome confirmation of the +news.</p> +<p>There were a few yells and hoots, as they rode along in charge +of their escort; but as a rule the people stood silent, as if in +respect for their misfortunes, for most of the captives were +wounded. They were taken to the military prison, and comfortable +quarters assigned to them; and the wounds of those who required it +were redressed by a surgeon. There was a hearty parting between +Fergus and Kerr, as the latter, after handing over his prisoners, +turned to ride off with the escort to the barracks.</p> +<p>"I start early tomorrow for the camp again," he said. "If you +are kept here, I am sure to see you again before long."</p> +<p>Fergus shared a room with Captain Hindeman, an officer of the +3rd.</p> +<p>"I don't think it at all likely we shall remain here," the +latter said. "It is more probable that we shall be sent to Olmuetz, +or to one of the smaller fortresses in Moravia. The war is, they +will think, likely to be confined to Bohemia until the spring; if +indeed the king does not have to stand on the defensive. I cannot +help thinking, myself, that we should have done better if we had +let things go on quietly till the spring. It is not probable that +Russia and Austria would have been more ready, then, than they are +now; and we should have had the whole summer before us, and might +have marched to Vienna before the campaign was over. Now they will +all have the winter to make their preparations, and we shall have +France, Austria, and Russia, to say nothing of Poland, on our +hands. It is a tremendous job even for Frederick to tackle."</p> +<p>They remained for three weeks at Prague, and were then informed +by the governor that he had orders for them to be removed to +Olmuetz. Accordingly, the next day eight of the officers started on +horseback, under an escort. When they reached Bruenn they found +that they were to be separated, and the next morning Captain +Hindeman and Fergus were taken to the fortress of Spielberg.</p> +<p>"An awkward place either to get in or out of, Drummond," the +captain said, as they approached the fortress.</p> +<p>"Very much so," Fergus agreed. "But if I see a chance, I shall +certainly do my best to escape before spring."</p> +<p>"I don't think there is much chance of that," the other said +gloomily. "If we had been left at Prague, or even at Bruenn, there +might have been some chance; but in these fortresses, where +everything is conducted on a very severe system, and they are +veritable prisons, I don't think that anything without wings has a +chance of getting away."</p> +<p>As a rule, officers taken prisoners in war enjoyed a +considerable amount of liberty; and were even allowed to reside in +the houses of citizens, on giving their parole. The enforced +embodiment of the Saxons in the Prussian army had, however, excited +such a storm of indignation throughout Europe that it greatly +damaged Frederick's cause. It was indeed an unheard-of proceeding, +and a most mistaken one, for the greater part of the Saxons seized +opportunities to desert, as soon as the next campaign began. It was +the more ill-advised, since Saxony was a Protestant country, and +therefore the action alienated the other Protestant princes in +Germany, whose sympathies would have otherwise been wholly with +Prussia; and it was to no small extent due to that high-handed +action that, during the winter, the Swedes joined the Confederacy, +and undertook to supply an army of 50,000 men; France paying a +subsidy towards their maintenance, and the members of the +Confederacy agreeing that, upon the division of Prussia, Pomerania +should fall to the share of Sweden. Thus it may be said that the +whole of Central and Northern Europe, with the exception only of +Hanover, was leagued against Prussia.</p> +<p>It was a result of this general outburst of indignation that, +instead of being kept in a large town and allowed various +privileges, the prisoners taken at the battle of Lobositz were +treated with exceptional severity, and confined in isolated +fortresses. Fergus and his companion were lodged in a small room in +one of the towers. The window was strongly barred, the floor was of +stone, the door massive and studded with iron. Two truckle beds, a +table, and two chairs formed the sole furniture.</p> +<p>"Not much chance of an escape here," Captain Hindeman said, as +the door closed behind their guards.</p> +<p>"The prospect does not look very bright, I admit," Fergus said +cheerfully; "but we have a proverb, 'Where there is a will there is +a way'. I have the will certainly and, as we have plenty of time +before us, it will be hard if we do not find a way."</p> +<p>He went to the window and looked out.</p> +<p>"Over a hundred feet," he said, "and I should say a precipice +fully as deep at the foot of the wall. At any rate, we have the +advantage of an extensive view.</p> +<p>"I am glad to see that there is a fireplace, for the cold will +be bitter here, when the winter sets in. I wonder whether the rooms +above and below this are tenanted?"</p> +<p>Hindeman shrugged his shoulders. He was not, at present, in a +mood to take interest in anything. It was now the end of October, +and Fergus was very glad when the door opened again, and a warder +came in with two soldiers, who carried huge baskets of firewood; +and it was not long before a large fire was blazing on the +hearth.</p> +<p>Day after day passed. Fergus turned over in his mind every +possible method of escape, but the prospect looked very dark. Even +if the door were open, there would be difficulties of all sorts to +encounter. In the middle of the day many people went in and out of +the fortress, with provisions, wood, and other matters; but at +sunset the gates were shut, and sentries placed on the walls; and +on getting out he would have to cross an inner courtyard, and then +pass through a gateway--at which a sentinel was posted night and +day--into the outer court, which was surrounded by a strong wall +over thirty feet high, with towers at the angles.</p> +<p>Escape from the window would be equally difficult. Two long and +very strong ropes would be required, and the bars of the window +were so massive that, without tools of any kind, it would be +impossible to remove them.</p> +<p>A month later Captain Hindeman fell ill, and was removed to the +infirmary. Fergus was glad of his departure. He had been so +depressed that he was useless as a companion and, so long as he +remained there, he altogether prevented any plan of escape being +attempted; for difficult as it might be for one person to get away, +it would be next to impossible for two to do so.</p> +<p>For an hour in the day, the prisoners had leave to walk on the +wall. His fellow prisoner had never availed himself of this +privilege; but Fergus always took his daily exercise, partly to +keep himself in health, partly in hopes that a plan of escape might +present itself. A sentry, however, was always posted on the wall +while the prisoners were at exercise; and on the side allotted for +their walk, the rock sloped away steeply from the foot of the wall. +The thought of escape, therefore, in broad daylight was out of the +question; and Fergus generally watched what was going on in the +courtyard.</p> +<p>In time he came to know which was the entrance to the apartments +of the governor and his family, where the married officers were +quartered, and where the soldiers lodged. He saw that on the ground +floor of the tower he occupied were the quarters of a field officer +belonging to the garrison.</p> +<p>One day he saw a number of men employed in clearing out some +unused quarters, on one side of the outer courtyard, and judged +that an addition was about to be made to the garrison. This gave +substance to a plan that he had been revolving in his mind. That +evening, when the warder brought him his food, he said +carelessly:</p> +<p>"I see you have some more troops coming in."</p> +<p>"Yes," the man replied, "there are three hundred more men +coming. They will march in tomorrow afternoon. They will be getting +the room on the first floor, below here, cleared out tomorrow +morning for the officer who commands them."</p> +<p>Fergus had, all along, considered that there would be no +difficulty in suddenly attacking and overpowering the warder, when +he came in or out of his room, for no special precautions were +taken. The fact that the prisoners were all in their uniforms, and +that on showing themselves below they would be instantly arrested, +seemed to forbid all chance of their making any attempt to escape. +It was the matter of clothes that had, more than anything else, +puzzled Fergus; for although he thought that he might possibly +obtain a uniform from some officer's quarters, it was evident that +the guard would at once perceive that he was not one of the +officers of the garrison. The arrival of the fresh detachment +relieved him of this difficulty, and it now seemed that a way of +escape was open to him.</p> +<p>Much depended upon the hour at which the regiment would arrive. +The later they did so the better, and as the weather had for some +days been terribly rough, and the roads would be deep and heavy, it +was likely that they would not arrive until some time past the hour +fixed.</p> +<p>The next afternoon he listened for the roll of drums that would +greet the arrival of the newcomers. Just as the door opened, and +the sergeant entered with a lantern, he heard the sound that he had +been listening for.</p> +<a id="PicD" name="PicD"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/d.jpg" alt= +"As the man was placing his supper on the table, Fergus sprang upon him" /> +</div> +<p>Nothing could have happened more fortunately. As the man was +placing his supper on the table, Fergus sprang suddenly upon him, +hurled him down on to his face, and then fastened his hands behind +him with a rope he had made from twisted strips of one of his rugs. +He was not afraid of his calling out, as the window looked outside, +and it was blowing half a gale. Moreover, the sound of drums below +would aid to prevent any noise being heard from the courtyard.</p> +<p>"I don't want to hurt you, sergeant," he said, "but I do want my +liberty. I must put a bandage round your mouth, to prevent you from +calling; but you know as well as I do that there would be no chance +of your being heard, however loud you might shout.</p> +<p>"Now, in the first place I am going to see if I can get a +uniform. If I cannot, I must come back and take yours."</p> +<p>Binding the sergeant's legs as well as his arms, and putting a +muffler over his mouth, Fergus went out, leaving his own jacket and +cap behind him. The key was in the door. He turned it and put it in +his pocket, shot the heavy bolts, and ran downstairs. When he got +to the bottom, he tried the door of the major's quarters. It was +unbolted, and he felt absolutely certain that the major would be +out as, with the other officers, he would have gone down to the +gate to receive those of the incoming detachment.</p> +<p>On opening the door, he saw the articles of which he was in +search--a long cloak and a regimental cap. These he at once put on. +After a further search, he found a pair of military pantaloons and +a patrol jacket. Throwing off the cloak, he rapidly changed his +clothes. He wanted now only a regimental sword to complete the +costume, but he trusted to the long cloak to hide the absence of +this.</p> +<p>Throwing the things that he had taken off under the bed, he went +out, closed the door behind him, locked it, and took the key. He +had with him the short sword carried by the warder, and he relied +upon this to silence the sentry, at the passage leading to the +outer court, should he attempt to stop him.</p> +<p>This, however, was most unlikely. The night was dark, and there +was no light burning; and at this hour, with fresh troops arriving +and a general movement in the fortress, there could be no question +of a countersign being demanded by a sentry in the interior of the +place. The man, indeed, only drew himself up and saluted, as he +dimly made out an officer coming from the major's quarters.</p> +<p>The courtyard beyond was half full of soldiers. The newcomers +had just fallen out. Some were being greeted by members of the +garrison who had known them before, officers were chatting +together; and Fergus made his way, unnoticed in the darkness, to +the gate. As he had hoped, the baggage waggons were making their +way in.</p> +<p>A sentry was placed on each side of the gate.</p> +<p>"Now then," he said sharply, "hurry on with these waggons. The +commandant wants the gate shut, as soon as possible;" and passing +the sentry, he went on as if to hurry up the rear of the train.</p> +<p>Taking him for one of the officers of the newly-arrived party, +the sentry stepped back at once, and he passed out.</p> +<p>There were six waggons still outside and, unnoticed, he passed +these and went down the road. He had brought with him under his +cloak the sergeant's lantern and, as soon as he was half a mile +from the fortress, he took this out in order to be able to proceed +the more rapidly. He had taken particular notice of the country +from his prison window and, when he came down into a broad road +running along the valley, he turned at once to the south.</p> +<p>His plans had all been carefully thought out, while in prison. +He knew perfectly well that, without money, it would be altogether +impossible for him to traverse the many hundred miles that lay +between him and Saxony. There would be a hot pursuit when, in the +morning, he was found to have gone; but it would hardly be +suspected that he had taken the road for Vienna, as this would be +entirely out of his way.</p> +<p>Happily, he was not altogether penniless. He had always carried +five or six gold pieces, sewn up in the lining of his jacket with +the letters with which he had been furnished by Count Eulenfurst, +as a resource in case of being taken prisoner. He wished now that +he had brought more, but he thought that it might prove sufficient +for his first needs.</p> +<p>He walked all night. His candle burnt out, in two hours after +starting; but at eleven the moon rose, and its light enabled him to +keep the road without difficulty. As morning dawned, he approached +a good-sized village some forty miles from his starting point and, +waiting for an hour until he saw people stirring, Fergus went to +the posting house and shouted for the postmaster. The sight of a +field officer, on foot at such an hour of the morning, greatly +surprised the man when he came down.</p> +<p>"My horse has fallen and broken its neck," Fergus said, "and I +have had to walk some miles on foot. I have important despatches to +carry to Vienna. Bring round a horse, without a moment's +delay."</p> +<p>The postmaster, without the smallest hesitation, ordered his men +to saddle and bring out a horse.</p> +<p>"It will be sent back from the next stage," Fergus said, as he +mounted and rode on at full speed.</p> +<p>He changed horses twice, not the slightest suspicion being +entertained by any of the postmasters that he was not what he +seemed; and, before noon, arrived at the last post house before +reaching Vienna.</p> +<p>"A bottle of your best wine, landlord, and I want to speak a +word with you in a private room. Bring two glasses."</p> +<p>The wine was poured out, and after he had drank a glass Fergus +said:</p> +<p>"Landlord, I am the bearer of important despatches, and it is +imperative that I should not attract attention as I enter the city. +If I were seen and recognized there, questions might be asked, and +curiosity excited as to the news of which I am the bearer.</p> +<p>"I see that you are a sensible man, and will readily understand +the situation. To avoid attracting attention, it would be best for +me to enter the city in a civilian dress. You are about my size, +and I beg you to furnish me with a suit of your clothes, for which +I will pay at once."</p> +<p>"I will do that willingly, sir," the landlord answered, feeling +much honoured by being let into what he deemed an important affair. +"My best suit is at your service. You can send it me out from the +town."</p> +<p>"I would rather pay for it, landlord. I may be ordered in +another direction, and may not have an opportunity of returning it. +If you will say how much the suit cost you, I will hand you the +money."</p> +<p>The landlord went out, and returned in a minute with the +clothes.</p> +<p>"Another glass of wine, landlord," Fergus said, as he handed +over the amount at which the landlord valued them--"another glass +of wine; and then, while I am changing, get a light trap round to +the door. I shall not want to take it into Vienna, but will alight +and send it back again, half a mile this side of the gates. +Mind--should any inquiries be made, it were best to say as little +as possible."</p> +<p>In another five minutes, Fergus was on his way again. He had +procured from the landlord a small trunk, in which he had packed +the uniform, and directed him to keep it until he heard from him; +but if in the course of a week he received no orders, he was to +forward it to Major Steiner, at Spielberg.</p> +<p>When within half a mile of Vienna, Fergus got out, gave a +present to the driver and told him to return, and then walked +forward to the gate, which he entered without question. He thought +it better not to put up in that quarter of the town, but walked a +long distance through the city, purchased a travelling coat lined +with sheepskin, and a small canvas trunk in which he put it; went +some distance farther and hired a room at a quiet inn, and called +for dinner, of which he felt much in need, for beyond eating a few +mouthfuls of bread while a fresh horse was brought out for him, he +had tasted nothing since the previous evening. After dining he went +to his room and took his boots off and, feeling completely worn out +from his long journey, after two months of confinement, threw +himself on the bed and slept for three hours.</p> +<p>Then he went for an hour's stroll through the town. By this time +it was getting dark, snowflakes were beginning to fall thickly, and +he was very glad, after sitting for a time listening to the talk in +the parlour of the inn, to turn in for the night.</p> +<p>In the morning the ground was covered with snow. He was glad to +put on his thick coat, for the cold outside was bitter.</p> +<p>For some hours he walked about Vienna, and the contrast between +that city and Berlin struck him greatly. The whole bearing and +manner of the people was brighter, and gayer. The soldiers, of whom +there were great numbers in the streets--Austrians, Croats, and +Hungarians--had none of the formal stiffness of the Prussians, but +laughed and joked as they went, and seemed as easy and light +hearted as the civilians around them. They were, for the most part, +inferior in size and physique to the Prussians; but there was a +springiness in their walk, and an alertness and intelligence which +were wanting in the more solid soldier of the north.</p> +<p>He spent the day in making himself acquainted with the town, the +position of the gates, and other particulars which might be +important to him; as he could not feel sure of the reception that +he would meet with, when he presented his letter.</p> +<p>In the afternoon the city was particularly gay. Sledges made +their appearance in the streets, and all seemed delighted that +winter had set in, in earnest.</p> +<p>The next morning, after breakfast, Fergus went to the mansion of +Count Platurn, whose position he had ascertained on the previous +day. The name had been scored under, in his list, as one on whom he +might confidently rely.</p> +<p>"I am the bearer of a letter to Count Platurn," he said, to the +somewhat gorgeously-dressed functionary who opened the door. "I +have a message to deliver to him, personally."</p> +<p>The doorkeeper closed the door behind him and spoke to a +footman, who went away and returned, in a minute or two, and told +Fergus to follow him to a spacious and comfortable library, where +the count was sitting alone.</p> +<p>"You are the bearer of a letter to me, sir?" he said, in a +pleasant tone of voice. "Whence do you bring it?"</p> +<p>"From Count Eulenfurst of Dresden," Fergus said, producing +it.</p> +<p>The count gave an exclamation of pleasure.</p> +<p>"Has he completely recovered?" he asked. "Of course, we heard of +the outrage of which he was a sufferer."</p> +<p>"He was going on well when I saw him last, count."</p> +<p>The count opened the letter and read it, with an air of growing +surprise as he went on. When he had finished it, he rose from his +seat and offered his hand to Fergus.</p> +<p>"You are the Scottish officer who saved the lives of the count, +his wife, and daughter," he said warmly. "How you come to be here I +don't know, but it is enough for me that you rendered my dear +friend and his wife, who is a cousin of mine, this great service. +You are not here, I hope, on any mission which, as an Austrian +noble, I could feel it impossible to further."</p> +<p>"No indeed, count. Had it been so, I should assuredly not have +presented this letter to you. In giving it to me, the countess said +that possibly the fortune of war might be unfavourable, and that I +might be taken prisoner. In that case, she said I might find a +friend invaluable, and she gave me letters to eight gentlemen in +various great towns, saying that she believed that any one of these +would, for the sake of the count, do me any kindness in his +power.</p> +<p>"Her prevision has turned out correct. My horse was shot under +me at the battle of Lobositz, and I was made prisoner and sent to +the fortress of Spielberg. Three days since I effected my escape, +and deemed it more prudent to make my way here, where no one would +suspect me of coming, instead of striving to journey up through +Bohemia."</p> +<p>"You effected your escape from Spielberg!" the count repeated, +in surprise. "That is indeed a notable feat, for it is one of our +strongest prisons; but you shall tell me about that, presently.</p> +<p>"Now, about Count Eulenfurst. The affair created quite a +sensation, partly from the rank and well-known position of the +count, partly from the fact that the King of Prussia, himself, +called upon the count to express his sincere regret at what had +occurred, and the vigorous steps that he took to put a stop to all +acts of pillage and marauding. It was said at the time that, had it +not been for the opportune arrival of a young Scottish officer, an +aide-de-camp to Marshal Keith, the lives of the count and his +family would assuredly have been sacrificed; and that the king, in +token of his approbation, had promoted the officer upon the +spot.</p> +<p>"But I pray you, take off that warm coat, and make yourself at +home."</p> +<p>He touched a bell. A servant entered immediately.</p> +<p>"If anyone calls, say that I am engaged on business, and can see +no one this morning. Place two chairs by the fire, and bring in +wine and glasses."</p> +<p>Two chairs were moved to the fire. Wine was placed close at hand +on a small table, and the count fetched a box of cigars from his +cabinet. Fergus had already adopted the all but universal custom, +in the German army, of smoking.</p> +<p>"Now," the count said, when the cigars were lighted, "tell me +all about this affair at Dresden."</p> +<p>Fergus related the facts, as modestly as he could.</p> +<p>"No wonder Eulenfurst speaks of you in the highest terms," said +the count. "Truly it was nobly done. Six Pomeranian soldiers to a +single sword! 'Tis wonderful."</p> +<p>"The chief credit should, as I have said, count, be given to the +maid, but for whose aid matters might have gone quite +otherwise."</p> +<p>"Doubtless great credit is due to her, Lieutenant Drummond; but +you see, you had already defeated three, and I prefer to think that +you would have got the better of the others, even if she had not +come to your aid.</p> +<p>"The countess had, I hope, quite recovered at the time you came +away, since it is she who writes the letter in his name."</p> +<p>"I think that she had quite recovered. For a few hours, the +doctors were even more anxious as to her state than that of the +count; but the news that he was doing well, and might recover, did +wonders for her; and she was able herself to take part in nursing +him, two days after he received the wound."</p> +<p>"I saw, by the account, that my little cousin received the +king."</p> +<p>"She did, sir, and bore herself well. It was no doubt a great +trial to her, so soon after the terrible scene she had passed +through. In that she had showed great calmness and presence of +mind, and was able to give assistance to her mother, as soon as she +herself was released from her bonds."</p> +<p>"You were not present, yourself?"</p> +<p>"No, sir. My wound was, as I have said, but in the flesh; and +was of so little consequence, that I did not think to have it +bandaged until all other matters were arranged. But when I had made +my report to the marshal, and begged that a surgeon should be sent +instantly to aid the count, I fainted from loss of blood; and it +was some days before I was able to ride out to pay my respects to +the countess."</p> +<p>"And now, tell me about your escape from Spielberg."</p> +<p>This Fergus did.</p> +<p>"It was well managed, indeed," laughed the count. "You seem to +be as ready with your wits as with your sword, and to have provided +against every emergency. It was fortunate that you had hidden away +those gold pieces, with your letters; for otherwise you could +hardly have got those clothes from the postmaster. It was a bold +stroke, indeed, to use her majesty's uniform and the imperial post +to further your escape.</p> +<p>"Now we must think in what way I can best aid you. You will +require a stout horse, a disguise, and a well-filled purse. +Eulenfurst authorizes me to act as his banker, to advance any +moneys that you may require. Therefore you need offer me no +thanks.</p> +<p>"What disguise do you, yourself, fancy?"</p> +<p>"I should think that the dress of a trader, travelling on +business, would be as good as any I could choose."</p> +<p>"Yes, I should think it would."</p> +<p>"I should give myself out as a Saxon merchant," Fergus went on. +"In the first place my German, which I learned from a Hanoverian, +is near enough to the Saxon to pass muster; and my hair and +complexion are common enough, in Saxony."</p> +<p>"I will get an official paper from the city authorities, stating +that you are one--shall we say Paul Muller, native of Saxony, and +draper by trade?--now returning to Dresden. I shall have no +difficulty in getting it through one of my own furnishers. I do not +say that you could not make your way through without it; but should +you be stopped and questioned, it would facilitate matters. I will +see about it this afternoon. I have simply to say, to one of the +tradesmen I employ, that I am sending an agent through Bohemia to +Eulenfurst, and think that in the present disturbed state he had +better travel as a trader; and ask him to fill up the official +papers, and take them to the burgomaster's office to get them +signed and stamped. He will do it as a matter of course, seeing +that I am a sufficiently good customer of his.</p> +<p>"A horse I can, of course, supply you with. It must not be too +showy, but it should be a strong and serviceable animal, with a +fair turn of speed. The clothes you had perhaps better buy for +yourself, together with such things as you can carry in your +valises.</p> +<p>"I would gladly ask you to stay with me here, for a while; but +having arrived in that dress, it might excite remark among the +servants were you to appear in a different character. I regret that +my wife and family are away, at one of my country seats, and will +not be back for a week; and I suppose you will not care to linger +so long here."</p> +<p>"I thank you, count, but I should prefer to leave as soon as +possible. I do not think that there is really any fear of my being +recognized. If they search at all along the Vienna road, it is not +likely that they will do so as far as this; and certainly they +could obtain no news of me, for the first forty miles, and would +not be likely to push their inquiries as far, for a dismounted +field officer could not but have attracted attention, at the first +village through which he passed."</p> +<p>"It would be best for you not to change your clothes at the +place where you are stopping. I can have everything ready for you +by tomorrow morning, if you wish to leave at once."</p> +<p>"I should certainly prefer doing so."</p> +<p>"Very well, then. Do you go out by the west gate, at nine +o'clock, and walk for some four miles. When you find some quiet +spot, change your clothes, and walk on until within sight of the +village of Gulnach, and there wait. I will send a confidential +servant with the horse. He, on seeing you standing there, will ask +who you are waiting for. You will give my name, and then he will +hand over the horse and papers to you."</p> +<p>He got up and went to his table and opened a drawer.</p> +<p>"Here are a hundred rix dollars, Mr. Drummond, which I hand you +as Count Eulenfurst's banker. It is a matter of pure business."</p> +<p>"I could do with much less than that, sir," Fergus said.</p> +<p>"No, 'tis better to be well supplied. Besides, there are your +clothes to buy; and be sure and provide yourself with a good +fur-lined travelling cloak. You will need it, I can assure you.</p> +<p>"Your best course will be to travel through Saint Poelten and +Ips, cross the river at once, and go over the mountains by the road +through Freystadt to Budweis. It is by far the most level road from +here, though a good deal longer than the one through Horn. But +there is snow in the air, and I think that we shall have a heavy +downfall, and you may well find the defiles by the Horn road +blocked by snow; whereas by Freystadt you are not likely to find +any difficulty, and most of the road is perfectly flat."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch7" id="Ch7">Chapter 7</a>: Flight.</h2> +<p>After leaving Count Platurn, with the most sincere thanks for +his kindness, Fergus went to a clothier's, where he bought clothes +suitable for a trader, with warm undergarments, and an ample cloak +lined with warm, though cheap, fur, and carried these to his inn. +The rest of the day was spent in strolling about, and in examining +the public buildings and art galleries.</p> +<p>The next morning he paid his reckoning and, taking his small +trunk in one hand and his fur cloak in the other, started; wearing +the coat he had first purchased as he thought that, crossing the +defiles into Saxony, he might very well need that as well as his +cloak. As the western gate was the one nearest to his inn, it was +not long before he issued out and, walking briskly, came in +three-quarters of an hour to a wood.</p> +<p>As there was no one in sight along the road, he turned in here +and changed his clothes. Then, leaving those he had taken off +behind him, he continued on his way, and in less than half an hour +approached a village, which he learned from a man he met was +Gulnach. He waited by the roadside for a quarter of an hour, and +then saw a man galloping towards him, leading a riderless horse. He +drew rein as he came up.</p> +<p>"What are you waiting here for?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Platurn," Fergus replied.</p> +<p>"That is right, sir. This is your horse. Here is the letter the +count bade me give you, and also this sword," and he unbuckled the +one that he wore.</p> +<p>"He bade me wish you God speed."</p> +<p>"Pray tell him that I am sincerely obliged to him for his +kindness," Fergus replied, as he buckled on the sword.</p> +<p>The man at once rode off.</p> +<p>The saddle was furnished with valises. These contained several +articles he had not thought of buying, among them a warm fur cap +with flaps for the ears, and a pair of fur-lined riding gloves. He +transferred the remaining articles from the little trunk to the +valises, and threw the former away; rolled up his cloak and +strapped it behind the saddle; and then mounted. He was glad to +find in the holsters a brace of double-barrelled pistols, a powder +flask and a bag of bullets, and also a large flask full of +spirits.</p> +<p>As he gathered the reins in his hand, he had difficulty in +restraining a shout of joy; for with an excellent horse, good arms, +warm clothes and a purse sufficiently well lined, he felt he was +prepared for all contingencies.</p> +<p>As he moved on at a walk, he opened the count's letter. It +contained only a few lines, wishing him a safe journey, and begging +him to tell Count Eulenfurst that he regretted he could not do more +for his messenger, to prove his goodwill and affection; and also +the official document that he had promised to procure for him. +Tearing up the count's letter, and putting the official document +carefully in his pocket, he pressed his heel against his horse's +flank, and started at a canter.</p> +<p>He stopped for the night at Ips, and on the following day rode +to Linz. The snow had fallen almost incessantly, and he was glad, +indeed, that he had brought the coat as well as the cloak with +him.</p> +<p>The next night he halted at Freystadt. As this was a strongly +fortified place, commanding the southern exit of the defile from +the mountain, he was asked for his papers. The official merely +glanced at them, and returned them. He was forced to stay here for +several days, as he was assured that it would be all but certain +death to endeavour to cross the pass, in such weather.</p> +<p>On the third day the snow ceased falling and, early next +morning, a force of 500 men, comprising almost the whole of the +garrison, started to beat down the snow, and cut a way through the +deep drifts. For four days this work continued, the men being +assisted by a regiment that was marched down from Budweis, and +opened the defile from the northern end. The pass was an important +one, as in winter it was the one chiefly used for communication +between Bohemia and Vienna; and it was therefore highly important +that it should be maintained in a practicable state.</p> +<p>Fergus was in no hurry to proceed. He knew that there was not +the smallest possibility of operations being commenced until the +snow disappeared, which might not be until the end of March. He +therefore took matters very quietly, keeping entirely indoors as +long as the snow continued to fall, and going out as little as +possible, afterwards.</p> +<p>He was glad, indeed, when the news came that the pass was clear. +As soon as the gates were unlocked he pressed on, in order to get +ahead of a large convoy of carts, laden with warm clothing for the +soldiers, that was also waiting for the pass to be opened. In spite +of all that had been done, it was rough work passing through the +defile, and he did not arrive at Krumnau until nearly sunset. +Budweis lay but a few miles farther ahead, but he had made up his +mind not to stop there, as it was a large garrisoned town, and the +small places suited him better.</p> +<p>Passing through the town, next day, he continued his course +along the road near the river Moldau. He made but short journeys, +for the snow had not yet hardened, and it was very heavy riding. He +therefore took four days in getting to Prague.</p> +<p>He thought it probable that here a watch might be kept for him +for, had he travelled straight from Spielberg, this was the point +for which, in all probability, he would have made; unless he had +gone through Silesia, and then travelled up through Breslau. He +therefore made a circuit of the picturesque old city, entered it by +a western gate, and then rode straight for the bridge. He had slept +at a place but four miles distant, and had started at daybreak, so +that it was still early in the day when he proceeded on his +way.</p> +<p>He stopped at a small town, ten miles farther north. Two or +three squadrons of cavalry were quartered there. The landlord at +the inn where he put up at once asked for his papers. These he took +to the town offices, where they were stamped as being in due order. +Half an hour later, as Fergus was at his meal, two officers +entered.</p> +<p>"Your papers appear to be right, sir," one of them said +courteously; "but in times like these, it is our duty to examine +closely into these matters. You come from Vienna?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> +<p>"Which way did you travel?"</p> +<p>"By way of Linz and Budweis," he said. "The snow began on the +day before I left the capital, and I was advised to take that +route, as the road would be more level, and less likely to be +blocked with snow than that through Horn. You will see that my +paper was stamped at Linz, and also at Freystadt.</p> +<p>"I was detained at the latter place seven days. For the first +three it snowed, and for the next four days the garrison was +occupied, with the aid of troops from Budweis, in opening the +defile."</p> +<p>The officer nodded.</p> +<p>"I happen to know that your story is correct, sir, and that it +accounts fully for your movements since leaving Vienna. Which way +do you intend to cross the passes into Saxony?"</p> +<p>"I must be guided by what I hear of their state. I had hoped to +have got back before the snow began to fall in earnest, but I +should think that the road by the river will now be the best."</p> +<p>"I should think so," the officer said, "but even that will be +bad enough. However, I will not detain you farther."</p> +<p>They moved away to another table and, calling for a bottle of +wine, sat down.</p> +<p>"No, we are mistaken. I don't think the fellow would have the +bare-faced impudence to come through Prague," one said.</p> +<p>The other laughed.</p> +<p>"I should think that he would have impudence for anything, +major. And in truth, I rather hope that they won't lay hands upon +him--a fellow who devised and carried out such a scheme as he did +deserves his liberty. Of course, his overpowering the warder was +nothing; but that he should have had the impudence to go down into +the major's quarters, appropriate his clothes, leave his own +uniform behind him; and then, taking advantage of the arrival of +another regiment, march calmly out through them all, pass the +sentries--who took him for one of the newly-arrived officers in +charge of the waggons--was really splendid!</p> +<p>"How it was that they did not overtake him the next morning, I +cannot make out. He had no sword with him, and no horse; and the +spectacle of a field officer on foot, without even a sword, should +have attracted the attention of the very first person who met him. +He had not been gone two hours when troops started in pursuit; for +when the major, whose door he had locked, had it burst open and +found that his uniform was gone, he suspected something was wrong, +and had all the sergeants in charge of prisoners mustered.</p> +<p>"One was missing, the man who had charge of this young +Scotchman. As he could not be found, the fellow's cell was broken +open, and there was the warder, bound and gagged. The bird had +flown, and parties of horse were sent off by all the roads leading +to Bohemia and Silesia, but no signs of the man have, as far as we +have heard, yet been discovered.</p> +<p>"The only thing that I can imagine is that, when he heard the +cavalry in pursuit, he left the road and hid up somewhere; and that +afterwards he tried to make his way by unfrequented paths, and was +starved in the snow. In that case his body is not likely to be +found until the spring."</p> +<p>"I cannot help thinking that a fellow who could plan and carry +out that escape would hardly be likely to lose his life in a +snowdrift. You see, it was not a sudden idea. On no other evening +would he have found the gate open after sunset, nor would he have +been certain to have found the major absent from his quarters. He +must have been waiting patiently for his opportunity and, as soon +as he heard that another battalion was coming into the garrison, he +must have resolved to act. More than that, he must have calculated +that instead of arriving at four o'clock, as they were timed to do, +they would be detained and not get in until after dark.</p> +<p>"They are clear-headed fellows, these Scotchmen; whether they +are in our army or Frederick's. What makes the affair more +wonderful is that this was quite a young fellow, and probably +understood no German; but I think that he would have acted more +wisely, had he waited until the spring."</p> +<p>"I don't know," the other said. "When once the troops are all in +movement north, he certainly could not have escaped in a military +uniform without being questioned; and it scarcely seems possible +that he could have procured any other. He must be in more of a +hurry to fight again than I am."</p> +<p>"There can hardly be much serious fighting," the other said. +"With us, Russia, and France, and with the 50,000 Swedes who have +been bought by France, we shall have 500,000 men under arms; while +we know that 200,000 is the utmost Frederick can muster, and these +will have to be scattered in every direction round his +frontier."</p> +<p>"I am sorry that France has joined in," the other said. "It is +unnatural enough that we and Russia should combine to crush +Prussia, but when it comes to our old enemies the French helping us +against a German power, I say frankly I don't like it. Besides, +though we may get Silesia back again, that will be a small +advantage in comparison to the disadvantage of France getting a +firm foothold on this side of the Rhine. Even if her share of the +partition doesn't extend beyond the river, this will be her +frontier nearly down to the sea; and she will have the power of +pouring her troops into Germany, whenever she chooses."</p> +<p>Fergus had now finished his meal, and without caring to listen +longer he betook himself to bed. To avoid all appearance of haste, +he did not start so early the next morning, but mounted at ten and +rode to the junction of the Eger with the Elbe. It was too late to +cross the river that night, and he therefore put up at a village on +the bank, and crossed in a ferry boat on the following morning to +Leitmeritz, a town of considerable size.</p> +<p>He was now within a day's ride of the defile through which the +Elbe finds its way from Bohemia into Saxony. His papers were +inspected, as usual, by the officer in command of a troop of +cavalry there.</p> +<p>"You will have a rough time of it, if you push on," he said. +"There is no traffic through the passes now, so the snow will lie +as it fell, and at any moment it may come down again. As far as the +mouth of the pass you will find it easy enough, for we send half a +troop as far as that every day; but beyond that I should say it +would be all but, if not quite, impassable. I advise you to stay +here quietly, until you hear of someone having crossed; or at any +rate, if you do go on, you must take three or four peasants as +guides, and to help you through difficult places."</p> +<p>"Would it not be possible, captain," Fergus asked, "to hire a +boat?"</p> +<p>"I did not think of that. Yes, there are flat boats that at +ordinary times go down to Dresden, with the rafts of timber; but +whether you would find anyone willing, now, to make such a journey +is more than I can say."</p> +<p>"I am very anxious to be back to my business," Fergus said; "and +as I should have to pay handsomely for guides to take me over, and +even then might lose my life, it would be better for me to pay +higher and get through at once."</p> +<p>On going down to the water side he saw several boats hauled up, +and it was not long before some boatmen, seeing a stranger +examining their craft, came down to him.</p> +<p>"I want to go down to Dresden," he said.</p> +<p>"'Tis a bad time of the year," one of the men replied.</p> +<p>"It is a bad time of the year, as far as cold is concerned; but +it is a good time of the year for going down the river," he said; +"for now that the frost has set in the river is low and the current +gentle, whereas in the spring, when the snow is melting, it must be +a raging torrent in some of the narrow defiles."</p> +<p>This evidence that the stranger, whoever he was, was no fool, +silenced the boatmen for a minute.</p> +<p>"Now," Fergus went on, "what is the lowest price that one of you +will take me and my horse down to Dresden for? I am disposed to pay +a fair price and not more, and if you attempt to charge an +exorbitant one, I shall take guides and follow the road."</p> +<p>"You would never get through," one of the men said.</p> +<p>"Well, at any rate I would try; and if I could not succeed by +the road by the river, I would cross by some other pass. I have no +doubt, whatever, I could get through by Graber and Zittau."</p> +<p>The stranger's acquaintance with the country again silenced the +men. They talked for a while apart, and then one said:</p> +<p>"We will take you for twenty rix dollars."</p> +<p>"Do you suppose that I am the emperor, in disguise?" Fergus said +indignantly. "'Tis but three days' journey, at most, and perhaps +six for coming back against the stream."</p> +<p>"We shall need four men, master, and there is the food by the +way."</p> +<p>After much bargaining the price was settled at fifteen rix +dollars, both parties being satisfied with the bargain; the men +because it was more than twice the sum for which they would have +been glad to do it, at ordinary times; Fergus because he had still +forty rix dollars in his pocket, and had only bargained as he did +in order not to appear too anxious on the subject. The price was to +include the erection, at one end of the boat, of a snug cover of +rushes for his use.</p> +<p>He found, on going down to the shore three hours later, that the +boatmen were engaged in covering in the whole of the craft, with +the exception of a few feet at each end, with a roof of rushes. The +boat itself was some thirty-five feet in length and ten wide, with +straight sides and a general resemblance to a canal barge, save +that the beam was greater in comparison to the length. The roof was +high, and sloped sharply. A tall man could walk along in the +centre, while at the sides there was but three feet of height.</p> +<p>Hay and straw were extremely scarce, the whole supply of the +country having been stripped by the foraging parties; but bundles +of reeds had been thickly littered down, especially near the +stern.</p> +<p>Shortly after his return, the landlord of the inn told him that, +if he did not want to take the horse with him, he would himself +gladly buy it.</p> +<p>"I have frequently to send to Prague for things for the inn; and +besides, I have to get provisions for people in the town. I sold my +best horse last autumn, to an officer whose charger had been +killed. Now that sledging has begun, I want one which can travel +fast and do the journey there in a day; so if you don't want to +take it, and will accept a reasonable price, I will buy it."</p> +<p>The offer was a welcome one. With two splendid horses at his +command--for he knew that good care would have been taken of the +one left in camp--a third would only have been in the way; and +this, although a good and useful beast, was scarce good-looking +enough for an officer on the marshal's staff. Therefore, after the +usual amount of bargaining, he parted with it for a fair price.</p> +<p>The next morning early he went on board, the servant of the inn +following with a great hamper of wine and provisions. He was glad +to see that a bright fire burned on an earthen hearth in the middle +of the boat; the smoke finding its way out, partly through a hole +cut in the thatch above it, partly by the opening at the fore end +of the boat. He brought with him his horse cloth as well as his +other belongings. The men, who were clearly in a hurry to be away, +pushed the boat off from the shore as soon as he had taken his +place.</p> +<p>"We want to be back as soon as we can," the owner of the boat +said, "for it will not be long before the ice begins to form, and +we don't want to be frozen in."</p> +<p>"It does not feel to me quite so cold this morning," Fergus +remarked.</p> +<p>"No, sir; we are going to have more snow. That won't matter to +us, and if it snows for the next week, all the better. It is not +often that the river closes altogether until after Christmas. In +the mountains the river seldom freezes at all. There is too much +current, and besides, in shelter of the hills the cold is not so +great."</p> +<p>Two oars were got out, for the purpose of steering rather than +of hastening the progress of the boat; and once well out in the +current, she was allowed to drift quietly with the stream. Fergus +spread his horse cloth on the rushes by the fire, and found no need +for his sheepskin coat; the cloak, loosely thrown over his +shoulders and the collar turned up, to keep off the draughts that +blew in under the bottom of the thatch, being sufficient to make +him thoroughly comfortable.</p> +<p>There was nothing to see outside, the shore being low and flat. +He had brought a large supply of meat with him, and handed over a +portion of this to the man who acted as the cook of the crew, and +told him to make broth for them all. This was a welcome gift to the +crew, who but seldom touched meat; and with the addition of barley, +coarse flour, and herbs that they had brought for their own use, an +excellent stew was provided. The pot was kept going through the +journey, fresh meat and other ingredients being added, from time to +time. In addition to this, slices of meat were grilled over the +fire, and eaten with the bread they had brought. The gift of a +bottle of wine between the crew, each day; and of a small ration of +spirits, the last thing in the evening, added greatly to the +satisfaction of the men.</p> +<p>By nightfall they arrived at the entrance of the defile. The +snow was falling heavily, and they tied up against the bank. Fergus +chatted with the men, and listened to their stories of the river, +for some hours.</p> +<p>All of them had, at various times, gone on timber rafts. They +bewailed the war, which would do them much harm. It would not +altogether interrupt trade, for timber would be required, as usual, +in Saxony and Hanover. As a rule, neither of the contending armies +interfered with the river traffic; though communications by land +were greatly interrupted, owing to the peasants' carts being +impressed for military service. This, and the anxiety of everyone +for the safety of his home and belongings, brought the trade +between the countries to a standstill.</p> +<p>On the river, however, the difficulty consisted, not in any +interference by the authorities, but from so large a number of the +able-bodied men being called out for service that the amount of +timber cut and brought down was greatly diminished, while the needs +of the army brought the trade in cattle and other produce to an +entire cessation.</p> +<p>The dangers of the river were not great; although in spring, +when the snow melted and the river was swollen, navigation was +rendered, especially in the narrow reaches of the defile, difficult +and dangerous; for the force of the stream was so great that it was +well-nigh impossible to direct the course of the rafts, and indeed +the poles used for that purpose were often found too short to reach +the bottom.</p> +<p>The men were up long before daylight; but it was two hours later +before Fergus roused himself and, shaking off the fine snow that +had drifted in and lay thickly on his coat, went out to have a look +at things. One of the men was already preparing breakfast. Two of +the others stood at the bow with long poles, with which they punted +the boat along. The captain, also provided with a pole, stood in +the stern.</p> +<p>The snow had ceased, but the air felt sharp and cold as it came +down from the hills, which were all thickly covered.</p> +<p>"So there is an end of the snow, for the present, captain," he +said, as he pushed aside the curtain of reeds that closed the stern +of the covered portion, and joined him.</p> +<p>"Yes. I am not altogether sorry, for we can see where we are +going. We shall keep on, now, until we are through the defile."</p> +<p>"But there is no moon, captain."</p> +<p>"No, but we can tell pretty well, by the depth of water, where +we are; and can manage to keep in the middle of the current. There +are no obstructions there to affect us, though in some places there +are plenty of ugly rocks near the shore. However, if we have luck +we shall be through before midnight, and shall pass all the worst +points before sunset."</p> +<p>The day passed, indeed, without adventure of any kind. The +journey was highly interesting to Fergus, for the scenery was very +picturesque. Sometimes the hills narrowed in, and the stream, +straitened in its course, hastened its speed; at others the hills +receded, and were covered far up with forests; above which bleak +mountain tops, with their mantle of snow, rose high in the air. The +captain pointed out the spot where the Saxons had crossed; and +where, pent in and surrounded with batteries commanding every means +of exit, they were forced to surrender.</p> +<p>"It is smooth work now," he said, as they were going through one +of the narrows, "for the river is low and the current gentle; but +in floods there are waves, here, that would swamp the boat did she +keep out in the middle, as we are doing; and it would be impossible +to pole her against it, even close to the shore. You see, the ice +is forming already near the banks."</p> +<p>"How do you manage coming back?"</p> +<p>"In some places we can pole the boat. She will be light, and +will only draw a few inches of water. Then we hire a horse for a +bit, at one of these little villages; or, where the road leaves the +river, the other three will get out and tow from the edge, while I +shall steer. We shall manage it easily enough, if the ice does not +form too thickly.</p> +<p>"If the worst comes to the worst, we should stop at one of the +villages, get the people to help us to haul her well up, wait till +the snows are quite over, and then make our way back on foot, and +come and fetch the boat up when the spring floods are over."</p> +<p>"Then the pass is not so dangerous after all, captain," Fergus +said with a smile.</p> +<p>"Not when the snow has once hardened, and to men accustomed to +it. As soon as the weather gets settled there will be a little +traffic, and the snow will be beaten down. Besides, where the hills +come steep to the water's edge, a man on foot can always make his +way along when the water is low; though a horseman might not be +able to do so."</p> +<p>"In fact, I suppose," Fergus said, "you all combine, at +Leitmeritz, to represent the passes as being a great deal more +dangerous than they are; in order to force those obliged to make +the journey to take as many men as possible with him, or to pay two +or three times the proper fare, by boat."</p> +<p>"The passes over the hills would be terrible, now," the man +said. "Most of them would be absolutely impassable, until the snow +hardens.</p> +<p>"As for the rest," he added with a smile, "it may be that there +is something in what you say; but you see, times are hard. There is +little work to be done, and scarce any timber coming down; and if +we did not get a good job, occasionally, it would go very hard with +us."</p> +<p>By nightfall they were nearly through the defile. Lanterns were +placed in the bow of the boat and, until long after Fergus was +asleep, the men continued to work at their poles. When he woke up +in the morning the boat was floating down a quiet river, with the +plains of Saxony on either side, and the mountain range far +astern.</p> +<p>At noon they neared Dresden, and an hour later Fergus stepped +ashore. He paid the men the sum arranged, and handed over to them +the rest of his provisions, which would be sufficient to carry them +far on their way back.</p> +<p>He soon learnt that Marshal Keith was established in his old +quarters, and made his way thither. He met two or three officers of +his acquaintance, but no one recognized him in his present attire. +He had hired a boy, when he landed, to carry his cloak and valises. +The saddle and bridle he had sold with the horse.</p> +<p>He was, as usual, passing the sentries at the gate without +notice, when one of them stepped in front of him.</p> +<p>"What is your business, sir?"</p> +<p>"My business is with Marshal Keith," he said, "and it is +particular."</p> +<p>The sentry called a sergeant of the guard.</p> +<p>"You can pass me up," Fergus said sharply. "I am well known to +Marshal Keith, and he will assuredly see me."</p> +<p>A soldier took him up to the anteroom. Lieutenant Lindsay, who +was on duty, came forward, looked at him doubtfully for a moment, +and then shouted joyfully:</p> +<p>"Why, Drummond, is it you? This is indeed a joyful meeting, old +fellow. I had thought of you as immured in one of the enemy's +fortresses, and as likely to remain there till the war was over, +and now here you are! The marshal will be delighted."</p> +<p>"He cannot be more pleased than I am to be back again, Lindsay. +Is he alone?"</p> +<p>"Yes. Come in at once. I won't announce you."</p> +<p>He opened the door.</p> +<p>"A gentleman to see you, marshal," he said, and Fergus walked +in.</p> +<p>The marshal recognized him at once and, holding out both hands, +shook those of Fergus cordially.</p> +<p>"I am indeed glad to see you," he said. "We knew that you were +unhurt, for on the morning after the battle we sent in a +parlementaire to Browne with the list of prisoners taken, and +received his list in return; and as your name was among them, and +you were not put down as wounded, my anxiety about you was +relieved. We tried a month later to get exchanges, but they would +not hear of it. In the first place, there is no doubt that the +king's action, in incorporating the Saxons with our army, has +caused a strong feeling against him; and in the second, they had +plenty of fortresses in which to stow their prisoners, while they +would calculate that the more prisoners we had to look after, the +fewer men they would have to fight.</p> +<p>"And now, tell me by what miracle you have got here. I have +nothing particular to do.</p> +<p>"Lindsay, you may as well stop and hear the story. Tell the +sergeant to call you out if any one in particular comes; to +everyone else, I am engaged.</p> +<p>"Or stay," he broke off, "they have just told me that luncheon +is ready in the next room. A story is always better told over a +bottle of wine, so tell the sergeant, Lindsay, that for the next +hour I can see no one, unless it is on very particular +business.</p> +<p>"Now, in the first place, Captain Drummond.</p> +<p>"Oh, of course, you have not heard!" he broke off, in answer to +Fergus's look of surprise. "The king and I watched you charge +through that Austrian squadron, and when he saw you reach our +cavalry in safety, and they turned to come back, he ordered me at +once to make out your commission as captain. I ventured to object +that you were very young. He said you had saved half his cavalry, +and that he would promote you, if you were an infant in arms."</p> +<p>"It is really absurd, marshal. I shall feel downright ashamed to +be called captain by men still lieutenants, though a dozen years +older than I am. I fear I have gone over Lindsay's head."</p> +<p>"You need not mind me, Drummond," Lindsay laughed. "I shall have +a chance, one of these days; but not a soul will grudge you your +promotion. There were many of us who saw your charge; and I can +tell you that it was the talk of the whole army, next day, and it +was thoroughly recognized that it saved the cavalry; for their +commander would certainly have taken them against the Austrians +and, if he had, it is equally certain that none of them would have +got back again; and when your name appeared in orders the next day, +we all felt that no one ever better deserved promotion."</p> +<p>"The king inquired especially, as soon as the list came, whether +you were wounded, Fergus," Keith said; "and was very much pleased +when he heard that you were not.</p> +<p>"Now, let us hear how you come to be here."</p> +<p>The marshal laughed heartily, when Fergus told of his escape in +the disguise of an Austrian field officer.</p> +<p>"It was most admirably managed, Fergus," he said, when the tale +was finished; "and your making for Vienna, instead of for the +frontier, was a masterly stroke. Of course your finding a friend +there was most fortunate; but even had you not done so, I have no +doubt you would have got through, somehow. I think the best idea of +all was your taking the post horses, and then getting a fresh suit +of clothes from the postmaster.</p> +<p>"I am glad you ordered the major's suit of clothes to be sent +back to him. I should have liked to have seen his face when he +found that not only his uniform, but his prisoner, had +disappeared.</p> +<p>"It will be a good story to tell the king. He has sore troubles +enough on his shoulders, for the difficulties are thickening round; +and although Frederick is a born general, he really loves peace, +and quiet, and books, and the society of a few friends, far better +than the turmoil into which we are plunged.</p> +<p>"The French are going to open the campaign, in the spring, with +an army of a hundred thousand men. Russia will invade the east +frontier with certainly as many more, perhaps a hundred and fifty +thousand. They say these rascally Swedes, who have not a shadow of +quarrel against us, intend to land fifty thousand men in Pomerania; +and that Austria will put two hundred and fifty thousand in the +field. Even tempered and self relying as the king is, all this is +enough to drive him to despair; and anything that will interest him +for an hour, and make him forget his difficulties, is very +welcome."</p> +<p>The marshal asked many questions for, as he said, the king would +like to know all the ins and outs of the matter; and he knew that +Fergus would much rather that the story should be told the king by +another, than that he should be called upon to do so.</p> +<p>"I hope the horse came back safely, Lindsay?" Fergus asked, as +they left the marshal's apartments.</p> +<p>"Oh, yes! He went back with the convoy of wounded, and he is now +safe in Keith's stable. The other is, of course, at the count's. I +sent your things back at the same time, and when we returned here I +packed everything up and sewed them in a sack. They are all in the +storeroom."</p> +<p>"What has become of Karl? Did he get safely back?"</p> +<p>"Yes; but he had a nasty sabre wound he got in the charge, and +he was in hospital for six weeks. The king gave him a handsome +present, on the day after he came in; and would have given him a +commission, if he would have taken it, but he declined altogether, +saying that he was very comfortable as he was. His colonel would +have made him a sergeant at once, but he refused that also.</p> +<p>"Just at present he is still looking after your horse, and +helping generally in Keith's stable. His wound was on the head, and +he is scarcely fit for duty with his regiment, so of course he will +now fall in to his place with you again."</p> +<p>Fergus went down to the stable, where he was received with the +greatest delight by Karl; whose pride in his master was great, +after his exploit at Count Eulenfurst's, and had been heightened by +the feeling excited in the army at his having saved the cavalry +from destruction.</p> +<p>"I thought that you would be back by the spring, Captain," he +said. "Donald and I have talked it over, many a time, and we were +of one mind that, if any one could get away from an Austrian +prison, you would do it."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch8" id="Ch8">Chapter 8</a>: Prague.</h2> +<p>The next morning Fergus rode over to see Count Eulenfurst, found +him quite restored to health, and was received by him, the +countess, and Thirza with great pleasure.</p> +<a id="PicE" name="PicE"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/e.jpg" alt= +"Fergus was received by the count, the countess and Thirza with great pleasure" /> +</div> +<p>"My return in safety is in no small degree due to you, count. +Had it not been for the letter to Count Platurn, with which the +countess furnished me, I doubt whether I should have been able to +get through; or at any rate, if I had done so it could only have +been with many hardships and dangers, and certainly great +delay."</p> +<p>"I have no doubt that the help you received from the count was +of considerable assistance to you, and lessened your difficulties +much, Captain Drummond; but I am sure you would have managed, +without it. Had you formed any plans as to what you would have +done, had you found him absent?"</p> +<p>"I had thought of several things, count, but I had settled on +nothing. I should have remained but a day in Vienna, and should +have exchanged the suit I had got from the innkeeper for some +other. My idea was that I had best join one of the convoys of +provisions going up to Bohemia. I calculated that I should have no +difficulty in obtaining a place as a driver, for of course the +service is not popular, and any of the men would have been glad +enough for me to take his place. I might thus have got forward as +far as Prague. After that I must have taken my chance, and I think +I could, in the same sort of way, have got as far as Leitmeritz; +but there I might have been detained for a very long time, until +there was an opportunity of crossing the defiles. It would have +been difficult, indeed, for me to have earned my living there; and +what was left of the money I had, after paying for the landlord's +suit, would scarce have lasted, with the closest pinching, till +spring."</p> +<p>"You would have managed it somehow, I am sure," Thirza said +confidently. "After getting out of that strong fortress, it would +be nothing to get out of Bohemia into Saxony."</p> +<p>"We have not congratulated you yet," the countess said, "upon +your last promotion. Lieutenant Lindsay came over to tell us about +it, and how you had gained it. Of course we were greatly pleased, +although grieved to hear that you had been made prisoner. We +wondered whether, at the time you were captured, you had any of the +letters I had written with you, and whether they would come in +useful.</p> +<p>"It did not even occur to me that you would have called upon +Count Platurn, my cousin. I thought that you might be detained at +Prague, but Vienna is the last place where we should have pictured +you. Had we known that you had been sent to Spielberg, I think we +should have given up all hope of seeing you again, until you were +exchanged; for I have heard that it is one of the strongest of the +Austrian fortresses.</p> +<p>"I do hope, Captain Drummond, we shall see a great deal of you +this winter. There will not be many gaieties, though no doubt there +will be some state balls; but there will be many little gatherings, +as usual, among ourselves, and we shall count upon you to attend +them always, unless you are detained on service. We learn that it +is probable your king will pass the whole of the winter here."</p> +<p>"We will send your horse down to you today," the count said. +"You will find him in good condition. He has been regularly +exercised."</p> +<p>"Thank you very much, count. I wrote to you before I started, +but I have had no opportunity of thanking you, personally, for +those splendid animals. Sorry as I was to lose the horse I rode at +Lobositz, I congratulated myself that I was not riding one of +yours."</p> +<p>"I should have had no difficulty in replacing him, Captain +Drummond," the count said with a smile. "The least we can do is to +keep you in horse flesh while the war lasts; which I hope will not +be very long, for surely your king can never hope to make head +against the forces that will assail him in the spring, but will be +glad to make peace on any terms."</p> +<p>"No doubt he would be glad to, count; but as his enemies propose +to divide his dominions among them, it is not very clear what terms +he could make. But though I grant that, on paper, the odds against +him is enormous, I think that you will see there will be some hard +fighting yet, before Prussia is partitioned."</p> +<p>"Perhaps so," the count replied; "but surely the end must be the +same. You know I have been a strong opponent of the course taken by +the court here. Saxony and Prussia, as Protestant countries, should +be natural allies; and I consider it is infamous that the court, or +rather Bruhl, who is all powerful, should have joined in a +coalition against Frederick, who had given us no cause of +complaint, whatever. My sympathies, then, are wholly with him; but +I can see no hope, whatever, of his successfully resisting this +tremendous combination."</p> +<p>"Various things might happen, count. The Empresses of Russia or +Austria or the Pompadour might die, or the allies might quarrel +between themselves. England may find some capable statesman, who +will once again get an army together and, joined perhaps by the +Netherlands, give France so much to do that she will not be able to +give much help to her allies."</p> +<p>"Yes, all these things might happen; but Frederick's first +campaign has been, to a great extent, a failure. It is true that he +has established Saxony as his base, but the Saxon troops will be of +no advantage to him. He would have acted much more wisely had he, +on their surrender, allowed them to disband and go to their homes.. +Many then might have enlisted voluntarily. The country would not +have had a legitimate grievance, and the common religious tie would +soon have turned the scale in favour of Prussia; who, as all see, +has been driven to this invasion by our court's intrigues with +Austria. Had he done this he could have marched straight to Prague, +have overrun all Bohemia, established his headquarters there, and +menaced Vienna itself in the spring."</p> +<p>"Looking at it coolly, that might have been the best way, count; +but a man who finds that three or four of his neighbours have +entered into a plot to attack his house, and seize all his goods, +may be pardoned if he does not at first go the very wisest way to +work."</p> +<p>The count laughed.</p> +<p>"I hope that the next campaign will turn out differently; but I +own that I can scarce see a possibility of Prussia, alone, making +head against the dangers that surround her."</p> +<p>The winter passed quietly. There were fetes, state balls, and +many private entertainments; for while all Europe was indignant, or +pretended to be so, at the occupation of Saxony, the people of that +country were by no means so angry on their own account. They were +no more heavily taxed by Frederick than they were by their own +court and, now that the published treaty between the Confederates +had made it evident that the country, without its own consent, had +been deeply engaged in a conspiracy hostile to Prussia, none could +deny that Frederick was amply justified in the step he had +taken.</p> +<p>At these parties, only Prussian officers who were personal +friends of the host were invited; but Fergus, who had been +introduced by Count Eulenfurst to all his acquaintances, was always +asked, and was requested to bring with him a few of his personal +friends. Lindsay, therefore, was generally his companion, and was, +indeed, in a short time invited for his own sake; for the Scottish +officers were regarded in a different light to the Prussians, and +their pleasant manners and frank gaiety made them general +favourites.</p> +<p>Their duties as aides-de-camp were now light, indeed; although +both were, two or three times, sent with despatches to Berlin; and +even to more distant parts of Prussia, where preparations for the +coming campaign were being made on a great scale.</p> +<p>The whole Prussian population were united. It was a war not for +conquest but for existence, and all classes responded cheerfully to +the royal demands. These were confined to orders for drafts of men, +for no new tax of any kind was laid on the people; the expenses of +the war being met entirely from the treasure that had, since the +termination of the Silesian war, been steadily accumulating, a +fixed sum being laid by every year to meet any emergency that might +arise.</p> +<p>Towards spring both parties were ready to take the field. The +allies had 430,000 men ready for service. Frederick had 150,000 +well-trained soldiers, while 40,000 newly-raised troops were posted +in fortresses, at points most open to invasion. The odds were +indeed sufficient to appall even the steadfast heart of Frederick +of Prussia; but no one would have judged, from the calm and +tranquil manner in which the king made his arrangements to meet the +storm, that he had any doubt as to the issue.</p> +<p>Man for man, the Prussian soldier of the time was the finest in +the world. He was splendidly drilled, absolutely obedient to +orders, and filled with implicit confidence in his king and his +comrades. He had been taught to march with extraordinary rapidity, +and at the same time to manoeuvre with the regularity and +perfection of a machine; and could be trusted, in all emergencies, +to do everything that man was capable of.</p> +<p>The French army, 110,000 strong, was the first to move. Another +30,000 men were preparing to march, to join the army that had been +got up by that mixed body, the German Federation. The main force +was to move through Hanover.</p> +<p>To oppose them was a mixed army, maintained by British money, +comprising Hanoverians, Brunswickers, and Hessians, some 50,000 +strong, commanded by the Duke of Cumberland. With these were some +5000 Prussians; who had, by Frederick's orders, evacuated the +frontier fortresses and joined what was called the British army of +observation. Frederick prepared, for the present, to deal with the +Austrians; intending, if successful against them, to send off +25,000 men to strengthen Cumberland's army. The proposed Swedish +invasion was altogether disregarded; but thirty thousand men, +principally militia, were posted to check the Russian invasion.</p> +<p>So quiet had been the preparations, that none of their enemies +dreamt that the Prussians would assume the offensive, but +considered that they would confine their efforts to defending the +defiles into Saxony and Silesia. But this was not Frederick's idea. +As spring approached, he had been busy redistributing his troops +from their winter cantonment, and preparing three armies for the +invasion of Bohemia. April had been a busy month for the staff, and +the aides-de-camp had passed their days, and even their nights, on +horseback.</p> +<p>At last all was in readiness for the delivery of the stroke, and +on the 20th the king started from Lockwitch, facing the old Saxon +camp at Pirna; the Duke of Bevern from Lousitz; and Marshal +Schwerin from Schlesien; and without the slightest warning, the +three great columns poured down into Bohemia.</p> +<p>The movement took the Austrians absolutely by surprise. Not +dreaming of such a step on Frederick's part, they had prepared, +near the frontier, vast magazines for the supply of their advancing +army. These had to be abandoned in the greatest haste, and a +sufficient amount of food to supply the entire army, for three +months, fell into the hands of the Prussians. Marshal Browne and +General Konigseck, who commanded the Austrian armies in Bohemia, +fell back to Prague with the greatest speed that they could +make.</p> +<p>The light irregular corps, that Frederick had raised during the +winter and placed under experienced and energetic officers, +pervaded the whole country, capturing magazines and towns, putting +some to ransom, dispersing small bodies of the enemy, and spreading +terror far and wide. Browne succeeded in reaching Prague before the +king could come up to him. Bevern, however, overtook Konigseck, and +greatly hastened his retreat; killing a thousand men and taking +five hundred prisoners, after which Konigseck reached Prague +without further molestation, the Duke of Bevern joining Schwerin's +column.</p> +<p>The Austrians retired through Prague and encamped on high ground +on the south side of the city, Prince Karl being now in command of +the whole. Had this prince been possessed of military talents, or +listened to Marshal Browne's advice, instead of taking up a +defensive position he would have marched with his whole army +against the king, whose force he would very greatly have +outnumbered; but instead of doing so, he remained inactive.</p> +<p>On the 2nd of May, twelve days after moving from Saxony, +Frederick arrived within sight of Prague. So closely had he +followed the retreating Austrians that he occupied, that evening, a +monastery at which Prince Karl and Marshal Browne had slept the +night before. Thirty thousand men, who were under the command of +Marshal Keith, were left to watch Prague and its garrison; while +Frederick, on Tuesday, searched for a spot where he could cross the +river and effect a junction with Schwerin. He knew his position, +and had arranged that three cannon shots were to be the signal that +the river had been crossed.</p> +<p>A pontoon bridge was rapidly thrown over, the signal was given, +and the Prussians poured across it; and before the whole were over +Schwerin's light cavalry came up, and an arrangement was made that +the two forces should meet, at six o'clock next morning, at a spot +within two miles of the Austrian camp on the Lisca hills.</p> +<a id="Map3" name="Map3"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/3.jpg" alt= +"Battle of Prague" /></div> +<p>All this time the Austrians stood inactive, and permitted the +Prussian columns to join hands without the slightest attempt to +interfere with them. Had Browne been in command, very different +steps would have been taken; but Prince Karl was indolent, self +confident, and opinionated, and had set his army to work to +strengthen its position in every possible manner. This was +naturally extremely strong, its right flank being covered by swampy +ground formed by a chain of ponds; from which the water was let off +in the winter, and the ground sown with oats. These were now a +brilliant green, and to the eyes of Frederick and his generals, +surveying them from the distance, had the aspect of ordinary +meadows. The whole ground was commanded by redoubts and batteries +on the hill, which rose precipitately seven or eight hundred feet +behind the position. In the batteries were sixty heavy cannon; +while there were, in addition, one hundred and fifty field +guns.</p> +<p>Well might Prince Karl think his position altogether +unassailable, and believe that, if the Prussians were mad enough to +attack, they would be destroyed. Frederick and Schwerin spent much +time in surveying the position, and agreed that on two sides the +Austrian position was absolutely impregnable; but that on the right +flank, attack was possible. Schwerin would fain have waited until +the next morning, since his troops were fatigued by their long +marches, and had been on foot since midnight. The Austrians, +however, were expecting a reinforcement of thirty thousand men, +under Daun, to join them hourly; and the king therefore decided on +an attack, the terrible obstacles presented by the swamps being +altogether unnoticed.</p> +<p>With incredible speed the Prussians moved away to their left, +and by eleven o'clock were in readiness to attack the right flank +of the Austrian position. Browne, however, was in command here and, +as soon as the intention of the Prussians was perceived, he swung +back the right wing of the army at right angles to its original +position, so that he presented a front to the Prussian attack; +massing thickly at Sterbold, a village at the edge of the swamps. +Rapidly the whole of the artillery and cavalry were formed up on +this face and, quick as had been the advance of the Prussians, the +Austrians were perfectly ready to meet them.</p> +<p>Led by General Winterfeld, the Prussians rushed forward; but as +they advanced, a terrific artillery fire was opened upon them. +Winterfeld was wounded severely, and the troops fell back.</p> +<p>The main body now advanced, under Schwerin, and the whole again +pressed forward. In spite of the incessant rain of grape and case +shot, the Prussians advanced until they reached the pleasant green +meadows they had seen in the distance. Then the real nature of the +ground was at once disclosed.</p> +<p>The troops sunk to the knee, and in many cases to the waist, in +the treacherous mud. Soldiers less valiant and less disciplined +would have shrunk, appalled at the obstacle; but the Prussians +struggled on, dragging themselves forward with the greatest +difficulty through mud, through slush, through a rain of grape from +upwards of two hundred cannon, and through a storm of musketry fire +from the infantry. Regiment after regiment, as it reached the edge +of the dismal swamp, plunged in unhesitatingly, crawling and +struggling onward.</p> +<p>Never in the annals of warfare was there a more terrible fight. +For three hours it continued, without a moment's interval. +Thousands of the assailants had fallen, and their bodies had been +trodden deep into the swamp, as their comrades pressed after them. +Sometimes a regiment struggled back out of the mire, thinking it +beyond mortal power to win victory under such terms; but the next +moment they reformed and flung themselves into the fight again. +Schwerin, seeing the regiment named after him recoil, placed +himself at their head; and shouting, "Follow me, my sons!" led them +till he fell dead, struck by five grape shot.</p> +<p>The Austrians fought as stoutly, Marshal Browne leading them +till a cannonball took off his foot, and he was carried into +Prague, to die there six weeks later.</p> +<p>While this terrible struggle was going on, the Prussian cavalry +had made a very wide circuit round the ponds and lakelets, and +charged the Austrian horse on Browne's extreme right. The first +lines were broken by it, but so many and strong were they that the +Prussians were brought to a standstill. Then they drew back and +charged a second, and a third time.</p> +<p>The Austrians gave way. Prince Karl himself, brave if incapable, +did his best to rally them, but in vain; and at last they fled in +headlong rout, pursued for many miles by Ziethen's horsemen.</p> +<p>Still the infantry struggle was maintained. At last the Prussian +right wing, hitherto not engaged, though suffering from the +artillery fire on the heights, had their turn. General Mannstein +discovered that, at the angle where Browne threw back the right +wing of the army to face the Prussians, there was a gap. The troops +there had gradually pressed more to their right, to take part in +the tremendous conflict; and the elbow was, therefore, defended +only by a half-moon battery.</p> +<p>Through the fish tanks he led the way, followed by Princes Henry +and Ferdinand. The whole division struggled through the mud, drove +back the Austrians hastily brought up to oppose them, captured the +battery, and poured into the gap; thereby cutting the Austrian army +in two, and taking both halves in flank.</p> +<p>This was the deciding point of the battle. The Austrian right, +already holding its own with difficulty, was crumpled up and forced +to fall back hastily. The other half of the army, isolated by the +irruption, threw itself back and endeavoured to make a fresh stand +at spots defended by batteries and stockades.</p> +<p>But all was in vain. The Prussians pressed forward exultingly, +the fresh troops leading the way. In spite of the confusion +occasioned by the loss of their commanders, and of the surprise +caused by the sudden breakup of their line by the inrush of +Mannstein and the princes, the Austrians fought stoutly. Four times +they made a stand, but the Prussians were not to be denied. The +Austrian guns that had been captured were turned against them and, +at last giving way they fled for Prague, where some 40,000 of them +rushed for shelter, while 15,000 fled up the valley of the +Moldau.</p> +<p>Had it not been that an accident upset Frederick's calculations, +the greater portion of the Austrians would have been obliged to lay +down their arms. Prince Maurice of Dessau had been ordered to move +with the right wing of Keith's army, 15,000 strong, to take up a +position in the Austrian rear. This position he should have reached +hours before, but in his passage down a narrow lane, some of the +pontoons for bridging the river were injured. When the bridge was +put together, it proved too short to reach the opposite bank.</p> +<p>The cavalry in vain endeavoured to swim the river. The stream +was too strong, and Frederick's masterly combination broke down; +and the bulk of the Austrians, instead of being forced to +surrender, were simply shut up in Prague with its garrison.</p> +<p>The battle of Prague was one of the fiercest ever fought. The +Austrian army had improved wonderfully, since the Silesian war. +Their artillery were specially good, their infantry had adopted +many of the Prussian improvements and, had Browne been in sole +command, and had he escaped unwounded, the issue of the day might +have been changed. The Prussians lost 12,500 men, killed and +wounded; the Austrians, including prisoners, 13,300. Frederick +himself put the losses higher, estimating that of the Austrians at +24,000, of whom 5000 were prisoners, that of the Prussians at +18,000, "without counting Marshal Schwerin, who alone was worth +about 10,000."</p> +<p>It is evident that the king's estimate of the loss of the +Austrians must have been excessive. They had the advantage of +standing on the defensive. The Prussian guns did but comparatively +little service, while their own strong batteries played with +tremendous effect upon the Prussians, struggling waist deep in the +mud. There can therefore be little doubt that the latter must have +suffered, in killed and wounded, a much heavier loss than the +Austrians.</p> +<p>Impassive as he was, and accustomed to show his feelings but +little, Frederick was deeply affected at the loss of his trusted +general, and of the splendid soldiers who had been so long and +carefully trained; and even had Prague fallen, the victory would +have been a disastrous one for him; for, threatened as he was by +overwhelming forces, the loss of 5000 men, to him, was quite as +serious as that of 20,000 men to the Confederates.</p> +<p>In Keith's army there had been considerable disappointment, when +it became known that they were to remain impassive spectators of +the struggle, and that while their comrades were fighting, they had +simply to blockade the northern side of the city.</p> +<p>"You will have plenty of opportunities," the marshal said +quietly to his aides-de-camp, on seeing their downcast look. "This +war is but beginning. It will be our turn, next time. For it is a +great task the king has set himself, in attempting to carry the +strong position that the Austrians have taken up; and he will not +do it without very heavy loss. Tomorrow you may have reason to +congratulate yourselves that we have had no share in the +business."</p> +<p>Nevertheless, as the day went on, and the tremendous roar of +battle rolled down upon them--terrible, continuous, and never +ceasing, for three hours--even Keith walked, in a state of feverish +anxiety, backwards and forwards in front of his tent; while the +troops stood in groups, talking in low tones, and trying to pierce +with their eyes the dun-coloured cloud of smoke that hung over the +combatants on the other side of Prague.</p> +<p>When at last the din of battle went rolling down towards that +city, the feeling of joy was intense. In many, the relief from the +tension and the long excitement was so great that they burst into +tears. Some shook hands with each other, others threw their caps +into the air, and then a few voices burst into the well-known verse +of the church hymn:<br /> +<br /> +<em>Nun danket alle Gott,<br /> +Mit herzen, mund und haenden.<br /> +<br /></em> Of which our English translation runs:<br /> +<br /> +<em>Now thank we all our God,<br /> +With hands and hearts and voices.</em></p> +<p>And in a moment it was taken up by 30,000 deep voices, in a +solemn chorus, the regimental bands at once joining in the jubilant +thanksgiving. Pious men were these honest, Protestant, +hard-fighting soldiers; and very frequently, on their long marches, +they beguiled the way by the stirring hymns of the church. Keith +and those around him stood bare-headed, as the hymn was sung, and +not a word was spoken for some time after the strains had +subsided.</p> +<p>"That is good to listen to," Keith said, breaking the silence. +"We have often heard the psalm singing of Cromwell's Ironsides +spoken of, with something like contempt; but we can understand, +now, how men who sing like that, with all their hearts, should be +almost invincible."</p> +<p>"It is the grandest thing that I have ever heard, marshal," +Fergus said. "Of course, I have heard them when they were marching, +but it did not sound like this."</p> +<p>"No, Fergus; it was the appropriateness of the occasion, and +perhaps the depth of the feelings of the men, and our own sense of +immense relief, that made it so striking.</p> +<p>"Listen! There is a fresh outburst of firing. The Austrians have +fallen back, but they are fighting stoutly."</p> +<p>The chief effect of this great battle was of a moral, rather +than material kind. Prague was not a strong place, but with a +garrison of 50,000 men it was too well defended to assault; and +until it was taken Frederick could not march on, as he had +intended, and leave so great a force in the rear.</p> +<p>The moral effect was, however, enormous. The allies had deemed +that they had a ridiculously easy task before them, and that +Frederick would have to retreat before their advancing armies, and +must at last see that there was nothing but surrender before him. +That he should have emerged from behind the shelter of the Saxon +hills, and have shattered the most formidable army of those that +threatened him, on ground of their own choosing, intrenched and +fortified, caused a feeling of consternation and dismay. The French +army, the Russians, and the united force of the French with the +German Confederacy were all arrested on their march, and a month +elapsed before they were again set in motion.</p> +<p>Marshal Daun, who had arrived at Erdwise, fell back at once when +the news reached him and, taking post at the entrance of the +defile, he made the greatest efforts to increase his army. +Reinforcements were sent to him from Vienna and all the adjacent +country. The Duke of Bevern was posted with 20,000 men to watch +him; and Frederick sat down, with all his force, to capture +Prague.</p> +<p>The siege train was hurried up from Dresden, and on the 9th of +May his batteries on the south side of the city, and those of Keith +on the north, opened fire on the city. For a month missiles were +poured into the town. Magazines were blown up, and terrible +destruction done, but the garrison held out firmly. At times they +made sorties, but these were always driven in again, with much +loss. But 50,000 men behind fortifications, however weak, were not +to be attacked. Every approach to the city was closely guarded, but +it became at last evident that, as long as the provisions held out, +Prague was not to be taken.</p> +<p>The cannonade became less incessant, and after a month almost +died away; for Daun had by this time gathered a large army, and it +was evident that another great battle would have to be fought. If +this was won by the Prussians, Prague would be forced to surrender. +If not, the city was saved.</p> +<p>It was not until the 12th of June that Daun, a cautious and +careful general, in accordance with urgent orders from Vienna +prepared to advance. His force had now grown to 60,000; 40,000 of +the garrison of Prague could be spared, to issue out to help him. +Frederick had under 70,000, and of these a great portion must +remain to guard their siege works. Thus, then, all the advantages +lay with the relieving army.</p> +<p>Several officers in disguise were despatched, by Daun, to carry +into Prague the news of his advance; and to warn Prince Karl to +sally out, with the whole of his force, and fall upon the Prussians +as soon as he attacked them in the rear. So vigilant, however, were +the besiegers that none of these messengers succeeded in entering +Prague.</p> +<p>On the 13th Frederick set out, with 10,000 men--to be followed +by 4000 more under Prince Maurice, two days later, these being all +that could be spared from the siege works--to join Bevern, who had +fallen back as Daun advanced. The junction effected, Frederick +joined Bevern and approached Daun, who was posted in a strong +position near Kolin, thirty-five miles from Prague. On the 17th +Prince Maurice arrived, and after several changes of position the +armies faced each other on the 18th, within a short distance of +Kolin.</p> +<p>Daun's new position was also a strong one, and was, in fact, +only to be assailed on its right; and the Prussian army was moved +in that direction, their order being to pay no attention to the +Austrian batteries or musketry fire, but to march steadily to the +spot indicated. This was done. Ziethen dashed with his hussars upon +the Austrian cavalry, drawn up to bar the way; defeated them, and +drove them far from the field; while Hulsen's division of infantry +carried the village of Preezer, on the Austrian flank, in spite of +the Austrian batteries. So far Frederick's combination had worked +admirably.</p> +<p>Hulsen then attacked a wood behind it, strongly held by the +Austrians. Here a struggle commenced which lasted the whole day, +the wood being several times taken and lost. He was not supported, +owing to a mistake that entirely upset Frederick's plan of +battle.</p> +<p>While three miles away from the point where the attack was to be +delivered, Mannstein, whose quickness of inspiration had largely +contributed to the victory of Prague, now ruined Frederick's plan +by his impetuosity. The corn fields, through which his division was +marching towards the assault of the Austrian left, were full of +Croats; who kept up so galling a fire that, losing all patience, he +turned and attacked them.</p> +<p>The regiment to which he gave the order cleared the Croats off; +but these returned, strongly reinforced. The regiments coming +behind, supposing that fresh orders had arrived, also turned off; +and in a short time the whole division, whose support was so sorely +needed by Hulsen, were assaulting the almost impregnable Austrian +position in front.</p> +<p>Another mistake--this time arising from a misconception of a too +brief and positive order, given by Frederick himself--led Prince +Maurice, who commanded the Prussian centre, to hurl himself in like +manner against the Austrians.</p> +<p>For four hours the battle raged. In spite of their +disadvantages, the Prussians fought so desperately that Daun +believed the day to be lost, and sent orders to the troops to +retreat to Suchdol; but the commander of the Saxon cavalry +considered the order premature and, gathering a large body of +Austrian infantry, charged with them and his own cavalry so +furiously upon Hulsen that the latter was forced to retreat.</p> +<p>The movement spread, the attack slackened, and the other +division moved down the hill. They had all but won. Frederick in +vain tried to rally and lead them afresh to the attack. They had +done all that men could do, and the battle ceased. Daun scarcely +attempted to pursue, and the Prussians marched away, unmolested +even by cavalry; some of the regiments remaining firm in their +position until nightfall, repulsing with great loss the one attempt +of the Austrians at pursuit; and Ziethen's cavalry did not draw off +until ten at night.</p> +<p>The Austrians had 60,000 men in the field, of whom they lost in +killed and wounded 8114. The Prussians, who began the day 34,000 +strong, lost 13,773; of whom the prisoners, including all the +wounded, amounted to 5380.</p> +<p>The news of the disaster, and with it Frederick's order to +prepare to raise the siege of Prague at once, came like a +thunderclap upon the Prussian camp. Frederick himself, and the +remnant of his army, arrived there in good order, with all their +baggage train, a day later. The cannon were removed from the +batteries, the magazines emptied; and in good order, and without +any attempt on the part of the Austrian garrison to molest them, +the Prussian army marched away and took up their post at +Leitmeritz.</p> +<p>The news that an Austrian army had at last beaten Frederick, and +that Prague was saved, caused an exultation and joy, among the +allies, equal to the dismay that had been aroused by the defeat at +Prague; although there was nothing remarkable, or worth much +congratulation, in the fact that an army, in an almost impregnable +position, had repulsed the attack of another of little over half +its strength.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch9" id="Ch9">Chapter 9</a>: In Disguise.</h2> +<p>Leitmeritz, lying as it did but a short distance beyond the +mouth of the defiles leading into Saxony, was an admirably chosen +position. Supplies for the army could be brought up by the Elbe, +and a retreat was assured, should an overwhelming force advance to +the attack; while from this spot Frederick could march, at once, +either to the defence of Silesia, or to check an enemy approaching +from the west towards the defiles through the mountains.</p> +<p>The news of the defeat at Kolin set all the enemies of Prussia +in movement. The Russian army entered East Prussia, where there was +no adequate force to oppose it; the Swedes issued from Stralsund; +the French pressed hard upon the so-called British column of +observation, and forced the Duke of Cumberland to retreat before +them. Another French army, in conjunction with that of the German +Confederacy, threatened the western passes into Saxony.</p> +<p>As yet, it was impossible to say where Marshal Daun and Prince +Karl would deliver their blow, and great efforts were made to fill +up the terrible gaps created at Prague and Kolin, in the regiments +most hotly engaged, with fresh troops; who were speedily rendered, +by incessant drills and discipline, fit to take their places in the +ranks with the veterans.</p> +<p>The king was lodged in the cathedral close of the city. Keith +with his division occupied the other side of the river, across +which a bridge was at once thrown. Prince Maurice and Bevern had +gone to Bunzlau, at the junction of the Iser and Elbe; but when, +upon a crowd of light Austrian horse approaching, the Prince sent +to the king to ask whether he should retreat, he was at once +recalled, and the Prince of Prussia appointed in his stead.</p> +<p>On the 2nd of July came news which, on the top of his other +troubles, almost prostrated Frederick. This was of the death of his +mother, to whom he was most fondly attached. He retired from public +view for some days; for although he was as iron in the hour of +battle, he was a man of very sensitive disposition, and fondly +attached to his family.</p> +<p>His chief confidant during this sad time was the English +ambassador, Mitchell; a bluff, shrewd, hearty man, for whom the +king had conceived a close friendship. He had accompanied Frederick +from the time he left Berlin, and had even been near him on the +battlefields; and it was in no small degree due to his despatches +and correspondence that we have obtained so close a view of +Frederick, the man, as distinct from Frederick the king and +general.</p> +<p>The Prince of Prussia, however, did no better than Prince +Maurice. The main Austrian army, after much hesitation, at last +crossed the Elbe and moved against him; thinking, doubtless, that +he was a less formidable antagonist than the king. The prince fell +back, but in such hesitating and blundering fashion that he allowed +the Austrians to get between him and his base, the town of Zittau, +where his magazines had been established.</p> +<p>Zittau stood at the foot of the mountain, and was a Saxon town. +The Austrians had come to deliver Saxony, and they began the work +by firing red-hot balls into Zittau, thereby laying the whole town +in ashes, rendering 10,000 people homeless, and doing no injury +whatever to the Prussian garrison or magazines.</p> +<p>The heat, however, from the ruins was so terrible that the five +battalions in garrison there were unable to support it and, +evacuating the town, joined the prince's army; which immediately +retired to Bautzen on the other side of the mountains, leaving the +defiles to Saxony and Silesia both unguarded.</p> +<p>As messenger after messenger arrived at Leitmeritz, with reports +of the movements of the troops, the astonishment and indignation of +Frederick rose higher and higher. The whole fruits of the campaign +were lost, by this astounding succession of blunders; and on +hearing that Zittau had been destroyed, and that the army had +arrived at Bautzen in the condition of a beaten and disheartened +force, he at once started, with the bulk of the army, by the Elbe +passes for that town; leaving Maurice of Dessau, with 10,000 men, +to secure the passes; and Keith to follow more slowly with the +baggage train and magazines.</p> +<p>On his arrival at Bautzen Frederick refused to speak to his +brother, but sent him a message saying that he deserved to be +brought before a court martial, which would sentence him and all +his generals to death; but that he should not carry the matter so +far, being unable to forget that the chief offender was his +brother. The prince resigned his command, and the king, in answer +to his letter to that effect, said that, in the situation created +by him, nothing was left but to try the last extremity.</p> +<p>"I must go and give battle," he wrote, "and if we cannot +conquer, we must all of us get ourselves killed."</p> +<p>Frederick, indeed, as his letters show, had fully made up his +mind that he would die in battle, rather than live beaten. The +animosity of his enemies was, to a large extent, personal to +himself; and he believed that they would, after his death, be +inclined to give better terms to Prussia than they would ever +grant, while he lived. For three weeks the king vainly tried to get +the Austrians to give battle, but Prince Karl and Daun remained on +the hill from which they had bombarded Zittau, and which they had +now strongly fortified.</p> +<p>Their barbarous and most useless bombardment of Zittau had done +their cause harm; for it roused a fierce cry of indignation +throughout Europe, even among their allies; excited public feeling +in England to the highest point in favour of Frederick; and created +a strong feeling of hostility to the Austrians throughout +Saxony.</p> +<p>As soon as Keith and the waggon train arrived, bringing up the +Prussian strength to 56,000, the king started, on the 15th August +(1757), for Bernstadt; and then, to the stupefaction of the +Austrians--who had believed that they had either Saxony or Silesia +at their mercy, whenever they could make up their mind which ought +first to be gobbled up--so rapidly did the Prussian cavalry push +forward that Generals Beck and Nadasti were both so taken by +surprise that they had to ride for their lives, leaving baggage +coaches, horses, and all their belongings behind them.</p> +<p>On the 16th, Frederick with the army marched and offered battle +to the Austrians; but although so superior in numbers, they refused +to be beguiled from their fortified hill. At last, after tempting +them in vain, Frederick was forced to abandon the attempt and +return to Saxony, bitterly disappointed. He had wanted, above all +things, to finish with the Austrians; so as to be able to move off +to the other points threatened.</p> +<p>He now arranged that Bevern and Winterfeld should take the +command in his absence, watch the Austrians, and guard Silesia; +while he, with 23,000 men, marched on the 31st of August from +Dresden, with the intention of attacking the combined French and +German Confederacy force, under Soubise, that had already reached +Erfurt. Keith accompanied the king on his harassing march.</p> +<p>Since the arrival of the army at Leitmeritz, Fergus had been +incessantly engaged in carrying despatches between that town and +Dresden; and worked even harder while the king was trying, but in +vain, to bring about an engagement with the Austrians. For the +first few days after starting for Erfurt, he had a comparatively +quiet time of it. The marshal was now constantly the king's +companion, his cheerful and buoyant temper being invaluable to +Frederick, in this time of terrible anxiety. Fergus would have +found it dull work, had it not been for the companionship of +Lindsay, who was always light hearted, and ready to make the best +of everything.</p> +<p>"I would rather be an aide-de-camp than a general, at present, +Drummond," he said one day. "Thank goodness, we get our orders and +have to carry them out, and leave all the thinking to be done by +others! Never was there such a mess as this. Here we are in +October, and we are very much as we were when we began in +March."</p> +<p>"Yes, except that all our enemies are drawing closer to us."</p> +<p>"They are closer, certainly, but none of them would seem to know +what he wants to do; and as for fighting, it is of all things that +which they most avoid. We have been trying, for the last two +months, for a fight with the Austrians, and cannot get one. Now we +are off to Erfurt, and I will wager a month's pay that the French +will retire, as soon as we approach; and we shall have all this +long tramp for nothing, and will have to hurry back again, as fast +as we came."</p> +<p>"It is unfortunate that we had to come, Lindsay. Things always +seem to go badly, when the king himself is not present. The princes +make blunder after blunder, and I have no faith in Bevern."</p> +<p>"No," Lindsay agreed, "but he has Winterfeld with him."</p> +<p>"Yes, he is a splendid fellow," Drummond said; "but everyone +knows that he and Bevern do not get on well together, and that the +duke would very much rather that Winterfeld was not with him; and +with two men like that, the one slow and cautious, the other quick +and daring, there are sure to be disagreements. We are going to +attack a force more than twice our own strength, but I am much more +certain as to what will be the result, than I am that we shall find +matters unchanged when we get back here."</p> +<p>The foreboding was very quickly confirmed. A day or two later +came the news that the Austrians had suddenly attacked an advanced +position called the Jakelsberg; where Winterfeld, who commanded the +van of Bevern's army, had posted two thousand grenadiers. Prince +Karl undertook the operation by no means willingly; but the +indignation, at Vienna, at his long delays had resulted in +imperative orders being sent to him, to fight. Nadasti was to lead +the attack, with fifteen thousand men; while the main army +remained, a short distance behind, ready to move up should a +general battle be brought on.</p> +<p>The march was made at night, and at daybreak a thousand Croats, +and forty companies of regular infantry, rushed up the hill. +Although taken by surprise, the Prussians promptly formed and drove +them down again. Winterfeld was some miles behind, having been +escorting an important convoy; and rode at a gallop to the spot, as +soon as he heard the sound of cannon; and brought up two regiments, +at a run, just as the grenadiers were retiring from the hill, +unable to withstand the masses hurled against them.</p> +<p>Sending urgent messages to Bevern, to hurry up reinforcements, +Winterfeld led his two regiments forward, joined the grenadiers +and, rushing eagerly up the hill, regained the position. But the +Austrians were not to be denied, and the fight was obstinately +sustained on both sides. No reinforcements reached Winterfeld and, +after an hour's desperate fighting, he was struck in the breast by +a musket ball and fell, mortally wounded.</p> +<p>The Prussians drew off, slowly and in good order, at two o'clock +in the afternoon; and soon afterwards the Austrians also retired, +nothing having come of this useless battle save heavy loss to both +sides, and the killing of one of Frederick's best and most trusted +generals. It was not, however, without result; for Bevern, freed +from the restraint of his energetic colleague, at once fell back to +Schlesien, where he was more comfortable, near his magazines.</p> +<p>Keith sent for Fergus, on the evening when this bad news had +arrived.</p> +<p>"I want you, lad, to undertake a dangerous service. Now that +Winterfeld has been killed, the king is more anxious than ever as +to the situation. It is enough to madden anyone. It is imperative +that he should get to Erfurt, and fight the French. On the other +hand, everything may go wrong with Bevern while he is away, to say +nothing of other troubles. Cumberland is retreating to the sea; the +Russians are ever gaining ground in East Prussia; there is nothing, +now, to prevent the remaining French army from marching on Berlin; +and the Swedes have issued from Stralsund. It may be that by this +time Soubise has moved from Erfurt; and this is what, above all +things, we want to know.</p> +<p>"You showed so much shrewdness, in your last adventure, that I +believe you might get through this safely. Doubtless there are +cavalry parties, far in advance of Erfurt, and these would have to +be passed. The point is, will you undertake this mission, to go to +Erfurt to ascertain the force there, and if possible their +intentions, and bring us back word?"</p> +<p>"I shall be glad to try, marshal. There should be no difficulty +about it. I shall, of course, go in disguise. I should not be +likely to fall in with any of the enemy's cavalry patrols, till +within a short distance of Erfurt; but should I do so, there would +be little chance of their catching me, mounted as I am.</p> +<p>"I could leave my horse within a short distance of the town. Two +or three hours would be sufficient to gather news of the strength +of the force there, and the movements of any bodies of detached +troops."</p> +<p>"Yes, you should have no great difficulty about that. A large +proportion of the population are favourable to us and, being so +near the frontier of Hanover, your accent and theirs must be so +close that no one would suspect you of being aught but a +townsman.</p> +<p>"Of course, the great thing is speed. We shall march from +eighteen to twenty miles a day. You will be able to go fifty. That +is to say, if you start at once you can be there in the morning; +and on the following morning you can bring us back news."</p> +<p>An hour later Fergus, dressed as a small farmer, started. It was +a main line of road, and therefore he was able to travel as fast, +at night, as he would do in the day. There was the advantage, too, +that the disparity between his attire and the appearance of the +horse he rode would pass unnoticed, in the darkness. He had with +him a map of the road, on a large scale; and beneath his cloak he +carried a small lantern, so as to be able to make detours, to avoid +towns where detachments of the enemy's cavalry might be lying.</p> +<p>He had started two hours after the troops halted, and had four +hours of daylight still before him, which he made the most of, and +by sunset he was within fifteen miles of Erfurt. So far, he had not +left the main road; but he now learned, from some peasants, that +there was a small party of French hussars at a place three miles +ahead. He therefore struck off by a byroad and, travelling slowly +along, turned off two hours later to a farmhouse, the lights from +which had made him aware of its proximity.</p> +<p>He dismounted a hundred yards from it, fastened his horse +loosely to a fence, and then went forward on foot, and peeped in +cautiously at the window. It was well that he had taken the +precaution, for the kitchen into which he looked contained a dozen +French hussars. He retired at once, led his horse until he reached +the road again, and then mounted.</p> +<p>Presently he met a man driving a cart.</p> +<p>"My friend," he said, "do you know of any place where a quiet +man could put up, without running the risk of finding himself in +the midst of these French and Confederacy troops?"</p> +<p>"'Tis not easy," the man replied, "for they are all over the +country, pillaging and plundering. We are heartily sick of them, +and there are not a few of us who would be glad, if the King of +Prussia would come and turn them out, neck and crop."</p> +<p>"I don't care what sort of a place it is, so that I could put my +horse up. It is a good one and, like enough, some of these fellows +would take a fancy to it."</p> +<p>"I don't think that it would be safe in any farmhouse within ten +miles of here; but if you like to come with me, my hut stands at +the edge of a wood, and you could leave him there without much +risk."</p> +<p>"Thank you, very much; that would suit me well. It is just what +I had intended to do, but in the darkness I have no great chance of +finding a wood.</p> +<p>"How far are we from Erfurt, now?"</p> +<p>"About five miles."</p> +<p>"That will do very well. I have some business to do there, and +can go and come back by the afternoon."</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour they arrived at the man's house. It was +but a small place.</p> +<p>"Not much to rob here," his host said grimly. "They have taken +my two cows, and all my poultry. My horse only escaped because they +did not think him fit for anything.</p> +<p>"This is a stranger, wife," he went on, as a woman rose, in some +alarm, from a stool upon which she was crouching by the fire. "He +will stop here for the night and, though there is little enough to +offer him, at least we can make him welcome."</p> +<p>He took a torch from the corner of the room, lighted it at the +fire, and went out.</p> +<p>"You are right about your horse, my friend," he said; "and it is +small chance you would have of taking him back with you, if any of +these fellows set eyes on him. I see your saddlery hardly matches +with your horse."</p> +<p>Fergus had indeed, before starting, taken off his saddle and +other military equipments; and had replaced them with a common +country saddle and bridle, adding a pair of rough wallets and the +commonest of horse cloths, so as to disguise the animal as much as +possible.</p> +<p>"I am sorry that I cannot give you a feed for the animal," the +man went on; "but I have none, and my horse has to make shift with +what he can pick up."</p> +<p>"I have one of my wallets full. I baited the horse at inns, as I +came along. He may as well have a feed, before I take him out into +the wood."</p> +<p>He poured a good feed onto a flat stone. As he did so, the +peasant's horse lifted up his head and snuffed the air.</p> +<p>"You shall have some too, old boy," Fergus said; and going +across, was about to empty some on to the ground before it, when +its owner, taking off his hat, held it out.</p> +<p>"Put it into this," he said. "It is seldom, indeed, that he gets +such a treat; and I would not that he should lose a grain."</p> +<p>Fergus poured a bountiful feed into the hat.</p> +<p>"Now," he said, "I can supplement your supper, as well as your +horse's;" and from the other wallet he produced a cold leg of pork, +that Karl had put in before he started; together with three loaves; +and two bottles of wine, carefully done up in straw.</p> +<p>The peasant looked astonished, as Fergus took these out and +placed them upon the table.</p> +<p>"No, no, sir," he said, "we cannot take your food in that +way."</p> +<p>"You are heartily welcome to it," Fergus said. "If you do not +assist me to eat it, it will be wasted. Tomorrow I shall breakfast +at Erfurt, and maybe dine, also. I will start as soon as I get +back."</p> +<p>"Well, well, sir, it shall be as you please," the man said; "but +it seems that we are reversing our parts, and that you have become +the host, and we your guests."</p> +<p>It was a pleasant meal by the torch light. Many a month had +passed since the peasants had tasted meat; and the bread, fresh +from the Prussian bakeries, was of a very different quality to the +black oaten bread to which they were accustomed. A horn of good +wine completed their enjoyment.</p> +<p>When the meal was done, the man said:</p> +<p>"Now, master, I will guide you to the wood."</p> +<p>There was no occasion to lead the horse; for it, as well as its +companion, had been trained to follow their master like dogs, and +to come to a whistle. The wood was but two or three hundred yards +off, and the peasant led the way through the trees to a small open +space in its centre. The saddle and bridle had been removed before +they left the cottage; and Fergus tethered the horse, by a foot +rope, to a sapling growing on the edge of the clearing. Then he +patted it on the neck, and left it beginning to crop the short +grass.</p> +<p>"It won't get much," the peasant said, "for my animal keeps it +pretty short. It is his best feeding place, now; and I generally +turn it out here, at night, when the day's work is done."</p> +<p>"What is its work, principally?"</p> +<p>"There is only one sort, now," the man said. "I cut faggots in +the forest, and take a cart load into Erfurt, twice a week. I hope, +by the spring, that all these troubles will be over, and then I +cultivate two or three acres of ground; but so long as these +French, and the Confederacy troops, who are as bad, are about, it +is no use to think of growing anything.</p> +<p>"Now, sir, is there anything that I can do for you?" he went on, +after they returned to the cottage, and had both lit their pipes +and seated themselves by the fire.</p> +<p>"I can see that you are not what you look. A farmer does not +ride about the country on a horse fit for a king, or put up at a +cottage like this."</p> +<p>"Yes; you can help me by leading me by quiet paths to Erfurt. I +tell you frankly that my business, there, is to find out how strong +the French and Confederacy army is, in and around the town; also +whether they are taking any precautions against an attack, and if +there are any signs that they intend to enter Hanover, or to move +towards Dresden."</p> +<p>"I daresay I can learn all that for you, without difficulty; for +I supply several of the inns with faggots. There are troops +quartered in all of them, and the helpers and servants are sure to +hear what is going on. Not, of course, in the inns where the French +are quartered, but where the German men are lodged. They speak +plainly enough there, and indeed everyone knows that a great many +of them are there against their will. The Hesse and Gotha and +Dessau men would all prefer fighting on the Prussian side, but when +they were called out they had to obey.</p> +<p>"At what time will you start?"</p> +<p>"I should like to get to Erfurt as soon as the place is +astir."</p> +<p>"That is by five," the man said. "There is trumpeting and +drumming enough by that time, and no one could sleep longer if they +wanted to."</p> +<p>"Then we will start at dawn."</p> +<p>The peasant would have given up his bed to Fergus, but the +latter would not hear of it, and said that he was quite accustomed +to sleeping on the ground; whereupon the peasant went out, and +returned with a large armful of rushes; which, as he told Fergus, +he had cut only the day before to mend a hole in the thatch. Fergus +was well content, for he knew well enough that he should sleep very +much better, on fresh rushes, than he should in the peasant's bed +place, where he would probably be assailed by an army of fleas.</p> +<p>As soon as the man and his wife were astir in the morning, +Fergus got up; bathed his head and face in a tiny streamlet, that +ran within a few yards of the house; then, after cutting a hunch of +bread to eat on their way, the two started.</p> +<p>They did not come down upon the main road until within a mile +and a half of the town, and they then passed through a large +village, where a troop of French cavalry were engaged in grooming +their horses. They attracted no attention whatever, and entered +Erfurt at a quarter-past five. They separated when they got into +the town, agreeing to meet in front of the cathedral, at eleven +o'clock.</p> +<p>Fergus went to an eating house, where he saw a party of French +non-commissioned officers and soldiers seated. They were talking +freely, confident that neither the landlord, the man who was +serving them, nor the two or three Germans present could understand +them.</p> +<p>It was evident that they had very little confidence in +Soubise.</p> +<p>"One would think," a sergeant said, "that we were going to +change our nationality, and to settle down here for life. Here we +have some fifty thousand men, and there is nothing to stop our +going to Dresden, except some ten thousand or twelve thousand +Prussians. They say that Daun has an army that could eat up +Frederick, and it is certain that he could not spare a sergeant's +guard to help bar the way.</p> +<p>"I cannot understand it, comrades. This leisurely way of making +war may suit some people, but it is not our way."</p> +<p>"And we must admit that it is not the Prussians' way," another +said. "They are our enemies; though why, I am sure I don't know. +That is not our business. But the way that they dash out, and set +the Austrians dancing, is really splendid. I wish that our own +generals had a little of Fritz's energy and go."</p> +<p>There was a general murmur of assent.</p> +<p>"Here we are, September beginning, and next to nothing done. Now +there would be enough to do, if Fritz could get away from Daun and +dash off in this direction."</p> +<p>"Yes," another said, "there would be plenty to do, but I would +not mind wagering that we should not wait for him; and after all, I +am not sure if it would not be the best thing to do, for these +Germans with us are little better than a rabble."</p> +<p>"That is so, Francois; but, mixed up with us as they would be, +they would have to fight whether they liked it or not. At any rate, +if we don't mean to fight, what are we here for?"</p> +<p>"That I cannot say," another laughed; "but I own I am not so +eager to fight as you seem to be. We are very comfortable. We ride +about the country, we take pretty well what we like. It is better +than being in barracks, at home.</p> +<p>"While, on the other hand, it is no joke fighting these +Prussians. The fights are not skirmishes, they are battles. It is +not a question of a few hundred killed, it is a question of +ding-dong fighting, and of fifteen or twenty thousand killed on +each side--no joke, that. For my part, I am quite content to take +it easy at Erfurt, and to leave it to the Austrians to settle +matters with these obstinate fellows."</p> +<p>So they continued talking, and Fergus saw that, so far, no news +whatever of Frederick's march against Erfurt had reached them. He +learned, too, that although there were some outlying bodies to the +north, the main bulk of the force lay in and around Erfurt.</p> +<p>The contempt with which the French soldiers spoke of the German +portion of the army was very great. Each little state had, by the +order of the Council of the Confederacy, been compelled to furnish +a contingent, even if its representatives in the council had +opposed the proposal; therefore very many of the men had joined +unwillingly, while in other cases the French declared that the levy +had been made up by hiring idlers and ne'er-do-wells in the towns, +so as to avoid having to put the conscription into force in the +rural districts.</p> +<p>The officers were declared to be as incapable as the men, and +had it not been that an Austrian contingent some five thousand +strong had been joined with them, and the drilling largely +undertaken by the non-commissioned officers of this force, nothing +approaching order or discipline could have been maintained. All the +Frenchmen lamented their fortune in having to act with such allies, +instead of being with the purely French army that was gradually +pressing the Duke of Cumberland to the seaboard.</p> +<p>Fergus waited until the party had left the inn, when the +landlord himself came across to hand him his reckoning.</p> +<p>"Bad times, master," he said. "Bad times," shaking his head +ruefully.</p> +<p>"Yes, they are bad enough, landlord; but I should say that you +must be doing a good trade, with all these soldiers in the +town."</p> +<p>"A good trade!" the landlord repeated. "I am being ruined. Do +you not know that, in addition to levying a heavy contribution on +the town, they issued a regulation settling the prices at which the +troops were to be served, at beer shops and inns: breakfast--and +you saw what those fellows ate--4 pence; a tumbler of wine, 1 +pence; dinner, 5 pence. Why, each item costs me more than double +that; and as nobody brings in cattle, for these might be seized on +the way, and no compensation given, so meat gets dearer. We are +waiting until there is none to be had, on any terms; and then we +shall send representatives to the general, to point out to him that +it is absolutely impossible for us to obey the regulations.</p> +<p>"Ah, these are terrible times! We could not have suffered more +than this, had Coburg joined Frederick; though they say that +Richelieu's French army is plundering even worse, in Hanover and +the country beyond it, than Soubise is doing here.</p> +<p>"Moreover, one would rather be plundered by an enemy than by +fellows who pretend to come hither as friends. If Frederick would +march in here, I would open my house free to all comers, and would +not grudge the last drop of wine in my cellar."</p> +<p>"There is never any saying," Fergus replied. "The King of +Prussia always appears when least expected, and more unlikely +things have happened than that he should appear here, some fine +morning."</p> +<a id="PicF" name="PicF"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/f.jpg" alt= +"As Fergus was sallying out, a mounted officer dashed by at a gallop" /> +</div> +<p>Having paid his reckoning, he went to the door. As he was +sallying out, a mounted officer dashed by at a headlong gallop; his +horse was flecked with foam, and it was evident that he had ridden +far and fast, on an important errand.</p> +<p>Having nothing to do until he should meet the peasant, Fergus +followed the officer at a leisurely pace; and in five minutes came +up with the horse, held by a soldier at the entrance gate of a very +large house. Sentries were pacing up and down in front of it, and +officers going in and out.</p> +<p>"Is that the headquarters of the French general?" he asked a +townsman.</p> +<p>"Yes," and the man walked on with a muttered malediction.</p> +<p>A few minutes later several mounted officers rode out, and +dashed off in haste in various directions.</p> +<p>"There is evidently something up," Fergus said to himself. +"Perhaps they have got news of the Prussian approach."</p> +<p>In a quarter of an hour several general officers arrived, and +entered the house. It was evident that a council of war had been +summoned. Half an hour elapsed, and then a number of aides-de-camp +and staff officers rode off in haste. A few minutes later, a +trumpet sounded a regimental call, and then the assembly.</p> +<p>Before it had died away, similar calls echoed from all parts of +the town. Soldiers ran hastily through the streets, mounted +officers dashed in every direction, and the citizens came to their +doors, in surprise at this sudden movement.</p> +<p>Fergus had no longer any doubt about the cause of the stir. The +great thing, now, was to ascertain whether the army would advance +to take up some strong position outside the town and oppose the +Prussian advance, or whether they would march away.</p> +<p>Being fifty thousand in number, the former would appear to be +the natural course for a general to adopt; as Frederick had with +him but twenty-three thousand men. Of this fact, however, Soubise +would be ignorant, and might only have heard that the Prussian army +was marching to annihilate him.</p> +<p>Before long baggage waggons began to clatter through the +streets. They were being driven westward, and it was in the same +direction that the regiments made their way.</p> +<p>Fergus followed them to the plain outside the town. The tents +had already been struck; the troops, as they arrived from the town +and camp, were marshalled in order; a long train of baggage waggons +were already making their way westward; and there was no longer any +grounds for doubt that Soubise was retreating.</p> +<p>It was just eleven o'clock when Fergus returned to the +cathedral. The peasant was awaiting him.</p> +<p>"They all seem on the move," the latter said. "I have heard much +about them."</p> +<p>"It does not matter, now," Fergus replied. "I must get back to +your place, as quickly as I can."</p> +<p>Not a word was spoken, until they had left the town.</p> +<p>"They must be going up into Hanover, to join the French army +there," the peasant said.</p> +<p>"They are running away. Frederick will be here tomorrow night, +or at any rate next day."</p> +<p>"The news seems too good to be true, master. How have you learnt +it?"</p> +<p>"I have learnt it from no one here. I am one of the king's +officers, and I came on here to find out whether the enemy would be +likely to come out and fight, or would bolt when they heard of his +advance."</p> +<p>"The Lord be praised!" the man said piously, taking off his hat +as he spoke. "I thought, sir, that there was something curious in +your having such a horse; and still more so, in your wanting to +find out all about the force of the enemy here. But it was no +business of mine; and I felt that you must be a friend for, had you +been Austrian or French, you would have ridden boldly into the +town."</p> +<p>As they went along the road they were met by several troops of +cavalry, riding at full speed.</p> +<p>"Is the way we came this morning the shortest?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir, by a good mile."</p> +<p>"Then we will return by it," said Fergus.</p> +<p>As soon as they left the main road they went at a run for some +distance, and then broke into a fast walk. In an hour from the time +of leaving Erfurt, they arrived at the hut.</p> +<p>"I will run along and fetch your horse, sir," the peasant +said.</p> +<p>"No, I will go myself. He does not know you, and might refuse to +let you come near him."</p> +<p>In a few minutes, Fergus returned with his horse. The saddle, +bridle, and wallets were quickly put on. Fergus dropped his pistols +into his saddlebags, and buckled on the sword he had brought with +him. It was not his own, but one he had bought at starting--a good +piece of steel, but with a battered and rusty sheath that showed +that it had been lying for weeks, possibly for months, on some +field of battle before being picked up.</p> +<p>Then, with a word of adieu and thanks to the peasant and his +wife, and slipping a crown piece into the hand of the latter, he +mounted and rode off.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch10" id="Ch10">Chapter 10</a>: Rossbach.</h2> +<p>Fergus knew that there were several cavalry posts ahead, and +thought it likely that some of these might be left to give warning +of the Prussian approach. He therefore rode across the country for +some miles. He had begun to think that he must have gone beyond the +limit of their outposts, when he saw a hussar pacing across the +line in front of him, his beat evidently being between two small +woods three or four hundred yards apart.</p> +<p>He checked his horse, as he saw Fergus approaching. He was a +good-tempered looking fellow, and nodded to Fergus as much as to +say that, if he could speak his language, he should like a chat +with him. The latter at once checked his horse, and said good day, +in French.</p> +<p>"Ah, you speak our language!" the soldier said. "I am glad to +exchange a word with someone. It is hot here, especially when one's +time is up, and one ought to have been relieved, an hour ago."</p> +<p>"Yes, I can understand that. I expect you have been +forgotten."</p> +<p>"Well, it does not make much difference. I shall get off my next +guard, in consequence."</p> +<p>"You will have to wait some time before you are relieved, if you +stop here."</p> +<p>"What do you mean?" the soldier asked.</p> +<p>"I mean that when I left Erfurt your army was all moving west, +and as I rode along I met several troops of cavalry, galloping to +join them."</p> +<p>"That is strange news. Nothing whatever was known, when I came +out here."</p> +<p>"No, the news only arrived at Erfurt, this morning, that +Frederick's army is within a day's march; and I saw the troops +march out, and the baggage waggons on their way before I started. I +don't say that your troop may have gone. They may have stopped to +form a post of observation."</p> +<p>"Well, at any rate I shall go into the village and see. I ought +to have been relieved an hour ago; and if they had such news as +that, and had remained there, they would have been sure to have +sent, to order all videttes to use special vigilance. We have only +been posted here as a sort of practice, for we did not think that +there was an enemy within a hundred and fifty miles; and now, if +the news is true, we may have the Prussian cavalry coming along at +any moment.</p> +<p>"Well, thank you for warning me," and turning his horse, he went +off at a gallop.</p> +<p>As the outposts would not have been set, except by the party +most in advance, Fergus knew that there was now no more risk of +falling in with the enemy; unless a cavalry force had been sent +forward, to endeavour to get an idea of the force of the Prussians. +But as the generals had so precipitately decided upon a retreat, it +was not likely that they would have ordered any reconnaissance of +this kind to be made.</p> +<p>He therefore presently regained the main road and, riding fast, +arrived at the place where the Prussians had pitched their camp, +thirty miles from Erfurt, having made a twenty-miles march that +day. He dismounted at the house where Keith had established his +quarters.</p> +<p>"I have bad news for you, sir," he said. "Word of your coming +reached Erfurt, at eight o'clock this morning; and by eleven the +whole army were on their march westward, bag and baggage."</p> +<p>"That is bad news, Fergus. You could hardly have brought worse. +The king had hoped to have struck a heavy blow, and then to be off +again to face the Austrians. What strength were they?"</p> +<p>"About fifty thousand."</p> +<p>"How did they get the news of our coming?"</p> +<p>"That I cannot say, sir. I had gone into Erfurt soon after five, +and had already picked up a good deal of news, from the talk of a +party of French non-commissioned officers who were taking breakfast +at a small inn; and who, not imagining that I could understand +them, talked very freely over affairs. They sat over their meal +some time, and I did not go out until they had left.</p> +<p>"Just as I did so, a mounted officer galloped past, at a speed +that showed he was the bearer of an important despatch. I followed +him to Soubise's headquarters. While there, I noticed several +mounted officers rode out in great haste. A quarter of an hour +later, several general officers arrived. There was a consultation +for half an hour, and then officers rode off in all directions; and +in a few minutes trumpets were sounding, and drums beating, all +over the town.</p> +<p>"In a very short time a movement began towards the western gate. +By ten o'clock the tents were all struck round the town, the +waggons loaded, and they were on their way west. An hour later, and +the whole force was in movement in that direction; and as I issued +from the town on this side, I met the cavalry that had been +scattered among the villages, galloping in. I don't think that +there is, at the present moment, an enemy within ten miles of +Erfurt."</p> +<p>"You were in no danger, yourself?"</p> +<p>"None at all, sir. I passed the night at a friendly peasant's +hut, five miles this side of the town, inside their advanced posts. +I left my horse in a wood, and my peasant guided me by bypaths to +the town. I did not exchange a word with anyone, except the +landlord of the hotel where I breakfasted. He was bitterly hostile +to the enemy.</p> +<p>"I also spoke to a solitary French vidette who had, in the hurry +of their retreat, been left behind; and told him that he had best +be off, as the whole army was in full march for the west."</p> +<p>"Well, if you breakfasted at six this morning, you must be +hungry. My dinner will be ready in half an hour, and you had better +share it with me. I must go now, and tell the king the news that +you have brought. I said nothing to him about my having sent +you."</p> +<p>In twenty minutes the marshal returned.</p> +<p>"The king wishes to see you, Fergus. Of course he is vexed, but +he always takes bad news well, unless it is the result of the +blunder of one of the officers. He does not say much, even then; +but it is very bad for that officer when he sees him. Frederick +never forgives a blunder."</p> +<p>"Well, Captain Drummond, so you have been playing the spy for +us?"</p> +<p>"I have been doing my best, your majesty."</p> +<p>"And the French are gone, bag and baggage?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sire, they have gone off west."</p> +<p>"To perch themselves somewhere among the mountains, I suppose. +Perhaps they will get bolder, presently, when they hear that they +are more than double my strength. Did you learn anything more than +what Marshal Keith has told me?"</p> +<p>"I heard a great deal of talk among a party of French +non-commissioned officers, sire. They expressed great +dissatisfaction with their general, and at the long delays. They +also spoke with absolute contempt of the Confederacy army, both +officers and men; and said that, if it had not been for the +drilling by the Austrian non-commissioned officers, they would be +nothing better than a rabble."</p> +<p>"I daresay Soubise is of the same opinion," the king said, "and +wants them to have a few weeks' more drill before he sets them in +line of battle. However, I have no doubt we shall manage to bring +him to book, before we return.</p> +<p>"Well, I am obliged to you for your zeal, Captain Drummond; and +although Keith tells me that you got in without being questioned, +such business is always dangerous. Mayhap next time you will have a +better opportunity for distinguishing yourself. As you managed to +pass so freely among them, after you made your escape from prison, +you can clearly be trusted on work of this kind."</p> +<p>Fergus saluted, and retired.</p> +<p>The next morning the troops started, as usual, at daybreak. They +were to make but a short march, for they had no longer any occasion +for speed, and they had made the hundred and fifty miles at a very +rapid pace; but when they halted, Frederick with the cavalry rode +straight on into Erfurt.</p> +<p>"Don't wait to put on your uniform now," Keith said to Fergus, +on his return from the royal quarters; "dinner is waiting; and I am +ready, if you are not. Lindsay is going to dine with me, too."</p> +<p>"Well, Lindsay," the marshal said, as the latter entered, "you +see the advantages of this young fellow being able to speak German +well. If you had been taken prisoner at Lobositz, you would have +been fast in Spielberg at present; and you see he is now able to +undertake perilous missions, and peril means promotion."</p> +<p>"I quite see that, marshal," Lindsay said with a smile; "but +though I can get on with French fairly enough, my tongue doesn't +seem to be able to form these crack-jaw German words; and you see, +marshal, it is not the only one that does not. I think, sir, that +bad as my German is, it is not much worse than your own, and you +have been here much longer than I have."</p> +<p>The marshal laughed.</p> +<p>"You are right. I cannot say half a dozen German words; but you +see I have not had your motive for acquiring it, and cannot very +well get promotion. And again, it would not do for me to speak +better German than the King of Prussia; who, beyond a few words +necessary for animating his troops on occasion, knows very little +German himself. For general work here French is amply sufficient, +because every officer speaks it; but as you see, German is very +useful, too, to a young officer who wishes to push himself forward, +and is willing to undertake special work of this kind."</p> +<p>"But even then, marshal, he would have no advantage over a +Prussian officer who speaks French."</p> +<p>"It depends a good deal upon the Prussian officer. The greater +portion of them are mere machines--splendid fighting machines, no +doubt; but of no great use outside their own work. Anyone could +detect, with half an eye, nineteen out of twenty of them; dress +them how you would, disguise them as you like. They step the +regulation length, bring their foot down in the regulation way, are +as stiff as if they had swallowed a ramrod. They have neither +suppleness nor adaptability. They are so accustomed to obey that +they have almost lost the power of originating, and would be taken +and shot before they were in the enemy's lines ten minutes. Now, +Fergus has the advantage of knowing both languages, and of being +quick-witted and sharp."</p> +<p>The next two months were passed in marches to and fro. Seidlitz, +with some cavalry, took possession of Gotha, to the great +satisfaction of the duke and duchess; and the king himself rode +over and dined with them.</p> +<p>While Seidlitz remained there as governor, with a couple of +regiments of horse, a strong body of French and Austrian hussars, +grenadiers, and artillery marched against Gotha. Seidlitz, having +so few men to oppose them, evacuated the place, and the enemy +marched into it in triumphant procession. The duke and duchess made +the best of matters, and invited all the principal officers to a +banquet.</p> +<p>Just as they were sitting down to this, Seidlitz with his +Prussians reappeared; his men being so artfully scattered about +that they appeared a great deal stronger than they were. The enemy +were seized with panic. Soubise and his generals mounted in great +haste, and in a few minutes the whole were retreating at top speed; +Seidlitz pursuing for some distance, killing thirty and taking +sixty prisoners, with a large amount of baggage and plunder, and +then returning to Gotha to eat the dinner prepared for the +enemy.</p> +<p>Ferdinand of Brunswick, with his division, had been sent off to +check, if possible, the movements of the French army under +Richelieu, near Magdeburg.</p> +<p>In October came the startling news that Berlin itself was +threatened, and that a force, said to be fifteen thousand strong, +under General Haddick, was in rapid motion towards it. Prince +Maurice was ordered to hasten to its defence, and the king also +moved in that direction.</p> +<p>The invading force was but four thousand strong. Their numbers, +however, were so magnified by rumour that the governor of Berlin, +who had but four thousand troops, did not venture to oppose them, +but sent the royal family and archives away under a strong escort. +Haddick occupied a suburb of the city, but knowing that as soon as +his real force was known he would be hotly opposed, and receiving +news that Prince Maurice was rapidly approaching, demanded a ransom +of 45,000 pounds; and finally accepted 27,000 pounds, and then +hurried away. Prince Maurice arrived twenty-four hours later.</p> +<p>The consequences of this little success--magnified by report +into "Berlin captured, Prussian royal family in flight."--turned +out very advantageous to Frederick. The enthusiasm in Paris and +Vienna was enormous, and orders were despatched to the armies to +set to, without further delay, and finish the work. Fifteen +thousand men were sent from Richelieu's army to reinforce Soubise, +who thereupon issued from his mountain stronghold and marched +against Leipzig.</p> +<p>Frederick, however, arrived there first, Ferdinand and Maurice +joining him a day or two later; and while waiting there, Frederick +received the joyful news that England requested him to appoint Duke +Ferdinand, of Brunswick, commander-in-chief of the army until now +commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, who had just sailed for +England.</p> +<p>Pitt had now risen to almost absolute power in England, and was +busied in reforming the abuses in the army and navy, dismissing +incapable officials, and preparing to render some efficient aid to +its hard-pressed ally. The proposal that Prince Ferdinand should +assume the command of the army--whose efforts had hitherto been +rendered nugatory by the utter incompetence of the Duke of +Cumberland who, although personally as brave as a lion, was +absolutely ignorant of war--afforded immense satisfaction to the +king.</p> +<p>No better choice could have been made. Ferdinand was related to +the royal families both of England and Prussia. He was a capable +general, prudent and at the same time enterprising, firm under +difficulties, ready to seize opportunities; and under his command +there was no doubt that the northern army, which had hitherto been +useless, and had only been saved from absolute destruction by the +incompetence of the French generals, would now play a useful +part.</p> +<p>On October 30th Soubise, in spite of his orders to fight, and +the fact that he had double the strength of the Prussians, fell +back before them. Soubise himself felt no confidence in his troops, +but upon the other hand his officers and those of the Confederate +army were puffed up with vanity, and remonstrated hotly against +retreat.</p> +<p>The next day Frederick came in sight of Soubise's army, which +was camped on a height near the town of Weissenfels. Frederick had +but one-half of his force with him, the other half, under Keith, +being still detached. Five thousand men garrisoned Weissenfels, but +Frederick made short work of the place. His cannon burst down the +gates, and his troops rushed forward with all speed; but the +garrison fled across the bridge over the Saale, which had already +been prepared for burning; and they set it on fire in such haste +that four hundred were unable to cross, and were made prisoners. +The fugitives joined their army on the other side of the Elbe, and +its guns opened upon the burning bridge, to prevent the Prussians +from trying to extinguish the flames.</p> +<p>The Prussians returned the fire, and the artillery duel was kept +up until three o'clock, by which time the bridge was consumed. +Frederick had already fixed upon a spot suitable for the erection +of another, and during the night, while the enemy were falling back +to take up a fresh position upon higher ground, the engineers, +working diligently, succeeded in throwing a bridge across.</p> +<p>Keith arrived at Merseburg the next morning. A strong force lay +opposite, ready to dispute the passage; but when Soubise found that +the king was crossing by his new bridge, he called in all his +detachments and marched away, to a strong position, and there set +himself in array ready to receive an attack. Keith's bridges were +finished on the 3rd of November, and that afternoon he crossed and +joined Frederick.</p> +<p>On the 4th the army was on the move by two o'clock in the +morning. A bright moon was shining and, by its light, it was +discovered that the enemy had shifted his position for one much +stronger, with approaches protected by patches of wood and bog. The +Prussian army therefore marched back to their camp, the king hoping +that, being so far from their base of supplies, the enemy would be +forced ere long to make some movement that would afford him a +chance of attacking them under better circumstances.</p> +<p>The ground from Weissenfels rises, very gradually, to a height +of a hundred and twenty feet or so; which in so flat a country is +regarded as a hill. On this slight swelling are several small +villages. Of these Rossbach is the principal, standing high up on +its crest. Here Frederick's right wing was posted, while his left +was at Bedra. The king took up his quarters at a large house in +Rossbach; and from its roof, at eight o'clock on the morning of the +5th, he saw that the enemy were getting into motion and moving away +towards their left.</p> +<p>The movement had begun much earlier. Half an hour later they had +passed through the village of Grost, and were apparently making +their way to Freiburg, where they had some magazines. Hoping to +have a chance of attacking their rear, Frederick ordered the +cavalry to saddle, and the whole army to be in readiness, and then +sat down to dinner with his officers at noon. Little did he dream, +at the time, that the slow and clumsy movement that he was watching +was intended, by the enemy, to end in a flank attack on +himself.</p> +<p>On the previous day Soubise, with his generals, looking down on +the Prussian camp, had reckoned their force at ten thousand. In +reality they had seen only a portion of their camp, the site being +hidden by a dip of the ground. Even Soubise thought that, with the +odds of over five to one in his favour, he could fight a battle +with a certainty of success; and planned a masterly march, by which +he would place himself on Frederick's left and rear, drive him into +the bend made by the Saale, and annihilate his army. In his +enthusiasm at this happy idea, he sent off a courier to carry the +news, to Versailles, that he was about to annihilate the Prussian +army, and take the king prisoner.</p> +<p>Frederick's dinner was prolonged. There was nothing to be done, +and patience was one of the king's strong points. At two o'clock an +officer, who had remained on watch on the housetop, hurried down +with news that the enemy had suddenly turned to the left. The king +went up to the roof with his officers, and at once divined the +intention of his foes.</p> +<p>It was a glorious moment for him. At last, after three weary +months, he was to meet them in battle. Instantly his orders were +given, and in half an hour the Prussian army was all in movement, +with the exception of some irregular corps which were left to +occupy the attention of the enemy's horse, which had been posted as +if to threaten Rossbach. By the line taken, the Prussians were at +once hidden behind the crest of the hill from the enemy; and so +Soubise thought that the Prussians, being afraid of his attack, +were marching away with all speed for Keith's bridge at Merseburg. +He accordingly hurried on his cavalry, and ordered the infantry to +go at a double, for the purpose of capturing the runaway +Prussians.</p> +<p>In the meantime Seidlitz, with four thousand horse, trotted +briskly along until he reached, still concealed from the enemy's +sight, the spot towards which they were hurrying, in two great +columns headed by seven thousand cavalry. He allowed them to move +forward until he was on their flank, and then dashed over the crest +of the hill, and charged like a thunderbolt upon them.</p> +<p>Taken completely by surprise, the enemy's cavalry had scarce +time to form. Two Austrian regiments and two French were alone able +to do so. But there was no withstanding the impetus of the Prussian +charge. They rode right through the disordered cavalry; turned, +formed, and recharged, and four times cut their way through them, +until they broke away in headlong flight; and were pursued by +Seidlitz until out of sight from the hill, when he turned and +waited, to see where he could find an opportunity of striking +another blow.</p> +<p>By this time Frederick, with the infantry, was now pouring over +the crest of the hill, their advance heralded by the fire of +twenty-four guns. Rapidly, in echelon, they approached the enemy. +In vain Soubise endeavoured to face round the column, thus taken in +flank, to meet the coming storm. He was seconded by Broglio and the +commander of the Confederate army, but the two columns were jammed +together, and all were in confusion at this astounding and +unexpected attack. Orders were unheard or disobeyed, and everything +was still in utter disorder, when six battalions of Prussian +infantry hurled themselves upon them.</p> +<p>When forty paces distant, they poured in their first terrible +volley, and then continued their fire as fast as they could load; +creating great havoc among the French troops on whom they had +fallen, while away on each flank the Prussian artillery made deep +gaps in the line. Soon the mass, helpless under this storm of fire, +wavered and shook; and then Seidlitz, who had been concealed with +his cavalry in a hollow a short distance away, hurled himself like +a thunderbolt on their rear, and in a moment they broke up in +headlong flight. In less than half an hour from the first +appearance of the Prussians on the hill, the struggle had ended, +and an army of from fifty to sixty thousand men was a mob of +fugitives; defeated by a force of but twenty-two thousand men, not +above half of whom were engaged.</p> +<p>The loss of the allies was three thousand killed and wounded, +five thousand prisoners, and seventy-two guns; while the Prussians +lost but one hundred and sixty-five killed, and three hundred and +seventy-six wounded. The victory was one of the most remarkable and +surprising ever gained, for these figures by no means represent the +full loss to the defeated.</p> +<p>The German portion of the army, after being chased for many +miles, scattered in all directions; and only one regiment reached +Erfurt in military order, and in two days the whole of the men were +on their way to their homes, in the various states composing the +Confederation. The French were in no less disgraceful a condition. +Plundering as they went, a mere disorganized rabble, they continued +their flight until fifty-five miles from the field of battle, and +were long before they gathered again in fighting order.</p> +<p>The joy caused in Prussia and in England, by this astonishing +victory, was shared largely by the inhabitants of the country +through which the French army had marched. Everywhere they had +plundered and pillaged, as if they had been moving through an +enemy's country instead of one they had professed to come to +deliver. The Protestant inhabitants had everywhere been most +cruelly maltreated, the churches wrecked, and the pastors treated +as criminals. The greater portion of Germany therefore regarded the +defeat of the French as a matter for gratification, rather than the +reverse.</p> +<p>In England the result was enormous. It had the effect of vastly +strengthening Pitt's position, and twenty thousand British troops +were, ere long, despatched to join the army under the Duke of +Brunswick, which was now called the allied army, and from this time +the French force under Richelieu ceased to be dangerous to +Frederick. France and England were old antagonists, and entered +upon a duel of their own; a duel that was to cost France Canada, +and much besides; to establish England's naval preponderance; and +to extinguish French influence in the Netherlands.</p> +<p>Fergus Drummond was not under fire, at the memorable battle of +Rossbach. Keith's division was not, in fact, engaged; the affair +having terminated before it arrived. Keith, however, had ridden to +the position on the brow of the hill where the king had stationed +himself; and his staff, following him, had the satisfaction of +seeing the enemy's heavy columns melt into a mass of fugitives, and +spread in all directions over the country, like dust driven before +a sudden whirlwind.</p> +<p>"What next, I wonder?" Fergus said to Lindsay; who had, three +days before, been promoted to the rank of captain, as much to the +satisfaction of Fergus as to his own.</p> +<p>"I suppose some more marching," Lindsay replied. "You may be +sure that we shall be off east again, to try conclusions with +Prince Karl. Bevern seems to be making a sad mess of it there. Of +course he is tremendously outnumbered, thirty thousand men against +eighty thousand; but he has fallen back into Silesia without making +a single stand, and suffered Prince Karl to plant himself between +Breslau and Schweidnitz; and the Prince is besieging the latter +town with twenty thousand men, while with sixty thousand he is +facing Bevern."</p> +<p>Four days after the victory, indeed, Frederick set out with +thirteen thousand men; leaving Prince Henry to maintain the line of +the Saale, and guard Saxony; while Marshal Keith was to go into +Bohemia, raise contributions there, and threaten as far as might be +the Austrian posts in that country.</p> +<p>Fergus, however, went with the king's army, the king having said +to the Marshal:</p> +<p>"Keith, lend me that young aide-de-camp of yours. I have seen +how he can be trusted to carry a despatch, at whatever risk to his +life. He is ingenious and full of devices; and he has luck, and +luck goes for a great deal.</p> +<p>"I like him, too. I have observed that he is always lively and +cheery, even at the end of the longest day's work. I notice too +that, even though your relation, he never becomes too familiar; and +his talk will be refreshing, when I want something to distract my +thoughts from weighty matters."</p> +<p>So Fergus went with the king, who could ill afford to lose Keith +from his side. With none was he more friendly and intimate and, now +that Schwerin had gone, he relied upon him more implicitly than +upon any other of his officers.</p> +<p>But Keith had been, for some time, unwell. He was suffering from +asthma and other ailments that rendered rapid travel painful to +him; and he would obtain more rest and ease, in Bohemia, than he +could find in the rapid journey the king intended to make.</p> +<p>On the fifth day of his march Frederick heard, to his +stupefaction, that Schweidnitz had surrendered. The place was an +extremely strong one, and the king had relied confidently upon its +holding out for two or three months. Its fortifications were +constructed in the best manner; it was abundantly supplied with +cannon, ammunition, and provisions; and its surrender was +inexcusable.</p> +<p>The fault was doubtless, to a large degree, that of its +commandant, who was a man of no resolution or resources; but it was +also partly due to the fact that a portion of the garrison were +Saxons, who had at Pirna been obliged to enter the Prussian +service. Great numbers of these deserted; a hundred and eighty of +them, in one day, going over from an advanced post to the enemy. +With troops like these, there could be no assurance that any post +would be firmly held--a fact that might well shake the confidence +of any commander in his power of resistance.</p> +<p>The blow was none the less severe, to Frederick, from being +partly the result of his own mistaken step of enrolling men +bitterly hostile in the ranks of the army. Still, disastrous as the +news was, it did not alter his resolution; and at even greater +speed than before he continued his march. Sometimes of an evening +he sent for Fergus, and chatted with him pleasantly for an hour or +two, asking him many questions of his life in Scotland, and +discoursing familiarly on such matters, but never making any +allusion to military affairs.</p> +<p>On the tenth day of the march they arrived at Gorlitz, where +another piece of bad news reached Frederick. Prince Karl, after +taking Schweidnitz, had fallen with sixty thousand men on Bevern. +He had crossed by five bridges across the Loe, but each column was +met by a Prussian force strongly intrenched. For the space of +fifteen hours the battles had raged, over seven or eight miles of +country. Five times the Austrians had attacked, five times had they +been rolled back again; but at nine o'clock at night they were +successful, more or less, in four of their attacks, while the +Prussian left wing, under the command of Ziethen, had driven its +assailants across the river again.</p> +<p>During the night Bevern had drawn off, marched through Breslau, +and crossed the Oder, leaving eighty cannon and eight thousand +killed and wounded--a tremendous loss, indeed, when the army at +daybreak had been thirty thousand strong. Bevern himself rode out +to reconnoitre, in the gray light of the morning, attended only by +a groom, and fell in with an Austrian outpost. He was carried to +Vienna, but being a distant relation of the emperor, was sent home +again without ransom.</p> +<p>It was the opinion of Frederick that he had given himself up +intentionally, and on his return he was ordered at once to take up +his former official post at Stettin; where he conducted himself so +well, in the struggle against the Russian armies, that two years +later he was restored to Frederick's favour.</p> +<p>As if this misfortune was not great enough, two days later came +the news that Breslau had surrendered without firing a shot; and +this when it was known that the king was within two days' march, +and pressing forward to its relief. Here ninety-eight guns and an +immense store and magazine were lost to Prussia.</p> +<p>Frederick straightway issued orders that the general who had +succeeded Bevern should be put under arrest, for not having at once +thrown his army into Breslau; appointed Ziethen in his place, and +ordered him to bring the army round to Glogau and meet him at +Parchwitz on December 2nd, which Ziethen punctually did.</p> +<p>In spite of the terrible misfortunes that had befallen him, +Frederick was still undaunted. Increased as it was by the arrival +of Ziethen, his force was but a third of the strength of the +Austrians. The latter were flushed with success; while Ziethen's +troops were discouraged by defeat, and his own portion of the force +worn out by their long and rapid marches, and by the failure of the +object for which they had come. Calling his generals together on +the 3rd, he recounted the misfortunes that had befallen them; and +told them that his one trust, in this terrible position, was in +their qualities and valour; and that he intended to engage the +enemy, as soon as he found them, and that they must beat them or +all of them perish in the battle.</p> +<p>Enthusiastically, the generals declared that they would conquer +or die with him; and among the soldiers the spirit was equally +strong, for they had implicit confidence in their king, and a +well-justified trust in their own valour and determination. That +evening Frederick, eager as he was to bring the terrible situation +to a final issue, cannot but have felt that it would have been too +desperate an undertaking to have attacked the enemy; posted as they +were with a river (known as Schweidnitz Water) and many other +natural difficulties covering their front, and having their flanks +strengthened, as was the Austrian custom, with field works and +batteries. Fortunately the Austrians settled the difficulty by +moving out from their stronghold.</p> +<p>Daun had counselled their remaining there, but Prince Karl and +the great majority of his military advisers agreed that it would be +a shameful thing that ninety thousand men should shut themselves +up, to avoid an attack by a force of but one-third their own +strength; and that it was in all respects preferable to march out +and give battle, in which case the Prussians would be entirely +destroyed; whereas, if merely repulsed in an attack on a strong +position, a considerable proportion might escape and give trouble +in the future.</p> +<p>The Austrians, indeed, having captured Schweidnitz and Breslau, +defeated Bevern, and in the space of three weeks made themselves +masters of a considerable portion of Silesia, were in no small +degree puffed up, and had fallen anew to despising Frederick. The +blow dealt them at Prague had been obliterated by their success at +Kolin; and Frederick's later success over the French and Federal +army was not considered, by them, as a matter affecting themselves, +although several Austrian regiments had been among Soubise's force. +The officers were very scornful over the aggressive march of +Frederick's small army, which they derisively called the Potsdam +Guards' Parade; and many were the jokes cut, at the military +messes, at its expense.</p> +<p>The difference, then, with which the two armies regarded the +coming battle was great, indeed. On the one side there was the easy +confidence of victory, the satisfaction that at length this +troublesome little king had put himself in their power; on the +other a deep determination to conquer or to die, a feeling that, +terrible as the struggle must be, great as were the odds against +them, they might yet, did each man do his duty, come out the +victors in the struggle.</p> +<p>"And what think you of this matter, lad?" Frederick said, laying +his hand familiarly on the young captain's shoulder.</p> +<p>"I know nothing about it, your majesty; but like the rest, I +feel confident that somehow you will pull us through. Of one thing +I am sure, that all that is possible for the men to do, your +soldiers will accomplish."</p> +<p>"Well, we shall see. It is well that I know all the country +round here, for many a review have I held of the garrison of +Breslau, on the very ground where we are about to fight. Their +position is a very strong one, and I am afraid that crafty old fox +Daun will here, as he did at Prague, persuade Prince Karl to hide +behind his batteries. Were it not for that, I should feel +confident; whereas I now but feel hopeful. Still, I doubt not that +we shall find our way in, somehow."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch11" id="Ch11">Chapter 11</a>: Leuthen.</h2> +<p>At four in the morning on Sunday, December 4th, Frederick +marched from Parchwitz; intending to make Neumarkt, a small town +some fourteen miles off, his quarters. When within two or three +miles of this town he learned, to his deep satisfaction, that the +Austrians had just established a great bakery there, and that a +party of engineers were marking out the site for a camp; also that +there were but a thousand Croats in the town. The news was +satisfactory, indeed, for two reasons: the first being that the +bakery would be of great use for his own troops; the second, that +it was clear that the Austrians intended to advance across the +Schweidnitz Water to give battle. It was evident that they could +have had no idea that he was pressing on so rapidly, or they would +never have established their bakery so far in advance, and +protected by so small a force.</p> +<p>He lost no time in taking advantage of their carelessness, but +sent a regiment of cavalry to seize the hills on both sides of the +town; then marched rapidly forward, burst in the gates, and hurled +the Croats in utter confusion from Neumarkt, while the cavalry +dashed down and cut off their retreat. One hundred and twenty of +them were killed, and five hundred and seventy taken prisoners. In +the town the Austrian bakery was found to be in full work, and +eighty thousand bread rations, still hot, were ready for +delivery.</p> +<p>This initial success, and the unexpected treat of hot bread, +raised the spirits of the troops greatly, and was looked upon as a +happy augury.</p> +<p>Two or three hours before Neumarkt had been captured, the +Austrian army was crossing the river, and presently received the +unpleasant news of what had happened. Surprised at the news that +the Prussians were so near, their generals at once set to work to +choose a good position. This was not a difficult task, for the +country was swampy, with little wooded rises and many villages.</p> +<p>They planted their right wing at the village of Nypern, which +was practically unapproachable on account of deep peat bogs. Their +centre was at a larger village named Leuthen, their left at +Sagschuetz. The total length of its front was about six miles.</p> +<p>The Prussians started before daybreak next morning in four +columns, Frederick riding on ahead with the vanguard. When near +Borne, some eight miles from Neumarkt, he caught sight in the dim +light of a considerable body of horse, stretching across the road +in front of him as far as he could make out the line. The Prussian +cavalry were at once ordered to charge down on their left +flank.</p> +<p>The enemy proved to be five regiments of cavalry, placed there +to guard the army from surprise. They, however, were themselves +surprised; and were at once overthrown, and driven in headlong +flight to take shelter behind their right wing at Nypern, five +hundred and forty being taken prisoners, and a large number being +killed or wounded.</p> +<p>Frederick rode on through Borne, ascended a small hill called +the Scheuberg, to the right of the road, and as the light increased +could, from that point, make out the Austrian army drawn up in +battle array, and stretching from Nypern to Sagschuetz. Well was it +for him that he had reviewed troops over the same ground, and knew +all the bogs and morasses that guarded the Austrian front. For a +long time he sat there on horseback, studying the possibilities of +the situation.</p> +<p>The Austrian right he regarded as absolutely impregnable. +Leuthen might be attacked with some chance of success, but +Sagschuetz offered by far the most favourable opening for attack. +The formation of the ground offered special facilities for the +movement being effected without the Austrians being aware of what +was taking place, for there was a depression behind the swells and +broken ground in front of the Austrian centre, by which the +Prussians could march from Borne, unseen by the enemy, until they +approached Sagschuetz.</p> +<p>It was three hours after Frederick had taken up his place before +the four columns had all reached Borne. As soon as they were in +readiness there, they were ordered to march with all speed as far +as Radaxford, thence to march in oblique order against the Austrian +left.</p> +<p>The Austrians, all this time, could observe a group of horsemen +on the hill, moving sometimes this way sometimes that, but more +than this they could not see. The conjectures were various, as hour +passed after hour. Daun believed that the Prussians must have +marched away south, with the intention of falling upon the +magazines in Bohemia, and that the cavalry seen moving along the +hills were placed there to defend the Prussians from being taken in +flank, or in rear, while thus marching. General Lucchesi, who +commanded the Austrian right wing, was convinced that the cavalry +formed the Prussian right wing, and that the whole army, concealed +behind the slopes, was marching to fall upon him.</p> +<p>In the belfry of the church at Leuthen, on the tops of +windmills, and on other points of vantage, Austrian generals with +their staffs were endeavouring to obtain a glimpse beyond those +tiresome swells, and to discover what was going on behind them, but +in vain. There were the cavalry, moving occasionally from crest to +crest, but nothing beyond that.</p> +<p>Lucchesi got more and more uneasy, and sent message after +message to headquarters that he was about to be attacked, and must +have a large reinforcement of horse. The prince and Daun at first +scoffed at the idea, knowing that the bogs in front of Nypern were +impassable; but at last he sent a message to the effect that, if +the cavalry did not come, he would not be responsible for the +issue.</p> +<p>It was thought, therefore, that he must have some good ground +for his insistence; and Daun sent off the reserve of horse, and +several other regiments drawn from the left wing, and himself went +off at a trot, at their head, to see what was the matter.</p> +<p>It was just as he started that the Prussians--with their music +playing, and the men singing:<br /> +<br /> +<em>Gieb dass ich thu mit fleiss was mir zu thun gebuhret<br /> +(Grant that with zeal and strength this day I do)<br /> +<br /></em> had passed Radaxford and reached Lobetintz, and were +about to advance in an oblique line to the attack. The king saw +with delight the removal of so large a body of horse from the very +point against which his troops would, in half an hour, be hurling +themselves. Nothing could have suited his plans better.</p> +<p>At a rapid pace, and with a precision and order as perfect as if +upon level ground, suddenly the Prussians poured over the swells on +the flank of Sagschuetz. Nadasti, who commanded the Austrians +there, was struck with astonishment at the spectacle of the +Prussian army, which he believed to be far away, pouring down on +his flank. The heads of the four columns, the artillery, and +Ziethen's cavalry appeared simultaneously, marching swiftly and +making no pause.</p> +<p>Being a good general, he lost not a moment in endeavouring to +meet the storm. His left was thrown back a little, a battery of +fourteen guns at the angle so formed opened fire, and he launched +his cavalry against that of Ziethen. For the moment Ziethen's men +were pushed back, but the fire from an infantry battalion, close +by, checked the Austrian horse. They fell back out of range, and +Ziethen, making a counter charge, drove them away.</p> +<p>In the meantime the Prussian infantry, as they advanced, poured +a storm of fire upon the Austrian line, aided by a battery of ten +heavy guns that Prince Maurice, who commanded here, had planted on +a rise. A clump of fir trees, held by Croats in advance of the +Austrian line, was speedily cleared; and then the Prussians broke +down the abattis that protected the enemy's front, charged +furiously against the infantry, and drove these before them, +capturing Nadasti's battery.</p> +<p>In ten minutes after the beginning of the fight, the position of +the Austrian left was already desperate. The whole Prussian army +was concentrated against it and, being on its flank, crumpled the +line up as it advanced. Prince Karl's aides-de-camp galloped at the +top of their speed to bring Daun and the cavalry back again, and +Austrian battalions from the centre were hurried down to aid +Nadasti's, but were impeded by the retreating troops; and the +confusion thickened, until it was brought to a climax by Ziethen's +horse, which had been unable to act until now. But fir wood, +quagmire, and abattis had all been passed by the Prussians, and +they dashed into the mass, sabring and trampling down, and taking +whole battalions prisoners.</p> +<p>Prince Karl exerted himself to the utmost to check the Prussian +advance. Batteries were brought up and advantageously posted at +Leuthen, heavy bodies of infantry occupied the village and its +church, and took post so as to present a front to the advancing +tide. Another quarter of an hour and the battle might have been +retrieved; but long before the dispositions were all effected, the +Prussians were at hand.</p> +<a id="Map4" name="Map4"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/4.jpg" alt= +"Battle of Leuthen" /></div> +<p>Nevertheless, by great diligence the Austrians had to some +extent succeeded. Leuthen was the centre of the new position. +Lucchesi was hastening up, while Nadasti swung backwards and tried, +as he arrived, to form the left flank of the new position. All this +was being done under a storm of shot from the whole of the Prussian +artillery, which was so terrible that many battalions fell into +confusion as fast as they arrived.</p> +<p>Leuthen, a straggling hamlet of over a mile in length, and with +two or three streets of scattered houses, barns, farm buildings, +and two churches, was crowded with troops; ready to fight but +unable to do so, line being jammed upon line until sometimes a +hundred deep, pressed constantly behind by freshly arriving +battalions, and in front by the advancing Prussians. Some regiments +were almost without officers.</p> +<p>Into this confused, straggling, helpless mass, prevented from +opening out by the houses and inclosures, the Prussians, ever +keeping their formation, poured their volleys with terrible effect; +in such fashion as Drake's perfectly-handled ships poured their +broadsides into the huge helpless Spanish galleons at Gravelines. +With a like dogged courage as that shown by the Spanish, the +Austrian masses suffered almost passively, while those occupying +the houses and churches facing the Prussians resisted valiantly and +desperately. From every window, every wall, their musketry fire +flashed out; the resistance round the churchyard being specially +stubborn. The churchyard had a high and strong wall, and so +terrible was the fire from the roof of the church, and other spots +of advantage, that the tide of Prussian victory was arrested for a +time.</p> +<p>At last they made a rush. The churchyard gate was burst in, and +the Austrians driven out. Leuthen was not yet won, but Frederick +now brought up the left wing, which had till this time been held in +reserve. These came on with levelled bayonets, and rushed into the +fight.</p> +<p>The king was, as always, in the thick of the battle; giving his +orders as coolly as if at a review, sending fresh troops where +required, changing the arrangements as opportunity offered, keeping +the whole machine in due order; and by his presence animating all +with the determination to win or die, and an almost equal readiness +to accept either alternative.</p> +<p>At last, after an hour's stubborn resistance, the Austrians were +hurled out of Leuthen, still sternly resisting, still contesting +every foot of the ground. Lucchesi now saw an opportunity of +retrieving, with his great cavalry force, the terrible consequences +of his own blunder, and led them impetuously down upon the flank of +the Prussians. But Frederick had prepared for such a stroke; and +had placed Draisen, with the left wing of the cavalry, in a hollow +sheltered from the fire of the Austrian batteries, and bade him do +nothing, attempt nothing, but cover the right flank of the infantry +from the Austrian horse. He accordingly let Lucchesi charge down +with his cavalry, and then rushed out on his rear, and fell +suddenly and furiously upon him.</p> +<p>Astounded at this sudden and unexpected attack, and with their +ranks swept by a storm of Prussian bullets, the Austrian cavalry +broke and fled in all directions, Lucchesi having paid for his +fault by dying, fighting to the last. His duty thus performed, +Draisen was free to act, and fell upon the flank and rear of the +Austrian infantry; and in a few minutes the battle was over, and +the Austrians in full retreat.</p> +<p>They made, however, another attempt to stand at Saara; but it +was hopeless, and they were soon pushed backwards again and, hotly +pressed, poured over the four bridges across the Schweidnitz river, +and for the most part continued their flight to Breslau. Until the +Austrians had crossed the river the Prussian cavalry were on their +rear, sabring and taking prisoners, while the infantry were halted +at Saara, the sun having now set.</p> +<p>Exhausted as they were by their work, which had begun at +midnight and continued until now without pause or break, not yet +was their task completely done. The king, riding up the line, asked +if any battalion would volunteer to follow him to Lissa, a village +on the river bank. Three battalions stepped out. The landlord of +the little inn, carrying a lantern, walked by the king's side.</p> +<p>As they approached the village, ten or twelve musket shots +flashed out in the fields to the right. They were aimed at the +lantern, but no one was hurt. There were other shots from Lissa, +and it was evident that the village was still not wholly +evacuated.</p> +<p>The infantry rushed forward, scattered through the fields, and +drove out the lurking Croats. The king rode quietly on into the +village, and entered the principal house. To his astonishment, he +found it full of Austrian officers, who could easily have carried +him off, his infantry being still beyond the village. They had but +a small force remaining there and, believing that the Prussians had +halted for the night at Saara, they were as much astonished as +Frederick at his entrance. The king had the presence of mind to +hide his surprise.</p> +<p>"Good evening, gentlemen!" he said. "Is there still room left +for me, do you think?"</p> +<p>The Austrian officers, supposing, of course, that he had a large +force outside, bowed deeply, escorted him to the best room in the +house, and then slipped out at the back, collected what troops they +could as they went, and hurried across the bridge. The Prussians +were not long in entering, and very speedily cleared out the rest +of the Austrians. They then crossed the bridge, and with a few guns +followed in pursuit.</p> +<p>The army at Saara, on hearing the firing, betook itself again to +arms and marched to the king's assistance, the twenty-five thousand +men and their bands again joining in the triumphant hymn, "Nun +danket alle Gott," as they tramped through the darkness. When they +arrived at Lissa they found that all was safe, and bivouacked in +the fields.</p> +<p>Never was there a greater or more surprising victory, never one +in which the military genius of the commander was more strikingly +shown. The Austrians were in good heart. They were excellent +soldiers and brave, well provided with artillery, and strongly +placed; and yet they were signally defeated by a force little over +one-third their number. Had there been two more hours of daylight, +the Austrians would have been not only routed but altogether +crushed. Their loss was ten thousand left on the field, of whom +three thousand were killed. Twelve thousand were taken prisoners, +and one hundred and sixteen cannon captured.</p> +<p>To this loss must be added that of seventeen thousand prisoners +taken when Breslau surrendered, twelve days later, together with a +vast store of cannon and ammunition, including everything taken so +shortly before from Bevern. Liegnitz surrendered, and the whole of +Silesia, with the exception only of Schweidnitz, was again wrested +from the Austrians. Thus in killed, wounded, and prisoners the loss +of the Austrians amounted to as much as the total force of the +Prussians.</p> +<p>The latter lost in killed eleven hundred and forty one, and in +wounded about five thousand. Prince Maurice, upon whose division +the brunt of the battle had fallen, was promoted to the rank of +field marshal.</p> +<p>Fergus Drummond had been with the king throughout that terrible +day. Until the battle began his duties had been light, being +confined to the carrying of orders to Prince Maurice; after which +he took his place among the staff and, dismounting, chatted with +his acquaintances while Karl held his horse.</p> +<p>When, however, the fir tree wood was carried, and the king rode +forward and took his place there during the attack upon the +Austrian position at Sagschuetz, matters became more lively. The +balls from the Austrian batteries sung overhead, and sent branches +flying and trees crashing down. Sagschuetz won, the king followed +the advancing line, and the air was alive with bullets and case +shot.</p> +<a id="PicG" name="PicG"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/g.jpg" alt= +"The roar of battle was so tremendous that his horse was well-nigh unmanageable" /> +</div> +<p>After that Fergus knew little more of the battle, being +incessantly employed in carrying orders through the thick of it to +generals commanding brigades, and even to battalions. The roar of +battle was so tremendous that his horse, maddened with the din and +the sharp whiz of the bullets, at times was well-nigh unmanageable, +and occupied his attention almost to the exclusion of other +thoughts; especially after it had been struck by a bullet in the +hind quarters, and had come to understand that those strange and +maddening noises meant danger.</p> +<p>Not until after all was over was Fergus aware of the escapes he +had had. A bullet had cut away an ornament from his headdress, one +of his reins had been severed at a distance of an inch or two from +his hand, a bullet had pierced the tail of his coatee and buried +itself in the cantle of his saddle, and the iron guard of his +claymore had been pierced. However, on his return to the king after +carrying a despatch, he was able to curb his own excitement and +that of his horse, and to make the formal military salute as he +reported, in a calm and quiet voice, that he had carried out the +orders with which he had been charged.</p> +<p>It was with great gratification that he heard the king say that +evening, as he and his staff supped together at the inn at +Lissa:</p> +<p>"You have done exceedingly well today, Captain Drummond. I am +very pleased with you. You were always at my elbow when I wanted +you, and I observed that you were never flurried or excited; though +indeed, there would have been good excuse for a young soldier being +so, in such a hurly burly. You are over young for further +promotion, for a year or two; but I must find some other way of +testifying my satisfaction at your conduct."</p> +<p>And, indeed, when the list of promotions for bravery in the +field was published, a few days later, Fergus's name appeared among +those who received the decoration of the Prussian military order, +an honour fully as much valued as promotion.</p> +<p>For a time he lost the service of Karl, who had been seriously +although not dangerously wounded, just before the Austrians were +driven out of Leuthen.</p> +<p>The news of the battle filled the Confederates with stupefaction +and dismay. Prince Karl was at once recalled, and was relieved from +military employment, Daun being appointed to the supreme command. +The Prince withdrew to his government of the Netherlands, and there +passed the remainder of his days in peace and quiet. His army was +hunted by Ziethen's cavalry to Koeniggraetz, losing two thousand +prisoners and a large amount of baggage; and thirty-seven thousand +men only, of the eighty thousand that stood in battle array at +Leuthen, reached the sheltering walls of the fortress, and those in +so dilapidated and worn out a condition that, by the end of a week +after arriving there, no less than twenty-two thousand were in +hospital.</p> +<p>Thus, after eight months of constant and weary anxiety, +Frederick, by the two heavy blows he had dealt successfully at the +Confederates, stood in a far better position than he had occupied +at the opening of the first campaign; when, as his enemies fondly +believed, Prussia would be captured and divided without the +smallest difficulty.</p> +<p>Frederick wintered at Breslau, whither came many visitors from +Prussia, and there was a constant round of gaieties and festivity. +Frederick himself desired nothing so much as peace. Once or twice +there had been some faint hope that this might be brought about by +his favourite sister, Wilhelmina, who had been ceaseless in her +efforts to effect it; but the two empresses and the Pompadour were +alike bent on avenging themselves on the king, and the reverses +that they had suffered but increased their determination to +overwhelm him.</p> +<p>Great as Frederick's success had been, it did not blind him to +the fact that his position was almost hopeless. When the war began, +he had an army of a hundred and fifty thousand of the finest +soldiers in the world. The two campaigns had made frightful gaps in +their ranks. At Prague he had fought with eighty thousand men, at +Leuthen he had but thirty thousand. His little kingdom could +scarcely supply men to fill the places of those who had fallen, +while his enemies had teeming populations from which to gather +ample materials for fresh armies. It seemed, even to his hopeful +spirit, that all this could have but one ending; and that each +success, however great, weakened him more than his adversaries.</p> +<p>The winter's rest was, however, most welcome. For the moment +there was nothing to plan, nothing to do, save to order that the +drilling of the fresh levies should go on incessantly; in order +that some, at least, of the terrible gaps in the army might be +filled up before the campaign commenced in the spring.</p> +<p>1758 began badly, for early in January the Russians were on the +move. The empress had dismissed, and ordered to be tried by court +martial, the general who had done so little the previous year; had +appointed Field Marshal Fermor to command in his place, and ordered +him to advance instantly and to annex East Prussia in her name.</p> +<p>On the 16th of January he crossed the frontier, and six days +later entered Koenigsberg and issued a proclamation to the effect +that his august sovereign had now become mistress of East Prussia, +and that all men of official or social position must at once take +the oath of allegiance to her.</p> +<p>East Prussia had been devastated the year before by marauders, +and its hatred of Russia was intense; but the people were powerless +to resist. Some fled, leaving all behind them; but the majority +were forced to take the required oath, and for a time East Prussia +became a Russian province. Nevertheless its young men constantly +slipped away, when opportunity offered, to join the Prussian army; +and moneys were frequently collected by the impoverished people to +despatch to Frederick, to aid him in his necessities.</p> +<p>A far greater assistance was the English subsidy of 670,000 +pounds, which was paid punctually for four years, and was of +supreme service to him. It was spent thriftily, and of all the +enormous sums expended by this country in subsidizing foreign +powers, none was ever laid out to a tenth of the advantage of the +2,680,000 pounds given to Frederick.</p> +<p>In the north the campaign also opened early. Ferdinand of +Brunswick bestirred himself, defeated the French signally at +Krefeld, and drove them headlong across the Rhine. Frederick, too, +took the field early, and on the 15th of March moved from Breslau +upon Schweidnitz. The siege began on the 1st of April, and on the +16th the place surrendered. Four thousand nine hundred prisoners of +war were taken, with fifty-one guns and 7000 pounds in money.</p> +<p>Three days later Frederick, with forty thousand men, was off; +deceived Daun as to his intentions, entered Moravia, and besieged +Olmuetz. Keith was with him again, and Fergus had returned to his +staff. The march was conducted with the marvellous precision and +accuracy that characterized all Frederick's movements, but Olmuetz +was a strong place and stoutly defended.</p> +<p>The Prussian engineers, who did not shine at siege work, opened +their trenches eight hundred yards too far away. The magazines were +too far off, and Daun, who as usual carefully abstained from giving +battle, so cut up the convoys that, after five weeks of vain +endeavours, the king was obliged to raise the siege; partly owing +to the loss of the convoy that would have enabled him to take the +town, which was now at its last extremity; and partly that he knew +that the Russians were marching against Brandenburg.</p> +<p>He made a masterly retreat, struck a heavy blow at Daun by +capturing and destroying his principal magazine, and then took up a +very strong position near Koeniggraetz. Here he could have +maintained himself against all Daun's assaults, for his position +was one that Daun had himself held and strongly fortified; but the +news from the north was of so terrible a nature that he was forced +to hurry thither.</p> +<p>The Cossacks, as the Russian army advanced, were committing most +horrible atrocities; burning towns and villages, tossing men and +women into the fire, plundering and murdering everywhere; and the +very small Prussian force that was watching them was powerless to +check the swarming marauders.</p> +<p>Frederick therefore, evading Daun's attempts to arrest his +march, crossed the mountains into Silesia again. At Landshut he +gave his army two days' rest; wrote and sent a paper to his brother +Prince Henry, who was commander of the army defending Saxony from +invasion, telling him that he was on the point of marching against +the Russians and might well be killed; and giving him orders as to +the course to be pursued, in such an event.</p> +<p>He left Keith, in command of forty thousand men, to hold Daun in +check should the latter advance against Silesia; and he again took +Fergus with him, finding the young officer's talk a pleasant means +of taking his mind off the troubles that beset him.</p> +<p>In nine days the army, which was but fifteen thousand strong, +marched from Landshut to Frankfort-on-Oder. Here the king learned +that though Kuestrin, which the Russians were besieging, still held +out, the town had been barbarously destroyed by the enemy.</p> +<p>In fierce anger the army pressed forward. The Russian army +itself, officers and men, were indignant in the extreme at the +brutalities committed by the Cossacks, but were powerless to +restrain them; for indeed these ruffians did not hesitate to attack +and kill any officer who ventured to interfere between them and +their victims.</p> +<p>The next morning, early, Frederick reached the camp of his +general Dohna; who had been watching, although unable to interfere +with the Russians' proceedings. The king had a profound contempt +for the Russians, in spite of the warning of Keith, who had served +with them, that they were far better soldiers than they appeared to +be; and he anticipated a very easy victory over them.</p> +<p>Early on the 22nd of August the army from Frankfort arrived. +Dohna's strength was numerically about the same as the king's, and +with his thirty thousand men Frederick had no doubt that he would +make but short work of the eighty thousand Russians, of whom some +twenty-seven thousand were the Cossack rabble, who were not worth +being considered, in a pitched battle. Deceiving the Russians as to +his intentions by opening a heavy cannonade on one of their +redoubts, as if intending to ford the river there, he crossed that +evening twelve miles lower down and, after some manoeuvring, faced +the Russians, who had at once broken up the siege on hearing of his +passage.</p> +<p>Fermor sent away his baggage train to a small village called +Kleinkalmin, and planted himself on a moor, where his front was +covered by quagmires and the Zaborn stream. Hearing, late at night +on the evening of the 24th, that Frederick was likely to be upon +them the next morning, the Russian general drew out into the open +ground north of Zorndorf, which stands on a bare rise surrounded by +woods and quagmires, and formed his army into a great square, two +miles long by one broad, with his baggage in the middle--a +formation which had been found excellent by the Russians in their +Turkish wars, but which was by no means well adapted to meet +Frederick's methods of impetuous attack. Being ignorant as to the +side upon which Frederick was likely to attack, and having decided +to stand on the defensive, he adopted the methods most familiar to +him.</p> +<p>Frederick had cut all the bridges across the rivers Warta and +Oder, and believed that he should, after defeating the Russians, +drive them into the angle formed by the junction of these two +streams, and cause them to surrender at discretion. Unfortunately, +he had not heard that the great Russian train had been sent to +Kleinkalmin. Had he done so he could have seized it, and so have +possessed himself of the Russian stores and all their munitions of +war, and have forced them to surrender without a blow; for the +Cossacks had wasted the country far and wide, and deprived it of +all resources. But he and his army were so burning with +indignation, and the desire to avenge the Cossack cruelties, that +they made no pause, and marched in all haste right round the +Russian position, so as to drive them back towards the junction of +the two rivers.</p> +<a id="Map5" name="Map5"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/5.jpg" alt= +"Battle of Zorndorf" /></div> +<p>Fermor's Cossacks brought him in news of Frederick's movements, +which were hidden from him by the forests; and seeing that he was +to be attacked on the Zorndorf side, instead of from that on which +he had expected it to come, he changed his front, and swung round +the line containing his best troops to meet it.</p> +<p>On arriving at Zorndorf, Frederick found that the Cossacks had +already set the village on fire. This was no disadvantage to him, +for the smoke of the burning houses rolled down towards the +Russians, and so prevented them from making observation of the +Prussian movements. The king rode up to the edge of the Zaborn +hollow and, finding it too deep and boggy to be crossed, determined +to attack at the southwest with his left and centre, placing his +cavalry in rear, and throwing back his right wing.</p> +<p>The first division marched forward to the attack, by the west +end of the flaming village. The next division, which should have +been its support, marched by the east end of Zorndorf. Its road was +a longer one, and there was consequently a wide gap between the two +divisions. Heralded by the fire of two strong batteries--which +swept the southwestern corner of the Russian quadrilateral, their +crossfire ploughing its ranks with terrible effect--the first +division, under Manteufel, fell upon the enemy.</p> +<p>The fire of the Prussian batteries had sorely shaken the +Russians, and had produced lively agitation among the horses of the +light baggage train in the centre of the square; and, heralding +their advance with a tremendous fire of musketry, the Prussian +infantry forced its way into the mass. Had the second division been +close at hand, as it should have been, the victory would already +have been won; but although also engaged it was not near, and +Fermor poured out a torrent of horse and foot upon Manteufel's +flank and front. Without support, and surrounded, the Prussians +could do nothing, and were swept back, losing twenty-four pieces of +cannon; while the Russians, with shouts of victory, pressed upon +them.</p> +<p>At this critical moment Seidlitz, with five thousand horse, +dashed down upon the disordered mass of Russians, casting it into +irretrievable confusion. At the same time the infantry rallied and +pressed forward again.</p> +<p>In fifteen minutes the whole Russian army was a confused mass. +Fermor, with the Russian horse, fled to Kratsdorf and, had not the +bridge there been burnt by Frederick, he would have made off, +leaving his infantry to their fate. These should now, according to +all rules, have surrendered; but they proved unconquerable save by +death. Seidlitz's cavalry sabred them until fatigued by slaughter, +the Prussian infantry poured their volleys into them, but they +stood immovable and passive, dying where they stood.</p> +<p>At one o'clock in the day the battle ceased for a moment. The +Prussians had marched at three in the morning and, seeing that +although half the Russian army had been destroyed, the other half +had gradually arranged itself into a fresh front of battle, +Frederick formed his forces again, and brought up his right wing +for the attack on the side of the Russian quadrilateral which still +stood. Forward they went, their batteries well in advance; but +before the infantry came within musket range, the Russian horse and +foot rushed forward to the attack, and with such force that they +captured one of the batteries, took a whole battalion prisoners, +and broke the centre.</p> +<p>Here were the regiments of Dohna, perfectly clean and well +accoutred; but, being less accustomed to war than Frederick's +veterans, they gave way at once before the Russian onslaught and, +in spite of Frederick's efforts to prevent them, fled from the +field and could not be rallied until a mile distant from it.</p> +<p>The veterans stood firm, however; until Seidlitz, returning from +pursuit, again hurled his horsemen upon the Russian masses, broke +them up, and drove their cavalry in headlong flight before him.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch12" id="Ch12">Chapter 12</a>: Another Step.</h2> +<p>The Russian infantry being involved in the turmoil and confusion +caused by the charge of Seidlitz, and the defeat of their cavalry, +the Prussian infantry again pressed forward, pouring in a heavy +fire and charging with the bayonet. Three battalions had been drawn +from this very country and, maddened by the tales they had heard of +Cossack cruelty, were not to be denied. The Russians, however, +keeping their ranks, filling up the gaps as they were formed, and +returning as best they could the fire of the Prussians, held +together with sullen obstinacy. By this time the ammunition on both +sides was exhausted, and now the struggle became hand to hand, +bayonet against bayonet, butt end of musket to butt end.</p> +<p>Seldom has so terrible a struggle ever been witnessed. Nightfall +was approaching. Foot by foot the inert Russian mass was pushed +backwards. One of their generals, Demikof, collected some two +thousand foot and a thousand horse, and took possession of a knoll; +and Frederick ordered them to be dispersed again. Forcade was +ordered to attack them with two battalions, and General Rutter to +bring up the Dohna men again and take them in flank; but the latter +had not recovered from their state of demoralization, and at the +first cannon shot turned and ran, continuing their flight even +further than before, and taking refuge in the woods. Frederick +instantly dismissed Rutter from the service.</p> +<p>Then, as night had completely fallen, the terrible conflict +ceased. Fermor by this time, finding that there was no crossing the +rivers, had returned. No regiment or battalion of his army remained +in order. There was but a confused crowd, which the officers did +their best to form into some sort of order, regardless of regiment +or battalion. The Cossacks scoured the fields under the cover of +night, plundering the dead and murdering the wounded, flames +marking their path. Four hundred of them were caught at their work +by the Prussian hussars, and every one killed.</p> +<p>Frederick sent for his tents, and the army pitched its camp, +facing the Russians; but during the night the latter, having got +into a sort of order, moved away to the westward and bivouacked on +Drewitz Heath, facing the battle ground.</p> +<p>Fermor had some twenty-eight thousand men still with him, while +Frederick had eighteen thousand. The former's loss had been +twenty-one thousand, five hundred and twenty-nine killed, wounded, +or missing; of whom eight thousand were killed. That of the +Prussians was eleven thousand, three hundred and ninety, of whom +three thousand six hundred and eighty were killed. Thus each side +lost a third of its number in this terrible struggle.</p> +<p>The next morning the Russians got into better order, and drew up +in order of battle. A cannonade was for some time kept up on both +sides, but the armies were beyond range of artillery.</p> +<p>Neither party had any real thoughts of fighting. Fermor, beaten +on his own ground the day before, could not dream of attacking the +Prussians. The latter were worn out by the fatigues of the previous +day. Moreover, on each side the musketry ammunition was used up. +The hussars, pursuing the Cossacks, had in the night come upon the +Russian waggon train at Kleim, and carried off a good deal of +portable plunder.</p> +<p>The next morning, under cover of a fog, the Russians retreated, +reached their baggage, and then moved slowly away; and, harassed by +Dohna, sullenly continued their retreat to the Russian frontier. If +Frederick could have pressed them, he would probably have won +another victory; but he had news which called him to hasten away +west to join Prince Henry, as his presence there was urgently +required for the defence of Saxony.</p> +<p>Fergus had been with the king, when the Dohna regiments gave way +before the impetuous charge of the Russians; the rest of the staff +having been sent away, one after the other, either to bring up +Seidlitz or to order a fresh movement among the infantry; and as +the king rode down to endeavour to restore order, he followed +closely behind him. The confusion was terrible. The Russian horse, +mixed up with the infantry, were sabring and trampling them +down.</p> +<p>Suddenly three of them dashed at the king. Fergus, setting spurs +to his horse, interposed between them and Frederick. One of the +Russians was ridden over, horse and man, by the impetus of his +rush. The other two attacked him furiously, and for a moment he was +very hard pressed. He kept his horse prancing and curvetting, and +managed to keep both his assailants on his right; until at last he +cut one down and, half a minute later, ran the other through the +body.</p> +<p>"Gallantly done, Major Drummond," the king said quietly as, +wheeling his horse, Fergus returned back to take his post behind +him. "I shall not forget that you have saved my life."</p> +<p>Then, without further comment, Frederick continued his work +trying to rally the infantry; ordering, entreating, and even laying +the cane he always carried across their shoulders.</p> +<p>A minute later there was a thunder of hoofs, and Seidlitz burst +down upon the Russian mass, changing in a moment the fate of the +battle. Excited by the late encounter, Fergus's horse took its bit +between its teeth, joined Seidlitz's cavalry as they swept past +and, in spite of the efforts of its rider, plunged with him into +the midst of the fight. For the next few minutes Fergus had but +slight knowledge of what was going on, he being engaged in a series +of hand-to-hand fights with both cavalry and infantry. Three times +he was wounded, and then the pressure ceased, and he was again +galloping across the moors in pursuit of the Russian horse.</p> +<p>It was not until Seidlitz's force drew rein that he recovered +the control of his horse. Its flank was bleeding from a bayonet +gash, and a bullet had gone through its neck. The first wound was +of comparatively small consequence, but he feared that the other +was serious; but though the horse panted from its exertion and +excitement, its breath came regularly; and it was evident that the +ball had not hit the spine, for had it done so it would have fallen +at once.</p> +<p>He turned and rode back with the cavalry, who dismounted a short +distance from the scene of action, in readiness to take their part +again, should they be required; while he pursued his way to the +spot where the king had stationed himself, surrounded by several of +his staff. The king glanced at him, and then said:</p> +<p>"You are relieved from duty, Major Drummond. Let one of the +surgeons see to you, at once."</p> +<p>Fergus rode but a short distance and then, turning suddenly +faint, he slid from his horse to the ground. One of the staff, +happening to look round, at once rode back to him.</p> +<p>"You had best let me bandage up your wounds roughly," he said. +"It will be difficult to find a surgeon, now that they are all up +to their eyes in work, somewhere in the rear."</p> +<p>Fergus had received two severe wounds in the face, and a bayonet +thrust through his leg. The officer did his best to stanch the +bleeding, and was still occupied in doing so when Karl rode up, +jumped from his horse, and ran to his master's side.</p> +<p>"Where have you been, Karl?" Fergus asked, for the soldier had +also received a severe wound in the head.</p> +<p>"I followed you, master, as in duty bound; but I was some +distance behind you, and in that melee I could not get near you; +and being mixed up with one of the squadrons, I did not see you as +you came back, and was in a great state about you until, on riding +up to the staff, one of the officers pointed you out to me."</p> +<p>"I think that you are in good hands now," the officer said. "I +will join the king again."</p> +<p>Fergus thanked him warmly, but in a weak voice.</p> +<p>"The first thing, master, is for you to get a drink," Karl said; +and he took, from the holster of Fergus's saddle, a flask that he +had placed there that morning. "Take a good drink of this," he +said, "then I will see to your wounds. It is plain enough to see +that that officer knew nothing about them."</p> +<p>Fergus drank half of the contents of the flask, and then handed +it to Karl.</p> +<p>"You finish it up," he said. "You want it as much as I do."</p> +<p>"Not so much, master; but I want it badly enough, I own."</p> +<p>Having drank, he proceeded to rebandage his master's wounds, +first laying on them rolls of lint he took from his own +saddlebag.</p> +<p>"I never go on a campaign without lint and a bandage or two," he +said. "Many a life has been lost that might easily enough have been +saved, had they been at hand."</p> +<p>He laid the lint on the wounds, and then bound them firmly and +evenly. He had a bandage left, when he had finished this. With the +aid of a man who was limping to the rear, he used it for stanching +his own wounds.</p> +<p>"Well, master," he said, "you cannot do better than lie here, +for the present. I will look after the horses, and fasten them up +to that bush. The battle is going on as fiercely as ever, and looks +as if it would go on until dark. If so, there will be no collecting +the wounded tonight; but as soon as I see where the king bivouacs, +I will get you there somehow."</p> +<p>"I shall do very well here--at any rate, for the present, Karl. +In the meantime, it would be a good thing if you would take the two +horses down to the brook, and give them a good drink. You mayn't +get a chance later on. As my horse Turk is wounded in two places, I +have no doubt the poor beast is as thirsty as I am."</p> +<p>"The bayonet wound is of no consequence," Karl said, after +examining the horse's flanks; "except that it has taken a good bit +off its value. I don't think this bullet wound through the neck is +serious, either."</p> +<p>In an hour Karl returned, leading the horses.</p> +<p>"I feel all the better for a wash, captain. I wish you could +have one, too. I have filled my water bottle, but you will want +that before morning."</p> +<p>By means of the valises and cloaks, Fergus was propped up into a +half-sitting position; and he remained where he was until, after +nightfall, the din of battle ceased. He had eaten a few mouthfuls +of bread, and felt stronger; and by the time the tents were +pitched, and the bivouac fires lighted, he was able to stand. With +Karl's assistance he mounted in side-saddle fashion and, Karl +leading the horses, made for the tents of the king's staff, five +hundred yards away. Captain Diedrich, the officer who shared the +tent with Fergus, helped Karl to lift him down and carry him +in.</p> +<p>"Do you want a surgeon to see you?"</p> +<p>"No, they must have thousands of serious cases on hand. I merely +fainted from loss of blood. The two wounds in my head cannot be +very serious, and Karl has bandaged them up as well as a surgeon +could do. The worst wound is in my leg. The bayonet went right +through it, and for a moment pinned it to the saddle. However, it +is but a flesh wound, behind the bone about six inches below the +knee. It bled very freely at first, but Karl stanched it, and it +has not burst out since; so it is evident that no great harm is +done."</p> +<p>"I will bring you in some wine and water now," Diedrich said. +"They are getting supper, and I will send you a bowl of soup, as +soon as it is ready."</p> +<p>After Karl had tethered the horses--that of Fergus with the +others belonging to the staff, and his own with those of the escort +and staff orderlies--he sat down at one of the fires, ate his +supper--for each man carried three days' provisions in his +haversack--and, chatting with his comrades, heard that several of +the orderlies had been killed in the fight; and that four of the +officers of the royal staff had also fallen under the enemy's fire, +as they carried messages through the storm of case shot and +bullets. All agreed that never had they seen so terrible a fight, +and that well-nigh a third, if not more, of the army had been +killed or wounded.</p> +<p>"We made a mistake about these Russians," one of the troopers +said. "They are dirty, and they don't even look like soldiers, but +I never saw such obstinate beggars to fight. From the moment the +cavalry made their first charge they were beaten, and ought to have +given in; but they seemed to know nothing about it, and that second +line of theirs charged as if it was but the beginning of a battle. +I was never so surprised in my life as when they poured down on us, +horse and foot; but all that was nothing to the way they stood, +afterwards. If they had been bags of sawdust they could not have +been more indifferent to our fire.</p> +<p>"That was a bad business of Dohna's men. I thought, when we +joined them, they looked too spick and span to be any good; but +that they should run, almost as fast and far as the men of the +Federal army at Rossbach, is shameful. Neither in the last war nor +in this has a Prussian soldier so disgraced himself.</p> +<p>"I don't envy them. I don't suppose a man in the army will speak +to them, and we may be sure that it will be a long time, indeed, +before our Fritz gets over it. It will need some hard fighting, and +something desperate in the way of bravery, before he forgives +them.</p> +<p>"How is your master, Karl?"</p> +<p>"He will do. He has got three wounds, and lost a lot of blood; +but in a fortnight he will be in the saddle again. Perhaps less, +for he is as hard as steel."</p> +<p>"He saved the king's life, Karl. I was twenty yards away, and +was wedged in so that there was no moving, except backwards; for +Dohna's men were half mad with fright, and the Russians were +cutting and slashing in the middle of us."</p> +<p>"I saw it," Karl said. "I was close to you at the time. I put +spurs to my horse and rode over three or four of our own men, and +cut down one who grasped my reins; but I got there too late. I had +no great fear of the result, though. Why, you know, he killed six +Pomeranians who were looting Count Eulenfurst's place, close to +Dresden; and he made short work of those three Russians. It was +done beautifully, too. They tried to get one on each side of him, +but he kept them on his right, and that made a safe thing of +it.</p> +<p>"He is a quiet, good-tempered officer. There is as much fun +about him as a boy, but when his spirit is up, there are not many +swordsmen in the army that could match him. Why, when he first +joined, nearly three years ago, he was in the 3rd Royal Dragoons, +my own regiment; and I heard the sergeant who was in the fencing +room say that there was not an officer in the regiment who was a +match for him with the sword.</p> +<p>"Now I have finished my pipe, and must be going to look after +him again."</p> +<p>The king's surgeon examined Fergus's wounds the next morning, +and said that, although he would not be able to sit a horse until +his leg had healed, he would otherwise soon be convalescent.</p> +<p>Soon after he had left him, Sir John Mitchell came in to see +him. As the English ambassador had very often, during the last two +winters, met Fergus in the king's apartments, at which he himself +was a regular visitor, they were by this time well known to each +other. Mitchell, indeed, regarded Fergus as a valuable assistant in +his work of interesting Frederick, and turning his mind from his +many troubles and anxieties.</p> +<p>"The surgeon has just given a good account of you to the king, +Drummond," he said; "and his majesty expressed much satisfaction at +hearing that your wounds are not serious.</p> +<p>"'That youth is not like most of your compatriots, Mitchell,' he +said to me with a smile; 'ever ready to fight, but equally ready to +join in a drinking bout, should opportunity offer. He is always on +horseback, and as hardy and as healthy as can be. With one of the +hard-drinking sort, fever might set in; but there is no risk of it +with him.</p> +<p>"'As I told you, he saved my life yesterday. I was nearly +compelled to take to my sword, but that would have been of little +avail against the three Russians. Save for the sake of Prussia, my +life is of no great value to me, for 'tis one full of care and +trouble; but for my country's sake I would fain hold on to it, as +long as there is hope for her deliverance from her enemies.</p> +<p>"'You can congratulate him on his promotion, Mitchell, for I +made him a major on the spot. It was a brilliant feat, as brilliant +as that which he performed at Lobositz, or that at Count +Eulenfurst's house at Dresden, each of which got him a step. 'Tis +not often that an officer gets thrice promoted for distinguished +bravery. Each time the feat was the talk of the whole army; and it +will not be less so at the present time, methinks, nor will any +feel jealous at his rapid rise.'"</p> +<p>"The king is too kind, your excellency."</p> +<p>"I do not think so, Drummond. I have marked you a good deal +during the last two years, and you have borne yourself well; and as +a Scotchman I am proud of you. You have the knack of your kinsman +Keith of entering into the king's humours; of being a bright +companion when he is in a good temper, and of holding your tongue +when he is put out; of expressing your opinion frankly, and yet +never familiarly; and your freshness and hopefulness often, I see, +cheer the king, whose Prussians cannot, for their lives, help being +stiff and formal, or get to talk with him as if he were a human +being like themselves.</p> +<p>"Next to Keith and myself, I think that there is no one with +whom the king can distract his mind so completely as with you. To +him it is like getting a whiff of the fresh air from our Scottish +hills. He told the surgeon to see that you were sent down with the +first batch of wounded officers."</p> +<p>The next day, accordingly, while the two armies were watching +each other and the cannon were growling, Fergus was taken down to +Frankfort.</p> +<p>Zorndorf was fought on the 25th of August; and on the 2nd of +September Frederick started with the army for Saxony, where Prince +Maurice had been sorely pressed by Daun and the newly-raised army +of the Confederates, and had had to take post on some heights a +short distance from Dresden.</p> +<p>"A bad job, major," Karl grumbled as he brought the news to +Fergus, who was quartered in a private house. "The king has gone to +have a slap at Daun; and here are we, left behind. If he would have +waited another fortnight, we might have been with him."</p> +<p>"Perhaps we shall get there in time yet, Karl. You may be sure +that as soon as Daun hears that the king is coming he will, as +usual, begin to fortify himself; and it will need no small amount +of marching and counter-marching to get him to come out and give +battle. He was slow and cautious before, but after Leuthen he is +likely to be doubly so.</p> +<p>"However, I will get a tailor here today to measure me for a new +uniform. What with blood, and your cutting my breeches to get at my +leg, I must certainly get a new outfit before I rejoin.</p> +<p>"I hope I shall be with the marshal again. It is a good deal +more lively with him than it is with the king's staff; who, +although no doubt excellent soldiers, are certainly not lively +companions. I do hope there will be no great battle until we get +there. I should think I might start in a week."</p> +<p>The surgeon, however, would not hear of this; and it was the end +of the third week in September before Fergus rode from Frankfort. +The news from the south was so far satisfactory that he had +fidgeted less than he would otherwise have done. Daun had, in fact, +retired hastily from Meissen, and had taken post in an almost +impregnable position at Stolpen. Neisse was being besieged and must +be relieved, but Daun now blocked Frederick's way at Stolpen, both +to that town and to Bautzen--cut him off, indeed, from Silesia, and +for the moment the royal army and that of Prince Maurice were lying +at Dresden. Fergus, therefore, was content to follow the doctor's +orders, and to spend four days on the journey down to Dresden.</p> +<p>Keith was there, and received him joyfully. Lindsay greeted him +vociferously.</p> +<p>"So you have gone up another step above me," he laughed. "Never +was a fellow with such luck as you have. Saved the king's life, I +hear. Tumbled over scores of Russians. Won the victory with your +own sword."</p> +<p>"Not quite as much as that, Lindsay," Fergus laughed. "The +scores of Cossacks come down to three, of whom one my horse tumbled +over, and I managed the other two. Still, although the battle was +only half finished when I was put out of all further part in it, I +may be said in one way to have won it; for had the king fallen, +there is no saying how matters might have gone. It is true that we +could not have lost it, for the Russians were past taking the +offensive, but it might have been a drawn battle."</p> +<p>"It was a terrible business," Lindsay said seriously. "As bad in +its way as Prague, that is to say in proportion to the numbers +engaged. Everyone says they would rather fight three Austrians than +one Russian. The marshal has rather scored off the king; for he +warned him that, though slow, the Russians were formidable foes, +but the king scoffed at the idea. He has found out now that he +greatly undervalued them, and has owned as much to Keith.</p> +<p>"I am sorry to say the marshal is not well. He suffers a good +deal, and I fancy that, after this campaign is over, he will ask to +be relieved from active duty in the field, and will take the +command of the army covering Dresden. He has led a hard life, you +see, and has done as much as three ordinary men.</p> +<p>"Still, we shall see how he is next spring. It would almost +break his heart to have to give up before this war is over."</p> +<p>"It is difficult to say when that will be, Lindsay. Here we are, +getting towards the third year, and the war is not one whit nearer +to the end than it was when we left Berlin. It is true that we have +no longer to count France as formidable, but Russia has turned out +far more so than we expected; and having once taken the matter up, +the empress, if she is half as obstinate as her soldiers, is likely +to go on at it for a long time. And we are using up our army very +fast, and cannot replace our losses as Austria and Russia can +do."</p> +<p>"I hope they are not going to make another twenty years' war of +it," Lindsay said. "If you go on in the way that you are doing, +Drummond, you will be a field marshal in a third of that time; but +you must remember about the proverb of the pitcher and the +well."</p> +<p>"Yes, Lindsay, but you must remember that I am having a share of +hard knocks. I have been wounded twice now, to say nothing of being +stunned and taken prisoner; so you see I am having my share of bad +luck, as well as good. Now at present you have never had as much as +a scratch, and when your bad luck comes, it may come all in a +lump."</p> +<p>"There is something in that, Fergus, though I own that I had not +thought of it. Well, perhaps it is better to take it in small doses +than have it come all at once.</p> +<p>"So you have brought your man back safe, I see, though he has +had an ugly slash across the cheek.</p> +<p>"By the way, I hope that those two sword cuts are not going to +leave bad scars, Drummond. It would be hard to have your beauty +spoilt for life, and you only nineteen; though, fortunately, +everyone thinks you two or three years older. However, they will be +honourable scars, and women don't mind any disfigurement in a man, +if it is got in battle. It is a pity, though, that you did not get +them when defending the king's life, instead of in the cavalry +charge afterwards.</p> +<p>"You brought your horse safe out of the battle, I hope?"</p> +<p>"He has, like myself, honourable scars, Lindsay. He got an ugly +gash on the flank with a bayonet; and I am afraid, when it heals, +white hair will grow on it. He had also a bullet through the neck. +Fortunately it missed both spine and windpipe, and is quite healed +up now."</p> +<p>"It is really a pity to take such a horse as that under fire," +Lindsay said regretfully.</p> +<p>"Well, when one risks one's own life, one ought not to mind +risking that of a horse, however valuable."</p> +<p>"No, I suppose not. Still, it is a pity to ride so valuable an +animal. You are paid so much for risking your own life, you see, +Drummond; but it is no part of the bargain that you should risk +that of a horse worth any amount of money."</p> +<p>Fergus, on his arrival, called at once on Count Eulenfurst; who, +with his wife and daughter, were delighted to see him, for he had +now been absent from Dresden since Frederick had marched against +Soubise, thirteen months before.</p> +<p>"We heard from Captain Lindsay," the count said, "when the army +arrived here, some three weeks since, that you were wounded, but +not gravely; also, that for valour shown in defending the king, +when he was attacked by three Russians, you had been promoted to +the rank of major, upon which we congratulate you heartily. And now +that you have come, I suppose your king will soon be dashing away +with you again.</p> +<p>"What a man he is, and what soldiers! I can assure you that +sometimes, when I read the bulletins, I am inclined to regret that +I was not born two days' journey farther north. And yet, in spite +of his fierce blows at all these enemies, there is no sign of peace +being any nearer than when you dropped down to our rescue, some +twenty-seven months ago. 'Tis a terrible war."</p> +<p>"It is, indeed, count. Certainly, when I crossed the seas to +take service here, I little thought how terrible was the struggle +that was approaching. If we had known it, I am sure that my mother +would never have let me leave home."</p> +<p>"She must be terribly uneasy about you," the countess said. "Do +you hear from her often?"</p> +<p>"She writes once a month, and so do I. I get her letters in +batches. I know that she must be very anxious, but she says nothing +about it in her letters. She declares that she is proud that I am +fighting for a Protestant prince, so hemmed in by his enemies; and +that the thoughts and hopes of all England are with him, and the +bells ring as loudly at our victories, through England and +Scotland, as they do at Berlin."</p> +<p>"If we of Saxony had understood the matter sooner," the count +said, "we should be surely fighting now on your side; and indeed, +had not Frederick compelled his Saxon prisoners to serve with him, +had he sent them all to their homes, there would have been no +animosity and, as Protestants, the people would soon have come to +see that your cause was their own. Most of them do see it, now; for +whenever the enemy have entered Saxony, they have plundered and ill +treated the people, especially the Protestants.</p> +<p>"Are your horses still alive?"</p> +<p>"Yes, count, and well, save that one was wounded at Zorndorf; +but for that he cannot blame me, for it was his own doing. When +Seidlitz charged into the midst of the Russians, he passed close to +us; and Turk, maddened by excitement, seized the bit in his teeth +and joined him in the melee. I got three wounds and he had two, but +happily he has been cured as rapidly as I have, though with no +advantage to the appearance of either of us."</p> +<p>"Will the scars on your face always show as they do now?" Thirza +asked.</p> +<p>"I am sure I hope not," he said. "At present they are barely +healed; but in time, no doubt, the redness will fade out, and they +will not show greatly, though I daresay the scars will be always +visible."</p> +<p>"I should be proud of them, Major Drummond," said Thirza, +"considering that you got them in so great a battle, and one in +which you rendered such service to the king."</p> +<p>"You see, I shall not be always able to explain when and how I +got them," Fergus laughed. "People who do not know me will say:</p> +<p>"'There goes a young student, who has got his face slashed at +the university.'"</p> +<p>"They could not say that," she said indignantly. "Even if you +were not in uniform, anyone can see that you are a soldier."</p> +<p>"Whether or not, Countess Thirza, it is a matter that will +certainly trouble me very little. However, I begin to think that I +shall not always be a soldier. Certainly, I should not leave the +army as long as this war goes on; but I have seen such terrible +fighting, such tremendous carnage, that I think that at the end of +it, if I come out at the end, I shall be glad to take to a peaceful +life. My cousin, Marshal Keith, has been fighting all his life. He +is a great soldier, and has the honour of being regarded by the +king as his friend; but he has no home, no peace and quiet, no +children growing up to take his place. I should not like to look +forward to such a life, and would rather go back and pass my days +in the Scottish glens where I was brought up."</p> +<p>"I think that you are right," the count said seriously. "In +ordinary times a soldier's life would be a pleasant one, and he +could reckon upon the occasional excitement of war; but such a war +as this is beyond all calculation. In these three campaigns, and +the present one is not ended, nigh half of the army which marched +through here has been killed or wounded. It is terrible to think +of. One talks of the chances of war, but this is making death +almost a certainty; for if the war continues another two or three +years, how few will be left of those who began it!</p> +<p>"Even now a great battle will probably be fought, in a few days. +Two great armies are within as many marches of Dresden. The +smallest of them outnumbers Frederick. The other is fully twice his +strength, and so intrenched, as I hear, that the position is +well-nigh impregnable."</p> +<p>"I expect the king will find means to force him out of it, +without fighting," Fergus said with a smile. "Daun is altogether +over cautious, and Leuthen is not likely to have rendered him more +confident."</p> +<p>Fergus spent the greater part of his time at the count's, for +Marshal Keith insisted upon his abstaining from all duty, until the +march began.</p> +<p>"We are off tomorrow morning," he said, when he went up on the +evening of the 30th of September. "Where, I know not. Except the +king, Marshal Keith, and Prince Maurice, I do not suppose that +anyone knows; but wherever it is, we start at daybreak."</p> +<p>"May you return, ere long, safe and sound!" the count said. "Is +there nothing that we can do for you? You know we regard you as one +of the family, and there is nothing that would give us greater +pleasure than to be able, in some way, to make you +comfortable."</p> +<p>"I thank you heartily, count, but I need nothing; and if I did I +could purchase it, for it is but seldom that one has to put one's +hand in one's pocket; and as a captain I have saved the greater +part of my pay for the last two years, and shall pile up my hoard +still faster, now that I am a major.</p> +<p>"I have never had an opportunity, before, of thanking you for +that purse which you handed to Karl, to be laid out for my benefit +in case of need. He holds it still, and I have never had occasion +to draw upon it, and hope that I never may have to do so."</p> +<p>The next morning the army, furnished with nine days' provisions, +and leaving a force to face the army of the Confederates, strode +along the road at its usual pace. They took the road for Bautzen, +drove off Loudon (who commanded Daun's northern outposts) without +difficulty, and so passed his flank. The advance guard pushed on to +Bautzen, drove away the small force there and, leaving there the +magazines of the army, occupied Hochkirch, a few miles away. The +king with the main body arrived at Bautzen on the following day, +and halted there, to see what Daun was going to do.</p> +<p>The latter was, in fact, obliged to abandon his stronghold; for +the Prussians, at Hochkirch, menaced the road by which he drew his +provisions from his magazines at Zittau. Marching at night, he +reached and occupied a line of hills between Hochkirch and Zittau, +and within a couple of miles of the former place.</p> +<p>Frederick had been forced to wait, at Bautzen, till another +convoy of provisions arrived. When he joined the division at +Hochkirch, and saw Daun's army on the opposite hills, busy as usual +in intrenching itself, he ordered the army to encamp when they were +within a mile of Daun's position.</p> +<p>Marwitz, the staff officer to whom he gave the order, argued and +remonstrated, and at length refused to be concerned in the marking +out of such an encampment. He was at once put under arrest, and +another officer did the work. Frederick, in fact, entertained a +sovereign contempt for Daun, with his slow marches, his perpetual +intrenchings, and his obstinate caution; and had no belief, +whatever, that the Austrian marshal would attempt to attack him. He +was in a very bad humour, too, having discovered that Retzow had +failed to take possession of the Stromberg, a detached hill which +would have rendered the position a safe one. He put him under +arrest, and ordered the Stromberg to be occupied.</p> +<p>The next morning the force proceeding to do so found, however, +that the post was already occupied by Austrians; who resisted +stoutly and, being largely reinforced, maintained their position on +the hill, on which several batteries were placed. It was now +Tuesday, and Frederick determined to march away on the +Saturday.</p> +<p>His obstinacy had placed the army in an altogether untenable and +dangerous position. All his officers were extremely uneasy, and +Keith declared to the king that the Austrians deserved to be hanged +if they did not attack; to which Frederick replied:</p> +<p>"We must hope that they are more afraid of us than even of the +gallows."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch13" id="Ch13">Chapter 13</a>: Hochkirch.</h2> +<p>The village of Hochkirch stood on a hilltop, with an extensive +view for miles round on all sides; save on the south, where hills +rose one above another. Among these hills was one called the +Devil's Hill, where the primitive country people believed that the +devil and his witches held high festival, once a year.</p> +<p>Frederick's right wing, which was commanded by Keith, lay in +Hochkirch. Beyond the village he had four battalions, and a battery +of twenty guns on the next height to Hochkirch. From this point to +the Devil's Hill extended a thick wood, in which a strong body of +Croats were lurking. Frederick, with the centre, extended four +miles to the left of Hochkirch. Retzow, who had been restored to +his command, had ten or twelve thousand men lying in or behind +Weissenberg, four miles away.</p> +<p>Frederick's force, with that of Keith, amounted to twenty-eight +thousand men, and Retzow's command was too far away to be +considered as available. Daun's force, lying within a mile of +Hochkirch, amounted to ninety thousand men. Well might Keith say +that the Austrians deserved to be hanged, if they did not attack. +Frederick himself was somewhat uneasy, and would have moved away on +the Friday night, had he not been waiting for the arrival of a +convoy of provisions from Bautzen. Still, he relied upon Daun's +inactivity.</p> +<p>This time, however, his reliance was falsified. All Daun's +generals were of opinion that it would be disgraceful, were they to +stand on the defensive against an army practically less than a +third of their force; and their expostulations at length roused +Daun into activity. Once decided, his dispositions were, as usual, +excellent.</p> +<a id="Map6" name="Map6"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/6.jpg" alt= +"Battle of Hochkirch" /></div> +<p>His plan was an able one. He himself, with thirty thousand men, +was to start as soon as it was dark on Friday evening, sweep round +to the south, follow the base of the Devil's Mountain, and then +through the hollows and thick wood till he was close to the force +on the right of Hochkirch; and was to fall suddenly on them, at +five o'clock on Saturday morning. The orders were that, as soon as +Hochkirch was taken, the rest of the army, sixty thousand strong, +were to march against Frederick, both in front and on his left, and +so completely smash and crumple him up.</p> +<p>Frederick had no premonition of the storm that was gathering. On +Thursday and Friday the Austrians were engaged, as usual, in +felling trees, forming abattis, throwing up earthworks, and in all +ways strengthening their position. Everything seemed to show that +Daun was still bent upon standing upon the defensive only.</p> +<p>As the lurking Croats and Pandoors had, every night, crept up +through the brushwood and hollows, and skirmished with the Prussian +outposts away on the right, scattered firing was not heeded much in +Hochkirch. Fergus had just got up, in the little room he shared +with Lindsay in the marshal's quarters, a mile north of Hochkirch; +and was putting on his boots when, a few minutes past five, the +sound of firing was heard.</p> +<p>"There are the Croats, as usual," he said.</p> +<p>"What a restless fellow you are, Drummond! You have been up, at +this unearthly hour, each morning since we got here. It won't be +light for another two hours yet. I doubt whether it will be light +then. It looks to me as if it were a thick fog."</p> +<p>"You are right about my early hours, and I admit I have been +restless. It is not a pleasant idea that, but a mile away, there is +an army big enough to eat us up; and nothing whatever to prevent +their pouncing upon us, at any moment, except two or three +batteries. The marshal was saying, last night, he should regard it +as the most fortunate escape he ever had, if we drew off safely +tonight without being attacked.</p> +<p>"That firing is heavier than usual. There go a couple of +guns!"</p> +<p>"Those two advanced pieces are sending a round or two of case +shot into the bushes, I suppose," Lindsay said drowsily.</p> +<p>Fergus completed his dressing, and went downstairs and out into +the night. Here he could hear much better than in the room above; +which had but one loophole for air and light, and that was almost +stopped up, with a wisp of straw. He could now plainly hear volley +firing, and a continued crackle of musketry. He ran upstairs +again.</p> +<p>"You had better get your things on at once, Lindsay. It is a +more serious affair than usual. I shall take it upon myself to wake +the marshal."</p> +<p>He went to Keith's door, knocked, and opened it.</p> +<p>"Who is there? What is it?" the marshal asked.</p> +<p>"It is I, Drummond, sir. There is heavy firing going on to the +right, much heavier than it has been any other night."</p> +<p>"What o'clock is it?"</p> +<p>"About ten minutes past five, sir. There is a thick mist, and it +is pitch dark. Shall I go over and inquire what is going on?"</p> +<p>"Yes, do. I expect that those rascally Croats have been +reinforced, and are trying to find out whether we are still in our +positions."</p> +<p>"I will be back as soon as I can, sir."</p> +<p>Fergus ran round to the low range of sheds in which their horses +were stabled.</p> +<p>"Karl, are you there?" he shouted.</p> +<p>"Yes, major," a voice said, close at hand. "I am listening to +all that firing."</p> +<p>"Saddle up at once. You may as well ride with me. I am going to +see what it is all about."</p> +<p>A lantern was burning in the shed, and by its light Fergus and +the orderly rapidly saddled the horses.</p> +<p>"You had better light two more lanterns, Karl. Leave the one on +the wall burning. We will take the others. We shall want them, for +one cannot see a horse's length away; and if we had not the sound +of firing to guide us, we should soon lose our way altogether."</p> +<p>The light enabled them to go at a fairly fast trot, but they +trusted rather to their horses' than to their own eyes. The roar +and rattle of the firing increased in volume, every minute.</p> +<p>"That is more than an affair with the Croats, Karl."</p> +<p>"A good deal more, major. It looks as if the Austrians were +beating up our quarters in earnest."</p> +<p>"It does indeed."</p> +<p>When they reached Hochkirch they found the troops there astir. +The cavalry trumpets were sounding to horse, and the clamour round +the village told that the troops encamped there were getting under +arms.</p> +<p>"Do you know what is going on to the right, sir?" Fergus asked a +field officer, who was in the act of mounting. "Marshal Keith has +sent me to inquire."</p> +<p>"Not in the least; but as far as I can tell by the sound, they +must be attacking us in force, and they seem to be working round in +rear of our battery there. The sound is certainly coming this +way."</p> +<p>"Then I will go on to the battery," Fergus said.</p> +<p>He had ridden but a little way farther, when he was convinced +that the officer was right. The crash of musketry volleys rose +continuously, but although the boom of guns was mingled with it, +there was nothing like the continuous fire that might have been +expected from a twenty-gun battery.</p> +<p>Suddenly from his right a crackle of firing broke out, and then +heavy volleys. The bullets sung overhead.</p> +<p>"They are attacking us in the rear, sir, sure enough," Karl +said.</p> +<p>"I am afraid they have captured our big battery, Karl," Fergus +said, as he turned his horse.</p> +<p>It was but a few hundred yards back to the village but, just as +he reached it, a roar of fire broke out from its rear. They could +make their way but slowly along the streets, so crowded were they +now with infantry who, unable to see until a yard or two away, +could not make room for them to pass, as they would otherwise have +done for a staff officer. With feverish impatience Fergus pushed +on, until the road was clear; but even now he had to go +comparatively slowly, for unless they kept to the track across the +open ground that led to the farmhouse, they must miss it +altogether.</p> +<p>Lights were moving about there as he rode up. Keith himself was +at the door, and the orderlies were bringing up the horses.</p> +<p>"What is it, Major Drummond?"</p> +<p>"It is an attack in force, sir, on the right flank and rear. The +enemy have crept up between Hochkirch and our battery, and as I +came through the village they were attacking it in rear. I cannot +say for certain, but I believe that the battery is taken, though +there is a heavy infantry fire still going on there."</p> +<p>"Ride to Ziethen, Captain Lindsay. Give him the news, and tell +him to fall upon the Austrians.</p> +<p>"Captain Cosser and Captain Gaudy, ride off to the infantry and +bring them up at the double.</p> +<p>"I will take on the Kannaker battalion myself," and he rode down +at once to the camp of this battalion, which was but a hundred +yards away; despatching others of his staff to hasten up the +regiments near.</p> +<p>The Kannaker battalion was already under arms, and marched off +with him as soon as he arrived.</p> +<p>"I am going to the left of the village, Fergus, and shall make +for the battery, which we must retake. Do you go first into +Hochkirch, and see how matters go there. If badly, give my order to +the colonel of the first battalion that comes along, and tell him +to throw himself into the village and assist to hold it to the +last. After that, you must be guided by circumstances. It is +doubtful if you will ever find me again, in this black mist."</p> +<p>Fergus handed his lantern to Keith's orderly, who took his place +at the side of the marshal as the regiment went off at the double. +Fergus rode up to the village. It was scarce twenty minutes since +he had left it, but it was evident that a furious fight was raging +there, and that the Austrians had already penetrated some distance +into its streets. Without hesitation he turned and rode back again +and, in a few minutes, met a dark body of men coming along at a +rapid run.</p> +<p>"Where is the colonel?" he asked, reining in his horse suddenly, +for he had nearly ridden into the midst of them.</p> +<p>"Just ahead of us, to the right, sir."</p> +<p>In a minute Fergus was beside him. By the light that Karl +carried, he recognized him.</p> +<p>"Major Lange," he said, "I have the marshal's orders that you +should march into Hochkirch, and hold it to the last. The Austrians +are already in partial possession of it."</p> +<p>"Which way is it, Major Drummond? For in this mist I have almost +lost my direction, and there seems to be firing going on everywhere +ahead."</p> +<p>"I will direct you," Fergus said. "I have just come from there;" +and he trotted back to the village.</p> +<p>As they approached Hochkirch it was evident that, although the +defenders were still clinging to its outskirts, the greater portion +was lost; but with a cheer the battalion rushed forward, and was in +a moment fiercely engaged. Major Lange's horse fell dead under him, +struck by an Austrian bullet. Fergus rode into the first house he +came to, dismounted, and left his horse there.</p> +<p>"You may as well leave yours here too, Karl. We can do no good +with them, and should only be in the way. When it begins to get +light, we will try and find the marshal.</p> +<p>"You may as well get hold of the first musket and ammunition +pouch that you can pick up. There will be enough for every man to +do to hold this place until more reinforcements come up."</p> +<p>A desperate struggle went on in the streets. The Prussians who +had been driven back joined the battalion just arrived. Bayonets +and the butt-end of the musket were used, rather than shot; for in +the mist friend could not be distinguished from foe five yards +away, and it was from their shouts rather than by their uniforms +that men knew whether they had one or other in front of them. Karl +was not long in finding arms and, taking his place in the ranks, +was soon at work with the others.</p> +<p>The village was almost circular in shape, clustered as it were +on the top of the hill. The struggle was not confined to one +street, but raged in half a dozen, more or less parallel with each +other. Gradually the Prussians pressed forward, and had more than +half cleared the village when their advance was checked by the +arrival of fresh battalions of the Austrians. Then Lange threw his +men into the church and churchyard, and there stubbornly maintained +himself.</p> +<p>Soon flames burst out from various directions, giving a welcome +light to the defenders, and enabling them to keep up so heavy a +fire upon the now swarming enemy that they repulsed each attack +made upon them. Eight battalions of Austrians in vain tried to +capture the position, attacking it on every side; but the stubborn +Prussians held firmly to it.</p> +<p>Meanwhile beyond, as far as the battery, the fight raged. The +Plothow battalion, which had been stationed in advance of it, had +been attacked and enveloped on all sides by the Austrians; but had +defended themselves splendidly and, though forced back by sheer +weight of numbers, had maintained their order and done heavy +execution by their fire. The battery had been lost, but those who +had been driven out rallied and, with the Plothow men, made so +furious a rush forward that they hurled the Austrians out again. It +was but for a few minutes, for such masses of the enemy poured up +through the mist that there was no withstanding them, and many of +the Prussians were taken prisoners. Their captivity was of short +duration, for through the mist Ziethen's horse burst out suddenly +into the raging tumult, scattered the Austrians, released the +prisoners, and were then off to fall upon fresh enemies, as soon as +they discovered their position.</p> +<p>Everywhere isolated combats took place. Battalion after +battalion, and squadron after squadron, as it arrived, flung itself +upon the first enemy it came upon in the darkness. Keith, on +reaching the battery, again retook it; but again the Austrian +masses obtained possession.</p> +<p>In and around Hochkirch, similar desperate struggles were going +on. None fled but, falling back until meeting another battalion +hastening up, reformed and charged again. Ziethen's horse, together +with the rest of the cavalry and gendarmes, mingled with staff +officers and others who had lost their way, continued to make +furious charges against the Austrians pressing round the rear of +the position, and holding them in check.</p> +<p>Until its cartridges were all spent, Lange's battalion held the +churchyard, though its numbers were terribly lessened by the +Austrian fire. Then the major called upon his men to form in a +mass, and cut their way through the enemy with the bayonet. This +they most gallantly did, losing many; but the remnant emerged from +the village, their gallant leader, wounded to death, among +them.</p> +<p>Fergus and Karl separated themselves from them, ran to the house +where they had left their horses, mounted, and galloped off. By +this time the centre was coming up, led by the king himself. As +they neared Hochkirch a cannonball took off the head of Frank of +Brunswick, the king's youngest brother-in-law. Prince Maurice of +Dessau, riding in the dark till within twenty yards of the +Austrians, was badly hit; and the storm of case and musket bullets +that swept the approaches to Hochkirch was so terrible that +Frederick's battalion had to fall back.</p> +<p>"The first thing is to find the marshal," Fergus said, as he +rode out of Hochkirch. "He must be somewhere to the right."</p> +<a id="PicH" name="PicH"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/h.jpg" alt= +"Before he could extricate himself, Fergus was surrounded by Austrians" /> +</div> +<p>He galloped on until a flash of fire burst out, a few yards in +front. His horse fell dead under him and, before he could extricate +himself from it, he was surrounded by Austrians. An officer shouted +to him to surrender and, seeing the hopelessness of resistance, he +at once did so.</p> +<p>He looked round and, to his satisfaction, saw nothing of Karl. +He was placed in the midst of the Austrian regiment, under the +charge of a sergeant, and told that he would be shot if he tried to +escape.</p> +<p>Frederick, with more battalions that had come up, pushed on; +thrusting the Austrians back until he had left Hochkirch on his +left. But by this time it was past eight o'clock, the fog was +dispersing, and he saw a great body of Austrians on the heights to +his right, from Waditz to Meschduitz, as well as on the whole line +of heights on the left. His only line of retreat, therefore, was +along at the foot of the Dressau heights.</p> +<p>These he ordered to be seized, at once. This was done before the +Austrians could reach the spot, they being hindered by furious +charges by Ziethen, from the open ground between Kumschutz and +Canitz; and Frederick rearranged his front of battle, and waited +for Retzow to come up with the left wing.</p> +<p>The Austrians tried several attacks, but with little success. +They too had been hindered and confused by the mist, and the force +that had been engaged in and round Hochkirch had suffered terribly; +and they pushed forward but feebly, now that the Prussian guns on +the heights were able to open fire upon them.</p> +<p>Retzow was long in coming, for he too had been attacked by +twenty thousand men, who had been told off by Daun for the purpose. +The attack, however, was badly managed and feeble; but it delayed +Retzow from making a start, when Frederick's urgent messages +reached him. During this anxious delay the Austrians captured +Frederick's main battery of thirty guns, north of Rodewitz; and +were beginning to press forward, when Retzow came onto the ground +and took up a position at Belgern, covering Frederick's left flank. +Had he been an hour sooner, he might have saved the heavy battery +which lay beyond the range of the guns on the Dressau heights, and +which Frederick could not have supported without bringing on a +general battle.</p> +<p>Then, in a steady and leisurely manner, the king drew off his +forces and took up a new position from Krewitz to Puswietz, +carrying off the whole of his baggage; Retzow and the troops on the +Dressau heights covering the movement, until all had passed; Daun +and his great army standing on their circle of hills, watching, but +not interfering with the movement.</p> +<p>Frederick's rashness had cost him dear. He had lost eight +thousand men; five thousand three hundred and eighty-one of them, +and a hundred and nineteen officers, killed or prisoners; the rest +wounded. He had also lost a hundred and one guns, and most of his +tents.</p> +<p>Of the Austrians, three hundred and twenty-five officers and +five thousand six hundred and fourteen rank and file were killed or +wounded, and a thousand prisoners lost. Twenty thousand of their +men deserted, during their passage through the dark and intricate +woods.</p> +<p>Fergus remained with the regiment that had captured him until +the battle ceased; after which he was taken, under a guard, to the +spot where the Prussian prisoners were gathered. Of these there +were fifty-eight officers, the greater part of whom were more or +less severely wounded. Two of the officers belonged to the Kannaker +battalion, and from them Fergus asked for news of Marshal +Keith.</p> +<p>"We fear he is killed," one said. "He led us into the battery, +and he was with us after we were driven out again; but after that +neither of us saw him. Everything was in confusion. We could not +see twenty yards, any way. We know that the battalion had suffered +terribly. Just before we were captured, being with a score of men +cut off from the rest by a rush of Austrians, a rumour spread that +the marshal had been killed; but more than this we cannot +tell."</p> +<p>Two hours later an Austrian officer rode up, with orders that +the prisoners were to be marched some distance farther to the rear. +Fergus went up to him and said:</p> +<p>"Can you tell me, sir, if Marshal Keith is among the killed? I +am one of his aides-de-camp and, moreover, a cousin of his."</p> +<p>"Yes," the officer said, "he has fallen. His body was recognized +by General Lacy, who commands here. I am on his staff. The general +was greatly affected, for he and the marshal were at one time +comrades in arms. The marshal was shot through the heart, and had +previously received two other wounds. He was a most gallant +soldier, and one highly esteemed by us. He will be buried with all +military honours at Hochkirch, where he has been carried."</p> +<p>Fergus was deeply moved. Keith had been so uniformly kind that +he had come to feel for him almost as a father. He could not speak +for a minute, and then said:</p> +<p>"Would you ask General Lacy, sir, to allow me to attend his +funeral, both as one of the marshal's staff and as a relation, who +loved him very dearly? My name is Major Drummond."</p> +<p>"I will certainly ask him, sir, and have no doubt that he will +grant the request."</p> +<p>He thereupon gave orders that a young officer should remain with +Fergus, until an answer was received. He then rode off, and in a +few minutes the rest of the prisoners were marched away. In half an +hour the officer returned.</p> +<p>"General Lacy will be glad if you will accompany me to his +quarters. He gladly accedes to your request."</p> +<p>Lacy occupied one of the houses at Hochkirch which had been +spared by the flames. The aide-de-camp conducted Fergus to an empty +room.</p> +<p>"The general is away at present," he said, "but will see you, as +soon as he returns."</p> +<p>When alone, Fergus burst into tears. It was indeed a heavy loss +to him. Even before he came out, he had come to regard Keith with +deep respect and admiration. He had heard so much of him, from his +mother, that it seemed to him that their relationship was far +closer than it really was, and that Keith stood in the position of +an uncle rather than of his mother's cousin. Since he had been in +Germany he had been constantly with him, save when he was away with +the king; and the genial kindness, the absence of all formality, +and the affectionate interest he had shown in him had been almost +of a fatherly nature. It was but a poor consolation to know that it +was the death Keith would, of all others, have chosen; and that, +had he survived the campaign, he would probably have been obliged +to retire from active service; or to take some quiet command, where +his inactivity would speedily have chafed him beyond bearing, after +so active and stirring a life.</p> +<p>Two hours later the officer entered the room, and said that +General Lacy had returned, and would see him. The general was alone +when he was shown into his room, and his face evinced a momentary +surprise when his eyes fell on Fergus. Promotion was not very rapid +in the Prussian army, and he had expected to see a man of between +thirty and forty. The sight of this young officer, with the rank +and insignia of major, and wearing on his breast the Prussian +order, surprised him.</p> +<p>"I am sorry indeed for your loss, Major Drummond," he said in +English. "Sorry for my own, too; though it may well be that, in any +case, Keith and I should never have met again. But we were comrades +once and, like everyone else, I loved him. What relation was he to +you?"</p> +<p>"He was my mother's first cousin, general; but they were always +dear friends, and have for years written regularly to each other; +and it was settled that I should come out to him, as soon as I was +old enough. 'Tis upwards of two years since I did so, and he has +been more like a father than a cousin to me, during that time."</p> +<p>"You have gone up the tree fast," General Lacy said.</p> +<p>"Very fast, sir; but I owe it to good fortune, and not to his +influence. I was, in each case, promoted by the king himself."</p> +<p>"A good judge of men, and not accustomed to give promotion +easily. Will you tell me how it happened?"</p> +<p>"There is not much to tell, sir. On the first occasion, I freed +Count Eulenfurst of some rascals who were maltreating him and his +family."</p> +<p>"I remember the circumstance," Lacy said warmly. "I heard it +from a Saxon officer, who joined us at the end of the first +campaign, after the Saxon army was disbanded and the officers were +allowed to go free. He was at Dresden for a time, and heard the +story. It was a gallant business. I think you killed six of them. +And what was the next occasion?"</p> +<p>"The next followed very quickly, general; and was given for +carrying an order to the Prussian horse, which enabled them to get +back to our lines before the Austrian cavalry fell upon them."</p> +<p>"I was there," Lacy said. "So you were the officer who charged +through a squadron of our cavalry, accompanied by a single orderly! +You certainly won your promotion fairly there. And where did you +get your last step?"</p> +<p>"At Zorndorf where, in the melee, when the Russians broke our +ranks, I was fortunate enough to intercept three Russian dragoons +who were making for the king, who was hemmed in among the infantry +he was trying to rally."</p> +<p>"A good reason, again, for promotion. Well, if you go on, you +are likely to rise as high as your cousin. But it is a poor life. +As I looked down upon Keith's face today, I thought how empty is +any honour that adventurers like ourselves can gain. I myself have +risen too; but what does it bring? Responsibility, toil, the +consciousness that a solitary mistake may bring you into disgrace; +and that, in any case, the end may be like this: death on a +battlefield, fighting in a quarrel in which you have no concern, +and of which you may disapprove; a grave soon forgotten; a name +scarce known to one's countrymen. It is not worth it."</p> +<p>The general spoke in a tone of deep feeling.</p> +<p>"I have made up my mind not to continue in the service, after +the war is over," Fergus said, after a short pause; "although the +king has personally been very kind to me and, when the marshal +remained in Bohemia, he took me on his own staff."</p> +<p>"That is right, and as you are young, a few years' further +service will do you no harm. It will, indeed, do you good; that is, +if you pass through it unharmed. A man who has fought under +Frederick, and gained no small honour in a service where brave men +are common, will be respected when he returns to his home, no +matter how small his patrimony may be; and you will be, in all +respects, an abler man for these few years of fierce struggle and +adventure.</p> +<p>"And now, Major Drummond, I must say goodbye for the present, as +I have to ride over to the marshal, and may not return until late +this evening. A meal will be served to you shortly, in your room; +and if your night has been as short as mine has, you will be ready +to turn in early. The funeral will take place tomorrow +morning."</p> +<p>The next morning, Lacy and Fergus Drummond walked side by side, +as chief mourners, after the gun carriage on which the remains of +Marshal Keith were carried to Hochkirch church. There was a large +military cortege, martial music, and infantry with reversed arms. +The many wounded had been carried from the church, and some attempt +made to clear away the signs of the strife that had, twenty-four +hours before, raged around it. There Keith was buried. Twelve +cannon three times pealed out a parting salute. Three times the +muskets of the regiment of Colleredo fired their volleys.</p> +<p>Four months later, by the king's orders, the body was conveyed +to Berlin, and buried in the garrison church with full military +pomp and honour. Twenty years afterwards, when Frederick erected +four statues to the most deserving of his generals, Keith had his +place with Schwerin, Winterfeld, and Seidlitz.</p> +<p>"And now," Lacy said, when they returned from the funeral to his +quarters, "I must send you on after the others. I am sorry to do +so, but I have no choice. Still, I will write to friends at Vienna, +and get them to have you included in the first batch of +exchanges."</p> +<p>An officer was told off to accompany Fergus, and a horse was +found for him. On the second evening after starting he rejoined the +convoy of prisoners; where a message, delivered from General Lacy +to the officer in charge, caused many small indulgences to be +granted to him on the way south.</p> +<p>Day after day the convoy pursued its way, by short marches, for +several of the officers were too severely wounded to travel far. +Several of these were left at Prague. Here the greater portion of +the others were taken on by the southern road through Budweis, the +rest turning southeast towards Moravia.</p> +<p>On the evening before they separated, the commander of the +convoy said to Fergus:</p> +<p>"Have you any wish to choose as to which of the fortresses you +would be sent to? I can put your name down with either party. Some +will go to Iglau in Moravia, the rest to the forts round Linz."</p> +<p>"I think I would rather go to Linz, colonel, as you are good +enough to give me the choice."</p> +<p>Accordingly, the next morning Fergus, with twenty officers, +continued his way south. The majority proceeded to Iglau, to be +distributed among the various fortresses of Moravia.</p> +<p>Fergus was much pleased that he had not been sent with that +party, for had he by chance been taken to his former place of +imprisonment, he would certainly have been recognized, and the +strictest precautions taken against his repeating the attempt. On +their arrival at Linz, the prisoners were formally handed over to +the charge of the governor, and distributed among the various +outlying forts round the city. Ten others were told off to the same +prison as Fergus.</p> +<p>The fort was the one nearest to the river, on the west side of +the city; and stood but a hundred yards from the bank, its guns +being intended to prevent any passage of the Danube, as well as to +guard the city against a land attack from that side. It was a +strong place but, as it was situated in a flat country, it +presented no natural obstacle to an escape. It was surrounded by a +broad moat, fed by a cut from the river. On the other side of the +moat were two small redoubts, facing west. The fort contained ample +barracks for the garrison of three hundred men who occupied it, +with bomb proofs in which they could take refuge, in the event of a +siege. Beyond the moat, a glacis sloped down to another ditch.</p> +<p>The cannon were placed in casemates. Some of them had been +withdrawn, the casemates fitted with massive shutters, and +converted into prisons for the use of officers. Two captains were +lodged in the same casemate with Fergus. No light came from +without, but there was a low semicircular window over the door. +This was very strongly barred, but admitted sufficient light, in +the daytime.</p> +<p>"Not such bad quarters," Fergus said, as he looked round. "When +the cold weather comes, we shall only have to stuff straw through +those bars, leaving one square open for light, and manage to hang a +thick curtain across it at night. I suppose they will give us a +brazier of charcoal, when it gets a little colder; though indeed, +it is cold enough now."</p> +<p>"At any rate, we shall have a rest, major; and that will be a +treat, after our long marches during the last campaign. I should +think that we can sleep the best part of the winter away."</p> +<p>"They fasten the shutters pretty securely," Fergus went on. +"They are three inches of solid oak, and you see these bars are all +riveted at each end. I suppose they think that they would have +plenty of time to cut the rivet heads off, before any army could +approach."</p> +<p>In a short time the officer in command of the force came round. +He was very civil and courteous, and said that he had already +ordered a stove to be sent in, and that they should have some straw +laid over the floor.</p> +<p>"You will be permitted to take exercise, when you like, upon the +rampart overhead," he said. "Any reasonable request you make shall +be attended to. I regret that the misfortune of war should have +placed you in my keeping; for we Austrians can appreciate bravery, +and we cannot but admit that no braver men are to be found than +those in the King of Prussia's army.</p> +<p>"As to your rations, they must be plain. A certain sum is +allowed by government for the cost of each prisoner. I make it go +as far as I can, but I often wish that the sum were larger. I may +say that you are permitted to order any additions to your food from +without, upon payment; but I need hardly add that the orders must +pass through the hands of the officer in charge of you, and that +everything brought in is rigidly inspected."</p> +<p>"Have there been any exchanges of prisoners, of late?" one of +Fergus's companions asked.</p> +<p>"No. It is a compliment to you, gentlemen, for our government +apparently places a higher value on you than on us, and is very +chary of swelling Frederick's armies by the release of prisoners. +Somehow your king seems to make double use of his soldiers. He +fights a battle here, then rushes away to meet another enemy, two +or three hundred miles off; while when we get an advantage, we seem +so satisfied with ourselves that we sit still until we have let its +advantages slip from our hands."</p> +<p>"May I ask if, by the last news, Marshal Daun is still near +Hochkirch?"</p> +<p>"He was so, as far as the yesterday's courier brought news. At +first we thought that he had won a tremendous victory, and had +eaten up Frederick's army; but the later news is that the king +marched safely away, and so far from being demolished he is now +perfectly master of his movements; and ready, no doubt, for another +tussle, if we should advance. However, I should imagine that the +snow will soon put a stop to active operations."</p> +<p>Then, bowing courteously, he left them, to pay a visit to the +prisoners in the next casemate.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch14" id="Ch14">Chapter 14</a>: Breaking Prison.</h2> +<p>"He seems to be a pleasant fellow," Fergus said, "and disposed +to do his best to make us comfortable; so if we don't see any +chance of getting away, we shall be able to get through the winter +very fairly."</p> +<p>"You don't think there is any chance of escape, surely, +major?"</p> +<p>"Pray, drop the major, Captain Stauffen, and let us call each +other by our names, while we are here. The discipline of the +Prussian army is admirable, and must, as a rule, be most +stringently maintained by all sorts of forms and observances; but +here by our three selves, confined in this casemate for no one can +say how long, it is ridiculous that we should be always stiff and +ceremonious. You are both some years older than I am. I have had +the good fortune to have better opportunities than you have had, +and have been promoted accordingly; but while here, let us try and +forget all about that, and make things as pleasant all round as +possible."</p> +<p>The two officers agreed, but not without grave doubts; for to +them it was quite a serious matter to relax, even in a prison, the +stringent rules that guided the relation of officers to each other +in the Prussian army.</p> +<p>"It is a strong place," Fergus went on, "but I don't know that +it is as difficult to break out of as the last place I was in."</p> +<p>"Have you been a prisoner before?" the two officers asked +together, for both belonged to a regiment that was not with +Frederick at Lobositz, and had indeed only recently come down from +Berlin.</p> +<p>"Yes, I was taken at Lobositz and marched to Spielberg, and +managed to get away from there. It is a long story, and will do to +pass away the evening, when we have got the fire and can sit +comfortably and talk round it. My cell there was so high in the +castle that, with the wall and the rock below, there was a fall of +a hundred and fifty feet, at least; so that the difficulties of +escape were a good deal greater than they are here--or perhaps I +should say seemed to be a good deal greater, for I don't know that +they were.</p> +<p>"There is the tramp of a sentry outside. I suppose he walks up +and down the whole length of the six casemates. I counted them as +we came in. We are at one end, which, of course, is an +advantage."</p> +<p>"Why so?" one of the others asked with a puzzled expression of +face.</p> +<p>"Well, you see, the sentry only passes us once to every twice he +passes the casemate in the middle, and has his back to us twice as +long at a time."</p> +<p>"I should not have thought of that," Stauffen said. "Yes, I can +see that if we were escaping through this door, which seems to me +impossible, that it would be an advantage;" and he glanced at his +companion, as if to say that there was more in this fortunate young +officer than they had thought.</p> +<p>Among the officers who had served throughout with Frederick, the +manner in which Fergus had gained his promotion was well known. His +rescue of Count Eulenfurst and his family was the general subject +of talk at Dresden, and even putting aside the gallantry of the +action, it was considered that the army in general were indebted to +him, for having saved them from the disgrace that would have +attached to them had this murderous outrage been carried out +successfully. The manner in which he had saved half the Prussian +cavalry from destruction, by his charge through the Austrian +squadron, had similarly been talked over, in every regiment engaged +at Lobositz. Those who had been at Zorndorf were cognizant of the +fact that he had gained his majority by saving the king's life, as +this had been mentioned in the general orders of the day.</p> +<p>The regiment, however, to which the two officers belonged had +come down from Berlin but six months before; and had formed a part +of the command of Prince Maurice until Frederick had returned from +Zorndorf, and had, with a portion of the force of Prince Maurice, +marched out to compel Daun to abandon his impregnable position at +Stolpen. They had not particularly observed Fergus on their journey +south; and when, during the last two or three days of the march, +they had noticed him, they had regarded him as some fortunate young +fellow who had, by royal favour, received extraordinary promotion, +and had been pushed up over the heads of older men simply from +favouritism. Thus their manner towards him had been even more stiff +and ceremonious than usual.</p> +<p>"Do you think, then," Stauffen said, "that there is any chance +of our making our escape?"</p> +<p>"Oh, I have not had time to think about it, yet!" Fergus +laughed. "There is generally a way, if one can but find it out; but +I have no doubt that it will take a good deal of thinking before we +hit upon it, and if it does nothing else for us, it will be an +amusement through the long evenings to have to puzzle it out. There +is no hurry, for it is not likely that there will be any more +fighting before the army goes into winter quarters; and so that we +are there when the campaign opens in the spring, it will be soon +enough."</p> +<p>The door opened now. Two soldiers brought in a stove. It was +placed nearly in the centre of the room. The flue went up to the +top of the arch, and then turned at right angles, and passed out of +the casemate through a hole just over the window.</p> +<p>After lighting the stove, they brought in two bundles of rushes +and spread them over the floor; and then carried in a tray with +dinner, and placed it on the little table. There were three stools +standing by the side of the three barrack beds, each placed in a +corner of the room. These they carried to the table.</p> +<p>The others waited to see upon which side Fergus placed his. He +put it down on one side.</p> +<p>"Excuse me, major," Stauffen said, changing it--putting him +facing the fire, and placing his own on one side, while his +companion was opposite to him.</p> +<p>Then they stood, stiffly waiting, until Fergus, with a shrug of +his shoulders, took his place.</p> +<p>The dinner consisted of a thin soup, followed by the meat of +which it had been made, stewed up and served with a good gravy and +two sorts of vegetables. The bread was white and good. A bottle of +rough country wine was placed by the side of each.</p> +<p>"The commandant feeds us better here than I was fed at +Spielberg," Fergus said cheerfully. "If I got broth there I did not +get meat; if I had meat I had no broth; and they only gave me half +a bottle of wine. The commandant evidently does as he says, and +makes the money he gets for our keep go far. Let us drink his +health, and a better employment to him. He evidently feels being +kept here, instead of being with the army in the field. In fact, he +is just as much a prisoner as we are, without even the satisfaction +of being able to talk over plans for escape.</p> +<p>"Ah! I see he has sent a box of cigars, too. I finished my last +as we rode here today, and was wondering when I should be able to +get some more in; also tobacco for my pipe. I hope you both +smoke."</p> +<p>Stauffen and his companion, whose name was Ritzer, both did +so.</p> +<p>"I am glad of that," Fergus said. "I think it is very cheery and +sociable when everyone smokes, but certainly when only two out of +three do, it looks somehow as if the one who does not is left out +in the cold. I never smoked until I came out here, two years and a +half ago; but there is no doubt that at the end of a day's hard +work, or when you have got to do a long ride in the dark, it is +very comforting."</p> +<p>His efforts to keep the conversation going were not very +successful. The two officers were evidently determined to maintain +the distinction of rank and, saying to himself that they would +probably soon get tired of it, he ceased to attempt to break down +the barrier they insisted upon keeping up. After dinner was over +they lighted their cigars, and then went out and mounted the steps +from the yard to the ramparts.</p> +<p>They were soon joined by the officers from the other casemates +and, separating into groups, strolled up and down, making remarks +on the country round and the town behind them. Fergus had at once +left his fellow prisoners and joined two or three others with whom +he had been previously acquainted, one being a captain of the 3rd +Royal Dragoons.</p> +<p>"You are with Stauffen and Ritzer, are you not, major?" the +latter said. "I have a brother in the same regiment, and so know +them. How do you get on with them?"</p> +<p>"At present they are rather stiff and distant, and insist upon +treating me as the senior officer; which is absurd when we are +prisoners, and they are both some fifteen years older than I am. I +detest that sort of thing. Of course in a great garrison town like +Berlin or Dresden the strict rules of discipline must be observed. +I think they are carried altogether too far, but as it is the +custom of the service there is nothing to be said about it; but +here, as we are all fellows in misfortune, it seems to me simply +ridiculous."</p> +<p>"It becomes a second nature after a time," the officer said. +"The two with me are both lieutenants, and I should feel a little +surprised if they did not pay me the usual respect."</p> +<p>"Yes, but then you are the older man, and would naturally take +the lead, in any case. To me, I can assure you, it is most +disagreeable to have men much older than myself insisting upon +treating me as their superior officer; especially as, their +regiment having only recently joined us, I suppose they set me down +as some young favourite or other, who has got his promotion over +the heads of deserving officers because he is related to someone in +power."</p> +<p>"They ought to know that there is not much promotion to be +gained in that way in our army, major. The king is the last man who +would promote anyone for that cause. Why, Schwerin's son has served +for four years and is still a cornet in our regiment! No doubt the +king would be glad to promote him if he specially distinguished +himself, but as he has had no opportunity of doing so, he will +probably work his way up in the regiment as everyone else +does."</p> +<p>Two or three more officers came up and joined the party, and +presently Captain Ronsfeldt strolled away and joined another group. +It was not long before he engaged Stauffen and Ritzer in +conversation.</p> +<p>"You have Major Drummond in with you, have you not?"</p> +<p>"Yes," Stauffen said shortly. "Who is the young fellow, do you +know him?"</p> +<p>"Yes, he first joined our regiment as junior cornet. It was less +than two years and a half ago. I was senior lieutenant at the time, +and now I am pretty well up on the list of captains, thanks to the +work we have done and the vacancies that death has made."</p> +<p>"And that boy has gone over your head, and is now walking about +as a major, with the order on his breast. It is enough to make one +sick of soldiering. Who is he related to?"</p> +<p>"He is related to Marshal Keith," Ronsfeldt said quietly.</p> +<p>"Ah! That explains it."</p> +<p>"I don't think you quite understand the case, Stauffen. +Certainly you don't, if you think that there has been any +favouritism. I don't think anyone ever heard of Frederick promoting +a man out of his turn, save for merit; and I suppose there is no +one in the army who has won his rank more worthily, and who is more +generally recognized as deserving it. I have never heard a single +word raised against the honours he has received.</p> +<p>"When he rides through the camp men nudge each other and say, +'That young fellow in staff uniform is Major Drummond;' and there +is not a soldier but tries to put a little extra respect into his +salute."</p> +<p>"Are you joking, Ronsfeldt?" Ritzer asked in astonishment.</p> +<p>"I was never less so, Ritzer;" and he then gave them an account +of the manner in which Fergus had obtained his promotion.</p> +<p>The two officers were silent when Ronsfeldt concluded.</p> +<p>"We have made fools of ourselves," Stauffen said at last, "and +we must apologize, Ritzer."</p> +<p>"Certainly we must," the other agreed heartily. "It seemed to us +that his trying to make us put aside the respect due to his rank +was a sort of affectation, and really impressed it more +disagreeably upon us. We took him for an upstart favourite; though +we might have known, had we thought of it, that the king never +promotes unduly. Who could possibly have believed that a young +fellow, not yet twenty, I should say, could have so distinguished +himself? It will be a lesson to us both not to judge by +appearances."</p> +<p>The day was cold and cheerless, and after an hour spent on the +rampart most of the party were glad to return to the casemates. +Fergus was one of the last to go back. To his disgust the two +officers rose and saluted formally, as he came in.</p> +<p>"We wish," Captain Stauffen said, "to express to you our deep +regret at the unworthy way in which we received your request, this +morning, to lay aside the distinction of rank while we are +prisoners here. We were both under an error. Our regiments having +only joined from Berlin a short time before the king marched with +us to Hochkirch, we were altogether ignorant of the manner in which +you had gained your rank, and had thought that it was the result of +favouritism. We now know your highly distinguished services, and +how worthily you have gained each step; and we both sincerely hope +that you will overlook our boorish conduct, and will endeavour to +forget the manner in which we received your kindly advances."</p> +<p>"Say no more about it, gentlemen," Fergus replied heartily. "I +have had luck, and availed myself of it, as assuredly you would +have done had the same opportunities occurred to you. I can quite +understand that it seemed to you monstrous that, at my age, I +should be your senior officer. I feel it myself. I am often +inclined to regret that I should thus have been unduly pushed +up.</p> +<p>"However, let us say no more about it. I do hope that we shall +be as three good comrades together; and that, within this casemate +at any rate, there will be no question whatever of rank, and that +you will call me Drummond, as I shall call you both by your +names.</p> +<p>"Now, let us shake hands over the bargain. Let us draw our +stools round the stove and have a comfortable talk.</p> +<p>"I have been speaking to Major Leiberkuhn about ordering things. +He tells me that the commandant says that one list must be made. On +this the orders of each of the casemates must be put down +separately. A sergeant will go out every day with it. Money must be +given to him to cover the full extent of the orders. He will return +the change, each day, when he hands in the articles required.</p> +<p>"I have ordered some tobacco, some better cigars than these, and +three bottles of good Hungarian wine. The sergeant is going in half +an hour, so we shall be able to enjoy our chat this evening. I +always take the precaution of carrying twenty golden Fredericks, +sewn up in the lining of my tunic. It comes in very useful, in case +of an emergency of this kind."</p> +<p>"I am afraid that neither of us has imitated your forethought," +Ritzer said with a laugh. "I have only my last month's pay in my +pocket, and Stauffen is no better off."</p> +<p>"Ah, well! With thirty pounds among us, we shall do very well," +Fergus said. "We must be careful because, if we do make our escape, +we shall want money to get disguises."</p> +<p>"You are not really in earnest, Drummond," Stauffen said, "in +what you say about escaping?"</p> +<p>"I am quite in earnest about getting away, if I see a chance; +though I admit that, at present, the matter seems a little +difficult."</p> +<p>"Perhaps if you will tell us about your escape from Spielberg, +we shall be able to get a hint from it."</p> +<p>They now drew up their seats round the stove, and Fergus told +them in detail the manner of his escape, omitting only the name of +the noblemen at Vienna who had assisted him.</p> +<p>"It was excellently done," Ritzer said warmly. "Your making off +in that Austrian uniform, at the only moment when such a thing +could be done, was certainly a masterly stroke."</p> +<p>"So was the taking of the post horses," Stauffen agreed, "and +your getting a disguise from the postmaster. I should like to have +seen the Austrian's look of surprise, when he got his uniform back +again.</p> +<p>"I am afraid that your adventures do not afford us any hint for +getting away from here. Even you will admit that three Austrian +uniforms could not be secured, and the tale by which you procured +the post horses would hardly hold good in the case of three."</p> +<p>"No, if we get away at all it must be done in an entirely +different manner. The place is not so difficult to get out of as +Spielberg was, for with patience we could certainly manage to cut +off the rivet heads of the bars. But I don't see, at present, how +we could cross this wide moat, with a sentry pacing up and down +thirty feet above us; nor climb up the brick wall on the other +side, without making a noise. That done, of course we could, on a +dark night, cross the glacis and swim the outer moat. All that +accomplished, the question of disguises will come in. Just at +present it is not very easy to see how that is to be managed.</p> +<p>"Can you swim?"</p> +<p>Both officers replied in the affirmative.</p> +<p>"Well, that is something gained. As to the rest, we need not +bother about it, at present. We are not uncomfortable where we are, +and if we get back in time for the next campaign, that is all that +really matters."</p> +<p>The others laughed at the confident tone in which he spoke, but +after hearing the details of the prior attempt, it seemed to them +that their companion was capable of accomplishing what almost +seemed to be impossibilities. They had, they knew, very slight +chance of being exchanged so long as the war lasted. A few general +officers, or others whose families possessed great influence, were +occasionally exchanged; but it was evidently the policy of Austria +to retain all prisoners. In the first place she desired to reduce +Frederick's fighting force, and in the second, the number of +Austrians taken had been very much larger than that of the +Prussians captured, and the support of some fifteen or twenty +thousand prisoners of war added to the drain on Frederick's +resources. Three campaigns had passed without materially altering +the position of the combatants, and as many more might elapse +before the war came to an end. Indeed, there was no saying how long +it might last, and the prospect was so unpleasant that the two +officers were inclined to run a very considerable risk in +attempting to obtain freedom.</p> +<p>A week later the snow began to fall heavily, and the moat +froze.</p> +<p>"There is no getting across that without being seen, even on the +darkest night," Fergus said, as he walked up and down the rampart +with his two companions, "unless the sentry was sound asleep; and +in such weather as this, that is the last thing likely to happen. +Unless something altogether unexpected occurs, we shall have to +postpone action till spring comes.</p> +<p>"Now that we have bought some books we can pass the time away +comfortably. It was a happy thought of Major Leiberkuhn that each +of us should buy one book, so that altogether we have got some +forty between us; which, taking our reading quietly, will last us +for a couple of months. They mayn't be all equally interesting; but +as the sergeant bought them second-hand, at about half a franc a +volume, we can lay in another stock without hurting ourselves, +whenever we choose."</p> +<p>A few days later they bought several sets of draughts, chessmen, +and dominoes, and a dozen packs of cards. This had been arranged at +a general meeting, held in the major's casemate. Strict rules had +been laid down that there should be no playing for money. Several +of the prisoners had had only a few marks in their pockets when +captured.</p> +<p>They agreed to meet at three o'clock, in two of the casemates by +turn, as one would not hold the whole number. This made a great +break in their day. It would have been better if the meeting had +been held in the evening; but the regulation that, during the +winter months, they were locked up at five, prevented this being +adopted. So the cold weather passed not altogether unpleasantly. +The strict rule that every case in which the slightest difference +of opinion arose should, at once, be submitted to the adjudication +of Major Leiberkuhn and the senior officer of the casemate in which +it occurred, effectually prevented all disputes and quarrels over +the cards and other games; and their good fellowship remained, +therefore, unbroken.</p> +<p>In March the sun gained power, the snow and ice began to melt, +and Fergus again began to think how an escape could be +effected.</p> +<p>"I can think of only one plan," he said to his two companions, +one evening. "It is clear that it is altogether hopeless to think +of getting out by the door but, as we agreed, it would be possible +to chip off the heads of the rivets, unbar the shutters, and let +ourselves down into the moat. If we were to make our way along at +the foot of the wall, the chance of our being seen by the sentry +above would be very slight; for of course we should choose a night +when the wind was blowing hard, and the water ruffled. In that case +any splash we might make would not be heard.</p> +<p>"Swimming along to the corner of this face of the fort, we would +turn and keep along until we reached the spot where the cut runs to +the river. Crossing the moat to that would be the most dangerous +part of the business, and we ought, if possible, to dive across. +There is a low wall there, and a cheval-de-frise on the top of it. +We should have to get out by the side of that, and then either swim +along the cut, or crawl along the edge of it till we get to the +river.</p> +<p>"Then we must crawl along under the shelter of its banks towards +the town, till we get to a boat hauled up, or swim to one moored a +little way out in the stream. Then we must row up the river for +some distance, and land."</p> +<p>"That all seems possible enough, Drummond," Captain Ritzer said; +"but what about our uniforms?"</p> +<p>"We must leave them behind, and swim in our underclothes. I +should say we should take a couple of suits with us. We could make +them up into bundles, and carry them on our heads while we swim. Of +course, if we take them we shall not be able to dive; but must swim +across the moat to the cut, and trust to the darkness for the +sentries not seeing us. Then, once on board a boat, we could take +off our wet things and put the dry ones on."</p> +<p>"But we can hardly wander about the country in shirts and +drawers, Drummond," Stauffen suggested.</p> +<p>"Certainly not. My idea is that, as soon as we are a mile or two +away, we should either board some boat where we see a light, and +overpower the boatmen and take their clothes, if they will not sell +them to us; or else land at some quiet house, and rig ourselves +out. There should be no great difficulty about that. Once rigged +out we must make south, for as soon as our escape is found out the +next morning, cavalry will scour the country in every direction on +this side of the river, and give notice of our escape at every town +and village.</p> +<p>"After lying up quiet for a time, we must journey at least fifty +miles west. We might make for Munich if we like; or strike the Isar +at Landshut, and then work up through Ratisbon, and then through +the Fichtel Mountains to Bayreuth, and so into Saxony; or from +Landshut we can cross the Bohmerwald Mountains into Bohemia; or, if +we like, from Munich we can keep west into Wuertemberg, up through +Hesse-Darmstadt and Cassel into Hanover; or, lastly, we can go on +to Mannheim and down the Rhine, and then come round by sea to +Hamburg."</p> +<p>The others laughed.</p> +<p>"It looks a tremendous business, anyhow, Drummond, and I should +never think of attempting it by myself," Ritzer said; "but if you +assure me that you think it will be possible, I am ready to try +it."</p> +<p>"I think that there is every chance of success, Ritzer. I really +do not see why it should fail. Of course there is risk in it, but +once fairly on the other side of the moat, and on the river bank, +it seems comparatively safe. We can see that there are always a lot +of boats moored in the stream, this side of the bridge; and by +taking a small boat, we might put off to one of them and get our +change of clothes, at once bind and gag the crew--there are not +likely to be above two or three of them--give them a piece of gold +to pay for the clothes, and then row straight up the river and land +a mile or two away. That would make it plain sailing.</p> +<p>"Of course we should push the boat off when we landed, and it +would float down past the town before daylight. The chances are +that the boatmen, finding that they are no losers by the affair, +would make no complaint to the authorities; but even if they did, +we should be far beyond their reach by that time. All we have got +to do is to choose a really dark night, with wind and rain.</p> +<p>"The first job to be done is to get the heads off these rivets. +I have examined them carefully. They are roughly done, and I don't +fancy that the iron is very hard; and our knives will, I think, +make a comparatively short job of it."</p> +<p>"We could not work at night," Ritzer said. "The sentry in front +would hear the noise."</p> +<p>"I think of sawing the heads off," Fergus said. "With the help +of a little oil, I fancy the steel will cut through the iron. +Yesterday I tapped the edge of my knife against the edge of the +stone parapet--it is good steel, but very brittle--and I managed to +make a pretty fair saw of it. Tomorrow I will do yours, if you +like."</p> +<p>All carried clasp knives for cutting their food with, when +serving in the field. They had oil which they had bought for +dressing salads with, and Fergus at once attacked one of the +rivets.</p> +<p>"It cuts," he said, after three or four minutes' work. "Of +course it will be a long job, but we ought to do it in a week. +There are three bars, and if we cut the rivets at one end of each, +I have no doubt we shall be able to turn the bars on the rivets at +the other end."</p> +<p>They relieved each other at short intervals, and worked the +greater part of the night. At the end of that time the head of one +of the rivets was cut almost through.</p> +<p>"We will leave it as it is now," Fergus said. "A quarter of an +hour's work will take it off. As it is, no one would notice what +has been done, unless he inspected it closely."</p> +<p>Greatly encouraged by this success, the others now entered +warmly into his plans. Using his knife instead of a stone, he was +able the next day to convert their knives into much better saws +than his own had been; and the other two rivets were cut in a much +shorter time than the first.</p> +<p>They waited another week and then the wind began to rise, and by +evening half a gale was blowing, and the rain falling heavily. +There was no moon, and the night would be admirably suited for +their purpose. Their supper was brought in at six o'clock. Knowing +that they would not be visited again until the morning, they at +once began work.</p> +<p>As soon as they had finished cutting one rivet they tried the +bar, and their united strength was quite sufficient to bend it far +enough to allow it being withdrawn from the rivet; then, throwing +their weight upon it, it turned upon the bolt at the other end, +until it hung perpendicularly. In another half hour the other two +bars were similarly removed, and the heavy shutters opened. They +were closed again, until their preparations were complete.</p> +<p>First they ate their supper, then sat and talked until nine. +Then they knotted their sheets together, and tied the underclothes +into bundles.</p> +<p>"The Austrian government will be no losers," Fergus laughed. +"They will get three Prussian uniforms, instead of six suits of +prison underclothing. Now, shall I go first, or will one of +you?"</p> +<p>"We will go according to rank," Ritzer laughed.</p> +<p>"Very well. Now mind, gentlemen, whatever you do, take the water +quietly. I will wait until you are both down, then we will follow +each other closely, so that we can help one another if necessary. I +can hardly see the water from here; and the sentry, being twice as +far off from it as we are, will see it less. Besides, I think it +likely that they will be standing in their sentry boxes, in such a +rain as this; and I feel confident that we shall get across without +being seen. The river is high, and the opposite wall of the moat is +only a foot above the water, so we shall have no difficulty in +getting out on the other side.</p> +<p>"I have the money sewn in a small bag round my neck. We may as +well take our knives with us. They will help us to tackle the +boatmen. I think that is everything. Now, we will be off."</p> +<p>Fastening the sheet firmly to one of the bars, he swung himself +out, slid down the rope quietly and noiselessly, and entered the +water, which was so cold that it almost took his breath away. He +swam a stroke or two along the wall, and waited until joined by +both his comrades. Their casemate being the end one, they had but +some ten or twelve yards to swim to the angle of the wall.</p> +<p>Another fifty took them to a point facing the cut. Fergus had +paced it on the rampart above, and calculated that each stroke +would take them a yard. It was too dark to see more than the dim +line of the wall on the other side. He waited until the others +joined him.</p> +<p>"Are you all right?" he asked, in a low voice.</p> +<p>"Yes, but this cold is frightful."</p> +<p>"We shall soon be out of it," he said. "Wait till I have gone a +few yards, and then follow, one after the other."</p> +<p>The surface of the moat was so ruffled by the wind that Fergus +had little fear of being seen, even if the sentry above was out and +watching; but he felt sure that he would be in his sentry box, and +so swam boldly across. He at once climbed onto the lower wall, and +helped his two companions out. They were completely numbed by the +cold.</p> +<p>"Come along," he said. "We are on the lower side of the cut. +Crawl for a short distance, then we can get up and run, which will +be the best thing for us."</p> +<p>In three minutes they were up on the river bank.</p> +<p>"Now we can change our clothes," he said. "The others will soon +get wet through, but they won't be as cold as these are."</p> +<p>The things were soon stripped off. Each gave himself a rub with +one of the dry shirts, and they were soon dressed in the double +suits and stockings.</p> +<p>"That is better," Fergus said cheerfully. "Now for a run along +the towing path."</p> +<p>A quarter of a mile's run and circulation was restored, and all +felt comparatively comfortable. They had, at the suggestion of +Fergus, wrung out the things they had taken off; and thrown them +over their shoulders, so as to afford some protection against the +rain. They now dropped into a slower pace and, after going for a +mile, they neared the spot where the craft were lying moored in the +river.</p> +<p>Several small boats were drawn up on the shore. One of these +they launched, put out the oars, and rowed quietly to a large +barge, fifty yards from the bank, on which a light was burning. +Taking pains to prevent the boat striking her side, they stepped on +board, fastened the head rope, and proceeded aft. A light was +burning in the cabin and, looking through a little round window in +the door, they saw three boatmen sitting there, smoking and playing +cards. They opened their knives, slid back the door, and stepped +in.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch15" id="Ch15">Chapter 15</a>: Escaped.</h2> +<p>So astonishing was the spectacle of three lightly-clad men, +appearing suddenly on board a craft moored out on the river, that +the three boatmen sat immovable, in the attitudes in which they had +been sitting at the entry of these strange visitors, without +uttering a word. Superstitious by nature, they doubted whether +there was not something supernatural in the appearance of the three +strangers.</p> +<p>"If you cry out or make the slightest sound," Fergus said, +showing his knife, "you are all dead men. If you sit quiet and do +as we order you, no harm will come to you. We want clothes. If you +have spare ones you can hand them to us. If not, we must take those +you have on. We are not robbers, and don't want to steal them. If +you will fix a fair price on the things, we will pay for them. But +you must in any case submit to be bound and gagged till morning; +when, on going on deck, you will find no difficulty in attracting +the attention of some of your comrades, who will at once release +you.</p> +<p>"Keep your hands on the table while my friends take away your +knives. If one of you moves a hand, he is as good as a dead +man."</p> +<p>His companions removed the knives from the belts of the two men +sitting outside, and then Fergus said to the third man:</p> +<p>"Now, hand over your knife. That will do.</p> +<p>"Now, which of you is the captain?"</p> +<p>"I am," the man sitting farthest from the door said.</p> +<p>"Very well. Now, have you spare clothes on board?"</p> +<p>"Yes, my lord," he replied, in a tone that showed that he had +not yet recovered from his first stupefaction, "we have our Sunday +suits."</p> +<p>"We don't want them," Fergus said. "We want the three suits that +you have on. What do you value them at?"</p> +<p>"Anything you like, my lord."</p> +<p>"No, I want to know how much they cost when new."</p> +<p>The man asked his two comrades, and then mentioned the +total.</p> +<p>"Very well, we will give you that. Then you will have no reason +for grumbling, for you will get three new suits for three old +ones.</p> +<p>"Now do you--" and he touched the man nearest to him "--take off +your coat, waistcoat, breeches, neck handkerchief, and boots, and +then get into that bunk."</p> +<p>The man did as he was ordered, as did the other two, in +succession. As they did so, Captain Ritzer had gone up on deck and +returned with a coil of thin rope that he had cut off. With this +they tied the men securely.</p> +<p>"There is no occasion to gag them, I think," Fergus said. "They +might shout as loud as they liked and, with this wind blowing, no +one would hear them; or if anyone did hear them, he would take it +for the shouting of a drunken man.</p> +<p>"Now, look here, my men. Here is the money to buy the new +clothes. We have not ill treated you in any way, have we?"</p> +<p>"No, sir, we are quite satisfied."</p> +<p>"Now, I should advise you, in the morning, to manage to untie +each other. We shall fasten the door up as we go out, but you will +have no difficulty in bursting that open, when you are once +untied.</p> +<p>"Now I ask you, as you are satisfied, to say nothing about this +affair to anyone. It would only make you a joke among your +comrades, and could do you no good. The best thing that you can do, +when you get free, will be to dress yourselves in your Sunday +clothes, take your boat ashore, and buy new things in the place of +those we have taken."</p> +<p>"That is what we shall do, sir. No one would believe us, if we +told them that three men had come on board and taken our old +clothes, and given us money to buy new ones in their place."</p> +<p>The three boatmen were all tall and brawny Bavarians, and their +clothes fitted Fergus and his companions well. Fishermen's hats +completed their costume. The little cabin had been almost +oppressively warm, and they had completely got over their chill +when they left it, closing the door behind them.</p> +<p>They took their places in the boat, crossed to the opposite +shore, which was to some extent sheltered from the wind, and rowed +some three miles up. Then they landed, pushed the boat off into the +stream, kept along the bank until they came to a road branching off +to the left, and followed it until it struck the main road, a few +hundred yards away; and then walked west.</p> +<p>There had been but few words spoken since they left the barge. +It had been hard work rowing against wind and stream. The oars were +clumsy, and it had needed all their efforts to keep the boat's head +straight. Now that they were in the main road, they were somewhat +more sheltered.</p> +<p>"Well, Drummond, we have accomplished what seemed to me, in +spite of your confidence, well-nigh impossible. We have got out, we +have obtained disguises, and we have eight or nine hours before our +escape can be discovered. I shall believe anything you tell me, in +future," Ritzer said.</p> +<p>"Yes," his companion agreed, "I never believed that we should +succeed; though, as you had set your heart on it, I did not like to +hang back. But it really did seem to me a wild scheme, altogether. +I thought possibly we might get out of the fort, but I believed +that your plan of getting disguises would break down altogether. +The rest seemed comparatively easy.</p> +<p>"The rain has ceased, and the stars are coming out, which is a +comfort indeed. One was often wet through, for days together, when +campaigning; but after five months' coddling, an eight hours' tramp +in a blinding rain would have been very unpleasant, especially as +we have no change of clothes.</p> +<p>"Now, commanding officer, what is to be our next tale?"</p> +<p>"That is simple enough," Fergus said with a laugh. "We have been +down with a raft of timber from the mountains, and are on our way +back. That must be our story till we have passed Ratisbon. There is +but one objection, and that is a serious one. As raftsmen we should +certainly speak the Bavarian dialect, which none of us can do. For +that reason I think it would be safer to leave the Danube at +Passau, and make down through Munich. We should be at Passau +tomorrow morning, and can put up at any little place by the +riverside. Two days' walking will take us to Munich.</p> +<p>"Certainly no one would suspect us of being escaped prisoners. +We can get some other clothes tomorrow morning, and finish the rest +of our journey as countrymen.</p> +<p>"The principal thing will be to get rid of these high boots. I +think in other respects there is nothing very distinctive about our +dress. It will be more difficult to concoct a story, but we must +hope that we sha'n't be asked many questions, and I see no reason +why we should be. We shall look like peasants going from a country +village to a town, but if we could hit upon some story to account +for our not speaking the dialect, it would of course be a great +advantage."</p> +<p>They walked along in silence for some time. Then he went on:</p> +<p>"I should say we might give out that we are three Saxons who, +having been forced at Pirna to enter the Prussian army, had been +taken prisoners at Hochkirch and had been marched down with the +others to Vienna; and that there, on stating who we were and how we +had been forced against our will into Frederick's army, we were at +once released, and are now on our way back to Saxony; and are +tramping through Bavaria, so as to avoid the risk of being seized +and compelled to serve either in the Austrian army or the Prussian; +and that we are working our way, doing a job wherever we can get a +day or two's employment, but that at present, having worked for a +time at Vienna, we are able to go on for a bit without doing +so.</p> +<p>"I think with that story we could keep to the plan of going up +through Ratisbon. It would be immensely shorter, and the story +would be more probable than that we should make such a big detour +to get home."</p> +<p>"Yes, I should think that would do well," Ritzer said, "and will +shorten the way by two hundred miles. But after leaving Passau, I +should think that we had better not follow the direct road until we +get to Ratisbon.</p> +<p>"I grant that as far as that town we ought to be quite safe, for +there is no chance of their finding out that we have escaped until +eight o'clock in the morning; then our colonel will have to report +the matter to the commandant in the town. No doubt he will send off +a small party of cavalry, by the Freyberg road to Budweis, to order +the authorities there to keep a sharp lookout for three men passing +north. But I doubt very much whether they will think of sending in +this direction. The escape of three Prussian officers is, after +all, no very important matter. Still, one cannot be too careful, +for possibly the commandant may send to Munich, Ratisbon, and +Vienna.</p> +<p>"It is more likely, however, that the search will be made +principally in and round Linz. They will feel quite sure that we +cannot possibly have obtained any disguises, and must have gone off +in our undergarments; and they will reckon that we should naturally +have hidden up in some outhouse, or country loft, until we could +find some opportunity for obtaining clothes. Most likely the barge +went on this morning, before the alarm had been given; but even if +it didn't, boatmen would not be likely to hear of the escape of +three prisoners.</p> +<p>"No, I think beyond Passau we shall be quite safe, as far as +pursuit goes; but it will be best to halt there only long enough to +take a good meal, and then to go on for a bit, and stop at some +quiet riverside village."</p> +<p>"I don't think I shall be able to go very far," Ritzer said. +"These boots are a great deal too large for me, and are chafing my +feet horribly. The road is good and level; and I was thinking, just +now, of taking them off and carrying them."</p> +<p>"That would be the best way, by far," Fergus said. "I should +think at Passau we are sure to find a boat going up to Ratisbon, +and that will settle the difficulty."</p> +<p>The distance was some thirty miles and, making one or two halts +for a rest, they reached Passau just as morning was breaking. In a +short time the little inns by the river opened their doors, and the +riverside was astir. They went into one of the inns and ate a +hearty meal, then they went down to the waterside, and found that +there were several country boats going up the river. They soon +bargained for a passage, and had just time to buy a basket of +bread, sausage, and cheese, with half a dozen bottles of wine, +before the boat started. There were no other passengers on board +and, telling the story they had agreed upon, they were soon on good +terms with the boatmen.</p> +<p>Including the windings of the river, it was some eighty miles to +Ratisbon. The boat was towed by two horses, and glided pleasantly +along, taking three days on the passage. They bought food at the +villages where the craft lay up for the night, and arrived at +Ratisbon at nine o'clock in the evening. There they found no +difficulty in obtaining a lodging at a small inn, where no +questions, whatever, were asked.</p> +<p>A short day's journey took them to Neumarkt, a tramp of upwards +of twenty miles. It was a longer journey on to Bamberg, and two +days later, to their satisfaction, they entered Coburg.</p> +<p>They were now out of Bavaria, and had escaped all difficulties +as to the dialect far better than they had anticipated, never +having been asked any questions since they left the boat at +Ratisbon. They had now only to say that they were on their way to +join the Confederate army that was again being gathered; but they +preferred avoiding all questions, by walking by night and resting +at little wayside inns during the day. Avoiding all towns, for the +troops were beginning to move, they crossed the Saxon frontier +three days after leaving Coburg, and then travelled by easy stages +to Dresden.</p> +<p>Here they went straight to the headquarters of the commandant of +the town, and reported themselves to him. Fergus had personal +acquaintances on his staff, and had no difficulty in obtaining, for +himself and his companions, an advance of a portion of the pay due +to them, in order that they might obtain new outfits.</p> +<p>This took a couple of days, and the two captains then said +goodbye to Fergus, with many warm acknowledgments for the manner in +which he had enabled them to regain their freedom--expressions all +the more earnest since they heard that the Austrians had decided +that, in future, they would make no exchanges whatever of +prisoners--and started to rejoin their regiments.</p> +<p>Fergus felt strangely lonely when they had left him. The king +was at Breslau. Keith was lying dead in Hochkirch. What had become +of Lindsay he knew not, nor did he know to whom he ought to report +himself, or where Karl might be with his remaining charger and +belongings. Hitherto at Dresden he had felt at home. Now, save for +Count Eulenfurst and his family, he was a stranger in the +place.</p> +<p>Naturally, therefore, he went out to their chateau. Here he was +received with the same warmth as usual.</p> +<p>"Of course we heard of your capture at Hochkirch," the count +said, "though not for many weeks afterwards. We were alarmed when +the news came of the marshal's death, for as it was upon his +division that the brunt of the battle had fallen, we feared greatly +for you. At last came the list the Austrians had sent in of the +prisoners they had taken, and we were delighted to see your name in +it; though, as the Austrians have been so chary of late of +exchanging prisoners, we feared that we might not see you for some +time. However, remembering how you got out of Spielberg, we did not +despair of seeing you back in the spring.</p> +<p>"Thirza was especially confident. I believe she conceives you +capable of achieving impossibilities. However, you have justified +her faith in you.</p> +<p>"Supper will be served in a few minutes, and as no doubt your +story is, as usual, a long one, we will not begin it until we have +finished the meal. But tell us first, how were you captured?"</p> +<p>"I was riding through the mist to find the marshal; whom I had +not seen for two hours, as I was with the regiment that defended +the church at Hochkirch, and then cut its way out through the +Austrians. The mist was so thick that I could not see ten yards +ahead, and rode plump into an Austrian battalion. They fired a +volley that killed poor Turk, and before I could get on my feet I +was surrounded and taken prisoner--not a very heroic way, I must +admit."</p> +<p>"A much pleasanter way, though, than that of being badly +wounded, and so found on the field by the enemy," the countess +said; "and you were fortunate, indeed, in getting through that +terrible battle unhurt."</p> +<p>"I was, indeed, countess; but I would far rather have lost a +limb than my dear friend and relation, the marshal. I was allowed +to attend his funeral the next day. The Austrians paid him every +honour and, though I have mourned for him most deeply, I cannot but +feel that it was the death he would himself have chosen. He had +been ailing for some months, and had twice been obliged to leave +his command and rest. It would, in any case, probably have been his +last campaign; and after such a wonderfully adventurous life as he +had led, he would have felt being laid upon the shelf sorely."</p> +<p>"His elder brother--Earl Marischal in Scotland, is he not?--who +has been governor for some years at Neufchatel, is with the king at +Breslau, at present. They say the king was greatly affected at the +loss of the marshal who, since Schwerin's death, has been his most +trusted general."</p> +<p>"I have never seen the marshal's brother," Fergus said, "though +I know that they were greatly attached to each other. I hope that +he will be at Breslau when I get there. I shall go and report +myself to the king, after I have had a few days' rest here. At +present I seem altogether unattached. The marshal's staff is, of +course, broken up; but as I served on the king's own staff twice, +during the last campaign, I trust that he will put me on it +again."</p> +<p>"That he will do, of course," the count said. "After saving his +life at Zorndorf, he is sure to do so."</p> +<p>Supper was now announced, and after it had been removed and the +party drew round the fire, Fergus told them the story of his +escape.</p> +<p>"It was excellently managed," the count said, when he had +finished. "I do not know that it was quite as dramatic as your +escape from Spielberg, but I should think that, of the two, the +escape from Linz must have seemed the most hopeless. The plan of +getting the shutters open and of swimming the moat might have +occurred to anyone; but the fact that you were in uniform, and that +it would have been impossible to smuggle in a disguise, would have +appeared to most men an insuperable obstacle to carrying out the +plan.</p> +<p>"You certainly are wonderfully full of resource. As a rule, I +should think that it is much more difficult for two men to make +their escape from a place than it is for one alone; but it did not +seem to be so, in this case."</p> +<p>"It certainly did not add to the difficulty of getting out of +the fort, count. Indeed, in one respect it rendered it more easy. +There were three of us to work at the heads of the rivets, and it +certainly facilitated our getting clothes from the boatmen, besides +rendering the journey much more pleasant than it would have been +for one of us alone.</p> +<p>"On the other hand, it would have been impossible to carry out +the escape from Spielberg in the manner I did, if I had had two +officers with me in the cell. We could not have hoped to obtain +three uniforms, could hardly have expected all to slip by the +sentry unnoticed. Lastly, the three of us could not have got post +horses. Still, it is quite possible that we might have escaped in +some other manner."</p> +<p>"Then you have not the most remote idea where you will find your +servant and horse?"</p> +<p>"Not the slightest. If Captain Lindsay got safely through the +battle of Hochkirch, I should say that my man would stick by him. +His servant, a tough Scotchman, and Karl are great chums; and I +have no doubt that, unless he received positive orders to the +contrary, Karl has kept company with him."</p> +<p>"Of course you can find out, from the authorities here, who has +taken command of Marshal Keith's division; and might possibly hear +whether he took over the marshal's personal staff, or whether he +brought his own officers with him."</p> +<p>"Yes, I should think I might do that, count. I think I shall in +any case report myself to the king; but if Lindsay were stationed +at any place I could pass through, on my way to Breslau, I would +pick up Karl and my horse."</p> +<p>"I shall of course send you another horse tomorrow," the count +said. "No, no, it is of no use your saying anything against it. It +was settled that I should supply you with mounts, while the war +lasted, and I intend to carry that out fully. I don't know that I +have another in my stables here that is quite equal to the other +pair, but there are two or three that approach them very nearly. If +you can get a mounted orderly, well and good; if not, I will lend +you one of my men. Any of my grooms would be delighted to go with +you, for all regard you as the saviour of our lives.</p> +<p>"I am afraid, my friend, you will not be able to pay us many +more visits. Your king is a miracle of steadfastness, of energy, +and rapidity; but even he cannot perform impossibilities. Leave out +the Russians, and I believe that he would be more than a match for +the Austrians, who are hampered by the slowness of their generals; +but Russia cannot be ignored. In the first campaign she was +non-existent, in the second she annexed East Prussia. This year you +have had a deadly tussle with her, next year she may be still more +formidable; and I do not believe that Frederick with all his skill, +and with the splendid valour his troops show, can keep the Russians +from advancing still further into the country, and at the same time +prevent the Austrians and the Federal army from snatching Dresden +from his grasp.</p> +<p>"I myself should regret this deeply. Prussia, although she taxes +the population heavily, at least permits no disorders nor ill +treatment of the people, no plundering of the villages; while the +Austrians, Croats, and Pandoors will spread like a swarm of hornets +over the land, and the state of the Saxons under their so-called +rescuers will be infinitely worse than it has been under their +conquerors."</p> +<p>"It would be a heavy blow to the king to lose Dresden," Fergus +agreed, "but I am by no means sure that he would not be better +without it; except, of course, that it would bring the enemy so +much nearer to Berlin, otherwise the loss of Saxony would be a +benefit to him. During all his movements, and in all his +combinations, he is forced to keep an eye on Dresden. At one moment +it is Soubise, with his mixed army of French, Austrians, and +Confederate troops, who have to be met and, leaving all else, +Frederick is forced to march away two or three hundred miles, and +waste two or three precious months before he can get a blow at +them. Then he has to leave a considerable force to prevent them +gathering again, while he hurries back to prevent Daun from +besieging Dresden, or to wrest Silesia again out of his hands. +Saxony lost, he could devote his whole mind and his whole power to +the Russian and Austrian armies; who will no doubt, at the next +campaign, endeavour to act together; and the nearer they are to +each other, the more easily and rapidly can he strike blows at them +alternately."</p> +<p>"Perhaps you are right," the count said, "and certainly the +Austrians would have to keep a considerable force to garrison +Dresden and hold Saxony; for they would be sure that, at the very +first opportunity, Frederick would be among them raining his blows +rapidly and heavily. As to any advance north, they would not dare +attempt it; for Frederick, who can move more than twice as fast as +any Austrian army, would fall on their flank or rear and annihilate +them.</p> +<p>"Still, the blow would be undoubtedly a heavy one for the king, +inasmuch as it would greatly raise the spirits of his enemies, and +would seem to show them that the end was approaching."</p> +<p>"I think the end is a good way off still, count. Even if the +Russians and Austrians marched across Prussia, they would hold +little more than the ground they stood on. Frederick would be ever +hovering round them, attacking them on every opportunity, and +preventing them from sending off detached columns; while the +cavalry of Ziethen and Seidlitz would effectually prevent Cossacks +and Croats from going out to gather stores for the armies, and to +plunder and massacre on their own account. I doubt whether anything +short of the annihilation of his army would break the king's spirit +and, so far as I can see, that is by no means likely to take +place."</p> +<p>"However, the point at present, my friend, is that if the +Austrians get Dresden, it may be long before we see you again."</p> +<p>"I fancy that when the army goes into winter quarters again, if +I am able to get leave of absence, I shall do myself the pleasure +of paying you a visit, whether the city has changed hands or not. +If one can travel twice through Austria without being detected, it +is hard indeed if I cannot make my way into Saxony."</p> +<p>"But you must not run too great risks," the countess said. "You +know how glad we should be to see you, and that we regard you as +one of ourselves; but even a mother could hardly wish a son to run +into such danger, in order that they might see each other for a +short time."</p> +<p>"What do you say, Thirza?" her father asked.</p> +<p>The girl, thus suddenly addressed, coloured hotly.</p> +<p>"I should be glad to see him, father--he knows that very +well--but I should not like him to run risks."</p> +<p>"But he is always running risks, child; and that, so far as I +can see, without so good a reason. At any rate, I shall not join +your mother in protesting. What he says is very true. He has twice +made his way many hundreds of miles in disguise, for the purpose of +getting here in time for the first fighting; and I do not think +that there will be anything like the same risk in his coming here +to pay us a visit.</p> +<p>"At the same time, I would not say a single word to induce him +to do so. There is no saying where he may be when the next winter +sets in, or what may take place during the coming campaign. In +times like these it is folly to make plans of any sort, three +months in advance. I only say therefore that, should everything +else be favourable, I think that an Austrian occupation of Saxony +would not be a very serious obstacle to his paying us a visit, next +winter.</p> +<p>"Once here, he would be absolutely safe, and as the household +know what he has done for us--and probably for them, for there is +no saying whether some, at least, of them might not have been +killed by those villains--their absolute discretion and silence can +be relied upon.</p> +<p>"However, it may be that we shall see him long before that. The +king may have occasion to be here many times, during the +summer."</p> +<p>The count would not hear of Fergus returning to the hotel where +he had put up, and for a week he remained at the chateau, where the +time passed very pleasantly. The luxurious appointments, the +hospitable attentions of his host and hostesses, and the whole of +his surroundings formed a strong contrast, indeed, both to his life +when campaigning, and the five months he had spent in the casemate +at Linz.</p> +<p>At the end of that time he felt he ought to be on the move +again. He had learnt that the officers of the marshal's staff had +been dispersed, some being attached to other divisions; and that +Lindsay was now upon the staff of Prince Henry. The prince was out +Erfurt way, and had already had some sharp fighting with the French +and the Confederate army. Fergus had learned this on the day after +his arrival at the chateau, and also that to the east there was no +sign of any movement on the part of Daun or of the king. He +therefore suffered himself to be persuaded to stay on for the +week.</p> +<p>"Nobody is expecting you, Drummond," the count said. "No doubt +they will be glad to see you, but they will be just as glad ten +days later as ten days earlier. You are believed to be safe in some +Austrian prison, and you may be sure that no one will make any +inquiries whether you spent a week, or a month, in recovering from +your fatigues before taking up your duties again. At any rate, you +must stay for at least a week."</p> +<p>The visit was, indeed, extended two days beyond that time; for +the count and countess so pressed him that he was glad to give way, +especially as his own inclinations strongly seconded their +entreaties. On the ninth morning he was astonished when his bedroom +door opened and Karl came in, and gave his morning's salute as +impassively as if he had seen him the evening before.</p> +<a id="PicI" name="PicI"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/i.jpg" alt= +"'Why Karl!' Fergus exclaimed, 'where do you spring from--when did you arrive?'" /> +</div> +<p>"Why, Karl!" he exclaimed, "where do you spring from--how did +you know that I was here--when did you arrive?"</p> +<p>"I arrived last night, major, but as it was late we went +straight to the stable."</p> +<p>"Who is we, Karl?"</p> +<p>"The count's messenger, sir. He reached me at Erfurt, where I +was with Captain Lindsay, four days ago; and I started with him +half an hour later. He had set out from here with a led horse, and +had ridden through with but one night in bed; and we had changes of +horses, coming back. And Tartar is in good condition, major. I led +him all the way down."</p> +<p>"That is most kind and thoughtful of the count," Fergus +exclaimed, as he began to dress.</p> +<p>"Well, I am heartily glad to see you again, Karl. I was by no +means sure that you had got off safely at Hochkirch. I looked round +for you, directly I had been captured; but could see nothing of +you, and knew not whether you had ridden off, or had been killed by +that volley that finished poor Turk, and brought about my +capture."</p> +<p>"It was a bad business, major, and I have never forgiven myself +that I was not by your side; but the thing was so sudden that I was +taken altogether by surprise. My horse was grazed with a bullet, +and what with that and the sudden flash of fire, he bolted. I had +just caught sight of you and Turk, going down in a heap, as my +horse spun round; and it had galloped a full hundred yards before I +could check it.</p> +<p>"Then I did not know what was best to do. It seemed to me that +you must certainly be killed. If I had been sure that you had been +wounded and taken prisoner I should have gone back; but even then I +might, more likely than not, have been shot by the Austrians before +I could explain matters. But I really thought that you were killed; +and as, from the shouting and firing, it seemed to me that the +enemy had it all their own way there, I rode back to the +farmhouse.</p> +<p>"Luckily the Austrians had not got there, so I took Tartar and +rode with him to the king's quarters, and left him with his grooms, +who knew him well enough; and then later on, having nothing else to +do, I joined Seidlitz, and had the satisfaction of striking many a +good blow in revenge for you.</p> +<p>"Late in the afternoon when the fighting was over I found +Captain Lindsay, and told him about your loss. He comforted me a +bit by saying that he did not think you were born to be shot, and +said that I had better stay with Donald till there was news about +you. Two days later he told me they had got the list of the +prisoners the Austrians had taken, and that you were with them, and +unwounded.</p> +<p>"Then, major, I was furious with myself that I had not been +taken prisoner, too. I should have been more troubled still if +Captain Lindsay had not said that, in the first place, Tartar would +have been lost if I had not come back straight to fetch him; and +that, in the second place, it was not likely you would have been +able to keep me with you had I been a prisoner, and we might not +even have been shut up in the same fortress.</p> +<p>"I asked him what I had better do, and he said:</p> +<p>"'I am going west to join Prince Henry. You had better come with +me. You may be sure that there will be no questions asked about +you, one way or the other. I have no doubt Major Drummond will be +back in the spring. He is sure to get out, somehow.'</p> +<p>"It seemed to me that that was the best plan too, major. If I +had been sent back to my regiment, I don't know what I should have +done with your horse; and then, if you did return, I might not have +heard about it, and you would not have known what had become of me. +Once or twice during the last month Captain Lindsay has said to +me:</p> +<p>"'Your master ought to have been here before this, Karl. I quite +reckoned on his arriving by the end of March.'</p> +<p>"I said perhaps you had not been able to get out, but he would +not hear of it. He said once:</p> +<p>"'If you were to head up the major in a barrel, he could find a +way out of it somehow. He will be back soon.'</p> +<p>"He seemed so positive about it that I was not a bit surprised +when the messenger came, and said that you were at the count's +here, and that I was to ride with him post haste, so as to catch +you before you started to join the king at Breslau.</p> +<p>"Captain Lindsay was as pleased as I was. He was just mounting +when the messenger came in, but wrote a line on the leaf of his +pocket book. Here it is, sir."</p> +<p>The slip of paper merely contained the words:</p> +<p>"A thousand welcomes, my dear Drummond! I have been expecting +you for some time. I wish you had turned up here, instead of at +Dresden. Hope to see you again soon."</p> +<p>By this time Fergus had dressed.</p> +<p>"My dear count," he exclaimed, as he entered the room where the +count and his wife and daughter were already assembled, "how can I +thank you for your great kindness, in taking such pains to fetch +Karl and my horse down for me."</p> +<p>"I had no great pains about the matter," the count replied, with +a smile. "I simply wrote to my steward that a messenger must be +sent to Erfurt, at once; to order Major Drummond's soldier servant +to come here, at all speed, with his master's horse and +belongings.</p> +<p>"'Make what arrangements you like,' I said, 'for relays of +horses; but anyhow, he must get to Erfurt in three days, and I will +give him four for coming back again with the man. He is to be found +at the quarters of Captain Lindsay, who is on the staff of Prince +Henry. If Captain Lindsay himself is away, you must find out his +servant.'</p> +<p>"That was all the trouble that I had in the matter. You have +really to thank Thirza, for it was her idea. Directly you had left +the room, after your telling us that Lindsay was with Prince Henry +and most likely at Erfurt, she said:</p> +<p>"'I should think, father, that there would be time to fetch +Major Drummond's servant and horse. It is not so very far, and +surely it might be done in a week.'</p> +<p>"'Well thought of!' I said. 'It is a hundred and seventy miles. +A courier with relays of horses could do it in three days, without +difficulty; and might be back here again, with Drummond's servant, +in another four days. I will give orders at once. We can manage to +get Drummond to delay his departure for a day or two.'</p> +<p>"So the thing was done."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch16" id="Ch16">Chapter 16</a>: At Minden.</h2> +<p>On the following day Fergus started, riding the new horse the +count had given him, while Karl led Tartar. The journey to Breslau +was performed without adventure. He found on arrival that the king +had, ten days before, gone to Landshut, round which place a portion +of his army was cantoned. At Landshut he commanded the main pass +into Bohemia, was in a position to move rapidly towards any point +where Daun might endeavour to break through into Silesia, and was +yet but a few marches from Dresden, should the tide of war flow in +that direction.</p> +<p>Already several blows had been struck at the enemy. As early as +the 16th of February, Prince Henry had attacked the Confederate +army which, strengthened by some Austrian regiments, had intended +to fortify itself in Erfurt, and driven it far away; while the +Prince of Brunswick had made a raid into the small Federal states, +and carried off two thousand prisoners. Early in March a force from +Glogau had marched into Poland, and destroyed many Russian +magazines; while on April 13th, the very day on which Fergus +arrived at Breslau, Duke Ferdinand had fought a battle with the +French army under Broglio, near Bergen. The French, however, were +very strongly posted, and Ferdinand was unable to capture their +position, and lost twenty-five hundred men, while the French loss +was but nineteen hundred.</p> +<p>On the same day Prince Henry crossed the mountains, and +destroyed all the Austrian magazines through the country between +Eger and Prague--containing food for an army of fifty thousand for +five months--captured three thousand prisoners, and burnt two +hundred boats collected on the Elbe, near Leitmeritz; and was back +again after an absence of but nine days. A fortnight later he was +off again, marching this time towards Bamberg, burning magazines +and carrying off supplies. He captured Bayreuth and Bamberg, took +twenty-five hundred prisoners, and struck so heavy a blow at the +little princelings of the Confederacy that he was able to leave +matters to themselves in the west, should the king require his aid +against Daun or the Russians.</p> +<p>On the 16th of April Fergus arrived at Landshut, and proceeded +to the royal quarters. On sending his name to the king, he was at +once ushered in.</p> +<p>"So you have returned, Major Drummond," Frederick said +cordially, "and in plenty of time to see the play! Though indeed, I +should not be surprised if it is some time before the curtain draws +up. I had some hopes that you might rejoin, for after your last +escape I doubted whether any Austrian prison would hold you long. I +am glad to see you back again.</p> +<p>"Ah! it was a heavy loss, that of our good marshal. None but +myself can say how I miss him. He was not only, as a general, one +of the best and most trustworthy; but as a friend he was always +cheery, always hopeful, one to whom I could tell all my thoughts. +Ah! If I had but taken his advice at Hochkirch, I should not have +had to mourn his loss.</p> +<p>"It was a heavy blow to you also, Major Drummond."</p> +<p>"A heavy blow indeed, your Majesty. He was as kind to me as if +he had been my father."</p> +<p>"I will try to supply his place," the king said gravely. "He +died in my service, and through my error.</p> +<p>"For my own sake, I am glad that you are here. You have +something of his temperament, and I can talk freely with you, too, +whatever comes into my head."</p> +<p>"I did not know whether I did rightly in coming to report myself +direct to you, sire; but your kindness has always been so great to +me that I thought it would be best to come straight to you, instead +of reporting myself elsewhere, having indeed no fixed post or +commander."</p> +<p>"You did quite right. By the way, Keith's brother, the Scottish +Earl Marischal, is here."</p> +<p>He touched a bell, and said to the officer who came in:</p> +<p>"Will you give my compliments to Earl Marischal Keith, and beg +him to come to me for a few minutes."</p> +<p>Two minutes later Keith entered--a tall man, less strongly built +than his brother, but much resembling him.</p> +<p>"Excuse my sending for you, Earl Marischal," the king said, "but +I wanted to introduce to you your young cousin, Major Drummond; a +very brave young officer, as you may well imagine, since he has +already gained that rank, and wears our military order of the Black +Eagle. He tells me that he has not hitherto met you; but he came +over here at your brother's invitation, was a very great favourite +of his, and was deeply attached to him."</p> +<p>"My brother mentioned you frequently, in his letters to me," +Keith said, holding out his hand to Fergus. "I knew but little of +your mother, first cousin as she is; for being ten years older than +my brother, she was but a little child in my eyes when I last saw +her. Were it not that I am past military work, I would gladly try +to fill my brother's place to you; but if I cannot aid you in your +profession, I can at least give you a share of my affection."</p> +<p>"As to his profession, Keith, that is my business," the king +said. "He saved my life at Zorndorf, and has in so many ways +distinguished himself that his success in his career is already +assured. He is, by many years, the youngest major in the service; +and if this war goes on, there is no saying to what height he may +rise.</p> +<p>"He has just returned from an Austrian prison where, as I told +you when you joined me, he was carried after Hochkirch. I don't +know yet how he escaped. He must dine with me this evening, and +afterwards he shall tell us about it. Mitchell dines with us, also. +He, too, is a friend of this young soldier, and has a high opinion +of him."</p> +<p>That evening after dinner Fergus related to the party, which +consisted only of the king, Keith, and the British ambassador, how +he had escaped from prison.</p> +<p>"The next time the Austrians catch you, Major Drummond," the +king said when he had finished, "if they want to keep you, they +will have to chain you by the leg, as they used to do in the old +times."</p> +<p>For months the Prussian and Austrian armies lay inactive. Daun +had supposed that, as the king had begun the three previous +campaigns by launching his forces into Bohemia, he would be certain +to follow the same policy; and he had therefore placed his army in +an almost impregnable position, and waited for the king to assume +the offensive. Frederick, however, felt that with his diminished +forces he could no longer afford to dash himself against the strong +positions so carefully chosen and intrenched by the enemy; and must +now confine himself to the defensive, and leave it to the Austrians +to attempt to cross the passes and give battle. The slowness with +which they marched, in comparison with the speed at which the +Prussian troops could be taken from one point to another, gave him +good ground for believing that he should find many opportunities +for falling upon the enemy, when in movement.</p> +<p>It was a long time before the Austrian general recognized the +change in Frederick's strategy, still longer before he could bring +himself to abandon his own tactics of waiting and fortifying, and +determine to abandon his strongholds and assume the offensive. When +July opened he had, by various slow and careful marches, planted +himself in a very strong position at Marklissa; while Frederick, as +usual, was watching him. Daun was well aware that Frederick, of all +things, desired to bring on a battle; but knowing that the +Russians, one hundred thousand strong, under Soltikoff, were +steadily approaching, he determined to wait where he was, and to +allow the brunt of the fighting, for once, to fall on them.</p> +<p>Fergus, by this time, was far away. The long weeks had passed as +slowly to him as they had to the king, and he was very glad indeed +when, on the 2nd of June, Frederick said to him:</p> +<p>"I know that you are impatient for action, Major Drummond. Your +blood is younger than mine, and I feel it hard enough to be +patient, myself. However, I can find some employment for you. Duke +Ferdinand has now, you know, twelve thousand English troops with +him. He has written to me saying that, as neither of his +aides-de-camp can speak English, he begs that I would send him an +officer who can do so; for very few of the British are able to +speak German, and serious consequences might arise from the +misapprehension of orders on the day of battle. Therefore I have +resolved to send you to him, and you can start tomorrow, at +daybreak. I will have a despatch prepared for you to carry to the +duke; who of course, by the way, knows you, and will, I am sure, be +glad to have you with him. Later on I must send another of my +Scottish officers to take your place with him, for I like having +you with me. However, at present you are wasting your time, and may +as well go."</p> +<p>"We are off again tomorrow morning, Karl," Fergus said, in high +spirits, as he reached his quarters.</p> +<p>"That is the best news that I have heard since the count's +messenger brought me word, at Erfurt, that you had returned, major. +It has been the dullest six weeks we have had since we first +marched from Berlin; for while in winter one knows that nothing can +be done, and so is content to rest quietly, in spring one is always +expecting something, and if nothing comes of it one worries and +grumbles."</p> +<p>"It is a long ride we are going this time, Karl."</p> +<p>"I don't care how how long it is, major, so that one is +moving."</p> +<p>"I am going to join the Duke of Brunswick's staff."</p> +<p>"That is something like a ride, major," Karl said in surprise, +"for it is right from one side of Prussia to the other."</p> +<p>"Yes, it is over four hundred and fifty miles."</p> +<p>"Well, major, we have got good horses, and they have had an easy +time of it, lately."</p> +<p>"How long do you think that we shall take?"</p> +<p>"Well, major, the horses can do forty miles a day, if they have +a day to rest, halfway. Your horses could do more, riding them on +alternate days; but it would be as much as mine could do to manage +that."</p> +<p>"We must take them by turns, Karl. That will give each horse a +partial rest--one day out of three."</p> +<p>"Like that they could do it, I should say, major, in about a +fortnight."</p> +<p>They rode first to Breslau, and thence to Magdeburg, passing +through many towns on the long journey, but none of any great +importance. At Magdeburg they heard that they must make for +Hanover, where they would be able to ascertain the precise position +of the duke's army, which was on the northern frontier of +Westphalia.</p> +<p>While the French, under the Duke of Broglio, were advancing +north from Frankfort-on-Maine; another French army, under Contades, +was moving against Ferdinand from the west. As it was probable that +there would, at least, be no great battle until the two French +armies combined, Fergus, who had already given his horses two days' +complete rest, remained for three days at Magdeburg; as it was +likely that he would have to work them hard, when he joined the +duke.</p> +<p>Five days later he rode into the Duke of Brunswick's principal +camp, which was near Osnabrueck, where was situated his central +magazine.</p> +<p>"I am glad to see you, Major Drummond," the duke said cordially, +when Fergus reported himself. "I thought perhaps the king would +select you for the service, and I know how zealous and active you +are. I am greatly in need of a staff officer who can speak English, +for none of mine can do so.</p> +<p>"I think that we shall have some hard fighting here, soon. You +see that I am very much in the position of the king, menaced from +two directions. If I move to attack Contades, Broglio will have +Hanover entirely open to him; while if I move against him, Contades +will capture Muenster and Osnabrueck and get all my magazines, and +might even push on and occupy the town of Hanover, before I could +get back. So you see, I have nothing to do but to wait in this +neighbourhood until I see their designs.</p> +<p>"I have some twelve thousand of your countrymen here, and I rely +upon them greatly. We know how they fought at Fontenoy. Splendid +fellows they are. There is a Scotch regiment with them, whose +appearance in kilts and feathers in no slight degree astonishes +both the people and my own soldiers. Their cavalry are very fine, +too. They have much heavier horses than ours, and should be +terrible in a charge.</p> +<p>"How long have you been on the road?"</p> +<p>"I have been eighteen days, sir. I could have ridden faster +myself, having a spare charger, but my orderly could hardly travel +more rapidly; and indeed, when I got to Magdeburg, and found that +it was not likely that there would be any engagement for some time, +I allowed the horses three days' rest, so that they should be fit +for service as soon as they arrived here."</p> +<p>A tent was at once erected in the staff lines for Fergus. He +found, upon inquiry, that the British division was at present at +Muenster. He was invited by the duke to dinner that evening, and +was introduced to the officers of the staff; who received him +courteously, but with some surprise that one so young should not +only bear the rank of major, but the coveted insignia of the Black +Eagle.</p> +<p>The duke, however, when the introductions were over, gave them a +short account of the newcomer's services, and after dinner begged +Fergus to tell them how he escaped from Linz; and they had a hearty +laugh over the manner in which he and his companions obtained their +first disguise.</p> +<p>"I have heard something of this," Colonel Zolwyn, the head of +the staff, said. "Captains Stauffen and Ritzer were both ordered +here, on their arrival at Berlin; and though I have not met them, I +have heard from others of their escape from Linz, which they +ascribed entirely to a major of Marshal Keith's staff, who was a +fellow prisoner of theirs."</p> +<p>For the next three weeks Fergus was on horseback from morning +till night. The movements of the troops were incessant. The two +French generals manoeuvred with great skill, giving no opportunity +for the Duke of Brunswick to strike a blow at either. Broglio, +guided by a treacherous peasant, captured Minden by surprise. +Contades, with thirty thousand men, had taken up an unassailable +position: his right wing on the Weser, and his left on impassable +bogs and quagmires, and with his front covered by the Bastau, a +deep and unfordable brook. Thirty thousand of his troops were +occupied in besieging Muenster and Osnabrueck, and other places, +and succeeded in capturing the latter, containing the duke's +magazines of hay and cavalry forage.</p> +<p>The duke's position became very grave, and the French believed +that, in a very short time, they would be masters of all Hanover. +Broglio's force of twenty thousand men was on the east side of the +Weser, and Ferdinand was unable to move to strike a blow at the +detached force of Contades; for had he done so, Broglio would have +captured the city of Hanover, which lay perfectly open to him +within a day's march.</p> +<p>Fergus had been specially employed in carrying despatches to the +British division, and had made many acquaintances among the +officers. As the army gradually concentrated, when the French +forces drew closer together, he often spent the evening in their +tents when the day's work was done.</p> +<p>In the Scotch regiment he was soon quite at home. The fact that +he was related to Marshal Keith, of whom every Scotchman was proud, +and had been one of his aides-de-camp, sufficed in itself to render +him at once popular. The officers followed with eager interest the +accounts of the various battles he had witnessed, and little by +little extracted from him some account of the manner in which he +had won his steps so rapidly in the Prussian service. He found that +they, and the British troops in general, had a profound dislike for +Lord Sackville; who commanded them, but who was especially in +command of their cavalry. All described him as a heavy, domineering +fellow, personally indolent and slow, on ill terms with the Duke of +Brunswick, whom in a quiet and obstinate way he seemed bent on +thwarting.</p> +<p>"He is an ill-conditioned brute," one of the officers remarked. +"The only thing to be said for him is that he is not deficient in +personal courage. He has fought several duels, into which he +brought himself by his overbearing temper."</p> +<p>Although he had frequently carried despatches to Sackville, +Fergus had not exchanged a word with him. The English general had +taken the paper from his hand, barely acknowledging his salute; and +not indeed glancing at him, but turning on his heel and walking off +to read the contents of the despatch, which generally appeared to +displease him, judging by the manner in which he spoke to his +officers. Then he would go into his tent, and one of his +aides-de-camp would shortly come out with a letter containing his +reply.</p> +<p>Fergus naturally came to regard the English commander with the +same dislike that his own officers felt for him. One day, when +handing him a despatch, he omitted the usual salute. Sackville +noticed it at once.</p> +<p>"Why do you not salute, sir?" he said, raising his head, and for +the first time looking at the duke's aide-de-camp.</p> +<p>"This is the twelfth time, sir, that I have brought despatches +from the Duke of Brunswick. Upon each occasion I have made the +military salute. By the regulations of the army, I believe that the +superior officer is as much bound to return a salute as the +inferior officer is to render it. As you have not chosen, upon any +one of those twelve occasions, to return my salute, I see no reason +why I should continue to give it."</p> +<p>Sackville looked at him as he shouted in English, with +astonishment and rage:</p> +<p>"And who the devil are you?"</p> +<p>"I am Major Fergus Drummond, a companion of the order of the +Black Eagle, and an aide-de-camp of the King of Prussia."</p> +<p>"The deuce you are!" Sackville said insolently. "I did not know +that the King of Prussia promoted lads to be majors, chose them for +his aides-de-camp, and made them companions of his order."</p> +<p>"Then, sir, you know it now," Fergus said quietly; "and for an +explanation of my rank, I beg to refer you to the Duke of +Brunswick; who will, I doubt not, be not unwilling to explain the +matter to you."</p> +<p>"I shall report your insolence to the duke, at any rate, sir. +Were it not for my position here, I would myself condescend to give +you the lesson of which you seem to me to be in want."</p> +<p>"I should doubt, sir, whether I could receive any lesson at your +hands; but after this affair has terminated, I shall be happy to +afford you an opportunity of endeavouring to do so."</p> +<p>Lord Sackville was on the point of replying, when the colonel of +his staff, whom Fergus had met at dinner at the duke's, and who +spoke German fluently, came up and said:</p> +<p>"Pardon me, general. Can I speak to you for a moment?"</p> +<p>Fergus reined back his horse a length or two, while the officer +spoke rapidly to Lord Sackville.</p> +<p>"I don't care a fig," the latter burst out passionately.</p> +<p>The officer continued to speak. The general listened sullenly, +then turning to Fergus, he said:</p> +<p>"Well, sir, we shall leave the matter as it is. As soon as this +battle is over, I shall waive my rank and meet you."</p> +<p>"I shall be ready at any time," Fergus said; and then, formally +saluting, he rode away.</p> +<p>"I suppose you have no answer, Major Drummond," the duke said, +when he returned to his quarters; "but indeed, there is none +needed."</p> +<p>"I have no answer, sir, and indeed did not wait for one. Lord +Sackville and I had a somewhat hot altercation;" and he related, +word for word, what had passed.</p> +<p>"It is a pity, but I cannot blame you," the duke said, when +Fergus had finished. "The man has given me a great deal of trouble, +ever since he joined us with his force. He is always slow in +obeying orders. Sometimes he seems wilfully to misunderstand them, +and altogether he is a thorn in my side. I am glad, indeed, that +the British infantry division are entirely under my control. With +them I have no difficulty whatever. He was entirely in the wrong in +this matter; and I certainly should address a remonstrance to him, +on the subject of his manner and language to one of my staff, but +our relations are already unpleasantly strained, and any open +breach between us might bring about a serious disaster."</p> +<p>"I certainly should not wish that you should make any allusion +to the matter, sir. Possibly I may have an opportunity of teaching +him to be more polite, after we have done with the French."</p> +<p>By two sudden strokes the duke, in the third week of July, +obtained possession of Bremen, thereby obtaining a port by which +stores and reinforcements from England could reach him; and also +recaptured Osnabrueck, and found to his great satisfaction that the +French had also established a magazine there, so that the stores +were even larger than when they had taken it from him.</p> +<p>The great point was to induce Contades to move from his +impregnable position. He knew that both Contades and Broglio were +as anxious as he was to bring about a battle, did they but see an +advantageous opportunity; and he took a bold step to tempt +them.</p> +<p>On the 30th of July he sent the Hereditary Prince, with a force +of ten thousand men, to make a circuit and fall upon Gohfeld, ten +miles up the Weser; and so cut the line by which Contades brought +up the food for his army from Cassel, seventy miles to the south. +Such a movement would compel the French either to fight or to fall +back. It was a bold move and, had it not succeeded, would have been +deemed a rash one; for it left him with but thirty-six thousand men +to face the greatly superior force of the French.</p> +<p>The bait proved too tempting for the French generals. It seemed +to them that the duke had committed a fatal mistake. His left, +leaning on the Weser was, by the march of the force to Gohfeld, +left unsupported at a distance of three miles from the centre; and +it seemed to them that they could now hurl themselves into the gap, +destroy the duke's left, and then crush his centre and right, and +cut off whatever remnant might escape from Hanover.</p> +<p>On Tuesday evening, July 1st, the French got into motion as soon +as it was dark. During the night Contades crossed, by nineteen +bridges that he had thrown across the Bastau; while at the same +time Broglio crossed the Weser, by the bridge of the town, and took +up his position facing the Prussian left wing, which rested on the +village of Todtenhausen, intending to attack him early in the +morning, and to finish before the duke could bring the centre to +his assistance.</p> +<p>Feeling sure that the French would fall into the trap, the duke +ordered his cavalry to mount at one o'clock in the morning, and +moved in with his troops from the villages around which they were +encamped; closing in towards Minden, whereby the centre gradually +came into touch with the left, the whole forming a segment of a +circle, of which Minden was the centre.</p> +<p>The French also formed a segment of a similar circle, nearer to +Minden. Contades was a long time getting his troops into position, +for great confusion was caused by their having crossed by so many +bridges, and it took hours to range them in order of battle.</p> +<p>Broglio was in position, facing the duke's left, at five o'clock +in the morning. He was strong in artillery and infantry; but as the +ground on both flanks was unfavourable for the action of cavalry, +these were all posted in the centre. The cavalry, indeed, was the +strongest portion of the force. They numbered ten thousand, and +were the flower of the French army.</p> +<p>The duke placed six regiments of British infantry in his centre. +They were the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 37th and 51st. Some regiments +of Hanoverians were in line behind them. The British cavalry were +on the duke's right. The morning was misty, and it was not until +eight o'clock that both sides were ready, and indeed even then +Contades' infantry was not finally settled in its position.</p> +<p>The battle began with an attack by some Hessian regiments on the +village of Hahlen, and by a very heavy fire of artillery on both +sides. The orders to the English regiments had been, "March to +attack the enemy on sound of drum," meaning that they were to move +when the drums gave the signal for the advance. The English, +however, understood the order to be, "You are to advance to the +sound of your drums." They waited for a time, while the attack on +Hahlen continued. It was repulsed three times before it succeeded, +but before this happened the English regiments lost patience, and +said, "We ought to be moving." The drums therefore struck up and, +to the astonishment of the Hanoverians, these English battalions +strode away towards the enemy. However, the regiments of the second +line followed.</p> +<p>As the British stepped forward, a tremendous crossfire of +artillery opened upon them, thirty guns on one side and as many on +the other; but in spite of this the six regiments pressed on +unfalteringly, with their drums beating lustily behind them. Then +there was a movement in their front, and a mighty mass of French +cavalry poured down upon them. The English halted, closed up the +gaps made by the artillery, held their fire until the leading +squadrons of the French were within forty paces, and then opened a +tremendous file fire. Before it man and horse went down. At so +short a distance every bullet found its billet and, for the first +time in history, a line of infantry repulsed the attack of a vastly +superior body of cavalry.</p> +<p>Astonished, and hampered by the fallen men and horses of their +first line, the French cavalry reined up and trotted sullenly back +to reform and repeat the charge. The British drums beat furiously +as the French rode forward again, only to be repulsed as before. +Six times did the cavalry, with a bravery worthy of their +reputation, renew the charge. Six times did they draw back +sullenly, as the leading squadrons withered up under the storm of +shot. Then they could do no more, but rode back in a broken and +confused mass through the gaps between their infantry, throwing +these also into partial confusion.</p> +<p>"Ride to Lord Sackville, and tell him to charge with his +cavalry, at once," the duke said to Fergus; and then checking +himself said, "No, I had better send someone else," and repeated +the order to another of his staff.</p> +<p>Sackville only replied that he did not see his way to doing so. +A second and then a third officer were sent to him, with a like +result, and at last he himself left his cavalry and rode to the +duke and inquired:</p> +<p>"How am I to go on?"</p> +<p>The duke curbed his anger at seeing the fruits of victory lost. +He replied quietly:</p> +<p>"My lord, the opportunity is now past."</p> +<p>Harassed only by the fire of the British and Hanoverian guns, +and by that of the British infantry, Contades drew off his army by +the nineteen bridges into his stronghold. Broglio, who had done +nothing save keep up a cannonade, covered the retreat with his +division. The total amount of loss on the duke's side was two +thousand eight hundred and twenty-two, of which more than half +belonged to the British infantry. The French loss was seven +thousand and eighty-six, with their heavy guns and many flags; but +had Sackville done his duty, their army would have been +annihilated, pent up as it was with the river on each flank, +convergent to each other at Minden; a perfect rat trap from which +no army could have escaped, had it been hotly pressed by +cavalry.</p> +<p>The feat performed by the British infantry astonished Europe, +who were at first almost incredulous that six regiments in line +could have repulsed, over and over again, and finally driven off +the field, ten thousand of the best cavalry of France.</p> +<p>While the battle was raging, the Hereditary Prince had done his +share of the work, had fallen upon Gohfeld, crushed the French +division guarding it, cutting the French from their magazines and +rendering their position untenable. They received the news that +evening, and at once commenced their retreat, Broglio towards +Frankfort and Contades straight for the Rhine. The latter was +obliged to abandon all his baggage, and many of his guns; and his +army, by the time it had reached the Rhine, had become a mere +rabble. The general was at once recalled in disgrace, and Broglio +appointed commander-in-chief; although by failing to carry out the +orders he had received, to fall upon the allies left at five in the +morning, he had largely contributed to the defeat that had befallen +Contades.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch17" id="Ch17">Chapter 17</a>: Unexpected News.</h2> +<p>The fury of the British cavalry, at the shameful inactivity in +which they had been maintained, was unbounded; and their commander, +if he moved from his tent, was saluted with hisses and jeers by the +troopers. It was not for long, however; for as soon as the news was +known at home, he was ordered to return. On the afternoon of the +same day, an officer rode over to headquarters and asked for Major +Drummond.</p> +<p>"I am here, sir," he said courteously, "on behalf of Lord +Sackville. He will be leaving for England tomorrow, and I am the +bearer of a hostile message from him. I shall be obliged if you +will put me in communication with some officer who will act on your +behalf."</p> +<p>"Certainly," Fergus replied. "I was expecting such a +message."</p> +<p>He had already heard of the order that Sackville had received; +and had requested Major Kurstad, a fellow aide-de-camp, to act for +him should he send him a hostile message. Going in he spoke to +Kurstad, who at once went out and introduced himself to the British +officer.</p> +<p>"This is a painful business," the latter said, "and I can assure +you that I do not undertake it willingly. However, I overheard the +altercation between Lord Sackville and Major Drummond, and the same +night he asked me to act for him, when the time for it came. I +consented, and cannot draw back from the undertaking; but I need +hardly say that, after what happened at Minden, no English officer, +unless previously pledged, would have consented to act for him. I +suppose, sir, there is no use in asking whether the matter cannot +be arranged."</p> +<p>"Not in the slightest. Major Drummond told me that he had +expressed his willingness to meet the general, and he is certainly +not one to withdraw from his word. My friend chooses swords. In +fact the use of pistols, on such occasions, is quite unknown in the +Continental army."</p> +<p>"As Lord Sackville leaves tomorrow morning, we should be glad if +you would name an early hour."</p> +<p>"As early as you like. It is light at half-past four."</p> +<p>"Then shall we say five o'clock?"</p> +<p>"Certainly."</p> +<p>"And the place?"</p> +<p>"There is a small clump of trees on the heath, two miles west of +our camp."</p> +<p>"We will be there at that time, sir. Would you object to each +side being accompanied by a second friend? I ask it because, did +anything happen to my principal, I should certainly wish that +another witness was present at the duel."</p> +<p>"We have no objection," Major Kurstad said. "We shall also bring +a surgeon with us, and of course you can do the same, if you are +disposed."</p> +<p>The two officers saluted, and the major returned to Fergus.</p> +<p>"Do you mean to kill him?" he asked, after he had told him of +the arrangements that had been made.</p> +<p>"Certainly not. The man is an overbearing fool, and I merely +wish to give him a lesson. Personally, I should be glad if the +whole of the officers of the British force could be present, in +order that he might be as much humiliated as possible; but even if +I hated the man--and I have no shadow of feeling of that kind--I +would not kill him. He is going home to England to be tried by +court martial, and its sentence is likely to be a far heavier blow, +to a bully of that kind, than death would be. He has a taste of it +already, for I hear that he is hooted whenever he leaves his +tent."</p> +<p>At the appointed time the two parties arrived, almost at the +same moment, at a spot arranged. Fergus was accompanied by Major +Kurstad and another officer of the duke's staff, and by the duke's +own surgeon. Formal salutations were exchanged between the seconds. +The duelling swords were examined, and found to be of the same +length. There was no difficulty in choosing the ground, as there +was an open space in the centre of the little wood, and the sun had +not risen high enough to overtop the trees. As, therefore, the +glade was in shade, there was no advantage, in point of light, to +either combatant.</p> +<p>Lord Sackville had the reputation of being a good fencer, but in +point of physique there was no comparison between the combatants. +Sackville was a tall and powerfully-built man, but dissipation and +good living had rendered his muscles flabby and sapped his +strength, although he was still in what should have been his prime. +Fergus, on the other hand, had not a superfluous ounce of flesh. +Constant exercise had hardened every muscle. He was a picture of +health and activity.</p> +<p>The general viewed him with an expression of vindictive +animosity; while his face, on the other hand, wore an expression of +perfect indifference. The uniform coats were removed, and the +dropping of a handkerchief gave the signal for them to +commence.</p> +<p>Lord Sackville at once lunged furiously. The thrust was parried, +and the next moment his sword was sent flying through the air. His +second did not move to recover it.</p> +<p>"Why do you not bring it here?" Sackville exclaimed, in a tone +of the deepest passion.</p> +<p>"Because, my lord," his second said coldly, "as you have been +disarmed, the duel necessarily terminates; unless your antagonist +is willing that the sword shall be restored to you."</p> +<p>"I shall be obliged if you will give it him, Major Buck," Fergus +said quietly. "A little accident of this sort may occur +occasionally, even to a noted swordsman, when fighting with a +boy."</p> +<p>The general was purple with passion, when he received the sword +from his second.</p> +<p>"Mind this time," he said between his teeth as, after a +preliminary feint or two, he again lunged.</p> +<p>Again the sword was wrenched from his hand, with a force that +elicited an exclamation of pain from him.</p> +<p>"Pray, give the general his sword again, Major Buck," Fergus +said.</p> +<p>"You hold your rapier too tightly, General Sackville. You need a +little more freedom of play, and less impetuosity. I don't want to +hurt you seriously, but your blood is altogether too hot, and next +time I will bleed you on the sword arm."</p> +<p>Steadying himself with a great effort, Sackville played +cautiously for a time; but after parrying several of his thrusts, +without the slightest difficulty, Fergus ran him through the right +arm, halfway between the elbow and the shoulder, and the sword +dropped from his hand.</p> +<a id="PicJ" name="PicJ"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/j.jpg" alt= +"Lord Sackville stood without speaking, while the surgeon bandaged up his arm" /> +</div> +<p>Lord George Sackville had borne himself well in several duels, +and was accounted a gentleman, though arrogant and overbearing. He +stood without speaking, while the surgeon bandaged up his arm. Then +he said quietly:</p> +<p>"I ask your pardon, Major Drummond. This matter was altogether +my fault. I said that I would give you a lesson, and you have given +me one, which assuredly I shall never forget. I trust that you will +accept my apology for the words I uttered."</p> +<p>"Certainly, general, the more so that I own I gave provocation +by failing to salute you--my only excuse for which is that officers +of the highest rank, in Prussia, always return the salute of a +junior officer, of whatever rank; and that I did not reflect that +you, having many important matters in your mind, might have +neglected to return mine from pure absent mindedness, and not with +any intentional discourtesy. I can only say that I have not spoken +of this matter to any but my three friends here, and I am sure that +the matter will not be mentioned by them, when it is my earnest +request that it shall go no further."</p> +<p>The parties then mutually saluted, and rode off to their +respective camps. The story of the duel did not leak out from +Fergus's friends; but Sackville had openly spoken of the matter, +the evening before, to several officers; and had added to their +disgust at his conduct by declaring that he wished it had been the +Duke of Brunswick, instead of this upstart aide-de-camp of his, +with whom he had to reckon the next morning. He, on his part, +exacted no pledge from the officers who had accompanied him, but +rode back to camp without speaking a word, and an hour later left +in a carriage for Bremen.</p> +<p>The news of the encounter, then, circulated rapidly, and excited +intense amusement, and the most lively satisfaction, on the part of +the British officers.</p> +<p>On Sackville's arrival in England he was tried by court martial, +sentenced to be cashiered, and declared incapable of again serving +his majesty in any military capacity. This the king proclaimed +officially to be a sentence worse than death and, taking a pen, he +himself struck out his name from the list of privy councillors.</p> +<p>No satisfactory explanation has ever been given of Sackville's +conduct at Minden. Many say it is probable that he was disgusted +and sulky at having to rise so early, but this would hardly be a +sufficient explanation. The more probable conjecture is that, as he +was on notoriously bad terms with the duke, he was willing that the +latter should suffer a severe repulse at Minden, in the hope that +he would be deprived of his command, and he himself appointed +commander-in-chief of the allied army.</p> +<p>A few days after the battle, the exultation caused by the +victory at Minden was dashed by the news that a Prussian army, +twenty-six thousand strong, commanded by Wedel, had been beaten by +the Russians at Zuellichau; and ten days later by the still more +crushing news that Frederick himself, with fifty thousand men, had +been completely defeated by a Russian and Austrian army, ninety +thousand in number, at Kunersdorf, on the 11th of August.</p> +<p>At first the Prussians had beaten back the Russians with great +loss. The latter had rallied, and, joined by Loudon with the +Austrian divisions, had recovered the ground and beaten off the +Prussians with immense loss, the defeat being chiefly due to the +fact that the Prussian army had marched to the attack through woods +intersected with many streams; and that, instead of arriving on the +field of battle as a whole, they only came up at long intervals, so +that the first success could not be followed up, and the regiments +who made it were annihilated before help came.</p> +<p>The news came from Berlin. A letter had been received there from +the king, written on the night after the battle. He said that he +had but three thousand men collected round him, that the +circumstances were desperate, that he appointed his brother Prince +Henry general-in-chief, and that the army was to swear fidelity to +his nephew. The letter was understood to mean that Frederick +intended to put an end to his life. He knew that the enmity of his +foes was largely directed against him personally, and that far +easier terms might be obtained for the country were he out of the +way; and he was therefore determined not to survive irreparable +defeat. Indeed, he always carried a small tube of deadly poison on +his person.</p> +<p>Universal consternation was felt at the news. However, three +days later came the more cheering intelligence that twenty-three +thousand men had now gathered round him, and that he had again +taken the command. The loss in the battle, however, had been +terrible--six thousand had been killed, thirteen thousand wounded. +Two thousand of the latter, too seriously wounded to escape, were +made prisoners. The loss of the enemy had been little inferior, for +eighteen thousand Russians and Austrians were killed or +wounded.</p> +<p>Another letter sent off by the king that night had disastrous +consequences, for he wrote to the governor of Dresden that, should +the Austrians attempt anything on the town beyond his means of +maintaining himself, he was to capitulate on the best terms he +could obtain.</p> +<p>Happily for Frederick, Soltikoff was as slow in his movements as +Daun, and for two months made no attempt to take advantage of the +victory of Kunersdorf, and thus afforded time to Frederick to +repair his misfortunes. But during the two months Dresden had been +lost. Its governor had received Frederick's letter, and was unaware +how things had mended after it was written, and that a force was +pressing forward to aid him against an Austrian besieging army. +Consequently, after little more than a nominal resistance, he +surrendered when, unknown to him, relief was close at hand.</p> +<p>The French being defeated, and in full flight for the Rhine, it +seemed to Fergus that it was his duty to return to the king; as +there was no probability whatever of any hard fighting on the +western frontier, while the position of affairs in the east was +most serious. He was still on the king's staff, and had but been +lent to the Duke of Brunswick. He laid the matter before the +latter, who at once agreed with him that he should rejoin the +king.</p> +<p>"Frederick sorely needs active and intelligent officers, at +present," he said. "It is not by force that he can hope to prevent +the Russians and Austrians from marching to Berlin, but by +quickness and resource. His opponents are both slow and deliberate +in their movements, and the king's quickness puzzles and confuses +them. It is always difficult for two armies to act in perfect +concert, well-nigh impossible when they are of different +nationalities. Daun will wait for Soltikoff and Soltikoff for Daun. +The king will harass both of them. Daun has to keep one eye upon +his magazines in Bohemia, for Prince Henry in Silesia still +constantly menaces them, and not only the Austrian but the Russian +army is fed from Prague.</p> +<p>"Were it not that I am specially bound to defend Hanover from +the Confederate army, I would march with the greater portion of my +force to join the king; but my orders are imperative. 'Tis for +Hanover that George of England is fighting, and the British subsidy +and the British troops will be lost to the king, were Hanover to be +taken by the enemy. If Prince Henry could but join him, it would +bring his army again to a strength with which he could fight either +the Russians or Austrians; but their armies lie between Henry and +the king, and unless Daun makes some grievous mistake--and slow as +he is, Daun seldom makes a mistake--it seems well-nigh impossible +that the prince can get through.</p> +<p>"However, Major Drummond, you are likely to see little fighting +here; while with the king there will be incessant work for you. +Therefore, by all means go to him. He must have lost many of his +staff at Kunersdorf, and will, I doubt not, be glad to have you +with him."</p> +<p>The ride was a shorter one than it had been when going west, for +the king lay little more than fifty miles to the east of Berlin. +Although there was no absolute occasion for great speed, Fergus +rode fast; and on the tenth day after leaving Minden arrived at the +royal camp. The king was unaffectedly glad to see him.</p> +<p>"You have been more fortunate than I have," he said. "You have +been taking part in a victory, while I have been suffering a +defeat. I should like to have seen Minden. That charge of your +countrymen was superb. Nothing finer was ever done. Rash, perhaps; +but it is by rashness that victory is often won. Had it not been +done, one would have said that it was impossible for six battalions +in line to hurl back, again and again, the charges of ten thousand +fine cavalry. But the British division at Fontenoy showed us, not +many years ago, that the British infantry, now, are as good as they +were under Marlborough. I would give much if I had twenty thousand +of them here with my Prussians. It would be the saving of us.</p> +<p>"Did Ferdinand send you back, or did you ask to come?"</p> +<p>"I asked leave to come, sire. I thought that your staff must +have suffered heavily, and that I might be more useful here than +with the duke."</p> +<p>"Much more useful, major; and indeed, I am glad to have you with +me. You have youth and good spirits, and good spirits are very +scarce here. Have you heard the last news?"</p> +<p>"I have heard no news since I left Berlin, sire."</p> +<p>"Dresden is lost. Schmettau surrendered it, and that when relief +was but within ten miles of him. The place should have held out for +a month, at least. It is incredible. However, I will have it back +again before long and, at any rate, it is one place less to guard. +I should not have cared so much if the Austrians had taken it, but +that that wretched Confederate army, even though they had ten +Austrian battalions with them, should have snatched it from me, is +heart breaking. However, they have but the capital, and it will +take them some time before they can do more."</p> +<p>Fink, who had been sent off, with six or seven thousand men, to +aid Wunsch to relieve Dresden, on the day before the news of its +fall came, did much. He and his fellow commander failed in their +first object; but they were not idle, for they recaptured Leipzig +and other towns that the Confederate army had taken, and snatched +all Saxony, save Dresden, from its clutches.</p> +<p>Schmettau was relieved of his command, and never again employed. +He had certainly failed in firmness, but Frederick's own letter to +him, which had never been cancelled, afforded him the strongest +ground of believing that there was no chance of his being relieved. +His record up to this time had been excellent, and he was esteemed +as being one of Frederick's best generals. Frederick's harshness to +him was, at the time, considered to have been excessive. The king, +however, always expected from his generals as much as he himself +would have accomplished, in the same circumstances, and failure to +obtain success was always punished. After the dismissal of his +brother and heir from his command, the king was not likely to +forgive failure in others.</p> +<p>The time was a most anxious one for him. He had nothing to do +but to wait, and for once he was well content to do so; for every +day brought winter nearer, every week would render the victualling +of the hostile armies more difficult, and delay was therefore all +in his favour. Messenger after messenger was sent to Prince Henry, +urging him to make every possible effort to make his way through or +round the cordon of Austrian and Russian posts, eighty miles long +and fifty or sixty broad, that intervened between them.</p> +<p>In the evenings the king was accustomed to put aside resolutely +his military troubles, and passed his time chiefly in the society +of the British ambassador, Earl Marischal Keith, and the young +Scottish aide-de-camp, with occasionally one or two Prussian +officers. One evening, when Fergus had been sent with an order to a +portion of the force lying some miles away, Sir John Mitchell said +to the king:</p> +<p>"I have been talking with the Earl Marischal over young +Drummond's affairs, your majesty. As you know, his father's estates +were sequestrated after the battle of Culloden, where he himself +fell. I am writing a despatch to Pitt, saying that Drummond's son +has been serving under your majesty through the war, and has +greatly distinguished himself; and have asked him to annul the +sequestration, upon the ground that this young officer has done +very valiant service to your majesty, and so to the allied cause, +giving a list of the battles at which he has been present, and +saying that the Duke of Brunswick had, in his report of the battle +of Minden to you, spoken highly of the services he rendered him. If +you would add a line in your own hand, endorsing my request, it +would greatly add to its weight."</p> +<p>"That I will readily do," the king said. "I will write a short +letter, which you can inclose in your own despatch."</p> +<p>And sitting down at once he wrote:</p> +<p>"The King of Prussia most warmly endorses the request of his +excellency, Sir John Mitchell. Not only has Major Fergus Drummond +shown exceptional bravery upon several occasions, which resulted in +his promotion to the rank of major with unprecedented rapidity, but +he saved the king's life at the battle of Zorndorf, meeting and +overthrowing three Russian cavalrymen who attacked him. It would, +therefore, give the king very great satisfaction if the English +minister would grant the request made on Major Drummond's behalf by +his excellency, the English ambassador."</p> +<p>"Thank you very much," the latter said, as he read the note +Frederick handed him. "I have no doubt that this will be effectual. +Culloden is now a thing of the past. There are many Scottish +regiments in the English king's service, and many acts of clemency +have, of late, been shown to those who took part in the rebellion, +and I cannot doubt that Pitt will at once act upon your request. +However, I shall say nothing to Drummond on the subject until I +hear that his father's estates have been restored to him."</p> +<p>As day after day passed, the king became more anxious as to the +position of Prince Henry. That energetic officer had indeed been +busy and, by threatening an attack upon Daun's magazines, had +compelled the Austrian commander to move to Bautzen for their +protection, and finally to make a decided effort to crush his +active and annoying foe. Gathering a great force in the +neighbourhood of Prince Henry's camp, he prepared to attack him on +the morning of September 22nd; but when morning came Prince Henry +had disappeared. At eight o'clock on the previous evening he had +marched twenty miles to Rothenburg.</p> +<p>The retreat was superbly conducted. It was necessary to move by +several roads, but the whole of the baggage, artillery, and troops +arrived punctually the next morning at Rothenburg, just at the hour +when Daun's army moved down to the attack of the camp where he had +been the evening before. Austrian scouting parties were sent out in +all directions, but no certain news could be obtained as to the +direction of the Prussian march. The baggage waggons had been seen, +moving here and there, but it was four days before Daun was able to +learn for certain what had become of him, having until then +believed that he must have made for Glogau, to join Frederick.</p> +<p>Henry had, however, gone in an entirely different direction. +After ordering three hours' rest at Rothenburg he marched west, and +arrived at early morning at Klitten, eighteen miles from his last +halting place. Starting again after another three hours' halt he +marched twenty miles farther, still straight to the west, and fell +upon General Weyler who, with thirty-three thousand men, occupied +the last Austrian position to be passed.</p> +<p>That officer had not the slightest idea of any possibility of +attack from the east. The whole Austrian army stood between him and +Frederick on the northeast, and Prince Henry on the southeast. He +was therefore taken altogether by surprise. Six hundred of his men +were killed; and he himself, with twenty-eight field officers and +seventeen hundred and eighty-five other officers and men, taken +prisoners.</p> +<p>This march of fifty hours, in which an army with the whole of +its baggage traversed fifty-eight miles, through a country occupied +by enemies, is one of the most remarkable on record, and completely +changed the whole situation of the campaign. There was nothing for +Daun to do, if he would not lose Dresden and the whole of Saxony +again, but to follow Prince Henry. This movement completed the +dissatisfaction of his Russian ally, Soltikoff, who had been +already sorely worried and harassed by Frederick, ever since Daun +had moved away to defend his magazines and crush Prince Henry; and +now, seeing that his own food supply was likely to fail him, he +marched away with his army into Poland.</p> +<p>The king was at this time, to his disgust and indignation, laid +up for six weeks with the gout; but as soon as he was better, he +set off to join Prince Henry. Daun was slowly falling back and, had +he been let alone, Dresden might have been recaptured and the +campaign come to a triumphant ending.</p> +<p>Unfortunately Frederick was not content to leave well alone, and +sent Fink with seventeen thousand men to Maxim, to cut off Daun's +retreat into Bohemia; intending himself to attack him in front. +Daun for once acted with decision, attacked Fink with twenty-seven +thousand men and, although the Prussians fought with most obstinate +bravery, they were surrounded; battered by the Austrian artillery; +while they themselves, having no guns with which to make reply, +were forced to surrender. Some had already made their way off, but +in killed, wounded, and prisoners, the loss was fully twelve +thousand men.</p> +<p>Frederick threw the blame upon Fink, but most unjustly. That +officer had followed out the orders given him, and had done all +that man could do to hold the position that he was commanded to +take up, and the disaster was wholly due to Frederick's own +rashness in placing so small a force, and that without artillery, +where they could be attacked by the whole Austrian army. Fink, +after his release at the conclusion of the peace three years later, +was tried by court martial and sentenced to a year's +imprisonment.</p> +<p>This disaster entirely altered the situation. Daun, instead of +continuing his retreat to Bavaria, advanced to occupy Saxony; and +drove General Dierocke across the Elbe, taking fifteen hundred of +his men prisoners. Frederick, however, barred the way farther, and +six weeks later both armies went into winter quarters; Daun still +holding Dresden and the strip of country between it and Bohemia, +but the rest of Saxony being as far out of his reach as ever.</p> +<p>The last six weeks of the campaign was a terrible time for all. +Frederick himself had lived in a little cottage in the small town +of Freyburg, and even after the armies had settled down in their +cheerless quarters, he still made several attempts to drive the +Austrians out, having received a reinforcement of ten thousand men +from Duke Ferdinand. These efforts were in vain.</p> +<p>The ten thousand, however, on their way to join the king, had +struck a heavy blow at one of his bitterest enemies, the Duke of +Wuertemberg, who had twelve thousand of his own men, with one +thousand cavalry, at Fulda. The duke had ordered a grand ball to be +held, and great celebrations of joy at the news of the Austrian +victory at Maxim; but on the very day on which these things were to +take place, Ferdinand's men fell upon him suddenly, scattered his +army in all directions, took twelve hundred prisoners, and sent the +duke with such of his troops as had escaped back to Wuertemberg +again; his subjects, who were largely Protestants, rejoicing hugely +over his discomfiture.</p> +<p>On the day on which Maxim was fought Admiral Hawke, with a small +squadron, utterly defeated the French fleet that was to convey an +invading army to England. France herself was getting as short of +cash as Prussia, and in November it became necessary to declare a +temporary bankruptcy and, the king setting the example, all nobles +and others possessing silver plate sent them to the mint to be +coined into money.</p> +<p>So eager was the king to take advantage of any openings the +Austrians might give for attack that, although so near Dresden, +Fergus was unable to carry out his promise to the Count Eulenfurst +to pay him a visit; for he was kept constantly employed, and could +not ask for leave. Early in April the king sent for him. The +English ambassador was present, but Earl Marischal Keith had gone +away on a mission.</p> +<p>"I have two pieces of news for you, major," the king said +pleasantly. "In the first place, it is now getting on for two years +since you did me that little service at Zorndorf, and since then +you have ever been zealously at work. Others have gone up in rank, +and it is time that you had another step. Therefore, from today you +are colonel. No man in the army has better deserved promotion, and +indeed you ought to have had it after you returned from Brunswick's +army where, as the duke's despatches told me, you had rendered +excellent service. So many officers of rank have fallen since then +that promotion has been rapid, and it is high time that you +obtained the step that you so well deserve.</p> +<p>"The other piece of news is for Sir John Mitchell to tell you, +for it is to his good offices that it is due."</p> +<p>"Very partially so, your majesty," said the ambassador. "It is +like enough that Pitt would not have troubled to take action on my +recommendation only, had it not been that you so strongly backed my +request that, in fact, it became one from yourself. Therefore it is +for you to give him the news."</p> +<p>"As you please," the king said.</p> +<p>"Well then, Drummond, his excellency and your cousin the +Marischal put their heads together, and his excellency sent a warm +letter to the English minister, saying that you had rendered such +services to his sovereign's ally that he prayed that the +sequestration of your father's estates should be annulled. I myself +added a memorandum saying that, as you had saved my life at +Zorndorf, and rendered me other valuable services, I should view it +as a personal favour if his request was granted. The thing would +have been managed in a couple of days, in this country; but in +England it seems that matters move more slowly, and his excellency +has only today received an official intimation that the affair has +been completed, and that your father's estates have been restored +to you."</p> +<p>Fergus was, for the moment, completely overwhelmed. He had never +thought for a moment that the estate would ever be restored, and +the sudden news, following that of his promotion, completely +overwhelmed him.</p> +<p>It was of his mother rather than of himself that he thought. He +himself had been too young to feel keenly the change in their life +that followed Culloden; but although his mother had borne her +reverses bravely, and he had never heard a complaint or even a +regret cross her lips, he knew that the thought that he would never +be chief of their brave clansmen, and that these had no longer a +natural leader and protector, was very bitter to her.</p> +<p>"Your majesty is too good.</p> +<p>"Your excellency--" and he stopped.</p> +<p>"I know what you would say," the king said kindly, "and there is +no occasion to say it. I have only paid some of the debt I owe you, +and his excellency's thought gave me well-nigh as much pleasure as +it does you. Now, be off to your camp.</p> +<p>"You see, Sir John, between us we have done what the Austrians +and Russians have never managed between them--I mean, we have +shaken Colonel Drummond's presence of mind.</p> +<p>"There, go along with you, we have matters to talk over +together."</p> +<p>Fergus saluted almost mechanically, bowed gratefully to +Mitchell, and then left the room in a whirl of emotion. To be the +head of his clan again was, to him, a vastly greater matter than to +be a colonel in even the most renowned and valiant army in Europe. +Of the estates he thought for the moment but little, except that +his mother would now be able to give up her petty economies and her +straitened life, and to take up the station that had been hers +until his father's death.</p> +<p>There was another thought, too--that of Countess Thirza +Eulenfurst. Hitherto he had resolutely put that from him. It was +not for him, a soldier of fortune, without a penny beyond his pay, +to aspire to the hand of a rich heiress. It was true that many +Scottish adventurers in foreign services had so married, but this +had seemed a thing altogether beyond him. He had rendered a service +to her father, and they had, in consequence, been most kind to him; +but he had thought that it would be only a poor return for their +kindness for him to aspire to their daughter's hand.</p> +<p>He had put the matter even more resolutely aside because, once +or twice, the count had said things that might be construed as +hints that he should not regard such an act as presumptuous. He had +spoken not unapprovingly of the marriages of ladies of high rank to +men who had rendered great services to the countries for which they +had fought, and said that, with such ample means as Thirza would +possess, there would be no need for him to seek for a wealthy match +for her. Thirza herself had evinced lively pleasure, whenever he +went to see them, and deep regret when he left them; while her +colour rose, sometimes, when he came upon her suddenly. But these +indications that he was not altogether indifferent to her had but +determined him, more resolutely, to abstain from taking advantage +of the gratitude she felt for the service he had rendered.</p> +<p>Now, it seemed to him that the news he had heard had somewhat +changed the position. He was no longer a penniless soldier. It was +true that the Drummond estates were as nothing by the side of the +broad lands owned by her father; but at least, now, he was in the +position of a Scottish gentleman of fair means and good standing, +who could dispense with wealth on the part of a bride, and had a +fair home and every comfort to offer to one in his native land. +That he had, too, obtained the rank of colonel in the Prussian +army, by service in many a desperate battle, distinctly added to +his position. Thus, in every respect, the news that he had received +was in the highest degree gratifying to him.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch18" id="Ch18">Chapter 18</a>: Engaged.</h2> +<p>On the following day, Sir John Mitchell handed to Fergus the +official documents respecting the restoration of the estates and, +after taking copies of the same, Fergus wrote a long letter to his +mother, inclosing the official papers, Mitchell having offered to +send the packet home with his despatches. Fergus was glad to get +the documents sent off in this way--by which, indeed, he had sent +the greater part of his letters to his mother--the post being so +uncertain and insecure that there was no trusting it; and although +his mother's replies were always sent to the care of the +ambassador, a large number of them were lost in the transit.</p> +<p>Early in April Fergus suddenly broke down. His work had been +almost incessant. The cold in the tent had, at night, been extreme; +and, having been wetted to the skin one day, when a sudden thaw +came on, his clothes had been frozen stiff when, at nightfall, the +frost returned with even greater severity than before. In spite of +the cloaks and blankets that Karl heaped upon his bed, he shivered +all night, and in the morning hot fits came on. The king's surgeon, +coming in to see him, pronounced that the chill had resulted in +what was probably rheumatic fever.</p> +<p>He was at once carried to a hospital, some miles in the rear. +This was crowded with officers and men, suffering from the effects +of their hardships; but a room was assigned to him in a house close +by, that had been taken for the use of officers of distinction.</p> +<p>Here for two months he lay helpless, and at times delirious. +Karl sat up with him almost night and day, taking two or three +hours' sleep occasionally on the floor, but starting up whenever +his master moved or spoke. Sir John Mitchell rode over several +times to see him, and the king's own surgeon went over twice a +week. These visits, however, both ceased three weeks after he +entered the hospital, the king's army having rapidly marched +away.</p> +<p>At the end of June he was out and able to sit in the sun in the +garden.</p> +<p>"How long shall I be before I am fit for duty again?" he asked +the surgeon, two days later.</p> +<p>"Six weeks or two months. It will be fully that time before you +can regain your strength. In a month, no doubt, you will be able to +sit a horse; but I should say that it would be quite twice that +time, before you will be fit to perform the work that falls to your +lot on the king's staff. You want to have quiet, and at the same +time you need pleasant company. The worst thing you can possibly do +is to worry and fret yourself. Instead of bringing things about +sooner, it will only delay them. What you have to do is to bask in +the sun, eat and drink as much as you can, and take life +pleasantly.</p> +<p>"There is one thing, you have nothing to grieve about that you +are not with the king. He is marching hither and thither with +wonderful celerity but, do what he will, he cannot induce either +Daun or Lacy to give battle; though together they are three to one +against him. Whenever he approaches they simply shut themselves up +in impregnable places, erect palisades and batteries, and hope that +he will dash himself against them; which he is not likely to +do."</p> +<p>Fergus found that Frederick, when he marched, had left behind a +force sufficient to check any attempt that the Austrian garrison of +Dresden might make, towards the north; but that at present all was +quiet, the enemy venturing on no aggressive movements, never +knowing when the king might suddenly pounce down upon them. He +found that there was no attempt made to blockade the town. No carts +with provisions were allowed to pass in from the north side, but on +the west there was free ingress and egress, there being no Prussian +troops in that direction. Fergus therefore hired a peasant to carry +a letter for him to Count Eulenfurst, explaining how it was that he +had been unable to get leave during the winter; and that, for the +last two months and a half, he had been laid up in the +hospital.</p> +<p>Three days later a carriage drove up to the house. The count +himself leapt out, and hurried across the garden to where Fergus +was sitting.</p> +<p>"This is indeed kind of you, count," Fergus said, as he +rose.</p> +<p>"By no means, Drummond. I only wish that we had known your +situation before. You should have got someone to write, if you +could not do it yourself. We were not surprised at your not +visiting us in the winter, for with both armies on the alert we +knew that, in the first place, you were busy, and probably not able +to get leave of absence; and in the next place, you could hardly +have got in.</p> +<p>"You can imagine the concern we felt when your letter reached +us, yesterday evening. Of course, I determined to start at once. +You must indeed have had a hard time of it, for you have fallen +away so much that I should hardly have known you."</p> +<p>"I have picked up very much in the last fortnight, count; and I +hope, in another month, to be something like myself again; though +the doctor insists that I shall not be fit for campaigning work for +double that time."</p> +<p>"Well, I have come to take you back with me. The countess asks +me to tell you that if you do not come at once, she will drive +hither with two or three of her maids, and establish herself as +your nurse. It will not be a very long drive, for I am well known +to the Austrians, and have a pass from the governor to go through +their lines when I please, and to visit a small estate I have, +thirty miles to the north. And no doubt you can get a similar pass +for us to leave your lines."</p> +<p>"I should like nothing so much, count; but might I not get you +into trouble, if it were known that you had one of the king's +officers at your house?"</p> +<p>"In the first place no one would know it, and in the second +place I don't think that I should get into any trouble, were it +found out. It is not a Prussian officer that I shall be +entertaining, still less a spy, but a dear friend who is an invalid +and needs care. As everyone knows what you did for me, the excuse +would be ample.</p> +<p>"Moreover, it happens that Governor Maguire is a personal friend +of mine, and I shall call upon him and tell him that I have a sick +friend staying with me and, without letting him know who you are, +say that I give him my word of honour that you will, while with me, +remain in the grounds, and will make no inquiries concerning his +fortifications and plans of defence. He will understand what I +mean, and if anyone should make a report to him it will, at any +rate, cause no trouble; though I do not say that he might not feel +obliged to give me notice that you had best go.</p> +<p>"Well, for today I will remain here and rest my horses; and +tomorrow morning we will start, early.</p> +<p>"Ah! I see you have your henchman still with you. He, like +yourself, has escaped both Austrian and French bullets.</p> +<p>"Well, Karl," he went on as the soldier came up, "you don't seem +to have managed to keep your master out of mischief."</p> +<p>"No, count; but it was not my fault. It was the fault of those +horses you gave him."</p> +<p>"Why, how was that, Karl?"</p> +<p>"Well, sir, the colonel was the best mounted man on the king's +staff and, however hard he worked the horses, they always seemed to +keep in good condition. So that whenever there was anything to be +done, it was sure to be, 'Colonel Drummond, please go here or go +there.' He was always on horseback, and so at last he broke down. +Anyone else would have broken down months before, but he never +seemed to know what it was to be tired."</p> +<p>"What, have you got another step, Drummond?" the count said, +smiling at the soldier's tone of discontent.</p> +<p>"Yes, count. It is not for anything particular this time, but +for what I may call general services.</p> +<p>"You are going to have an easy time of it now, Karl. Count +Eulenfurst is kindly going to take me off and nurse me for a bit; +and you will have to stay here and look after the horses, until I +return. It would not be safe for you to accompany me, and I think +you want a rest as much as I want nursing.</p> +<p>"Why, for two months, count, this good fellow never took off his +coat; and I don't think he ever slept an hour at a time. I have +never once called when he was not there to answer."</p> +<p>"I did what I could," Karl growled, "but it was not much. The +colonel has always looked well after me, and the least I could do +was to look after him, when he wanted it.</p> +<p>"I am very glad he is going with you, sir. It is dull enough for +him here; and I am sure he will get on much faster, under your care +and the ladies', than he would do moping about in this place."</p> +<p>Fergus wrote a note to the general of the division, and Karl +returned with a pass authorizing Count Eulenfurst's carriage to +pass through the lines, at any time.</p> +<p>"There is one difficulty I have not thought of, count. I have no +civilian clothes. Those I brought with me were left in the magazine +at Dresden, when I first marched away; and there they have been, +ever since. But indeed, even if I had them, I do not think that +they would fit me; seeing that I have grown some four inches in +height since I came out, and at least as much more round my +shoulders."</p> +<p>"I thought of that," the count said, "and have brought with me a +suit from Dresden that will, I think, fit you as well as an +invalid's clothes can be expected to fit."</p> +<p>The next morning an early start was made. No difficulties were +encountered on the way and, although sundry detours had to be made, +they reached the count's house after a three-hours' drive. Thirza +ran down to meet them as the count drove up; and she gave a little +cry of surprise, and pity, as the count helped Fergus to +alight.</p> +<p>"I shall soon be better, countess," he said with a smile, as he +held out his hand. "I am quite a giant in strength, compared with +what I was a fortnight ago; but just at present I am a little +tired, after the drive."</p> +<p>"You look dreadfully bad," the girl said. "Still, I hope we +shall soon bring you round again. My father said you would be back +with him about this time, and we shall begin by giving you some +soup, at once."</p> +<p>As they entered the hall, the countess herself came down.</p> +<p>"Welcome back again! I may say, I hope, welcome home again, +Major Drummond!"</p> +<p>"Colonel Drummond," the count corrected. "He is one of +Frederick's colonels now."</p> +<p>"I congratulate you," she went on, "though just at present, you +certainly do not look a very formidable colonel. However, we will +soon build you up; but don't try to talk now. I see the journey has +been almost too much for you.</p> +<p>"In here, please. I thought you had better take something before +you climbed the stairs."</p> +<p>A meal was laid, in a room leading off the hall; and after a +basin of soup and a couple of glasses of Rhine wine, Fergus felt +much better.</p> +<p>"That is right," the count said. "You have now got a tinge of +colour in your cheeks.</p> +<p>"Come, Thirza, you must not look so woebegone, because our +knight is pulled down a bit. Invalids want a cheerful face and, +unless you brighten up, I shall not intrust any of the nursing +duties to you."</p> +<p>Thirza tried to smile, but the attempt was a very forced +one.</p> +<p>"It has been a surprise," she said quietly, but with an evident +effort. "You see, I have always seen Colonel Drummond looking so +strong and bright. Though I knew that he had been very ill, somehow +I did not expect to see him like this."</p> +<p>"But I can assure you I am better," Fergus said, laughing. "I +did feel done when we arrived, but I can assure you that is not my +normal state; and being here among you all will very soon effect a +transformation. In a very short time you will see that I shall +refuse altogether to be treated as an invalid, and my nurse's post +will be a sinecure."</p> +<p>"Now you had better go and lie down, and get a sleep for two or +three hours," the countess said, decidedly. "You will have your old +bedroom, and we have fitted up the next room as a sitting room. We +know a good many of the Austrian and Confederate officers, and of +an afternoon and evening they often drop in; and although we are +not afraid of questions, it will be more pleasant for you to have a +place of your own.</p> +<p>"Still, I hope you will be able to be out in the garden behind +the house, the best part of the day, under the trees. You would be +as safe from interruption, there, as if you were a hundred miles +away from Dresden. We have arranged that Thirza shall have chief +charge of you, out there; while the count and I will look after you +while you are in the house."</p> +<p>Fergus obediently lay down and slept for some hours. As the +countess had arranged, he rang his bell on waking and, hearing from +the servant who answered it that there were no visitors downstairs, +he went down. The count had gone out, but the countess and Thirza +went out into the grounds with him; and he found that, in a quiet +and shady corner, a sofa had been placed for his use, with a table +and two or three chairs.</p> +<p>The countess remained chatting with him until a servant came +out, to say that three Austrian officers had called; and she went +in, leaving him to the charge of Thirza. For two or three hours +they talked together, and were then joined by the count and +countess; when Fergus told them the piece of good fortune that had +befallen him, by recovering his father's estates. They were greatly +pleased and interested.</p> +<p>"And are they extensive?" the count asked.</p> +<p>"They are extensive," he said, "if taken by acreage; but if +calculated by the revenue that they bring in, they would seem small +to you. But at any rate, they suffice to make one wealthy in +Scotland. The large proportion of it is mountain and moorland; but +as the head of my clan, I shall hold a position far above what is +represented by the income. Two hundred men were ready to draw +sword, at my father's orders, and to follow him in battle.</p> +<p>"I don't know that, here in Germany, you can quite understand +the ties that bind the members of a clan to their head. They do not +regard him as tenants regard a lord; but rather as a protector, a +friend, and even a relation. All disputes are carried to him for +arbitration. The finest trout from the stream, the fattest buck +from the hills, are sent to him as an offering. They draw their +swords at his bidding, and will die for him in battle. To them he +is a sort of king, and they would obey his orders, were he to tell +them to rise in rebellion.</p> +<p>"The feeling is to some extent dying out and, since Culloden, +the power of the clans has greatly abated. Nevertheless, some of +the Highland regiments in our army were raised by chiefs wholly +from their own clansmen.</p> +<p>"In many respects this restoration of my inheritance changes my +position altogether. As I told you the last time I was here, I +shall stop until this terrible war is over. The king has been most +kind and gracious to me, and to leave before the struggle is over I +should feel to be an act of desertion. Once the sword is sheathed, +I intend to return to Scotland; for I should not care to remain in +the service, when there is nought but life in garrison to look +forward to. Moreover, the strength of the army would, of course, be +largely diminished, at once.</p> +<p>"What I should do afterwards, I know not. Perhaps I might obtain +a commission in our own army, for there are always opportunities of +seeing service in America, India, or elsewhere, under the British +flag. More likely I shall, at any rate for a time, remain at home. +My mother has no other child, and it is a lonely life, indeed, for +her."</p> +<p>"Do you not think of settling here?"</p> +<p>"What is there for me to do, count, outside the army? I could +not turn merchant, for I should assuredly be bankrupt, at the end +of the first month; nor could I well turn cultivator, when I have +no land to dig. Now, however, my future is determined for me; and a +point that has, I own, troubled me much, has been decided without +an effort on my part."</p> +<p>The conversation was continued for some little time, the count +asking many questions about Fergus's ancestral home, the scenery, +and mode of life. Fergus noticed that Thirza took no part in the +conversation, but sat still; and looked, he thought, pale.</p> +<p>The days succeeded each other quietly and uneventfully, and +Fergus gained strength rapidly; so that, in the middle of July, he +began to feel that he was again fit for service. One evening he was +sitting alone in the garden with the count, when the latter said to +him:</p> +<p>"You remember our conversation on the first evening of our +coming here, as to the impossibility of your doing anything, did +you remain out here after leaving the army. There was one solution +to which you did not allude. Many Scottish and Irish soldiers, both +in this country, in France, Austria, and Germany, have married +well. Why should you not do the same?"</p> +<p>Fergus was silent for a minute, and then he said:</p> +<p>"Yes, count; but they continued in the service, rose to the rank +of generals and, as in the case of my cousin Keith, to that of +marshal."</p> +<p>"But you might do the same, if you remained in the army," the +count said. "You are assuredly, by far, the youngest colonel in it. +You are a favourite of the king's, and might hope for +anything."</p> +<p>"I am afraid, count, I have too much of our Scottish feeling of +independence; and should not, therefore, like to owe everything to +a wife."</p> +<p>"The feeling is creditable, if not carried too far," the count +said. "You have a position that is a most honourable one. You have +made your name famous in the army, where brave men are common. You +possess the qualities of youth, a splendid physique, and--I don't +wish to flatter you--a face that might win any woman's fancy. There +are none, however placed, who might not be proud of such a +son-in-law."</p> +<p>"You judge everyone by yourself, count," Fergus said slowly. +"You overrate my qualities, and forget the fact that I am, after +all, but a soldier of fortune."</p> +<p>"Then you never thought of such a thing?"</p> +<p>Fergus was silent for a minute, and then said:</p> +<p>"We may think of many things, count, that we know, in our +hearts, are but fancies which will never be realized."</p> +<p>"Let us suppose a case," the count said. "Let us take a case +like mine. You did me an inestimable service. You certainly saved +my life, and the lives of several others; including, perhaps, those +of my wife and daughter. The latter has constantly heard your name +associated with deeds of valour. Would it be improbable that she +should feel a depth of gratitude that would, as she grew, increase +into a warmer feeling; while you, on your part, might entertain a +liking for her? Would it be such an out-of-the-way thing for you to +come to me, and ask her hand? Or an out-of-the-way thing that I +should gladly give her to you?"</p> +<p>"It may not seem so to you, count," Fergus said quietly; "but it +has seemed so to me. I understand what you are so generously saying +but, even with such encouragement, I can scarce dare to ask what +seems to me so presumptuous a question. For four years, now, this +house has been as a home to me; and it was but natural that, as +your daughter grew up, I should have grown to love her. I have told +myself, hundreds of times, that it would be, indeed, a base return +for your kindness, were I to try to steal her heart; and never have +I said a single word to her that I would not have said, aloud, had +you and her mother been present. During the month that I have been +here, now, I have struggled hard with myself; thrown with her, as I +have been, for hours every day. But I have made up my mind that no +word should ever pass my lips; and if it has done so, now, it is +because you have drawn it from me."</p> +<p>"I am glad that I have done so," the count said, gravely. "For +the last two years I have hoped that this might be so, for in no +other way could I repay our debt of gratitude to you. I cannot tell +what Thirza's thoughts are; but there have been three suitors for +her hand this year, any of whom might well, in point of means and +character, have been considered suitable; but when I spoke to her +she laughed at the idea and, though she said nothing, I gathered +that her love was already given.</p> +<p>"As my only child, her happiness is my first consideration. As +to the question of means, it is absurd to mention them; for did she +marry the wealthiest noble, she could desire no more than she will +have. I told you, the first time you came to us after that terrible +night, that we should always regard you as one of ourselves. We +have done so; and I can assure you that her mother and I desire +nothing better for her.</p> +<p>"For your sake, I am glad that you have come into this Scottish +estate; but for my own I care nothing for it, and indeed, am in one +respect sorry; for you will naturally wish that, for a part of the +time each year, she should reside there with you.</p> +<p>"Now, that has not been so dreadful, has it?"</p> +<p>"Not in any way, count; and I thank you, with all my heart, for +your kindness. My feeling for your daughter has grown up gradually, +and it was not until I was last here that I recognized how much I +cared for her. I then, when I went away, resolved it would be +better for me not to return; at any rate, not to stay here again, +until I heard that she was married. It is true that I talked of +paying you a visit, even were Dresden captured; but I knew that +when the time came I should be able to find excuses for not doing +so. During the time that I was laid up with fever, she was ever in +my mind; but the necessity for my remaining away from here only +impressed itself, more and more strongly, upon me.</p> +<p>"Then you appeared, and carried me off. I could not refuse to +come, without giving my reason; but I fully determined that in no +way, by look or word, would I allow her to see that I regarded her +other than as the daughter of my kind host. I have had a hard fight +to keep that resolution, for each day my feelings have grown +stronger and stronger; and I had resolved that, before I left, I +would own to you, not my presumption, for I have not presumed, but +my weakness, and ask you to press me no more to come here, until +your daughter was married."</p> +<p>"You have acted just as I should have expected from you, +Drummond. The great hope of the countess and myself has been to see +Thirza happily married. Fortune or position in a suitor have been +altogether immaterial points, excepting that we would assure +ourselves that it was not to obtain these that her hand was sought. +From the first we have regarded you, not only with gratitude, but +with deep interest. It seemed to us only natural that, after so +strange and romantic a beginning to your acquaintance, Thirza +should regard you with more than ordinary interest. To her you +would be a sort of hero of romance. We watched you closely then, +and found that in addition to your bravery you possessed all the +qualities that we could desire. You were modest, frank, and +natural. So far from making much of the service you had rendered +us, you were always unwilling to speak of it; and when that could +not be avoided, you made as little of it as possible.</p> +<p>"I spoke several times of you to Marshal Keith, and he said that +he regarded you almost as a son, and spoke in the highest terms of +you. We saw, or fancied we saw, in the pleasure which Thirza +betrayed when you returned after each of your absences; and in the +anxiety which she evinced when battles had taken place, until I +could ascertain that your name was not among the lists of killed +and wounded; that what we had thought likely was taking place, and +that she regarded you with an interest beyond that which would be +excited by gratitude only.</p> +<p>"As to yourself, and your thoughts on the subject, we knew +nothing. We never saw anything in your manner to her that showed +that your heart was affected. You chatted with her as freely and +naturally as to us and, even since you have been here this time, we +have observed no change in you. And yet, it seemed to us well-nigh +impossible that a young soldier should be thrown so much with a +girl who, though it is her father who says so, is exceptionally +pretty and of charming manners, and continue to regard her with +indifference; unless, indeed, he loved elsewhere, which we were +sure in your case could hardly be. I had however, like yourself, +determined to speak on the matter before you left us; as, had you +not felt towards her as we hoped, the countess and I agreed that it +would be better, for her sake, that we should not press you to come +to stay with us again until she was married.</p> +<p>"I am truly glad that the matter stands as we had hoped. I can +only repeat that there is no one to whom we could intrust her +happiness so confidently as to you."</p> +<p>"I will do my best to justify your confidence, count," Fergus +said warmly.</p> +<p>"Now I will go into the house and tell my wife, and then we can +acquaint Thirza. It is the custom here, at least among people of +rank, for the parents first to acquaint their daughter with a +proposal that has been made for her hand, and of their wishes on +the subject. Parental control is not carried to the point, now, +that it used to be; and maidens sometimes entertain different +opinions to those of their parents. Happily, in the present case, +there is no reason to fear that Thirza will exhibit any +contumacy.</p> +<p>"Fortunately we are alone at dinner, today. Therefore do you +come down, a quarter of an hour before the usual hour, and we will +get the matter formally settled."</p> +<p>When Fergus went into the drawing room, the count was already +there.</p> +<p>"Thirza shows no unwillingness to carry out our commands in this +matter," he said with a smile, as he held out his hand to Fergus +and shook it very heartily. "I pointed out to her that you would +naturally expect her to accompany you every year to Scotland, and +to spend some months among your people there. She did not seem to +consider that any insupportable objection.</p> +<p>"In one respect, Fergus, I think that it is well for you that I +am comparatively a young man; being now but forty-four, while the +countess is six years younger; thus it may be a good many years +before you will be called upon to assume the control of my estates, +and the position of one of the great landowners of Saxony. One of +these estates will, of course, be Thirza's dowry at once; but that +will not tie you so much, and you will be freer to come and go as +it pleases you."</p> +<p>Two or three minutes later the door opened, and the countess +entered, leading Thirza by the hand. The girl advanced with +downcast eyes, until her father stepped forward and took her left +hand, while he held the right of Fergus.</p> +<p>"My daughter," he said, "your mother and I have chosen for your +husband Colonel Fergus Drummond. We consider the match to be in all +ways a suitable one. We esteem him highly, and are convinced that +he will make you happy; loving you, as he says, tenderly and truly. +In this room where you first saw him, I need not recall to you the +services he rendered to us; and I exhort you to obey this our +order, and to be a true and loving spouse to him."</p> +<p>The girl looked up now.</p> +<p>"That will I, father and mother, and most willingly; and will +always, to my life's end, be a true and loving wife to him."</p> +<a id="PicK" name="PicK"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/k.jpg" alt= +"'Take her, Drummond, you have won your bride fairly and well'" /></div> +<p>"Take her, Colonel," the count said, putting her hand into that +of Fergus. "You have won your bride fairly and well, and I know +that you will be a worthy husband to her."</p> +<p>"That I swear to be," Fergus said, as he stooped and kissed her. +"I feel how great is the boon that you have given me; and shall, to +my life's end, be deeply thankful to you both for the confidence +which you have placed in me, in thus intrusting her to my care.</p> +<p>"And to you, Thirza, do I swear to be a loving husband, to the +end of my life."</p> +<p>"And now," the count said, "we will leave these young people +till the bell rings," and taking the countess's hand, he led her +into the next room.</p> +<p>The ten minutes that passed, before the signal for dinner was +given, sufficed to do much to lessen the awkwardness of the +occasion; and Fergus was heartily grateful to the count for having +left them to themselves for that short time. The dinner passed off +as usual, the count chatting gaily; while Fergus attempted, with +indifferent success, to follow him. Thirza was very silent, but her +cheeks were flushed, and her eyes radiant with happiness.</p> +<p>It did not escape the attention of the servants who waited that +instead of, as usual, leading down the countess while the count +brought down his daughter; this time the count and his wife had +come down first, followed by Fergus and the young countess. Nor +were they slow to notice Thirza's flushed face.</p> +<p>The count's household had been deeply interested in the visits +of Fergus. The women had always been unanimous in their opinion +that they would all have been murdered by the marauders, had it not +been for his interposition; and had also agreed that the most +proper thing in the world, after what had happened, would be that +the young countess should someday marry this brave young officer. +Each time that he had come, during the last four years, they had +watched and hoped that they should hear that this was coming about; +but hitherto they had been terribly disappointed, and had almost +agreed that, if nothing came of this long visit, nothing would ever +come of it. The news, therefore, brought down by the menservants +excited a lively interest.</p> +<p>"I said all along that it would be so some day," one of the +women exclaimed. "The countess would never have allowed our young +lady to be out in the garden, every afternoon, if she and the count +had not been willing that there should be a match; and I am sure I +don't see how he could help falling in love with the young +countess."</p> +<p>"Nor she with him," another woman added. "He is the +pleasantest-looking young gentleman I have ever seen, and we know +that he is one of the bravest; and though he is a Prussian officer, +there is not a bit of stiffness about him. Well, I only hope it is +true."</p> +<p>"I would not count on it too much," one of the older women said. +"You never can take menfolks' opinions on such matters. I am sure +any of us would know with half an eye, if we saw them together, how +matters stood; but as for men, they are as blind as bats in such +matters. Still, the fact that he took the young countess down, +instead of our lady, goes for something."</p> +<p>The next morning, indeed, the news was confirmed. The countess +told her tire woman, who had been Thirza's nurse, what had +happened; and in a few minutes it was known all over the house, and +even the parties most concerned scarcely felt more pleasure than +the women of the count's establishment.</p> +<h2><a name="Ch19" id="Ch19">Chapter 19</a>: Liegnitz.</h2> +<p>"I have news," the count said, when he came in to lunch, after +he had been down into the town; "a messenger has come in with a +despatch this morning, saying that the king, with his army, is +marching hither with all speed."</p> +<p>An exclamation of alarm broke from Thirza, and one of surprise +from Fergus. They had been in the garden together all the +morning.</p> +<p>"It will be but a day or two earlier," Fergus said in a low tone +to her. "I told you that in three days, at the most, I must leave. +The surgeon gave me six weeks, but I have so thoroughly recovered +that I feel I ought to be with the king."</p> +<p>Then he raised his voice.</p> +<p>"That is startling news indeed, count; but I can hardly believe +that he intends to besiege Dresden. He has no siege guns with him, +and though, I suppose, he has as usual got a start of Daun, he can +hardly hope to capture the city before the Austrians come up. At +any rate, I must ride out and report myself, and join him as soon +as he gets close. It is hard, indeed, at this moment. Still, there +is no question but that it is my duty."</p> +<p>"I see that, and I am sure that Thirza would not wish to keep +you from it. As long as you are a soldier, duty is the first thing. +However, as the king is coming hither, we shall doubtless see you +sometimes. As we are half a mile outside the walls, we shall be +within the besieging lines."</p> +<p>"I hope that if the king besieges, count, it will not be on this +side, for you might be exposed to shot from the town +batteries."</p> +<p>"If we are so, we must move beyond their range and go to our +place at Wirzow. That is but twelve miles away. It is a small +house, but will do very well for a time."</p> +<p>"I should hope, count, that there will be no occasion for that. +The king cannot hope to lay siege in regular form, though he may +try an assault. Slow as Daun is, he must be here within ten days or +so of Frederick's arrival; and it is probable that the march here +is intended rather to draw Daun away from his Russian allies, than +with any hope of taking Dresden."</p> +<p>"Will you go this afternoon?"</p> +<p>"I think that I ought to, count. If the news has come that +Frederick is marching to besiege Dresden, he cannot be far away; +for it is certain that he will march as fast as he can, and will +himself follow closely on the news. 'Tis plain that Lacy feels +himself unable to oppose him, and must be falling back with all +speed before him. If I were to report myself this evening as +convalescent, I can join him tomorrow, if I find that he is but a +march away."</p> +<p>"I will take you in my carriage, as before," the count said. "I +can get back here before dark."</p> +<p>Two hours later they started, Thirza consoled to some extent by +the assurance that, in all probability, Fergus would be back again +in the course of two or three days. They found that the Austrian +advanced posts had already been withdrawn, and experienced no +difficulty with the Prussians; so that by five o'clock they arrived +at the hospital, the count at once starting on his return +journey.</p> +<p>Karl was delighted at seeing his master looking himself +again.</p> +<p>"I hardly thought that a month could do so much for you," he +said, "especially as you were mending but slowly, before you +went."</p> +<p>"Yes, I was a poor creature then, Karl; and I did not think, +myself, that I should be really fit for work for some time to come; +but at any rate, in such weather as this, I have no fear of +breaking down."</p> +<p>Putting on his uniform, he went to the principal medical +officer, and reported his return and his fitness for duty.</p> +<p>"You have certainly gained strength a great deal faster than I +expected, Colonel Drummond. I don't know that you are fit for any +really hard work, but I suppose that you will be at least a week +before you join the king; and by that time you may be able to do a +fair amount of work."</p> +<p>"I fancy I shall join the king tomorrow, doctor."</p> +<p>"Tomorrow?" the surgeon repeated in surprise.</p> +<p>"Yes, sir. Have you not heard the news? The king is marching +with all speed this way. I do not know what his intention is--to +force Lacy to give battle single handed before Daun can arrive, or +to besiege Dresden--but in the city they believe that they are +going to be besieged."</p> +<p>"This is news indeed," the surgeon said. "The scouts brought in +word this morning that a considerable force was seen, coming along +the road from Bautzen. It must be Lacy's army."</p> +<p>"We may be sure that the king is pretty close at his heels," +Fergus said. "I have no doubt that by tomorrow morning we shall +have news of him, and I fancy that I shall not have far to ride to +join him."</p> +<p>The opinion was justified. That evening Lacy joined the +Confederate army, in their strong position behind the gap of +Plauen. He had been hotly chased, indeed. Frederick had been +manoeuvring to pass Daun and carry on a campaign in Silesia; but +the Austrian general had been too cautious, and it was impossible +to pass him without fighting; so on the night of the 8th he left +Bautzen suddenly and silently, and marched all night, in hopes of +catching Lacy at Godau. The latter's Croats, however, brought him +news in time, and he at once retreated.</p> +<p>After a short halt the Prussians pressed on for another eighteen +miles, capturing some of Lacy's hussars, but failing to come up +with his main body; which, marching all that day and the next +night, arrived near Dresden on the morning of the 10th, Lacy +himself reaching the town the evening before. By Thursday evening +the whole of his army had crossed Dresden bridge and got in safely +behind Plauen, leaving ten thousand men to aid the four thousand in +the garrison.</p> +<p>At noon Fergus, hearing that, without doubt, the whole of the +enemy had fallen back, started with Karl; and that evening rode +into the royal camp, and reported himself to the king.</p> +<p>"I am glad to see you back, Drummond," Frederick said heartily. +"I have sorely missed you; and indeed, when I rode away the +accounts of you were so bad that I doubted whether you would ever +be able to be with me again. You don't look quite yourself yet, but +no doubt the air and exercise will soon bring you round. Have you +any news?"</p> +<p>"Lacy has left ten thousand men in Dresden, sire, and with the +rest of his force has joined the Confederate army at Plauen."</p> +<p>"Just what I wished," the king said. "It has saved me a long +march, and we will now go straight to Dresden."</p> +<p>The next day the army marched forward, circled round the western +and southern sides of Dresden, and encamped at Gruna, a mile to the +southeast of the city; and throughout the night laboured at getting +up batteries. The division under Holstein was planted on an +eminence on the other side of the river, across which a pontoon +bridge was at once thrown. There was no fear of disturbance from +Lacy, the united force of the enemy having retreated to the old +Saxon camp at Pirna. The king, after seeing the batteries marked +out, retired to bed early; and Fergus was able to ride round and +pay a short visit to the count.</p> +<p>On the 14th the batteries opened fire--Maguire having refused +the summons to surrender--and continued for four days without +making much impression upon the walls, the heaviest guns being only +twenty-five pounders.</p> +<p>On the 18th some heavy guns arrived from Magdeburg. The +batteries were all ready for them, and as soon as they arrived they +were set to work. Maguire burnt the suburbs outside the town, and +answered the cannonade hotly.</p> +<p>Finding that the guns on the walls did but little damage to the +Prussian batteries, Maguire mounted two or three guns on to the +leads of the Protestant church, and from this commanding position +he was able to throw shot right into them. The Prussian fire was at +once concentrated on the church, which was speedily set on fire. +This spread through the surrounding streets, and a tremendous +conflagration raged for the next forty-eight hours. But by this +time Daun, who had lost some days before setting out in pursuit of +Frederick, was within five miles of the town, had driven Holstein +across the river, and was in communication with Maguire.</p> +<p>On the night of the 21st-22nd Maguire's garrison, led by General +Nugent, sallied out from Dresden; while four thousand of Daun's men +marched round from the north side. For a time the assault on the +Prussian intrenchments was successful, although Nugent was, on his +first attack, repulsed and taken prisoner. But when Daun's people +arrived the regiments defending the trenches were driven out. Then +fresh battalions came up and drove the Austrians out, taking many +prisoners.</p> +<p>Daun remained passive for some days after this, and Frederick +continued to cannonade the city until the 29th; making, however, +his preparations for departure, and going off unmolested by the +enemy towards Meissen. The news reached him that Glatz, one of the +barrier fortresses of Silesia, had been taken by Loudon, and that +the latter was besieging Breslau.</p> +<p>Daun had guessed the way by which Frederick would retire, and +had broken up the roads and bridges, and felled trees in the +forests so as to render them impassable; and as soon as Frederick +started he moved in the same direction, his position so serving him +that, marching by a road parallel to that taken by the king, he was +ahead of him. Lacy had been warned to be prepared, and he too +started with his army, so that the three forces moved eastward at a +comparatively short distance apart.</p> +<p>Although hampered by the obstacles in their way, and by a train +of two thousand wagons, the Prussians moved rapidly and covered a +hundred miles in five days. Daun made what was, for him, prodigious +efforts also, and kept the lead he had gained.</p> +<p>On the 7th of August Frederick was thirty miles west of +Liegnitz. Here he halted for a day, and on the 9th marched to the +Katzbach valley, only to find that Daun was securely posted on the +other side of the river, and Lacy on the hills a few miles off. The +next morning Frederick marched down the bank of the Katzbach to +Liegnitz, Daun keeping parallel with him on the other side of the +river.</p> +<p>Knowing that Daun had been joined during the night by Loudon, +and that they were vastly too strong to be attacked, Frederick +started at eleven at night, and at daybreak was back on his old +camping ground. He crossed the river, hoping to be able to fall +upon Lacy; but the latter had moved off, and Frederick, pressing +on, would have got fairly ahead of his enemies if it had not been +for the heavy baggage train, which delayed him for five hours; and +by the time it came up he found that Lacy, Daun, and Loudon were +all round him again.</p> +<p>The situation seemed desperate. The army had but four days' +provisions left, and a scout sent out on the 12th reported that the +roads over the hills were absolutely impassable for baggage. At +eight o'clock the army set out again, recrossed the Katzbach, and +again made for Liegnitz, which they reached after a sixteen hours' +march. Here the king halted for thirty hours, and his three enemies +gathered round him again.</p> +<p>They were ninety thousand strong, while he was but thirty. Daun +made elaborate reconnaissances, and Frederick had no doubt that he +would be attacked, that night or early the next morning. After dark +the army marched quietly away, and took up its position on the +heights of Torberger, its fires being left burning brightly, with +two drummers to beat occasionally.</p> +<p>Daun's and Lacy's fires were clearly visible; but they, like his +own, were deserted, both having marched to catch him, as they +hoped, asleep at Liegnitz; but it chanced that Loudon had been +ordered to take post just where Frederick had halted, and his +troops came suddenly upon the Prussians in the dark.</p> +<p>A battalion was despatched at once, with some cannon, to seize +the crest of the Wolfberg. Loudon, whose work was to prevent +Frederick from flying eastward, had hurried forward; his scouts +having informed him that a number of the Prussian baggage waggons +were passing, and hoped to effect a capture of them; and he was +vastly surprised when, instead of finding the baggage guard before +him, he was received with a tremendous musketry fire and volleys of +case shot.</p> +<p>He at once rallied his troops and, with five battalions in +front, dashed forward. He was repulsed, but returned to the attack +three times. He kept edging round towards the right, to take +Frederick in flank; but the Prussians also shifted their ground, +and met him. The Austrian cavalry poured down again and again, and +fresh battalions of infantry were continually brought up.</p> +<p>At last Loudon felt that the contest was hopeless, and fell back +across the Katzbach. The Prussians captured six thousand of his men +before they could get across the river, four thousand were killed +and wounded, and eighty-two cannons captured. Thus his army of +thirty-five thousand strong had been wrecked by the Prussian left +wing, numbering fifteen thousand; the rest of the Prussian forces, +under Ziethen, keeping guard lest Daun and Lacy should come on to +aid him. Daun, however, was miles away, intent upon catching +Frederick; and did not know until morning that his camp had been +deserted, and Loudon beaten.</p> +<p>As soon as he was assured of this, he poured his cavalry across +the river, but Ziethen's cannon drove them back again; and he saw +that, with Ziethen standing in order of battle, in a commanding +position, with his guns sweeping the bridges, he could do +nothing.</p> +<p>Frederick remained four hours on the battlefield, collected five +thousand muskets lying on the field and, with the six thousand +prisoners, his wounded, and newly-captured cannon, marched away at +nine o'clock in the morning.</p> +<p>A Russian force of twenty-four thousand still blocked the way; +but, desirous above all things to effect a junction with Prince +Henry, Frederick got rid of them, by sending a peasant with +instructions to let himself be taken by the Russians. The slip of +paper he carried contained the words:</p> +<p>"Austrians totally beaten this day. Now for the Russians, dear +brother, and swift. Do what we have agreed upon."</p> +<p>The ruse had its effect. The Russian general, believing that +Frederick and Prince Henry were both about to fall upon him, +retreated at once, burning the bridge behind him; and the king +pushed on to Breslau, which he reached on the 16th; having, thanks +to the wonderful marching of his troops, and his own talent, +escaped as if by a miracle from what seemed certain +destruction.</p> +<p>For a fortnight Frederick remained encamped, at a short distance +from Breslau, waiting to see what Daun and Soltikoff intended to +do. Daun was busy urging the Russians to come on. Soltikoff was +sulky that Daun had failed in all his endeavours, and that the +brunt of the affair was likely, again, to fall on him and his +Russians.</p> +<p>Elsewhere things had gone more favourably for the king. +Ferdinand of Brunswick had now twenty thousand British with him, +and fifty thousand Hanoverians and Brunswickers; while the French +army under Broglio was one hundred and thirty thousand strong. A +check was first inflicted on the French at Korbach and, a few days +later, an English cavalry regiment and a battalion of Scotch +infantry cut up or captured a brigade of French dragoons.</p> +<p>On the 29th of July, as Frederick was leaving Dresden, a serious +engagement took place at Warburg. Here Broglio's rear guard of +thirty thousand infantry and cavalry, under the Chevalier du Muy, +were attacked; in the first place by a free corps called the +British Legion, composed of men of many nationalities, who turned +Du Muy's right wing out of Warburg. Then the Prince of Brunswick +fell upon the whole French line, and the fight was a stubborn one +for two or three hours, Maxwell's British brigade fighting most +obstinately. They were greatly outnumbered, but were presently +joined by Lord Granby, at the head of the English cavalry, and +these decided the battle.</p> +<p>The French lost fifteen hundred killed, over two thousand +prisoners, and their guns; the allies twelve hundred killed and +wounded, of whom eight hundred were British, showing how large a +share they had taken in the fighting.</p> +<p>Another good bit of news for Frederick was that Hulsen, whom he +had left to watch the enemy in Saxony, had, with ten thousand men, +defeated an army thirty thousand strong; who, as they thought, had +caught him in a net. The Russians had fallen back, but only to +besiege Colbert again.</p> +<p>Prince Henry was ill, but Frederick had made a junction with his +army, bringing his force up to fifty thousand. During the whole of +September there were marches and counter-marches, Frederick pushing +Daun backwards, and preventing him from besieging any of his +fortresses, and gradually cutting the Austrians from their +magazines.</p> +<p>General Werner on the 18th, with five thousand men, fell +suddenly upon fifteen thousand Russians covering the siege of +Colbert, defeated, and scattered them in all directions. The +Russian army at once marched away from Colbert; not however, as +Frederick hoped, back to Poland but, in agreement with Daun, to +make a rush on Berlin.</p> +<p>One force, twenty thousand strong, crossed the Oder. The main +body, under Fermor, for Soltikoff had fallen sick, moved to +Frankfort; while Lacy, with fifteen thousand, marched from Silesia. +On the 3rd of October the Russian vanguard reached the +neighbourhood of Berlin, and summoned it to surrender, and pay a +ransom of four million thalers. The garrison of twelve hundred +strong, joined by no small part of the male population, took post +at the gates and threw up redoubts; and Prince Eugene of +Wuertemberg, after a tremendous march of forty miles, threw himself +into the city.</p> +<p>The Russian vanguard drew off, until joined by Lacy. Hulsen, +with nine thousand, had followed Lacy with all speed; and managed +to throw himself into Berlin before the twenty thousand Russians +arrived. There were now fourteen thousand Prussians in the city, +thirty-five thousand Russians and Austrians outside.</p> +<p>The odds were too great. Negotiations were therefore begun with +the Russian general Tottleben, and Berlin agreed to pay one million +and a half thalers, in the debased coin that now served as the +medium of circulation. Lacy was furious and, when he and the +Russians marched in, his men behaved so badly that the Russians +had, two or three times, to fire upon them. Saxon and Austrian +parties sacked Potsdam and other palaces in the neighbourhood, but +the Russians behaved admirably; and so things went on until, on +October 11th, came the news that Frederick was coming.</p> +<p>Lacy at once marched off with all speed towards Torgau; while +Tottleben and the Russians made for Frankfort-on-Oder, the Cossacks +committing terrible depredations on the march.</p> +<p>The king halted when he heard that Berlin had been evacuated. He +was deeply grieved and mortified that his capital should have been +in the hands of the invaders, even for three days; and his own +loss, from the sacking of Potsdam and other palaces, was very +heavy. However, he paid the ransom from his own pocket, and +bitterly determined to get even with the enemy, before winter came +on.</p> +<p>While Hulsen was away, the Confederate army had captured all the +strongholds in Saxony. Daun had, as usual, advanced with his sixty +thousand men, and intended to winter in Saxony; but before he could +get there, Frederick had dashed south and recaptured Wittenberg and +Leipzig, crossed the Elbe, and driven the scattered corps of the +Confederate army before him. Prince Eugene had also hurried that +way, and defeated his brother, the reigning Duke of +Wuertemberg.</p> +<p>Daun moved with the intention of aiding the Confederate army, +but before he could reach them Hulsen had driven them across the +mountain range into Bohemia, and fell back towards Torgau.</p> +<p>Long before this Fergus had received a reply, from his mother, +to his letter announcing the glad news of the restoration of the +estate:</p> +<p>"It will be doubly dear to me," she said, "as having been won +back by your own exertions and bravery. These four years have been +an anxious time, indeed, for me, Fergus; but the thought that you +are restored to your own, as the result of what you have done, +makes up for it all. I quite see that as long as the war continues +you cannot, with honour, leave the king; but I cannot think that +this war will go on very much longer, and I can wait patiently for +the end.</p> +<p>"And, Fergus, I am not quite sure that the end will be that you +will quietly settle down in the glens. A mother's eye is sharp, and +it seems to me that that young countess near Dresden is a very +conspicuous figure in your letters. During the four years that you +have been out, you have not mentioned the name of any lady but her +and her mother; and you always speak of going back there, as if it +were your German home. That is natural enough, after the service +that you have rendered them. Still, 'tis strange that you should +apparently have made the acquaintance of no other ladies. I don't +think that you have written a single letter, since you have been +away, in which you have not said something about this Saxon count +and his family.</p> +<p>"However, even if it should be so, Fergus, I should not be +discontented. It is only natural that you should sooner or later +marry; and although I would rather that it had been into a Scotch +family, it is for you to choose, not me. I am grateful already, +very grateful for the kindness the family have shown you; and am +quite inclined to love this pretty young countess, if she, on her +part, is inclined to love you. I don't think I could have said so +quite as heartily, before I received your last letter; for I had a +great fear that you might marry and settle down, altogether, in +Germany; but now that the estate is yours, and you are the head of +your clan, I feel sure that you will, at any rate, spend a part of +your time among your own people."</p> +<p>A second letter reached Fergus at the beginning of October; in +answer to his from the camp in front of Dresden, in the middle of +July, which had been delayed much on its way, owing to the rapid +marches of the army, until it had shaken itself free from its +pursuers after the battle of Liegnitz. It began:</p> +<p>"I congratulate you, my dear Fergus, congratulate you with all +my heart; and if there is just a shadow of regret that you should +not have married and settled here entirely, it is but a small +regret, in proportion to the pleasure I feel. It is not even +reasonable, for when I consented to your going abroad to take +service in Prussia, I knew that this would probably end in your +settling down there altogether; for it was hardly likely that you +could win a fortune that would admit of your coming back to live +here.</p> +<p>"Of course, had your estate at that time been restored to you, +you would probably not have gone at all; or if you had done so, it +would have been but to stay for a few years, and see service under +your cousin Keith, and then return to live among your own people. +As it was, there was no reason why you should greatly wish to +return to Scotland, where you were landless, with no avenues open +to employment. However, what you tell me, that the count and +countess are willing that you should spend some months here, every +year, is far better than I could have expected or even hoped; and, +as you may imagine, quite reconciles me to the thought of your +marrying abroad.</p> +<p>"In all other respects, nothing could be more satisfactory than +what you tell me. Your promised wife must be a charming young lady, +and her father and mother the kindest of people. Of course, your +worldly prospects will be vastly beyond anything that even my +wildest dreams have ever pictured for you, and in this respect all +my cares for you are at an end.</p> +<p>"It will be delightful, indeed, to look forward to your +homecoming every year; and I consider myself in every way a +fortunate woman. I am sure that I shall come to love your Thirza +very dearly.</p> +<p>"The only question is, when is the first visit to take place? +Everyone says that it does not seem that the war can go on very +much longer; and that, wonderful as the king's resistance to so +many enemies has been, it cannot continue. However, from what you +say of his determination, and the spirit of the people, I cannot +think that the end can be so near as people think. They have been +saying nearly the same thing for the last three years; and yet, +though everything seemed as dark as possible, he always extricated +himself somehow from his difficulties.</p> +<p>"Besides, his enemies must at last get tired of a war in which, +so far, they have had more defeats than victories, and have +lavished such enormous sums of money. France has already +impoverished herself, and Russia and Austria must feel the strain, +too. In every church here prayers are offered for the success of +the champion of Protestantism; and I am sure that if he had sent +Scottish officers, as Gustavus Adolphus did, to raise troops in +Scotland, he could have obtained forty or fifty thousand men in a +very few weeks, so excited is everyone over the struggle.</p> +<p>"You would be surprised what numbers of people have called upon +me, to congratulate me upon your rising to be a colonel in +Frederick's army--people I have never seen before; and I can assure +you that I never felt so important a person, even before the evil +days of Culloden. When you come back the whole countryside will +flock to give you welcome."</p> +<p>This letter was a great comfort to Fergus. That his mother would +rejoice at his good fortune, he knew; but he feared that his +marriage with a German lady, whatever her rank, would be a sore +disappointment to her, not so much perhaps for her own sake as for +that of the clansmen.</p> +<p>The English ambassador was no longer with the army. At the +fierce fight of Liegnitz he had been with Frederick, but had passed +the night in his carriage, which was jammed up among the baggage +wagons, and had been unable to extricate himself or to discover how +the battle was going on. Several times the Austrian cavalry had +fallen upon the baggage, and had with great difficulty been beaten +off by its guard; and the discomforts of the time, and the anxiety +through which he had gone, so unhinged him that he was unable to +follow Frederick's rapid movements throughout the rest of the +campaign.</p> +<p>Fergus had confided to Earl Marischal Keith, later, his +engagement to the Count Eulenfurst's daughter.</p> +<p>"You are a lucky young dog, Fergus," he said. "My brother and I +came abroad too late for any young countess to fall in love with +us. There is nothing like taking young to the business of +soldiering abroad. Bravery is excellent in its way; but youth and +bravery, combined with good looks, are irresistible to the female +mind. I am heartily glad that one of our kin should have won +something more than six feet of earth by his sword.</p> +<p>"Count Eulenfurst is one of the few men everyone speaks well of. +There is no man in Saxony who stands higher. In any other country +he would have been the leading statesman of his time, but the +wretched king, and his still more wretched minister, held in +disfavour all who opposed their wanton extravagance and their +dangerous plans.</p> +<p>"It is an honour indeed to be connected with such a family, +putting aside all question of money; but indeed, in this respect +nothing could be more satisfactory. His daughter is the sole +heiress of his wide estates, and as her husband you will have a +splendid position.</p> +<p>"I am very glad, lad, that the count has no objection to your +passing a portion of your time in Scotland. They say, you know, +that much as Scotchmen boast of their love of their country, they +are always ready to leave it to better themselves; and that it is +very seldom they ever return to it. Such was, unhappily, the case +with my brother; such will probably be the case with myself; but I +am glad that you will be an exception, and that you will still keep +up your connection with your old home.</p> +<p>"I hope, lad, that you will have more than one son. The first, +of course, will make Saxony his home; but bring up the second as a +Scotchman, send him home to be educated, and let him succeed you in +the glens. If he has the family instinct for fighting, let him go +into the British army--he can go into no better--but let your +people have some one who will be their own laird, and whose +interests will be identified with their own."</p> +<p>Fergus smiled at the old man's earnestness.</p> +<p>"That is rather looking ahead, sir," he said. "However, it is +certainly what I should like to do, myself; and if, as you say, I +have more than one son, I will certainly give the second the +training you suggest, and make a Scotchman of him. Certainly, if he +has fighting instincts, he will see that he will have more +opportunities of active service, in the British army, than he could +have in that of Saxony; which has been proved unable to stand +alone, and can only act as a small ally to either Prussia or +Austria. Even putting aside my nationality, I would rather be +fighting under Clive, in India, than in any service in the +world--even in that of Prussia."</p> +<p>"You are right, lad. Since the days of Marlborough, people have +begun to think that the British were no longer a fighting people; +but the way in which they have wrested Canada from the French, and +achieved marvels in India, to say nothing of the conduct of their +infantry at Minden, shows that the qualities of the race are +unchanged; and some day they will astonish the world again, as they +have done several times in their history."</p> +<p>The king soon heard the news from the Earl, and one evening said +to Fergus:</p> +<p>"So, as the Earl Marischal tells me, you have found time, +Colonel Drummond, for love making. I thought, that day I went to +express my regrets for the outrage that had been committed at Count +Eulenfurst's, that it would make a pretty romance if the young lady +who received me should take a fancy to you; which was not +altogether unlikely, after the gallant manner in which you had +saved them all from those rascals of mine; and when you told me, at +Dresden, that they had been nursing you, the idea again occurred to +me. Well, I am glad you have done so well for yourself. As a king, +I rejoice that one who has fought so bravely should obtain a meet +reward; and as one who dabbles in poetry, the romance of the thing +is very pleasant to me.</p> +<p>"But I am not to lose your services, I hope?"</p> +<p>"No, sire. So long as the war goes on, I shall continue to serve +your majesty to the best of my powers."</p> +<p>The king nodded.</p> +<p>"It is what I should have expected, from one of Marshal Keith's +relations," he said; "but it is not everyone who would care to go +on leading this dog's life, when a pretty and well-endowed bride is +awaiting him.</p> +<p>"However, it cannot last much longer. The crisis must come, ere +long. If we can defeat Daun, it may be put off for a time. If we +are beaten, I do not see that I can struggle longer against fate. +With Berlin already in their hands, with the country denuded of men +and almost exhausted in means, with the Russian and Austrian armies +already planted on Prussian soil, I can do no more, if I lose +another great battle."</p> +<p>"We must hope that it will not be so, sire. The spirit of the +soldiers is as high as ever and, now that they will be fighting +nearly within sight of their homes, they can be trusted to achieve +almost impossibilities."</p> +<p>"The men are good men," the king said, "and if I had Keith and +Schwerin by my side, I should feel more hopeful; but they are gone, +and there are none to fill their places. My brother Henry is a good +soldier, but he is over cautious. Seidlitz has not recovered from +his wounds. Hulsen has done well of late, and has shown wonderful +energy, considering that he is an old man. But there are none of +them who are at once prudent when it behoved them to be prudent, +and quick to strike when they see an opening, like Schwerin and +Keith.</p> +<p>"Ziethen is a splendid cavalry officer, but he is fit to command +cavalry only; and the whole burden falls upon my shoulders, which +are getting too old to bear so heavy a weight."</p> +<p>"I trust, sire, that they will not have to bear the burden much +longer. Just at present Russia and Austria are doubtless encouraged +by success; but the strain must be heavy on them also, and another +defeat might well cause them to doubt whether it is worthwhile to +continue to make sacrifices that produce such small results."</p> +<p>"Heaven grant that it may be so!" the king said earnestly. "God +knows that I never wanted this war, and that from the day it began +I have eagerly grasped every chance that presented itself of making +peace, short of the dismemberment of my kingdom. I would at this +moment willingly accede to any terms, however onerous, in order to +secure peace for my country."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch20" id="Ch20">Chapter 20</a>: Torgau.</h2> +<p>After many marches and quick blows at the Confederate armies, +and driving them beyond the borders of Saxony, Frederick moved +towards Torgau, where Daun had established himself in a position +that he deemed impregnable. It had been Prince Henry's camp during +the previous autumn, and Daun had in vain beleaguered it. Hulsen +had made it his headquarters during the summer.</p> +<p>Torgau was an old-fashioned town, surrounded by tracts of pine +wood, with pleasant villages and much well-cultivated land. The +town rose above the Elbe, on the shoulder of a broad eminence +called the Siptitz. This height stands nearly a mile from the +river. On the western and southern side of the town are a series of +lakes and quagmires, the remains of an old course of the Elbe.</p> +<p>Set on Siptitz's heights was Daun's camp, girt about by +intrenchments. The hill was mostly covered with vineyards. Its +height was some two hundred feet above the general level of the +country, and its area some five or six square miles. Covered, as +its flanks were, by heights, woods, ponds, and morasses, the +position was an extremely strong one, so much so that Daun had not +ventured to attack Prince Henry, though in vastly superior force; +and still more difficult was it for Frederick to do so, when held +by an army greatly superior to his own, for the Austrian force +numbered sixty-five thousand, while the king, after being joined by +all his detachments, had but forty-four thousand. Nothing, indeed, +but the most urgent necessity could have driven the king to attempt +so difficult an enterprise.</p> +<a id="Map7" name="Map7"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/7.jpg" alt= +"Battle of Torgau" /></div> +<p>His plan was to attack it simultaneously in front and rear; and +to do this he decided that half the force, under Ziethen, should +attack the Siptitz hill on the south side; while he himself, with +the other half, was to make a long detour and assault it, at the +same moment, on the north.</p> +<p>Frederick's march was some fifteen miles in length, while +Ziethen had but six to traverse; and as the route was through +forests, the difficulties in the way of the two columns arriving at +their point of attack, simultaneously, were great indeed; and were +increased by the fact that the weather was wet, the ground heavy, +and the streams swollen.</p> +<p>The king's force marched in three columns, by roads through the +forest. There were no villages here, no one to question as to the +turns and branchings of roads, thus adding to the chances that even +Frederick's force would not arrive together at the point of attack. +Frederick's own column contained eight thousand grenadiers and foot +guards, with a force of cavalry; and his line of march was by the +road nearest to Daun's position.</p> +<p>Two other columns--Hulsen's, composed principally of infantry; +and Holstein's, chiefly of cavalry--marched on parallel roads on a +wider circle; and the baggage, in a column by itself, outside +all.</p> +<p>Daun had news of Frederick's approach, and had strong +detachments watching in the woods. The scouts of one of these +parties brought in news of the king's march. A signal cannon was +fired immediately, and Daun learned thereby of the movement to +attack him from the north.</p> +<p>Daun at once wheeled round a portion of his force to receive +Frederick's attack. Lacy, with twenty thousand men, had been placed +as an advanced guard; and now shifted his position westward, to +guard what had become Daun's rear; while two hundred fresh cannon +were added, to the two hundred already placed, to defend the face +threatened by Frederick.</p> +<p>For an hour before the king arrived at his point of attack, a +heavy artillery fire had been heard from Ziethen's side; and it was +supposed that he had already delivered his attack. Unfortunately, +he had not done so. He had calculated his pace accurately, but had +come upon a small Austrian force, like those Frederick had +encountered. It had for a time held its ground, and had replied to +his fire with cannon. Ziethen, not knowing how small the force was, +drew up in order of battle and drove it back on Lacy, far to the +east of his proper place of attack. Here he became engaged with +Lacy, and a cannonade was kept up for some hours--precious time +that should have been spent in ascending the hills, and giving aid +to the king.</p> +<p>When Frederick's column emerged from the woods, there was no +sign of either Hulsen or Holstein's divisions. The king sent out +his staff to hurry them up, and himself reconnoitred the ground and +questioned the peasants.</p> +<p>The ground proved so boggy as to be impassable, and Frederick +withdrew into the wood again, in order to attack the Austrian left. +This had, in Prince Henry's time, been defended by a strong +abattis; but since the cold weather set in, much of this had been +used by the Austrians as firewood, and it could therefore be +penetrated.</p> +<p>Frederick waited impatiently. He could hear the heavy cannonade +on Ziethen, and feared that that general would be crushed before he +could perform his part of the plan arranged. His staff were unable +to find Holstein's cavalry, which had taken the wrong turning at +some point, and were completely lost. Hulsen was still far +away.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, in his desire to give support to Ziethen, the king +decided upon an attack with his own column, alone. The grenadiers +were placed in the front line, the rest of the infantry in the +centre. The cavalry, 800 strong, followed to do any service that +chance might afford them.</p> +<p>It took some time to bring the troops into their new position +and, while this was being done, Daun opened fire, with his four +hundred cannon, upon the forest through which they were marching, +with a din that Frederick declared exceeded anything that he ever +heard before. The small force of artillery took its place outside +the wood to cover the attack but, as soon as a few shots were +fired, the Austrian guns opened upon them and they were +silenced.</p> +<p>Frederick's place was between the two lines of his grenadiers, +and they issued from the wood within eight hundred yards of Prince +Henry's abattis, and with marvellous bravery ran forward. Mowed +down in lines by the storm of cannon shot, they suffered terribly. +One regiment was almost entirely destroyed, the other pressed +forward as far as the abattis, fighting so desperately that Daun +was obliged to bring up large reinforcements before he could drive +the survivors back.</p> +<p>The Austrians, believing that victory was won, charged down in +pursuit; but the second line met them firmly, drove them back and, +following hotly, again reached the abattis; and only retreated +slowly before the overwhelming forces which the Austrian then +brought up. The battle had lasted only an hour, but half +Frederick's column were already killed or wounded.</p> +<p>Shortly after they had retired, Hulsen's column came up. The +four hundred guns had never ceased pouring their iron rain into the +forest, but the newcomers arrived in splendid order. The remnant of +Frederick's column joined them, furious at defeat and burning to +meet the enemy again.</p> +<p>So stern and resolute was the attack that, for a time, it +carried all before it. Daun's line of defence was broken, most of +his cannon silenced, and for a time the Prussians advanced, +carrying all before them. Had Ziethen been doing his part, instead +of idly cannonading Lacy, the battle would have been won; but his +inactivity enabled Daun to bring up all his forces against the +king. These he hurled at the Prussians and, foot by foot, drove +them back and pushed them down the hill again.</p> +<p>Frederick himself had been struck from his horse by a piece of +case shot, fortunately almost spent, and which failed to penetrate +his thick pelisse. He was badly contused, and for a short time +insensible; but he quickly sprung to his feet again, mounted his +horse, and maintained his place in the fight as if nothing had +happened. After this second repulse he again formed up his troops, +and at that moment he was joined by Holstein with his cavalry.</p> +<p>The sun had already set, and the darkness favoured the attack. +Daun had not yet recovered from the terrible confusion into which +his troops were thrown by the attack, and the Prussians again +mounted the hill, Holstein attacking Daun's right wing.</p> +<p>The main body of the cavalry found the morasses and obstacles so +impracticable that they were unable to attack as arranged, but two +regiments succeeded in gaining the plateau. One of these dashed +upon the Austrian infantry. They met, broke into fragments, and +took two whole regiments prisoners; and brought them and six guns +triumphantly off. The other regiment charged four Austrian +battalions, broke them, and brought the greater portion off, +prisoners.</p> +<p>Night fell upon a scene of general confusion. The two armies +were completely mixed up. In some places Austrians were in the rear +of the Prussians, in others Prussians in the rear of Austrians.</p> +<p>Nothing more could to be done. So far Frederick had gained a +success and, thanks to the extraordinary bravery and determination +of his soldiers, had broken up Daun's line and planted himself on +the plateau; but he had suffered terribly in doing so, and could +hardly hope, in the morning, to make head against the vastly +superior forces of the Austrians.</p> +<p>Daun himself had been wounded in the foot, and had gone down to +the town to have it dressed. Had he been able to remain on the +field, late as it was, he might have been able to restore order and +to continue the battle; as it was, gradually the firing ceased. +Exhausted by the long march and the desperate efforts they had +made, the Prussians wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and lay +down to sleep where they stood--if sleep they could, on so bitterly +cold a night.</p> +<p>On the hilltop there was no wood to be had, but in the forest +great fires were lighted. Round these Prussian and Austrian +stragglers alike gathered. In the morning they would be foes again, +but for tonight they were content to lay their quarrel aside, none +knowing who was victor and who vanquished; and which, in the +morning, would be prisoners to the others.</p> +<p>The king, now that the excitement was over, felt the pain of his +wound. He descended the hill, and took up his quarters in the +church at the little village of Elsnig, where every house was full +of wounded. He had left Hulsen the charge of endeavouring to reform +the scattered troops, but he could do but little that way. In vain +did the generals and officers move about with orders, +expostulations, and threats. For once the Prussian soldier was deaf +to the word of command. He had done all that he could do, and +nature triumphed over long habits of obedience; even the sound of +cannon and musketry, on the other side of the hill, fell dead upon +his ears. Ziethen had been cannonading all day. Nothing had come of +it, and nothing could come of it.</p> +<p>Still, Hulsen did a good deal, and by six o'clock had got some +of the cavalry and infantry battalions in fair order, on the +extreme right; where, in the morning, Daun's left flank stood.</p> +<p>Ziethen, ordinarily a brilliant and active man, had been a +strange failure that day. Not even the terrible din of the king's +battle had roused him to take any measure to support him, or even +to make a diversion in his favour. In vain Mollendorf, an active +and enterprising general, had implored him to attempt something, if +only to draw off a portion of the Austrian strength from the king. +Saldern, another general, had fruitlessly added his voice to that +of Mollendorf.</p> +<p>A feeling of deep gloom spread through the army, a feeling that +the king had been deserted, and must have been crushed; just as, on +the other side, all felt certain that some serious misfortune must +have happened to Ziethen.</p> +<p>At last, as darkness began to set in, at four o'clock, Ziethen +was persuaded to move. He marched towards the left, to the point +where he should have attacked in the morning, but which he had +passed in his hot pursuit of the small Austrian force; but first +sent Saldern against the village of Siptitz.</p> +<p>Burning with their repressed impatience, Saldern's infantry went +at the enemy with a rush, captured the battery there, and drove the +Austrians out; but the latter fired the bridge so that, for the +present, farther advance was barred to the Prussians.</p> +<p>Fortunately at this moment Mollendorf, more to the west, came +upon the road by which Ziethen should have marched. It was carried +firmly over the marsh ground, and by a bridge over a stream between +two of the ponds. Seizing this pass over the morasses, Mollendorf +sent to Ziethen; who, roused at last, ordered all his force to +hurry there.</p> +<p>The Austrians had now taken the alarm, and hurried to oppose the +passage; but Mollendorf had already many troops across the bridge, +and maintained himself till he was sufficiently reinforced to push +forward.</p> +<p>For an hour and a half a desperate fight raged. The Prussians +gained but little ground, while the Austrians were constantly being +reinforced from Lacy's command, on their left. Hulsen, however, +just as he had got a portion of his infantry and cavalry into some +sort of order, had marked the sudden increase of the cannonade on +the other side of the hill; and, presently seeing the glow of a +great fire, guessed that it must come from the village of Siptitz. +Then came a furious cannonade, and the continuous roar of musketry +that spoke of a battle in earnest. Ziethen, then, was coming at +last, and the old general determined to help him.</p> +<p>His own riding horses had all been killed, and he had been +sorely bruised by the falls. Sending for a cannon, he got astride +of it, called up the infantry round him--the brigade of General +Lestwitz--begged the drummers to strike up the Prussian march and, +through the blackness of the night, started for the point where the +din of battle was going on unceasingly.</p> +<p>Forgotten now were the fatigues of the day. The Prussians +pressed on with their quick strides, their excitement growing +higher and higher as they neared the scene of action; and breaking +out into a roar of cheering as, sweeping round on the side of the +hill, they joined Ziethen's hardly-pressed troops and rushed upon +the enemy.</p> +<p>But though the news of their coming cheered all the line to +fresh exertions, not yet was the combat finished. The whole of +Lacy's command was opposed to them, swelled by reinforcements sent +down from above by O'Donnel who, in Daun's absence, was in command. +It was another hour before the foe gave way, and the Prussians +pressed steadily up the hill; until at nine o'clock they were +planted on the top of the Siptitz hill, on the highest point of the +plateau, whence their cannon commanded the whole ground down to +Torgau.</p> +<p>Daun, conscious of the danger, had, as he heard of Ziethen's +advance, sent order after order that he must at all costs be driven +back; and even when the Prussians gained the position, they had +still to struggle fiercely for another hour to hold it. Daun knew +that, with Frederick established on one side of the position, and +with Ziethen well planted upon the other and commanding the whole +of it with his guns, there was nothing for it but to retreat; and +already he had sent orders that a strong force should form in order +of battle to repel an attack, close to the suburbs of Torgau. As +soon as this disposition was effected, he ordered the retreat to +commence.</p> +<p>Fortunately he had four bridges across the river; and he had, on +the previous day, taken the precaution of sending the whole of his +baggage wagons over. On occasions of this kind Daun's dispositions +were always admirable, and he drew off his army across the river in +excellent order; half the Prussian army knowing nothing of what was +going on, and the other half being too exhausted to attempt to +interfere, ignorant as they were of the position and state of +Frederick's division.</p> +<p>Had the king known earlier what was taking place, comparatively +few of the Austrian army would have got across the river. But it +was not until long after the battle was done that Frederick, +sitting depressed and heavy hearted, dictating his despatches in +the little church seven or eight miles away, learned that what had +seemed likely to terminate in a terrible disaster, had ended with a +decisive victory. Daun lost in the battle twelve thousand killed +and wounded, eight thousand prisoners, and forty-five cannon; while +the Prussians lost between thirteen and fourteen thousand, of whom +four thousand were prisoners.</p> +<p>It was not until nearly one o'clock in the morning that Ziethen +learned that the Austrians were already across the river. Then he +pushed down into Torgau, and crossed the town bridge in time to +capture twenty-six pontoons.</p> +<p>Daun retreated by the right side of the river, Lacy by the left; +and the two forces rejoined at Dresden, and took up their position, +as usual, in the Plauen stronghold; while Frederick, after +finishing the clearance of all Saxony save the capital, took up his +winter quarters at Leipzig on the 6th of December.</p> +<p>The result of the battle of Torgau was not to be measured by the +respective losses of the two armies. It had the effect of entirely +undoing all the advantages that the Austrians had gained, +throughout the campaign; and left the king in a better position +than when it opened in the spring. The Russian army had been +attacked and beaten, while the Austrians were shut up in their +natural stronghold, near Dresden. The whole of Saxony had been +recovered; and Silesia, with the exception of one or two +fortresses, was still in Frederick's hands. How light hearted the +king felt, after the load of care that had lain upon him had been +lifted, may be judged by an extract from a letter, written a +fortnight after the battle to an elderly lady of the court at +Magdeburg.</p> +<p>"I am exact in answering, and eager to satisfy you (in that +matter of the porcelain). You shall have a breakfast set, my good +Mamma: six coffee-cups, very pretty, well diapered, and tricked out +with all the little embellishments which increase their value. On +account of some pieces which they are adding to the set, you will +have to wait a few days; but I flatter myself this delay will +contribute to your satisfaction, and produce for you a toy that +will give you pleasure, and make you remember your old adorer. It +is curious how old people's habits agree. For four years past I +have given up suppers, as incompatible with the trade I am obliged +to follow; and on marching days my dinners consist of a cup of +chocolate.</p> +<p>"We hurried off like fools, quite inflated with our victory, to +try if we could not chase the Austrians out of Dresden. They made a +mockery of us from the tops of their mountains. So I have +withdrawn, like a bad little boy, to conceal myself, out of spite, +in one of the wretchedest villages in Saxony. And here the first +thing will be to drive the Circle gentlemen (Reich's army) out of +Freyberg into Chemnitz, and get ourselves soon to quarters, and +something to live upon.</p> +<p>"It is, I swear to you, a hideous life; the like of which nobody +but Don Quixote ever led before me. All this tumbling and toiling, +and bother and confusion that never ceases, has made me so old that +you would scarcely know me again. On the right side of my head the +hair is all gray. My teeth break and fall out. I have got my face +wrinkled like the falbalas of a petticoat, my back bent like a +fiddle bow, and spirit sad and cast down like a monk of La Trappe. +I forewarn you of all this lest, in case we should meet again in +flesh and bone, you might feel yourself too violently shocked by my +appearance. There remains to me nothing but the heart, which has +undergone no change; and which will preserve, as long as I breathe, +its feelings of esteem and of tender friendship for my good +Mamma.</p> +<p>"Adieu."</p> +<p>Fergus knew nothing of the concluding scenes of the battle of +Torgau until some little time afterwards. He was not with the king +when the grenadiers first made their attack on the hill, having +been despatched to find and bring up Hulsen's column. Having +discovered it, he guided it through the forest to the point where +Frederick was so anxiously expecting its arrival; and when it +advanced, with the survivors of the grenadiers, to the second +attack, he took his place behind the king. They were halfway up the +ascent when a cannon ball struck him on the left arm, carrying it +away just above the elbow.</p> +<a id="PicL" name="PicL"></a> +<div class="c1"><img src="images/l.jpg" alt= +"As Fergus fell from his horse, Karl, who was riding behind him, leapt from his saddle" /> +</div> +<p>As he fell from his horse, Karl, who was riding behind him, +leapt from his saddle with a hoarse cry of rage. Then, seeing the +nature of the wound, he lifted him in his arms, mounted Fergus's +horse, and rode down through an interval between the regiments of +the second line; and then into the wood, to the spot where the +surgeons were dressing the wounds of those hurt in the first +charge. One who had just finished attending one of the grenadiers, +seeing that the trooper was carrying a colonel of the king's staff, +at once helped Karl to lower him to the ground.</p> +<p>"You have done well to bring him down at once, my man," he said. +"It may be the saving of his life."</p> +<p>As he spoke, he was cutting off the tunic.</p> +<p>"There is not much flow of blood. You see, the contusion has +closed the main artery. If we can keep it from bursting out, he +will do."</p> +<p>He took out from his case some stout tape, passed it round the +arm, asked Karl for a ramrod out of one his pistols and, with this, +twisted the tape until it almost cut into the skin. Then he gave a +few more turns, to hold the ramrod securely in its place. Then he +called a young surgeon to him.</p> +<p>"We had better make a good job of this, at once," he said. "This +is Colonel Drummond, one of the king's favourite officers, and a +most gallant young fellow. It will not take us five minutes."</p> +<p>The artery was first found and tied up; for Prussian surgery +was, at that time, far ahead of our own. The bruised flesh was +pressed up, the bone cut off neatly, above the point where it was +splintered, the flesh brought down again over it and trimmed, then +several thicknesses of lint put over it, and the whole carefully +bandaged up.</p> +<p>"There," he said to Karl, as he rose from his work, "that is all +that I can do for him; and unless it bursts out bleeding again, he +is likely to do well. If it does, you must tighten that tape still +more. All there is to do is to keep him as quiet as possible.</p> +<p>"Have you any spirits?"</p> +<p>"Yes, doctor, there is a flask in his holster."</p> +<p>"Mix some with as much water, and pour a little down his throat +from time to time. Fold his cloak, and put it under his head. He +will probably recover consciousness in a short time. When he does +so, impress upon him the necessity of lying perfectly quiet. As +soon as the battle is over, we must get him moved into +shelter."</p> +<p>In half an hour Fergus opened his eyes. Karl, who was kneeling +by him, placed one hand on his chest and the other on the wounded +arm.</p> +<p>"You must not move, colonel," he said. "You have been hit, but +the doctor says you will get over it; but you must lie perfectly +still."</p> +<p>Fergus looked round in bewilderment. Then, as the roar of the +battle came to his ears, he made an instinctive effort to rise.</p> +<p>"It is going on still," Karl said, repressing the movement. "We +shall thrash them, presently; but you can do nothing more today, +and you must do as the doctor bids you, sir."</p> +<p>"Where am I hit?"</p> +<p>"It is on the left arm, colonel. An Austrian cannonball did the +business. If it had been three or four inches farther to the right, +it would have finished you. As it is, I hope that you will soon get +about again."</p> +<p>"Then it has taken off my arm," Fergus said feebly.</p> +<p>"Better that than your head, sir. The left arm is of no great +account, except for holding a bridle; and there is a good bit of it +left.</p> +<p>"Drink a little more of this brandy and water. How do you feel +now, sir?"</p> +<p>"I feel cold," Fergus replied. "My feet are like ice."</p> +<p>Karl wrapped Fergus's fur-lined pelisse round his feet, undid +his blanket and cloak from his saddle, and laid them over him.</p> +<p>"That will be better, sir. Now, if you will promise to lie quite +quiet, I will fasten your horse up--I don't know what has become of +mine--and will go and collect some firewood and get up a good +blaze. I am afraid there is no chance of getting you into a +shelter, tonight."</p> +<p>"I am afraid we are being driven down the hill again, Karl. The +roll of musketry is coming nearer."</p> +<p>"That is so, colonel; but we shall have the cavalry up soon, and +that will make all the difference."</p> +<p>Just as Karl came back with an armful of firewood, a staff +officer rode up.</p> +<p>"The king has sent me to inquire how Colonel Drummond is," he +said. "His majesty has heard that he is badly wounded, and has been +carried here."</p> +<p>"This is the colonel, major," Karl said, leading him to the side +of Fergus.</p> +<p>"I am sorry to see you here," the officer said. "The king has +sent me to inquire after you."</p> +<p>"Will you thank his majesty, Major Kaulbach; and tell him that +it is nothing worse than the loss of a left arm, and that the +surgeon's opinion is that I shall do well. How goes the +battle?"</p> +<p>"Badly, badly; but Holstein will be up in a quarter of an hour, +and then we shall have another try. We broke their line badly, last +time; and if we had had cavalry to launch at them, we should have +managed the business."</p> +<p>"The king is unhurt, I hope."</p> +<p>"Not altogether. He was struck from his horse by a piece of case +shot, but his pelisse saved him. He was able to mount again in a +few minutes, making very light of the affair; and was in the middle +of the fight, as usual. I was next you when you were hit, and I saw +your orderly lift you on to your horse before him and, as soon as +we got down here, reported it to the king."</p> +<p>"Our loss must be terribly heavy."</p> +<p>"Terrible! There is no saying how severe it is, yet; but not +half the grenadiers are on their feet.</p> +<p>"There is nothing I can do for you?"</p> +<p>"Nothing at all. My orders are to lie still; and as I feel too +weak to move, and there is no one to carry me away, and nowhere to +take me to, I am not likely to disobey the order."</p> +<p>The officer rode off again. Karl soon had a fire lighted, +sufficiently close to Fergus for him to feel its warmth. Wounded +men, who had made their way down the hill, came and sat down on the +other sides of it. Many other fires were lighted, as it grew +dusk.</p> +<p>In front the battle had broken out again, as furiously as ever; +and ere long wounded men began to come down again. They brought +cheering news, however. The Prussians were still pressing forward, +the cavalry had thrown the Austrian line into terrible confusion. +No one knew exactly where any of the Prussian battalions had got +to, but all agreed that things were going on well.</p> +<p>At five o'clock the roar gradually ceased, and soon all was +quiet. The wounded now came in fast, but none could say whether the +battle was won or lost; for the night was so dark that each could +only speak of what had happened to his own corps.</p> +<p>Presently the number round the fires was swelled by the arrival +of numerous Austrians, wounded and unwounded. Most of these laid +their rifles by, saying:</p> +<p>"It is a bitter night, comrades. Will you let us have a share of +the fire?"</p> +<p>"Come in, come in," the Prussians answered. "We are all friends +for tonight, for we are all in equally bad plight. Can you tell us +how matters have gone, up there?"</p> +<p>But these knew no more than the Prussians. They had got +separated from their corps in the confusion and, losing their way +altogether, had seen the glow of the fires in the forest, and had +come down for warmth and shelter.</p> +<p>Presently Major Kaulbach rode up again.</p> +<p>"How have things gone, major?" Fergus asked eagerly.</p> +<p>"No one knows," he said. "The Austrians are broken up; and our +battalions and theirs are so mixed that there is no saying where +they are, or how matters will stand in the morning. The king has +gone to Elsnig, two or three miles away."</p> +<p>"Is there no news of Ziethen?"</p> +<p>"None. They have just begun to fire heavily again in that +direction, but what he has been doing all day, no one has any +idea."</p> +<p>But little was said round the fires. A short distance away the +surgeons were still at work with the more serious cases, while the +soldiers roughly bandaged each other's wounds; but as, gradually, +the distant firing increased in fury, and seemed to grow in +distinctness, men who had lain down sat up to listen. There was no +longer any talking, and a hush fell upon the forest.</p> +<p>"It is certainly coming closer, colonel," Karl said at last. "It +seems that Ziethen has woke up in earnest. May the good God grant +that he win his way up on to the heights!"</p> +<p>"If he does, we shall have the Austrians, in the morning. If he +doesn't, we shall have a poor chance with them."</p> +<p>"I am afraid we sha'n't, colonel; but it certainly sounds as if +Ziethen was making way."</p> +<p>At nine o'clock a cavalry officer came riding along. He drew +rein at the fire.</p> +<p>"Can anyone tell me where I can find the king?"</p> +<p>"He is at Elsnig, captain," Karl said, rising and saluting. "May +I ask what is the news, sir?"</p> +<p>"The news is good. Ziethen has gained the heights. We can see +the flash of fire round the Siptitz hill."</p> +<p>A cheer broke from all the Prussians within hearing. There was +not a man but knew that the fate of Prussia hung on the result of +this battle, and for the moment wounds were forgotten. Men shook +hands, with tears of joy streaming down their rugged cheeks; and as +others came running up from the other fires, to know what was the +news, and then hurried off again to tell their companions, the +forest rang with their cheering.</p> +<p>All was not over yet. For a time the firing was louder and +heavier than before, but towards ten o'clock news came that Ziethen +was firmly established on the Siptitz hill, and that the Austrian +battalions were drawing off. Then all lay down to sleep, rejoiced +and thankful; and even the Austrians, disconcerted as they were, +were not altogether sorry that they must now consider themselves +prisoners; and free, for a long time to come, from further risk of +battle.</p> +<p>The news, in the morning, that the Austrian army had already +crossed the river and was in full retreat southwards, afforded the +most intense satisfaction. There was now a hope of shelter and rest +in Torgau, instead of the prospect of remaining in the forest, +drenched to the skin by the rain that had come down, without +intermission, for the last twenty-four hours.</p> +<p>An hour later Major Kaulbach again rode up, accompanied by four +infantry men bearing a stretcher.</p> +<p>"The king has already gone on to Torgau, and he has given me +orders to see that you are carried there, at once. There will be no +more fighting, at present. Daun has got a long start, and there +will be enough to do here, for the next twelve hours, in collecting +the wounded. Lacy has retreated this side of the river, and +Ziethen's cavalry started in pursuit, some hours ago."</p> +<p>Fergus was carefully lifted onto the litter, and carried down to +Torgau; where several large houses had already been assigned for +the use of wounded officers, while the soldiers were to be placed +in the hospitals, public buildings, and churches, Austrians and +Prussians being distributed indiscriminately; and by nightfall some +twelve thousand wounded were housed in the town. A small body of +troops was left there. The inhabitants undertook the charge of the +wounded, and the next morning the king marched away south, with the +army.</p> +<p>Soon after Fergus was brought in, Frederick paid a visit to the +house where he had been carried, and said a few words to each of +the wounded officers.</p> +<p>"So you are down again, Drummond. Fortune is not treating you so +favourably as she used to do."</p> +<p>"It might have been a good deal worse, your majesty. I think +that one who has got off with only the loss of his left arm has no +reason to complain."</p> +<p>"No, it might have been worse," the king replied. "I have lost +many good friends, and thousands of brave soldiers. However, I too +must not complain; for it has saved Prussia.</p> +<p>"Don't hurry to rejoin too soon, Drummond. Another month, and we +shall all be in winter quarters."</p> +<h2><a name="Ch21" id="Ch21">Chapter 21</a>: Home.</h2> +<p>Fergus remained at Torgau for six weeks. He had, two days after +the battle, sent Karl off to carry a letter to Thirza; telling her +that he had been wounded, but that she need have no uneasiness +about him; the surgeon saying that the wound was going on well, and +that, should it not break out bleeding in the course of another +week, he would make a quick cure, and would be fit for service +again, long before the spring.</p> +<p>Karl had not found his horse again, but had bought, for a +trifle, an Austrian officer's horse that was found riderless; and +had become the prize of a trooper, who was glad to part with it at +a quarter of its value. He took with him the disguise of a +countryman, to put on when he approached the ground held by the +Austrians near Dresden; and, leaving his horse fifteen miles away, +had no difficulty in making his way in on foot. Karl went round to +the back of the house. The servants recognized him as soon as he +entered.</p> +<p>"Will one of you ask the count to see me? Let him have the +message quietly, when he is alone."</p> +<p>"Your master is not killed?" one of the women exclaimed, in +consternation.</p> +<p>"Killed! No, Colonel Drummond is not so easily killed," he +replied scornfully. "I have a letter from him in my pocket. But he +has been somewhat hurt, and it were best that I saw the count +first, and that he should himself give the letter to the Countess +Thirza."</p> +<p>In two or three minutes the man returned, and led Karl to a room +where the count was awaiting him, with a look of great anxiety on +his face.</p> +<p>"All is well, your excellency," Karl said, in answer to the +look. "At least, if not altogether well, not so bad as it might be. +The colonel was hit at Torgau. A cannonball took off his left arm +at the elbow. Fortunately, there were surgeons at work a quarter of +a mile away, and he was in their hands within a very few minutes of +being hit; so they made a job of his wound, at once. They had not +taken the bandages off, when I came away; but as there had been no +bleeding, and no great pain or fever, they think it is going on +well. They tell him that he will be fit for service, save for his +half-empty sleeve, in the spring.</p> +<p>"Here is a letter for the Countess Thirza. It is not written by +his own hand, except as to the signature; for the surgeons insist +that he must lie perfectly quiet, for any exertion might cause the +wound to break out afresh. He is quite cheerful, and in good +spirits, as he always is. He bade me give this note into your +hands, so that you might prepare the young countess a little, +before giving it to her."</p> +<p>"'Tis bad news, Karl, but it might have been much worse; and it +will, indeed, be a relief to us all; for since we heard of that +desperate fight at Torgau, and how great was the slaughter on both +sides, we have been anxious, indeed; and must have remained so, for +we should have had little chance of seeing the list of the Prussian +killed and wounded.</p> +<p>"Now, do you go into the kitchen. They all know you there. Make +yourself comfortable. I will give orders that you shall be well +served."</p> +<p>He then proceeded to the room where Thirza and her mother wore +sitting. The former was pale, and had evidently been crying.</p> +<p>"Some news has come," he said. "Not the very best, and yet by no +means the worst. Drummond is wounded--a severe wound, but not, it +is confidently believed, a dangerous one."</p> +<p>Thirza ran to her father and threw her arms round his neck, and +burst into a passion of tears. He did not attempt to check them for +some little time.</p> +<p>"Now, my dear," he said at last, "you must be brave, or you +won't be worthy of this lover of yours. There is one bad point +about it."</p> +<p>She looked up in his face anxiously, but his smile reassured +her.</p> +<p>"You must prepare yourself for his being somewhat +disfigured."</p> +<p>"Oh, that is nothing, father; nothing whatever to me! But how is +he disfigured?"</p> +<p>"Well, my dear, he has lost his left arm, at the elbow."</p> +<p>Thirza gave a little cry of grief and pity.</p> +<p>"That is sad, father; but surely it is no disfigurement, any +more than that sabre scar on his face. 'Tis an honour, to a brave +soldier, to have lost a limb in battle. Still, I am glad that it is +his left arm; though, had it been his right and both his legs, it +would have made no difference in my love for him."</p> +<p>"Well, I am very glad, Thirza, that your love has not been +tested so severely; as I confess that, for my part, I would much +prefer having a son-in-law who was able to walk about, and who +would not have to be carried to the altar. Here is a letter to you +from him--that is to say, which has been written at his dictation, +for of course the surgeons insist on his lying perfectly quiet, at +present."</p> +<p>Thirza tore it open, and ran through its contents.</p> +<p>"It is just as you say, father. He makes very light of it, and +writes as if it were a mere nothing."</p> +<p>She handed the letter to her mother, and then turned to the +count.</p> +<p>"Is there anything we can do, father?"</p> +<p>"Nothing whatever. With such a wound as that, he will have to +lie perfectly still for some time. You may be sure that, as one of +Frederick's personal staff, he will have every attention possible; +and were we all in the town, we could do nothing. As soon as he is +fit to be moved, it will be different; but we shall have plenty of +time to talk over matters before that.</p> +<p>"For some few months travelling will be dangerous. Frederick's +army is in the neighbourhood again and, as Daun and Lacy are both +in their intrenchments behind the Plauen, there is no chance of his +again besieging Dresden; but his flying columns will be all over +the country, as doubtless will the Croats, and the roads will be +altogether unsafe for travelling. No doubt, as soon as he is able +to be moved, he will be taken to Frederick's headquarters, wherever +they may be established. The king will assuredly have the hospitals +at Torgau cleared, as soon as he can; lest, when he has retired, +the Austrians might make another dash at the town."</p> +<p>The next morning Karl set out again, bearing a letter from the +count; and one from Thirza which was of a much less formal +character than that which he had dictated to her, and which, as he +told her afterwards, greatly assisted his cure. A month after the +battle he was pronounced fit to travel, and with a large train of +wagons filled with convalescents, and under a strong escort, he was +taken to Leipzig; where the king had just established his +headquarters, and to which all the wounded were to be sent, as soon +as they could safely be moved. Here he was established in +comfortable quarters, and Karl again carried a letter to +Thirza.</p> +<p>Ten days later Count Eulenfurst entered his room.</p> +<p>"You here, count!" he exclaimed. "How kind of you! What a +journey to make through the snow!"</p> +<p>"I have been dragged hither," the count said, with a smile.</p> +<p>"Dragged hither, count?"</p> +<p>"Yes. Thirza insisted on coming to see you. Her mother declared +that she should accompany her, and of course there was nothing for +me to do but to set out, also."</p> +<p>"Are they here, then, count?" Fergus exclaimed +incredulously.</p> +<p>"Certainly they are, and established at the Black Eagle Hotel. I +could not bring them here, to a house full of officers. You are +well enough to walk to the hotel?"</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed. I walked a mile yesterday."</p> +<p>As Karl was helping Fergus into his uniform, he asked:</p> +<p>"How long were you in coming here, count?"</p> +<p>"We did it in a day. I sent on relays of horses, two days +before; and as the carriage is of course on runners, and the snow +in good order, we made quick work of it. Your man went on with the +horses, and rode with us from the last place where we changed. I +did most of the journey sitting by the coachman; which gave them +more room inside, and was more pleasant for me, also."</p> +<p>In a few minutes they reached the hotel, and the count led +Fergus to a door.</p> +<p>"You will find Thirza alone there. We thought that you had best +see her so, at first."</p> +<p>Half an hour later, the count and countess entered the room.</p> +<p>"He looks very pale and thin, mother," Thirza said, after the +countess had affectionately embraced Fergus.</p> +<p>"You would hardly have expected to find him fat and rosy," the +count laughed. "A man does not lose his arm, and go about as if the +matter was not worth thinking of, a few weeks afterwards. He is +certainly looking better than I expected to find him.</p> +<p>"That empty sleeve is a sad disfigurement, though," he added +slyly.</p> +<p>"How can you say so, father?" Thirza exclaimed indignantly. "I +think quite the contrary, and I feel quite proud of him with +it."</p> +<p>"Well, there is no accounting for taste, Thirza. If you are +satisfied, I have no reason to be otherwise.</p> +<p>"And now, Drummond, we want to hear all about Liegnitz and +Torgau; for we have only heard the Austrian accounts. Dresden +illuminated over Daun's first despatch from Torgau, saying that the +Prussian attacks had been repulsed with tremendous slaughter, and a +complete victory gained. The next morning there came, I believe, +another despatch, but it was not published; and it was not until we +heard that Daun and Lacy were both within a few miles of the town +that we knew that, somehow or other, there had been a mistake about +the matter, a mistake that has not yet been cleared up, at +Dresden."</p> +<p>"The defeat part of the business I can tell you from my personal +observation, the victory only from what I heard. Certainly, when I +came to my senses, after the surgeons had seen to my wounds, I had +no thought of anything but a disastrous defeat. Never did the +Prussians fight more bravely, or more hopelessly. They had to mount +a steep ascent, with four hundred cannon playing upon them; and an +army, more than three times their number, waiting at the top to +receive them."</p> +<p>He then proceeded to tell them the whole story of the +battle.</p> +<p>"Ziethen seems to have blundered terribly," the count said.</p> +<p>"I believe that that is the king's opinion, too; but Ziethen +himself defends his action stoutly, and maintains that he could +never have succeeded in a direct attack, in broad daylight. Anyhow, +as the matter came out all right in the end, the king was too well +satisfied to do no more than grumble at him.</p> +<p>"The other was a hard-fought battle, too."</p> +<p>"The news of that was a relief to us, indeed," the count said. +"It seemed to everyone that Frederick was so completely caught in +the toils that he could not hope to extricate himself. As you know, +in this war I have, all along, held myself to be a neutral. I +considered that the plot to overthrow Frederick and partition the +kingdom was a scandalous one, and that the king disgraced himself +and us by joining in it; but since that time, my sympathies have +become more and more strongly with Frederick. It is impossible not +to admire the manner in which he has defended himself. Moreover, +the brutality with which the Confederates and Austrians, wherever +their armies penetrated Saxony, treated the Protestants, made one +regard him as the champion of Protestantism.</p> +<p>"He was wrong in forcing the Saxons to take service with him in +his army, after their surrender at Pirna; and the taxes and +exactions have, for the last three years, weighed heavily on +Saxony, but I cannot blame him for that. It was needful that he +should have money to carry on the war, and as Saxony had brought it +on herself, I could not blame him that he bore heavily upon +her.</p> +<p>"Then, too, Thirza has, for the last two or three years, become +a perfect enthusiast for the Prussians. Whether it was the king's +gracious manner to herself, or from some other cause, I cannot say; +but she has certainly become an ultra-Prussian.</p> +<p>"And now lunch must be ready, and you look as if you wanted it, +Drummond; and I am sure Thirza does. She was too excited to eat +supper, when we got here last night; and as for her breakfast, it +was altogether untouched."</p> +<p>"No doubt you think, Drummond," Count Eulenfurst said, when he +called the next morning, "that you have done your duty fairly to +Prussia."</p> +<p>"How do you mean, count?" Fergus replied, somewhat puzzled by +the question.</p> +<p>"I mean that you have served five campaigns, you have been twice +made a prisoner, you were wounded at Zorndorf, you nearly died of +fever last winter, now you have lost your arm at Torgau; so I think +that you have fully done your duty to the king under whom you took +service, and could now retire with a thoroughly clear +conscience.</p> +<p>"My own idea is that the war has quite spent its strength. +France is practically bankrupt. Austria and Russia must be as tired +of the war as Prussia, and this last defeat of their hopes cannot +but discourage the two empresses greatly. I hear, from my friends +in Vienna, that in the capital and all the large cities they are +becoming absolutely disgusted with the war; and though it may go on +for a while, I believe that its fury is spent.</p> +<p>"At any rate, I think you have earned a right to think of +yourself, as well as others. You certainly have nothing to gain by +staying longer in the service."</p> +<p>"I was thinking the same, last night, count. Certainly one man, +more or less, will make no difference to Frederick; but I thought +that, unless you spoke of it, I should let matters go on as they +are, except that I thought of asking for three months' leave to go +home."</p> +<p>"That you should go home for a few months is an excellent plan, +Drummond; but I think it would be better that, when you were there, +you should be able to stay five or six months, if so inclined. Go +to the king, tell him frankly that you feel that you want rest and +quiet for a time, that you have no longer any occasion in the +pecuniary way for remaining in the army, and that you want to get +married--all good reasons for resigning a commission. You see, we +have now some sort of right to have a voice in the matter. You had +a narrow escape at Torgau, and next time you might not be so +fortunate; and, anxious as we are for Thirza's happiness, we do +think it is high time that you retired from the service."</p> +<p>"That decides it, count. I myself have had quite enough of this +terrible work. Were I a Prussian, I should owe my first duty to the +country, and as long as the war continued should feel myself bound +to set aside all private considerations to defend her to the last; +but it is not so, and my first duty now is assuredly to Thirza, to +you, and to the countess. Therefore I will, this morning, go to the +king and ask him to allow me to resign my commission."</p> +<p>"Do so, Drummond. I thought of saying as much to you, last year; +but the anxiety of those terrible three or four days after Torgau +decided me. If I thought that your honour was concerned in +remaining longer in the army, I should be the last to advise you to +leave it, even for the sake of my daughter's happiness; but as it +is not so, I have no hesitation in urging you to retire."</p> +<p>"'Tis a good time for me to leave, now. My cousin, the Earl +Marischal Keith, returned here three days ago, and I will get him +to go with me to the king."</p> +<p>"I shall say nothing to my wife and Thirza about it, till I see +you again, Drummond. Of course the king cannot refuse, but I should +like him to take it in good part; as indeed, I doubt not that he +will."</p> +<p>"I have no doubt that he will, too, count. You may think it +absurd, and perhaps vain of me; but indeed it is of the king that I +am thinking, rather than of myself. During the past three years he +has been good enough to treat me with singular kindness. He has had +trouble and care which would have broken down most men, and I think +that it has been some relief to him to put aside his cares and +troubles, for an hour or two of an evening, and to talk to a young +fellow like myself on all sorts of matters; just as he does to Sir +John Mitchell, and my cousin, the Earl Marischal."</p> +<p>"I have no doubt of it, Drummond, and I quite understand your +feeling in the matter. Still, we are selfish enough to think of our +feelings, too."</p> +<p>As soon as the count left, Fergus put on his full uniform and +went to the king's quarters. He first saw the Earl Marischal, and +told him his errand.</p> +<p>"You are quite right," the old man said heartily. "You have done +more than enough fighting, and there is no saying how long this war +may drag on. I told you, when I first heard of your engagement to +the young countess, that I was glad indeed that you were not always +to remain a soldier of fortune; and I am sure that the king will +consider that you have more than done your duty, by remaining in +his service for a year, after having so splendid a prospect before +you. Frederick is disengaged at present, and I will go over with +you to him, and will myself open the matter."</p> +<p>Fergus had not seen the king since his arrival at Leipzig.</p> +<p>"I am truly glad to see you on your feet again," the latter +said, as Fergus followed his cousin into the room. "I felt by no +means sure that I should ever see you again, on that day after +Torgau; but you still look very thin and pulled down. You want +rest, lad. We all want rest, but it is not all of us that can get +it."</p> +<p>"That is what he has come to speak to you about, your majesty," +Keith said. "I told you, a year ago, that he was engaged to be +married to the daughter of Count Eulenfurst."</p> +<p>The king nodded.</p> +<p>"I remember her, the bright little lady who received me, when I +went to her father's house."</p> +<p>"The same, sire. He thinks that the warning he had at Torgau was +sufficient; and that, having done his best in your majesty's cause, +he has now earned a right to think of himself and her; and so he +would beg your majesty to allow him to resign his commission, and +to retire from the service."</p> +<p>"He has certainly well earned the right," the king said gravely. +"He has done me right good and loyal service, even putting aside +that business at Zorndorf; and not the least of those services has +been that he has often cheered me, by his talk, when I sorely +needed cheering. That empty sleeve of his, that scar won at +Zorndorf, are all proofs how well he has done his duty; and his +request, now that fortune has smiled upon him in other ways, is a +fair and reasonable one.</p> +<p>"I hope, Colonel Drummond," he went on in a lighter tone, "that +as you will be settled in Saxony--and this war cannot go on for +ever--I shall someday see you and your bride at Berlin. None will +be more welcome."</p> +<p>"He is going home to Scotland for a few months, in the first +place," Keith said. "It is only right that he should visit his +mother and people there, before he settles here. He will, like +enough, be back again before the campaign opens in the spring."</p> +<p>Fergus, whose heart was very full, said a few words of thanks to +the king for the kindness that he had always shown him, and for +what he had now said; and assured him that he should not only come +to Berlin, as soon as peace was made; but that, as long as the war +lasted, he would pay his respects to him every year, when he was in +winter quarters. He then withdrew, and made his way to the +hotel.</p> +<p>"It is done," he said to the count as he entered. "I have +resigned my commission, and the king has accepted it. He was most +kind. I am glad that I have done it, and yet it was a very hard +thing to do."</p> +<p>Thirza uttered an exclamation of joy.</p> +<p>"I am glad, indeed, Fergus, that you are not going to that +terrible war again."</p> +<p>"I can understand your feelings, Drummond," the count said, +putting his hand upon his shoulder. "I know that it must have been +a wrench to you, but that will pass off in a short time. You have +done your duty nobly, and have fairly earned a rest.</p> +<p>"Now, let us talk of other things. When do you think of starting +for Scotland?"</p> +<p>"To that I must reply," Fergus said with a smile, "'How long are +you thinking of stopping here?' Assuredly I shall not want to be +going, as long as you are here. And in any case, I should like my +mother to have a week's notice before I come home; and I think +that, in another fortnight, my wound will be completely +healed."</p> +<p>"I was thinking," the count said, "that you will want to take a +nurse with you."</p> +<p>"Do you mean, count," Fergus exclaimed eagerly, "that Thirza +could go with me? That would be happiness, indeed."</p> +<p>"I don't quite see why she should not, Drummond. There are +churches here, and clergymen.</p> +<p>"What do you say, Thirza?"</p> +<p>"Oh, father," the girl said, with a greatly heightened colour, +"I could never be ready so soon as that!</p> +<p>"Could I, mother?"</p> +<p>"I don't know, my dear. Your father was talking to me an hour +ago about it, and that was what I said; but he answered that, +although you might not be able to get a great many clothes made, +there will be plenty of time to get your things from home; and +that, in some respects, it would be much more convenient for you to +be married here than at Dresden. Your marriage, with one who had so +lately left the service of Prussia, would hardly be a popular one +with the Austrians in Dresden. So that, altogether, the plan would +be convenient. We can set the milliners to work at once and, in +another fortnight, get your bridal dress ready, and such things as +are absolutely necessary.</p> +<p>"Of course, if you would rather remain single for another three +or four months, your father and I would not wish to press you +unduly."</p> +<p>"It is not that, mother," she said shyly; "but it does seem so +very quick."</p> +<p>"If a thing is good, the sooner it is done the better," the +count said; and Thirza offered no further objection.</p> +<p>The next day an order appeared, that Colonel Fergus Drummond had +been advanced another step in the order of the Black Eagle, +following which came:</p> +<p>"Colonel Fergus Drummond, having lost an arm at the battle of +Torgau, has resigned his commission; which has been accepted with +great regret by the king, the services of Colonel Drummond having +been, in the highest degree, meritorious and distinguished."</p> +<p>The king, having heard from the Earl Marischal that Fergus was +to be married at Leipzig before leaving for Scotland, took great +interest in the matter; and when the time came, was himself present +in the cathedral, together with a brilliant gathering of generals +and other officers of the army in the vicinity, and of many Saxon +families of distinction who were acquainted with Count Eulenfurst. +Fergus had obtained Karl's discharge from the army--the latter, who +had long since served his full time, having begged most earnestly +to remain in his service.</p> +<p>On the following day Fergus started with his wife for Scotland, +drove to Magdeburg and, four days later, reached Hamburg; where +they embarked on board a ship for Edinburgh, Karl of course +accompanying them.</p> +<p>It was a day to be long remembered, in the glen, when Colonel +Drummond and his Saxon wife came to take possession of his father's +estates; where his mother had now been established for upwards of a +year, in the old mansion. It was late when they arrived. A body of +mounted men with torches met them, at the boundary of the estate; +and accompanied them to the house, where all the tenants and +clansmen were assembled. Great bonfires blazed, and scores of +torches added to the picturesque effect. A party of pipers struck +up an air of welcome as they drove forward, and a roar of cheering, +and shouts of welcome greeted them.</p> +<p>"Welcome to your Scottish home!" Fergus said to his wife. "'Tis +a poor place, in comparison with your father's, but nowhere in the +world will you find truer hearts and a warmer greeting than +here."</p> +<p>His mother was standing on the steps as he leapt out, and she +embraced him with tears of joy; while after him she gave a warm and +affectionate greeting to Thirza. Then Fergus turned to the +clansmen, who stood thronging round the entrance, with waving +torches and bonnets thrown wildly in the air; and said a few words +of thanks for their welcome, and of the pleasure and pride he felt +in coming again among them, as the head of the clan and master of +his father's estates.</p> +<p>Then he presented Thirza to them as their mistress.</p> +<p>"She has brought me another home, across the sea," he said, "but +she will soon come to love this, as well as her own; and though I +shall be absent part of the time, she will come with me every +summer to stay among you, and will regard you as her people, as +well as mine."</p> +<p>Among the dependents ranged in the hall was Wulf, with whom +Fergus shook hands warmly.</p> +<p>"I should never have got on as well as I have, Wulf," he said, +"had it not been for your teaching, both in German and in arms. I +commend to your special care my servant Karl, who speaks no +English, and will feel strange here at first. He has been my +companion all this time, has given me most faithful service, and +has saved my life more than once. He has now left the army to +follow me."</p> +<p>Fergus remained three months at home. Thirza was delighted with +the country, and the affection shown by the people to Fergus; and +studied diligently to learn the language, that she might be able to +communicate personally with them, and above all with Mrs. Drummond, +to whom she speedily became much attached.</p> +<p>At the end of April they returned to Saxony, and took up their +abode on the estate the count had settled on them, at their +marriage.</p> +<p>For two years longer the war continued, but with much diminished +fury, and there was no great battle fought. The king planted +himself in a camp, which he rendered impregnable, and there +menacing the routes by which the Saxon and Russian armies brought +their supplies from Bohemia, paralysed their movements; while +General Platen made a raid into Poland, and destroyed a great +portion of the Russian magazines in that direction, so that the +campaign came to naught. Ferdinand, with the aid of his English, +defeated Broglio and Soubise at Villingshausen; Soubise remaining +inactive during the battle, as Broglio had done at Minden.</p> +<p>At the beginning of 1762 a happy event for the king took place. +The Empress of Russia died; and Peter, a great admirer of +Frederick, came to the throne. The Prussian king at once released +all the Russian prisoners, and sent them back; and Peter returned +the compliment by sending home the Prussian prisoners and, six +weeks after his accession, issued a declaration that there ought to +be peace with the King of Prussia, and that the czar was resolved +that the war should be ended. He at once gave up East Prussia and +other conquests, and recalled the Russian army. He not only did +this, but he ordered his General Czernichef to march and join the +king.</p> +<p>The news caused absolute dismay in Austria, and hastened the +Swedes to conclude a peace with Frederick. They had throughout the +war done little, but the peace set free the force that had been +watching them; and which had regularly, every year, driven them +back as fast as they endeavoured to invade Prussia on that +side.</p> +<p>In July, however, the murder of Peter threw all into confusion +again; but Catherine had no desire to renew the war, and it was +evident that this was approaching its end. She therefore recalled +her army, which had already joined that of the king. England and +France, too, were negotiating terms of peace; and it was clear that +Austria, single handed, could not hope to win back Silesia.</p> +<p>The king gained several small but important successes, and +recaptured the important fortress of Schweidnitz. Then came long +negotiations and, on the following February, a general peace was +signed by all the Powers; Prussia retaining her frontiers, as at +the beginning of the war.</p> +<p>From this time Fergus Drummond's life passed uneventfully. Every +year he went to his old home with his wife, and as time went on +brought his children to Scotland; and every winter he spent a +fortnight at Berlin. When his second son reached the age of twelve, +he sent him to school in England, and there prepared him to succeed +to the Scottish estate. This he did not do for many years, entering +the British army and winning the rank of colonel in the Peninsular +war; and it was not until some years after the battle of Waterloo +that, at the death of his father, he retired and settled down on +the Scottish estates that were now his.</p> +<p>The rest of Colonel Drummond's family took their mother's +nationality.</p> +<p>Fergus did not come in for the whole of the Eulenfurst estates, +until thirty years after his marriage. He then took up his abode, +with his wife, at the mansion where they had first met, near +Dresden; and retaining a sufficient share of the estates to support +his position, divided the remainder among his children, considering +that the property was too large to be owned with advantage by any +one person. His descendants are still large landowners in various +parts of Saxony.</p> +<p>The king survived the signature of the peace for twenty-five +years, during which he devoted himself to repairing the damage his +country had suffered by the war; and by incessant care, and wise +reforms, he succeeded in rendering Prussia far wealthier and more +prosperous than it had been when he succeeded to the throne. +Lindsay rose to the rank of general in the Prussian service, and +his friendship with Fergus remained close and unbroken. The old +Earl Marischal survived his younger brother for twenty years; and +was, to the last, one of the king's dearest and most intimate +friends.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH FREDERICK THE GREAT***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 19714-h.txt or 19714-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/7/1/19714">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/7/1/19714</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution.</p> + + + +<pre> +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license)</a>. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">http://www.gutenberg.org</a> + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/</a> + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/19714-h/images/1.jpg b/19714-h/images/1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..29378d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/1.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/2.jpg b/19714-h/images/2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..da128dd --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/2.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/3.jpg b/19714-h/images/3.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..778c3d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/3.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/4.jpg b/19714-h/images/4.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1cd0f39 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/4.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/5.jpg b/19714-h/images/5.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..93e8292 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/5.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/6.jpg b/19714-h/images/6.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa82cef --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/6.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/7.jpg b/19714-h/images/7.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2314b75 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/7.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/a.jpg b/19714-h/images/a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..efaba05 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/a.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/b.jpg b/19714-h/images/b.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8aa8df --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/b.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/c.jpg b/19714-h/images/c.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa29446 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/c.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/d.jpg b/19714-h/images/d.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3e10b51 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/d.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/e.jpg b/19714-h/images/e.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba33333 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/e.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/f.jpg b/19714-h/images/f.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..40f1d01 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/f.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/g.jpg b/19714-h/images/g.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3678cc9 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/g.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/h.jpg b/19714-h/images/h.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0153176 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/h.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/i.jpg b/19714-h/images/i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..38dd278 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/i.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/j.jpg b/19714-h/images/j.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c11455b --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/j.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/k.jpg b/19714-h/images/k.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c701de --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/k.jpg diff --git a/19714-h/images/l.jpg b/19714-h/images/l.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ab7a35 --- /dev/null +++ b/19714-h/images/l.jpg diff --git a/19714.txt b/19714.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e054c5f --- /dev/null +++ b/19714.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14439 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, With Frederick the Great, by G. A. Henty, +Illustrated by Wal Paget + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: With Frederick the Great + A Story of the Seven Years' War + + +Author: G. A. Henty + + + +Release Date: November 4, 2006 [eBook #19714] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH FREDERICK THE GREAT*** + + +E-text prepared by Martin Robb + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 19714-h.htm or 19714-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/7/1/19714/19714-h/19714-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/7/1/19714/19714-h.zip) + + + + + +WITH FREDERICK THE GREAT: + +A Story of the Seven Years' War + +by + +G. A. HENTY. + +Illustrated by Wal Paget + +1910 + + + + + + + +Contents + + Preface. + Chapter 1: King and Marshal. + Chapter 2: Joining. + Chapter 3: The Outbreak Of War. + Chapter 4: Promotion. + Chapter 5: Lobositz. + Chapter 6: A Prisoner. + Chapter 7: Flight. + Chapter 8: Prague. + Chapter 9: In Disguise. + Chapter 10: Rossbach. + Chapter 11: Leuthen. + Chapter 12: Another Step. + Chapter 13: Hochkirch. + Chapter 14: Breaking Prison. + Chapter 15: Escaped. + Chapter 16: At Minden. + Chapter 17: Unexpected News. + Chapter 18: Engaged. + Chapter 19: Liegnitz. + Chapter 20: Torgau. + Chapter 21: Home. + +Illustrations + + The king walked round Fergus as if he were examining a lay figure + + Two of the newcomers fired hastily--and both missed + + Not a blow was struck, horse and rider went down before them + + As the man was placing his supper on the table, Fergus sprang + upon him + + Fergus was received by the count, the countess and Thirza with + great pleasure + + As Fergus was sallying out, a mounted officer dashed by at a + gallop + + The roar of battle was so tremendous that his horse was well-nigh + unmanageable + + Before he could extricate himself, Fergus was surrounded by + Austrians + + "Why, Karl!" Fergus exclaimed, "where do you spring from--when + did you arrive?" + + Lord Sackville stood without speaking, while the surgeon + bandaged up his arm + + "Take her, Drummond, you have won your bride fairly and well" + + As Fergus fell from his horse, Karl, who was riding behind + him, leapt from his saddle + + +Maps + + Map showing battlefields of the Seven Years' War + Battle of Lobositz + Battle of Prague + Battle of Leuthen + Battle of Zorndorf + Battle of Hochkirch + Battle of Torgau + + + + +Preface. + + +[Map: Map showing battlefields of the Seven Years' War] + +Among the great wars of history there are few, if any, instances of +so long and successfully sustained a struggle, against enormous +odds, as that of the Seven Years' War, maintained by Prussia--then +a small and comparatively insignificant kingdom--against Russia, +Austria, and France simultaneously, who were aided also by the +forces of most of the minor principalities of Germany. The +population of Prussia was not more than five millions, while that +of the Allies considerably exceeded a hundred millions. Prussia +could put, with the greatest efforts, but a hundred and fifty +thousand men into the field, and as these were exhausted she had +but small reserves to draw upon; while the Allies could, with +comparatively little difficulty, put five hundred thousand men into +the field, and replenish them as there was occasion. That the +struggle was successfully carried on, for seven years, was due +chiefly to the military genius of the king; to his indomitable +perseverance; and to a resolution that no disaster could shake, no +situation, although apparently hopeless, appall. Something was due +also, at the commencement of the war, to the splendid discipline of +the Prussian army at that time; but as comparatively few of those +who fought at Lobositz could have stood in the ranks at Torgau, the +quickness of the Prussian people to acquire military discipline +must have been great; and this was aided by the perfect confidence +they felt in their king, and the enthusiasm with which he inspired +them. + +Although it was not, nominally, a war for religion, the +consequences were as great and important as those which arose from +the Thirty Years' War. Had Prussia been crushed and divided, +Protestantism would have disappeared in Germany, and the whole +course of subsequent events would have been changed. The war was +scarcely less important to Britain than to Prussia. Our close +connection with Hanover brought us into the fray; and the weakening +of France, by her efforts against Prussia, enabled us to wrest +Canada from her, to crush her rising power in India, and to obtain +that absolute supremacy at sea that we have never, since, lost. And +yet, while every school boy knows of the battles of ancient Greece, +not one in a hundred has any knowledge whatever of the momentous +struggle in Germany, or has ever as much as heard the names of the +memorable battles of Rossbach, Leuthen, Prague, Zorndorf, +Hochkirch, and Torgau. Carlyle's great work has done much to +familiarize older readers with the story; but its bulk, its +fullness of detail, and still more the peculiarity of Carlyle's +diction and style, place it altogether out of the category of books +that can be read and enjoyed by boys. + +I have therefore endeavoured to give the outlines of the struggle, +for their benefit; but regret that, in a story so full of great +events, I have necessarily been obliged to devote a smaller share +than usual to the doings of my hero. + +G. A. Henty. + + + +Chapter 1: King and Marshal. + + +It was early in 1756 that a Scottish trader, from Edinburgh, +entered the port of Stettin. Among the few passengers was a tall +young Scotch lad, Fergus Drummond by name. Though scarcely sixteen, +he stood five feet ten in height; and it was evident, from his +broad shoulders and sinewy appearance, that his strength was in +full proportion to his height. His father had fallen at Culloden, +ten years before. The glens had been harried by Cumberland's +soldiers, and the estates confiscated. His mother had fled with him +to the hills; and had lived there, for some years, in the cottage +of a faithful clansman, whose wife had been her nurse. Fortunately, +they were sufficiently well off to be able to maintain their guests +in comfort; and indeed the presents of game, fish, and other +matters, frequently sent in by other members of the clan, had +enabled her to feel that her maintenance was no great burden on her +faithful friends. + +For some years, she devoted herself to her son's education; and +then, through the influence of friends at court, she obtained the +grant of a small portion of her late husband's estates; and was +able to live in comfort, in a position more suited to her former +rank. + +Fergus' life had been passed almost entirely in the open air. +Accompanied by one or two companions, sons of the clansmen, he +would start soon after daybreak and not return until sunset, when +they would often bring back a deer from the forests, or a heavy +creel of salmon or trout from the streams. His mother encouraged +him in these excursions, and also in the practice of arms. She +confined her lessons to the evening, and even after she settled on +her recovered farm of Kilgowrie, and obtained the services of a +tutor for him, she arranged that he should still be permitted to +pass the greater part of the day according to his own devices. + +She herself was a cousin of the two brothers Keith; the one of +whom, then Lord Marischal, had proclaimed the Old Pretender king at +Edinburgh; and both of whom had attained very high rank abroad, the +younger Keith having served with great distinction in the Spanish +and Russian armies, and had then taken service under Frederick the +Great, from whom he had received the rank of field marshal, and was +the king's greatest counsellor and friend. His brother had joined +him there, and stood equally high in the king's favour. Although +both were devoted Jacobites, and had risked all, at the first +rising in favour of the Old Pretender, neither had taken part in +that of Charles Edward, seeing that it was doomed to failure. After +Culloden, James Keith, the field marshal, had written to his +cousin, Mrs. Drummond, as follows: + +"Dear Cousin, + +"I have heard with grief from Alexander Grahame, who has come over +here to escape the troubles, of the grievous loss that has befallen +you. He tells me that, when in hiding among the mountains, he +learned that you had, with your boy, taken refuge with Ian the +forester, whom I well remember when I was last staying with your +good husband, Sir John. He also said that your estates had been +confiscated, but that he was sure you would be well cared for by +your clansmen. Grahame told me that he stayed with you for a few +hours, while he was flying from Cumberland's bloodhounds; and that +you told him you intended to remain there, and to devote yourself +to the boy's education, until better times came. + +"I doubt not that ere long, when the hot blood that has been +stirred up by this rising has cooled down somewhat, milder measures +will be used, and some mercy be shown; but it may be long, for the +Hanoverian has been badly frightened, and the Whigs throughout the +country greatly scared, and this for the second time. I am no lover +of the usurper, but I cannot agree with all that has been said +about the severity of the punishment that has been dealt out. I +have been fighting all over Europe, and I know of no country where +a heavy reckoning would not have been made, after so serious an +insurrection. Men who take up arms against a king know that they +are staking their lives; but after vengeance comes pardon, and the +desire to heal wounds, and I trust that you will get some portion +of your estate again. + +"It is early yet to think of what you are going to make of the boy, +but I am sure you will not want to see him fighting in the +Hanoverian uniform. So, if he has a taste for adventure let him, +when the time comes, make his way out to me; or if I should be +under the sod by that time, let him go to my brother. There will, +methinks, be no difficulty in finding out where we are, for there +are so many Scotch abroad that news of us must often come home. +However, from time to time I will write to you. Do not expect to +hear too often, for I spend far more time in the saddle than at my +table, and my fingers are more accustomed to grasp a sword than a +pen. However, be sure that wherever I may be, I shall be glad to +see your son, and to do my best for him. + +"See that he is not brought up at your apron string, but is well +trained in all exercises; for we Scots have gained a great name for +strength and muscle, and I would not that one of my kin should fall +short of the mark." + +Maggie Drummond had been much pleased with her kinsman's letter. +There were few Scotchmen who stood higher in the regard of their +countrymen, and the two Keiths had also a European reputation. Her +husband, and many other fiery spirits, had expressed surprise and +even indignation that the brothers, who had taken so prominent a +part in the first rising, should not have hastened to join Prince +Charlie; but the more thoughtful men felt it was a bad omen that +they did not do so. It was certainly not from any want of +adventurous spirit, or of courage, for wherever adventures were to +be obtained, wherever blows were most plentiful, James Keith and +his brother were certain to be in the midst of them. + +But Maggie Drummond knew the reason for their holding aloof; for +she had, shortly before the coming over of Prince Charlie, received +a short note from the field marshal: + +"They say that Prince Charles Edward is meditating a mad scheme of +crossing to Scotland, and raising his standard there. If so, do +what you can to prevent your husband from joining him. We made but +a poor hand of it, last time; and the chances of success are vastly +smaller now. Then it was but a comparatively short time since the +Stuarts had lost the throne of England, and there were great +numbers who wished them back. Now the Hanoverian is very much more +firmly seated on the throne. The present man has a considerable +army, and the troops have had experience of war on the Continent, +and have shown themselves rare soldiers. Were not my brother Lord +Marischal of Scotland, and my name somewhat widely known, I should +not hang back from the adventure, however desperate; but our +example might lead many who might otherwise stand aloof to take up +arms, which would bring, I think, sure destruction upon them. +Therefore we shall restrain our own inclinations, and shall watch +what I feel sure will be a terrible tragedy, from a distance; +striking perhaps somewhat heavier blows than usual upon the heads +of Turks, Moors, Frenchmen, and others, to make up for our not +being able to use our swords where our inclinations would lead us. + +"The King of France will assuredly give no efficient aid to the +Stuarts. He has all along used them as puppets, by whose means he +can, when he chooses, annoy or coerce England. But I have no belief +that he will render any useful aid, either now or hereafter. + +"Use then, cousin, all your influence to keep Drummond at home. +Knowing him as I do, I have no great hope that it will avail; for I +know that he is Jacobite to the backbone, and that, if the Prince +lands, he will be one of the first to join him." + +Maggie had not carried out Keith's injunction. She had indeed told +her husband, when she received the letter, that Keith believed the +enterprise to be so hopeless a one that he should not join in it. +But she was as ardent in the cause of the Stuarts as was her +husband, and said no single word to deter him when, an hour after +he heard the news of the prince's landing, he mounted and rode off +to meet him, and to assure him that he would bring every man of his +following to the spot where his adherents were to assemble. From +time to time his widow had continued to write to Keith; though, +owing to his being continually engaged on campaigns against the +Turks and Tartars, he received but two or three of her letters, so +long as he remained in the service of Russia. When, however, he +displeased the Empress Elizabeth, and at once left the service and +entered that of Prussia, her letters again reached him. + +The connection between France and Scotland had always been close, +and French was a language familiar to most of the upper class; and +since the civil troubles began, such numbers of Scottish gentlemen +were forced either to shelter in France, or to take service in the +French or other foreign armies, that a knowledge of the language +became almost a matter of necessity. In one of his short letters +Keith had told her that, of all things, it was necessary that the +lad should speak French with perfect fluency, and master as much +German as possible. And it was to these points that his education +had been almost entirely directed. + +As to French there was no difficulty and, when she recovered a +portion of the estate, Maggie Drummond was lucky in hearing of a +Hanoverian trooper who, having been wounded and left behind in +Glasgow, his term of service having expired, had on his recovery +married the daughter of the woman who had nursed him. He was +earning a somewhat precarious living by giving lessons in the use +of the rapier, and in teaching German; and gladly accepted the +offer to move out to Kilgowrie, where he was established in a +cottage close to the house, where his wife aided in the housework. +He became a companion of Fergus in his walks and rambles and, being +an honest and pleasant fellow, the lad took to him; and after a few +months their conversation, at first somewhat disjointed, became +easy and animated. He learned, too, much from him as to the use of +his sword. The Scotch clansmen used their claymores chiefly for +striking; but under Rudolph's tuition the lad came to be as apt +with the point as he had before been with the edge, and fully +recognized the great advantages of the former. By the time he +reached the age of sixteen, his skill with the weapon was fully +recognized by the young clansmen who, on occasions of festive +gatherings, sometimes came up to try their skill with the young +laird. + +From Rudolph, too, he came to know a great deal of the affairs of +Europe, as to which he had hitherto been profoundly ignorant. He +learned how, by the capture of the province of Silesia from the +Empress of Austria, the King of Prussia had, from a minor +principality, raised his country to a considerable power, and was +regarded with hostility and jealousy by all his neighbours. + +"But it is only a small territory now, Rudolph," Fergus said. + +"'Tis small, Master Fergus, but the position is a very strong one. +Silesia cannot well be invaded, save by an army forcing its way +through very formidable defiles; while on the other hand, the +Prussian forces can suddenly pour out into Saxony or Hanover. +Prussia has perhaps the best-drilled army in Europe, and though its +numbers are small in proportion to those which Austria can put in +the field, they are a compact force; while the Austrian army is +made up of many peoples, and could not be gathered with the speed +with which Frederick could place his force in the field. + +"The king, too, is himself, above all things, a soldier. He has +good generals, and his troops are devoted to him, though the +discipline is terribly strict. It is a pity that he and the King of +England are not good friends. They are natural allies, both +countries being Protestant; and to say the truth, we in Hanover +should be well pleased to see them make common cause together, and +should feel much more comfortable with Prussia as our friend than +as a possible enemy. + +"However, 'tis not likely that, at present, Prussia will turn her +hand against us. I hear, by letters from home, that it is said that +the Empress of Russia, as well as the Empress of Austria, both hate +Frederick; the latter because he has stolen Silesia from her; the +former because he has openly said things about her such as a woman +never forgives. Saxony and Poland are jealous of him, and France +none too well disposed. So at present the King of Prussia is like +to leave his neighbours alone; for he may need to draw his sword, +at any time, in self defence." + +It was but a few days after this that Maggie Drummond received this +short letter from her cousin, Marshal James Keith: + +"My dear Cousin, + +"By your letter, received a few days since, I learned that Fergus +is now nearly sixteen years old; and is, you say, as well grown and +strong as many lads two or three years older. Therefore it is as +well that you should send him off to me, at once. There are signs +in the air that we shall shortly have stirring times, and the +sooner he is here the better. I would send money for his outfit; +but as your letter tells me that you have, by your economies, saved +a sum ample for this purpose, I abstain from doing so. Let him come +straight to Berlin, and inquire for me at the palace. I have a +suite of apartments there; and he could not have a better time for +entering upon military service; nor a better master than the king, +who loves his Scotchmen, and under whom he is like to find +opportunity to distinguish himself." + +A week later, Fergus started. It needed an heroic effort, on the +part of his mother, to let him go from her; but she had, all along, +recognized that it was for the best that he should leave her. That +he should grow up as a petty laird, where his ancestors had been +the owners of wide estates, and were powerful chiefs with a large +following of clansmen and retainers, was not to be thought of. +Scotland offered few openings, especially to those belonging to +Jacobite families; and it was therefore deemed the natural course, +for a young man of spirit, to seek his fortune abroad and, from the +days of the Union, there was scarcely a foreign army that did not +contain a considerable contingent of Scottish soldiers and +officers. They formed nearly a third of the army of Gustavus +Adolphus, and the service of the Protestant princes of Germany had +always been popular among them. + +Then, her own cousin being a marshal in the Prussian army, it +seemed to Mrs. Drummond almost a matter of course, when the time +came, that Fergus should go to him; and she had, for many years, +devoted herself to preparing the lad for that service. Nevertheless, +now that the time had come, she felt the parting no less sorely; but +she bore up well, and the sudden notice kept her fully occupied with +preparations, till the hour came for his departure. + +Two of the men rode with him as far as Leith, and saw him on board +ship. Rudolph had volunteered to accompany him as servant, but his +mother had said to the lad: + +"It would be better not, Fergus. Of course you will have a soldier +servant, there, and there might be difficulties in having a +civilian with you." + +It was, however, arranged that Rudolph should become a member of +the household. Being a handy fellow, a fair carpenter, and ready to +turn his hand to anything, there would be no difficulty in making +him useful about the farm. + +Fergus had learnt, from him, the price at which he ought to be able +to buy a useful horse; and his first step, after landing at Stettin +and taking up his quarters at an inn, was to inquire the address of +a horse dealer. The latter found, somewhat to his surprise, that +the young Scot was a fair judge of a horse, and a close hand at +driving a bargain; and when he left, the lad had the satisfaction +of knowing that he was the possessor of a serviceable animal, and +one which, by its looks, would do him no discredit. + +Three days later he rode into Berlin. He dismounted at a quiet inn, +changed his travelling dress for the new one that he carried in his +valise, and then, after inquiring for the palace, made his way +there. + +He was struck by the number of soldiers in the streets, and with +the neatness, and indeed almost stiffness, of their uniform and +bearing. Each man walked as if on parade, and the eye of the +strictest martinet could not have detected a speck of dust on their +equipment, or an ill-adjusted strap or buckle. + +"I hope they do not brace and tie up their officers in that style," +Fergus said to himself. + +He himself had always been accustomed to a loose and easy attire, +suitable for mountain work; and the high cravats and stiff collars, +powdered heads and pigtails, and tight-fitting garments, seemed to +him the acme of discomfort. It was not long, however, before he +came upon a group of officers, and saw that the military etiquette +was no less strict, in their case, than in that of the soldiers, +save that their collars were less high, and their stocks more easy. +Their walk, too, was somewhat less automatic and machine-like, but +they were certainly in strong contrast to the British officers he +had seen, on the occasions of his one or two visits to Perth. + +On reaching the palace, and saying that he wished to see Marshal +Keith, he was conducted by a soldier to his apartment; and on the +former taking in the youth's name, he was at once admitted. The +marshal rose from his chair, came forward, and shook him heartily +by the hand. + +"So you are Fergus Drummond," he said, "the son of my cousin +Maggie! Truly she lost no time in sending you off, after she got my +letter. I was afraid she might be long before she could bring +herself to part from you." + +"She had made up her mind to it so long, sir, that she was prepared +for it; and indeed, I think that she did her best to hurry me off +as soon as possible, not only because your letter was somewhat +urgent, but because it gave her less time to think." + +"That was right and sensible, lad, as indeed Maggie always was, +from a child. + +"She did not speak too strongly about you, for indeed I should have +taken you for fully two years older than you are. You have lost no +time in growing, lad, and if you lose no more in climbing, you will +not be long before you are well up the tree. + +"Now, sit you down, and let me first hear all about your mother, +and how she fares." + +"In the first place, sir, she charged me to give you her love and +affection, and to thank you for your good remembrance of her, and +for writing to her so often, when you must have had so many other +matters on your mind." + +"I was right glad when I heard that they had given her back +Kilgowrie. It is but a corner of your father's lands; but I +remember the old house well, going over there once, when I was +staying with your grandfather, to see his mother, who was then +living there. How much land goes with it?" + +"About a thousand acres, but the greater part is moor and mountain. +Still, the land suffices for her to live on, seeing that she keeps +up no show, and lives as quietly as if she had never known anything +better." + +"Aye, she was ever of a contented spirit. I mind her, when she was +a tiny child; if no one would play with her, she would sit by the +hour talking with her dolls, till someone could spare time to perch +her on his shoulder, and take her out." + +Marshal Keith was a tall man, with a face thoughtful in repose, but +having a pleasant smile, and an eye that lit up with quiet humour +when he spoke. He enjoyed the king's confidence to the fullest +extent, and was regarded by him not only as a general in whose +sagacity and skill he could entirely rely, but as one on whose +opinion he could trust upon all political questions. He was his +favourite companion when, as happened not unfrequently, he donned a +disguise and went about the town, listening to the talk of the +citizens and learning their opinions upon public affairs. + +"I have spoken to the king about your coming, lad, and told him +that you were a kinsman of mine. + +"'Indeed, marshal,' the king said, 'from what I can see, it appears +to me that all Scotchmen are more or less kin to each other.' + +"'It is so to some extent, your majesty. We Scotchmen pride +ourselves on genealogy, and know every marriage that has taken +place, for ages past, between the members of our family and those +of others; and claim as kin, even though very distant, all those +who have any of our blood running in their veins. But in this case +the kinship is close, the lad's mother being a first cousin of +mine. His father was killed at Culloden, and I promised her, as +soon as the news came to me, that when he had grown up strong and +hearty he should join me, wherever I might be, and should have a +chance of making his fortune by his sword.' + +"'You say that he speaks both French and German well? It is more +than I can do,' the king said with a laugh. 'German born and German +king as I am, I get on but badly when I try my native tongue, for +from a child I have spoken nothing but French. Still, it is well +that he should know the language. In my case it matters but little, +seeing that all my court and all my generals speak French. But one +who has to give orders to soldiers should be understood by them. + +"'Well, what do you want me to do for the lad?' + +"'I propose to make him one of my own aides-de-camp,' I replied, +'and therefore I care not so much to what regiment he is appointed; +though I own that I would far rather see him in the uniform of the +guards, than any other.' + +"'You are modest, marshal; but I observe that it is a common fault +among your countrymen. Well, which shall it be--infantry or +cavalry?' + +"'Cavalry, since you are good enough to give me the choice, sire. +The uniform looks better, for an aide-de-camp, than that of the +infantry.' + +"'Very well, then, you may consider him gazetted as a cornet, in my +third regiment of Guards. You have no more kinsmen coming at +present, Keith?' + +"'No, sire; not at present.' + +"'If many more come, I shall form them into a separate regiment.' + +"'Your majesty might do worse,' I said. + +"The king nodded. 'I wish I had half a dozen Scotch regiments; aye, +a score or two. They were the cream of the army of Gustavus +Adolphus, and if matters turn out as I fear they will, it would be +a welcome reinforcement.' + +"I will give you a note presently," continued the marshal, "to a +man who makes my uniforms, so that I may present you to the king, +as soon as you are enrolled. You must remember that your favour, or +otherwise, with him will depend very largely upon the fit of your +uniform, and the manner in which you carry yourself. There is +nothing so unpardonable, in his eyes, as a slovenly and ill-fitting +dress. Everything must be correct, to a nicety, under all +circumstances. Even during hot campaigns, you must turn out in the +morning as if you came from a band box. + +"I will get Colonel Grunow, who commands your regiment, to tell off +an old trooper, one who is thoroughly up to his work, as your +servant. I doubt not that he may be even able to find you a +Scotchman, for there are many in the ranks--gentlemen who came over +after Culloden, and hundreds of brave fellows who escaped +Cumberland's harryings by taking ship and coming over here, where, +as they supposed, they would fight under a Protestant king." + +"But the king is a Protestant, is he not, sir?" + +"He is nominally a Protestant, Fergus. Absolutely, his majesty has +so many things to see about that he does not trouble himself +greatly about religion. I should say that he was a disciple of +Voltaire, until Voltaire came here; when, upon acquaintance, he saw +through the vanity of the little Frenchman, and has been much less +enthusiastic about him since. + +"By the way, how did you come here?" + +"We heard of a ship sailing for Stettin, and that hurried my +departure by some days. I made a good voyage there, and on landing +bought a horse and rode here." + +"Well, I am afraid your horse won't do to carry one of my +aides-de-camp, so you had best dispose of it, for what it will +fetch. I will mount you myself. His majesty was pleased to give me +two horses, the other day, and my stable is therefore over full. + +"Now, Fergus, we will drink a goblet of wine to your new +appointment, and success to your career." + +"From what you said in your letter to my mother, sir, you think it +likely that we shall see service, before long?" + +"Aye, lad, and desperate service, too. We have--but mind, this must +go no further--sure news that Russia, Austria, France, and Saxony +have formed a secret league against Prussia, and that they intend +to crush us first, and then partition the kingdom among themselves. +The Empress of Austria has shamelessly denied that any such treaty +exists, but tomorrow morning a messenger will start, with a demand +from the king that the treaty shall be publicly acknowledged and +then broken off, or that he will at once proclaim war. If we say +nine days for the journey there, nine days to return, and three +days waiting for the answer, you see that in three weeks from the +present we may be on the move, for our only chance depends upon +striking a heavy blow before they are ready. We have not wasted our +time. The king has already made an alliance with England." + +"But England has no troops, or scarcely any," Fergus said. + +"No, lad, but she has what is of quite as much importance in +war--namely, money, and she can grant us a large subsidy. The +king's interest in the matter is almost as great as ours. He is a +Hanoverian more than an Englishman, and you may be sure that, if +Prussia were to be crushed, the allies would make but a single bite +of Hanover. You see, this will be a war of life and death to us, +and the fighting will be hard and long." + +"But what grievance has France against the king?" + +"His majesty is open spoken, and no respecter of persons; and a +woman may forgive an injury, but never a scornful gibe. It is this +that has brought both France and Russia on him. Madame Pompadour, +who is all powerful, hates Frederick for having made disrespectful +remarks concerning her. The Empress of Russia detests him, for the +same reason. She of Austria has a better cause, for she has never +forgiven the loss of Silesia; and it is the enmity of these women, +as much as the desire to partition Prussia, that is about to plunge +Europe into a war to the full as terrible as that of the thirty +years." + +Keith now rung a bell, and a soldier entered. + +"Tell Lieutenant Lindsay that I wish to speak to him." + +A minute later an officer entered the room, and saluted stiffly. + +"Lindsay, this is a young cousin of mine, Fergus Drummond. The king +has appointed him to a cornetcy in the 3rd Royal Dragoon Guards, +but he is going to be one of my aides-de-camp. Now that things are +beginning to move, you and Gordon will need help. + +"Take him first to Tautz. I have written a note to the man, telling +him that he must hurry everything on. There is still a spare room +on your corridor, is there not? Get your man to see his things +bestowed there. I shall get his appointment this evening, I expect, +but it will be a day or two before he will be able to get a soldier +from his regiment. He has a horse to sell, and various other +matters to see to. At any rate, look after him, till tomorrow. 'Tis +my hour to go to the king." + +Lindsay was a young man of two or three and twenty. He had a merry, +joyous face, a fine figure, and a good carriage; but until he and +Fergus were beyond the limits of the palace, he walked by the lad's +side with scarce a word. When once past the entrance, however, he +gave a sigh of relief. + +"Now, Drummond," he said, "we will shake hands, and begin to make +each other's acquaintance. First, I am Nigel Lindsay, very much at +your service. On duty I am another person altogether, scarcely +recognizable even by myself--a sort of wooden machine, ready, when +a button is touched, to bring my heels smartly together, and my +hand to the salute. There is something in the air that stiffens +one's backbone, and freezes one from the tip of one's toes to the +end of one's pigtail. When one is with the marshal alone, one +thaws; for there is no better fellow living, and he chats to us as +if we were on a mountain side in Scotland, instead of in +Frederick's palace. But one is always being interrupted; either a +general, or a colonel, or possibly the king himself, comes in. + +"For the time, one becomes a military statue; and even when they +go, it is difficult to take up the talk as it was left. Oh, it is +wearisome work, and heartily glad I shall be, when the trumpets +blow and we march out of Berlin. However, we are beginning to be +pretty busy. I have been on horseback, twelve hours a day on an +average, for the past week. Gordon started yesterday for Magdeburg, +and Macgregor has been two days absent, but I don't know where. +Everyone is busy, from the king himself--who is always busy about +something--to the youngest drummer. Nobody outside a small circle +knows what it is all about. Apparently we are in a state of +profound peace, without a cloud in the sky, and yet the military +preparations are going on actively, everywhere. + +"Convoys of provisions are being sent to the frontier fortresses. +Troops are in movement from the Northern Provinces. Drilling is +going on--I was going to say night and day, for it is pretty nearly +that--and no one can make out what it is all about. + +"There is one thing--no one asks questions. His majesty thinks for +his subjects, and as he certainly is the cleverest man in his +dominions, everyone is well content that it should be so. + +"And now, about yourself. I am running on and talking nonsense, +when I have all sorts of questions to ask you. But that is always +the way with me. I am like a bottle of champagne, corked down while +I am in the palace, and directly I get away the cork flies out by +itself, and for a minute or two it is all froth and emptiness. + +"Now, when did you arrive, how did you arrive, what is the last +news from Scotland, which of the branches of the Drummonds do you +belong to, and how near of kin are you to the marshal? Oh, by the +way, I ought to know the last without asking; as you are a +Drummond, and a relation of Keith, you can be no other than the son +of the Drummond of Tarbet, who married Margaret Ogilvie, who was a +first cousin of Keith's." + +"That is right," Fergus said. "My father fell at Culloden, you +know. As to all your other questions, they are answered easily +enough. I know very little of the news in Scotland, for my mother +lived a very secluded life at Kilgowrie, and little news came to us +from without. I came from Leith to Stettin, and there I bought a +horse and rode on here." + +His companion laughed. + +"And how about yourself? I suppose you know nothing of this beastly +language?" + +"Yes; I can speak it pretty fluently, and of course know French." + +"I congratulate you, though how you learnt it, up in the hills, I +know not. I did not know a word of it, when I came out two years +ago; and it is always on my mind, for of course I have a master +who, when I am not otherwise engaged, comes to me for an hour a +day, and well nigh maddens me with his crack-jaw words; but I don't +seem to make much progress. If I am sent with an order, and the +officer to whom I take it does not understand French, I am floored. +Of course I hand the order, if it is a written one, to him. If it +is not, but just some verbal message, asking him to call on the +marshal at such and such a time, I generally make a horrible mess +of it. He gets in a rage with me, because he cannot understand me. +I get in a rage with him, for his dulness; and were it not that he +generally manages to find some other officer, who does understand +French, the chances are very strongly against Keith's message being +attended to. + +"First of all, I will take you to our quarters. That is the house." + +"Why, I thought you lodged in the palace?" + +"Heaven forbid! Macgregor has a room in the chief's suite of apartments. +He is senior aide-de-camp, and if there is any message to be sent late, +he takes it; but that is not often the case. Gordon lodges here with +me. The house is a sort of branch establishment to the palace. Malcolm +Menzies and Horace Farquhar, two junior aides of the king, are in the +same corridor with us. Of course we make up a party by ourselves. Then +there are ten or twelve German officers--some of them aides-de-camp +of the Princes Maurice and Henry, the Prince of Bevern and General +Schwerin--besides a score or so of palace officials. + +"Fortunately the Scotch corridor, as we call it, has a separate +entrance, so we can go in or out without disturbing anyone. It is a +good thing, for in fact we and the Prussians do not get on very +well together. They have a sort of jealousy of us; which is, I +suppose, natural enough. Foreigners are never favourites, and +George's Hanoverian officers are not greatly loved in London. I +expect a campaign will do good, that way. They will see, at any +rate, that we don't take our pay for nothing, and are ready to do a +full share and more of fighting; while we shall find that these +stiff pipe-clayed figures are brave fellows, and good comrades, +when they get a little of the starch washed out of them. + +"Now, this is my room, and I see my man has got dinner ready." + + + +Chapter 2: Joining. + + +In answer to the shout of "Donald," a tall man in the pantaloons of +a Prussian regiment, but with his tunic laid aside, came out from a +small room that served as a kitchen, and dormitory, for himself. + +"I am just ready, sir," he said. "Hearing you talking as you came +along, and not knowing who you might have with you, I just ran in +to put on my coat; but as you passed, and I heard it was Scottish +you were speaking, I knew that it didna matter." + +"Put another plate and goblet on the table, Donald. I hope that you +have meat enough for two of us." + +"Plenty for four," the soldier said. "The market was full this +morning, and the folk so ta'en up wi' this talk of war, and so +puzzled because no one could mak' out what it was about, that they +did more gossiping than marketing. So when the time came for the +market to close, I got half a young pig at less than I should hae +paid for a joint, as the woman did not want to carry it home +again." + +"That is lucky. As you are from Perth, Donald, it is possible you +may know this gentleman. He is Mr. Fergus Drummond, of Tarbet." + +"I kenned his father weel; aye, and was close beside him at +Culloden, for when our company was broken I joined one that was +making a stand, close by, and it was Drummond who was leading it. +Stoutly did we fight, and to the end stood back to back, hewing +with our claymores at their muskets. + +"At last I fell, wounded, I couldna say where at the time. When I +came to myself and, finding that all was quiet, sat up and felt +myself over, I found that it was a musket bullet that had ploughed +along the top of my head, and would ha' killed me had it not been +that my skull was, as my father had often said when I was a boy, +thicker than ordinary. There were dead men lying all about me; but +it was a dark night, and as there was no time to be lost if I was +to save my skin, I crawled away to some distance from the field; +and then took to my heels, and did not stop till next morning, when +I was far away among the hills." + +While he was talking, Donald had been occupied in adding a second +plate and knife and fork and glass, and the two officers sat down +to their meal. Fergus asked the soldier other questions as to the +fight in which his father had lost his life; for beyond that he had +fought to the last with his face to the foe, the lad had never +learnt any particulars, for of the clansmen who had accompanied his +father not one had ever returned. + +"Mr. Drummond will take the empty room next to mine, Donald. I am +going down now with him, to the inn where he has left his horse. As +he has a few things there, you had best come with us and bring them +here." + +The landlord of the inn, on hearing that Fergus wished to sell his +horse, said that there were two travellers in the house who had +asked him about horses; as both had sold, to officers, fine animals +they had brought in from the country, there being at present a +great demand for horses of that class. One of these persons came in +as they were speaking, and after a little bargaining Fergus sold +the horse to him, at a small advance on the price he had given for +it at Stettin. The landlord himself bought the saddle and bridle, +for a few marks; saying that he could, at any time, find a customer +for such matters. Donald took the valises and cloak, and carried +them back to the palace. + +"That matter is all comfortably settled," Lindsay said. "Now we are +free men, but my liberty won't last long. I shall have to go on +duty again, in half an hour. But at any rate, there is time to go +first with you to the tailor's, and put your uniform in hand." + +"I wish to be measured for the uniform of the 3rd Royal Dragoon +Guards," Fergus said, as he entered the shop and the proprietor +came up to him. + +"Yes, Herr Tautz; and his excellency, Marshal Keith," Lindsay put +in, "wishes you to know that the dress suit must be made instantly, +or quicker if possible; for his majesty may, at any moment, order +Mr. Drummond to attend upon him. Mr. Drummond is appointed one of +the marshal's aides-de-camp; and as, therefore, he will often come +under the king's eye, you may well believe that the fit must be of +the best, or you are likely to hear of it, as well as Mr. +Drummond." + +"I will put it in hand at once, lieutenant. It shall be cut out +without delay; and in three hours, if Mr. Drummond will call here, +it shall be tacked together in readiness for the first trying on. +By eight o'clock tomorrow morning it shall be ready to be properly +fitted, and unless my men have bungled, which they very seldom do, +it shall be delivered by midday." + +"Mr. Drummond lodges in the next room to myself," the lieutenant +said; "and my servant is looking after him, till he gets one of his +own, so you can leave it with him." + +While the conversation was going on, two of the assistants were +measuring Fergus. + +"Will you have the uniform complete, with belts, helmet, and all +equipments?" + +"Everything except the sword," Fergus said. + +"At least I suppose, Lindsay, we can carry our own swords." + +"Yes, the king has made that concession, which is a wonderful one, +for him, that Scottish officers in his service may carry their own +swords. You see, ours are longer and straighter than the German +ones, and most of us have learnt our exercises with them, and +certainly we would not fight so well with others; besides, the iron +basket protects one's hand and wrist vastly better than the foreign +guard. The concession was first made only to generals, field +officers and aides-de-camp; but Keith persuaded the king, at last, +to grant it to all Scottish officers, pointing out that they were +able to do much better service with their own claymores, than with +weapons to which they were altogether unaccustomed; and that +Scottish men were accustomed to fight with the edge, and to strike +downright sweeping blows, whereas the swords here are fitted only +for the point, which, although doubtless superior in a duel, is far +less effective in a general melee." + +"I should certainly be sorry to give up my own sword," Fergus said. +"It was one of my father's, and since the days when I was big +enough to begin to use it, I have always exercised myself with it; +though I, too, have learned to use the point a great deal, as I had +a German instructor, as well as several Scottish ones." + +"Except in a duel," Lindsay said, "I should doubt if skill goes for +very much. I have never tried it myself, for I have never had the +luck to be in battle; but I fancy that in a cavalry charge strength +goes for more than skill, and the man who can strike quickly and +heavily will do more execution than one trained to all sorts of +nice points and feints. I grant that these are useful, when two men +are watching each other; but in the heat of a battle, when every +one is cutting and thrusting for his life, I cannot think that +there is any time for fooling about with your weapon." + +They had by this time left the shop, and were strolling down the +streets. + +"Is there much duelling here?" + +"It is strictly forbidden," Lindsay said, with a laugh; "but I need +hardly say that there is a good deal of it. Of course, pains are +taken that these affairs do not come to his majesty's ears. Fever, +or a fall from a horse, account satisfactorily enough for the +absence of an officer from parade, and even his total disappearance +from the scene can be similarly explained. Should the affair come +to the king's ears, 'tis best to keep out of his way until it has +blown over. + +"Of course, with us it does not matter quite so much as with +Prussian officers. Frederick's is not the only service open to us. +Good swords are welcome either at the Russian or Austrian courts, +to say nothing of those of half a dozen minor principalities. At +all of these we are sure to find countrymen and friends, and if +England really enters upon the struggle--and it seems to me that if +there is a general row she can scarcely stand aloof--men who have +learned their drill and seen some service might be welcomed, even +if their fathers wielded their arms on the losing side, ten years +ago. + +"Of course, to a Prussian officer it would be practical ruin to be +dismissed from the army. This is so thoroughly well understood +that, in cases of duels, there is a sort of general conspiracy on +the part of all the officers and surgeons of a regiment to hush the +matter up. Still, if an officer is insulted--or thinks that he is +insulted, which is about the same thing--he fights, and takes the +consequences. + +"I am not altogether sorry that I am an aide-de-camp, and I think +that you can congratulate yourself on the same fact; for we are not +thrown, as is a regimental officer, into the company of Prussians, +and there is therefore far less risk of getting into a quarrel. + +"I have no doubt the marshal, himself, will give you a few lessons +shortly. He is considered to be one of the finest swordsmen in +Europe, and in many respects he is as young as I am, and as fond of +adventure. He gave me a few when I first came to him, but he said +that it was time thrown away, for that I must put myself in the +hands of some good maitre d'armes before he could teach me anything +that would be useful. I have been working hard with one since, and +know a good deal more about it than I did; but my teacher says that +I am too hot and impetuous to make a good swordsman, and that +though I should do well enough in a melee, I shall never be able to +stand up against a cool man, in a duel. Of course the marshal had +no idea of teaching me arms, but merely, as he said, of showing me +a few passes that might be useful to me, on occasion. In reality he +loves to keep up his sword play, and once or twice a week Van +Bruff, who is the best master in Berlin, comes in for half an +hour's practice with him, before breakfast." + +After Lindsay had left him at the entrance to the palace, Fergus +wandered about the town for some hours, and then went to the +tailor's and had his uniform tried on. Merely run together though +it was, the coat fitted admirably. + +"You are an easy figure to fit, Herr Drummond," the tailor said. +"There is no credit in putting together a coat for you. Your +breeches are a little too tight--you have a much more powerful leg +than is common--but that, however, is easily altered. + +"Here are a dozen pairs of high boots. I noticed the size of your +foot, and have no doubt that you will find some of these to fit +you." + +This was indeed the case, and among a similar collection of +helmets, Fergus also had no difficulty in suiting himself. + +"I think that you will find everything ready for you by half-past +eight," the tailor said, "and I trust that no further alteration +will be required. Six of my best journeymen will work all night at +the clothes; and even should his majesty send for you by ten, I +trust that you will be able to make a proper appearance before him, +though at present I cannot guarantee that some trifling alteration +will not be found necessary, when you try the uniforms on." + +Fergus supped with the marshal, who had now time to ask him many +more questions about his home life, and the state of things in +Scotland. + +"'Tis a sore pity," he said, "that we Scotchmen and Irishmen, who +are to be found in such numbers in every European army, are not all +arrayed under the flag of our country. Methinks that the time is +not far distant when it will be so. I am, as you know, a Jacobite; +but there is no shutting one's eyes to the fact that the cause is a +lost one. The expedition of James the Third, and still more that of +Charles Edward, have caused such widespread misery among the +Stuarts' friends that I cannot conceive that any further attempt of +the same kind will be made. + +"In fact, there is no one to make it. The prince has lost almost +all his friends, by his drunken habits and his quarrelsome and +overbearing disposition. He has gone from court to court as a +suppliant, but has everywhere alienated the sympathies of those +most willing to befriend him. I may say that as a King of England +and Scotland he is now impossible, and his own habits have done +more to ruin his cause than even the defeat of Culloden. There are +doubtless many, in both countries, who consider themselves +Jacobites, but it is a matter of sentiment and not of passion. + +"At any rate, there is no head to the cause now, and cannot +possibly be unless the prince had a son; therefore, for at least +five-and-twenty years, the cause is dead. Even if the prince leaves +an heir, it would be absurd to entertain the idea that, after the +Stuarts have been expelled from England a hundred years, any +Scotchman or Englishman would be mad enough to risk life and +property to restore them to the throne. + +"Another generation and the Hanoverians will have become +Englishmen, and the sentiment against them as foreigners will have +died out. Then there will be no reason why Scotchmen and Irishmen +should any longer go abroad, and all who wish it will be able to +find employment in the army of their own country. + +"This, indeed, might have happened long before this, had the +Georges forgotten that they were Electors of Hanover as well as +Kings of Great Britain; and had surrounded themselves with +Englishmen instead of filling their courts with Germans, whose +arrogance and greed made them hateful to Englishmen, and kept +before their eyes the fact that their kings were foreigners. +Hanover is a source of weakness instead of strength to Great +Britain, and its loss would be an unmixed benefit to her; for as +long as it remains under the British crown, so long must Britain +play a part in European politics--a part, too, sometimes absolutely +opposed to the interests of the country at large." + +After supper was over, two general officers dropped in for a chat +with the marshal. He introduced Fergus to them, and the latter then +retired and joined the little party of Scottish officers at +Lindsay's quarters. Lindsay introduced him to them, and he was very +heartily received, and it was not until very late that they turned +into bed. + +At half-past eight next morning Fergus went to the tailor's, and +found that he had kept his promise, to the letter. The uniforms +fitted admirably, and were complete in every particular. As Marshal +Keith had, the evening before, informed him that he had received +his appointment to the 3rd Royal Dragoon Guards, he had no +hesitation in putting on a uniform when, a quarter of an hour +later, it arrived at his quarters. Donald went out and fetched a +hairdresser, who combed, powdered, and tied up his hair in proper +military fashion. When he left, Donald took him in hand, attired +him in his uniform, showed him the exact angle at which his belt +should be worn, and the military salute that should be given. + +It was fortunate that he was in readiness, for at half-past ten +Lindsay came in with a message from the marshal that he was, at +once, to repair to the palace, with or without a uniform; as the +king had sent to say that he should visit Keith at eleven, and that +he could then present his cousin to him. + +It could not be said that Fergus felt comfortable, as he started +from his quarters. Accustomed to a loose dress and light shoes, he +felt stiff and awkward in his tight garments, closely buttoned up, +and his heavy jack boots; and he found himself constrained to walk +with the same stiffness and precision that had amused him in the +Prussian officers, on the previous day. + +"So you have got your uniform," the marshal said, as Fergus entered +and saluted, as Donald had instructed him. "It becomes you well, +lad, and the king will be pleased at seeing you in it. He could not +have blamed you had it not been ready, for the time has been short, +indeed; but he will like to see you in it, and will consider that +it shows alacrity and zeal." + +Presently the door opened and, as the marshal rose and saluted, +Fergus knew that it was the king. He had never had the king +described to him, and had depicted to himself a stiff and somewhat +austere figure; but the newcomer was somewhat below middle height, +with a kindly face, and the air rather of a sober citizen than of a +military martinet. The remarkable feature of his face were his +eyes, which were very large and blue, with a quick piercing glance +that seemed to read the mind of anyone to whom he addressed +himself. So striking were they that the king, when he went about +the town in disguise, was always obliged to keep his eyes somewhat +downcast; as, however well made up, they would have betrayed him at +once, had he looked fixedly at anyone who had once caught sight of +his face. + +"Good morning, marshal!" he said, in a friendly tone. "So this is +my last recruit--a goodly young fellow, truly." + + +[Illustration: The king walked round Fergus as if he were +examining a lay figure] + + +He walked round Fergus as if he were examining a lay figure, +closely scrutinizing every article of his appointment, and then +gave a nod of approbation. + +"Always keep yourself like that, young sir. An officer is unfit to +take charge of men, unless he can set an example of exactness in +dress. If a man is precise in little things, he will be careful in +other matters. + +"Although he is going to be your aide-de-camp, Keith, he had better +go to his regimental barracks, and drill for a few hours a day, if +you can spare him." + +"He shall certainly do so, sire. I spoke to his colonel yesterday +evening, and told him that I would myself take the lad down to him, +this morning, and present him to his comrades of the regiment. It +would be well if he could have six months' drilling, for an +aide-de-camp should be well acquainted with the meaning of the +orders he carries; as he is, in that case, far less likely to make +mistakes than he would otherwise be. Your majesty has nothing more +to say to him?" + +"Nothing. I hope he is not quarrelsome. But there, it is of no use +my hoping that, Keith; for your Scotchman is a quarrelsome creature +by nature, at least so it seems to me. Of the duels that, in spite +of my orders, take place--I know you all try to hide them from me, +Keith--I hear of a good many between these hot-headed countrymen of +yours and my Prussian officers." + +"With deference to your majesty, I don't think that that proves +much. It would be as fair to say that these duels show how +aggressive are your Prussian officers towards my quiet and patient +countrymen. + +"Now you can retire, cornet." + +Fergus gave the military salute, and retired to the anteroom. + +"Have you passed muster?" Lindsay asked with a laugh. + +"Yes; at least the king found nothing wrong. He was not at all what +I thought he would be." + +"No; I was astonished myself, the first time I saw him. He is a +capital fellow, in spite of his severity in matters of military +etiquette and discipline. He is very kind hearted, does not stand +at all upon his dignity, bears no malice, and very soon remits +punishment he has given in the heat of the moment. I think that he +regards us Scots as being a people for whom allowances must be +made, on the ground of our inborn savagery and ignorance of +civilized customs. He does not mind plain speaking on our part and, +if in the humour, will talk with us much more familiarly than he +would do to a Prussian officer." + +In a few minutes the bell in the next room sounded. Lindsay went +in. + +"Are the horses at the door?" + +"Yes, marshal." + +"Then we will mount at once. I told the colonel of the 3rd that I +should be at the barracks by twelve o'clock, unless the king wanted +me on his business." + +Fergus had already put on his helmet, and he and Lindsay followed +Keith downstairs. In the courtyard were the horses, which were held +by orderlies. + +"That is yours, Fergus," Keith said. "It has plenty of bone and +blood, and should carry you well for any distance." + +Fergus warmly thanked the marshal for the gift. It was a very fine +horse, and capable of carrying double his weight. It was fully +caparisoned with military bridle and saddle and horse cloth. + +They mounted at once. The orderlies ran to their horses, which were +held by a mounted trooper, and the four fell in behind the +officers. Lindsay and Fergus rode half a length behind the marshal, +but the latter had some difficulty in keeping his horse in that +position. + +The marshal smiled. + +"It does not understand playing second fiddle, Fergus. You see, it +has been accustomed to head the procession." + +As they rode along through the street, all officers and soldiers +stood as stiff as statues at the salute, the marshal returning it +as punctiliously, though not as stiffly. In a quarter of an hour +they arrived at the gate of a large barracks. The guard turned out +as soon as the marshal was seen approaching, and a trumpet call was +heard in the courtyard as they entered the gate. + +Fergus was struck with the spectacle, the like of which he had +never seen before. The whole regiment was drawn up in parade order. +The colonel was some distance in the front, the officers ranged at +intervals behind him. Suddenly the colonel raised his sword above +his head, a flash of steel ran along the line, eight trumpeters +sounded the first note of a military air, and the regiment stood at +the salute, men and horses immovable, as if carved in stone. A +minute later the music stopped, the colonel raised his sword again, +there was another flash of steel, and the salute was over. Then the +colonel rode forward to meet the marshal. + +"Nothing could have been better, my dear colonel," the latter said. +"As I told you yesterday, my inspection of your regiment is but a +mere form, for I know well that nothing could be more perfect than +its order; but I must report to the king that I have inspected all +the regiments now in Berlin and Potsdam, and others that will form +my command, should any untoward event disturb the peace of the +country. + +"But before I begin, permit me to present to you this young officer, +who was yesterday appointed to your regiment. I have already spoken +to you of him. This is Cornet Fergus Drummond, a cousin of my own, +and whom I recommend strongly to you. As I informed you, he will for +the present act as one of my aides-de-camp." + +"You have lost no time in getting your uniform, Mr. Drummond," the +colonel said. "I am sure that you will be most cordially received, +by all my officers as by myself, as a relation of the marshal, whom +we all respect and love." + +"I will now proceed to the inspection," the marshal said, and he +proceeded towards the end of the line. + +The colonel rode beside him, but a little behind. The two +aides-de-camp followed, and the four troopers brought up the rear. +They proceeded along the front rank, the officers having before +this taken up their position in the line. The marshal looked +closely at each man as he passed, horse as well as man being +inspected. + +"I do not think, colonel, that the king himself could have +discovered the slightest fault or blemish. The regiment is simply +perfect. I hope that during the next few days you will have every +shoe inspected by the farrier, and every one showing the least +signs of wear taken off and replaced; and that you will also direct +the captains of troops to see that the men's kits are in perfect +order." + +"That shall be done, sir, though I own that I cannot see against +whom we are likely to march; for though the air is full of rumours, +all our neighbours seem to think of nothing so little as war." + +"It may be," Keith said with a smile, "that it is merely his +majesty's intention to see in how short a time we can place an +army, complete in every particular and ready for a campaign, in the +field. His majesty is fond of trying military experiments." + +"I hope, marshal, that you will do us the honour of drinking a +goblet of champagne with us. Some of my officers have not yet been +presented to you, and I shall be glad to take the opportunity of +doing so." + +"With pleasure, colonel. A good offer should never be refused." + +By this time they had moved to the front of the regiment. + +"Officers and men of the 3rd Royal Dragoon Guards," Keith said in a +loud voice, "I shall have great pleasure in reporting to the king +the result of my inspection, that the regiment is in a state of +perfect efficiency, and that I have been unable to detect the +smallest irregularity or blemish. I am quite sure that, if you +should at any time be called upon to fight the enemies of your +country, you will show that your conduct and courage will be fully +equal to the excellence of your appearance. I feel that whatever +men can do you will do. + +"God save the king!" + +He lifted his plumed hat. The trumpet sounded, the men gave the +royal salute, and then a loud cheer burst from the ranks; for the +rumours current had raised a feeling of excitement throughout the +regiment, and though no man could see from what point danger +threatened, all felt that great events were at hand. + +The regiment was then dismissed, hoarse words of command were +shouted, and each troop moved off to its stable; while the colonel +and Keith rode to the officers' anteroom, the trumpets at the same +time sounding the officers' call. In a few minutes all were +gathered there. The colonel first presented some of his young +officers to the marshal, and then introduced Fergus to his new +comrades, among whom were two Scotch officers. + +"Mr. Drummond will, for the present, serve with the marshal as one +of his aides-de-camp; but I hope that he will soon join the +regiment where, at any rate, he will at all times find a warm +welcome." + +Keith had already told the colonel that, for the present, Fergus +would be released from all duty as an aide-de-camp, and would spend +his time in acquiring the rudiments of drill. + +Champagne was now served round. The officers drank the health of +the marshal, and he in return drank to the regiment; then all +formality was laid aside for a time, and the marshal laughed and +chatted with the officers, as if he had been one of themselves. +Fergus was surrounded by a group, who were all pleased at finding +that he could already talk the language fluently; and in spite of +the jealousy of the Scottish officers, felt throughout the service, +the impression that he made was a very favourable one; and the +hostility of race was softened by the fact that he was a near +relation of the marshal, who was universally popular. He won +favour, too, by saying, when the colonel asked whether he would +rather have a Scottish or a Prussian trooper assigned to him, as +servant and orderly, that he would choose one of the latter. + +After speaking to the adjutant the colonel gave an order and, two +minutes later, a tall and powerful trooper entered the room and +saluted. The adjutant went up to him. + +"Karl Hoger," he said, "you are appointed orderly and servant to +Mr. Fergus Drummond. He is quartered at the officers' house, facing +the palace. You will take your horse round there, and await his +arrival. He will show you where it is to be stabled. You are +released from all regimental duty until further orders." + +The man saluted and retired, without the slightest change of face +to show whether the appointment was agreeable to him, or otherwise. + +Half an hour later the marshal mounted and, with his party, rode +back to the palace. After he had dismounted, Lindsay and Fergus +rode across to their quarters. Karl Hoger was standing at the +entrance, holding his horse. He saluted as the two officers came +up. + +"I will go in and see if dinner is ready," Lindsay said. "I told +Donald that we should be back at half-past one, and it is nearly +two now, and I am as hungry as a hunter." + +Fergus led the way to the stable, and pointed out to the trooper +the two stalls that the horses were to occupy; for each room in the +officers' quarters had two stalls attached to it, the one for the +occupant, the other for his orderly. + +"I suppose you have not dined yet, Karl?" + +"No, sir, but that does not matter." + +"I don't want you to begin by fasting. Here are a couple of marks. +When you have stabled the horses and finished here, you had better +go out and get yourself dinner. I shall not be able to draw rations +for you for today. + +"After you have done, come to the main entrance where I met you and +take the first corridor to the left. Mine is the fifth door on the +right-hand side. If I am not in, knock at the next door to it on +this side. You will see Lieutenant Lindsay's name on it. + +"You need not be in any hurry over your meal, for I am just going +to have dinner, and certainly shall not want you for an hour." + +On reaching Lindsay's quarters Fergus found that dinner was +waiting, and he and Lindsay lost no time in attacking a fine fish +that Donald had bought in the market. + +"That is a fine regiment of yours, Drummond," Lindsay said. + +"Magnificent. Of course, I never saw anything like it before, but +it was certainly splendid." + +"Yes. They distinguished themselves in the campaigns of Silesia +very much. Their colonel, Grim, is a capital officer--very strict, +but a really good fellow, and very much liked by his officers. +However, if I were you, I should be in no hurry to join. I had two +years and a half in an infantry regiment, before Keith appointed me +one of his aides-de-camp, and I can tell you it was hard +work--drill from morning till night. We were stationed at a +miserable country place, without any amusements or anything to do; +and as at that time there did not seem the most remote chance of +active service, it was a dog's life. Everyone was surly and ill +tempered, and I had to fight two duels." + +"What about?" + +"About nothing, as far as I could see. A man said something about +Scotch officers, in a tone I did not like. I was out of temper, and +instead of turning it off with a laugh I took it up seriously, and +threw a glass at his head. So of course we fought. We wounded each +other twice, and then the others stopped it. The second affair was +just as absurd, except that there I got the best of it, and sliced +the man's sword arm so deeply that he was on the sick list for two +months--the result of an accident, as the surgeon put it down. So +although I don't say but that there is a much better class of men +in the 3rd than there was in my regiment, I should not be in any +hurry to join. + +"If there is a row, you will see ten times as much as an +aide-de-camp as you would in your regiment, while during peacetime +there is no comparison at all between our lives as aides-de-camp +and that of regimental officers. + +"I fancy you have rather a treasure in the man they have told off +to you. He was the colonel's servant at one time, but he got drunk +one day, and of course the colonel had to send him back to the +ranks. One of the officers told me about him when he came in, and +said that he was one of the best riders and swordsmen in the +regiment. The adjutant told me that he has specially chosen him for +you, because he had a particularly good mount, and that as your +orderly it would be of great importance that he should be able to +keep up with you. Of course, he got the horse when he was the +colonel's orderly; and though he was sent back to the ranks six +months ago, the colonel, who was really fond of the man, allowed +him to keep it." + +"I thought it seemed an uncommonly good animal, when he led it into +the stable," Fergus said. "Plenty of bone, and splendid quarters. I +hope he was not unwilling to come to me. It is a great fall from +being a colonel's servant to become a cornet's." + +"I don't suppose he will mind that; and at any rate, while he is +here the berth will be such an easy one that I have no doubt he +will be well content with it, and I daresay that he and Donald will +get on well together. + +"Donald is a Cuirassier. After Keith appointed me as one of his +aides, he got me transferred to the Cuirassiers, who are stationed +at Potsdam. That was how I came to get hold of Donald as a +servant." + +A few minutes after they had done dinner, there was a knock at the +door. The orderly entered and saluted. + +"You will find my man in there," Lindsay said. "At present, Mr. +Drummond and I are living together. I daresay you and he will get +on very comfortably." + +For the next fortnight, Fergus spent the whole day in barracks. He +was not put through the usual preliminary work, but the colonel, +understanding what would be most useful to him, had him instructed +in the words of command necessary for carrying out simple +movements, his place as cornet with a troop when in line or column; +and being quick, intelligent, and anxious to learn, Fergus soon +began to feel himself at home. + + + +Chapter 3: The Outbreak Of War. + + +As Lindsay had predicted, the marshal had, on the evening of the +day Fergus joined his regiment, said to him: + +"I generally have half an hour's fencing the first thing of a +morning, Fergus. It is good exercise, and keeps one's muscles +lissome. Come round to my room at six. I should like to see what +the instructors at home have done for you, and I may be able to put +you up to a few tricks of the sword that may be of use to you, if +you are ever called upon to break his majesty's edicts against +duelling." + +Fergus, of course, kept the appointment. + +"Very good. Very good, indeed," the marshal said, after the first +rally. "You have made the most of your opportunities. Your wrist is +strong and supple, your eye quick. You are a match, now, for most +men who have not worked hard in a school of arms. Like almost all +our countrymen, you lack precision. Now, let us try again." + +For a few minutes Fergus exerted himself to the utmost, but failed +to get his point past the marshal's guard. He had never seen +fencing like this. Keith's point seemed to be ever threatening him. +The circles that were described were so small that the blade seemed +scarcely to move; and yet every thrust was put aside by a slight +movement of the wrist, and he felt that he was at his opponent's +mercy the whole time. Presently there was a slight jerk and, on the +instant, his weapon was twisted from his hand and sent flying +across the room. + +Keith smiled at his look of bewilderment. + +"You see, you have much to learn, Fergus." + +"I have indeed, sir. I thought that I knew something about fencing, +but I see that I know nothing at all." + +"That is going too far the other way, lad. You know, for example, a +vast deal more than Lindsay did when he came to me, six months ago. +I fancy you know more than he does now, or ever will know; for he +still pins his faith on the utility of a slashing blow, as if the +sabre had a chance against a rapier, in the hands of a skilful man. +However, I will give you a lesson every morning, and I should +advise you to go to Van Bruff every evening. + +"I will give you a note to him. He is by far the best master we +have. Indeed, he is the best in Europe. I will tell him that the +time at your disposal is too short for you to attempt to become a +thorough swordsman; but that you wish to devote yourself to +learning a few thrusts and parries, such as will be useful in a +duel, thoroughly and perfectly. I myself will teach you that trick +I played on you just now, and two others like it; and I think it +possible that in a short time you will be able to hold your own, +even against men who may know a good deal more of the principles +and general practice of the art than yourself." + +Armed with a note from the marshal, Fergus went the next day to the +famous professor. The latter read the letter through carefully, and +then said: + +"I should be very glad to oblige the marshal, for whom I have the +highest respect, and whom I regard as the best swordsman in Europe. +I often practise with him, and always come away having learned +something. Moreover, the terms he offers, for me to give you an +hour and a half's instruction every evening, are more than liberal. +But every moment of my time in the evening is occupied, from five +to ten. Could you come at that hour?" + +"Certainly I could, professor." + +"Then so be it. Come at ten, punctually. My school is closed at +that hour, but you will find me ready for you." + +Accordingly, during the next three weeks Fergus worked, from ten +till half-past eleven, with Herr Van Bruff; and from six till half +past with the marshal. His mountain training was useful indeed to +him now; for the day's work in the barrack was in itself hard and +fatiguing and, tough as his muscles were, his wrist at first ached +so at nights that he had to hold it, for some time, under a tap of +cold water to allay the pain. At the end of a week, however, it +hardened again; and he was sustained by the commendations of his +two teachers, and the satisfaction he felt in the skill he was +acquiring. + +"Where is your new aide-de-camp, marshal?" the king asked, one +evening. + +It was the close of one of his receptions. + +"As a rule, these young fellows are fond of showing off in their +uniforms, at first." + +"He is better employed, sire. He has the makings of a very fine +swordsman and, having some reputation myself that way, I should be +glad that my young cousin should be able to hold his own well, when +we get to blows with the enemy. So I and Van Bruff have taken him +in hand, and for the last three weeks he has made such progress +that this morning, when we had open play, it put me on my mettle to +hold my own. So, what with that and his regimental work, his hands +are more than full; and indeed, he could not get through it, had he +to attend here in the evening; and I know that as soon as he has +finished his supper he turns in for a sound sleep, till he is woke +in time to dress and get to the fencing school, at ten. Had there +been a longer time to spare, I would not have suffered him to work +so hard; but seeing that in a few days we may be on the march to +the frontier, we have to make the most of the time." + +"He has done well, Keith, and his zeal shows that he will make a +good soldier. Yes, another three days, and our messenger should +return from Vienna; and the next morning, unless the reply is +satisfactory, the troops will be on the move. After that, who +knows?" + +During the last few days, the vague rumours that had been +circulating had gained strength and consistency. Every day fresh +regiments arrived and encamped near the city; and there were +reports that a great concentration of troops was taking place, at +Halle, under the command of Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick; and +another, under the Duke of Bevern, at Frankfort-on-the-Oder. + +Nevertheless, the public announcement that war was declared with +Austria, and that the army would march for the frontier, in three +days' time, came as a sudden shock. The proclamation stated that, +it having been discovered that Austria had entered into a secret +confederacy with other powers to attack Prussia; and the king +having, after long and fruitless negotiations, tried to obtain +satisfaction from that power; no resource remained but to declare +war, at once, before the confederates could combine their forces +for the destruction of the kingdom. + +Something like dismay was, at first, excited by the proclamation. A +war with Austria was, in itself, a serious undertaking; but if the +latter had powerful allies, such as Russia, France, and Saxony--and +it was well known that all three looked with jealousy on the +growing power of the kingdom--the position seemed well-nigh +desperate. + +Among the troops, however, the news was received with enthusiasm. +Confident in their strength and discipline, the question of the +odds that might be assembled against them in no way troubled them. +The conquest of Silesia had raised the prestige of the army, and +the troops felt proud that they should have the opportunity of +proving their valour in an even more serious struggle. + +Never was there a more brilliant assembly than that at the palace, +the evening before the troops marched. All the general officers and +their staffs were assembled, together with the ladies of the court, +and those of the nobility and army. The king was in high good +humour, and moved about the rooms, chatting freely with all. + +"So you have come to see us at last, young sir," he said to Fergus. +"I should scold you, but I hear that you have been utilizing your +time well. + +"Remember that your sword is to be used against the enemies of the +country, only," and nodding, he walked on. + +The Princess Amelia was the centre of a group of ladies. She was a +charming princess, but at times her face bore an expression of deep +melancholy; and all knew that she had never ceased to mourn the +fate of the man she would have chosen, Baron Trench, who had been +thrown into prison by her angry father, for his insolence in +aspiring to his daughter's hand. + +"You must be glad that your hard work is over, Drummond," Lindsay +said, as they stood together watching the scene. + +"I am glad that the drill is over," Fergus replied, "but I should +have liked my work with the professor to have gone on for another +six months." + +"Ah, well! You will have opportunities to take it up again, when we +return, after thrashing the Austrians." + +"How long will that be, Lindsay?" + +The latter shrugged his shoulders. + +"Six months or six years; who can tell?" he said. "If it be true +that Russia and France, to say nothing of Saxony, are with her, it +is more likely to be years than months, and we may both come out +colonels by the time it is over." + +"That is, if we come out at all," Fergus said, with a smile at the +other's confidence. + +"Oh! Of course, there is that contingency, but it is one never +worth reckoning with. At any rate, it is pretty certain that, if we +do fall, it will be with odds against us; but of course, as +aides-de-camp our chance is a good deal better than that of +regimental officers. + +"At any rate, you have had good preparation for the campaign, for +your work will be child's play in comparison to what you have been +going through. How you stood it, I cannot make out. I worked pretty +hard when I first arrived; but the drill for the first six months +was tremendous, and I used to be glad to crawl into bed, as soon as +I had had my supper. + +"Well, you have been a poor companion so far, Drummond." + +"I am afraid I have been, but will try and make up for it, in the +future. + +"I suppose there is no doubt that we shall march, in the first +place, on Dresden." + +"I think that there is no doubt of that. There is no Saxon army to +speak of, certainly nothing that can offer any serious opposition. +From there there are three or four passes by which we could pour +into Bohemia. Saxony is a rich country, too, and will afford us a +fine base for supplies, as we move on. I suppose the Austrians will +collect an army to oppose us, in Bohemia. When we have thrashed +them, I expect we shall go on straight to Vienna." + +Fergus laughed. + +"It all sounds easy enough, Lindsay. I only hope that it will come +off just as you prophesy." + +"That is one advantage of fighting in a foreign service, Fergus. +One fights just as stoutly for victory as if one were fighting for +home, but if one is beaten it does not affect one so much. It is +sad to see the country overrun, and pillaged; but the houses are +not the houses of our own people, the people massacred are not +one's own relations and friends. One's military vanity may be hurt +by defeat; otherwise, one can bear it philosophically." + +"I never looked at it in that light before, Lindsay, but no doubt +there is a great deal in what you say. If my father had fallen on a +German battlefield, instead of at Culloden, our estates would not +have been confiscated, our glens harried, and our clansmen hunted +down and massacred. No, I see there is a great difference. I +suppose I should fight just as hard, against the Austrians, as I +should have done against the English at Culloden, had I been there; +but defeat would have none of the same consequences. No, putting it +as you do, I must own that there is a distinct advantage in foreign +service, that I never appreciated before. + +"But I see people are leaving, and I am not sorry. As we are going +to be up before daybreak, the sooner one turns in the better." + +Karl had received the order to call his master at three, to have +breakfast ready at half past, and the horses at the door at four, +with somewhat less than his usual stolidity. + +"You will have harder work in the future, Karl," Fergus said. + +"I shall be glad of it, sir. Never have I had such a lazy time as I +have had for the last month. The first three or four days were very +pleasant; then I began to think that I should like a little to do, +so as to remind me that there was such a thing as work. But the +last fortnight has been terrible. A man cannot sleep for +twenty-four hours, and if it had not been that Donald and I have +had an occasional quarrel, as to our respective regiments and over +the native land he is so fond of bragging about, I should have been +ready to hang myself. + +"Ah, sir, how often have I to thank my stars that I did not take my +discharge!--which I could have asked for, as I have served my time. +I had thought of it, many times; and had said to myself how +delightful it would be to hear the morning call sound, at a +barracks near, and to turn over in my bed and go to sleep again; to +have no guard to keep, no sergeant to bully or provost guard to +arrest one, if one has taken a cup too much. This fortnight has +shown me the folly of such ideas. It has taught me when I am well +off, and what misery it is to be one's own master, and to be always +wondering how the day is to be got through." + +"Well, you are not likely to have to complain that you have nothing +to do, for some time now, Karl." + +"No, cornet. I have felt a new man, since I heard the great news. +There is always plenty to do, on a campaign. There are the horses +to be cleaned, food to be cooked, forage and rations to be fetched. +Then, too, on a campaign every one is merry and good tempered, and +one sings as one marches and sits round the campfire. One may be +cold and wet and hungry, but who cares? One swears at the moment, +but one laughs again, as soon as the sun shines." + +"Well, Karl, you had best turn in at once, for at three o'clock we +shall want to be called." + +"You can rely upon my waking, sir. Does my officer wish to take a +full-dress suit with him?" + +"No; the order is that all are to start in marching order, and that +all baggage is to be cut down to the smallest proportions. No +officer is to take more than can be carried in his valises." + +It was the first week in August when the three columns, each twenty +thousand strong, moved from their respective starting points. +Although the king was nominally in command of the central division, +Marshal Keith was the real commander. He rode with the king at the +head of the column, and his aides-de-camp, and those of Frederick, +were constantly on their way up and down the line, carrying orders +and bringing in reports as to the manner in which the regiments +maintained their respective positions, and especially how the +artillery and baggage train kept up. + +There was no necessity, at present, for taking precautions. The +march would for some days lead through Prussia, and it was morally +certain that the Saxon army--which was small and scattered and, +even if united, would not equal the strength of one of the Prussian +armies--would not attempt any serious resistance; for the country +was flat, and there would be no defiles where a small force of men +could successfully oppose a larger one. Nevertheless, the daily +marches were long for the infantry and the baggage, but by no means +fatiguing for mounted men. The staff and aides-de-camp, with their +orderlies, rode behind the leaders. The troopers were sometimes +employed, instead of the officers, when a short written order had +to be sent back to the rear of the column. + +The harvest having been gathered in, the cavalry rode across the +open country, thus reducing the length of the column. The day was +very hot, and the infantry opened their ranks, as much as possible, +to allow the passage of what little air was moving. At nine o'clock +the troops were halted. Each man had been served with a breakfast, +before starting; and the haversacks were now opened, and a meal +made of the bread they contained, washed down with an allowance of +rough wine, carried in each regimental waggon. Then the men sat +down, under the shade of greatcoats supported by ramrods and other +contrivances, and either slept or talked until half-past two; when +the bugle sounded. The greatcoats were rolled up and strapped on to +the knapsacks, then there was a vigorous use of the brush, to +remove the thick dust gathered on the march. At three the column +got into motion again, and halted for the night at half-past six; +when fires were lighted, coppers put on, and the main meal of the +day presently served. + +The rations of the officers were the same as those of the men, but +the greater part of them supplemented the food by that carried in +their orderlies' saddlebags. Lindsay, Fergus, and the marshals +other two aides-de-camp had arranged that, when possible, they +should mess together; and their servants should prepare the meal by +turns, while those not so engaged looked after the horses, saw that +they were fed, watered, and groomed. The servants were all old +campaigners, and though neither Lindsay nor Fergus had thought of +giving them orders to that effect, both Donald and Karl had laid in +a stock of provisions. + +Donald had cooked a pair of fowls on the previous evening. Karl had +bought a sucking pig. One of the German officer's servants had a +huge piece of salt beef, that had already been boiled, while the +other had a hare. It was agreed at once that the fowls should be +left for early breakfast; and the beef put aside for dinner, and +for supper, also, if nothing else could be obtained. Karl, as the +servant of the junior officer, was cook for the evening, and he +acquitted himself admirably. + +Each officer carried in his saddlebag a tin plate, a drinking horn, +and a knife, fork, and spoon. There was no dish, but the spit was +handed round, and each cut off a portion. Soup made from the ration +of meat was first served, then the hare, and then the sucking pig, +while the four orderlies had an ample meal from the ration of meat. +A supply of spirits had been carried in the staff waggon. This they +took, plentifully watered, with the meal; with a stronger cup +afterwards. + +The night was so fine that all agreed that it was not worthwhile to +erect the tent carried for them in the waggon. At eight o'clock the +order for the next day's march came out, and two of the king's +orderlies started on horseback with copies of it to the commanders +of brigades, who in their turn communicated to the colonels of +their respective regiments. + +The next evening the force encamped round Torgau, a very strong +fortress, where a great store of provisions had been collected. +Ample quarters were assigned to the marshal and his staff in the +town. Here they halted for a day to allow the other armies, which +had both farther to march, to keep abreast of them on their +respective lines of route. + +Then, following the Elbe, the army arrived after two marches in +front of Dresden. The court of Saxony had, for years, been wasting +the revenues of the country in extravagance and luxury; while +intriguing incessantly with Austria, and dreaming of obtaining an +increase of territory at the expense of Prussia. No effort had been +made to prepare to carry out the engagements entered into with +Austria; and the army, utterly neglected, numbered but some fifteen +thousand. These were scattered over the country, and but poorly +provided with artillery. + +When, then, the news arrived that three Prussian armies had crossed +the frontier, there was no thought of resistance; but orders were +despatched for the whole force to concentrate at Pirna, a strongly +fortified camp among the defiles of the mountains separating Saxony +from Bohemia. The position was almost an impregnable one, and they +could receive reinforcements from Bohemia. + +On the arrival of the Prussian army the king fled, and Dresden +threw open its gates. As Frederick hoped to detach Saxony from the +alliance against him, the greater portion of the army were encamped +outside the town; three or four regiments, only, marching in and +quartering themselves in the empty Saxon barracks. The aid Saxony +could render Frederick would be insignificant, but it was most +desirable for him that he should ensure its neutrality, in order to +secure his communications with Prussia when he marched forward into +Bohemia. + +Finding the king had gone, his first step was to send a general +officer, with a party of soldiers, to seize the archives in the +palace. Among these was discovered the prize he most desired to +find; namely a signed copy of the secret treaty, between Austria, +Russia, France, and Saxony, for the invasion and partition of +Prussia. Copies of this document were instantly sent off to the +courts of Europe, thus affording an ample justification for what +would otherwise have appeared a wholly unprovoked attack by Prussia +upon her neighbours. Had it not been for the discovery of this +document, Frederick would probably have always remained under the +stigma of engaging in an unprovoked and ambitious war; for the +court of Austria had hitherto, positively and categorically, +declared to Frederick's ambassador and envoys the non-existence of +any such treaty or agreement between the powers. + +As the queen had remained in the palace, Frederick took up his +abode in another royal building, Marshal Keith and a large number +of officers being also quartered there. In order to prevent any +broils with the citizens, orders were issued that certain places of +refreshment were to be used only by officers, while the soldiers +were only to frequent wine and beer shops selected in the +neighbourhood of the barracks, and were strictly forbidden to enter +any others. Any soldier caught in an act of theft or pillage was to +be hung, forthwith, and all were enjoined to observe a friendly +demeanour to the people. + +One evening, Fergus had been sent with a message to the camp, two +miles from the town. It was nearly ten o'clock when he started to +ride back. When within half a mile of the town he heard a pistol +shot, in the direction of a large house, a quarter of a mile from +the road. + +Without hesitation he turned his horse's head in that direction. In +a couple of minutes he arrived at a pair of large gates. They were +closed, but he dismounted, fastened the bridle chain to them and, +snatching the pistols from his holsters, ran along by the side of a +high wall, until he came to a tree growing close to it. + +With some difficulty, for his high boots were ill adapted to such +work, he climbed the tree, got on to the wall, and dropped down. He +was in large park-like grounds. Guided by a light in a window, he +ran to the house. The door was closed. After hesitating for a +moment he ran along and, soon coming, as he expected, to an open +window, he at once climbed through it. A door was open and, passing +on, he entered a large hall in which a light was burning. + +Pausing to listen now, he heard voices upstairs and, holding a +pistol in each hand and his drawn sword in his teeth, he lightly +ascended the stairs. On the landing two men lay dead. Light was +issuing from a half-closed door and, noiselessly approaching it, he +looked in. + +It was a small room. At the end stood eight or ten scared women, +huddled together; while a soldier, with a pistol in one hand and a +sword in the other, stood sentry over them. These were evidently +the servants of the chateau, who had been unceremoniously hauled +from their beds and gathered there, under a guard, to prevent them +from screaming or giving any alarm. As Fergus was equally anxious +that no alarm should be given, at present, he retired quietly. + +A pair of double doors faced the top of the staircase. This was +evidently the grand reception room and, listening intently, he +could hear a murmur of voices inside. Turning the handle and +throwing them suddenly open, he entered. + +Upon the floor lay the body of a gentleman. A lady, pale as death +and in a half-fainting condition, leant back in a settee; while a +girl of thirteen or fourteen lay on a couch, with bound hands and a +handkerchief fastened across her mouth. + +Three soldiers were engaged in examining the contents of a large +coffer of jewels. As the door opened they turned round and, on +seeing a solitary officer, sprang forward with terrible oaths. +Fergus shot one of them as they did so, dropped the pistol, and +seized his sword. Both men fired. Fergus felt a stinging sensation +in his left arm, and the pistol held in that hand dropped to the +ground. + +Confident in his swordsmanship, he awaited the onslaught of the two +marauders. The swords clashed, and at the second pass one of them +fell back, run through the body. The other, shouting for aid, stood +on the defensive. Fergus heard the rush of heavy steps coming down +the staircase and, just as three other men rushed into the room, he +almost clove his opponent's head in two, with a tremendous blow +from his claymore. + + +[Illustration: Two of the newcomers fired hastily--and both missed] + + +Two of the newcomers fired their pistols hastily--both missed--then +rushed at him with their swords; and as he was hotly engaged with +them the third, who was the sentry who had been placed over the +women, advanced slowly, with his pistol pointed, with the intention +of making sure of his aim. He paused close to the combatants, +waiting for an opportunity to fire between the shifting figures of +his comrades; when a white figure, after peering in at the door, +ran swiftly forward and threw herself on his back, hurling him +forward to the ground, his pistol exploding as he fell. + +One of the others started back at the sound, and as he did so +Fergus ran him through the body. He then attacked his remaining +opponent, and after a few passes laid him dead beside his comrade. +Picking up his own fallen pistol, Fergus blew out the brains of the +soldier, who was struggling to free himself from the girl's weight, +and then helped her to her feet. + +"Well done, my brave girl!" he said. "You have saved my life. Now +run and tell those wenches to stop screaming, and to come and help +their mistress. These scoundrels are all killed, and there is +nothing more for them to be alarmed at." + +Then he ran to the girl on the sofa, cut her cords with a dagger, +and freed her from the gag. As he did so, she leapt up and ran to +her mother's side; while Fergus, kneeling by the gentleman who had +fallen before he had entered, turned him over and, laying his ear +over his heart, listened intently. + +"He is alive," he said. "His heart beats, but faintly. Tell the +maids to fetch some cordial." + +The women were coming in now, some crying hysterically, some +shrieking afresh at the sight of the bodies that were strewn about +the room. + +"Silence!" Fergus shouted sternly. "Now, while one runs to fetch +some cordial, do three others come here, and aid me to lift your +master gently on to this couch." + +The maid who had overthrown the soldier at once came forward to his +assistance. + +"Now, Truchen and Lisa," the young girl said, stamping her foot, +"come at once. + +"Do you, Caroline, run and fetch the stand of cordials from the +dining room." + +The two women approached timidly. + +"Now," Fergus said, "get your arm under his shoulders, on your +side, and I will do the same. One of you others support his head +when we lift, the other take his feet." + +So, gently he was raised and laid on the couch. By the time this +was done, the woman returned with a bottle of spirits. + +"Now," he said, "water and a glass." + +The young girl ran and fetched a carafe of water and a tumbler, +standing on a table by the wall. Her hands shook as she handed it +to Fergus. + +"Are you sure that he is not dead, sir?" she asked, in a hushed +voice. + +"Quite sure. I fear that he is grievously wounded, but he certainly +lives. Now, get another glass and put some spirits in and fill it +up with water, and make your mother drink it, as soon as you have +roused her from her faint." + +Fergus now gave all his attention to the wounded man, poured two or +three spoonfuls of strong spirits and water between his lips, and +then proceeded to examine his wounds. He had three. One was a very +severe cut upon the shoulder. His left arm had been broken by a +pistol bullet, and he had a dangerous sword thrust in the body. + +Under Fergus' direction the servant had cut off the doublet and, +after pouring some more spirits down the wounded man's throat, he +bade one of the other women fetch him some soft linen, and a sheet. +When these arrived he made a pad of the linen, and bound it over +the wounded man's shoulder with some strips torn from the sheet. +Then he sent for some straight strips of wood, cut them to the +right length, wrapped some linen round them and, straightening the +arm, applied them to it and, with the assistance of the girl, +bandaged it firmly. Then he placed a pad of linen over the wound in +the body, and passed bandages round and round. + +"Well done!" he said to his assistant. "You are a stout girl, and a +brave one." + +Then he turned to the others, who were crowded round their +mistress. + +"Stand back," he said, "and throw open the window and let the air +come to her. That will do. + +"The young lady and this girl will be enough, now. Do the rest of +you run off and get some clothes on." + +"She has opened her eyes once, sir." + +"She will come round directly, young lady. Pour a spoonful or two +from this glass between her lips. It is stronger than that you have +in your hand. She has had a terrible shock, but as soon as she +hears that your father is alive, it will do more for her than all +our services." + +"Will he live, sir?" + +"That I cannot say for certain, but I have great hopes that he will +do so. However, I will send a surgeon out, as soon as I get to the +city." + +The lady was longer in her swoon than Fergus had expected, and the +servants had returned before she opened her eyes. + +"Now," he said, "do four of you lend me your assistance. It would +be well to carry this sofa with your master into the next room; and +then we will take your mistress in there, too, so that she will be +spared seeing these ruffians scattered about, when she comes to +herself." + +The doors leading to the adjoining apartment were opened, candles +lighted there, and the wounded man carried in on his sofa. + +"And now for your mistress. It will be easier to lift her out of +the chair, and carry her in bodily." + +This he did, with the assistance of two of the servants. + +"Now," he said to the young girl, "do you stay by her, my brave +maid. I think she will recover in a minute or two. Her eyelids +moved as I brought her in. I will look round and see about things. + +"Were these the only two men in the house?" he asked the other +women, as he joined them on the landing. + +"No, sir. There were six men. The other four have gone to bed, but +the two outside always waited up till the count and countess +retired." + +"Where are their rooms?" he asked, taking a candle. + +One of the women led him upstairs. As he expected, he found the +four men lying dead. One had apparently leapt up as the door was +opened, and the other three had been killed in their beds. + +"Where can I get help from?" + +"There are the men at the stables. It is at the back of the house, +three or four hundred yards away." + +"Well, take one of the other women with you, and go and rouse them. +Tell them to dress and come here, at once." + +He now went down to the gate, undid the fastening, and then led his +horse up to the house. In a few minutes the stablemen arrived. He +ordered them to carry the bodies of the six marauders out, and lay +them in front of the house. When they had done so, they were to +take those of the servants and place them in an outhouse. Then he +went upstairs again. + +"The countess has recovered, sir," one of the women said. + +"Tell her that I will send one of the army surgeons down, at once. +But first, bandage my arm. It is but a flesh wound, I know; but I +am feeling faint, and am sure that it is keeping on bleeding. + +"Here, my girl," he said to the one who had before assisted, "I can +trust to you not to faint." + +With her assistance he took off his coat, the arm of which was +saturated with blood. + +"You had better cut off the sleeve of the shirt," he said. + +This was done, and the nature of the wound was seen. A ball had +ploughed through the flesh three inches below the shoulder, +inflicting a gaping but not serious wound. + +"It is lucky that it was not the inside of the arm," he said to the +girl, as she bandaged it up; "for had it been, I should have bled +to death in a very few minutes. + +"Has the count opened his eyes yet?" + +"No, sir. He is lying just as he was." + +"What is the gentleman's name?" + +"Count Eulenfurst." + +"You had better give me a draught of wine, before I start. I feel +shaken, and it is possible that riding may set my wound bleeding +again." + +Having drunk a goblet of wine, Fergus went down and mounted his +horse. As he did so, he said to one of the men: + +"Take a lantern, and go down to the spot where the road hither +turns off from the main road. A surgeon will be here in half an +hour, or perhaps in twenty minutes. He will be on the lookout for +you and your lantern." + +Events had passed quickly, and the church bell chimed a quarter to +eleven as he rode through the streets of Dresden. In three minutes +he drew up at the entrance to the royal quarters. As he dismounted, +Karl came out. + +"Keep the horse here, Karl," he said. "It may be wanted in a minute +or two again." + +"Are you hurt, sir?" the man asked as he dismounted, for he saw his +face by the light of the torches on each side of the gateway. + +"It is only a flesh wound, and of no consequence; but I have lost a +good deal of blood." + +He made his way up the staircase to the marshal's quarters. He was +feeling dizzy and faint, now. + +"Is the marshal in his room?" he asked. + +"He is in, sir, but--" + +"I would speak to him immediately. 'Tis a most urgent matter." + +The servant went in, a moment later held the door open, and said: + +"Will you enter, sir?" + +Fergus entered, and made the usual formal salute to the marshal. +Two or three other officers were in the room, but he did not heed +who they were, nor hear the exclamations of surprise that broke out +at his appearance. + +"I beg to report, sir, that the house of the Count Eulenfurst has +been attacked by marauders, belonging to one of the Pomeranian +regiments. The count is desperately wounded, and I pray that a +surgeon may be sent instantly to his aid. The house stands back +from the road, about half a mile from the north gate. A man with a +lantern will be standing in the road to guide him to it. My horse +is at the door below, in readiness to take him. I pray you to allow +me to retire." + +He swayed and would have fallen, had not the marshal and one of the +others present caught him, and laid him down on a couch. + +"He is wounded, marshal," the other officer said. "This sleeve is +saturated with blood." + +The marshal raised his voice, and called an attendant: + +"Run to the quarters of staff surgeon Schmidt, and ask him to come +here immediately, and to bring another of his staff with him, if +there is one in." + +In two minutes the king's chief surgeon entered, followed by +another of his staff. + +"First look to the wound of Cornet Drummond," the marshal said. "It +is in the arm, and I trust that he has only fainted from loss of +blood." + +The surgeons examined the wound. + +"It is in no way serious, marshal. As you say, he has fainted from +loss of blood. He must have neglected it for some time. Had it been +bandaged at once, it would only have had the consequence of +disabling his arm for a fortnight or so." + +The assistant had already hurried away to get lint and bandages. +Another voice now spoke. + +"Surgeon Schmidt, you will please at once mount Mr. Drummond's +horse, which is standing at the door. Ride out through the north +gate. When you have gone about half a mile you will see a man with +a lantern. He will lead you to the house of Count Eulenfurst, who +has been grievously wounded by some marauders. Surgeon Morfen will +follow you, as soon as he has bandaged Mr. Drummond's wounds. There +may be more wounded there who may need your care. + +"Major Armfeldt, will you order a horse to be brought round at once +for the surgeon, then hurry to the barracks. Order the colonel to +turn out a troop of horse instantly, and let him scour the country +between the north gate and the camp, and arrest every straggler he +comes across." + + + +Chapter 4: Promotion. + + +As soon as the bandage was applied and the flow of blood ceased, a +few spoonfuls of wine were poured down the patient's throat. It was +not long before he opened his eyes and struggled into a sitting +position. + +"I beg pardon, sir," he said faintly, as his eyes fell on the +marshal, who was standing just in front of him. "I am sorry that I +came into your apartments in this state, but it seemed to me--" + +"You did quite right, sir," said a sharp voice that he at once +recognized, while the speaker put his hand upon his shoulder, to +prevent him from trying to rise. "You were quite right to bring the +news here at once of this outrage; which, by heavens, shall be +punished as it deserves. Now drink a cup of wine, and then perhaps +you will be able to tell us a little more about it. Now don't be in +a hurry, but obey my orders." + +Fergus drank off the wine; then, after waiting a minute or two, +said: + +"Count Eulenfurst is sorely wounded, sire, but I cannot say whether +mortally or not. When I came away, he was still lying insensible. +His wife and daughter are, happily, uninjured." + +"Was anyone else hurt?" + +"Yes, sire, the six menservants who were sleeping in the house were +all killed--four in their beds, two while hastening from below to +assist their master." + +The king gave an exclamation of fury. + +"You said these men belonged to a Pomeranian regiment. Had they +left before you got there? But I suppose not, or else you would not +have been wounded. How was it that you heard of the attack?" + +"I had carried a despatch from the marshal to the camp, sire, and +was on my way back when I heard a pistol shot. The sound was faint, +for it came from a house a quarter of a mile away, and was fired +indoors; but the night was still, and fortunately some of the +windows were open. Thinking that some evil work was being done, I +rode straight for it, climbed the wall and, making my way on foot +to the house, happily arrived in time." + +"You saw the fellows, then? How was it that they suffered you to +escape with your life? They must have known that your evidence +would hang them all." + +"There were but six of them, sire; and they will need no hanging, +for they are all disposed of. Though had it not been for the +assistance of a brave servant maid, who threw herself upon the back +of one of them, my career would certainly have been terminated." + +"But who had you with you to help you?" the king asked. + +"I had no one but the maid, sire." + +"Do you mean to say, Mr. Drummond, that with your own hand you slew +the whole of the six villains?" + +"That was so, sire; but in respect to the one thrown down by the +girl, I had but to blow out his brains before he could gain his +feet." + +"Can you give us the particulars?" the king asked quietly. "If you +do not feel equal to it, we will wait till morning." + +"I can tell you now, sire. I am feeling better and stronger." + +And he related the incidents of the fight. + +"One with his pistol, Keith," the king said. "Four with his sword, +after his left hand was disabled, to say nothing of the sixth. + +"That is not a bad beginning for this aide-de-camp, gentlemen." + +"No, indeed, sire. It is a most gallant deed, though it was well +for him that he was able to dispose of the first three before the +others appeared on the scene." + +"It was a most gallant action, indeed," the king repeated; and a +hearty assent was given by the general officers standing round. + +"I congratulate you on your aide-de-camp, Keith," he went on. "A +man capable of killing, single handed, six of my Pomeranians is a +treasure. Do you see that his commission as lieutenant is given me +tomorrow to sign. + +"No, sit still, young sir. It is I who have to thank you, for so +promptly punishing these marauders, who would have brought disgrace +upon my army; and not you who have to thank me. Now, be off to your +bed." + +Two of the attendants were called in, and these assisted Fergus, +who was almost too weak to stand, to the apartment that he shared +with Lindsay. Keith himself accompanied them. Lindsay leapt out of +bed as they entered. + +"Don't ask any questions, Lindsay," the marshal said. "Drummond has +performed a very gallant action, and has been wounded and, as you +see, can scarce stand from loss of blood. He will be asleep as soon +as he lies down. You will hear all about it, in the morning." + +The marshal then returned to his apartment. The king was on the +point of leaving. + +"I have left orders," he said, "that as soon as either of the +surgeons returns, I am to be wakened and informed of the state of +Count Eulenfurst. He is a nobleman of distinction and character; +though, I believe, in no great favour at the court here since he +resigned his seat on the council, because he disapproved of the +resources of the state being wasted in extravagance, instead of +being spent in maintaining the army in proper condition. Should he +die, it will cause an extremely bad impression throughout Saxony." + +At daybreak the next morning, finding that the surgeons had not +returned, Keith despatched an officer to request them to furnish +him, at once, with a written report of the state of the count. He +returned in three-quarters of an hour, saying that the count had +just recovered consciousness; that two of his wounds were serious, +and the other very grave; but that having probed it, they were of +opinion that it might not prove fatal. The countess was completely +prostrated, and had gone from one fainting fit into another, and +required more attention than her husband. The rest of the household +were uninjured. + +Lindsay got up quietly and dressed without awaking Fergus. He was +disappointed at a despatch being at once handed to him to carry to +the Prince of Brunswick's army, which was ten miles away; and was +therefore obliged to mount and ride off, without obtaining any news +whatever as to the nature of Drummond's adventure. As he passed +through the camp of the Pomeranians, he saw the bodies of six +soldiers swinging from the bough of a tree, close to the camp. He +rode a little out of his way to discover the cause of this strange +spectacle. In front of them was erected a large placard of canvas, +with the words painted upon it: + +"Marauders killed in the commission of crime, and their bodies hung +by order of the king, as a lesson to anyone who ventures to break +the law against plundering." + +Then he rode on his way, and did not return until one o'clock. The +marshal was occupied. He therefore simply handed in the reply to +the despatch that he had carried, and immediately retired. + +"Is Mr. Drummond up?" he asked one of the attendants. + +"He is still in his room, sir. His servant is with him, and he is +taking food." + +He went straight to the room. Fergus was sitting up in a chair, +eating a basin of strong chicken broth. + +"This is a nice hour to be breakfasting, Lindsay," he said with a +smile. "I feel quite ashamed of myself, I can tell you; but I am +under orders. The doctor came here half an hour ago. I had just +woke and got out of bed, and was going to dress, when he told me +that I was not to do so. I might sit up to take breakfast, but was +to keep perfectly quiet for the rest of the day. He said I only +needed feeding up, that he would send me some strong broth, and +three hours later I was to have some soup and a pint of Burgundy; +and that if I obeyed his instructions, and ate and drank well, I +should be able to leave my room tomorrow; though of course, I +should not be fit for active service till my arm began to heal." + +"But what is it all about, Drummond? I was sent off to Brunswick's +camp, as soon as I got up, and have heard nothing about it; and the +marshal forbade me to speak to you, when you were brought in last +night. He merely said that you had done a very gallant action." + +"There was nothing very gallant in it, Lindsay; but it turned out +very fortunate." + +Then he gave a very brief account of the previous evening's events. + +"Well I should call that a gallant action, Drummond, if you don't. +It is no joke for one man to tackle six, and those not ordinary +marauders but Pomeranian soldiers. Of course, it was somewhat lucky +that you had rid yourself of three of them, before the other three +entered the room; and had it not been, as you say, for that girl, +things might have turned out differently. Still, that does not +affect the matter. It was a gallant business. + +"What happened when you came in?" + +"I don't know much about what happened. At first I made some sort +of report to the marshal, and then I believe I fainted. When I came +to, I found that they had bandaged up my shoulder, and poured some +wine down my throat. I felt very shaky at first, but I know that I +drank some wine, and was then able to give some sort of account of +what had happened. The king was there, then, and asked me +questions; but whether or not he was there, at first, I cannot say. +I have a vague idea that he told the marshal, too, that he promoted +me; but I am not quite sure about that, nor do I know how I got +here." + +"Well, if you are not mistaken about your step, I congratulate you +most heartily. It is seldom, indeed, that anyone gains one in six +weeks after his first appointment. I thought myself lucky, indeed, +in getting it after serving only two years and a half; but I got it +simply on nomination as one of the marshal's aides-de-camp. It is +customary to get promotion, on such appointment, if there has been +two or three years' previous service. + +"Well, you have drawn the first blood in this campaign, Drummond; +and have not been long in giving very striking proof that your +month's hard work in the fencing school has not been thrown away." + +The conversation was broken off by the entry of the marshal, +himself. + +"Pooh, pooh, Fergus!" he said, as the latter rose, "there is no +occasion for saluting in a bedroom. I am glad to see you looking so +much better. You could not have looked more ghastly, when you came +in yesterday evening, if you had been your own wraith. + +"There, lad," he said, handing him a parchment. "It is not usual to +have a new commission on promotion, but the king told me that he +had had it done, in the present case, in order that you might have +a record of the exploit for which you have been promoted. You will +see it is set down inside that, although but six weeks in service, +you were promoted to the rank of lieutenant for a deed of +extraordinary gallantry. You had attacked and killed, with your own +hand, six marauding soldiers; who had entered the chateau of Count +Eulenfurst, well-nigh murdered the count, killed six of his +servants, and were occupied in plundering the house. In token of +his thankfulness, that the life of so distinguished and enlightened +a nobleman had been saved by you; as well as of approbation for the +gallantry of your conduct, his majesty promoted you to the rank of +lieutenant. + +"You should keep that paper, Fergus, and pass it down to your +descendants, as an heirloom. I congratulate you, my boy, with all +my heart; and feel some satisfaction on my own account, for such an +action as this shows those who are inclined to grumble, at what +they may consider the favour shown to Scotchmen, that at any rate +the favour is not misplaced. A general order to the army has been +issued this morning saying that, some scoundrels, having disgraced +their uniform and brought discredit upon the army, by a murderous +and wicked attack upon the house of Count Eulenfurst, the king +reiterates and confirms his previous order that any man caught when +engaged in pillaging, or upon whose person any stolen goods are +found, will be summarily hung by the provost marshal, or by any +general officer before whom he may be brought. + +"The king himself has ridden to the count's chateau, this morning, +to make personal inquiries into his state, and to express his deep +regret at the outrage that has taken place. It is a politic action, +as well as a kind one. Of course, the event has occasioned great +excitement in the city." + +"And may I ask how the count is going on, sir?" + +"The last report of the surgeons is a favourable one. He has partly +recovered consciousness, and at any rate recognizes his daughter, +who has divided her time between his bedside and her mother's. The +latter has fallen into a deep sleep of exhaustion; but will, I +doubt not, recover. The girl came down into the hall when the king +called. She bore herself well, they tell me, and would have +retained her composure, had it not been for the king himself. She +came down the grand staircase, with four of her maids behind +her--for a notice had been sent, half an hour before of his +coming--prepared, no doubt, to meet a stiff and haughty king; but +though Frederick can be every inch a king, when he chooses, there +is, as you know, no kinder-hearted man alive. + +"He went forward bare-headed to meet her and, as she stopped and +curtsied low, he took her two hands and said: + +"'My poor child, I am sorry, more sorry than I can tell you, for +what has happened; and hope with all my heart that your father, +whom all respect and honour, will not be taken from you. No doubt +you look upon me as an enemy; but although compelled to come here, +because your king is leagued with those who intend to destroy me +and my country, I bear no ill will to the people; and have given +the strictest orders that my soldiers shall, in all respects, treat +them as firm friends. But unfortunately, there are scoundrels +everywhere. These men have been punished as they deserved, and the +whole army will join with me in deep regret at what has happened, +and in the fervent hope that your father's life will be spared. I +grieve, too, to hear that the countess, your mother, has suffered +so greatly from the shock; and hope soon to be able to express to +her, in person, the regret I feel for what has taken place.' + +"The kindness of his tone, in saying all this, broke her down more +than the words of the king. He saw that she was unable to speak. + +"'There, there, child,' he said. 'I know what you are feeling, and +that you are longing to go upstairs again, so I will say goodbye. +Keep up a brave heart. The surgeons have every hope that your +father will recover. And believe that you will always have a friend +in Frederick of Prussia.' + +"He kissed her on the cheek, and then turned and left the hall, +followed by his staff." + +Three days later the doctors were able to say confidently that, +unless some change occurred for the worse, they believed the count +would recover. On the fourth day, Fergus was sufficiently well to +mount his horse. The countess and her daughter had repeatedly asked +after him, and expressed their desire that he would come over, as +soon as he was well enough to do so. + +One of the aides-de-camp had gone over, twice a day, to inquire as +to the progress the count was making. A guard had been placed at +the gate, and an officer stationed there to receive the names of +the stream of visitors from the city, and to inform them that the +count was making satisfactory progress. By the doctor's orders, +even the count's most intimate friends were refused admission, as +absolute quiet was needed. + +Fergus dismounted at the gate, and walked up to the house. The maid +who opened the door recognized him at once. + +"Will you come in, sir?" she said, with a beaming face. "I will +tell the young countess you are here; and she will, I am sure, see +you." + +A minute later, the girl ran down the stairs. As she came forward +she stopped, with sudden shyness. Absorbed in her anxiety for her +father and mother, she had taken but little heed of the appearance +of the officer who had saved them. That he was kind as well as +brave she was sure for, although he had scarce spoken to her, the +gentleness with which he had moved her father and her mother from +the bloodstained room, and the promptness and decision with which +he had given his orders, had inspired her with absolute confidence +in him. She had a vague idea that he was young, but his face, +flecked here and there with blood, had left but a faint impression +upon her memory; and when she saw the young officer, in his +spotless and imposing uniform, she almost felt that there must be +some mistake. + +"Are you Lieutenant Drummond, sir?" she asked timidly. + +"I am, countess." + +"Was it really you who saved us, the other night?" + +"I had that good fortune," he said with a smile. + +She took the hand he held out, wonderingly, and then suddenly burst +into tears. + +"Oh, sir," she said, "is it possible that you, who look so young, +can be the one who came to our assistance, and killed those six +evil men? It seems impossible. + +"I have been so unhappy, since. I did not know that you were +wounded until the maids told me, afterwards. I had never even +asked. I let you go, without one word of thanks for all that you +have done for us. What must you have thought of me?" + +"I thought that you were a very courageous girl," Fergus said +earnestly; "and that, after what you had gone through, the sight of +your father as you believed dying, and your mother in such a state, +you were wonderfully calm and composed. It would have been strange, +indeed, had you thought of anything else at such a time." + +"You are very good to say so, sir; but when I heard, from the +surgeons you sent, that you had fainted from loss of blood after +delivering your message, I felt that I should never forgive myself. +You had thought so much of us, and not of yourself. You had gone +about seeing to our comfort, and giving orders and arranging +everything, and all the time you yourself needed aid." + +"The wound was a mere trifle," he said, "and I scarce gave it a +thought, myself, until I began to feel faint from loss of blood. I +can assure you that the thought that you were ungrateful has never +once entered my head." + +"And now, will you please come up to see my mother, sir. She will +be most anxiously expecting you." + +They went upstairs together and, turning to the right on the top of +the stairs, entered a pretty apartment that was evidently the +countess's boudoir. + +"This is our preserver, mother," the girl said, as she entered. + +The countess, who was advancing towards the door, stopped in +surprise. She had been able, from her daughter, to gain no idea of +the age of their rescuer; but the maids had all asserted that he +was quite young. As he was, for so the surgeons had told her, one +of Marshal Keith's aides-de-camp, she had pictured to herself a +fierce soldier; and the sight of this youth, with his smooth +pleasant face, surprised her, indeed. + +"Yes, mother, it is himself," the girl said. "I was as surprised as +you are." + +"I have no words to thank you, sir, for the most inestimable +service which you have rendered us," the countess said warmly, as +she held out her hand. "Assuredly my husband would have died, had +aid been delayed but a few minutes. As to my daughter and myself, +they would probably have killed us, to prevent our ever recognizing +or giving evidence against them. They only spared our lives, for a +time, in order to learn where our jewels were kept. This was but a +comparative trifle, though the jewels are precious, and there are +none more valuable in Saxony. I have no doubt that after stripping +the house of its valuables they would have buried them, intending +some day to recover them; and would then have fired the house, in +order to conceal all evidence of the crime that had been committed. +It seemed to me wonderful, before, that one man should, single +handed, have attacked and slain them; but now that I see you, it +seems almost a miracle that you performed in our favour." + +"It was no great feat, madam. I have the good fortune to be a fair +swordsman; and soldiers, although they may know their military +drill, have little chance with one who can use his weapon well. +Then, too, I had fortunately but three to deal with at a time; and +even then, I should not have come off victorious had it not been +for the courage of the maid, who ran boldly in, sprang on the back +of one, and threw him to the ground, while he was waiting to get a +steady aim at me with his pistol. I assuredly owe my life to her." + +"The King of Prussia left twenty gold crowns for her, when he was +here, saying that it was payment for saving the life of one of his +officers; and you may be sure that we shall not be ungrateful to +her. Your death would have involved that of my husband, and us. The +king also ordered that inquiry should be made as to whether our men +who were killed had families dependent upon them; and that if so, +pensions were to be given to these, as their loss had been +occasioned by the evil deeds of some of his soldiers. It was very +thoughtful and kind, and my daughter seems quite to have fallen in +love with him. + +"I hope that in a few days my husband will be able to see you. He +does not know that you are here. If he did, I am sure that he would +wish to see you now; but the surgeons have insisted so strongly on +absolute quiet, that I dare not let him hear of your coming." + +"I am delighted to learn that he is going on so well, madame. I +sincerely trust that he will not long remain an invalid." + +"I suppose you would not have recognized me?" the countess asked. + +"I should not, indeed. Of course, I could do nothing to aid you, +and was chiefly occupied by the count. But indeed, you were then so +pale that I might well be excused for not knowing you again." + +The countess was a very handsome woman, of some seven or eight and +thirty, with a noble figure and a gracious air; and bore no +resemblance to the almost distraught woman, with her hair falling +over her face, whom he had seen before. + +"I am not a coward, Mr. Drummond," she said, "and when those +villains first ran in and attacked my husband, I struggled +desperately with the two who seized me; until I saw him drop, as I +believed, dead. Then my strength suddenly left me, and I should +have fallen to the ground, had the men not thrown me back into the +chair. I have a vague recollection of seeing Thirza, who had +retired for the night but a minute or two previously, carried in +bound and gagged. They asked me several questions, but I could not +reply; and I think they learned from the frightened servants where +the family jewels were kept. The clashing of swords and the firing +of pistols roused me a little, and after it was all over, and I +heard you say that my husband was still living, my heart gave one +bound, and I knew nothing more of what happened until next day." + +After chatting for a short time longer Fergus took his leave, well +pleased to have got through a visit he had somewhat dreaded. + +The king remained for nearly a month at Dresden, engaged in +carrying on negotiations with the Elector. By this delay he lost +most of the advantages that his sudden movement had given him; but +he was most anxious to detach Saxony and Poland from the +confederacy against him, as he would then be able to turn his +attention wholly to Austria, aided by the Saxons, while the Poles +would aid his army in the east to keep the Russians in check. The +Elector of Saxony--who was also King of Poland--however, was only +negotiating in order to give time for Austria to gather an army in +Bohemia; and so to relieve the Saxons, who were watched by the +eastern column, which had crossed the defiles into Bohemia and +taken post near Koeniggraetz; while that of Prince Maurice of +Brunswick pushed forward farther, to threaten their line of retreat +from the west. + +The king at last became convinced that the King of Poland was but +trifling with him, and in the last week of September started to +take the command of the centre, which was facing the entrance to +the defile, at Pirna. Marshal Keith had been sent, a week after +Fergus was wounded, to assume the command of the western column, +hitherto commanded by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. + +Fergus remained behind for ten days, at the end of which time he +felt perfectly fit for service again. He still carried his arm in a +sling, but a generous diet and good wine had filled his veins +again, and upon the day the king left he rode with Karl to rejoin +the marshal. + +He had been several times over to the chateau, and had on the last +occasion seen the count; who, although still terribly weak, was now +out of danger, and able to sit on a couch, propped up by pillows. +His thanks were as earnest as those of the countess had been and, +having heard that Fergus was to start on the following morning to +join the army on the frontier, he said to him: + +"There is no saying how far your king may carry his arms, nor where +you may find yourself. The countess will, therefore, write letters +addressed to intimate friends at various large towns; telling them +that you have placed us under a vast obligation, and praying them +to do, for our sake, all in their power for you, under whatever +circumstances you may arrive there. She will write them on small +pieces of paper, each with its name and address on the back, so +that they will make a small and compact packet, not much bigger +than an ordinary letter. + +"I trust that when you return to Dresden, lieutenant, I shall be +able, myself, to do my best to prove my gratitude for your +services." + +After taking leave of the count, his wife, and daughter, Fergus +rode back to the royal quarters. As Karl took his horse, he said: + +"Herr lieutenant, I know not how we are going to manage." + +"In what way, Karl?" + +"Two magnificent horses, complete with saddlery, holsters, and +pistols, arrived here half an hour since. The man who brought them +said they were from Count Eulenfurst, and handed me this note: + +"'Pray accept the horses we send you, as a feeble token of our +gratitude. May they, by their speed and staunchness, carry you +unharmed through dangers well nigh as great as those you faced for +us.'" + +Fergus walked by the side of the soldier as he led the horse round +to the stable. + +"There, sir," Karl said, pointing to a pair of splendid animals; +"they are fit for a king." + +"'Tis a noble gift, and indeed, I doubt whether the king himself +has such horses in his stables. The question is, what is to be done +with them? My present charger is an excellent one and, as a gift of +the marshal, I could not part with it. As to the others, it is out +of the question that I can take both. It would be altogether +contrary to rules. I am entitled to forage for two horses--that is, +when forage is to be had. + +"Ah! I see what had best be done. Come to my room with me. I will +give you a letter to the count." + +He wrote as follows: + +"Dear Count Eulenfurst, + +"I cannot refuse the noble gift that you have made me, and thank +you and the countess for it, with all my heart. At present, +however, it places me in a difficulty. Aides-de-camp are allowed to +take only two horses; indeed, my orderly could not take with him +more than one led horse. The animal I have was the gift of Marshal +Keith. That being so, you will see that I could not part with it. +The only solution, therefore, that occurs to me is to beg you to +add to your kindness, by taking care of the one that I send back to +you by the bearer, until I return to Dresden; or find means to send +for it, in the event of one of the others being killed. + +"The only fault with your gifts is that they ought to be kept for +state reviews, or grand occasions; for it seems wrong to take such +noble creatures into the midst of a heavy fire. I am sure that I +shall feel more nervous, lest a ball should injure my horse, than I +shall do for my own safety." + +When he had folded and sealed this, he handed it to Karl, who had +followed shortly after him. + +"I am sending back one of the horses, Karl, and asking the count to +take care of it for me, until I return or send for it. Do you see +any difference between them?" + +"It would be hard to pick the best, lieutenant. They both struck me +as being perfect in all points--both are four years old." + +"Well then, you must take one at random, Karl. Had one been better +than the other, I should have left it behind. As it is, take +whichever you choose." + +"The man who brought them told me, sir, that both were bred on the +count's estates; and that he prided himself on having some of the +best blood in Europe, both for beauty and stamina. He thought this +pair were the pick of the stables." + +"I almost wish I could leave them both behind, but I could not do +so without hurting the feelings of the count and countess. But they +are too good for an aide-de-camp's work." + +"I don't think anything can be too good for that, sir. An +aide-de-camp wants a horse that will stop at nothing; and sometimes +he has to ride for his life, pursued by the enemy's cavalry. You +will be the envy of the division, on one of those horses." + +Karl returned an hour later with a message from the countess, +saying that she could not disturb her husband, who was then +resting, but that she understood Mr. Drummond's difficulty, and +they should be very glad to take care of the horse for him, until +he wanted it. + +"You did not see the countess, I suppose, Karl?" + +"Yes, sir, I saw her. She had me taken upstairs to her room. She +asked if I was your servant, and when I said yes, she told me that +she hoped I would take great care of you. I said that was my duty. + +"'Nevertheless, do more than your duty,' she said. 'His life is a +very precious one to us. + +"'Is it not, Thirza?' + +"The young lady nodded. + +"'Here are five gold crowns for yourself,' she went on, handing me +the money. 'They may help to make your bivouac more comfortable. + +"'And now,' she said, 'there is something else, but I do not wish +you to tell your master.' + +"What am I to do, your honour?" + +"You had better keep it to yourself, Karl," Fergus laughed. "I +daresay I shall hear of it, someday." + +"Very well, lieutenant, then that is all there is to report." + +The next morning Fergus started early. Two days previously, a +Prussian governor had been appointed to Dresden, and three thousand +men were left under his command. Similar appointments were also +made to all the fortified towns in Saxony; for now that the +negotiations were broken off, and the King of Poland had declared +finally for the Confederates, Saxony was to be treated as a +conquered country. Nevertheless, strict injunctions were given that +all cattle, wheat, and other provisions taken for the use of the +garrisons, or for storing up in fortresses whence it might be +forwarded to the army, were to be paid for; and that any act of +pillage or ill treatment was to be most severely punished, as the +king was still most anxious to gain the goodwill of the mass of the +population. + + + +Chapter 5: Lobositz. + + +In Dresden itself, the feeling was far from hostile to the +invaders. The discontent with the vicious government had been +extreme, and the imposts now levied were less onerous than those +which had been wasted in profusion and extravagance. The conduct of +the troops had been admirable; and in the case of Count Eulenfurst, +the personal visit of the king to express his regrets, and his +generosity to the families of the servants, had produced a most +excellent effect. + +As Fergus rode into the camp, mounted on his new acquisition, it at +once caught the marshal's eye. + +"Why, Fergus," he exclaimed, "have you been robbing the King of +Poland's stables? That is a noble animal, indeed." + +"It was a present from Count Eulenfurst, marshal," Fergus replied. +"He sent me two, but one of them he is going to keep for me until I +return; for I could not part with Rollo, who is as good a horse as +anyone can wish to ride; and I know his paces." + +"You are right, lad, for it is always well to accustom yourself to +a horse, before you want to use it in action; but in faith, it will +be a pity to ride such a horse as that through the heat of a +battle." + +"I feel that, sir; but as the count, in his letter with the horses, +said that he hoped they would carry me safely through dangers as +grave as those I had encountered at his house, I feel that he would +be hurt if, on my return, I admitted to him that I had saved it for +show occasions." + +"You are right," Keith said approvingly; "but that is the more +reason that you should accustom yourself to it, before you use it +for such work; as horse and rider should be as one on the field of +battle and, unless the horse has absolute confidence in its rider, +it is very difficult to keep it steady under fire." + +"I suppose we shall not see the king for some time, marshal," +Fergus said later, as Keith was chatting with him. + +"On the contrary, he will be with us tomorrow. He rides today to +have another look at the Saxon position, and to give his orders +there. He will, tomorrow morning, join us. It is we who are likely +to have the first fighting; for the Austrians must come to the +relief of the Saxons, who are shut up, as in a trap, by our +divisions. They made a great mistake in not retiring, at once, into +Bohemia; which they could have done without difficulty, had they +lost no time. + +"There is no greater mistake than shutting a large force up, either +in a fortress or an intrenched camp, unless that fortress is an +absolute obstacle to an enemy. This is not the case with Pirna. The +mountains can be crossed at many other points and, by leaving five +or six thousand men in a strong position at the end of each defile, +we could disregard them altogether, and march on southward. They +have already been three weeks there, and we believe that they +cannot hold out very much longer. However, it is probable that they +may be able to do so until an Austrian force comes up, and tries to +relieve them. + +"From what we hear, two armies have already entered Bohemia, and we +may expect that our first battle will not be far distant." + +"Do we block the only line of retreat, sir?" Fergus asked. + +"No, indeed. We do not absolutely close the direct road, but our +position, and that of Marshal Schwerin facing Koeniggraetz, so +menaces their line of retreat that they dare not venture from their +shelter; and our cavalry render it impossible for any supplies to +be thrown in, unless the convoy is supported by an army. There are, +we know, paths across the hills by which infantry might effect a +passage; but as there is nowhere a place for them to retire to, we +should easily overtake them and force them to surrender. + +"No, their only hope is in the coming of relief." + +A few hours later, the king himself rode in. In the evening, orders +were issued that a force of cavalry and infantry were to march at +daylight, and that the rest of the army were to follow, two hours +later. It was soon known that the king had received news that +Marshal Browne--an Irish officer of great distinction, who +commanded the Austrian force gathered at Budin, on the Eger--was +expecting the arrival of artillery and pontoons from Vienna, in the +course of a day or two, and was preparing to cross the river. It +was evident, then, that his intention was to relieve the Saxon +army, in the first place. + +The roads through the defiles were very heavy and difficult, but +that afternoon the advance force reached Termitz. Late in the +evening the rest of the army arrived there. + +A squadron of cavalry had been sent off, as soon as the vanguard +arrived, to ascertain the movements of the enemy; and they +returned, at ten at night, with information that the Austrians had +crossed the Eger that day, and were to encamp at Lobositz. The army +at once moved on across the mountains and, after a very difficult +and fatiguing march, arrived near Lobositz; and lay down for some +hours in the order in which they had marched, taking up their +position as soon as it was light. + + +[Map: Battle of Lobositz] + + +The infantry were in two lines. Their left was posted on a steep +hill known as the Lobosch, part of whose lower slopes extended to +the village of Lobositz. A battery, with infantry supports, took +post on a hill called Homolka, which commanded the whole plain +between the two armies. The centre stretched across the valley +between those hills. + +On the low hill on which stood the little town, the Austrians had +thrown up intrenchments, and posted a very strong artillery force, +whose fire would sweep a greater portion of the Prussian position. +Except at this point, the ground between the two armies was low and +swampy. The Austrian force was greatly superior in numbers, +consisting of 72 squadrons of horse, 52 battalions of infantry, and +98 guns; while the Prussians had 55 squadrons, 26 battalions, and +102 guns. + +It was evident to both commanders that the village of Lobositz was +the decisive point; and indeed, the nature of the ground was such +as to render operations almost impossible, in the marshy plain +intersected by rivulets, which in many places formed large ponds. + +At seven in the morning the Prussian action began by a heavy fire +between the left, on the slopes of Lobosch, and 4000 Croats and +several battalions of Hungarians, scattered among the vineyards and +the stone walls dividing them. A heavy fog covered the whole +country and, until a full view could be obtained of the position of +the enemy, neither of the commanders deemed it prudent to move. + +At twelve o'clock, however, the fog began to clear up. The main +body of the Austrians was still invisible; and the king, seeing but +a comparatively small force in the plain near Lobositz, thought +that this must be the rear guard of the Austrians; who, he +imagined, having found the line by which they intended to succour +the Saxons occupied in force, had retired, having thrown up +batteries and left a strong force at Lobositz, to prevent the +Prussians from advancing. + +To ascertain this, twenty squadrons of cavalry were ordered to +advance; but on doing so, they were received by so tremendous a +fire from the batteries of the village, and from others at +Sulowitz, another village in the plain on their right, that they +fell back with much loss, pursued by the Austrian cavalry. By the +time they had resumed their positions behind the infantry, the fog +had entirely lifted; and the king and Marshal Keith obtained a full +view of the Austrian position, from the spot where they had +stationed themselves on the hill. They agreed that no attack could +be made against the enemy's centre or left, and that they could be +assailed only on their right. + +The troops on the Lobosch Hill were, therefore, largely reinforced; +and the whole army advanced, inclining towards the left so as to +attack Lobositz from the side of the plain, as well as from that of +the mountain. A tremendous artillery fire, from the guns on the +hills, heralded the advance. + +The troops on the Lobosch Hill made their way forward rapidly. The +ground was so steep that they commanded a view down into the +vineyard, and their fire was so heavy that the Croats and +Hungarians fell, as fast as they raised their heads above the stone +walls to fire; and although General Browne reinforced them by some +of the best Austrian infantry, they were rapidly driven down +towards Lobositz. At the foot of the hill they were supported by +several more battalions, brought from the Austrian centre. General +Lacy, who commanded these, was wounded. + +The Prussians halted at the foot of the slope and were reformed; +having fallen into some disorder, from the irregular nature of the +ground over which they had been fighting. The guns were brought +forward, so as to cover their next advance; while a very strong +force was sent to support the batteries on the Homolka Hill, so as +to check the enemy's centre and left, should they attempt any +movement across the plain. + +In the meantime, Marshal Browne was reinforcing the defenders of +Lobositz with the whole of his right wing. The village was defended +with desperate bravery but, owing to the position, the king was +able to reinforce the assailants very much more rapidly than the +Austrian commander could bring up his distant troops. The Prussian +artillery concentrated their fire upon the place, and set it in +flames from end to end; when its defenders were forced to abandon +it, and retreat with precipitation on their cavalry. + +In order to cover their withdrawal, the Austrian left moved down to +the village of Sulowitz, and endeavoured to pass the dam over a +marshy rivulet in front of it; but the fire from the battery on the +Homolka rendered it impossible for them to form, and also set that +village on fire, and they were therefore called back. The Austrian +centre moved to its right, and occupied the ground behind Lobositz +as soon as the defenders of the village had fallen back, and then +Marshal Browne formed up his whole force afresh. + +His position was now as strong as it had been when the battle first +began, for the Prussians could not advance except between the +swampy ground and the river; and would have been exposed, while +doing so, to the fire of batteries both in front and in flank. The +Austrians were still greatly superior in numbers, and all the +advantages that had been gained might have been lost by a renewal +of the action. The total loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners on +the part of the Austrians was 3308. That of the Prussians was about +the same. + +Although indecisive--and indeed, claimed as a victory by both +parties--the consequences showed that the advantage lay with the +Prussians. Marshal Browne's object had been to relieve the Saxons, +Frederick's to prevent this; and for the moment he had wholly +succeeded. + +On the other hand was the fact that Marshal Browne had drawn off +his army practically intact, and that it was impossible for the +king to winter in Bohemia, as he would have done had the Austrian +army been defeated and dispersed; and the latter were still in a +position to make a fresh attempt to rescue the Saxons. + +To prevent this, the king despatched the Duke of Bevern with a +large force, as if to get between the Austrians and the river Eger. +This movement had the desired effect. Marshal Browne at once fell +back, recrossed the river, and took up his position at his former +camp at Budin. From there he opened communications with the Saxons, +and it was arranged that these should pass the Elbe; and that he, +with 8000 men, should also do so, and march to meet them. + +The Saxons, however, were detained, owing to the terrible weather +and the enormous difficulty of the defiles, and only crossed on the +13th. In the meantime the Prussians had taken up positions to cut +off the Saxon retreat, and after crossing they found themselves +hemmed in, and the roads so commanded by newly-erected batteries +that, being utterly exhausted by fatigue and hardships, they had no +resource but to surrender. + +The terms enforced were hard. The officers were allowed to depart, +on giving their parole not to serve again, but the whole of the +rank and file were incorporated in the Prussian army. + +Fergus Drummond and Lindsay stood by their horses, with the other +members of the staff, some short distance behind the king and +Marshal Keith, as they anxiously endeavoured to discover the +whereabouts and intentions of the Austrian army; while the crack of +musketry, between the Croats and the troops who were gradually +pressing them down the hill, continued unabated. + +"This is slow work, Drummond," Lindsay said, as hour after hour +passed. "I should not like to have anything to do with the king, +just at present. It is easy to see how fidgety he is, and no +wonder. For aught we know there may be only three or four thousand +men facing us and, while we are waiting here, the whole Austrian +army may have crossed over again, and be marching up the river bank +to form a junction with the Saxons; or they may have gone by the +defiles we traversed the last two days, and may come down into +Saxony and fall on the rear of our camp watching Pirna, while the +Saxons are attacking in front. No wonder his majesty paces +backwards and forwards like a wild beast in a cage." + +From time to time an aide-de-camp was sent off, with some order +involving the movement of a battalion farther to the right or left, +and the addition of a few guns to the battery on Homolka Hill. +Fergus had taken his turn in carrying the orders. He had, two days +before, abandoned his sling; and scarcely felt any inconvenience +from the wound, which indeed would have been of slight consequence, +had it not been for the excessive loss of blood. + +"These movements mean nothing," Lindsay said, as he returned from +one of these rides. "The marshal makes the changes simply for the +sake of doing something--partly, perhaps, to take the king's +attention off this confounded delay; partly to interest the troops, +who must be just as restless and impatient as we are." + +The messages were taken, alternately, by the king's aides-de-camp +and the marshal's. + +At length, as the fog began to lift, the interest in the scene +heightened. The king and Keith talked long and earnestly together, +as they watched the village of Lobositz. + +"They have got some strong batteries there," Lindsay said; "but as +far as one can see, there does not appear to be any large body of +troops. I suppose it is meant that the troops on the slopes shall +retire there, and make a strong stand. I am bound to say that it +looks very much as if Browne had only left a strong guard here, to +keep us from issuing from this defile; and that his whole army +moved away last night, and may now be some thirty miles away, on +their march towards Saxony." + +As the fog lifted still more they could see the stream running +right across the plain, and the little village of Sulowitz on its +bank, apparently still and deserted. Presently Keith wrote an order +on a tablet, and Lindsay was sent off with it, to the general +commanding the cavalry. + +"Something is going to be done at last, Drummond," he said, as he +mounted. "It is an order to the cavalry." + +An order was then despatched to the battery on Homolka Hill, and to +the batteries on the left. Two more battalions of infantry then +moved up, to press the Croats more quickly down the hill. + +Fergus watched Lindsay, and saw him ride up to the general. Several +officers at once galloped off. There was a movement among the +cavalry, and then twenty squadrons passed out through the intervals +between the brigades of infantry, and trotted out through the mouth +of the valley. They went on without interruption, until abreast of +Lobositz; and then a great number of men ran suddenly up, from the +houses of the village, to the batteries. + +A minute later some thirty guns poured their fire into the Prussian +cavalry; while at the same moment the guns of a heavy battery, +hitherto unseen, poured in their fire from Sulowitz on their left +flank; while from rising ground, not visible behind it, came the +roar of thirty more pieces. + +So rapidly had the aides-de-camp been sent off, that Fergus was the +only one remaining available. The king spoke a few words to the +marshal, and then said to Fergus: + +"Ride, sir, with my orders to the officer commanding the cavalry +out there, and tell him to retire at once." + +Fergus ran back to where Karl was holding his horse. + +"Follow me, Karl," he said, as he sprang into the saddle; and then +rode rapidly down the steep hill and, as soon as he reached the +valley, dashed off at a headlong gallop. + +"I have orders, Karl, to recall the cavalry, who will be destroyed +unless they return. Should I fall, carry the order to their +commander." + +The din was now prodigious. The whole of the Prussian batteries had +opened on Lobositz and Sulowitz, and between the thunder of the +guns came the incessant crackling of musketry on the hill to his +right. + +Passing through the infantry, Fergus dashed across the plain. He +was mounted on the horse the marshal had given him, as the other +was not yet accustomed to stand fire. The noble animal, as if +delighted to be on level ground again, and excited by the roar of +battle, carried him along at the top of its speed without any need +of urging. Fergus knew that on the heights behind the king and +Keith would be anxiously watching him, for the peril of the cavalry +was great; and the concussion of the guns was now causing the fog +to lift rapidly and, as he rode, he could dimly make out dark +masses of men all along the rising ground behind Sulowitz, and knew +that the Austrian cavalry might, at any moment, sweep down on the +Prussians. + +He was drawing abreast of Lobositz, when suddenly a squadron of +cavalry dashed out from the village. Their object was evidently to +cut him off, and prevent any message that he might bear reaching +the Prussian cavalry, which were now halted half a mile ahead. +Their officers were endeavouring to reform them from the confusion +into which they had fallen, from the speed at which they had ridden +and the heavy losses they had sustained. + +He saw, at once, that the Austrians would cross his line, and +reined in his horse to allow Karl to come up to him. Had not the +trooper been exceptionally well mounted, he would have been left +far behind. As it was, while pressing his charger to the utmost, he +was still some fifty yards in rear of Fergus. + +As soon as he came up, the latter said: + +"We must cut our way through the Austrians. Ride close to me. We +will ease our horses a little, until we are within fifty yards, and +then go at them at full speed. If I fall and you get through, carry +the orders to retire to the general commanding the cavalry." + +The Austrian cavalry had formed up in two troops, one twenty yards +behind the other, and each in line two deep, extending across the +road by which Fergus was riding. Seeing, by the speed at which he +was travelling, that the Prussian staff officer had no intention of +surrendering, the Austrian in command gave the order to charge, +when they were some fifty yards away. + +"Now, Karl, boot to boot. Go right at them!" + +And with pistols in their left hands, and their swords in their +right, they sent their horses at full speed against the enemy. +These had scarcely got into motion when, like a thunderbolt, Fergus +and his orderly burst down upon them. + + +[Illusgtration: Not a blow was struck, horse and rider went +down before them] + + +The shock was irresistible. Their horses were much heavier and more +powerful than those of the Austrians, and their weight and impetus +carried all before them. Not a blow was struck. Horse and rider +went down before them, or were swept aside. They were scarcely +conscious that they were through, before they encountered the +second line. + +Here the fight was much more severe. Fergus cut down two of his +opponents and, with a pistol shot, rid Karl of an antagonist who +was pressing him hard; and after a minute of wild confusion they +were through the line, and riding at headlong speed towards the +Prussians. Pistols cracked out behind them, but before the +Austrians had time to turn and aim they were already fifty yards +away, and going at a speed that soon left their pursuers behind. As +soon as the latter saw this they drew off, and trotted back to +Lobositz. + +Fergus rode up to the officer commanding the cavalry. + +"I bear the king's orders to you, general, to retire at once with +your command." + +It was time, for a body of Austrian cavalry, of much greater +strength, could be seen galloping towards them from the high ground +half a mile distant. In half a minute the Prussians were in motion +but, as they returned, the storm of fire from the two villages +burst out again with redoubled violence. Men and horses rolled over +but, closing up quickly, the squadrons swept on. + +The general remained stationary until his last squadron thundered +by, and then galloped forward again and took his place at their +head. Fergus had followed him, when there was a sudden crash, and +he was thrown with tremendous force over his horse's head, and +there lay stunned with the shock. + +When he recovered he staggered to his feet, and saw that he was +surrounded by Austrian cavalry; these having halted just where he +fell, as pursuit of the Prussians was hopeless, and the balls from +the Prussian batteries were falling thick. + +"You are our prisoner, sir," an officer said to him. + +"So I see," Fergus said bitterly. "It is hard luck, just at the +beginning of the campaign." + +"It is the fortune of war," the Austrian said with a smile; "and +indeed, I don't think that you have any reason to grumble for, had +that shot struck a few inches farther back, it would have carried +off both your legs." + +A sharp order was now given to retire. One of the troopers was +ordered to give his horse to Fergus, and to mount behind a comrade; +and they rode back to the Austrian main position, on the rising +ground. Fergus was at once taken to the marshal in command of the +Austrians. + +"What is your name, sir?" the latter asked. + +"Fergus Drummond. I have the honour to be an aide-de-camp on +Marshal Keith's staff." + +"A Scotchman, I suppose?" the marshal said, breaking into English. + +"Yes, sir." + +"What force is there opposed to us?" + +"That I cannot say, sir. I only joined the army two days ago, and +have been on the march ever since." + +"Who is its commander?" + +"Marshal Keith, sir; but the king himself is with it." + +"I will see that you are made comfortable, presently, Mr. Drummond. + +"Captain Wingratz, will you conduct this officer to the rear, and +place a couple of soldiers to see that he is not annoyed or +interfered with, in any way?" + +Fergus was led away. Captain Wingratz called up two troopers and, +choosing an elevated spot of ground, told them to dismount and +allow no one to speak to the officer. + +"From here," he said courteously to Drummond, "you will get a view +of the field of battle." + +Fergus sat down on the grass, and remained a spectator of the fight +to the end of the day. He marked at once that the combat had rolled +down the hill, and that the Prussians were making their way in +force towards Lobositz. Then he saw heavy masses of infantry, from +the Austrian right, move forward to aid in its defence. For two +hours the battle raged round the village, the whole of the guns on +both sides aiding in the fight. Then volumes of smoke and flame +rose, and the Austrians were seen retiring. Sulowitz still kept up +a heavy fire, and he saw a strong body from the Austrian left move +down there; while the centre advanced to cover the retreat of the +defenders of Lobositz, and to check the advancing masses of the +Prussians; and he thought, for a time, that a general engagement +was about to take place. Then he saw the Prussian advance cease, +the roar of cannon gradually died away, and the battle was at an +end. + +For an hour he remained, apparently unnoticed, then Captain +Wingratz rode up with another officer. + +"I am sorry to have neglected you so long, Lieutenant Drummond; but +you see it was the fault of your own people, who have kept us so +busy. This is Lieutenant Kerr, a compatriot of yours, who will take +special charge of you." + +"I am sorry that our meeting cannot take place under more +favourable circumstances," Kerr said, holding out his hand. "It +might well have been the other way. + +"Now come with me to my tent. I have no doubt that you are hungry; +I can assure you that I am." + +The two walked together for about a quarter of a mile, the Austrian +officer having left as soon as he had introduced them. + +"There were three of us here this morning," Kerr said, as they +entered the tent. "The other two are missing. One I know is killed; +the other badly wounded, but whether he is dead or a prisoner I +cannot say. + +"By the way, are you not the officer who cut his way through the +squadron of our regiment, and went on and joined your cavalry, who +at once fell back? I was in Lobositz, myself. My squadron was not +ordered out. As I hear that you were found by our cavalry as they +followed the Prussians, it struck me that it might be you; although +from Lobositz we could only see that it was a staff uniform that +the officer wore." + +"Yes, it was I. I was carrying an order for the cavalry to retire." + +"That was what we supposed, as soon as you were seen coming down +the valley; and as it would have suited us much better for the +Prussian cavalry to have stayed where it was for a little longer, +the general sent out a squadron to intercept you. It was a splendid +thing to do, on your part. Of course, there were a number of us +watching from the earthworks, and I can assure you that there was a +general inclination to cheer as you cut your way through our +fellows. I am sure that if I had known that it was a countryman I +should have done it, though the action was at the expense of my own +regiment. + +"Our squadron suffered heavily as they rode back again, for that +battery from the Homolka turned its attention to them, as soon as +you had gone through. They had an officer and nearly thirty men +killed and wounded before they got back into shelter. + +"How long have you been out here?" + +"Only about two months." + +"Really! You are lucky in getting onto Keith's staff." + +"He is a cousin of my mother's," Fergus said. + +"And he made you lieutenant, and aide-de-camp, at once." + +"No. I was first a cornet, but I was promoted at Dresden. The king +had given strict orders about plundering, and it happened that I +came upon some marauders at their work, and had the good fortune to +rescue a gentleman of some importance from their hands; and the +king, who was furious at his orders being disobeyed, himself +promoted me. + +"I had been lucky enough to get myself wounded in the affair. As I +lost a good deal of blood, I looked no doubt a good deal worse than +I was, and I expect that had a good deal to do with my getting the +step." + +"Well, you are a lucky fellow. I was eight years a cornet before I +got promoted." + +"I think my bad luck, in getting captured, balances my good fortune +in being promoted so soon." + +"To some extent perhaps it does, but you will get the benefit when +you return. No doubt Fritz was watching you, as you rode. He must +have seen our cavalry coming down the slope, before the man in +command of your squadrons could have done so; and must have felt +that they were lost, unless his orders were received. He must have +been relieved, indeed, when he saw you reach them." + +This had indeed been the case. The king and marshal had both been +watching through their glasses the Prussian cavalry, and marked how +the ground behind them was dotted thickly with the bodies of horses +and men. + +"Will they never stop?" the king said impatiently. "These cavalry +men are always getting into scrapes with their impetuosity. Gorlitz +must have known that he was only sent forward to ascertain the +position of the Austrians, and not to fight their whole army. He +ought to have turned, as soon as that crossfire of their batteries +opened upon them." + +"He knew that your majesty and the whole army would be watching +him, sire," Keith said quietly; "and I fancy that, under such +circumstances, few cavalry men would draw rein till they had done +something worthy of themselves." + +At this moment the fog wreath moved away. + +"See," the king exclaimed, "there is a great body of Austrian +cavalry moving along behind Sulowitz. That rise behind the village +must hide them from our men. + +"Where is your messenger, Keith?" + +"There he goes, sire. He is well out of the valley now and, by the +pace he is riding at, he won't be long before he reaches them." + +"He won't reach them at all," the king said curtly, a minute later. +"See, there is a squadron of horse riding out from Lobositz, to cut +him off. No doubt they guess what his errand is." + +"I see them, sire, and he must see them, too. He is checking his +horse, for his orderly is coming up to him." + +"Then the cavalry will be lost," the king said. "The enemy's +batteries are playing havoc with them, and they will have the +Austrians down upon them in a few minutes. + +"Ah! I expect Gorlitz sees them now. Our men are halting, and +forming up. I suppose he means to charge the Austrians when they +come up, but there are three to one against him. He is lost." + +"There is hope yet, sire," Keith said, as he again turned his glass +on Fergus. "My aide-de-camp is going to charge the Austrian +squadron." + +"So he is!" the king exclaimed, lowering his glass, for the +distance was little more than half a mile from the spot where he +stood. "He must be mad." + +"It is possible he may do it, sire. His orderly is riding boot to +boot beside him. You know already that he is a good swordsman. He +will have the advantage that the enemy won't dream of his attacking +them, and the rate at which they are riding will help them through. + +"There he goes!" and he raised the glass again to his eye. "Bravo! +They are through the first troop, and still together. Now they are +at it. + +"There, sire, they are through the second troop. Bravo, Fergus!" + +The king made no remark until he saw the Austrian squadron draw +rein. Then he said: + +"Thank God, he has saved the cavalry! It was a glorious deed. +Marshal Keith, make out his commission as a captain, today." + +"He is very young, sire," the marshal said hesitatingly. + +"By Heaven, sir, I would promote him if he were an infant in arms!" +the king replied. "Why, Keith, the loss of half our cavalry would +have crippled us, and cavalry men are not made in a day. + +"There, he has reached them now. I see they are wheeling. Well and +quickly done! Yes, they won't be overtaken; but three minutes +later, and not a man would have come back. + +"Colonel Rogner," he said to one of the group of officers behind +him, "you will please ride down and meet the cavalry, when they +come in, and convey to Lieutenant Drummond my highest satisfaction +at the gallant manner in which he has carried out my orders. You +will also inform General Gorlitz that, in my opinion, he pushed his +reconnaissance much too far; but that I am well content with the +bravery shown by the troops, and at the manner in which he drew +them off on receipt of my order." + +In five-and-twenty minutes the colonel returned, and said: + +"I regret to say, your majesty, that Lieutenant Drummond is +missing. I have inquired among the officers and find that, as he +was following General Gorlitz, he and his horse suddenly pitched +forward and lay without movement. Evidently the horse was killed by +a cannon shot, but whether Mr. Drummond was also killed, they could +not say." + +"We must hope not," the king said warmly. "I would not lose so +gallant a young officer, for a great deal. + +"Keith, if we take Lobositz today, let a most careful search be +made, over the ground the cavalry passed, for his body. If it is +found, so much the worse. If not, it will be a proof that he is +either wounded or unhurt, and that he has been carried off by the +Austrian cavalry; who passed over the same ground as ours, and who +certainly would not trouble themselves to carry off his body." + + + +Chapter 6: A Prisoner. + + +The next morning a horse was brought round for Fergus, and he at +once started, under the escort of a captain and Lieutenant Kerr and +fifty troopers, with thirteen other officers taken prisoners at +Lobositz. Seven hundred rank and file had also been captured. +These, however, were to march under an infantry escort on the +following day. Fergus afterwards learned that sixteen officers, of +whom eleven belonged to the cavalry, had been killed; and +eighty-one officers and about eighteen hundred men wounded in the +desperate fighting at Lobositz. + +Fergus found that among the Austrians the battle of the previous +day was considered a victory, although they had lost their advanced +post at Lobositz. + +"I cannot say it seemed so to me," he said to the lieutenant, as +they rode away from the camp. + +"Why, we have prevented the king from penetrating into Bohemia." + +"But the king could have done that three days ago, without fighting +a battle," Fergus said; "just as Schwerin did at Koeniggraetz. +There would have been no need to have marched night and day across +the mountains, in order to give battle to an army nearly twice the +strength of his own. His object was to prevent you from drawing off +the Saxons, and in that he perfectly succeeded." + +"Oh, there are other ways of doing that! We had only to keep along +the other side of the Elbe until we faced Pirna, then they could +have joined us." + +"It sounds easy," Fergus laughed, "but it would not be so easy to +execute. These mountain defiles are terrible, and you may be sure +that the king will not be idle while you and the Saxons are +marching to meet each other. + +"However, it was a hard-fought battle, and I should think that our +loss must be quite as great as yours; for your artillery must have +played terrible havoc among our infantry, as they marched to the +assault of the village." + +"Yes. I hear this morning that we have lost about a hundred and +twenty officers killed and wounded, and about two thousand one +hundred and fifty men, and nearly seven hundred missing or +prisoners. What your loss is, of course, I can't say." + +"I cannot understand your taking so many prisoners," Fergus said. + +"A great many of them belong to the cavalry. You see, all who were +dismounted by the fire of our guns were captured when our horse +swept down." + +"Ah, yes! I did not think of that. I saw a good many men running +across the plain when I galloped out." + +Two of the officers belonged to the 3rd Royal Dragoon Guards, half +of which regiment had taken part in the reconnaissance; and both +their horses, like his own, had been shot under them. As soon as +they were brought up from the tents where they had been lodged, +they exchanged a cordial greeting with Fergus. He no longer +belonged to the regiment, as on his promotion he had been gazetted +from it on to the staff; but during the time he had drilled with +them, in Berlin, he had come to be well known to all of them. + +"I thought that it was you, lieutenant," one of them said. "I was +not far from you, when you charged through those Austrians. I was +unhorsed as we went forward, and was running back when I saw them +come out. There were a good many of us, and I thought their object +was to capture us. It was no use running, and I threw myself down, +in hopes they would think I had been knocked over. You passed +within thirty yards of me. Our guns opened so heavily on them, +after you had got through, that I thought it prudent to keep quiet +a little longer before I made a move; and the result was that the +Austrian cavalry, as it came along in the pursuit of our men, +picked me up. + +"Do you know where we are bound for?" + +"Prague in the first instance, but beyond that I cannot say. I +suppose it will depend a good deal on what takes place now. There +is no doubt the Saxons will have to surrender; and I suppose that, +anyhow, they will send us farther away, unless indeed there is an +exchange of prisoners." + +A long day's ride took them to Prague. The news of the battle had +been sent off the night before, and as it had been reported as a +victory, the inhabitants were in a state of great delight. Bonfires +blazed in the streets, church bells rang in triumphant peals, and +the whole population was abroad. The arrival of this party, with +prisoners, afforded a welcome confirmation of the news. + +There were a few yells and hoots, as they rode along in charge of +their escort; but as a rule the people stood silent, as if in +respect for their misfortunes, for most of the captives were +wounded. They were taken to the military prison, and comfortable +quarters assigned to them; and the wounds of those who required it +were redressed by a surgeon. There was a hearty parting between +Fergus and Kerr, as the latter, after handing over his prisoners, +turned to ride off with the escort to the barracks. + +"I start early tomorrow for the camp again," he said. "If you are +kept here, I am sure to see you again before long." + +Fergus shared a room with Captain Hindeman, an officer of the 3rd. + +"I don't think it at all likely we shall remain here," the latter +said. "It is more probable that we shall be sent to Olmuetz, or to +one of the smaller fortresses in Moravia. The war is, they will +think, likely to be confined to Bohemia until the spring; if indeed +the king does not have to stand on the defensive. I cannot help +thinking, myself, that we should have done better if we had let +things go on quietly till the spring. It is not probable that +Russia and Austria would have been more ready, then, than they are +now; and we should have had the whole summer before us, and might +have marched to Vienna before the campaign was over. Now they will +all have the winter to make their preparations, and we shall have +France, Austria, and Russia, to say nothing of Poland, on our +hands. It is a tremendous job even for Frederick to tackle." + +They remained for three weeks at Prague, and were then informed by +the governor that he had orders for them to be removed to Olmuetz. +Accordingly, the next day eight of the officers started on +horseback, under an escort. When they reached Bruenn they found +that they were to be separated, and the next morning Captain +Hindeman and Fergus were taken to the fortress of Spielberg. + +"An awkward place either to get in or out of, Drummond," the +captain said, as they approached the fortress. + +"Very much so," Fergus agreed. "But if I see a chance, I shall +certainly do my best to escape before spring." + +"I don't think there is much chance of that," the other said +gloomily. "If we had been left at Prague, or even at Bruenn, there +might have been some chance; but in these fortresses, where +everything is conducted on a very severe system, and they are +veritable prisons, I don't think that anything without wings has a +chance of getting away." + +As a rule, officers taken prisoners in war enjoyed a considerable +amount of liberty; and were even allowed to reside in the houses of +citizens, on giving their parole. The enforced embodiment of the +Saxons in the Prussian army had, however, excited such a storm of +indignation throughout Europe that it greatly damaged Frederick's +cause. It was indeed an unheard-of proceeding, and a most mistaken +one, for the greater part of the Saxons seized opportunities to +desert, as soon as the next campaign began. It was the more +ill-advised, since Saxony was a Protestant country, and therefore +the action alienated the other Protestant princes in Germany, whose +sympathies would have otherwise been wholly with Prussia; and it +was to no small extent due to that high-handed action that, during +the winter, the Swedes joined the Confederacy, and undertook to +supply an army of 50,000 men; France paying a subsidy towards their +maintenance, and the members of the Confederacy agreeing that, upon +the division of Prussia, Pomerania should fall to the share of +Sweden. Thus it may be said that the whole of Central and Northern +Europe, with the exception only of Hanover, was leagued against +Prussia. + +It was a result of this general outburst of indignation that, +instead of being kept in a large town and allowed various +privileges, the prisoners taken at the battle of Lobositz were +treated with exceptional severity, and confined in isolated +fortresses. Fergus and his companion were lodged in a small room in +one of the towers. The window was strongly barred, the floor was of +stone, the door massive and studded with iron. Two truckle beds, a +table, and two chairs formed the sole furniture. + +"Not much chance of an escape here," Captain Hindeman said, as the +door closed behind their guards. + +"The prospect does not look very bright, I admit," Fergus said +cheerfully; "but we have a proverb, 'Where there is a will there is +a way'. I have the will certainly and, as we have plenty of time +before us, it will be hard if we do not find a way." + +He went to the window and looked out. + +"Over a hundred feet," he said, "and I should say a precipice fully +as deep at the foot of the wall. At any rate, we have the advantage +of an extensive view. + +"I am glad to see that there is a fireplace, for the cold will be +bitter here, when the winter sets in. I wonder whether the rooms +above and below this are tenanted?" + +Hindeman shrugged his shoulders. He was not, at present, in a mood +to take interest in anything. It was now the end of October, and +Fergus was very glad when the door opened again, and a warder came +in with two soldiers, who carried huge baskets of firewood; and it +was not long before a large fire was blazing on the hearth. + +Day after day passed. Fergus turned over in his mind every possible +method of escape, but the prospect looked very dark. Even if the +door were open, there would be difficulties of all sorts to +encounter. In the middle of the day many people went in and out of +the fortress, with provisions, wood, and other matters; but at +sunset the gates were shut, and sentries placed on the walls; and +on getting out he would have to cross an inner courtyard, and then +pass through a gateway--at which a sentinel was posted night and +day--into the outer court, which was surrounded by a strong wall +over thirty feet high, with towers at the angles. + +Escape from the window would be equally difficult. Two long and +very strong ropes would be required, and the bars of the window +were so massive that, without tools of any kind, it would be +impossible to remove them. + +A month later Captain Hindeman fell ill, and was removed to the +infirmary. Fergus was glad of his departure. He had been so +depressed that he was useless as a companion and, so long as he +remained there, he altogether prevented any plan of escape being +attempted; for difficult as it might be for one person to get away, +it would be next to impossible for two to do so. + +For an hour in the day, the prisoners had leave to walk on the +wall. His fellow prisoner had never availed himself of this +privilege; but Fergus always took his daily exercise, partly to +keep himself in health, partly in hopes that a plan of escape might +present itself. A sentry, however, was always posted on the wall +while the prisoners were at exercise; and on the side allotted for +their walk, the rock sloped away steeply from the foot of the wall. +The thought of escape, therefore, in broad daylight was out of the +question; and Fergus generally watched what was going on in the +courtyard. + +In time he came to know which was the entrance to the apartments of +the governor and his family, where the married officers were +quartered, and where the soldiers lodged. He saw that on the ground +floor of the tower he occupied were the quarters of a field officer +belonging to the garrison. + +One day he saw a number of men employed in clearing out some unused +quarters, on one side of the outer courtyard, and judged that an +addition was about to be made to the garrison. This gave substance +to a plan that he had been revolving in his mind. That evening, +when the warder brought him his food, he said carelessly: + +"I see you have some more troops coming in." + +"Yes," the man replied, "there are three hundred more men coming. +They will march in tomorrow afternoon. They will be getting the +room on the first floor, below here, cleared out tomorrow morning +for the officer who commands them." + +Fergus had, all along, considered that there would be no difficulty +in suddenly attacking and overpowering the warder, when he came in +or out of his room, for no special precautions were taken. The fact +that the prisoners were all in their uniforms, and that on showing +themselves below they would be instantly arrested, seemed to forbid +all chance of their making any attempt to escape. It was the matter +of clothes that had, more than anything else, puzzled Fergus; for +although he thought that he might possibly obtain a uniform from +some officer's quarters, it was evident that the guard would at +once perceive that he was not one of the officers of the garrison. +The arrival of the fresh detachment relieved him of this +difficulty, and it now seemed that a way of escape was open to him. + +Much depended upon the hour at which the regiment would arrive. The +later they did so the better, and as the weather had for some days +been terribly rough, and the roads would be deep and heavy, it was +likely that they would not arrive until some time past the hour +fixed. + +The next afternoon he listened for the roll of drums that would +greet the arrival of the newcomers. Just as the door opened, and +the sergeant entered with a lantern, he heard the sound that he had +been listening for. + + +[Illustration: As the man was placing his supper on the table, +Fergus sprang upon him] + + +Nothing could have happened more fortunately. As the man was +placing his supper on the table, Fergus sprang suddenly upon him, +hurled him down on to his face, and then fastened his hands behind +him with a rope he had made from twisted strips of one of his rugs. +He was not afraid of his calling out, as the window looked outside, +and it was blowing half a gale. Moreover, the sound of drums below +would aid to prevent any noise being heard from the courtyard. + +"I don't want to hurt you, sergeant," he said, "but I do want my +liberty. I must put a bandage round your mouth, to prevent you from +calling; but you know as well as I do that there would be no chance +of your being heard, however loud you might shout. + +"Now, in the first place I am going to see if I can get a uniform. +If I cannot, I must come back and take yours." + +Binding the sergeant's legs as well as his arms, and putting a +muffler over his mouth, Fergus went out, leaving his own jacket and +cap behind him. The key was in the door. He turned it and put it in +his pocket, shot the heavy bolts, and ran downstairs. When he got +to the bottom, he tried the door of the major's quarters. It was +unbolted, and he felt absolutely certain that the major would be +out as, with the other officers, he would have gone down to the +gate to receive those of the incoming detachment. + +On opening the door, he saw the articles of which he was in +search--a long cloak and a regimental cap. These he at once put on. +After a further search, he found a pair of military pantaloons and +a patrol jacket. Throwing off the cloak, he rapidly changed his +clothes. He wanted now only a regimental sword to complete the +costume, but he trusted to the long cloak to hide the absence of +this. + +Throwing the things that he had taken off under the bed, he went +out, closed the door behind him, locked it, and took the key. He +had with him the short sword carried by the warder, and he relied +upon this to silence the sentry, at the passage leading to the +outer court, should he attempt to stop him. + +This, however, was most unlikely. The night was dark, and there was +no light burning; and at this hour, with fresh troops arriving and +a general movement in the fortress, there could be no question of a +countersign being demanded by a sentry in the interior of the +place. The man, indeed, only drew himself up and saluted, as he +dimly made out an officer coming from the major's quarters. + +The courtyard beyond was half full of soldiers. The newcomers had +just fallen out. Some were being greeted by members of the garrison +who had known them before, officers were chatting together; and +Fergus made his way, unnoticed in the darkness, to the gate. As he +had hoped, the baggage waggons were making their way in. + +A sentry was placed on each side of the gate. + +"Now then," he said sharply, "hurry on with these waggons. The +commandant wants the gate shut, as soon as possible;" and passing +the sentry, he went on as if to hurry up the rear of the train. + +Taking him for one of the officers of the newly-arrived party, the +sentry stepped back at once, and he passed out. + +There were six waggons still outside and, unnoticed, he passed +these and went down the road. He had brought with him under his +cloak the sergeant's lantern and, as soon as he was half a mile +from the fortress, he took this out in order to be able to proceed +the more rapidly. He had taken particular notice of the country +from his prison window and, when he came down into a broad road +running along the valley, he turned at once to the south. + +His plans had all been carefully thought out, while in prison. He +knew perfectly well that, without money, it would be altogether +impossible for him to traverse the many hundred miles that lay +between him and Saxony. There would be a hot pursuit when, in the +morning, he was found to have gone; but it would hardly be +suspected that he had taken the road for Vienna, as this would be +entirely out of his way. + +Happily, he was not altogether penniless. He had always carried +five or six gold pieces, sewn up in the lining of his jacket with +the letters with which he had been furnished by Count Eulenfurst, +as a resource in case of being taken prisoner. He wished now that +he had brought more, but he thought that it might prove sufficient +for his first needs. + +He walked all night. His candle burnt out, in two hours after +starting; but at eleven the moon rose, and its light enabled him to +keep the road without difficulty. As morning dawned, he approached +a good-sized village some forty miles from his starting point and, +waiting for an hour until he saw people stirring, Fergus went to +the posting house and shouted for the postmaster. The sight of a +field officer, on foot at such an hour of the morning, greatly +surprised the man when he came down. + +"My horse has fallen and broken its neck," Fergus said, "and I have +had to walk some miles on foot. I have important despatches to +carry to Vienna. Bring round a horse, without a moment's delay." + +The postmaster, without the smallest hesitation, ordered his men to +saddle and bring out a horse. + +"It will be sent back from the next stage," Fergus said, as he +mounted and rode on at full speed. + +He changed horses twice, not the slightest suspicion being +entertained by any of the postmasters that he was not what he +seemed; and, before noon, arrived at the last post house before +reaching Vienna. + +"A bottle of your best wine, landlord, and I want to speak a word +with you in a private room. Bring two glasses." + +The wine was poured out, and after he had drank a glass Fergus +said: + +"Landlord, I am the bearer of important despatches, and it is +imperative that I should not attract attention as I enter the city. +If I were seen and recognized there, questions might be asked, and +curiosity excited as to the news of which I am the bearer. + +"I see that you are a sensible man, and will readily understand the +situation. To avoid attracting attention, it would be best for me +to enter the city in a civilian dress. You are about my size, and I +beg you to furnish me with a suit of your clothes, for which I will +pay at once." + +"I will do that willingly, sir," the landlord answered, feeling +much honoured by being let into what he deemed an important affair. +"My best suit is at your service. You can send it me out from the +town." + +"I would rather pay for it, landlord. I may be ordered in another +direction, and may not have an opportunity of returning it. If you +will say how much the suit cost you, I will hand you the money." + +The landlord went out, and returned in a minute with the clothes. + +"Another glass of wine, landlord," Fergus said, as he handed over +the amount at which the landlord valued them--"another glass of +wine; and then, while I am changing, get a light trap round to the +door. I shall not want to take it into Vienna, but will alight and +send it back again, half a mile this side of the gates. +Mind--should any inquiries be made, it were best to say as little +as possible." + +In another five minutes, Fergus was on his way again. He had +procured from the landlord a small trunk, in which he had packed +the uniform, and directed him to keep it until he heard from him; +but if in the course of a week he received no orders, he was to +forward it to Major Steiner, at Spielberg. + +When within half a mile of Vienna, Fergus got out, gave a present +to the driver and told him to return, and then walked forward to +the gate, which he entered without question. He thought it better +not to put up in that quarter of the town, but walked a long +distance through the city, purchased a travelling coat lined with +sheepskin, and a small canvas trunk in which he put it; went some +distance farther and hired a room at a quiet inn, and called for +dinner, of which he felt much in need, for beyond eating a few +mouthfuls of bread while a fresh horse was brought out for him, he +had tasted nothing since the previous evening. After dining he went +to his room and took his boots off and, feeling completely worn out +from his long journey, after two months of confinement, threw +himself on the bed and slept for three hours. + +Then he went for an hour's stroll through the town. By this time it +was getting dark, snowflakes were beginning to fall thickly, and he +was very glad, after sitting for a time listening to the talk in +the parlour of the inn, to turn in for the night. + +In the morning the ground was covered with snow. He was glad to put +on his thick coat, for the cold outside was bitter. + +For some hours he walked about Vienna, and the contrast between +that city and Berlin struck him greatly. The whole bearing and +manner of the people was brighter, and gayer. The soldiers, of whom +there were great numbers in the streets--Austrians, Croats, and +Hungarians--had none of the formal stiffness of the Prussians, but +laughed and joked as they went, and seemed as easy and light +hearted as the civilians around them. They were, for the most part, +inferior in size and physique to the Prussians; but there was a +springiness in their walk, and an alertness and intelligence which +were wanting in the more solid soldier of the north. + +He spent the day in making himself acquainted with the town, the +position of the gates, and other particulars which might be +important to him; as he could not feel sure of the reception that +he would meet with, when he presented his letter. + +In the afternoon the city was particularly gay. Sledges made their +appearance in the streets, and all seemed delighted that winter had +set in, in earnest. + +The next morning, after breakfast, Fergus went to the mansion of +Count Platurn, whose position he had ascertained on the previous +day. The name had been scored under, in his list, as one on whom he +might confidently rely. + +"I am the bearer of a letter to Count Platurn," he said, to the +somewhat gorgeously-dressed functionary who opened the door. "I +have a message to deliver to him, personally." + +The doorkeeper closed the door behind him and spoke to a footman, +who went away and returned, in a minute or two, and told Fergus to +follow him to a spacious and comfortable library, where the count +was sitting alone. + +"You are the bearer of a letter to me, sir?" he said, in a pleasant +tone of voice. "Whence do you bring it?" + +"From Count Eulenfurst of Dresden," Fergus said, producing it. + +The count gave an exclamation of pleasure. + +"Has he completely recovered?" he asked. "Of course, we heard of +the outrage of which he was a sufferer." + +"He was going on well when I saw him last, count." + +The count opened the letter and read it, with an air of growing +surprise as he went on. When he had finished it, he rose from his +seat and offered his hand to Fergus. + +"You are the Scottish officer who saved the lives of the count, his +wife, and daughter," he said warmly. "How you come to be here I +don't know, but it is enough for me that you rendered my dear +friend and his wife, who is a cousin of mine, this great service. +You are not here, I hope, on any mission which, as an Austrian +noble, I could feel it impossible to further." + +"No indeed, count. Had it been so, I should assuredly not have +presented this letter to you. In giving it to me, the countess said +that possibly the fortune of war might be unfavourable, and that I +might be taken prisoner. In that case, she said I might find a +friend invaluable, and she gave me letters to eight gentlemen in +various great towns, saying that she believed that any one of these +would, for the sake of the count, do me any kindness in his power. + +"Her prevision has turned out correct. My horse was shot under me +at the battle of Lobositz, and I was made prisoner and sent to the +fortress of Spielberg. Three days since I effected my escape, and +deemed it more prudent to make my way here, where no one would +suspect me of coming, instead of striving to journey up through +Bohemia." + +"You effected your escape from Spielberg!" the count repeated, in +surprise. "That is indeed a notable feat, for it is one of our +strongest prisons; but you shall tell me about that, presently. + +"Now, about Count Eulenfurst. The affair created quite a sensation, +partly from the rank and well-known position of the count, partly +from the fact that the King of Prussia, himself, called upon the +count to express his sincere regret at what had occurred, and the +vigorous steps that he took to put a stop to all acts of pillage +and marauding. It was said at the time that, had it not been for +the opportune arrival of a young Scottish officer, an aide-de-camp +to Marshal Keith, the lives of the count and his family would +assuredly have been sacrificed; and that the king, in token of his +approbation, had promoted the officer upon the spot. + +"But I pray you, take off that warm coat, and make yourself at +home." + +He touched a bell. A servant entered immediately. + +"If anyone calls, say that I am engaged on business, and can see no +one this morning. Place two chairs by the fire, and bring in wine +and glasses." + +Two chairs were moved to the fire. Wine was placed close at hand on +a small table, and the count fetched a box of cigars from his +cabinet. Fergus had already adopted the all but universal custom, +in the German army, of smoking. + +"Now," the count said, when the cigars were lighted, "tell me all +about this affair at Dresden." + +Fergus related the facts, as modestly as he could. + +"No wonder Eulenfurst speaks of you in the highest terms," said the +count. "Truly it was nobly done. Six Pomeranian soldiers to a +single sword! 'Tis wonderful." + +"The chief credit should, as I have said, count, be given to the +maid, but for whose aid matters might have gone quite otherwise." + +"Doubtless great credit is due to her, Lieutenant Drummond; but you +see, you had already defeated three, and I prefer to think that you +would have got the better of the others, even if she had not come +to your aid. + +"The countess had, I hope, quite recovered at the time you came +away, since it is she who writes the letter in his name." + +"I think that she had quite recovered. For a few hours, the doctors +were even more anxious as to her state than that of the count; but +the news that he was doing well, and might recover, did wonders for +her; and she was able herself to take part in nursing him, two days +after he received the wound." + +"I saw, by the account, that my little cousin received the king." + +"She did, sir, and bore herself well. It was no doubt a great trial +to her, so soon after the terrible scene she had passed through. In +that she had showed great calmness and presence of mind, and was +able to give assistance to her mother, as soon as she herself was +released from her bonds." + +"You were not present, yourself?" + +"No, sir. My wound was, as I have said, but in the flesh; and was +of so little consequence, that I did not think to have it bandaged +until all other matters were arranged. But when I had made my +report to the marshal, and begged that a surgeon should be sent +instantly to aid the count, I fainted from loss of blood; and it +was some days before I was able to ride out to pay my respects to +the countess." + +"And now, tell me about your escape from Spielberg." + +This Fergus did. + +"It was well managed, indeed," laughed the count. "You seem to be +as ready with your wits as with your sword, and to have provided +against every emergency. It was fortunate that you had hidden away +those gold pieces, with your letters; for otherwise you could +hardly have got those clothes from the postmaster. It was a bold +stroke, indeed, to use her majesty's uniform and the imperial post +to further your escape. + +"Now we must think in what way I can best aid you. You will require +a stout horse, a disguise, and a well-filled purse. Eulenfurst +authorizes me to act as his banker, to advance any moneys that you +may require. Therefore you need offer me no thanks. + +"What disguise do you, yourself, fancy?" + +"I should think that the dress of a trader, travelling on business, +would be as good as any I could choose." + +"Yes, I should think it would." + +"I should give myself out as a Saxon merchant," Fergus went on. "In +the first place my German, which I learned from a Hanoverian, is +near enough to the Saxon to pass muster; and my hair and complexion +are common enough, in Saxony." + +"I will get an official paper from the city authorities, stating +that you are one--shall we say Paul Muller, native of Saxony, and +draper by trade?--now returning to Dresden. I shall have no +difficulty in getting it through one of my own furnishers. I do not +say that you could not make your way through without it; but should +you be stopped and questioned, it would facilitate matters. I will +see about it this afternoon. I have simply to say, to one of the +tradesmen I employ, that I am sending an agent through Bohemia to +Eulenfurst, and think that in the present disturbed state he had +better travel as a trader; and ask him to fill up the official +papers, and take them to the burgomaster's office to get them +signed and stamped. He will do it as a matter of course, seeing +that I am a sufficiently good customer of his. + +"A horse I can, of course, supply you with. It must not be too +showy, but it should be a strong and serviceable animal, with a +fair turn of speed. The clothes you had perhaps better buy for +yourself, together with such things as you can carry in your +valises. + +"I would gladly ask you to stay with me here, for a while; but +having arrived in that dress, it might excite remark among the +servants were you to appear in a different character. I regret that +my wife and family are away, at one of my country seats, and will +not be back for a week; and I suppose you will not care to linger +so long here." + +"I thank you, count, but I should prefer to leave as soon as +possible. I do not think that there is really any fear of my being +recognized. If they search at all along the Vienna road, it is not +likely that they will do so as far as this; and certainly they +could obtain no news of me, for the first forty miles, and would +not be likely to push their inquiries as far, for a dismounted +field officer could not but have attracted attention, at the first +village through which he passed." + +"It would be best for you not to change your clothes at the place +where you are stopping. I can have everything ready for you by +tomorrow morning, if you wish to leave at once." + +"I should certainly prefer doing so." + +"Very well, then. Do you go out by the west gate, at nine o'clock, +and walk for some four miles. When you find some quiet spot, change +your clothes, and walk on until within sight of the village of +Gulnach, and there wait. I will send a confidential servant with +the horse. He, on seeing you standing there, will ask who you are +waiting for. You will give my name, and then he will hand over the +horse and papers to you." + +He got up and went to his table and opened a drawer. + +"Here are a hundred rix dollars, Mr. Drummond, which I hand you as +Count Eulenfurst's banker. It is a matter of pure business." + +"I could do with much less than that, sir," Fergus said. + +"No, 'tis better to be well supplied. Besides, there are your +clothes to buy; and be sure and provide yourself with a good +fur-lined travelling cloak. You will need it, I can assure you. + +"Your best course will be to travel through Saint Poelten and Ips, +cross the river at once, and go over the mountains by the road +through Freystadt to Budweis. It is by far the most level road from +here, though a good deal longer than the one through Horn. But +there is snow in the air, and I think that we shall have a heavy +downfall, and you may well find the defiles by the Horn road +blocked by snow; whereas by Freystadt you are not likely to find +any difficulty, and most of the road is perfectly flat." + + + +Chapter 7: Flight. + + +After leaving Count Platurn, with the most sincere thanks for his +kindness, Fergus went to a clothier's, where he bought clothes +suitable for a trader, with warm undergarments, and an ample cloak +lined with warm, though cheap, fur, and carried these to his inn. +The rest of the day was spent in strolling about, and in examining +the public buildings and art galleries. + +The next morning he paid his reckoning and, taking his small trunk +in one hand and his fur cloak in the other, started; wearing the +coat he had first purchased as he thought that, crossing the +defiles into Saxony, he might very well need that as well as his +cloak. As the western gate was the one nearest to his inn, it was +not long before he issued out and, walking briskly, came in +three-quarters of an hour to a wood. + +As there was no one in sight along the road, he turned in here and +changed his clothes. Then, leaving those he had taken off behind +him, he continued on his way, and in less than half an hour +approached a village, which he learned from a man he met was +Gulnach. He waited by the roadside for a quarter of an hour, and +then saw a man galloping towards him, leading a riderless horse. He +drew rein as he came up. + +"What are you waiting here for?" he asked. + +"Platurn," Fergus replied. + +"That is right, sir. This is your horse. Here is the letter the +count bade me give you, and also this sword," and he unbuckled the +one that he wore. + +"He bade me wish you God speed." + +"Pray tell him that I am sincerely obliged to him for his +kindness," Fergus replied, as he buckled on the sword. + +The man at once rode off. + +The saddle was furnished with valises. These contained several +articles he had not thought of buying, among them a warm fur cap +with flaps for the ears, and a pair of fur-lined riding gloves. He +transferred the remaining articles from the little trunk to the +valises, and threw the former away; rolled up his cloak and +strapped it behind the saddle; and then mounted. He was glad to +find in the holsters a brace of double-barrelled pistols, a powder +flask and a bag of bullets, and also a large flask full of spirits. + +As he gathered the reins in his hand, he had difficulty in +restraining a shout of joy; for with an excellent horse, good arms, +warm clothes and a purse sufficiently well lined, he felt he was +prepared for all contingencies. + +As he moved on at a walk, he opened the count's letter. It +contained only a few lines, wishing him a safe journey, and begging +him to tell Count Eulenfurst that he regretted he could not do more +for his messenger, to prove his goodwill and affection; and also +the official document that he had promised to procure for him. +Tearing up the count's letter, and putting the official document +carefully in his pocket, he pressed his heel against his horse's +flank, and started at a canter. + +He stopped for the night at Ips, and on the following day rode to +Linz. The snow had fallen almost incessantly, and he was glad, +indeed, that he had brought the coat as well as the cloak with him. + +The next night he halted at Freystadt. As this was a strongly +fortified place, commanding the southern exit of the defile from +the mountain, he was asked for his papers. The official merely +glanced at them, and returned them. He was forced to stay here for +several days, as he was assured that it would be all but certain +death to endeavour to cross the pass, in such weather. + +On the third day the snow ceased falling and, early next morning, a +force of 500 men, comprising almost the whole of the garrison, +started to beat down the snow, and cut a way through the deep +drifts. For four days this work continued, the men being assisted +by a regiment that was marched down from Budweis, and opened the +defile from the northern end. The pass was an important one, as in +winter it was the one chiefly used for communication between +Bohemia and Vienna; and it was therefore highly important that it +should be maintained in a practicable state. + +Fergus was in no hurry to proceed. He knew that there was not the +smallest possibility of operations being commenced until the snow +disappeared, which might not be until the end of March. He +therefore took matters very quietly, keeping entirely indoors as +long as the snow continued to fall, and going out as little as +possible, afterwards. + +He was glad, indeed, when the news came that the pass was clear. As +soon as the gates were unlocked he pressed on, in order to get +ahead of a large convoy of carts, laden with warm clothing for the +soldiers, that was also waiting for the pass to be opened. In spite +of all that had been done, it was rough work passing through the +defile, and he did not arrive at Krumnau until nearly sunset. +Budweis lay but a few miles farther ahead, but he had made up his +mind not to stop there, as it was a large garrisoned town, and the +small places suited him better. + +Passing through the town, next day, he continued his course along +the road near the river Moldau. He made but short journeys, for the +snow had not yet hardened, and it was very heavy riding. He +therefore took four days in getting to Prague. + +He thought it probable that here a watch might be kept for him for, +had he travelled straight from Spielberg, this was the point for +which, in all probability, he would have made; unless he had gone +through Silesia, and then travelled up through Breslau. He +therefore made a circuit of the picturesque old city, entered it by +a western gate, and then rode straight for the bridge. He had slept +at a place but four miles distant, and had started at daybreak, so +that it was still early in the day when he proceeded on his way. + +He stopped at a small town, ten miles farther north. Two or three +squadrons of cavalry were quartered there. The landlord at the inn +where he put up at once asked for his papers. These he took to the +town offices, where they were stamped as being in due order. Half +an hour later, as Fergus was at his meal, two officers entered. + +"Your papers appear to be right, sir," one of them said +courteously; "but in times like these, it is our duty to examine +closely into these matters. You come from Vienna?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Which way did you travel?" + +"By way of Linz and Budweis," he said. "The snow began on the day +before I left the capital, and I was advised to take that route, as +the road would be more level, and less likely to be blocked with +snow than that through Horn. You will see that my paper was stamped +at Linz, and also at Freystadt. + +"I was detained at the latter place seven days. For the first three +it snowed, and for the next four days the garrison was occupied, +with the aid of troops from Budweis, in opening the defile." + +The officer nodded. + +"I happen to know that your story is correct, sir, and that it +accounts fully for your movements since leaving Vienna. Which way +do you intend to cross the passes into Saxony?" + +"I must be guided by what I hear of their state. I had hoped to +have got back before the snow began to fall in earnest, but I +should think that the road by the river will now be the best." + +"I should think so," the officer said, "but even that will be bad +enough. However, I will not detain you farther." + +They moved away to another table and, calling for a bottle of wine, +sat down. + +"No, we are mistaken. I don't think the fellow would have the +bare-faced impudence to come through Prague," one said. + +The other laughed. + +"I should think that he would have impudence for anything, major. +And in truth, I rather hope that they won't lay hands upon him--a +fellow who devised and carried out such a scheme as he did deserves +his liberty. Of course, his overpowering the warder was nothing; +but that he should have had the impudence to go down into the +major's quarters, appropriate his clothes, leave his own uniform +behind him; and then, taking advantage of the arrival of another +regiment, march calmly out through them all, pass the sentries--who +took him for one of the newly-arrived officers in charge of the +waggons--was really splendid! + +"How it was that they did not overtake him the next morning, I +cannot make out. He had no sword with him, and no horse; and the +spectacle of a field officer on foot, without even a sword, should +have attracted the attention of the very first person who met him. +He had not been gone two hours when troops started in pursuit; for +when the major, whose door he had locked, had it burst open and +found that his uniform was gone, he suspected something was wrong, +and had all the sergeants in charge of prisoners mustered. + +"One was missing, the man who had charge of this young Scotchman. +As he could not be found, the fellow's cell was broken open, and +there was the warder, bound and gagged. The bird had flown, and +parties of horse were sent off by all the roads leading to Bohemia +and Silesia, but no signs of the man have, as far as we have heard, +yet been discovered. + +"The only thing that I can imagine is that, when he heard the +cavalry in pursuit, he left the road and hid up somewhere; and that +afterwards he tried to make his way by unfrequented paths, and was +starved in the snow. In that case his body is not likely to be +found until the spring." + +"I cannot help thinking that a fellow who could plan and carry out +that escape would hardly be likely to lose his life in a snowdrift. +You see, it was not a sudden idea. On no other evening would he +have found the gate open after sunset, nor would he have been +certain to have found the major absent from his quarters. He must +have been waiting patiently for his opportunity and, as soon as he +heard that another battalion was coming into the garrison, he must +have resolved to act. More than that, he must have calculated that +instead of arriving at four o'clock, as they were timed to do, they +would be detained and not get in until after dark. + +"They are clear-headed fellows, these Scotchmen; whether they are +in our army or Frederick's. What makes the affair more wonderful is +that this was quite a young fellow, and probably understood no +German; but I think that he would have acted more wisely, had he +waited until the spring." + +"I don't know," the other said. "When once the troops are all in +movement north, he certainly could not have escaped in a military +uniform without being questioned; and it scarcely seems possible +that he could have procured any other. He must be in more of a +hurry to fight again than I am." + +"There can hardly be much serious fighting," the other said. "With +us, Russia, and France, and with the 50,000 Swedes who have been +bought by France, we shall have 500,000 men under arms; while we +know that 200,000 is the utmost Frederick can muster, and these +will have to be scattered in every direction round his frontier." + +"I am sorry that France has joined in," the other said. "It is +unnatural enough that we and Russia should combine to crush +Prussia, but when it comes to our old enemies the French helping us +against a German power, I say frankly I don't like it. Besides, +though we may get Silesia back again, that will be a small +advantage in comparison to the disadvantage of France getting a +firm foothold on this side of the Rhine. Even if her share of the +partition doesn't extend beyond the river, this will be her +frontier nearly down to the sea; and she will have the power of +pouring her troops into Germany, whenever she chooses." + +Fergus had now finished his meal, and without caring to listen +longer he betook himself to bed. To avoid all appearance of haste, +he did not start so early the next morning, but mounted at ten and +rode to the junction of the Eger with the Elbe. It was too late to +cross the river that night, and he therefore put up at a village on +the bank, and crossed in a ferry boat on the following morning to +Leitmeritz, a town of considerable size. + +He was now within a day's ride of the defile through which the Elbe +finds its way from Bohemia into Saxony. His papers were inspected, +as usual, by the officer in command of a troop of cavalry there. + +"You will have a rough time of it, if you push on," he said. "There +is no traffic through the passes now, so the snow will lie as it +fell, and at any moment it may come down again. As far as the mouth +of the pass you will find it easy enough, for we send half a troop +as far as that every day; but beyond that I should say it would be +all but, if not quite, impassable. I advise you to stay here +quietly, until you hear of someone having crossed; or at any rate, +if you do go on, you must take three or four peasants as guides, +and to help you through difficult places." + +"Would it not be possible, captain," Fergus asked, "to hire a +boat?" + +"I did not think of that. Yes, there are flat boats that at +ordinary times go down to Dresden, with the rafts of timber; but +whether you would find anyone willing, now, to make such a journey +is more than I can say." + +"I am very anxious to be back to my business," Fergus said; "and as +I should have to pay handsomely for guides to take me over, and +even then might lose my life, it would be better for me to pay +higher and get through at once." + +On going down to the water side he saw several boats hauled up, and +it was not long before some boatmen, seeing a stranger examining +their craft, came down to him. + +"I want to go down to Dresden," he said. + +"'Tis a bad time of the year," one of the men replied. + +"It is a bad time of the year, as far as cold is concerned; but it +is a good time of the year for going down the river," he said; "for +now that the frost has set in the river is low and the current +gentle, whereas in the spring, when the snow is melting, it must be +a raging torrent in some of the narrow defiles." + +This evidence that the stranger, whoever he was, was no fool, +silenced the boatmen for a minute. + +"Now," Fergus went on, "what is the lowest price that one of you +will take me and my horse down to Dresden for? I am disposed to pay +a fair price and not more, and if you attempt to charge an +exorbitant one, I shall take guides and follow the road." + +"You would never get through," one of the men said. + +"Well, at any rate I would try; and if I could not succeed by the +road by the river, I would cross by some other pass. I have no +doubt, whatever, I could get through by Graber and Zittau." + +The stranger's acquaintance with the country again silenced the +men. They talked for a while apart, and then one said: + +"We will take you for twenty rix dollars." + +"Do you suppose that I am the emperor, in disguise?" Fergus said +indignantly. "'Tis but three days' journey, at most, and perhaps +six for coming back against the stream." + +"We shall need four men, master, and there is the food by the way." + +After much bargaining the price was settled at fifteen rix dollars, +both parties being satisfied with the bargain; the men because it +was more than twice the sum for which they would have been glad to +do it, at ordinary times; Fergus because he had still forty rix +dollars in his pocket, and had only bargained as he did in order +not to appear too anxious on the subject. The price was to include +the erection, at one end of the boat, of a snug cover of rushes for +his use. + +He found, on going down to the shore three hours later, that the +boatmen were engaged in covering in the whole of the craft, with +the exception of a few feet at each end, with a roof of rushes. The +boat itself was some thirty-five feet in length and ten wide, with +straight sides and a general resemblance to a canal barge, save +that the beam was greater in comparison to the length. The roof was +high, and sloped sharply. A tall man could walk along in the +centre, while at the sides there was but three feet of height. + +Hay and straw were extremely scarce, the whole supply of the +country having been stripped by the foraging parties; but bundles +of reeds had been thickly littered down, especially near the stern. + +Shortly after his return, the landlord of the inn told him that, if +he did not want to take the horse with him, he would himself gladly +buy it. + +"I have frequently to send to Prague for things for the inn; and +besides, I have to get provisions for people in the town. I sold my +best horse last autumn, to an officer whose charger had been +killed. Now that sledging has begun, I want one which can travel +fast and do the journey there in a day; so if you don't want to +take it, and will accept a reasonable price, I will buy it." + +The offer was a welcome one. With two splendid horses at his +command--for he knew that good care would have been taken of the +one left in camp--a third would only have been in the way; and +this, although a good and useful beast, was scarce good-looking +enough for an officer on the marshal's staff. Therefore, after the +usual amount of bargaining, he parted with it for a fair price. + +The next morning early he went on board, the servant of the inn +following with a great hamper of wine and provisions. He was glad +to see that a bright fire burned on an earthen hearth in the middle +of the boat; the smoke finding its way out, partly through a hole +cut in the thatch above it, partly by the opening at the fore end +of the boat. He brought with him his horse cloth as well as his +other belongings. The men, who were clearly in a hurry to be away, +pushed the boat off from the shore as soon as he had taken his +place. + +"We want to be back as soon as we can," the owner of the boat said, +"for it will not be long before the ice begins to form, and we +don't want to be frozen in." + +"It does not feel to me quite so cold this morning," Fergus +remarked. + +"No, sir; we are going to have more snow. That won't matter to us, +and if it snows for the next week, all the better. It is not often +that the river closes altogether until after Christmas. In the +mountains the river seldom freezes at all. There is too much +current, and besides, in shelter of the hills the cold is not so +great." + +Two oars were got out, for the purpose of steering rather than of +hastening the progress of the boat; and once well out in the +current, she was allowed to drift quietly with the stream. Fergus +spread his horse cloth on the rushes by the fire, and found no need +for his sheepskin coat; the cloak, loosely thrown over his +shoulders and the collar turned up, to keep off the draughts that +blew in under the bottom of the thatch, being sufficient to make +him thoroughly comfortable. + +There was nothing to see outside, the shore being low and flat. He +had brought a large supply of meat with him, and handed over a +portion of this to the man who acted as the cook of the crew, and +told him to make broth for them all. This was a welcome gift to the +crew, who but seldom touched meat; and with the addition of barley, +coarse flour, and herbs that they had brought for their own use, an +excellent stew was provided. The pot was kept going through the +journey, fresh meat and other ingredients being added, from time to +time. In addition to this, slices of meat were grilled over the +fire, and eaten with the bread they had brought. The gift of a +bottle of wine between the crew, each day; and of a small ration of +spirits, the last thing in the evening, added greatly to the +satisfaction of the men. + +By nightfall they arrived at the entrance of the defile. The snow +was falling heavily, and they tied up against the bank. Fergus +chatted with the men, and listened to their stories of the river, +for some hours. + +All of them had, at various times, gone on timber rafts. They +bewailed the war, which would do them much harm. It would not +altogether interrupt trade, for timber would be required, as usual, +in Saxony and Hanover. As a rule, neither of the contending armies +interfered with the river traffic; though communications by land +were greatly interrupted, owing to the peasants' carts being +impressed for military service. This, and the anxiety of everyone +for the safety of his home and belongings, brought the trade +between the countries to a standstill. + +On the river, however, the difficulty consisted, not in any +interference by the authorities, but from so large a number of the +able-bodied men being called out for service that the amount of +timber cut and brought down was greatly diminished, while the needs +of the army brought the trade in cattle and other produce to an +entire cessation. + +The dangers of the river were not great; although in spring, when +the snow melted and the river was swollen, navigation was rendered, +especially in the narrow reaches of the defile, difficult and +dangerous; for the force of the stream was so great that it was +well-nigh impossible to direct the course of the rafts, and indeed +the poles used for that purpose were often found too short to reach +the bottom. + +The men were up long before daylight; but it was two hours later +before Fergus roused himself and, shaking off the fine snow that +had drifted in and lay thickly on his coat, went out to have a look +at things. One of the men was already preparing breakfast. Two of +the others stood at the bow with long poles, with which they punted +the boat along. The captain, also provided with a pole, stood in +the stern. + +The snow had ceased, but the air felt sharp and cold as it came +down from the hills, which were all thickly covered. + +"So there is an end of the snow, for the present, captain," he +said, as he pushed aside the curtain of reeds that closed the stern +of the covered portion, and joined him. + +"Yes. I am not altogether sorry, for we can see where we are going. +We shall keep on, now, until we are through the defile." + +"But there is no moon, captain." + +"No, but we can tell pretty well, by the depth of water, where we +are; and can manage to keep in the middle of the current. There are +no obstructions there to affect us, though in some places there are +plenty of ugly rocks near the shore. However, if we have luck we +shall be through before midnight, and shall pass all the worst +points before sunset." + +The day passed, indeed, without adventure of any kind. The journey +was highly interesting to Fergus, for the scenery was very +picturesque. Sometimes the hills narrowed in, and the stream, +straitened in its course, hastened its speed; at others the hills +receded, and were covered far up with forests; above which bleak +mountain tops, with their mantle of snow, rose high in the air. The +captain pointed out the spot where the Saxons had crossed; and +where, pent in and surrounded with batteries commanding every means +of exit, they were forced to surrender. + +"It is smooth work now," he said, as they were going through one of +the narrows, "for the river is low and the current gentle; but in +floods there are waves, here, that would swamp the boat did she +keep out in the middle, as we are doing; and it would be impossible +to pole her against it, even close to the shore. You see, the ice +is forming already near the banks." + +"How do you manage coming back?" + +"In some places we can pole the boat. She will be light, and will +only draw a few inches of water. Then we hire a horse for a bit, at +one of these little villages; or, where the road leaves the river, +the other three will get out and tow from the edge, while I shall +steer. We shall manage it easily enough, if the ice does not form +too thickly. + +"If the worst comes to the worst, we should stop at one of the +villages, get the people to help us to haul her well up, wait till +the snows are quite over, and then make our way back on foot, and +come and fetch the boat up when the spring floods are over." + +"Then the pass is not so dangerous after all, captain," Fergus said +with a smile. + +"Not when the snow has once hardened, and to men accustomed to it. +As soon as the weather gets settled there will be a little traffic, +and the snow will be beaten down. Besides, where the hills come +steep to the water's edge, a man on foot can always make his way +along when the water is low; though a horseman might not be able to +do so." + +"In fact, I suppose," Fergus said, "you all combine, at Leitmeritz, +to represent the passes as being a great deal more dangerous than +they are; in order to force those obliged to make the journey to +take as many men as possible with him, or to pay two or three times +the proper fare, by boat." + +"The passes over the hills would be terrible, now," the man said. +"Most of them would be absolutely impassable, until the snow +hardens. + +"As for the rest," he added with a smile, "it may be that there is +something in what you say; but you see, times are hard. There is +little work to be done, and scarce any timber coming down; and if +we did not get a good job, occasionally, it would go very hard with +us." + +By nightfall they were nearly through the defile. Lanterns were +placed in the bow of the boat and, until long after Fergus was +asleep, the men continued to work at their poles. When he woke up +in the morning the boat was floating down a quiet river, with the +plains of Saxony on either side, and the mountain range far astern. + +At noon they neared Dresden, and an hour later Fergus stepped +ashore. He paid the men the sum arranged, and handed over to them +the rest of his provisions, which would be sufficient to carry them +far on their way back. + +He soon learnt that Marshal Keith was established in his old +quarters, and made his way thither. He met two or three officers of +his acquaintance, but no one recognized him in his present attire. +He had hired a boy, when he landed, to carry his cloak and valises. +The saddle and bridle he had sold with the horse. + +He was, as usual, passing the sentries at the gate without notice, +when one of them stepped in front of him. + +"What is your business, sir?" + +"My business is with Marshal Keith," he said, "and it is +particular." + +The sentry called a sergeant of the guard. + +"You can pass me up," Fergus said sharply. "I am well known to +Marshal Keith, and he will assuredly see me." + +A soldier took him up to the anteroom. Lieutenant Lindsay, who was +on duty, came forward, looked at him doubtfully for a moment, and +then shouted joyfully: + +"Why, Drummond, is it you? This is indeed a joyful meeting, old +fellow. I had thought of you as immured in one of the enemy's +fortresses, and as likely to remain there till the war was over, +and now here you are! The marshal will be delighted." + +"He cannot be more pleased than I am to be back again, Lindsay. Is +he alone?" + +"Yes. Come in at once. I won't announce you." + +He opened the door. + +"A gentleman to see you, marshal," he said, and Fergus walked in. + +The marshal recognized him at once and, holding out both hands, +shook those of Fergus cordially. + +"I am indeed glad to see you," he said. "We knew that you were +unhurt, for on the morning after the battle we sent in a +parlementaire to Browne with the list of prisoners taken, and +received his list in return; and as your name was among them, and +you were not put down as wounded, my anxiety about you was +relieved. We tried a month later to get exchanges, but they would +not hear of it. In the first place, there is no doubt that the +king's action, in incorporating the Saxons with our army, has +caused a strong feeling against him; and in the second, they had +plenty of fortresses in which to stow their prisoners, while they +would calculate that the more prisoners we had to look after, the +fewer men they would have to fight. + +"And now, tell me by what miracle you have got here. I have nothing +particular to do. + +"Lindsay, you may as well stop and hear the story. Tell the +sergeant to call you out if any one in particular comes; to +everyone else, I am engaged. + +"Or stay," he broke off, "they have just told me that luncheon is +ready in the next room. A story is always better told over a bottle +of wine, so tell the sergeant, Lindsay, that for the next hour I +can see no one, unless it is on very particular business. + +"Now, in the first place, Captain Drummond. + +"Oh, of course, you have not heard!" he broke off, in answer to +Fergus's look of surprise. "The king and I watched you charge +through that Austrian squadron, and when he saw you reach our +cavalry in safety, and they turned to come back, he ordered me at +once to make out your commission as captain. I ventured to object +that you were very young. He said you had saved half his cavalry, +and that he would promote you, if you were an infant in arms." + +"It is really absurd, marshal. I shall feel downright ashamed to be +called captain by men still lieutenants, though a dozen years older +than I am. I fear I have gone over Lindsay's head." + +"You need not mind me, Drummond," Lindsay laughed. "I shall have a +chance, one of these days; but not a soul will grudge you your +promotion. There were many of us who saw your charge; and I can +tell you that it was the talk of the whole army, next day, and it +was thoroughly recognized that it saved the cavalry; for their +commander would certainly have taken them against the Austrians +and, if he had, it is equally certain that none of them would have +got back again; and when your name appeared in orders the next day, +we all felt that no one ever better deserved promotion." + +"The king inquired especially, as soon as the list came, whether +you were wounded, Fergus," Keith said; "and was very much pleased +when he heard that you were not. + +"Now, let us hear how you come to be here." + +The marshal laughed heartily, when Fergus told of his escape in the +disguise of an Austrian field officer. + +"It was most admirably managed, Fergus," he said, when the tale was +finished; "and your making for Vienna, instead of for the frontier, +was a masterly stroke. Of course your finding a friend there was +most fortunate; but even had you not done so, I have no doubt you +would have got through, somehow. I think the best idea of all was +your taking the post horses, and then getting a fresh suit of +clothes from the postmaster. + +"I am glad you ordered the major's suit of clothes to be sent back +to him. I should have liked to have seen his face when he found +that not only his uniform, but his prisoner, had disappeared. + +"It will be a good story to tell the king. He has sore troubles +enough on his shoulders, for the difficulties are thickening round; +and although Frederick is a born general, he really loves peace, +and quiet, and books, and the society of a few friends, far better +than the turmoil into which we are plunged. + +"The French are going to open the campaign, in the spring, with an +army of a hundred thousand men. Russia will invade the east +frontier with certainly as many more, perhaps a hundred and fifty +thousand. They say these rascally Swedes, who have not a shadow of +quarrel against us, intend to land fifty thousand men in Pomerania; +and that Austria will put two hundred and fifty thousand in the +field. Even tempered and self relying as the king is, all this is +enough to drive him to despair; and anything that will interest him +for an hour, and make him forget his difficulties, is very +welcome." + +The marshal asked many questions for, as he said, the king would +like to know all the ins and outs of the matter; and he knew that +Fergus would much rather that the story should be told the king by +another, than that he should be called upon to do so. + +"I hope the horse came back safely, Lindsay?" Fergus asked, as they +left the marshal's apartments. + +"Oh, yes! He went back with the convoy of wounded, and he is now +safe in Keith's stable. The other is, of course, at the count's. I +sent your things back at the same time, and when we returned here I +packed everything up and sewed them in a sack. They are all in the +storeroom." + +"What has become of Karl? Did he get safely back?" + +"Yes; but he had a nasty sabre wound he got in the charge, and he +was in hospital for six weeks. The king gave him a handsome +present, on the day after he came in; and would have given him a +commission, if he would have taken it, but he declined altogether, +saying that he was very comfortable as he was. His colonel would +have made him a sergeant at once, but he refused that also. + +"Just at present he is still looking after your horse, and helping +generally in Keith's stable. His wound was on the head, and he is +scarcely fit for duty with his regiment, so of course he will now +fall in to his place with you again." + +Fergus went down to the stable, where he was received with the +greatest delight by Karl; whose pride in his master was great, +after his exploit at Count Eulenfurst's, and had been heightened by +the feeling excited in the army at his having saved the cavalry +from destruction. + +"I thought that you would be back by the spring, Captain," he said. +"Donald and I have talked it over, many a time, and we were of one +mind that, if any one could get away from an Austrian prison, you +would do it." + + + +Chapter 8: Prague. + + +The next morning Fergus rode over to see Count Eulenfurst, found +him quite restored to health, and was received by him, the +countess, and Thirza with great pleasure. + + +[Illustration: Fergus was received by the count, the countess +and Thirza with great pleasure] + + +"My return in safety is in no small degree due to you, count. Had +it not been for the letter to Count Platurn, with which the +countess furnished me, I doubt whether I should have been able to +get through; or at any rate, if I had done so it could only have +been with many hardships and dangers, and certainly great delay." + +"I have no doubt that the help you received from the count was of +considerable assistance to you, and lessened your difficulties +much, Captain Drummond; but I am sure you would have managed, +without it. Had you formed any plans as to what you would have +done, had you found him absent?" + +"I had thought of several things, count, but I had settled on +nothing. I should have remained but a day in Vienna, and should +have exchanged the suit I had got from the innkeeper for some +other. My idea was that I had best join one of the convoys of +provisions going up to Bohemia. I calculated that I should have no +difficulty in obtaining a place as a driver, for of course the +service is not popular, and any of the men would have been glad +enough for me to take his place. I might thus have got forward as +far as Prague. After that I must have taken my chance, and I think +I could, in the same sort of way, have got as far as Leitmeritz; +but there I might have been detained for a very long time, until +there was an opportunity of crossing the defiles. It would have +been difficult, indeed, for me to have earned my living there; and +what was left of the money I had, after paying for the landlord's +suit, would scarce have lasted, with the closest pinching, till +spring." + +"You would have managed it somehow, I am sure," Thirza said +confidently. "After getting out of that strong fortress, it would +be nothing to get out of Bohemia into Saxony." + +"We have not congratulated you yet," the countess said, "upon your +last promotion. Lieutenant Lindsay came over to tell us about it, +and how you had gained it. Of course we were greatly pleased, +although grieved to hear that you had been made prisoner. We +wondered whether, at the time you were captured, you had any of the +letters I had written with you, and whether they would come in +useful. + +"It did not even occur to me that you would have called upon Count +Platurn, my cousin. I thought that you might be detained at Prague, +but Vienna is the last place where we should have pictured you. Had +we known that you had been sent to Spielberg, I think we should +have given up all hope of seeing you again, until you were +exchanged; for I have heard that it is one of the strongest of the +Austrian fortresses. + +"I do hope, Captain Drummond, we shall see a great deal of you this +winter. There will not be many gaieties, though no doubt there will +be some state balls; but there will be many little gatherings, as +usual, among ourselves, and we shall count upon you to attend them +always, unless you are detained on service. We learn that it is +probable your king will pass the whole of the winter here." + +"We will send your horse down to you today," the count said. "You +will find him in good condition. He has been regularly exercised." + +"Thank you very much, count. I wrote to you before I started, but I +have had no opportunity of thanking you, personally, for those +splendid animals. Sorry as I was to lose the horse I rode at +Lobositz, I congratulated myself that I was not riding one of +yours." + +"I should have had no difficulty in replacing him, Captain +Drummond," the count said with a smile. "The least we can do is to +keep you in horse flesh while the war lasts; which I hope will not +be very long, for surely your king can never hope to make head +against the forces that will assail him in the spring, but will be +glad to make peace on any terms." + +"No doubt he would be glad to, count; but as his enemies propose to +divide his dominions among them, it is not very clear what terms he +could make. But though I grant that, on paper, the odds against him +is enormous, I think that you will see there will be some hard +fighting yet, before Prussia is partitioned." + +"Perhaps so," the count replied; "but surely the end must be the +same. You know I have been a strong opponent of the course taken by +the court here. Saxony and Prussia, as Protestant countries, should +be natural allies; and I consider it is infamous that the court, or +rather Bruhl, who is all powerful, should have joined in a +coalition against Frederick, who had given us no cause of +complaint, whatever. My sympathies, then, are wholly with him; but +I can see no hope, whatever, of his successfully resisting this +tremendous combination." + +"Various things might happen, count. The Empresses of Russia or +Austria or the Pompadour might die, or the allies might quarrel +between themselves. England may find some capable statesman, who +will once again get an army together and, joined perhaps by the +Netherlands, give France so much to do that she will not be able to +give much help to her allies." + +"Yes, all these things might happen; but Frederick's first campaign +has been, to a great extent, a failure. It is true that he has +established Saxony as his base, but the Saxon troops will be of no +advantage to him. He would have acted much more wisely had he, on +their surrender, allowed them to disband and go to their homes.. +Many then might have enlisted voluntarily. The country would not +have had a legitimate grievance, and the common religious tie would +soon have turned the scale in favour of Prussia; who, as all see, +has been driven to this invasion by our court's intrigues with +Austria. Had he done this he could have marched straight to Prague, +have overrun all Bohemia, established his headquarters there, and +menaced Vienna itself in the spring." + +"Looking at it coolly, that might have been the best way, count; +but a man who finds that three or four of his neighbours have +entered into a plot to attack his house, and seize all his goods, +may be pardoned if he does not at first go the very wisest way to +work." + +The count laughed. + +"I hope that the next campaign will turn out differently; but I own +that I can scarce see a possibility of Prussia, alone, making head +against the dangers that surround her." + +The winter passed quietly. There were fetes, state balls, and many +private entertainments; for while all Europe was indignant, or +pretended to be so, at the occupation of Saxony, the people of that +country were by no means so angry on their own account. They were +no more heavily taxed by Frederick than they were by their own +court and, now that the published treaty between the Confederates +had made it evident that the country, without its own consent, had +been deeply engaged in a conspiracy hostile to Prussia, none could +deny that Frederick was amply justified in the step he had taken. + +At these parties, only Prussian officers who were personal friends +of the host were invited; but Fergus, who had been introduced by +Count Eulenfurst to all his acquaintances, was always asked, and +was requested to bring with him a few of his personal friends. +Lindsay, therefore, was generally his companion, and was, indeed, +in a short time invited for his own sake; for the Scottish officers +were regarded in a different light to the Prussians, and their +pleasant manners and frank gaiety made them general favourites. + +Their duties as aides-de-camp were now light, indeed; although both +were, two or three times, sent with despatches to Berlin; and even +to more distant parts of Prussia, where preparations for the coming +campaign were being made on a great scale. + +The whole Prussian population were united. It was a war not for +conquest but for existence, and all classes responded cheerfully to +the royal demands. These were confined to orders for drafts of men, +for no new tax of any kind was laid on the people; the expenses of +the war being met entirely from the treasure that had, since the +termination of the Silesian war, been steadily accumulating, a +fixed sum being laid by every year to meet any emergency that might +arise. + +Towards spring both parties were ready to take the field. The +allies had 430,000 men ready for service. Frederick had 150,000 +well-trained soldiers, while 40,000 newly-raised troops were posted +in fortresses, at points most open to invasion. The odds were +indeed sufficient to appall even the steadfast heart of Frederick +of Prussia; but no one would have judged, from the calm and +tranquil manner in which the king made his arrangements to meet the +storm, that he had any doubt as to the issue. + +Man for man, the Prussian soldier of the time was the finest in the +world. He was splendidly drilled, absolutely obedient to orders, +and filled with implicit confidence in his king and his comrades. +He had been taught to march with extraordinary rapidity, and at the +same time to manoeuvre with the regularity and perfection of a +machine; and could be trusted, in all emergencies, to do everything +that man was capable of. + +The French army, 110,000 strong, was the first to move. Another +30,000 men were preparing to march, to join the army that had been +got up by that mixed body, the German Federation. The main force +was to move through Hanover. + +To oppose them was a mixed army, maintained by British money, +comprising Hanoverians, Brunswickers, and Hessians, some 50,000 +strong, commanded by the Duke of Cumberland. With these were some +5000 Prussians; who had, by Frederick's orders, evacuated the +frontier fortresses and joined what was called the British army of +observation. Frederick prepared, for the present, to deal with the +Austrians; intending, if successful against them, to send off +25,000 men to strengthen Cumberland's army. The proposed Swedish +invasion was altogether disregarded; but thirty thousand men, +principally militia, were posted to check the Russian invasion. + +So quiet had been the preparations, that none of their enemies +dreamt that the Prussians would assume the offensive, but +considered that they would confine their efforts to defending the +defiles into Saxony and Silesia. But this was not Frederick's idea. +As spring approached, he had been busy redistributing his troops +from their winter cantonment, and preparing three armies for the +invasion of Bohemia. April had been a busy month for the staff, and +the aides-de-camp had passed their days, and even their nights, on +horseback. + +At last all was in readiness for the delivery of the stroke, and on +the 20th the king started from Lockwitch, facing the old Saxon camp +at Pirna; the Duke of Bevern from Lousitz; and Marshal Schwerin +from Schlesien; and without the slightest warning, the three great +columns poured down into Bohemia. + +The movement took the Austrians absolutely by surprise. Not +dreaming of such a step on Frederick's part, they had prepared, +near the frontier, vast magazines for the supply of their advancing +army. These had to be abandoned in the greatest haste, and a +sufficient amount of food to supply the entire army, for three +months, fell into the hands of the Prussians. Marshal Browne and +General Konigseck, who commanded the Austrian armies in Bohemia, +fell back to Prague with the greatest speed that they could make. + +The light irregular corps, that Frederick had raised during the +winter and placed under experienced and energetic officers, +pervaded the whole country, capturing magazines and towns, putting +some to ransom, dispersing small bodies of the enemy, and spreading +terror far and wide. Browne succeeded in reaching Prague before the +king could come up to him. Bevern, however, overtook Konigseck, and +greatly hastened his retreat; killing a thousand men and taking +five hundred prisoners, after which Konigseck reached Prague +without further molestation, the Duke of Bevern joining Schwerin's +column. + +The Austrians retired through Prague and encamped on high ground on +the south side of the city, Prince Karl being now in command of the +whole. Had this prince been possessed of military talents, or +listened to Marshal Browne's advice, instead of taking up a +defensive position he would have marched with his whole army +against the king, whose force he would very greatly have +outnumbered; but instead of doing so, he remained inactive. + +On the 2nd of May, twelve days after moving from Saxony, Frederick +arrived within sight of Prague. So closely had he followed the +retreating Austrians that he occupied, that evening, a monastery at +which Prince Karl and Marshal Browne had slept the night before. +Thirty thousand men, who were under the command of Marshal Keith, +were left to watch Prague and its garrison; while Frederick, on +Tuesday, searched for a spot where he could cross the river and +effect a junction with Schwerin. He knew his position, and had +arranged that three cannon shots were to be the signal that the +river had been crossed. + +A pontoon bridge was rapidly thrown over, the signal was given, and +the Prussians poured across it; and before the whole were over +Schwerin's light cavalry came up, and an arrangement was made that +the two forces should meet, at six o'clock next morning, at a spot +within two miles of the Austrian camp on the Lisca hills. + + +[Map: Battle of Prague] + + +All this time the Austrians stood inactive, and permitted the +Prussian columns to join hands without the slightest attempt to +interfere with them. Had Browne been in command, very different +steps would have been taken; but Prince Karl was indolent, self +confident, and opinionated, and had set his army to work to +strengthen its position in every possible manner. This was +naturally extremely strong, its right flank being covered by swampy +ground formed by a chain of ponds; from which the water was let off +in the winter, and the ground sown with oats. These were now a +brilliant green, and to the eyes of Frederick and his generals, +surveying them from the distance, had the aspect of ordinary +meadows. The whole ground was commanded by redoubts and batteries +on the hill, which rose precipitately seven or eight hundred feet +behind the position. In the batteries were sixty heavy cannon; +while there were, in addition, one hundred and fifty field guns. + +Well might Prince Karl think his position altogether unassailable, +and believe that, if the Prussians were mad enough to attack, they +would be destroyed. Frederick and Schwerin spent much time in +surveying the position, and agreed that on two sides the Austrian +position was absolutely impregnable; but that on the right flank, +attack was possible. Schwerin would fain have waited until the next +morning, since his troops were fatigued by their long marches, and +had been on foot since midnight. The Austrians, however, were +expecting a reinforcement of thirty thousand men, under Daun, to +join them hourly; and the king therefore decided on an attack, the +terrible obstacles presented by the swamps being altogether +unnoticed. + +With incredible speed the Prussians moved away to their left, and +by eleven o'clock were in readiness to attack the right flank of +the Austrian position. Browne, however, was in command here and, as +soon as the intention of the Prussians was perceived, he swung back +the right wing of the army at right angles to its original +position, so that he presented a front to the Prussian attack; +massing thickly at Sterbold, a village at the edge of the swamps. +Rapidly the whole of the artillery and cavalry were formed up on +this face and, quick as had been the advance of the Prussians, the +Austrians were perfectly ready to meet them. + +Led by General Winterfeld, the Prussians rushed forward; but as +they advanced, a terrific artillery fire was opened upon them. +Winterfeld was wounded severely, and the troops fell back. + +The main body now advanced, under Schwerin, and the whole again +pressed forward. In spite of the incessant rain of grape and case +shot, the Prussians advanced until they reached the pleasant green +meadows they had seen in the distance. Then the real nature of the +ground was at once disclosed. + +The troops sunk to the knee, and in many cases to the waist, in the +treacherous mud. Soldiers less valiant and less disciplined would +have shrunk, appalled at the obstacle; but the Prussians struggled +on, dragging themselves forward with the greatest difficulty +through mud, through slush, through a rain of grape from upwards of +two hundred cannon, and through a storm of musketry fire from the +infantry. Regiment after regiment, as it reached the edge of the +dismal swamp, plunged in unhesitatingly, crawling and struggling +onward. + +Never in the annals of warfare was there a more terrible fight. For +three hours it continued, without a moment's interval. Thousands of +the assailants had fallen, and their bodies had been trodden deep +into the swamp, as their comrades pressed after them. Sometimes a +regiment struggled back out of the mire, thinking it beyond mortal +power to win victory under such terms; but the next moment they +reformed and flung themselves into the fight again. Schwerin, +seeing the regiment named after him recoil, placed himself at their +head; and shouting, "Follow me, my sons!" led them till he fell +dead, struck by five grape shot. + +The Austrians fought as stoutly, Marshal Browne leading them till a +cannonball took off his foot, and he was carried into Prague, to +die there six weeks later. + +While this terrible struggle was going on, the Prussian cavalry had +made a very wide circuit round the ponds and lakelets, and charged +the Austrian horse on Browne's extreme right. The first lines were +broken by it, but so many and strong were they that the Prussians +were brought to a standstill. Then they drew back and charged a +second, and a third time. + +The Austrians gave way. Prince Karl himself, brave if incapable, +did his best to rally them, but in vain; and at last they fled in +headlong rout, pursued for many miles by Ziethen's horsemen. + +Still the infantry struggle was maintained. At last the Prussian +right wing, hitherto not engaged, though suffering from the +artillery fire on the heights, had their turn. General Mannstein +discovered that, at the angle where Browne threw back the right +wing of the army to face the Prussians, there was a gap. The troops +there had gradually pressed more to their right, to take part in +the tremendous conflict; and the elbow was, therefore, defended +only by a half-moon battery. + +Through the fish tanks he led the way, followed by Princes Henry +and Ferdinand. The whole division struggled through the mud, drove +back the Austrians hastily brought up to oppose them, captured the +battery, and poured into the gap; thereby cutting the Austrian army +in two, and taking both halves in flank. + +This was the deciding point of the battle. The Austrian right, +already holding its own with difficulty, was crumpled up and forced +to fall back hastily. The other half of the army, isolated by the +irruption, threw itself back and endeavoured to make a fresh stand +at spots defended by batteries and stockades. + +But all was in vain. The Prussians pressed forward exultingly, the +fresh troops leading the way. In spite of the confusion occasioned +by the loss of their commanders, and of the surprise caused by the +sudden breakup of their line by the inrush of Mannstein and the +princes, the Austrians fought stoutly. Four times they made a +stand, but the Prussians were not to be denied. The Austrian guns +that had been captured were turned against them and, at last giving +way they fled for Prague, where some 40,000 of them rushed for +shelter, while 15,000 fled up the valley of the Moldau. + +Had it not been that an accident upset Frederick's calculations, +the greater portion of the Austrians would have been obliged to lay +down their arms. Prince Maurice of Dessau had been ordered to move +with the right wing of Keith's army, 15,000 strong, to take up a +position in the Austrian rear. This position he should have reached +hours before, but in his passage down a narrow lane, some of the +pontoons for bridging the river were injured. When the bridge was +put together, it proved too short to reach the opposite bank. + +The cavalry in vain endeavoured to swim the river. The stream was +too strong, and Frederick's masterly combination broke down; and +the bulk of the Austrians, instead of being forced to surrender, +were simply shut up in Prague with its garrison. + +The battle of Prague was one of the fiercest ever fought. The +Austrian army had improved wonderfully, since the Silesian war. +Their artillery were specially good, their infantry had adopted +many of the Prussian improvements and, had Browne been in sole +command, and had he escaped unwounded, the issue of the day might +have been changed. The Prussians lost 12,500 men, killed and +wounded; the Austrians, including prisoners, 13,300. Frederick +himself put the losses higher, estimating that of the Austrians at +24,000, of whom 5000 were prisoners, that of the Prussians at +18,000, "without counting Marshal Schwerin, who alone was worth +about 10,000." + +It is evident that the king's estimate of the loss of the Austrians +must have been excessive. They had the advantage of standing on the +defensive. The Prussian guns did but comparatively little service, +while their own strong batteries played with tremendous effect upon +the Prussians, struggling waist deep in the mud. There can +therefore be little doubt that the latter must have suffered, in +killed and wounded, a much heavier loss than the Austrians. + +Impassive as he was, and accustomed to show his feelings but +little, Frederick was deeply affected at the loss of his trusted +general, and of the splendid soldiers who had been so long and +carefully trained; and even had Prague fallen, the victory would +have been a disastrous one for him; for, threatened as he was by +overwhelming forces, the loss of 5000 men, to him, was quite as +serious as that of 20,000 men to the Confederates. + +In Keith's army there had been considerable disappointment, when it +became known that they were to remain impassive spectators of the +struggle, and that while their comrades were fighting, they had +simply to blockade the northern side of the city. + +"You will have plenty of opportunities," the marshal said quietly +to his aides-de-camp, on seeing their downcast look. "This war is +but beginning. It will be our turn, next time. For it is a great +task the king has set himself, in attempting to carry the strong +position that the Austrians have taken up; and he will not do it +without very heavy loss. Tomorrow you may have reason to +congratulate yourselves that we have had no share in the business." + +Nevertheless, as the day went on, and the tremendous roar of battle +rolled down upon them--terrible, continuous, and never ceasing, for +three hours--even Keith walked, in a state of feverish anxiety, +backwards and forwards in front of his tent; while the troops stood +in groups, talking in low tones, and trying to pierce with their +eyes the dun-coloured cloud of smoke that hung over the combatants +on the other side of Prague. + +When at last the din of battle went rolling down towards that city, the +feeling of joy was intense. In many, the relief from the tension and the +long excitement was so great that they burst into tears. Some shook hands +with each other, others threw their caps into the air, and then a few +voices burst into the well-known verse of the church hymn: + +Nun danket alle Gott, +Mit herzen, mund und haenden. +Of which our English translation runs: +Now thank we all our God, +With hands and hearts and voices. + +And in a moment it was taken up by 30,000 deep voices, in a solemn +chorus, the regimental bands at once joining in the jubilant +thanksgiving. Pious men were these honest, Protestant, hard-fighting +soldiers; and very frequently, on their long marches, they beguiled +the way by the stirring hymns of the church. Keith and those around +him stood bare-headed, as the hymn was sung, and not a word was +spoken for some time after the strains had subsided. + +"That is good to listen to," Keith said, breaking the silence. "We +have often heard the psalm singing of Cromwell's Ironsides spoken +of, with something like contempt; but we can understand, now, how +men who sing like that, with all their hearts, should be almost +invincible." + +"It is the grandest thing that I have ever heard, marshal," Fergus +said. "Of course, I have heard them when they were marching, but it +did not sound like this." + +"No, Fergus; it was the appropriateness of the occasion, and +perhaps the depth of the feelings of the men, and our own sense of +immense relief, that made it so striking. + +"Listen! There is a fresh outburst of firing. The Austrians have +fallen back, but they are fighting stoutly." + +The chief effect of this great battle was of a moral, rather than +material kind. Prague was not a strong place, but with a garrison +of 50,000 men it was too well defended to assault; and until it was +taken Frederick could not march on, as he had intended, and leave +so great a force in the rear. + +The moral effect was, however, enormous. The allies had deemed that +they had a ridiculously easy task before them, and that Frederick +would have to retreat before their advancing armies, and must at +last see that there was nothing but surrender before him. That he +should have emerged from behind the shelter of the Saxon hills, and +have shattered the most formidable army of those that threatened +him, on ground of their own choosing, intrenched and fortified, +caused a feeling of consternation and dismay. The French army, the +Russians, and the united force of the French with the German +Confederacy were all arrested on their march, and a month elapsed +before they were again set in motion. + +Marshal Daun, who had arrived at Erdwise, fell back at once when +the news reached him and, taking post at the entrance of the +defile, he made the greatest efforts to increase his army. +Reinforcements were sent to him from Vienna and all the adjacent +country. The Duke of Bevern was posted with 20,000 men to watch +him; and Frederick sat down, with all his force, to capture Prague. + +The siege train was hurried up from Dresden, and on the 9th of May +his batteries on the south side of the city, and those of Keith on +the north, opened fire on the city. For a month missiles were +poured into the town. Magazines were blown up, and terrible +destruction done, but the garrison held out firmly. At times they +made sorties, but these were always driven in again, with much +loss. But 50,000 men behind fortifications, however weak, were not +to be attacked. Every approach to the city was closely guarded, but +it became at last evident that, as long as the provisions held out, +Prague was not to be taken. + +The cannonade became less incessant, and after a month almost died +away; for Daun had by this time gathered a large army, and it was +evident that another great battle would have to be fought. If this +was won by the Prussians, Prague would be forced to surrender. If +not, the city was saved. + +It was not until the 12th of June that Daun, a cautious and careful +general, in accordance with urgent orders from Vienna prepared to +advance. His force had now grown to 60,000; 40,000 of the garrison +of Prague could be spared, to issue out to help him. Frederick had +under 70,000, and of these a great portion must remain to guard +their siege works. Thus, then, all the advantages lay with the +relieving army. + +Several officers in disguise were despatched, by Daun, to carry +into Prague the news of his advance; and to warn Prince Karl to +sally out, with the whole of his force, and fall upon the Prussians +as soon as he attacked them in the rear. So vigilant, however, were +the besiegers that none of these messengers succeeded in entering +Prague. + +On the 13th Frederick set out, with 10,000 men--to be followed by +4000 more under Prince Maurice, two days later, these being all +that could be spared from the siege works--to join Bevern, who had +fallen back as Daun advanced. The junction effected, Frederick +joined Bevern and approached Daun, who was posted in a strong +position near Kolin, thirty-five miles from Prague. On the 17th +Prince Maurice arrived, and after several changes of position the +armies faced each other on the 18th, within a short distance of +Kolin. + +Daun's new position was also a strong one, and was, in fact, only +to be assailed on its right; and the Prussian army was moved in +that direction, their order being to pay no attention to the +Austrian batteries or musketry fire, but to march steadily to the +spot indicated. This was done. Ziethen dashed with his hussars upon +the Austrian cavalry, drawn up to bar the way; defeated them, and +drove them far from the field; while Hulsen's division of infantry +carried the village of Preezer, on the Austrian flank, in spite of +the Austrian batteries. So far Frederick's combination had worked +admirably. + +Hulsen then attacked a wood behind it, strongly held by the +Austrians. Here a struggle commenced which lasted the whole day, +the wood being several times taken and lost. He was not supported, +owing to a mistake that entirely upset Frederick's plan of battle. + +While three miles away from the point where the attack was to be +delivered, Mannstein, whose quickness of inspiration had largely +contributed to the victory of Prague, now ruined Frederick's plan +by his impetuosity. The corn fields, through which his division was +marching towards the assault of the Austrian left, were full of +Croats; who kept up so galling a fire that, losing all patience, he +turned and attacked them. + +The regiment to which he gave the order cleared the Croats off; but +these returned, strongly reinforced. The regiments coming behind, +supposing that fresh orders had arrived, also turned off; and in a +short time the whole division, whose support was so sorely needed +by Hulsen, were assaulting the almost impregnable Austrian position +in front. + +Another mistake--this time arising from a misconception of a too +brief and positive order, given by Frederick himself--led Prince +Maurice, who commanded the Prussian centre, to hurl himself in like +manner against the Austrians. + +For four hours the battle raged. In spite of their disadvantages, +the Prussians fought so desperately that Daun believed the day to +be lost, and sent orders to the troops to retreat to Suchdol; but +the commander of the Saxon cavalry considered the order premature +and, gathering a large body of Austrian infantry, charged with them +and his own cavalry so furiously upon Hulsen that the latter was +forced to retreat. + +The movement spread, the attack slackened, and the other division +moved down the hill. They had all but won. Frederick in vain tried +to rally and lead them afresh to the attack. They had done all that +men could do, and the battle ceased. Daun scarcely attempted to +pursue, and the Prussians marched away, unmolested even by cavalry; +some of the regiments remaining firm in their position until +nightfall, repulsing with great loss the one attempt of the +Austrians at pursuit; and Ziethen's cavalry did not draw off until +ten at night. + +The Austrians had 60,000 men in the field, of whom they lost in +killed and wounded 8114. The Prussians, who began the day 34,000 +strong, lost 13,773; of whom the prisoners, including all the +wounded, amounted to 5380. + +The news of the disaster, and with it Frederick's order to prepare +to raise the siege of Prague at once, came like a thunderclap upon +the Prussian camp. Frederick himself, and the remnant of his army, +arrived there in good order, with all their baggage train, a day +later. The cannon were removed from the batteries, the magazines +emptied; and in good order, and without any attempt on the part of +the Austrian garrison to molest them, the Prussian army marched +away and took up their post at Leitmeritz. + +The news that an Austrian army had at last beaten Frederick, and +that Prague was saved, caused an exultation and joy, among the +allies, equal to the dismay that had been aroused by the defeat at +Prague; although there was nothing remarkable, or worth much +congratulation, in the fact that an army, in an almost impregnable +position, had repulsed the attack of another of little over half +its strength. + + + +Chapter 9: In Disguise. + + +Leitmeritz, lying as it did but a short distance beyond the mouth +of the defiles leading into Saxony, was an admirably chosen +position. Supplies for the army could be brought up by the Elbe, +and a retreat was assured, should an overwhelming force advance to +the attack; while from this spot Frederick could march, at once, +either to the defence of Silesia, or to check an enemy approaching +from the west towards the defiles through the mountains. + +The news of the defeat at Kolin set all the enemies of Prussia in +movement. The Russian army entered East Prussia, where there was no +adequate force to oppose it; the Swedes issued from Stralsund; the +French pressed hard upon the so-called British column of +observation, and forced the Duke of Cumberland to retreat before +them. Another French army, in conjunction with that of the German +Confederacy, threatened the western passes into Saxony. + +As yet, it was impossible to say where Marshal Daun and Prince Karl +would deliver their blow, and great efforts were made to fill up +the terrible gaps created at Prague and Kolin, in the regiments +most hotly engaged, with fresh troops; who were speedily rendered, +by incessant drills and discipline, fit to take their places in the +ranks with the veterans. + +The king was lodged in the cathedral close of the city. Keith with +his division occupied the other side of the river, across which a +bridge was at once thrown. Prince Maurice and Bevern had gone to +Bunzlau, at the junction of the Iser and Elbe; but when, upon a +crowd of light Austrian horse approaching, the Prince sent to the +king to ask whether he should retreat, he was at once recalled, and +the Prince of Prussia appointed in his stead. + +On the 2nd of July came news which, on the top of his other +troubles, almost prostrated Frederick. This was of the death of his +mother, to whom he was most fondly attached. He retired from public +view for some days; for although he was as iron in the hour of +battle, he was a man of very sensitive disposition, and fondly +attached to his family. + +His chief confidant during this sad time was the English +ambassador, Mitchell; a bluff, shrewd, hearty man, for whom the +king had conceived a close friendship. He had accompanied Frederick +from the time he left Berlin, and had even been near him on the +battlefields; and it was in no small degree due to his despatches +and correspondence that we have obtained so close a view of +Frederick, the man, as distinct from Frederick the king and +general. + +The Prince of Prussia, however, did no better than Prince Maurice. +The main Austrian army, after much hesitation, at last crossed the +Elbe and moved against him; thinking, doubtless, that he was a less +formidable antagonist than the king. The prince fell back, but in +such hesitating and blundering fashion that he allowed the +Austrians to get between him and his base, the town of Zittau, +where his magazines had been established. + +Zittau stood at the foot of the mountain, and was a Saxon town. The +Austrians had come to deliver Saxony, and they began the work by +firing red-hot balls into Zittau, thereby laying the whole town in +ashes, rendering 10,000 people homeless, and doing no injury +whatever to the Prussian garrison or magazines. + +The heat, however, from the ruins was so terrible that the five +battalions in garrison there were unable to support it and, +evacuating the town, joined the prince's army; which immediately +retired to Bautzen on the other side of the mountains, leaving the +defiles to Saxony and Silesia both unguarded. + +As messenger after messenger arrived at Leitmeritz, with reports of +the movements of the troops, the astonishment and indignation of +Frederick rose higher and higher. The whole fruits of the campaign +were lost, by this astounding succession of blunders; and on +hearing that Zittau had been destroyed, and that the army had +arrived at Bautzen in the condition of a beaten and disheartened +force, he at once started, with the bulk of the army, by the Elbe +passes for that town; leaving Maurice of Dessau, with 10,000 men, +to secure the passes; and Keith to follow more slowly with the +baggage train and magazines. + +On his arrival at Bautzen Frederick refused to speak to his +brother, but sent him a message saying that he deserved to be +brought before a court martial, which would sentence him and all +his generals to death; but that he should not carry the matter so +far, being unable to forget that the chief offender was his +brother. The prince resigned his command, and the king, in answer +to his letter to that effect, said that, in the situation created +by him, nothing was left but to try the last extremity. + +"I must go and give battle," he wrote, "and if we cannot conquer, +we must all of us get ourselves killed." + +Frederick, indeed, as his letters show, had fully made up his mind +that he would die in battle, rather than live beaten. The animosity +of his enemies was, to a large extent, personal to himself; and he +believed that they would, after his death, be inclined to give +better terms to Prussia than they would ever grant, while he lived. +For three weeks the king vainly tried to get the Austrians to give +battle, but Prince Karl and Daun remained on the hill from which +they had bombarded Zittau, and which they had now strongly +fortified. + +Their barbarous and most useless bombardment of Zittau had done +their cause harm; for it roused a fierce cry of indignation +throughout Europe, even among their allies; excited public feeling +in England to the highest point in favour of Frederick; and created +a strong feeling of hostility to the Austrians throughout Saxony. + +As soon as Keith and the waggon train arrived, bringing up the +Prussian strength to 56,000, the king started, on the 15th August +(1757), for Bernstadt; and then, to the stupefaction of the +Austrians--who had believed that they had either Saxony or Silesia +at their mercy, whenever they could make up their mind which ought +first to be gobbled up--so rapidly did the Prussian cavalry push +forward that Generals Beck and Nadasti were both so taken by +surprise that they had to ride for their lives, leaving baggage +coaches, horses, and all their belongings behind them. + +On the 16th, Frederick with the army marched and offered battle to +the Austrians; but although so superior in numbers, they refused to +be beguiled from their fortified hill. At last, after tempting them +in vain, Frederick was forced to abandon the attempt and return to +Saxony, bitterly disappointed. He had wanted, above all things, to +finish with the Austrians; so as to be able to move off to the +other points threatened. + +He now arranged that Bevern and Winterfeld should take the command +in his absence, watch the Austrians, and guard Silesia; while he, +with 23,000 men, marched on the 31st of August from Dresden, with +the intention of attacking the combined French and German +Confederacy force, under Soubise, that had already reached Erfurt. +Keith accompanied the king on his harassing march. + +Since the arrival of the army at Leitmeritz, Fergus had been +incessantly engaged in carrying despatches between that town and +Dresden; and worked even harder while the king was trying, but in +vain, to bring about an engagement with the Austrians. For the +first few days after starting for Erfurt, he had a comparatively +quiet time of it. The marshal was now constantly the king's +companion, his cheerful and buoyant temper being invaluable to +Frederick, in this time of terrible anxiety. Fergus would have +found it dull work, had it not been for the companionship of +Lindsay, who was always light hearted, and ready to make the best +of everything. + +"I would rather be an aide-de-camp than a general, at present, +Drummond," he said one day. "Thank goodness, we get our orders and +have to carry them out, and leave all the thinking to be done by +others! Never was there such a mess as this. Here we are in +October, and we are very much as we were when we began in March." + +"Yes, except that all our enemies are drawing closer to us." + +"They are closer, certainly, but none of them would seem to know +what he wants to do; and as for fighting, it is of all things that +which they most avoid. We have been trying, for the last two +months, for a fight with the Austrians, and cannot get one. Now we +are off to Erfurt, and I will wager a month's pay that the French +will retire, as soon as we approach; and we shall have all this +long tramp for nothing, and will have to hurry back again, as fast +as we came." + +"It is unfortunate that we had to come, Lindsay. Things always seem +to go badly, when the king himself is not present. The princes make +blunder after blunder, and I have no faith in Bevern." + +"No," Lindsay agreed, "but he has Winterfeld with him." + +"Yes, he is a splendid fellow," Drummond said; "but everyone knows +that he and Bevern do not get on well together, and that the duke +would very much rather that Winterfeld was not with him; and with +two men like that, the one slow and cautious, the other quick and +daring, there are sure to be disagreements. We are going to attack +a force more than twice our own strength, but I am much more +certain as to what will be the result, than I am that we shall find +matters unchanged when we get back here." + +The foreboding was very quickly confirmed. A day or two later came +the news that the Austrians had suddenly attacked an advanced +position called the Jakelsberg; where Winterfeld, who commanded the +van of Bevern's army, had posted two thousand grenadiers. Prince +Karl undertook the operation by no means willingly; but the +indignation, at Vienna, at his long delays had resulted in +imperative orders being sent to him, to fight. Nadasti was to lead +the attack, with fifteen thousand men; while the main army +remained, a short distance behind, ready to move up should a +general battle be brought on. + +The march was made at night, and at daybreak a thousand Croats, and +forty companies of regular infantry, rushed up the hill. Although +taken by surprise, the Prussians promptly formed and drove them +down again. Winterfeld was some miles behind, having been escorting +an important convoy; and rode at a gallop to the spot, as soon as +he heard the sound of cannon; and brought up two regiments, at a +run, just as the grenadiers were retiring from the hill, unable to +withstand the masses hurled against them. + +Sending urgent messages to Bevern, to hurry up reinforcements, +Winterfeld led his two regiments forward, joined the grenadiers +and, rushing eagerly up the hill, regained the position. But the +Austrians were not to be denied, and the fight was obstinately +sustained on both sides. No reinforcements reached Winterfeld and, +after an hour's desperate fighting, he was struck in the breast by +a musket ball and fell, mortally wounded. + +The Prussians drew off, slowly and in good order, at two o'clock in +the afternoon; and soon afterwards the Austrians also retired, +nothing having come of this useless battle save heavy loss to both +sides, and the killing of one of Frederick's best and most trusted +generals. It was not, however, without result; for Bevern, freed +from the restraint of his energetic colleague, at once fell back to +Schlesien, where he was more comfortable, near his magazines. + +Keith sent for Fergus, on the evening when this bad news had +arrived. + +"I want you, lad, to undertake a dangerous service. Now that +Winterfeld has been killed, the king is more anxious than ever as +to the situation. It is enough to madden anyone. It is imperative +that he should get to Erfurt, and fight the French. On the other +hand, everything may go wrong with Bevern while he is away, to say +nothing of other troubles. Cumberland is retreating to the sea; the +Russians are ever gaining ground in East Prussia; there is nothing, +now, to prevent the remaining French army from marching on Berlin; +and the Swedes have issued from Stralsund. It may be that by this +time Soubise has moved from Erfurt; and this is what, above all +things, we want to know. + +"You showed so much shrewdness, in your last adventure, that I +believe you might get through this safely. Doubtless there are +cavalry parties, far in advance of Erfurt, and these would have to +be passed. The point is, will you undertake this mission, to go to +Erfurt to ascertain the force there, and if possible their +intentions, and bring us back word?" + +"I shall be glad to try, marshal. There should be no difficulty +about it. I shall, of course, go in disguise. I should not be +likely to fall in with any of the enemy's cavalry patrols, till +within a short distance of Erfurt; but should I do so, there would +be little chance of their catching me, mounted as I am. + +"I could leave my horse within a short distance of the town. Two or +three hours would be sufficient to gather news of the strength of +the force there, and the movements of any bodies of detached +troops." + +"Yes, you should have no great difficulty about that. A large +proportion of the population are favourable to us and, being so +near the frontier of Hanover, your accent and theirs must be so +close that no one would suspect you of being aught but a townsman. + +"Of course, the great thing is speed. We shall march from eighteen +to twenty miles a day. You will be able to go fifty. That is to +say, if you start at once you can be there in the morning; and on +the following morning you can bring us back news." + +An hour later Fergus, dressed as a small farmer, started. It was a +main line of road, and therefore he was able to travel as fast, at +night, as he would do in the day. There was the advantage, too, +that the disparity between his attire and the appearance of the +horse he rode would pass unnoticed, in the darkness. He had with +him a map of the road, on a large scale; and beneath his cloak he +carried a small lantern, so as to be able to make detours, to avoid +towns where detachments of the enemy's cavalry might be lying. + +He had started two hours after the troops halted, and had four +hours of daylight still before him, which he made the most of, and +by sunset he was within fifteen miles of Erfurt. So far, he had not +left the main road; but he now learned, from some peasants, that +there was a small party of French hussars at a place three miles +ahead. He therefore struck off by a byroad and, travelling slowly +along, turned off two hours later to a farmhouse, the lights from +which had made him aware of its proximity. + +He dismounted a hundred yards from it, fastened his horse loosely +to a fence, and then went forward on foot, and peeped in cautiously +at the window. It was well that he had taken the precaution, for +the kitchen into which he looked contained a dozen French hussars. +He retired at once, led his horse until he reached the road again, +and then mounted. + +Presently he met a man driving a cart. + +"My friend," he said, "do you know of any place where a quiet man +could put up, without running the risk of finding himself in the +midst of these French and Confederacy troops?" + +"'Tis not easy," the man replied, "for they are all over the +country, pillaging and plundering. We are heartily sick of them, +and there are not a few of us who would be glad, if the King of +Prussia would come and turn them out, neck and crop." + +"I don't care what sort of a place it is, so that I could put my +horse up. It is a good one and, like enough, some of these fellows +would take a fancy to it." + +"I don't think that it would be safe in any farmhouse within ten +miles of here; but if you like to come with me, my hut stands at +the edge of a wood, and you could leave him there without much +risk." + +"Thank you, very much; that would suit me well. It is just what I +had intended to do, but in the darkness I have no great chance of +finding a wood. + +"How far are we from Erfurt, now?" + +"About five miles." + +"That will do very well. I have some business to do there, and can +go and come back by the afternoon." + +In a quarter of an hour they arrived at the man's house. It was but +a small place. + +"Not much to rob here," his host said grimly. "They have taken my +two cows, and all my poultry. My horse only escaped because they +did not think him fit for anything. + +"This is a stranger, wife," he went on, as a woman rose, in some +alarm, from a stool upon which she was crouching by the fire. "He +will stop here for the night and, though there is little enough to +offer him, at least we can make him welcome." + +He took a torch from the corner of the room, lighted it at the +fire, and went out. + +"You are right about your horse, my friend," he said; "and it is +small chance you would have of taking him back with you, if any of +these fellows set eyes on him. I see your saddlery hardly matches +with your horse." + +Fergus had indeed, before starting, taken off his saddle and other +military equipments; and had replaced them with a common country +saddle and bridle, adding a pair of rough wallets and the commonest +of horse cloths, so as to disguise the animal as much as possible. + +"I am sorry that I cannot give you a feed for the animal," the man +went on; "but I have none, and my horse has to make shift with what +he can pick up." + +"I have one of my wallets full. I baited the horse at inns, as I +came along. He may as well have a feed, before I take him out into +the wood." + +He poured a good feed onto a flat stone. As he did so, the +peasant's horse lifted up his head and snuffed the air. + +"You shall have some too, old boy," Fergus said; and going across, +was about to empty some on to the ground before it, when its owner, +taking off his hat, held it out. + +"Put it into this," he said. "It is seldom, indeed, that he gets +such a treat; and I would not that he should lose a grain." + +Fergus poured a bountiful feed into the hat. + +"Now," he said, "I can supplement your supper, as well as your +horse's;" and from the other wallet he produced a cold leg of pork, +that Karl had put in before he started; together with three loaves; +and two bottles of wine, carefully done up in straw. + +The peasant looked astonished, as Fergus took these out and placed +them upon the table. + +"No, no, sir," he said, "we cannot take your food in that way." + +"You are heartily welcome to it," Fergus said. "If you do not +assist me to eat it, it will be wasted. Tomorrow I shall breakfast +at Erfurt, and maybe dine, also. I will start as soon as I get +back." + +"Well, well, sir, it shall be as you please," the man said; "but it +seems that we are reversing our parts, and that you have become the +host, and we your guests." + +It was a pleasant meal by the torch light. Many a month had passed +since the peasants had tasted meat; and the bread, fresh from the +Prussian bakeries, was of a very different quality to the black +oaten bread to which they were accustomed. A horn of good wine +completed their enjoyment. + +When the meal was done, the man said: + +"Now, master, I will guide you to the wood." + +There was no occasion to lead the horse; for it, as well as its +companion, had been trained to follow their master like dogs, and +to come to a whistle. The wood was but two or three hundred yards +off, and the peasant led the way through the trees to a small open +space in its centre. The saddle and bridle had been removed before +they left the cottage; and Fergus tethered the horse, by a foot +rope, to a sapling growing on the edge of the clearing. Then he +patted it on the neck, and left it beginning to crop the short +grass. + +"It won't get much," the peasant said, "for my animal keeps it +pretty short. It is his best feeding place, now; and I generally +turn it out here, at night, when the day's work is done." + +"What is its work, principally?" + +"There is only one sort, now," the man said. "I cut faggots in the +forest, and take a cart load into Erfurt, twice a week. I hope, by +the spring, that all these troubles will be over, and then I +cultivate two or three acres of ground; but so long as these +French, and the Confederacy troops, who are as bad, are about, it +is no use to think of growing anything. + +"Now, sir, is there anything that I can do for you?" he went on, +after they returned to the cottage, and had both lit their pipes +and seated themselves by the fire. + +"I can see that you are not what you look. A farmer does not ride +about the country on a horse fit for a king, or put up at a cottage +like this." + +"Yes; you can help me by leading me by quiet paths to Erfurt. I +tell you frankly that my business, there, is to find out how strong +the French and Confederacy army is, in and around the town; also +whether they are taking any precautions against an attack, and if +there are any signs that they intend to enter Hanover, or to move +towards Dresden." + +"I daresay I can learn all that for you, without difficulty; for I +supply several of the inns with faggots. There are troops quartered +in all of them, and the helpers and servants are sure to hear what +is going on. Not, of course, in the inns where the French are +quartered, but where the German men are lodged. They speak plainly +enough there, and indeed everyone knows that a great many of them +are there against their will. The Hesse and Gotha and Dessau men +would all prefer fighting on the Prussian side, but when they were +called out they had to obey. + +"At what time will you start?" + +"I should like to get to Erfurt as soon as the place is astir." + +"That is by five," the man said. "There is trumpeting and drumming +enough by that time, and no one could sleep longer if they wanted +to." + +"Then we will start at dawn." + +The peasant would have given up his bed to Fergus, but the latter +would not hear of it, and said that he was quite accustomed to +sleeping on the ground; whereupon the peasant went out, and +returned with a large armful of rushes; which, as he told Fergus, +he had cut only the day before to mend a hole in the thatch. Fergus +was well content, for he knew well enough that he should sleep very +much better, on fresh rushes, than he should in the peasant's bed +place, where he would probably be assailed by an army of fleas. + +As soon as the man and his wife were astir in the morning, Fergus +got up; bathed his head and face in a tiny streamlet, that ran +within a few yards of the house; then, after cutting a hunch of +bread to eat on their way, the two started. + +They did not come down upon the main road until within a mile and a +half of the town, and they then passed through a large village, +where a troop of French cavalry were engaged in grooming their +horses. They attracted no attention whatever, and entered Erfurt at +a quarter-past five. They separated when they got into the town, +agreeing to meet in front of the cathedral, at eleven o'clock. + +Fergus went to an eating house, where he saw a party of French +non-commissioned officers and soldiers seated. They were talking +freely, confident that neither the landlord, the man who was +serving them, nor the two or three Germans present could understand +them. + +It was evident that they had very little confidence in Soubise. + +"One would think," a sergeant said, "that we were going to change +our nationality, and to settle down here for life. Here we have +some fifty thousand men, and there is nothing to stop our going to +Dresden, except some ten thousand or twelve thousand Prussians. +They say that Daun has an army that could eat up Frederick, and it +is certain that he could not spare a sergeant's guard to help bar +the way. + +"I cannot understand it, comrades. This leisurely way of making war +may suit some people, but it is not our way." + +"And we must admit that it is not the Prussians' way," another +said. "They are our enemies; though why, I am sure I don't know. +That is not our business. But the way that they dash out, and set +the Austrians dancing, is really splendid. I wish that our own +generals had a little of Fritz's energy and go." + +There was a general murmur of assent. + +"Here we are, September beginning, and next to nothing done. Now +there would be enough to do, if Fritz could get away from Daun and +dash off in this direction." + +"Yes," another said, "there would be plenty to do, but I would not +mind wagering that we should not wait for him; and after all, I am +not sure if it would not be the best thing to do, for these Germans +with us are little better than a rabble." + +"That is so, Francois; but, mixed up with us as they would be, they +would have to fight whether they liked it or not. At any rate, if +we don't mean to fight, what are we here for?" + +"That I cannot say," another laughed; "but I own I am not so eager +to fight as you seem to be. We are very comfortable. We ride about +the country, we take pretty well what we like. It is better than +being in barracks, at home. + +"While, on the other hand, it is no joke fighting these Prussians. +The fights are not skirmishes, they are battles. It is not a +question of a few hundred killed, it is a question of ding-dong +fighting, and of fifteen or twenty thousand killed on each side--no +joke, that. For my part, I am quite content to take it easy at +Erfurt, and to leave it to the Austrians to settle matters with +these obstinate fellows." + +So they continued talking, and Fergus saw that, so far, no news +whatever of Frederick's march against Erfurt had reached them. He +learned, too, that although there were some outlying bodies to the +north, the main bulk of the force lay in and around Erfurt. + +The contempt with which the French soldiers spoke of the German +portion of the army was very great. Each little state had, by the +order of the Council of the Confederacy, been compelled to furnish +a contingent, even if its representatives in the council had +opposed the proposal; therefore very many of the men had joined +unwillingly, while in other cases the French declared that the levy +had been made up by hiring idlers and ne'er-do-wells in the towns, +so as to avoid having to put the conscription into force in the +rural districts. + +The officers were declared to be as incapable as the men, and had +it not been that an Austrian contingent some five thousand strong +had been joined with them, and the drilling largely undertaken by +the non-commissioned officers of this force, nothing approaching +order or discipline could have been maintained. All the Frenchmen +lamented their fortune in having to act with such allies, instead +of being with the purely French army that was gradually pressing +the Duke of Cumberland to the seaboard. + +Fergus waited until the party had left the inn, when the landlord +himself came across to hand him his reckoning. + +"Bad times, master," he said. "Bad times," shaking his head +ruefully. + +"Yes, they are bad enough, landlord; but I should say that you must +be doing a good trade, with all these soldiers in the town." + +"A good trade!" the landlord repeated. "I am being ruined. Do you +not know that, in addition to levying a heavy contribution on the +town, they issued a regulation settling the prices at which the +troops were to be served, at beer shops and inns: breakfast--and +you saw what those fellows ate--4 pence; a tumbler of wine, 1 +pence; dinner, 5 pence. Why, each item costs me more than double +that; and as nobody brings in cattle, for these might be seized on +the way, and no compensation given, so meat gets dearer. We are +waiting until there is none to be had, on any terms; and then we +shall send representatives to the general, to point out to him that +it is absolutely impossible for us to obey the regulations. + +"Ah, these are terrible times! We could not have suffered more than +this, had Coburg joined Frederick; though they say that Richelieu's +French army is plundering even worse, in Hanover and the country +beyond it, than Soubise is doing here. + +"Moreover, one would rather be plundered by an enemy than by +fellows who pretend to come hither as friends. If Frederick would +march in here, I would open my house free to all comers, and would +not grudge the last drop of wine in my cellar." + +"There is never any saying," Fergus replied. "The King of Prussia +always appears when least expected, and more unlikely things have +happened than that he should appear here, some fine morning." + + +[Illustration: As Fergus was sallying out, a mounted officer +dashed by at a gallop] + + +Having paid his reckoning, he went to the door. As he was sallying +out, a mounted officer dashed by at a headlong gallop; his horse +was flecked with foam, and it was evident that he had ridden far +and fast, on an important errand. + +Having nothing to do until he should meet the peasant, Fergus +followed the officer at a leisurely pace; and in five minutes came +up with the horse, held by a soldier at the entrance gate of a very +large house. Sentries were pacing up and down in front of it, and +officers going in and out. + +"Is that the headquarters of the French general?" he asked a +townsman. + +"Yes," and the man walked on with a muttered malediction. + +A few minutes later several mounted officers rode out, and dashed +off in haste in various directions. + +"There is evidently something up," Fergus said to himself. "Perhaps +they have got news of the Prussian approach." + +In a quarter of an hour several general officers arrived, and +entered the house. It was evident that a council of war had been +summoned. Half an hour elapsed, and then a number of aides-de-camp +and staff officers rode off in haste. A few minutes later, a +trumpet sounded a regimental call, and then the assembly. + +Before it had died away, similar calls echoed from all parts of the +town. Soldiers ran hastily through the streets, mounted officers +dashed in every direction, and the citizens came to their doors, in +surprise at this sudden movement. + +Fergus had no longer any doubt about the cause of the stir. The +great thing, now, was to ascertain whether the army would advance +to take up some strong position outside the town and oppose the +Prussian advance, or whether they would march away. + +Being fifty thousand in number, the former would appear to be the +natural course for a general to adopt; as Frederick had with him +but twenty-three thousand men. Of this fact, however, Soubise would +be ignorant, and might only have heard that the Prussian army was +marching to annihilate him. + +Before long baggage waggons began to clatter through the streets. +They were being driven westward, and it was in the same direction +that the regiments made their way. + +Fergus followed them to the plain outside the town. The tents had +already been struck; the troops, as they arrived from the town and +camp, were marshalled in order; a long train of baggage waggons +were already making their way westward; and there was no longer any +grounds for doubt that Soubise was retreating. + +It was just eleven o'clock when Fergus returned to the cathedral. +The peasant was awaiting him. + +"They all seem on the move," the latter said. "I have heard much +about them." + +"It does not matter, now," Fergus replied. "I must get back to your +place, as quickly as I can." + +Not a word was spoken, until they had left the town. + +"They must be going up into Hanover, to join the French army +there," the peasant said. + +"They are running away. Frederick will be here tomorrow night, or +at any rate next day." + +"The news seems too good to be true, master. How have you learnt +it?" + +"I have learnt it from no one here. I am one of the king's +officers, and I came on here to find out whether the enemy would be +likely to come out and fight, or would bolt when they heard of his +advance." + +"The Lord be praised!" the man said piously, taking off his hat as +he spoke. "I thought, sir, that there was something curious in your +having such a horse; and still more so, in your wanting to find out +all about the force of the enemy here. But it was no business of +mine; and I felt that you must be a friend for, had you been +Austrian or French, you would have ridden boldly into the town." + +As they went along the road they were met by several troops of +cavalry, riding at full speed. + +"Is the way we came this morning the shortest?" + +"Yes, sir, by a good mile." + +"Then we will return by it," said Fergus. + +As soon as they left the main road they went at a run for some +distance, and then broke into a fast walk. In an hour from the time +of leaving Erfurt, they arrived at the hut. + +"I will run along and fetch your horse, sir," the peasant said. + +"No, I will go myself. He does not know you, and might refuse to +let you come near him." + +In a few minutes, Fergus returned with his horse. The saddle, +bridle, and wallets were quickly put on. Fergus dropped his pistols +into his saddlebags, and buckled on the sword he had brought with +him. It was not his own, but one he had bought at starting--a good +piece of steel, but with a battered and rusty sheath that showed +that it had been lying for weeks, possibly for months, on some +field of battle before being picked up. + +Then, with a word of adieu and thanks to the peasant and his wife, +and slipping a crown piece into the hand of the latter, he mounted +and rode off. + + + +Chapter 10: Rossbach. + + +Fergus knew that there were several cavalry posts ahead, and +thought it likely that some of these might be left to give warning +of the Prussian approach. He therefore rode across the country for +some miles. He had begun to think that he must have gone beyond the +limit of their outposts, when he saw a hussar pacing across the +line in front of him, his beat evidently being between two small +woods three or four hundred yards apart. + +He checked his horse, as he saw Fergus approaching. He was a +good-tempered looking fellow, and nodded to Fergus as much as to +say that, if he could speak his language, he should like a chat +with him. The latter at once checked his horse, and said good day, +in French. + +"Ah, you speak our language!" the soldier said. "I am glad to +exchange a word with someone. It is hot here, especially when one's +time is up, and one ought to have been relieved, an hour ago." + +"Yes, I can understand that. I expect you have been forgotten." + +"Well, it does not make much difference. I shall get off my next +guard, in consequence." + +"You will have to wait some time before you are relieved, if you +stop here." + +"What do you mean?" the soldier asked. + +"I mean that when I left Erfurt your army was all moving west, and +as I rode along I met several troops of cavalry, galloping to join +them." + +"That is strange news. Nothing whatever was known, when I came out +here." + +"No, the news only arrived at Erfurt, this morning, that +Frederick's army is within a day's march; and I saw the troops +march out, and the baggage waggons on their way before I started. I +don't say that your troop may have gone. They may have stopped to +form a post of observation." + +"Well, at any rate I shall go into the village and see. I ought to +have been relieved an hour ago; and if they had such news as that, +and had remained there, they would have been sure to have sent, to +order all videttes to use special vigilance. We have only been +posted here as a sort of practice, for we did not think that there +was an enemy within a hundred and fifty miles; and now, if the news +is true, we may have the Prussian cavalry coming along at any +moment. + +"Well, thank you for warning me," and turning his horse, he went +off at a gallop. + +As the outposts would not have been set, except by the party most +in advance, Fergus knew that there was now no more risk of falling +in with the enemy; unless a cavalry force had been sent forward, to +endeavour to get an idea of the force of the Prussians. But as the +generals had so precipitately decided upon a retreat, it was not +likely that they would have ordered any reconnaissance of this kind +to be made. + +He therefore presently regained the main road and, riding fast, +arrived at the place where the Prussians had pitched their camp, +thirty miles from Erfurt, having made a twenty-miles march that +day. He dismounted at the house where Keith had established his +quarters. + +"I have bad news for you, sir," he said. "Word of your coming +reached Erfurt, at eight o'clock this morning; and by eleven the +whole army were on their march westward, bag and baggage." + +"That is bad news, Fergus. You could hardly have brought worse. The +king had hoped to have struck a heavy blow, and then to be off +again to face the Austrians. What strength were they?" + +"About fifty thousand." + +"How did they get the news of our coming?" + +"That I cannot say, sir. I had gone into Erfurt soon after five, +and had already picked up a good deal of news, from the talk of a +party of French non-commissioned officers who were taking breakfast +at a small inn; and who, not imagining that I could understand +them, talked very freely over affairs. They sat over their meal +some time, and I did not go out until they had left. + +"Just as I did so, a mounted officer galloped past, at a speed that +showed he was the bearer of an important despatch. I followed him +to Soubise's headquarters. While there, I noticed several mounted +officers rode out in great haste. A quarter of an hour later, +several general officers arrived. There was a consultation for half +an hour, and then officers rode off in all directions; and in a few +minutes trumpets were sounding, and drums beating, all over the +town. + +"In a very short time a movement began towards the western gate. By +ten o'clock the tents were all struck round the town, the waggons +loaded, and they were on their way west. An hour later, and the +whole force was in movement in that direction; and as I issued from +the town on this side, I met the cavalry that had been scattered +among the villages, galloping in. I don't think that there is, at +the present moment, an enemy within ten miles of Erfurt." + +"You were in no danger, yourself?" + +"None at all, sir. I passed the night at a friendly peasant's hut, +five miles this side of the town, inside their advanced posts. I +left my horse in a wood, and my peasant guided me by bypaths to the +town. I did not exchange a word with anyone, except the landlord of +the hotel where I breakfasted. He was bitterly hostile to the +enemy. + +"I also spoke to a solitary French vidette who had, in the hurry of +their retreat, been left behind; and told him that he had best be +off, as the whole army was in full march for the west." + +"Well, if you breakfasted at six this morning, you must be hungry. +My dinner will be ready in half an hour, and you had better share +it with me. I must go now, and tell the king the news that you have +brought. I said nothing to him about my having sent you." + +In twenty minutes the marshal returned. + +"The king wishes to see you, Fergus. Of course he is vexed, but he +always takes bad news well, unless it is the result of the blunder +of one of the officers. He does not say much, even then; but it is +very bad for that officer when he sees him. Frederick never +forgives a blunder." + +"Well, Captain Drummond, so you have been playing the spy for us?" + +"I have been doing my best, your majesty." + +"And the French are gone, bag and baggage?" + +"Yes, sire, they have gone off west." + +"To perch themselves somewhere among the mountains, I suppose. +Perhaps they will get bolder, presently, when they hear that they +are more than double my strength. Did you learn anything more than +what Marshal Keith has told me?" + +"I heard a great deal of talk among a party of French +non-commissioned officers, sire. They expressed great +dissatisfaction with their general, and at the long delays. They +also spoke with absolute contempt of the Confederacy army, both +officers and men; and said that, if it had not been for the +drilling by the Austrian non-commissioned officers, they would be +nothing better than a rabble." + +"I daresay Soubise is of the same opinion," the king said, "and +wants them to have a few weeks' more drill before he sets them in +line of battle. However, I have no doubt we shall manage to bring +him to book, before we return. + +"Well, I am obliged to you for your zeal, Captain Drummond; and +although Keith tells me that you got in without being questioned, +such business is always dangerous. Mayhap next time you will have a +better opportunity for distinguishing yourself. As you managed to +pass so freely among them, after you made your escape from prison, +you can clearly be trusted on work of this kind." + +Fergus saluted, and retired. + +The next morning the troops started, as usual, at daybreak. They +were to make but a short march, for they had no longer any occasion +for speed, and they had made the hundred and fifty miles at a very +rapid pace; but when they halted, Frederick with the cavalry rode +straight on into Erfurt. + +"Don't wait to put on your uniform now," Keith said to Fergus, on +his return from the royal quarters; "dinner is waiting; and I am +ready, if you are not. Lindsay is going to dine with me, too." + +"Well, Lindsay," the marshal said, as the latter entered, "you see +the advantages of this young fellow being able to speak German +well. If you had been taken prisoner at Lobositz, you would have +been fast in Spielberg at present; and you see he is now able to +undertake perilous missions, and peril means promotion." + +"I quite see that, marshal," Lindsay said with a smile; "but though +I can get on with French fairly enough, my tongue doesn't seem to +be able to form these crack-jaw German words; and you see, marshal, +it is not the only one that does not. I think, sir, that bad as my +German is, it is not much worse than your own, and you have been +here much longer than I have." + +The marshal laughed. + +"You are right. I cannot say half a dozen German words; but you see +I have not had your motive for acquiring it, and cannot very well +get promotion. And again, it would not do for me to speak better +German than the King of Prussia; who, beyond a few words necessary +for animating his troops on occasion, knows very little German +himself. For general work here French is amply sufficient, because +every officer speaks it; but as you see, German is very useful, +too, to a young officer who wishes to push himself forward, and is +willing to undertake special work of this kind." + +"But even then, marshal, he would have no advantage over a Prussian +officer who speaks French." + +"It depends a good deal upon the Prussian officer. The greater +portion of them are mere machines--splendid fighting machines, no +doubt; but of no great use outside their own work. Anyone could +detect, with half an eye, nineteen out of twenty of them; dress +them how you would, disguise them as you like. They step the +regulation length, bring their foot down in the regulation way, are +as stiff as if they had swallowed a ramrod. They have neither +suppleness nor adaptability. They are so accustomed to obey that +they have almost lost the power of originating, and would be taken +and shot before they were in the enemy's lines ten minutes. Now, +Fergus has the advantage of knowing both languages, and of being +quick-witted and sharp." + +The next two months were passed in marches to and fro. Seidlitz, +with some cavalry, took possession of Gotha, to the great +satisfaction of the duke and duchess; and the king himself rode +over and dined with them. + +While Seidlitz remained there as governor, with a couple of +regiments of horse, a strong body of French and Austrian hussars, +grenadiers, and artillery marched against Gotha. Seidlitz, having +so few men to oppose them, evacuated the place, and the enemy +marched into it in triumphant procession. The duke and duchess made +the best of matters, and invited all the principal officers to a +banquet. + +Just as they were sitting down to this, Seidlitz with his Prussians +reappeared; his men being so artfully scattered about that they +appeared a great deal stronger than they were. The enemy were +seized with panic. Soubise and his generals mounted in great haste, +and in a few minutes the whole were retreating at top speed; +Seidlitz pursuing for some distance, killing thirty and taking +sixty prisoners, with a large amount of baggage and plunder, and +then returning to Gotha to eat the dinner prepared for the enemy. + +Ferdinand of Brunswick, with his division, had been sent off to +check, if possible, the movements of the French army under +Richelieu, near Magdeburg. + +In October came the startling news that Berlin itself was +threatened, and that a force, said to be fifteen thousand strong, +under General Haddick, was in rapid motion towards it. Prince +Maurice was ordered to hasten to its defence, and the king also +moved in that direction. + +The invading force was but four thousand strong. Their numbers, +however, were so magnified by rumour that the governor of Berlin, +who had but four thousand troops, did not venture to oppose them, +but sent the royal family and archives away under a strong escort. +Haddick occupied a suburb of the city, but knowing that as soon as +his real force was known he would be hotly opposed, and receiving +news that Prince Maurice was rapidly approaching, demanded a ransom +of 45,000 pounds; and finally accepted 27,000 pounds, and then +hurried away. Prince Maurice arrived twenty-four hours later. + +The consequences of this little success--magnified by report into +"Berlin captured, Prussian royal family in flight."--turned out +very advantageous to Frederick. The enthusiasm in Paris and Vienna +was enormous, and orders were despatched to the armies to set to, +without further delay, and finish the work. Fifteen thousand men +were sent from Richelieu's army to reinforce Soubise, who thereupon +issued from his mountain stronghold and marched against Leipzig. + +Frederick, however, arrived there first, Ferdinand and Maurice +joining him a day or two later; and while waiting there, Frederick +received the joyful news that England requested him to appoint Duke +Ferdinand, of Brunswick, commander-in-chief of the army until now +commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, who had just sailed for +England. + +Pitt had now risen to almost absolute power in England, and was +busied in reforming the abuses in the army and navy, dismissing +incapable officials, and preparing to render some efficient aid to +its hard-pressed ally. The proposal that Prince Ferdinand should +assume the command of the army--whose efforts had hitherto been +rendered nugatory by the utter incompetence of the Duke of +Cumberland who, although personally as brave as a lion, was +absolutely ignorant of war--afforded immense satisfaction to the +king. + +No better choice could have been made. Ferdinand was related to the +royal families both of England and Prussia. He was a capable +general, prudent and at the same time enterprising, firm under +difficulties, ready to seize opportunities; and under his command +there was no doubt that the northern army, which had hitherto been +useless, and had only been saved from absolute destruction by the +incompetence of the French generals, would now play a useful part. + +On October 30th Soubise, in spite of his orders to fight, and the +fact that he had double the strength of the Prussians, fell back +before them. Soubise himself felt no confidence in his troops, but +upon the other hand his officers and those of the Confederate army +were puffed up with vanity, and remonstrated hotly against retreat. + +The next day Frederick came in sight of Soubise's army, which was +camped on a height near the town of Weissenfels. Frederick had but +one-half of his force with him, the other half, under Keith, being +still detached. Five thousand men garrisoned Weissenfels, but +Frederick made short work of the place. His cannon burst down the +gates, and his troops rushed forward with all speed; but the +garrison fled across the bridge over the Saale, which had already +been prepared for burning; and they set it on fire in such haste +that four hundred were unable to cross, and were made prisoners. +The fugitives joined their army on the other side of the Elbe, and +its guns opened upon the burning bridge, to prevent the Prussians +from trying to extinguish the flames. + +The Prussians returned the fire, and the artillery duel was kept up +until three o'clock, by which time the bridge was consumed. +Frederick had already fixed upon a spot suitable for the erection +of another, and during the night, while the enemy were falling back +to take up a fresh position upon higher ground, the engineers, +working diligently, succeeded in throwing a bridge across. + +Keith arrived at Merseburg the next morning. A strong force lay +opposite, ready to dispute the passage; but when Soubise found that +the king was crossing by his new bridge, he called in all his +detachments and marched away, to a strong position, and there set +himself in array ready to receive an attack. Keith's bridges were +finished on the 3rd of November, and that afternoon he crossed and +joined Frederick. + +On the 4th the army was on the move by two o'clock in the morning. +A bright moon was shining and, by its light, it was discovered that +the enemy had shifted his position for one much stronger, with +approaches protected by patches of wood and bog. The Prussian army +therefore marched back to their camp, the king hoping that, being +so far from their base of supplies, the enemy would be forced ere +long to make some movement that would afford him a chance of +attacking them under better circumstances. + +The ground from Weissenfels rises, very gradually, to a height of a +hundred and twenty feet or so; which in so flat a country is +regarded as a hill. On this slight swelling are several small +villages. Of these Rossbach is the principal, standing high up on +its crest. Here Frederick's right wing was posted, while his left +was at Bedra. The king took up his quarters at a large house in +Rossbach; and from its roof, at eight o'clock on the morning of the +5th, he saw that the enemy were getting into motion and moving away +towards their left. + +The movement had begun much earlier. Half an hour later they had +passed through the village of Grost, and were apparently making +their way to Freiburg, where they had some magazines. Hoping to +have a chance of attacking their rear, Frederick ordered the +cavalry to saddle, and the whole army to be in readiness, and then +sat down to dinner with his officers at noon. Little did he dream, +at the time, that the slow and clumsy movement that he was watching +was intended, by the enemy, to end in a flank attack on himself. + +On the previous day Soubise, with his generals, looking down on the +Prussian camp, had reckoned their force at ten thousand. In reality +they had seen only a portion of their camp, the site being hidden +by a dip of the ground. Even Soubise thought that, with the odds of +over five to one in his favour, he could fight a battle with a +certainty of success; and planned a masterly march, by which he +would place himself on Frederick's left and rear, drive him into +the bend made by the Saale, and annihilate his army. In his +enthusiasm at this happy idea, he sent off a courier to carry the +news, to Versailles, that he was about to annihilate the Prussian +army, and take the king prisoner. + +Frederick's dinner was prolonged. There was nothing to be done, and +patience was one of the king's strong points. At two o'clock an +officer, who had remained on watch on the housetop, hurried down +with news that the enemy had suddenly turned to the left. The king +went up to the roof with his officers, and at once divined the +intention of his foes. + +It was a glorious moment for him. At last, after three weary +months, he was to meet them in battle. Instantly his orders were +given, and in half an hour the Prussian army was all in movement, +with the exception of some irregular corps which were left to +occupy the attention of the enemy's horse, which had been posted as +if to threaten Rossbach. By the line taken, the Prussians were at +once hidden behind the crest of the hill from the enemy; and so +Soubise thought that the Prussians, being afraid of his attack, +were marching away with all speed for Keith's bridge at Merseburg. +He accordingly hurried on his cavalry, and ordered the infantry to +go at a double, for the purpose of capturing the runaway Prussians. + +In the meantime Seidlitz, with four thousand horse, trotted briskly +along until he reached, still concealed from the enemy's sight, the +spot towards which they were hurrying, in two great columns headed +by seven thousand cavalry. He allowed them to move forward until he +was on their flank, and then dashed over the crest of the hill, and +charged like a thunderbolt upon them. + +Taken completely by surprise, the enemy's cavalry had scarce time +to form. Two Austrian regiments and two French were alone able to +do so. But there was no withstanding the impetus of the Prussian +charge. They rode right through the disordered cavalry; turned, +formed, and recharged, and four times cut their way through them, +until they broke away in headlong flight; and were pursued by +Seidlitz until out of sight from the hill, when he turned and +waited, to see where he could find an opportunity of striking +another blow. + +By this time Frederick, with the infantry, was now pouring over the +crest of the hill, their advance heralded by the fire of +twenty-four guns. Rapidly, in echelon, they approached the enemy. +In vain Soubise endeavoured to face round the column, thus taken in +flank, to meet the coming storm. He was seconded by Broglio and the +commander of the Confederate army, but the two columns were jammed +together, and all were in confusion at this astounding and +unexpected attack. Orders were unheard or disobeyed, and everything +was still in utter disorder, when six battalions of Prussian +infantry hurled themselves upon them. + +When forty paces distant, they poured in their first terrible +volley, and then continued their fire as fast as they could load; +creating great havoc among the French troops on whom they had +fallen, while away on each flank the Prussian artillery made deep +gaps in the line. Soon the mass, helpless under this storm of fire, +wavered and shook; and then Seidlitz, who had been concealed with +his cavalry in a hollow a short distance away, hurled himself like +a thunderbolt on their rear, and in a moment they broke up in +headlong flight. In less than half an hour from the first +appearance of the Prussians on the hill, the struggle had ended, +and an army of from fifty to sixty thousand men was a mob of +fugitives; defeated by a force of but twenty-two thousand men, not +above half of whom were engaged. + +The loss of the allies was three thousand killed and wounded, five +thousand prisoners, and seventy-two guns; while the Prussians lost +but one hundred and sixty-five killed, and three hundred and +seventy-six wounded. The victory was one of the most remarkable and +surprising ever gained, for these figures by no means represent the +full loss to the defeated. + +The German portion of the army, after being chased for many miles, +scattered in all directions; and only one regiment reached Erfurt +in military order, and in two days the whole of the men were on +their way to their homes, in the various states composing the +Confederation. The French were in no less disgraceful a condition. +Plundering as they went, a mere disorganized rabble, they continued +their flight until fifty-five miles from the field of battle, and +were long before they gathered again in fighting order. + +The joy caused in Prussia and in England, by this astonishing +victory, was shared largely by the inhabitants of the country +through which the French army had marched. Everywhere they had +plundered and pillaged, as if they had been moving through an +enemy's country instead of one they had professed to come to +deliver. The Protestant inhabitants had everywhere been most +cruelly maltreated, the churches wrecked, and the pastors treated +as criminals. The greater portion of Germany therefore regarded the +defeat of the French as a matter for gratification, rather than the +reverse. + +In England the result was enormous. It had the effect of vastly +strengthening Pitt's position, and twenty thousand British troops +were, ere long, despatched to join the army under the Duke of +Brunswick, which was now called the allied army, and from this time +the French force under Richelieu ceased to be dangerous to +Frederick. France and England were old antagonists, and entered +upon a duel of their own; a duel that was to cost France Canada, +and much besides; to establish England's naval preponderance; and +to extinguish French influence in the Netherlands. + +Fergus Drummond was not under fire, at the memorable battle of +Rossbach. Keith's division was not, in fact, engaged; the affair +having terminated before it arrived. Keith, however, had ridden to +the position on the brow of the hill where the king had stationed +himself; and his staff, following him, had the satisfaction of +seeing the enemy's heavy columns melt into a mass of fugitives, and +spread in all directions over the country, like dust driven before +a sudden whirlwind. + +"What next, I wonder?" Fergus said to Lindsay; who had, three days +before, been promoted to the rank of captain, as much to the +satisfaction of Fergus as to his own. + +"I suppose some more marching," Lindsay replied. "You may be sure +that we shall be off east again, to try conclusions with Prince +Karl. Bevern seems to be making a sad mess of it there. Of course +he is tremendously outnumbered, thirty thousand men against eighty +thousand; but he has fallen back into Silesia without making a +single stand, and suffered Prince Karl to plant himself between +Breslau and Schweidnitz; and the Prince is besieging the latter +town with twenty thousand men, while with sixty thousand he is +facing Bevern." + +Four days after the victory, indeed, Frederick set out with +thirteen thousand men; leaving Prince Henry to maintain the line of +the Saale, and guard Saxony; while Marshal Keith was to go into +Bohemia, raise contributions there, and threaten as far as might be +the Austrian posts in that country. + +Fergus, however, went with the king's army, the king having said to +the Marshal: + +"Keith, lend me that young aide-de-camp of yours. I have seen how +he can be trusted to carry a despatch, at whatever risk to his +life. He is ingenious and full of devices; and he has luck, and +luck goes for a great deal. + +"I like him, too. I have observed that he is always lively and +cheery, even at the end of the longest day's work. I notice too +that, even though your relation, he never becomes too familiar; and +his talk will be refreshing, when I want something to distract my +thoughts from weighty matters." + +So Fergus went with the king, who could ill afford to lose Keith +from his side. With none was he more friendly and intimate and, now +that Schwerin had gone, he relied upon him more implicitly than +upon any other of his officers. + +But Keith had been, for some time, unwell. He was suffering from +asthma and other ailments that rendered rapid travel painful to +him; and he would obtain more rest and ease, in Bohemia, than he +could find in the rapid journey the king intended to make. + +On the fifth day of his march Frederick heard, to his stupefaction, +that Schweidnitz had surrendered. The place was an extremely strong +one, and the king had relied confidently upon its holding out for +two or three months. Its fortifications were constructed in the +best manner; it was abundantly supplied with cannon, ammunition, +and provisions; and its surrender was inexcusable. + +The fault was doubtless, to a large degree, that of its commandant, +who was a man of no resolution or resources; but it was also partly +due to the fact that a portion of the garrison were Saxons, who had +at Pirna been obliged to enter the Prussian service. Great numbers +of these deserted; a hundred and eighty of them, in one day, going +over from an advanced post to the enemy. With troops like these, +there could be no assurance that any post would be firmly held--a +fact that might well shake the confidence of any commander in his +power of resistance. + +The blow was none the less severe, to Frederick, from being partly +the result of his own mistaken step of enrolling men bitterly +hostile in the ranks of the army. Still, disastrous as the news +was, it did not alter his resolution; and at even greater speed +than before he continued his march. Sometimes of an evening he sent +for Fergus, and chatted with him pleasantly for an hour or two, +asking him many questions of his life in Scotland, and discoursing +familiarly on such matters, but never making any allusion to +military affairs. + +On the tenth day of the march they arrived at Gorlitz, where +another piece of bad news reached Frederick. Prince Karl, after +taking Schweidnitz, had fallen with sixty thousand men on Bevern. +He had crossed by five bridges across the Loe, but each column was +met by a Prussian force strongly intrenched. For the space of +fifteen hours the battles had raged, over seven or eight miles of +country. Five times the Austrians had attacked, five times had they +been rolled back again; but at nine o'clock at night they were +successful, more or less, in four of their attacks, while the +Prussian left wing, under the command of Ziethen, had driven its +assailants across the river again. + +During the night Bevern had drawn off, marched through Breslau, and +crossed the Oder, leaving eighty cannon and eight thousand killed +and wounded--a tremendous loss, indeed, when the army at daybreak +had been thirty thousand strong. Bevern himself rode out to +reconnoitre, in the gray light of the morning, attended only by a +groom, and fell in with an Austrian outpost. He was carried to +Vienna, but being a distant relation of the emperor, was sent home +again without ransom. + +It was the opinion of Frederick that he had given himself up +intentionally, and on his return he was ordered at once to take up +his former official post at Stettin; where he conducted himself so +well, in the struggle against the Russian armies, that two years +later he was restored to Frederick's favour. + +As if this misfortune was not great enough, two days later came the +news that Breslau had surrendered without firing a shot; and this +when it was known that the king was within two days' march, and +pressing forward to its relief. Here ninety-eight guns and an +immense store and magazine were lost to Prussia. + +Frederick straightway issued orders that the general who had +succeeded Bevern should be put under arrest, for not having at once +thrown his army into Breslau; appointed Ziethen in his place, and +ordered him to bring the army round to Glogau and meet him at +Parchwitz on December 2nd, which Ziethen punctually did. + +In spite of the terrible misfortunes that had befallen him, +Frederick was still undaunted. Increased as it was by the arrival +of Ziethen, his force was but a third of the strength of the +Austrians. The latter were flushed with success; while Ziethen's +troops were discouraged by defeat, and his own portion of the force +worn out by their long and rapid marches, and by the failure of the +object for which they had come. Calling his generals together on +the 3rd, he recounted the misfortunes that had befallen them; and +told them that his one trust, in this terrible position, was in +their qualities and valour; and that he intended to engage the +enemy, as soon as he found them, and that they must beat them or +all of them perish in the battle. + +Enthusiastically, the generals declared that they would conquer or +die with him; and among the soldiers the spirit was equally strong, +for they had implicit confidence in their king, and a well-justified +trust in their own valour and determination. That evening Frederick, +eager as he was to bring the terrible situation to a final issue, +cannot but have felt that it would have been too desperate an +undertaking to have attacked the enemy; posted as they were with a +river (known as Schweidnitz Water) and many other natural difficulties +covering their front, and having their flanks strengthened, as was the +Austrian custom, with field works and batteries. Fortunately the +Austrians settled the difficulty by moving out from their stronghold. + +Daun had counselled their remaining there, but Prince Karl and the +great majority of his military advisers agreed that it would be a +shameful thing that ninety thousand men should shut themselves up, +to avoid an attack by a force of but one-third their own strength; +and that it was in all respects preferable to march out and give +battle, in which case the Prussians would be entirely destroyed; +whereas, if merely repulsed in an attack on a strong position, a +considerable proportion might escape and give trouble in the +future. + +The Austrians, indeed, having captured Schweidnitz and Breslau, +defeated Bevern, and in the space of three weeks made themselves +masters of a considerable portion of Silesia, were in no small +degree puffed up, and had fallen anew to despising Frederick. The +blow dealt them at Prague had been obliterated by their success at +Kolin; and Frederick's later success over the French and Federal +army was not considered, by them, as a matter affecting themselves, +although several Austrian regiments had been among Soubise's force. +The officers were very scornful over the aggressive march of +Frederick's small army, which they derisively called the Potsdam +Guards' Parade; and many were the jokes cut, at the military +messes, at its expense. + +The difference, then, with which the two armies regarded the coming +battle was great, indeed. On the one side there was the easy +confidence of victory, the satisfaction that at length this +troublesome little king had put himself in their power; on the +other a deep determination to conquer or to die, a feeling that, +terrible as the struggle must be, great as were the odds against +them, they might yet, did each man do his duty, come out the +victors in the struggle. + +"And what think you of this matter, lad?" Frederick said, laying +his hand familiarly on the young captain's shoulder. + +"I know nothing about it, your majesty; but like the rest, I feel +confident that somehow you will pull us through. Of one thing I am +sure, that all that is possible for the men to do, your soldiers +will accomplish." + +"Well, we shall see. It is well that I know all the country round +here, for many a review have I held of the garrison of Breslau, on +the very ground where we are about to fight. Their position is a +very strong one, and I am afraid that crafty old fox Daun will +here, as he did at Prague, persuade Prince Karl to hide behind his +batteries. Were it not for that, I should feel confident; whereas I +now but feel hopeful. Still, I doubt not that we shall find our way +in, somehow." + + + +Chapter 11: Leuthen. + + +At four in the morning on Sunday, December 4th, Frederick marched +from Parchwitz; intending to make Neumarkt, a small town some +fourteen miles off, his quarters. When within two or three miles of +this town he learned, to his deep satisfaction, that the Austrians +had just established a great bakery there, and that a party of +engineers were marking out the site for a camp; also that there +were but a thousand Croats in the town. The news was satisfactory, +indeed, for two reasons: the first being that the bakery would be +of great use for his own troops; the second, that it was clear that +the Austrians intended to advance across the Schweidnitz Water to +give battle. It was evident that they could have had no idea that +he was pressing on so rapidly, or they would never have established +their bakery so far in advance, and protected by so small a force. + +He lost no time in taking advantage of their carelessness, but sent +a regiment of cavalry to seize the hills on both sides of the town; +then marched rapidly forward, burst in the gates, and hurled the +Croats in utter confusion from Neumarkt, while the cavalry dashed +down and cut off their retreat. One hundred and twenty of them were +killed, and five hundred and seventy taken prisoners. In the town +the Austrian bakery was found to be in full work, and eighty +thousand bread rations, still hot, were ready for delivery. + +This initial success, and the unexpected treat of hot bread, raised +the spirits of the troops greatly, and was looked upon as a happy +augury. + +Two or three hours before Neumarkt had been captured, the Austrian +army was crossing the river, and presently received the unpleasant +news of what had happened. Surprised at the news that the Prussians +were so near, their generals at once set to work to choose a good +position. This was not a difficult task, for the country was +swampy, with little wooded rises and many villages. + +They planted their right wing at the village of Nypern, which was +practically unapproachable on account of deep peat bogs. Their +centre was at a larger village named Leuthen, their left at +Sagschuetz. The total length of its front was about six miles. + +The Prussians started before daybreak next morning in four columns, +Frederick riding on ahead with the vanguard. When near Borne, some +eight miles from Neumarkt, he caught sight in the dim light of a +considerable body of horse, stretching across the road in front of +him as far as he could make out the line. The Prussian cavalry were +at once ordered to charge down on their left flank. + +The enemy proved to be five regiments of cavalry, placed there to +guard the army from surprise. They, however, were themselves +surprised; and were at once overthrown, and driven in headlong +flight to take shelter behind their right wing at Nypern, five +hundred and forty being taken prisoners, and a large number being +killed or wounded. + +Frederick rode on through Borne, ascended a small hill called the +Scheuberg, to the right of the road, and as the light increased +could, from that point, make out the Austrian army drawn up in +battle array, and stretching from Nypern to Sagschuetz. Well was it +for him that he had reviewed troops over the same ground, and knew +all the bogs and morasses that guarded the Austrian front. For a +long time he sat there on horseback, studying the possibilities of +the situation. + +The Austrian right he regarded as absolutely impregnable. Leuthen +might be attacked with some chance of success, but Sagschuetz +offered by far the most favourable opening for attack. The +formation of the ground offered special facilities for the movement +being effected without the Austrians being aware of what was taking +place, for there was a depression behind the swells and broken +ground in front of the Austrian centre, by which the Prussians +could march from Borne, unseen by the enemy, until they approached +Sagschuetz. + +It was three hours after Frederick had taken up his place before +the four columns had all reached Borne. As soon as they were in +readiness there, they were ordered to march with all speed as far +as Radaxford, thence to march in oblique order against the Austrian +left. + +The Austrians, all this time, could observe a group of horsemen on +the hill, moving sometimes this way sometimes that, but more than +this they could not see. The conjectures were various, as hour +passed after hour. Daun believed that the Prussians must have +marched away south, with the intention of falling upon the +magazines in Bohemia, and that the cavalry seen moving along the +hills were placed there to defend the Prussians from being taken in +flank, or in rear, while thus marching. General Lucchesi, who +commanded the Austrian right wing, was convinced that the cavalry +formed the Prussian right wing, and that the whole army, concealed +behind the slopes, was marching to fall upon him. + +In the belfry of the church at Leuthen, on the tops of windmills, +and on other points of vantage, Austrian generals with their staffs +were endeavouring to obtain a glimpse beyond those tiresome swells, +and to discover what was going on behind them, but in vain. There +were the cavalry, moving occasionally from crest to crest, but +nothing beyond that. + +Lucchesi got more and more uneasy, and sent message after message +to headquarters that he was about to be attacked, and must have a +large reinforcement of horse. The prince and Daun at first scoffed +at the idea, knowing that the bogs in front of Nypern were +impassable; but at last he sent a message to the effect that, if +the cavalry did not come, he would not be responsible for the +issue. + +It was thought, therefore, that he must have some good ground for +his insistence; and Daun sent off the reserve of horse, and several +other regiments drawn from the left wing, and himself went off at a +trot, at their head, to see what was the matter. + +It was just as he started that the Prussians--with their music +playing, and the men singing: + +Gieb dass ich thu mit fleiss was mir zu thun gebuhret +(Grant that with zeal and strength this day I do) + +had passed Radaxford and reached Lobetintz, and were about to +advance in an oblique line to the attack. The king saw with delight +the removal of so large a body of horse from the very point against +which his troops would, in half an hour, be hurling themselves. +Nothing could have suited his plans better. + +At a rapid pace, and with a precision and order as perfect as if +upon level ground, suddenly the Prussians poured over the swells on +the flank of Sagschuetz. Nadasti, who commanded the Austrians +there, was struck with astonishment at the spectacle of the +Prussian army, which he believed to be far away, pouring down on +his flank. The heads of the four columns, the artillery, and +Ziethen's cavalry appeared simultaneously, marching swiftly and +making no pause. + +Being a good general, he lost not a moment in endeavouring to meet +the storm. His left was thrown back a little, a battery of fourteen +guns at the angle so formed opened fire, and he launched his +cavalry against that of Ziethen. For the moment Ziethen's men were +pushed back, but the fire from an infantry battalion, close by, +checked the Austrian horse. They fell back out of range, and +Ziethen, making a counter charge, drove them away. + +In the meantime the Prussian infantry, as they advanced, poured a +storm of fire upon the Austrian line, aided by a battery of ten +heavy guns that Prince Maurice, who commanded here, had planted on +a rise. A clump of fir trees, held by Croats in advance of the +Austrian line, was speedily cleared; and then the Prussians broke +down the abattis that protected the enemy's front, charged +furiously against the infantry, and drove these before them, +capturing Nadasti's battery. + +In ten minutes after the beginning of the fight, the position of +the Austrian left was already desperate. The whole Prussian army +was concentrated against it and, being on its flank, crumpled the +line up as it advanced. Prince Karl's aides-de-camp galloped at the +top of their speed to bring Daun and the cavalry back again, and +Austrian battalions from the centre were hurried down to aid +Nadasti's, but were impeded by the retreating troops; and the +confusion thickened, until it was brought to a climax by Ziethen's +horse, which had been unable to act until now. But fir wood, +quagmire, and abattis had all been passed by the Prussians, and +they dashed into the mass, sabring and trampling down, and taking +whole battalions prisoners. + +Prince Karl exerted himself to the utmost to check the Prussian +advance. Batteries were brought up and advantageously posted at +Leuthen, heavy bodies of infantry occupied the village and its +church, and took post so as to present a front to the advancing +tide. Another quarter of an hour and the battle might have been +retrieved; but long before the dispositions were all effected, the +Prussians were at hand. + + +[Map: Battle of Leuthen] + + +Nevertheless, by great diligence the Austrians had to some extent +succeeded. Leuthen was the centre of the new position. Lucchesi was +hastening up, while Nadasti swung backwards and tried, as he +arrived, to form the left flank of the new position. All this was +being done under a storm of shot from the whole of the Prussian +artillery, which was so terrible that many battalions fell into +confusion as fast as they arrived. + +Leuthen, a straggling hamlet of over a mile in length, and with two +or three streets of scattered houses, barns, farm buildings, and +two churches, was crowded with troops; ready to fight but unable to +do so, line being jammed upon line until sometimes a hundred deep, +pressed constantly behind by freshly arriving battalions, and in +front by the advancing Prussians. Some regiments were almost +without officers. + +Into this confused, straggling, helpless mass, prevented from +opening out by the houses and inclosures, the Prussians, ever +keeping their formation, poured their volleys with terrible effect; +in such fashion as Drake's perfectly-handled ships poured their +broadsides into the huge helpless Spanish galleons at Gravelines. +With a like dogged courage as that shown by the Spanish, the +Austrian masses suffered almost passively, while those occupying +the houses and churches facing the Prussians resisted valiantly and +desperately. From every window, every wall, their musketry fire +flashed out; the resistance round the churchyard being specially +stubborn. The churchyard had a high and strong wall, and so +terrible was the fire from the roof of the church, and other spots +of advantage, that the tide of Prussian victory was arrested for a +time. + +At last they made a rush. The churchyard gate was burst in, and the +Austrians driven out. Leuthen was not yet won, but Frederick now +brought up the left wing, which had till this time been held in +reserve. These came on with levelled bayonets, and rushed into the +fight. + +The king was, as always, in the thick of the battle; giving his +orders as coolly as if at a review, sending fresh troops where +required, changing the arrangements as opportunity offered, keeping +the whole machine in due order; and by his presence animating all +with the determination to win or die, and an almost equal readiness +to accept either alternative. + +At last, after an hour's stubborn resistance, the Austrians were +hurled out of Leuthen, still sternly resisting, still contesting +every foot of the ground. Lucchesi now saw an opportunity of +retrieving, with his great cavalry force, the terrible consequences +of his own blunder, and led them impetuously down upon the flank of +the Prussians. But Frederick had prepared for such a stroke; and +had placed Draisen, with the left wing of the cavalry, in a hollow +sheltered from the fire of the Austrian batteries, and bade him do +nothing, attempt nothing, but cover the right flank of the infantry +from the Austrian horse. He accordingly let Lucchesi charge down +with his cavalry, and then rushed out on his rear, and fell +suddenly and furiously upon him. + +Astounded at this sudden and unexpected attack, and with their +ranks swept by a storm of Prussian bullets, the Austrian cavalry +broke and fled in all directions, Lucchesi having paid for his +fault by dying, fighting to the last. His duty thus performed, +Draisen was free to act, and fell upon the flank and rear of the +Austrian infantry; and in a few minutes the battle was over, and +the Austrians in full retreat. + +They made, however, another attempt to stand at Saara; but it was +hopeless, and they were soon pushed backwards again and, hotly +pressed, poured over the four bridges across the Schweidnitz river, +and for the most part continued their flight to Breslau. Until the +Austrians had crossed the river the Prussian cavalry were on their +rear, sabring and taking prisoners, while the infantry were halted +at Saara, the sun having now set. + +Exhausted as they were by their work, which had begun at midnight +and continued until now without pause or break, not yet was their +task completely done. The king, riding up the line, asked if any +battalion would volunteer to follow him to Lissa, a village on the +river bank. Three battalions stepped out. The landlord of the +little inn, carrying a lantern, walked by the king's side. + +As they approached the village, ten or twelve musket shots flashed +out in the fields to the right. They were aimed at the lantern, but +no one was hurt. There were other shots from Lissa, and it was +evident that the village was still not wholly evacuated. + +The infantry rushed forward, scattered through the fields, and +drove out the lurking Croats. The king rode quietly on into the +village, and entered the principal house. To his astonishment, he +found it full of Austrian officers, who could easily have carried +him off, his infantry being still beyond the village. They had but +a small force remaining there and, believing that the Prussians had +halted for the night at Saara, they were as much astonished as +Frederick at his entrance. The king had the presence of mind to +hide his surprise. + +"Good evening, gentlemen!" he said. "Is there still room left for +me, do you think?" + +The Austrian officers, supposing, of course, that he had a large +force outside, bowed deeply, escorted him to the best room in the +house, and then slipped out at the back, collected what troops they +could as they went, and hurried across the bridge. The Prussians +were not long in entering, and very speedily cleared out the rest +of the Austrians. They then crossed the bridge, and with a few guns +followed in pursuit. + +The army at Saara, on hearing the firing, betook itself again to +arms and marched to the king's assistance, the twenty-five thousand +men and their bands again joining in the triumphant hymn, "Nun +danket alle Gott," as they tramped through the darkness. When they +arrived at Lissa they found that all was safe, and bivouacked in +the fields. + +Never was there a greater or more surprising victory, never one in +which the military genius of the commander was more strikingly +shown. The Austrians were in good heart. They were excellent +soldiers and brave, well provided with artillery, and strongly +placed; and yet they were signally defeated by a force little over +one-third their number. Had there been two more hours of daylight, +the Austrians would have been not only routed but altogether +crushed. Their loss was ten thousand left on the field, of whom +three thousand were killed. Twelve thousand were taken prisoners, +and one hundred and sixteen cannon captured. + +To this loss must be added that of seventeen thousand prisoners +taken when Breslau surrendered, twelve days later, together with a +vast store of cannon and ammunition, including everything taken so +shortly before from Bevern. Liegnitz surrendered, and the whole of +Silesia, with the exception only of Schweidnitz, was again wrested +from the Austrians. Thus in killed, wounded, and prisoners the loss +of the Austrians amounted to as much as the total force of the +Prussians. + +The latter lost in killed eleven hundred and forty one, and in +wounded about five thousand. Prince Maurice, upon whose division +the brunt of the battle had fallen, was promoted to the rank of +field marshal. + +Fergus Drummond had been with the king throughout that terrible +day. Until the battle began his duties had been light, being +confined to the carrying of orders to Prince Maurice; after which +he took his place among the staff and, dismounting, chatted with +his acquaintances while Karl held his horse. + +When, however, the fir tree wood was carried, and the king rode +forward and took his place there during the attack upon the +Austrian position at Sagschuetz, matters became more lively. The +balls from the Austrian batteries sung overhead, and sent branches +flying and trees crashing down. Sagschuetz won, the king followed +the advancing line, and the air was alive with bullets and case +shot. + + +[Illustration: The roar of battle was so tremendous that his +horse was well-nigh unmanageable] + + +After that Fergus knew little more of the battle, being incessantly +employed in carrying orders through the thick of it to generals +commanding brigades, and even to battalions. The roar of battle was +so tremendous that his horse, maddened with the din and the sharp +whiz of the bullets, at times was well-nigh unmanageable, and +occupied his attention almost to the exclusion of other thoughts; +especially after it had been struck by a bullet in the hind +quarters, and had come to understand that those strange and +maddening noises meant danger. + +Not until after all was over was Fergus aware of the escapes he had +had. A bullet had cut away an ornament from his headdress, one of +his reins had been severed at a distance of an inch or two from his +hand, a bullet had pierced the tail of his coatee and buried itself +in the cantle of his saddle, and the iron guard of his claymore had +been pierced. However, on his return to the king after carrying a +despatch, he was able to curb his own excitement and that of his +horse, and to make the formal military salute as he reported, in a +calm and quiet voice, that he had carried out the orders with which +he had been charged. + +It was with great gratification that he heard the king say that +evening, as he and his staff supped together at the inn at Lissa: + +"You have done exceedingly well today, Captain Drummond. I am very +pleased with you. You were always at my elbow when I wanted you, +and I observed that you were never flurried or excited; though +indeed, there would have been good excuse for a young soldier being +so, in such a hurly burly. You are over young for further +promotion, for a year or two; but I must find some other way of +testifying my satisfaction at your conduct." + +And, indeed, when the list of promotions for bravery in the field +was published, a few days later, Fergus's name appeared among those +who received the decoration of the Prussian military order, an +honour fully as much valued as promotion. + +For a time he lost the service of Karl, who had been seriously +although not dangerously wounded, just before the Austrians were +driven out of Leuthen. + +The news of the battle filled the Confederates with stupefaction +and dismay. Prince Karl was at once recalled, and was relieved from +military employment, Daun being appointed to the supreme command. +The Prince withdrew to his government of the Netherlands, and there +passed the remainder of his days in peace and quiet. His army was +hunted by Ziethen's cavalry to Koeniggraetz, losing two thousand +prisoners and a large amount of baggage; and thirty-seven thousand +men only, of the eighty thousand that stood in battle array at +Leuthen, reached the sheltering walls of the fortress, and those in +so dilapidated and worn out a condition that, by the end of a week +after arriving there, no less than twenty-two thousand were in +hospital. + +Thus, after eight months of constant and weary anxiety, Frederick, +by the two heavy blows he had dealt successfully at the +Confederates, stood in a far better position than he had occupied +at the opening of the first campaign; when, as his enemies fondly +believed, Prussia would be captured and divided without the +smallest difficulty. + +Frederick wintered at Breslau, whither came many visitors from +Prussia, and there was a constant round of gaieties and festivity. +Frederick himself desired nothing so much as peace. Once or twice +there had been some faint hope that this might be brought about by +his favourite sister, Wilhelmina, who had been ceaseless in her +efforts to effect it; but the two empresses and the Pompadour were +alike bent on avenging themselves on the king, and the reverses +that they had suffered but increased their determination to +overwhelm him. + +Great as Frederick's success had been, it did not blind him to the +fact that his position was almost hopeless. When the war began, he +had an army of a hundred and fifty thousand of the finest soldiers +in the world. The two campaigns had made frightful gaps in their +ranks. At Prague he had fought with eighty thousand men, at Leuthen +he had but thirty thousand. His little kingdom could scarcely +supply men to fill the places of those who had fallen, while his +enemies had teeming populations from which to gather ample +materials for fresh armies. It seemed, even to his hopeful spirit, +that all this could have but one ending; and that each success, +however great, weakened him more than his adversaries. + +The winter's rest was, however, most welcome. For the moment there +was nothing to plan, nothing to do, save to order that the drilling +of the fresh levies should go on incessantly; in order that some, +at least, of the terrible gaps in the army might be filled up +before the campaign commenced in the spring. + +1758 began badly, for early in January the Russians were on the +move. The empress had dismissed, and ordered to be tried by court +martial, the general who had done so little the previous year; had +appointed Field Marshal Fermor to command in his place, and ordered +him to advance instantly and to annex East Prussia in her name. + +On the 16th of January he crossed the frontier, and six days later +entered Koenigsberg and issued a proclamation to the effect that +his august sovereign had now become mistress of East Prussia, and +that all men of official or social position must at once take the +oath of allegiance to her. + +East Prussia had been devastated the year before by marauders, and +its hatred of Russia was intense; but the people were powerless to +resist. Some fled, leaving all behind them; but the majority were +forced to take the required oath, and for a time East Prussia +became a Russian province. Nevertheless its young men constantly +slipped away, when opportunity offered, to join the Prussian army; +and moneys were frequently collected by the impoverished people to +despatch to Frederick, to aid him in his necessities. + +A far greater assistance was the English subsidy of 670,000 pounds, +which was paid punctually for four years, and was of supreme +service to him. It was spent thriftily, and of all the enormous +sums expended by this country in subsidizing foreign powers, none +was ever laid out to a tenth of the advantage of the 2,680,000 +pounds given to Frederick. + +In the north the campaign also opened early. Ferdinand of Brunswick +bestirred himself, defeated the French signally at Krefeld, and +drove them headlong across the Rhine. Frederick, too, took the +field early, and on the 15th of March moved from Breslau upon +Schweidnitz. The siege began on the 1st of April, and on the 16th +the place surrendered. Four thousand nine hundred prisoners of war +were taken, with fifty-one guns and 7000 pounds in money. + +Three days later Frederick, with forty thousand men, was off; +deceived Daun as to his intentions, entered Moravia, and besieged +Olmuetz. Keith was with him again, and Fergus had returned to his +staff. The march was conducted with the marvellous precision and +accuracy that characterized all Frederick's movements, but Olmuetz +was a strong place and stoutly defended. + +The Prussian engineers, who did not shine at siege work, opened +their trenches eight hundred yards too far away. The magazines were +too far off, and Daun, who as usual carefully abstained from giving +battle, so cut up the convoys that, after five weeks of vain +endeavours, the king was obliged to raise the siege; partly owing +to the loss of the convoy that would have enabled him to take the +town, which was now at its last extremity; and partly that he knew +that the Russians were marching against Brandenburg. + +He made a masterly retreat, struck a heavy blow at Daun by +capturing and destroying his principal magazine, and then took up a +very strong position near Koeniggraetz. Here he could have +maintained himself against all Daun's assaults, for his position +was one that Daun had himself held and strongly fortified; but the +news from the north was of so terrible a nature that he was forced +to hurry thither. + +The Cossacks, as the Russian army advanced, were committing most +horrible atrocities; burning towns and villages, tossing men and +women into the fire, plundering and murdering everywhere; and the +very small Prussian force that was watching them was powerless to +check the swarming marauders. + +Frederick therefore, evading Daun's attempts to arrest his march, +crossed the mountains into Silesia again. At Landshut he gave his +army two days' rest; wrote and sent a paper to his brother Prince +Henry, who was commander of the army defending Saxony from +invasion, telling him that he was on the point of marching against +the Russians and might well be killed; and giving him orders as to +the course to be pursued, in such an event. + +He left Keith, in command of forty thousand men, to hold Daun in +check should the latter advance against Silesia; and he again took +Fergus with him, finding the young officer's talk a pleasant means +of taking his mind off the troubles that beset him. + +In nine days the army, which was but fifteen thousand strong, +marched from Landshut to Frankfort-on-Oder. Here the king learned +that though Kuestrin, which the Russians were besieging, still held +out, the town had been barbarously destroyed by the enemy. + +In fierce anger the army pressed forward. The Russian army itself, +officers and men, were indignant in the extreme at the brutalities +committed by the Cossacks, but were powerless to restrain them; for +indeed these ruffians did not hesitate to attack and kill any +officer who ventured to interfere between them and their victims. + +The next morning, early, Frederick reached the camp of his general +Dohna; who had been watching, although unable to interfere with the +Russians' proceedings. The king had a profound contempt for the +Russians, in spite of the warning of Keith, who had served with +them, that they were far better soldiers than they appeared to be; +and he anticipated a very easy victory over them. + +Early on the 22nd of August the army from Frankfort arrived. +Dohna's strength was numerically about the same as the king's, and +with his thirty thousand men Frederick had no doubt that he would +make but short work of the eighty thousand Russians, of whom some +twenty-seven thousand were the Cossack rabble, who were not worth +being considered, in a pitched battle. Deceiving the Russians as to +his intentions by opening a heavy cannonade on one of their +redoubts, as if intending to ford the river there, he crossed that +evening twelve miles lower down and, after some manoeuvring, faced +the Russians, who had at once broken up the siege on hearing of his +passage. + +Fermor sent away his baggage train to a small village called +Kleinkalmin, and planted himself on a moor, where his front was +covered by quagmires and the Zaborn stream. Hearing, late at night +on the evening of the 24th, that Frederick was likely to be upon +them the next morning, the Russian general drew out into the open +ground north of Zorndorf, which stands on a bare rise surrounded by +woods and quagmires, and formed his army into a great square, two +miles long by one broad, with his baggage in the middle--a +formation which had been found excellent by the Russians in their +Turkish wars, but which was by no means well adapted to meet +Frederick's methods of impetuous attack. Being ignorant as to the +side upon which Frederick was likely to attack, and having decided +to stand on the defensive, he adopted the methods most familiar to +him. + +Frederick had cut all the bridges across the rivers Warta and Oder, +and believed that he should, after defeating the Russians, drive +them into the angle formed by the junction of these two streams, +and cause them to surrender at discretion. Unfortunately, he had +not heard that the great Russian train had been sent to +Kleinkalmin. Had he done so he could have seized it, and so have +possessed himself of the Russian stores and all their munitions of +war, and have forced them to surrender without a blow; for the +Cossacks had wasted the country far and wide, and deprived it of +all resources. But he and his army were so burning with +indignation, and the desire to avenge the Cossack cruelties, that +they made no pause, and marched in all haste right round the +Russian position, so as to drive them back towards the junction of +the two rivers. + + +[Map: Battle of Zorndorf] + + +Fermor's Cossacks brought him in news of Frederick's movements, +which were hidden from him by the forests; and seeing that he was +to be attacked on the Zorndorf side, instead of from that on which +he had expected it to come, he changed his front, and swung round +the line containing his best troops to meet it. + +On arriving at Zorndorf, Frederick found that the Cossacks had +already set the village on fire. This was no disadvantage to him, +for the smoke of the burning houses rolled down towards the +Russians, and so prevented them from making observation of the +Prussian movements. The king rode up to the edge of the Zaborn +hollow and, finding it too deep and boggy to be crossed, determined +to attack at the southwest with his left and centre, placing his +cavalry in rear, and throwing back his right wing. + +The first division marched forward to the attack, by the west end +of the flaming village. The next division, which should have been +its support, marched by the east end of Zorndorf. Its road was a +longer one, and there was consequently a wide gap between the two +divisions. Heralded by the fire of two strong batteries--which +swept the southwestern corner of the Russian quadrilateral, their +crossfire ploughing its ranks with terrible effect--the first +division, under Manteufel, fell upon the enemy. + +The fire of the Prussian batteries had sorely shaken the Russians, +and had produced lively agitation among the horses of the light +baggage train in the centre of the square; and, heralding their +advance with a tremendous fire of musketry, the Prussian infantry +forced its way into the mass. Had the second division been close at +hand, as it should have been, the victory would already have been +won; but although also engaged it was not near, and Fermor poured +out a torrent of horse and foot upon Manteufel's flank and front. +Without support, and surrounded, the Prussians could do nothing, +and were swept back, losing twenty-four pieces of cannon; while the +Russians, with shouts of victory, pressed upon them. + +At this critical moment Seidlitz, with five thousand horse, dashed +down upon the disordered mass of Russians, casting it into +irretrievable confusion. At the same time the infantry rallied and +pressed forward again. + +In fifteen minutes the whole Russian army was a confused mass. +Fermor, with the Russian horse, fled to Kratsdorf and, had not the +bridge there been burnt by Frederick, he would have made off, +leaving his infantry to their fate. These should now, according to +all rules, have surrendered; but they proved unconquerable save by +death. Seidlitz's cavalry sabred them until fatigued by slaughter, +the Prussian infantry poured their volleys into them, but they +stood immovable and passive, dying where they stood. + +At one o'clock in the day the battle ceased for a moment. The +Prussians had marched at three in the morning and, seeing that +although half the Russian army had been destroyed, the other half +had gradually arranged itself into a fresh front of battle, +Frederick formed his forces again, and brought up his right wing +for the attack on the side of the Russian quadrilateral which still +stood. Forward they went, their batteries well in advance; but +before the infantry came within musket range, the Russian horse and +foot rushed forward to the attack, and with such force that they +captured one of the batteries, took a whole battalion prisoners, +and broke the centre. + +Here were the regiments of Dohna, perfectly clean and well +accoutred; but, being less accustomed to war than Frederick's +veterans, they gave way at once before the Russian onslaught and, +in spite of Frederick's efforts to prevent them, fled from the +field and could not be rallied until a mile distant from it. + +The veterans stood firm, however; until Seidlitz, returning from +pursuit, again hurled his horsemen upon the Russian masses, broke +them up, and drove their cavalry in headlong flight before him. + + + +Chapter 12: Another Step. + + +The Russian infantry being involved in the turmoil and confusion +caused by the charge of Seidlitz, and the defeat of their cavalry, +the Prussian infantry again pressed forward, pouring in a heavy +fire and charging with the bayonet. Three battalions had been drawn +from this very country and, maddened by the tales they had heard of +Cossack cruelty, were not to be denied. The Russians, however, +keeping their ranks, filling up the gaps as they were formed, and +returning as best they could the fire of the Prussians, held +together with sullen obstinacy. By this time the ammunition on both +sides was exhausted, and now the struggle became hand to hand, +bayonet against bayonet, butt end of musket to butt end. + +Seldom has so terrible a struggle ever been witnessed. Nightfall +was approaching. Foot by foot the inert Russian mass was pushed +backwards. One of their generals, Demikof, collected some two +thousand foot and a thousand horse, and took possession of a knoll; +and Frederick ordered them to be dispersed again. Forcade was +ordered to attack them with two battalions, and General Rutter to +bring up the Dohna men again and take them in flank; but the latter +had not recovered from their state of demoralization, and at the +first cannon shot turned and ran, continuing their flight even +further than before, and taking refuge in the woods. Frederick +instantly dismissed Rutter from the service. + +Then, as night had completely fallen, the terrible conflict ceased. +Fermor by this time, finding that there was no crossing the rivers, +had returned. No regiment or battalion of his army remained in +order. There was but a confused crowd, which the officers did their +best to form into some sort of order, regardless of regiment or +battalion. The Cossacks scoured the fields under the cover of +night, plundering the dead and murdering the wounded, flames +marking their path. Four hundred of them were caught at their work +by the Prussian hussars, and every one killed. + +Frederick sent for his tents, and the army pitched its camp, facing +the Russians; but during the night the latter, having got into a +sort of order, moved away to the westward and bivouacked on Drewitz +Heath, facing the battle ground. + +Fermor had some twenty-eight thousand men still with him, while +Frederick had eighteen thousand. The former's loss had been +twenty-one thousand, five hundred and twenty-nine killed, wounded, +or missing; of whom eight thousand were killed. That of the +Prussians was eleven thousand, three hundred and ninety, of whom +three thousand six hundred and eighty were killed. Thus each side +lost a third of its number in this terrible struggle. + +The next morning the Russians got into better order, and drew up in +order of battle. A cannonade was for some time kept up on both +sides, but the armies were beyond range of artillery. + +Neither party had any real thoughts of fighting. Fermor, beaten on +his own ground the day before, could not dream of attacking the +Prussians. The latter were worn out by the fatigues of the previous +day. Moreover, on each side the musketry ammunition was used up. +The hussars, pursuing the Cossacks, had in the night come upon the +Russian waggon train at Kleim, and carried off a good deal of +portable plunder. + +The next morning, under cover of a fog, the Russians retreated, +reached their baggage, and then moved slowly away; and, harassed by +Dohna, sullenly continued their retreat to the Russian frontier. If +Frederick could have pressed them, he would probably have won +another victory; but he had news which called him to hasten away +west to join Prince Henry, as his presence there was urgently +required for the defence of Saxony. + +Fergus had been with the king, when the Dohna regiments gave way +before the impetuous charge of the Russians; the rest of the staff +having been sent away, one after the other, either to bring up +Seidlitz or to order a fresh movement among the infantry; and as +the king rode down to endeavour to restore order, he followed +closely behind him. The confusion was terrible. The Russian horse, +mixed up with the infantry, were sabring and trampling them down. + +Suddenly three of them dashed at the king. Fergus, setting spurs to +his horse, interposed between them and Frederick. One of the +Russians was ridden over, horse and man, by the impetus of his +rush. The other two attacked him furiously, and for a moment he was +very hard pressed. He kept his horse prancing and curvetting, and +managed to keep both his assailants on his right; until at last he +cut one down and, half a minute later, ran the other through the +body. + +"Gallantly done, Major Drummond," the king said quietly as, +wheeling his horse, Fergus returned back to take his post behind +him. "I shall not forget that you have saved my life." + +Then, without further comment, Frederick continued his work trying +to rally the infantry; ordering, entreating, and even laying the +cane he always carried across their shoulders. + +A minute later there was a thunder of hoofs, and Seidlitz burst +down upon the Russian mass, changing in a moment the fate of the +battle. Excited by the late encounter, Fergus's horse took its bit +between its teeth, joined Seidlitz's cavalry as they swept past +and, in spite of the efforts of its rider, plunged with him into +the midst of the fight. For the next few minutes Fergus had but +slight knowledge of what was going on, he being engaged in a series +of hand-to-hand fights with both cavalry and infantry. Three times +he was wounded, and then the pressure ceased, and he was again +galloping across the moors in pursuit of the Russian horse. + +It was not until Seidlitz's force drew rein that he recovered the +control of his horse. Its flank was bleeding from a bayonet gash, +and a bullet had gone through its neck. The first wound was of +comparatively small consequence, but he feared that the other was +serious; but though the horse panted from its exertion and +excitement, its breath came regularly; and it was evident that the +ball had not hit the spine, for had it done so it would have fallen +at once. + +He turned and rode back with the cavalry, who dismounted a short +distance from the scene of action, in readiness to take their part +again, should they be required; while he pursued his way to the +spot where the king had stationed himself, surrounded by several of +his staff. The king glanced at him, and then said: + +"You are relieved from duty, Major Drummond. Let one of the +surgeons see to you, at once." + +Fergus rode but a short distance and then, turning suddenly faint, +he slid from his horse to the ground. One of the staff, happening +to look round, at once rode back to him. + +"You had best let me bandage up your wounds roughly," he said. "It +will be difficult to find a surgeon, now that they are all up to +their eyes in work, somewhere in the rear." + +Fergus had received two severe wounds in the face, and a bayonet +thrust through his leg. The officer did his best to stanch the +bleeding, and was still occupied in doing so when Karl rode up, +jumped from his horse, and ran to his master's side. + +"Where have you been, Karl?" Fergus asked, for the soldier had also +received a severe wound in the head. + +"I followed you, master, as in duty bound; but I was some distance +behind you, and in that melee I could not get near you; and being +mixed up with one of the squadrons, I did not see you as you came +back, and was in a great state about you until, on riding up to the +staff, one of the officers pointed you out to me." + +"I think that you are in good hands now," the officer said. "I will +join the king again." + +Fergus thanked him warmly, but in a weak voice. + +"The first thing, master, is for you to get a drink," Karl said; +and he took, from the holster of Fergus's saddle, a flask that he +had placed there that morning. "Take a good drink of this," he +said, "then I will see to your wounds. It is plain enough to see +that that officer knew nothing about them." + +Fergus drank half of the contents of the flask, and then handed it +to Karl. + +"You finish it up," he said. "You want it as much as I do." + +"Not so much, master; but I want it badly enough, I own." + +Having drank, he proceeded to rebandage his master's wounds, first +laying on them rolls of lint he took from his own saddlebag. + +"I never go on a campaign without lint and a bandage or two," he +said. "Many a life has been lost that might easily enough have been +saved, had they been at hand." + +He laid the lint on the wounds, and then bound them firmly and +evenly. He had a bandage left, when he had finished this. With the +aid of a man who was limping to the rear, he used it for stanching +his own wounds. + +"Well, master," he said, "you cannot do better than lie here, for +the present. I will look after the horses, and fasten them up to +that bush. The battle is going on as fiercely as ever, and looks as +if it would go on until dark. If so, there will be no collecting +the wounded tonight; but as soon as I see where the king bivouacs, +I will get you there somehow." + +"I shall do very well here--at any rate, for the present, Karl. In +the meantime, it would be a good thing if you would take the two +horses down to the brook, and give them a good drink. You mayn't +get a chance later on. As my horse Turk is wounded in two places, I +have no doubt the poor beast is as thirsty as I am." + +"The bayonet wound is of no consequence," Karl said, after +examining the horse's flanks; "except that it has taken a good bit +off its value. I don't think this bullet wound through the neck is +serious, either." + +In an hour Karl returned, leading the horses. + +"I feel all the better for a wash, captain. I wish you could have +one, too. I have filled my water bottle, but you will want that +before morning." + +By means of the valises and cloaks, Fergus was propped up into a +half-sitting position; and he remained where he was until, after +nightfall, the din of battle ceased. He had eaten a few mouthfuls +of bread, and felt stronger; and by the time the tents were +pitched, and the bivouac fires lighted, he was able to stand. With +Karl's assistance he mounted in side-saddle fashion and, Karl +leading the horses, made for the tents of the king's staff, five +hundred yards away. Captain Diedrich, the officer who shared the +tent with Fergus, helped Karl to lift him down and carry him in. + +"Do you want a surgeon to see you?" + +"No, they must have thousands of serious cases on hand. I merely +fainted from loss of blood. The two wounds in my head cannot be +very serious, and Karl has bandaged them up as well as a surgeon +could do. The worst wound is in my leg. The bayonet went right +through it, and for a moment pinned it to the saddle. However, it +is but a flesh wound, behind the bone about six inches below the +knee. It bled very freely at first, but Karl stanched it, and it +has not burst out since; so it is evident that no great harm is +done." + +"I will bring you in some wine and water now," Diedrich said. "They +are getting supper, and I will send you a bowl of soup, as soon as +it is ready." + +After Karl had tethered the horses--that of Fergus with the others +belonging to the staff, and his own with those of the escort and +staff orderlies--he sat down at one of the fires, ate his +supper--for each man carried three days' provisions in his +haversack--and, chatting with his comrades, heard that several of +the orderlies had been killed in the fight; and that four of the +officers of the royal staff had also fallen under the enemy's fire, +as they carried messages through the storm of case shot and +bullets. All agreed that never had they seen so terrible a fight, +and that well-nigh a third, if not more, of the army had been +killed or wounded. + +"We made a mistake about these Russians," one of the troopers said. +"They are dirty, and they don't even look like soldiers, but I +never saw such obstinate beggars to fight. From the moment the +cavalry made their first charge they were beaten, and ought to have +given in; but they seemed to know nothing about it, and that second +line of theirs charged as if it was but the beginning of a battle. +I was never so surprised in my life as when they poured down on us, +horse and foot; but all that was nothing to the way they stood, +afterwards. If they had been bags of sawdust they could not have +been more indifferent to our fire. + +"That was a bad business of Dohna's men. I thought, when we joined +them, they looked too spick and span to be any good; but that they +should run, almost as fast and far as the men of the Federal army +at Rossbach, is shameful. Neither in the last war nor in this has a +Prussian soldier so disgraced himself. + +"I don't envy them. I don't suppose a man in the army will speak to +them, and we may be sure that it will be a long time, indeed, +before our Fritz gets over it. It will need some hard fighting, and +something desperate in the way of bravery, before he forgives them. + +"How is your master, Karl?" + +"He will do. He has got three wounds, and lost a lot of blood; but +in a fortnight he will be in the saddle again. Perhaps less, for he +is as hard as steel." + +"He saved the king's life, Karl. I was twenty yards away, and was +wedged in so that there was no moving, except backwards; for +Dohna's men were half mad with fright, and the Russians were +cutting and slashing in the middle of us." + +"I saw it," Karl said. "I was close to you at the time. I put spurs +to my horse and rode over three or four of our own men, and cut +down one who grasped my reins; but I got there too late. I had no +great fear of the result, though. Why, you know, he killed six +Pomeranians who were looting Count Eulenfurst's place, close to +Dresden; and he made short work of those three Russians. It was +done beautifully, too. They tried to get one on each side of him, +but he kept them on his right, and that made a safe thing of it. + +"He is a quiet, good-tempered officer. There is as much fun about +him as a boy, but when his spirit is up, there are not many +swordsmen in the army that could match him. Why, when he first +joined, nearly three years ago, he was in the 3rd Royal Dragoons, +my own regiment; and I heard the sergeant who was in the fencing +room say that there was not an officer in the regiment who was a +match for him with the sword. + +"Now I have finished my pipe, and must be going to look after him +again." + +The king's surgeon examined Fergus's wounds the next morning, and +said that, although he would not be able to sit a horse until his +leg had healed, he would otherwise soon be convalescent. + +Soon after he had left him, Sir John Mitchell came in to see him. +As the English ambassador had very often, during the last two +winters, met Fergus in the king's apartments, at which he himself +was a regular visitor, they were by this time well known to each +other. Mitchell, indeed, regarded Fergus as a valuable assistant in +his work of interesting Frederick, and turning his mind from his +many troubles and anxieties. + +"The surgeon has just given a good account of you to the king, +Drummond," he said; "and his majesty expressed much satisfaction at +hearing that your wounds are not serious. + +"'That youth is not like most of your compatriots, Mitchell,' he +said to me with a smile; 'ever ready to fight, but equally ready to +join in a drinking bout, should opportunity offer. He is always on +horseback, and as hardy and as healthy as can be. With one of the +hard-drinking sort, fever might set in; but there is no risk of it +with him. + +"'As I told you, he saved my life yesterday. I was nearly compelled +to take to my sword, but that would have been of little avail +against the three Russians. Save for the sake of Prussia, my life +is of no great value to me, for 'tis one full of care and trouble; +but for my country's sake I would fain hold on to it, as long as +there is hope for her deliverance from her enemies. + +"'You can congratulate him on his promotion, Mitchell, for I made +him a major on the spot. It was a brilliant feat, as brilliant as +that which he performed at Lobositz, or that at Count Eulenfurst's +house at Dresden, each of which got him a step. 'Tis not often that +an officer gets thrice promoted for distinguished bravery. Each +time the feat was the talk of the whole army; and it will not be +less so at the present time, methinks, nor will any feel jealous at +his rapid rise.'" + +"The king is too kind, your excellency." + +"I do not think so, Drummond. I have marked you a good deal during +the last two years, and you have borne yourself well; and as a +Scotchman I am proud of you. You have the knack of your kinsman +Keith of entering into the king's humours; of being a bright +companion when he is in a good temper, and of holding your tongue +when he is put out; of expressing your opinion frankly, and yet +never familiarly; and your freshness and hopefulness often, I see, +cheer the king, whose Prussians cannot, for their lives, help being +stiff and formal, or get to talk with him as if he were a human +being like themselves. + +"Next to Keith and myself, I think that there is no one with whom +the king can distract his mind so completely as with you. To him it +is like getting a whiff of the fresh air from our Scottish hills. +He told the surgeon to see that you were sent down with the first +batch of wounded officers." + +The next day, accordingly, while the two armies were watching each +other and the cannon were growling, Fergus was taken down to +Frankfort. + +Zorndorf was fought on the 25th of August; and on the 2nd of +September Frederick started with the army for Saxony, where Prince +Maurice had been sorely pressed by Daun and the newly-raised army +of the Confederates, and had had to take post on some heights a +short distance from Dresden. + +"A bad job, major," Karl grumbled as he brought the news to Fergus, +who was quartered in a private house. "The king has gone to have a +slap at Daun; and here are we, left behind. If he would have waited +another fortnight, we might have been with him." + +"Perhaps we shall get there in time yet, Karl. You may be sure that +as soon as Daun hears that the king is coming he will, as usual, +begin to fortify himself; and it will need no small amount of +marching and counter-marching to get him to come out and give +battle. He was slow and cautious before, but after Leuthen he is +likely to be doubly so. + +"However, I will get a tailor here today to measure me for a new +uniform. What with blood, and your cutting my breeches to get at my +leg, I must certainly get a new outfit before I rejoin. + +"I hope I shall be with the marshal again. It is a good deal more +lively with him than it is with the king's staff; who, although no +doubt excellent soldiers, are certainly not lively companions. I do +hope there will be no great battle until we get there. I should +think I might start in a week." + +The surgeon, however, would not hear of this; and it was the end of +the third week in September before Fergus rode from Frankfort. The +news from the south was so far satisfactory that he had fidgeted +less than he would otherwise have done. Daun had, in fact, retired +hastily from Meissen, and had taken post in an almost impregnable +position at Stolpen. Neisse was being besieged and must be +relieved, but Daun now blocked Frederick's way at Stolpen, both to +that town and to Bautzen--cut him off, indeed, from Silesia, and +for the moment the royal army and that of Prince Maurice were lying +at Dresden. Fergus, therefore, was content to follow the doctor's +orders, and to spend four days on the journey down to Dresden. + +Keith was there, and received him joyfully. Lindsay greeted him +vociferously. + +"So you have gone up another step above me," he laughed. "Never was +a fellow with such luck as you have. Saved the king's life, I hear. +Tumbled over scores of Russians. Won the victory with your own +sword." + +"Not quite as much as that, Lindsay," Fergus laughed. "The scores +of Cossacks come down to three, of whom one my horse tumbled over, +and I managed the other two. Still, although the battle was only +half finished when I was put out of all further part in it, I may +be said in one way to have won it; for had the king fallen, there +is no saying how matters might have gone. It is true that we could +not have lost it, for the Russians were past taking the offensive, +but it might have been a drawn battle." + +"It was a terrible business," Lindsay said seriously. "As bad in +its way as Prague, that is to say in proportion to the numbers +engaged. Everyone says they would rather fight three Austrians than +one Russian. The marshal has rather scored off the king; for he +warned him that, though slow, the Russians were formidable foes, +but the king scoffed at the idea. He has found out now that he +greatly undervalued them, and has owned as much to Keith. + +"I am sorry to say the marshal is not well. He suffers a good deal, +and I fancy that, after this campaign is over, he will ask to be +relieved from active duty in the field, and will take the command +of the army covering Dresden. He has led a hard life, you see, and +has done as much as three ordinary men. + +"Still, we shall see how he is next spring. It would almost break +his heart to have to give up before this war is over." + +"It is difficult to say when that will be, Lindsay. Here we are, +getting towards the third year, and the war is not one whit nearer +to the end than it was when we left Berlin. It is true that we have +no longer to count France as formidable, but Russia has turned out +far more so than we expected; and having once taken the matter up, +the empress, if she is half as obstinate as her soldiers, is likely +to go on at it for a long time. And we are using up our army very +fast, and cannot replace our losses as Austria and Russia can do." + +"I hope they are not going to make another twenty years' war of +it," Lindsay said. "If you go on in the way that you are doing, +Drummond, you will be a field marshal in a third of that time; but +you must remember about the proverb of the pitcher and the well." + +"Yes, Lindsay, but you must remember that I am having a share of +hard knocks. I have been wounded twice now, to say nothing of being +stunned and taken prisoner; so you see I am having my share of bad +luck, as well as good. Now at present you have never had as much as +a scratch, and when your bad luck comes, it may come all in a +lump." + +"There is something in that, Fergus, though I own that I had not +thought of it. Well, perhaps it is better to take it in small doses +than have it come all at once. + +"So you have brought your man back safe, I see, though he has had +an ugly slash across the cheek. + +"By the way, I hope that those two sword cuts are not going to +leave bad scars, Drummond. It would be hard to have your beauty +spoilt for life, and you only nineteen; though, fortunately, +everyone thinks you two or three years older. However, they will be +honourable scars, and women don't mind any disfigurement in a man, +if it is got in battle. It is a pity, though, that you did not get +them when defending the king's life, instead of in the cavalry +charge afterwards. + +"You brought your horse safe out of the battle, I hope?" + +"He has, like myself, honourable scars, Lindsay. He got an ugly +gash on the flank with a bayonet; and I am afraid, when it heals, +white hair will grow on it. He had also a bullet through the neck. +Fortunately it missed both spine and windpipe, and is quite healed +up now." + +"It is really a pity to take such a horse as that under fire," +Lindsay said regretfully. + +"Well, when one risks one's own life, one ought not to mind risking +that of a horse, however valuable." + +"No, I suppose not. Still, it is a pity to ride so valuable an +animal. You are paid so much for risking your own life, you see, +Drummond; but it is no part of the bargain that you should risk +that of a horse worth any amount of money." + +Fergus, on his arrival, called at once on Count Eulenfurst; who, +with his wife and daughter, were delighted to see him, for he had +now been absent from Dresden since Frederick had marched against +Soubise, thirteen months before. + +"We heard from Captain Lindsay," the count said, "when the army +arrived here, some three weeks since, that you were wounded, but +not gravely; also, that for valour shown in defending the king, +when he was attacked by three Russians, you had been promoted to +the rank of major, upon which we congratulate you heartily. And now +that you have come, I suppose your king will soon be dashing away +with you again. + +"What a man he is, and what soldiers! I can assure you that +sometimes, when I read the bulletins, I am inclined to regret that +I was not born two days' journey farther north. And yet, in spite +of his fierce blows at all these enemies, there is no sign of peace +being any nearer than when you dropped down to our rescue, some +twenty-seven months ago. 'Tis a terrible war." + +"It is, indeed, count. Certainly, when I crossed the seas to take +service here, I little thought how terrible was the struggle that +was approaching. If we had known it, I am sure that my mother would +never have let me leave home." + +"She must be terribly uneasy about you," the countess said. "Do you +hear from her often?" + +"She writes once a month, and so do I. I get her letters in +batches. I know that she must be very anxious, but she says nothing +about it in her letters. She declares that she is proud that I am +fighting for a Protestant prince, so hemmed in by his enemies; and +that the thoughts and hopes of all England are with him, and the +bells ring as loudly at our victories, through England and +Scotland, as they do at Berlin." + +"If we of Saxony had understood the matter sooner," the count said, +"we should be surely fighting now on your side; and indeed, had not +Frederick compelled his Saxon prisoners to serve with him, had he +sent them all to their homes, there would have been no animosity +and, as Protestants, the people would soon have come to see that +your cause was their own. Most of them do see it, now; for whenever +the enemy have entered Saxony, they have plundered and ill treated +the people, especially the Protestants. + +"Are your horses still alive?" + +"Yes, count, and well, save that one was wounded at Zorndorf; but +for that he cannot blame me, for it was his own doing. When +Seidlitz charged into the midst of the Russians, he passed close to +us; and Turk, maddened by excitement, seized the bit in his teeth +and joined him in the melee. I got three wounds and he had two, but +happily he has been cured as rapidly as I have, though with no +advantage to the appearance of either of us." + +"Will the scars on your face always show as they do now?" Thirza +asked. + +"I am sure I hope not," he said. "At present they are barely +healed; but in time, no doubt, the redness will fade out, and they +will not show greatly, though I daresay the scars will be always +visible." + +"I should be proud of them, Major Drummond," said Thirza, +"considering that you got them in so great a battle, and one in +which you rendered such service to the king." + +"You see, I shall not be always able to explain when and how I got +them," Fergus laughed. "People who do not know me will say: + +"'There goes a young student, who has got his face slashed at the +university.'" + +"They could not say that," she said indignantly. "Even if you were +not in uniform, anyone can see that you are a soldier." + +"Whether or not, Countess Thirza, it is a matter that will +certainly trouble me very little. However, I begin to think that I +shall not always be a soldier. Certainly, I should not leave the +army as long as this war goes on; but I have seen such terrible +fighting, such tremendous carnage, that I think that at the end of +it, if I come out at the end, I shall be glad to take to a peaceful +life. My cousin, Marshal Keith, has been fighting all his life. He +is a great soldier, and has the honour of being regarded by the +king as his friend; but he has no home, no peace and quiet, no +children growing up to take his place. I should not like to look +forward to such a life, and would rather go back and pass my days +in the Scottish glens where I was brought up." + +"I think that you are right," the count said seriously. "In +ordinary times a soldier's life would be a pleasant one, and he +could reckon upon the occasional excitement of war; but such a war +as this is beyond all calculation. In these three campaigns, and +the present one is not ended, nigh half of the army which marched +through here has been killed or wounded. It is terrible to think +of. One talks of the chances of war, but this is making death +almost a certainty; for if the war continues another two or three +years, how few will be left of those who began it! + +"Even now a great battle will probably be fought, in a few days. +Two great armies are within as many marches of Dresden. The +smallest of them outnumbers Frederick. The other is fully twice his +strength, and so intrenched, as I hear, that the position is +well-nigh impregnable." + +"I expect the king will find means to force him out of it, without +fighting," Fergus said with a smile. "Daun is altogether over +cautious, and Leuthen is not likely to have rendered him more +confident." + +Fergus spent the greater part of his time at the count's, for +Marshal Keith insisted upon his abstaining from all duty, until the +march began. + +"We are off tomorrow morning," he said, when he went up on the +evening of the 30th of September. "Where, I know not. Except the +king, Marshal Keith, and Prince Maurice, I do not suppose that +anyone knows; but wherever it is, we start at daybreak." + +"May you return, ere long, safe and sound!" the count said. "Is +there nothing that we can do for you? You know we regard you as one +of the family, and there is nothing that would give us greater +pleasure than to be able, in some way, to make you comfortable." + +"I thank you heartily, count, but I need nothing; and if I did I +could purchase it, for it is but seldom that one has to put one's +hand in one's pocket; and as a captain I have saved the greater +part of my pay for the last two years, and shall pile up my hoard +still faster, now that I am a major. + +"I have never had an opportunity, before, of thanking you for that +purse which you handed to Karl, to be laid out for my benefit in +case of need. He holds it still, and I have never had occasion to +draw upon it, and hope that I never may have to do so." + +The next morning the army, furnished with nine days' provisions, +and leaving a force to face the army of the Confederates, strode +along the road at its usual pace. They took the road for Bautzen, +drove off Loudon (who commanded Daun's northern outposts) without +difficulty, and so passed his flank. The advance guard pushed on to +Bautzen, drove away the small force there and, leaving there the +magazines of the army, occupied Hochkirch, a few miles away. The +king with the main body arrived at Bautzen on the following day, +and halted there, to see what Daun was going to do. + +The latter was, in fact, obliged to abandon his stronghold; for the +Prussians, at Hochkirch, menaced the road by which he drew his +provisions from his magazines at Zittau. Marching at night, he +reached and occupied a line of hills between Hochkirch and Zittau, +and within a couple of miles of the former place. + +Frederick had been forced to wait, at Bautzen, till another convoy +of provisions arrived. When he joined the division at Hochkirch, +and saw Daun's army on the opposite hills, busy as usual in +intrenching itself, he ordered the army to encamp when they were +within a mile of Daun's position. + +Marwitz, the staff officer to whom he gave the order, argued and +remonstrated, and at length refused to be concerned in the marking +out of such an encampment. He was at once put under arrest, and +another officer did the work. Frederick, in fact, entertained a +sovereign contempt for Daun, with his slow marches, his perpetual +intrenchings, and his obstinate caution; and had no belief, +whatever, that the Austrian marshal would attempt to attack him. He +was in a very bad humour, too, having discovered that Retzow had +failed to take possession of the Stromberg, a detached hill which +would have rendered the position a safe one. He put him under +arrest, and ordered the Stromberg to be occupied. + +The next morning the force proceeding to do so found, however, that +the post was already occupied by Austrians; who resisted stoutly +and, being largely reinforced, maintained their position on the +hill, on which several batteries were placed. It was now Tuesday, +and Frederick determined to march away on the Saturday. + +His obstinacy had placed the army in an altogether untenable and +dangerous position. All his officers were extremely uneasy, and +Keith declared to the king that the Austrians deserved to be hanged +if they did not attack; to which Frederick replied: + +"We must hope that they are more afraid of us than even of the +gallows." + + + +Chapter 13: Hochkirch. + + +The village of Hochkirch stood on a hilltop, with an extensive view +for miles round on all sides; save on the south, where hills rose +one above another. Among these hills was one called the Devil's +Hill, where the primitive country people believed that the devil +and his witches held high festival, once a year. + +Frederick's right wing, which was commanded by Keith, lay in +Hochkirch. Beyond the village he had four battalions, and a battery +of twenty guns on the next height to Hochkirch. From this point to +the Devil's Hill extended a thick wood, in which a strong body of +Croats were lurking. Frederick, with the centre, extended four +miles to the left of Hochkirch. Retzow, who had been restored to +his command, had ten or twelve thousand men lying in or behind +Weissenberg, four miles away. + +Frederick's force, with that of Keith, amounted to twenty-eight +thousand men, and Retzow's command was too far away to be +considered as available. Daun's force, lying within a mile of +Hochkirch, amounted to ninety thousand men. Well might Keith say +that the Austrians deserved to be hanged, if they did not attack. +Frederick himself was somewhat uneasy, and would have moved away on +the Friday night, had he not been waiting for the arrival of a +convoy of provisions from Bautzen. Still, he relied upon Daun's +inactivity. + +This time, however, his reliance was falsified. All Daun's generals +were of opinion that it would be disgraceful, were they to stand on +the defensive against an army practically less than a third of +their force; and their expostulations at length roused Daun into +activity. Once decided, his dispositions were, as usual, excellent. + + +[Map: Battle of Hochkirch] + + +His plan was an able one. He himself, with thirty thousand men, was +to start as soon as it was dark on Friday evening, sweep round to +the south, follow the base of the Devil's Mountain, and then +through the hollows and thick wood till he was close to the force +on the right of Hochkirch; and was to fall suddenly on them, at +five o'clock on Saturday morning. The orders were that, as soon as +Hochkirch was taken, the rest of the army, sixty thousand strong, +were to march against Frederick, both in front and on his left, and +so completely smash and crumple him up. + +Frederick had no premonition of the storm that was gathering. On +Thursday and Friday the Austrians were engaged, as usual, in +felling trees, forming abattis, throwing up earthworks, and in all +ways strengthening their position. Everything seemed to show that +Daun was still bent upon standing upon the defensive only. + +As the lurking Croats and Pandoors had, every night, crept up +through the brushwood and hollows, and skirmished with the Prussian +outposts away on the right, scattered firing was not heeded much in +Hochkirch. Fergus had just got up, in the little room he shared +with Lindsay in the marshal's quarters, a mile north of Hochkirch; +and was putting on his boots when, a few minutes past five, the +sound of firing was heard. + +"There are the Croats, as usual," he said. + +"What a restless fellow you are, Drummond! You have been up, at +this unearthly hour, each morning since we got here. It won't be +light for another two hours yet. I doubt whether it will be light +then. It looks to me as if it were a thick fog." + +"You are right about my early hours, and I admit I have been +restless. It is not a pleasant idea that, but a mile away, there is +an army big enough to eat us up; and nothing whatever to prevent +their pouncing upon us, at any moment, except two or three +batteries. The marshal was saying, last night, he should regard it +as the most fortunate escape he ever had, if we drew off safely +tonight without being attacked. + +"That firing is heavier than usual. There go a couple of guns!" + +"Those two advanced pieces are sending a round or two of case shot +into the bushes, I suppose," Lindsay said drowsily. + +Fergus completed his dressing, and went downstairs and out into the +night. Here he could hear much better than in the room above; which +had but one loophole for air and light, and that was almost stopped +up, with a wisp of straw. He could now plainly hear volley firing, +and a continued crackle of musketry. He ran upstairs again. + +"You had better get your things on at once, Lindsay. It is a more +serious affair than usual. I shall take it upon myself to wake the +marshal." + +He went to Keith's door, knocked, and opened it. + +"Who is there? What is it?" the marshal asked. + +"It is I, Drummond, sir. There is heavy firing going on to the +right, much heavier than it has been any other night." + +"What o'clock is it?" + +"About ten minutes past five, sir. There is a thick mist, and it is +pitch dark. Shall I go over and inquire what is going on?" + +"Yes, do. I expect that those rascally Croats have been reinforced, +and are trying to find out whether we are still in our positions." + +"I will be back as soon as I can, sir." + +Fergus ran round to the low range of sheds in which their horses +were stabled. + +"Karl, are you there?" he shouted. + +"Yes, major," a voice said, close at hand. "I am listening to all +that firing." + +"Saddle up at once. You may as well ride with me. I am going to see +what it is all about." + +A lantern was burning in the shed, and by its light Fergus and the +orderly rapidly saddled the horses. + +"You had better light two more lanterns, Karl. Leave the one on the +wall burning. We will take the others. We shall want them, for one +cannot see a horse's length away; and if we had not the sound of +firing to guide us, we should soon lose our way altogether." + +The light enabled them to go at a fairly fast trot, but they +trusted rather to their horses' than to their own eyes. The roar +and rattle of the firing increased in volume, every minute. + +"That is more than an affair with the Croats, Karl." + +"A good deal more, major. It looks as if the Austrians were beating +up our quarters in earnest." + +"It does indeed." + +When they reached Hochkirch they found the troops there astir. The +cavalry trumpets were sounding to horse, and the clamour round the +village told that the troops encamped there were getting under +arms. + +"Do you know what is going on to the right, sir?" Fergus asked a +field officer, who was in the act of mounting. "Marshal Keith has +sent me to inquire." + +"Not in the least; but as far as I can tell by the sound, they must +be attacking us in force, and they seem to be working round in rear +of our battery there. The sound is certainly coming this way." + +"Then I will go on to the battery," Fergus said. + +He had ridden but a little way farther, when he was convinced that +the officer was right. The crash of musketry volleys rose +continuously, but although the boom of guns was mingled with it, +there was nothing like the continuous fire that might have been +expected from a twenty-gun battery. + +Suddenly from his right a crackle of firing broke out, and then +heavy volleys. The bullets sung overhead. + +"They are attacking us in the rear, sir, sure enough," Karl said. + +"I am afraid they have captured our big battery, Karl," Fergus +said, as he turned his horse. + +It was but a few hundred yards back to the village but, just as he +reached it, a roar of fire broke out from its rear. They could make +their way but slowly along the streets, so crowded were they now +with infantry who, unable to see until a yard or two away, could +not make room for them to pass, as they would otherwise have done +for a staff officer. With feverish impatience Fergus pushed on, +until the road was clear; but even now he had to go comparatively +slowly, for unless they kept to the track across the open ground +that led to the farmhouse, they must miss it altogether. + +Lights were moving about there as he rode up. Keith himself was at +the door, and the orderlies were bringing up the horses. + +"What is it, Major Drummond?" + +"It is an attack in force, sir, on the right flank and rear. The +enemy have crept up between Hochkirch and our battery, and as I +came through the village they were attacking it in rear. I cannot +say for certain, but I believe that the battery is taken, though +there is a heavy infantry fire still going on there." + +"Ride to Ziethen, Captain Lindsay. Give him the news, and tell him +to fall upon the Austrians. + +"Captain Cosser and Captain Gaudy, ride off to the infantry and +bring them up at the double. + +"I will take on the Kannaker battalion myself," and he rode down at +once to the camp of this battalion, which was but a hundred yards +away; despatching others of his staff to hasten up the regiments +near. + +The Kannaker battalion was already under arms, and marched off with +him as soon as he arrived. + +"I am going to the left of the village, Fergus, and shall make for +the battery, which we must retake. Do you go first into Hochkirch, +and see how matters go there. If badly, give my order to the +colonel of the first battalion that comes along, and tell him to +throw himself into the village and assist to hold it to the last. +After that, you must be guided by circumstances. It is doubtful if +you will ever find me again, in this black mist." + +Fergus handed his lantern to Keith's orderly, who took his place at +the side of the marshal as the regiment went off at the double. +Fergus rode up to the village. It was scarce twenty minutes since +he had left it, but it was evident that a furious fight was raging +there, and that the Austrians had already penetrated some distance +into its streets. Without hesitation he turned and rode back again +and, in a few minutes, met a dark body of men coming along at a +rapid run. + +"Where is the colonel?" he asked, reining in his horse suddenly, +for he had nearly ridden into the midst of them. + +"Just ahead of us, to the right, sir." + +In a minute Fergus was beside him. By the light that Karl carried, +he recognized him. + +"Major Lange," he said, "I have the marshal's orders that you +should march into Hochkirch, and hold it to the last. The Austrians +are already in partial possession of it." + +"Which way is it, Major Drummond? For in this mist I have almost +lost my direction, and there seems to be firing going on everywhere +ahead." + +"I will direct you," Fergus said. "I have just come from there;" +and he trotted back to the village. + +As they approached Hochkirch it was evident that, although the +defenders were still clinging to its outskirts, the greater portion +was lost; but with a cheer the battalion rushed forward, and was in +a moment fiercely engaged. Major Lange's horse fell dead under him, +struck by an Austrian bullet. Fergus rode into the first house he +came to, dismounted, and left his horse there. + +"You may as well leave yours here too, Karl. We can do no good with +them, and should only be in the way. When it begins to get light, +we will try and find the marshal. + +"You may as well get hold of the first musket and ammunition pouch +that you can pick up. There will be enough for every man to do to +hold this place until more reinforcements come up." + +A desperate struggle went on in the streets. The Prussians who had +been driven back joined the battalion just arrived. Bayonets and +the butt-end of the musket were used, rather than shot; for in the +mist friend could not be distinguished from foe five yards away, +and it was from their shouts rather than by their uniforms that men +knew whether they had one or other in front of them. Karl was not +long in finding arms and, taking his place in the ranks, was soon +at work with the others. + +The village was almost circular in shape, clustered as it were on +the top of the hill. The struggle was not confined to one street, +but raged in half a dozen, more or less parallel with each other. +Gradually the Prussians pressed forward, and had more than half +cleared the village when their advance was checked by the arrival +of fresh battalions of the Austrians. Then Lange threw his men into +the church and churchyard, and there stubbornly maintained himself. + +Soon flames burst out from various directions, giving a welcome +light to the defenders, and enabling them to keep up so heavy a +fire upon the now swarming enemy that they repulsed each attack +made upon them. Eight battalions of Austrians in vain tried to +capture the position, attacking it on every side; but the stubborn +Prussians held firmly to it. + +Meanwhile beyond, as far as the battery, the fight raged. The +Plothow battalion, which had been stationed in advance of it, had +been attacked and enveloped on all sides by the Austrians; but had +defended themselves splendidly and, though forced back by sheer +weight of numbers, had maintained their order and done heavy +execution by their fire. The battery had been lost, but those who +had been driven out rallied and, with the Plothow men, made so +furious a rush forward that they hurled the Austrians out again. It +was but for a few minutes, for such masses of the enemy poured up +through the mist that there was no withstanding them, and many of +the Prussians were taken prisoners. Their captivity was of short +duration, for through the mist Ziethen's horse burst out suddenly +into the raging tumult, scattered the Austrians, released the +prisoners, and were then off to fall upon fresh enemies, as soon as +they discovered their position. + +Everywhere isolated combats took place. Battalion after battalion, +and squadron after squadron, as it arrived, flung itself upon the +first enemy it came upon in the darkness. Keith, on reaching the +battery, again retook it; but again the Austrian masses obtained +possession. + +In and around Hochkirch, similar desperate struggles were going on. +None fled but, falling back until meeting another battalion +hastening up, reformed and charged again. Ziethen's horse, together +with the rest of the cavalry and gendarmes, mingled with staff +officers and others who had lost their way, continued to make +furious charges against the Austrians pressing round the rear of +the position, and holding them in check. + +Until its cartridges were all spent, Lange's battalion held the +churchyard, though its numbers were terribly lessened by the +Austrian fire. Then the major called upon his men to form in a +mass, and cut their way through the enemy with the bayonet. This +they most gallantly did, losing many; but the remnant emerged from +the village, their gallant leader, wounded to death, among them. + +Fergus and Karl separated themselves from them, ran to the house +where they had left their horses, mounted, and galloped off. By +this time the centre was coming up, led by the king himself. As +they neared Hochkirch a cannonball took off the head of Frank of +Brunswick, the king's youngest brother-in-law. Prince Maurice of +Dessau, riding in the dark till within twenty yards of the +Austrians, was badly hit; and the storm of case and musket bullets +that swept the approaches to Hochkirch was so terrible that +Frederick's battalion had to fall back. + +"The first thing is to find the marshal," Fergus said, as he rode +out of Hochkirch. "He must be somewhere to the right." + + +[Illustration: Before he could extricate himself, Fergus +was surrounded by Austrians] + + +He galloped on until a flash of fire burst out, a few yards in +front. His horse fell dead under him and, before he could extricate +himself from it, he was surrounded by Austrians. An officer shouted +to him to surrender and, seeing the hopelessness of resistance, he +at once did so. + +He looked round and, to his satisfaction, saw nothing of Karl. He +was placed in the midst of the Austrian regiment, under the charge +of a sergeant, and told that he would be shot if he tried to +escape. + +Frederick, with more battalions that had come up, pushed on; +thrusting the Austrians back until he had left Hochkirch on his +left. But by this time it was past eight o'clock, the fog was +dispersing, and he saw a great body of Austrians on the heights to +his right, from Waditz to Meschduitz, as well as on the whole line +of heights on the left. His only line of retreat, therefore, was +along at the foot of the Dressau heights. + +These he ordered to be seized, at once. This was done before the +Austrians could reach the spot, they being hindered by furious +charges by Ziethen, from the open ground between Kumschutz and +Canitz; and Frederick rearranged his front of battle, and waited +for Retzow to come up with the left wing. + +The Austrians tried several attacks, but with little success. They +too had been hindered and confused by the mist, and the force that +had been engaged in and round Hochkirch had suffered terribly; and +they pushed forward but feebly, now that the Prussian guns on the +heights were able to open fire upon them. + +Retzow was long in coming, for he too had been attacked by twenty +thousand men, who had been told off by Daun for the purpose. The +attack, however, was badly managed and feeble; but it delayed +Retzow from making a start, when Frederick's urgent messages +reached him. During this anxious delay the Austrians captured +Frederick's main battery of thirty guns, north of Rodewitz; and +were beginning to press forward, when Retzow came onto the ground +and took up a position at Belgern, covering Frederick's left flank. +Had he been an hour sooner, he might have saved the heavy battery +which lay beyond the range of the guns on the Dressau heights, and +which Frederick could not have supported without bringing on a +general battle. + +Then, in a steady and leisurely manner, the king drew off his +forces and took up a new position from Krewitz to Puswietz, +carrying off the whole of his baggage; Retzow and the troops on the +Dressau heights covering the movement, until all had passed; Daun +and his great army standing on their circle of hills, watching, but +not interfering with the movement. + +Frederick's rashness had cost him dear. He had lost eight thousand +men; five thousand three hundred and eighty-one of them, and a +hundred and nineteen officers, killed or prisoners; the rest +wounded. He had also lost a hundred and one guns, and most of his +tents. + +Of the Austrians, three hundred and twenty-five officers and five +thousand six hundred and fourteen rank and file were killed or +wounded, and a thousand prisoners lost. Twenty thousand of their +men deserted, during their passage through the dark and intricate +woods. + +Fergus remained with the regiment that had captured him until the +battle ceased; after which he was taken, under a guard, to the spot +where the Prussian prisoners were gathered. Of these there were +fifty-eight officers, the greater part of whom were more or less +severely wounded. Two of the officers belonged to the Kannaker +battalion, and from them Fergus asked for news of Marshal Keith. + +"We fear he is killed," one said. "He led us into the battery, and +he was with us after we were driven out again; but after that +neither of us saw him. Everything was in confusion. We could not +see twenty yards, any way. We know that the battalion had suffered +terribly. Just before we were captured, being with a score of men +cut off from the rest by a rush of Austrians, a rumour spread that +the marshal had been killed; but more than this we cannot tell." + +Two hours later an Austrian officer rode up, with orders that the +prisoners were to be marched some distance farther to the rear. +Fergus went up to him and said: + +"Can you tell me, sir, if Marshal Keith is among the killed? I am +one of his aides-de-camp and, moreover, a cousin of his." + +"Yes," the officer said, "he has fallen. His body was recognized by +General Lacy, who commands here. I am on his staff. The general was +greatly affected, for he and the marshal were at one time comrades +in arms. The marshal was shot through the heart, and had previously +received two other wounds. He was a most gallant soldier, and one +highly esteemed by us. He will be buried with all military honours +at Hochkirch, where he has been carried." + +Fergus was deeply moved. Keith had been so uniformly kind that he +had come to feel for him almost as a father. He could not speak for +a minute, and then said: + +"Would you ask General Lacy, sir, to allow me to attend his +funeral, both as one of the marshal's staff and as a relation, who +loved him very dearly? My name is Major Drummond." + +"I will certainly ask him, sir, and have no doubt that he will +grant the request." + +He thereupon gave orders that a young officer should remain with +Fergus, until an answer was received. He then rode off, and in a +few minutes the rest of the prisoners were marched away. In half an +hour the officer returned. + +"General Lacy will be glad if you will accompany me to his +quarters. He gladly accedes to your request." + +Lacy occupied one of the houses at Hochkirch which had been spared +by the flames. The aide-de-camp conducted Fergus to an empty room. + +"The general is away at present," he said, "but will see you, as +soon as he returns." + +When alone, Fergus burst into tears. It was indeed a heavy loss to +him. Even before he came out, he had come to regard Keith with deep +respect and admiration. He had heard so much of him, from his +mother, that it seemed to him that their relationship was far +closer than it really was, and that Keith stood in the position of +an uncle rather than of his mother's cousin. Since he had been in +Germany he had been constantly with him, save when he was away with +the king; and the genial kindness, the absence of all formality, +and the affectionate interest he had shown in him had been almost +of a fatherly nature. It was but a poor consolation to know that it +was the death Keith would, of all others, have chosen; and that, +had he survived the campaign, he would probably have been obliged +to retire from active service; or to take some quiet command, where +his inactivity would speedily have chafed him beyond bearing, after +so active and stirring a life. + +Two hours later the officer entered the room, and said that General +Lacy had returned, and would see him. The general was alone when he +was shown into his room, and his face evinced a momentary surprise +when his eyes fell on Fergus. Promotion was not very rapid in the +Prussian army, and he had expected to see a man of between thirty +and forty. The sight of this young officer, with the rank and +insignia of major, and wearing on his breast the Prussian order, +surprised him. + +"I am sorry indeed for your loss, Major Drummond," he said in +English. "Sorry for my own, too; though it may well be that, in any +case, Keith and I should never have met again. But we were comrades +once and, like everyone else, I loved him. What relation was he to +you?" + +"He was my mother's first cousin, general; but they were always +dear friends, and have for years written regularly to each other; +and it was settled that I should come out to him, as soon as I was +old enough. 'Tis upwards of two years since I did so, and he has +been more like a father than a cousin to me, during that time." + +"You have gone up the tree fast," General Lacy said. + +"Very fast, sir; but I owe it to good fortune, and not to his +influence. I was, in each case, promoted by the king himself." + +"A good judge of men, and not accustomed to give promotion easily. +Will you tell me how it happened?" + +"There is not much to tell, sir. On the first occasion, I freed +Count Eulenfurst of some rascals who were maltreating him and his +family." + +"I remember the circumstance," Lacy said warmly. "I heard it from a +Saxon officer, who joined us at the end of the first campaign, +after the Saxon army was disbanded and the officers were allowed to +go free. He was at Dresden for a time, and heard the story. It was +a gallant business. I think you killed six of them. And what was +the next occasion?" + +"The next followed very quickly, general; and was given for +carrying an order to the Prussian horse, which enabled them to get +back to our lines before the Austrian cavalry fell upon them." + +"I was there," Lacy said. "So you were the officer who charged +through a squadron of our cavalry, accompanied by a single orderly! +You certainly won your promotion fairly there. And where did you +get your last step?" + +"At Zorndorf where, in the melee, when the Russians broke our +ranks, I was fortunate enough to intercept three Russian dragoons +who were making for the king, who was hemmed in among the infantry +he was trying to rally." + +"A good reason, again, for promotion. Well, if you go on, you are +likely to rise as high as your cousin. But it is a poor life. As I +looked down upon Keith's face today, I thought how empty is any +honour that adventurers like ourselves can gain. I myself have +risen too; but what does it bring? Responsibility, toil, the +consciousness that a solitary mistake may bring you into disgrace; +and that, in any case, the end may be like this: death on a +battlefield, fighting in a quarrel in which you have no concern, +and of which you may disapprove; a grave soon forgotten; a name +scarce known to one's countrymen. It is not worth it." + +The general spoke in a tone of deep feeling. + +"I have made up my mind not to continue in the service, after the +war is over," Fergus said, after a short pause; "although the king +has personally been very kind to me and, when the marshal remained +in Bohemia, he took me on his own staff." + +"That is right, and as you are young, a few years' further service +will do you no harm. It will, indeed, do you good; that is, if you +pass through it unharmed. A man who has fought under Frederick, and +gained no small honour in a service where brave men are common, +will be respected when he returns to his home, no matter how small +his patrimony may be; and you will be, in all respects, an abler +man for these few years of fierce struggle and adventure. + +"And now, Major Drummond, I must say goodbye for the present, as I +have to ride over to the marshal, and may not return until late +this evening. A meal will be served to you shortly, in your room; +and if your night has been as short as mine has, you will be ready +to turn in early. The funeral will take place tomorrow morning." + +The next morning, Lacy and Fergus Drummond walked side by side, as +chief mourners, after the gun carriage on which the remains of +Marshal Keith were carried to Hochkirch church. There was a large +military cortege, martial music, and infantry with reversed arms. +The many wounded had been carried from the church, and some attempt +made to clear away the signs of the strife that had, twenty-four +hours before, raged around it. There Keith was buried. Twelve +cannon three times pealed out a parting salute. Three times the +muskets of the regiment of Colleredo fired their volleys. + +Four months later, by the king's orders, the body was conveyed to +Berlin, and buried in the garrison church with full military pomp +and honour. Twenty years afterwards, when Frederick erected four +statues to the most deserving of his generals, Keith had his place +with Schwerin, Winterfeld, and Seidlitz. + +"And now," Lacy said, when they returned from the funeral to his +quarters, "I must send you on after the others. I am sorry to do +so, but I have no choice. Still, I will write to friends at Vienna, +and get them to have you included in the first batch of exchanges." + +An officer was told off to accompany Fergus, and a horse was found +for him. On the second evening after starting he rejoined the +convoy of prisoners; where a message, delivered from General Lacy +to the officer in charge, caused many small indulgences to be +granted to him on the way south. + +Day after day the convoy pursued its way, by short marches, for +several of the officers were too severely wounded to travel far. +Several of these were left at Prague. Here the greater portion of +the others were taken on by the southern road through Budweis, the +rest turning southeast towards Moravia. + +On the evening before they separated, the commander of the convoy +said to Fergus: + +"Have you any wish to choose as to which of the fortresses you +would be sent to? I can put your name down with either party. Some +will go to Iglau in Moravia, the rest to the forts round Linz." + +"I think I would rather go to Linz, colonel, as you are good enough +to give me the choice." + +Accordingly, the next morning Fergus, with twenty officers, +continued his way south. The majority proceeded to Iglau, to be +distributed among the various fortresses of Moravia. + +Fergus was much pleased that he had not been sent with that party, for +had he by chance been taken to his former place of imprisonment, he +would certainly have been recognized, and the strictest precautions +taken against his repeating the attempt. On their arrival at Linz, +the prisoners were formally handed over to the charge of the governor, +and distributed among the various outlying forts round the city. Ten +others were told off to the same prison as Fergus. + +The fort was the one nearest to the river, on the west side of the +city; and stood but a hundred yards from the bank, its guns being +intended to prevent any passage of the Danube, as well as to guard +the city against a land attack from that side. It was a strong +place but, as it was situated in a flat country, it presented no +natural obstacle to an escape. It was surrounded by a broad moat, +fed by a cut from the river. On the other side of the moat were two +small redoubts, facing west. The fort contained ample barracks for +the garrison of three hundred men who occupied it, with bomb proofs +in which they could take refuge, in the event of a siege. Beyond +the moat, a glacis sloped down to another ditch. + +The cannon were placed in casemates. Some of them had been +withdrawn, the casemates fitted with massive shutters, and +converted into prisons for the use of officers. Two captains were +lodged in the same casemate with Fergus. No light came from +without, but there was a low semicircular window over the door. +This was very strongly barred, but admitted sufficient light, in +the daytime. + +"Not such bad quarters," Fergus said, as he looked round. "When the +cold weather comes, we shall only have to stuff straw through those +bars, leaving one square open for light, and manage to hang a thick +curtain across it at night. I suppose they will give us a brazier +of charcoal, when it gets a little colder; though indeed, it is +cold enough now." + +"At any rate, we shall have a rest, major; and that will be a +treat, after our long marches during the last campaign. I should +think that we can sleep the best part of the winter away." + +"They fasten the shutters pretty securely," Fergus went on. "They +are three inches of solid oak, and you see these bars are all +riveted at each end. I suppose they think that they would have +plenty of time to cut the rivet heads off, before any army could +approach." + +In a short time the officer in command of the force came round. He +was very civil and courteous, and said that he had already ordered +a stove to be sent in, and that they should have some straw laid +over the floor. + +"You will be permitted to take exercise, when you like, upon the +rampart overhead," he said. "Any reasonable request you make shall +be attended to. I regret that the misfortune of war should have +placed you in my keeping; for we Austrians can appreciate bravery, +and we cannot but admit that no braver men are to be found than +those in the King of Prussia's army. + +"As to your rations, they must be plain. A certain sum is allowed +by government for the cost of each prisoner. I make it go as far as +I can, but I often wish that the sum were larger. I may say that +you are permitted to order any additions to your food from without, +upon payment; but I need hardly add that the orders must pass +through the hands of the officer in charge of you, and that +everything brought in is rigidly inspected." + +"Have there been any exchanges of prisoners, of late?" one of +Fergus's companions asked. + +"No. It is a compliment to you, gentlemen, for our government +apparently places a higher value on you than on us, and is very +chary of swelling Frederick's armies by the release of prisoners. +Somehow your king seems to make double use of his soldiers. He +fights a battle here, then rushes away to meet another enemy, two +or three hundred miles off; while when we get an advantage, we seem +so satisfied with ourselves that we sit still until we have let its +advantages slip from our hands." + +"May I ask if, by the last news, Marshal Daun is still near +Hochkirch?" + +"He was so, as far as the yesterday's courier brought news. At +first we thought that he had won a tremendous victory, and had +eaten up Frederick's army; but the later news is that the king +marched safely away, and so far from being demolished he is now +perfectly master of his movements; and ready, no doubt, for another +tussle, if we should advance. However, I should imagine that the +snow will soon put a stop to active operations." + +Then, bowing courteously, he left them, to pay a visit to the +prisoners in the next casemate. + + + +Chapter 14: Breaking Prison. + + +"He seems to be a pleasant fellow," Fergus said, "and disposed to +do his best to make us comfortable; so if we don't see any chance +of getting away, we shall be able to get through the winter very +fairly." + +"You don't think there is any chance of escape, surely, major?" + +"Pray, drop the major, Captain Stauffen, and let us call each other +by our names, while we are here. The discipline of the Prussian +army is admirable, and must, as a rule, be most stringently +maintained by all sorts of forms and observances; but here by our +three selves, confined in this casemate for no one can say how +long, it is ridiculous that we should be always stiff and +ceremonious. You are both some years older than I am. I have had +the good fortune to have better opportunities than you have had, +and have been promoted accordingly; but while here, let us try and +forget all about that, and make things as pleasant all round as +possible." + +The two officers agreed, but not without grave doubts; for to them +it was quite a serious matter to relax, even in a prison, the +stringent rules that guided the relation of officers to each other +in the Prussian army. + +"It is a strong place," Fergus went on, "but I don't know that it +is as difficult to break out of as the last place I was in." + +"Have you been a prisoner before?" the two officers asked together, +for both belonged to a regiment that was not with Frederick at +Lobositz, and had indeed only recently come down from Berlin. + +"Yes, I was taken at Lobositz and marched to Spielberg, and managed +to get away from there. It is a long story, and will do to pass +away the evening, when we have got the fire and can sit comfortably +and talk round it. My cell there was so high in the castle that, +with the wall and the rock below, there was a fall of a hundred and +fifty feet, at least; so that the difficulties of escape were a +good deal greater than they are here--or perhaps I should say +seemed to be a good deal greater, for I don't know that they were. + +"There is the tramp of a sentry outside. I suppose he walks up and +down the whole length of the six casemates. I counted them as we +came in. We are at one end, which, of course, is an advantage." + +"Why so?" one of the others asked with a puzzled expression of +face. + +"Well, you see, the sentry only passes us once to every twice he +passes the casemate in the middle, and has his back to us twice as +long at a time." + +"I should not have thought of that," Stauffen said. "Yes, I can see +that if we were escaping through this door, which seems to me +impossible, that it would be an advantage;" and he glanced at his +companion, as if to say that there was more in this fortunate young +officer than they had thought. + +Among the officers who had served throughout with Frederick, the +manner in which Fergus had gained his promotion was well known. His +rescue of Count Eulenfurst and his family was the general subject +of talk at Dresden, and even putting aside the gallantry of the +action, it was considered that the army in general were indebted to +him, for having saved them from the disgrace that would have +attached to them had this murderous outrage been carried out +successfully. The manner in which he had saved half the Prussian +cavalry from destruction, by his charge through the Austrian +squadron, had similarly been talked over, in every regiment engaged +at Lobositz. Those who had been at Zorndorf were cognizant of the +fact that he had gained his majority by saving the king's life, as +this had been mentioned in the general orders of the day. + +The regiment, however, to which the two officers belonged had come +down from Berlin but six months before; and had formed a part of +the command of Prince Maurice until Frederick had returned from +Zorndorf, and had, with a portion of the force of Prince Maurice, +marched out to compel Daun to abandon his impregnable position at +Stolpen. They had not particularly observed Fergus on their journey +south; and when, during the last two or three days of the march, +they had noticed him, they had regarded him as some fortunate young +fellow who had, by royal favour, received extraordinary promotion, +and had been pushed up over the heads of older men simply from +favouritism. Thus their manner towards him had been even more stiff +and ceremonious than usual. + +"Do you think, then," Stauffen said, "that there is any chance of +our making our escape?" + +"Oh, I have not had time to think about it, yet!" Fergus laughed. +"There is generally a way, if one can but find it out; but I have +no doubt that it will take a good deal of thinking before we hit +upon it, and if it does nothing else for us, it will be an +amusement through the long evenings to have to puzzle it out. There +is no hurry, for it is not likely that there will be any more +fighting before the army goes into winter quarters; and so that we +are there when the campaign opens in the spring, it will be soon +enough." + +The door opened now. Two soldiers brought in a stove. It was placed +nearly in the centre of the room. The flue went up to the top of +the arch, and then turned at right angles, and passed out of the +casemate through a hole just over the window. + +After lighting the stove, they brought in two bundles of rushes and +spread them over the floor; and then carried in a tray with dinner, +and placed it on the little table. There were three stools standing +by the side of the three barrack beds, each placed in a corner of +the room. These they carried to the table. + +The others waited to see upon which side Fergus placed his. He put +it down on one side. + +"Excuse me, major," Stauffen said, changing it--putting him facing +the fire, and placing his own on one side, while his companion was +opposite to him. + +Then they stood, stiffly waiting, until Fergus, with a shrug of his +shoulders, took his place. + +The dinner consisted of a thin soup, followed by the meat of which +it had been made, stewed up and served with a good gravy and two +sorts of vegetables. The bread was white and good. A bottle of +rough country wine was placed by the side of each. + +"The commandant feeds us better here than I was fed at Spielberg," +Fergus said cheerfully. "If I got broth there I did not get meat; +if I had meat I had no broth; and they only gave me half a bottle +of wine. The commandant evidently does as he says, and makes the +money he gets for our keep go far. Let us drink his health, and a +better employment to him. He evidently feels being kept here, +instead of being with the army in the field. In fact, he is just as +much a prisoner as we are, without even the satisfaction of being +able to talk over plans for escape. + +"Ah! I see he has sent a box of cigars, too. I finished my last as +we rode here today, and was wondering when I should be able to get +some more in; also tobacco for my pipe. I hope you both smoke." + +Stauffen and his companion, whose name was Ritzer, both did so. + +"I am glad of that," Fergus said. "I think it is very cheery and +sociable when everyone smokes, but certainly when only two out of +three do, it looks somehow as if the one who does not is left out +in the cold. I never smoked until I came out here, two years and a +half ago; but there is no doubt that at the end of a day's hard +work, or when you have got to do a long ride in the dark, it is +very comforting." + +His efforts to keep the conversation going were not very +successful. The two officers were evidently determined to maintain +the distinction of rank and, saying to himself that they would +probably soon get tired of it, he ceased to attempt to break down +the barrier they insisted upon keeping up. After dinner was over +they lighted their cigars, and then went out and mounted the steps +from the yard to the ramparts. + +They were soon joined by the officers from the other casemates and, +separating into groups, strolled up and down, making remarks on the +country round and the town behind them. Fergus had at once left his +fellow prisoners and joined two or three others with whom he had +been previously acquainted, one being a captain of the 3rd Royal +Dragoons. + +"You are with Stauffen and Ritzer, are you not, major?" the latter +said. "I have a brother in the same regiment, and so know them. How +do you get on with them?" + +"At present they are rather stiff and distant, and insist upon +treating me as the senior officer; which is absurd when we are +prisoners, and they are both some fifteen years older than I am. I +detest that sort of thing. Of course in a great garrison town like +Berlin or Dresden the strict rules of discipline must be observed. +I think they are carried altogether too far, but as it is the +custom of the service there is nothing to be said about it; but +here, as we are all fellows in misfortune, it seems to me simply +ridiculous." + +"It becomes a second nature after a time," the officer said. "The +two with me are both lieutenants, and I should feel a little +surprised if they did not pay me the usual respect." + +"Yes, but then you are the older man, and would naturally take the +lead, in any case. To me, I can assure you, it is most disagreeable +to have men much older than myself insisting upon treating me as +their superior officer; especially as, their regiment having only +recently joined us, I suppose they set me down as some young +favourite or other, who has got his promotion over the heads of +deserving officers because he is related to someone in power." + +"They ought to know that there is not much promotion to be gained +in that way in our army, major. The king is the last man who would +promote anyone for that cause. Why, Schwerin's son has served for +four years and is still a cornet in our regiment! No doubt the king +would be glad to promote him if he specially distinguished himself, +but as he has had no opportunity of doing so, he will probably work +his way up in the regiment as everyone else does." + +Two or three more officers came up and joined the party, and +presently Captain Ronsfeldt strolled away and joined another group. +It was not long before he engaged Stauffen and Ritzer in +conversation. + +"You have Major Drummond in with you, have you not?" + +"Yes," Stauffen said shortly. "Who is the young fellow, do you know +him?" + +"Yes, he first joined our regiment as junior cornet. It was less +than two years and a half ago. I was senior lieutenant at the time, +and now I am pretty well up on the list of captains, thanks to the +work we have done and the vacancies that death has made." + +"And that boy has gone over your head, and is now walking about as +a major, with the order on his breast. It is enough to make one +sick of soldiering. Who is he related to?" + +"He is related to Marshal Keith," Ronsfeldt said quietly. + +"Ah! That explains it." + +"I don't think you quite understand the case, Stauffen. Certainly +you don't, if you think that there has been any favouritism. I +don't think anyone ever heard of Frederick promoting a man out of +his turn, save for merit; and I suppose there is no one in the army +who has won his rank more worthily, and who is more generally +recognized as deserving it. I have never heard a single word raised +against the honours he has received. + +"When he rides through the camp men nudge each other and say, 'That +young fellow in staff uniform is Major Drummond;' and there is not +a soldier but tries to put a little extra respect into his salute." + +"Are you joking, Ronsfeldt?" Ritzer asked in astonishment. + +"I was never less so, Ritzer;" and he then gave them an account of +the manner in which Fergus had obtained his promotion. + +The two officers were silent when Ronsfeldt concluded. + +"We have made fools of ourselves," Stauffen said at last, "and we +must apologize, Ritzer." + +"Certainly we must," the other agreed heartily. "It seemed to us +that his trying to make us put aside the respect due to his rank +was a sort of affectation, and really impressed it more +disagreeably upon us. We took him for an upstart favourite; though +we might have known, had we thought of it, that the king never +promotes unduly. Who could possibly have believed that a young +fellow, not yet twenty, I should say, could have so distinguished +himself? It will be a lesson to us both not to judge by +appearances." + +The day was cold and cheerless, and after an hour spent on the +rampart most of the party were glad to return to the casemates. +Fergus was one of the last to go back. To his disgust the two +officers rose and saluted formally, as he came in. + +"We wish," Captain Stauffen said, "to express to you our deep +regret at the unworthy way in which we received your request, this +morning, to lay aside the distinction of rank while we are +prisoners here. We were both under an error. Our regiments having +only joined from Berlin a short time before the king marched with +us to Hochkirch, we were altogether ignorant of the manner in which +you had gained your rank, and had thought that it was the result of +favouritism. We now know your highly distinguished services, and +how worthily you have gained each step; and we both sincerely hope +that you will overlook our boorish conduct, and will endeavour to +forget the manner in which we received your kindly advances." + +"Say no more about it, gentlemen," Fergus replied heartily. "I have +had luck, and availed myself of it, as assuredly you would have +done had the same opportunities occurred to you. I can quite +understand that it seemed to you monstrous that, at my age, I +should be your senior officer. I feel it myself. I am often +inclined to regret that I should thus have been unduly pushed up. + +"However, let us say no more about it. I do hope that we shall be +as three good comrades together; and that, within this casemate at +any rate, there will be no question whatever of rank, and that you +will call me Drummond, as I shall call you both by your names. + +"Now, let us shake hands over the bargain. Let us draw our stools +round the stove and have a comfortable talk. + +"I have been speaking to Major Leiberkuhn about ordering things. He +tells me that the commandant says that one list must be made. On +this the orders of each of the casemates must be put down +separately. A sergeant will go out every day with it. Money must be +given to him to cover the full extent of the orders. He will return +the change, each day, when he hands in the articles required. + +"I have ordered some tobacco, some better cigars than these, and +three bottles of good Hungarian wine. The sergeant is going in half +an hour, so we shall be able to enjoy our chat this evening. I +always take the precaution of carrying twenty golden Fredericks, +sewn up in the lining of my tunic. It comes in very useful, in case +of an emergency of this kind." + +"I am afraid that neither of us has imitated your forethought," +Ritzer said with a laugh. "I have only my last month's pay in my +pocket, and Stauffen is no better off." + +"Ah, well! With thirty pounds among us, we shall do very well," +Fergus said. "We must be careful because, if we do make our escape, +we shall want money to get disguises." + +"You are not really in earnest, Drummond," Stauffen said, "in what +you say about escaping?" + +"I am quite in earnest about getting away, if I see a chance; +though I admit that, at present, the matter seems a little +difficult." + +"Perhaps if you will tell us about your escape from Spielberg, we +shall be able to get a hint from it." + +They now drew up their seats round the stove, and Fergus told them +in detail the manner of his escape, omitting only the name of the +noblemen at Vienna who had assisted him. + +"It was excellently done," Ritzer said warmly. "Your making off in +that Austrian uniform, at the only moment when such a thing could +be done, was certainly a masterly stroke." + +"So was the taking of the post horses," Stauffen agreed, "and your +getting a disguise from the postmaster. I should like to have seen +the Austrian's look of surprise, when he got his uniform back +again. + +"I am afraid that your adventures do not afford us any hint for +getting away from here. Even you will admit that three Austrian +uniforms could not be secured, and the tale by which you procured +the post horses would hardly hold good in the case of three." + +"No, if we get away at all it must be done in an entirely different +manner. The place is not so difficult to get out of as Spielberg +was, for with patience we could certainly manage to cut off the +rivet heads of the bars. But I don't see, at present, how we could +cross this wide moat, with a sentry pacing up and down thirty feet +above us; nor climb up the brick wall on the other side, without +making a noise. That done, of course we could, on a dark night, +cross the glacis and swim the outer moat. All that accomplished, +the question of disguises will come in. Just at present it is not +very easy to see how that is to be managed. + +"Can you swim?" + +Both officers replied in the affirmative. + +"Well, that is something gained. As to the rest, we need not bother +about it, at present. We are not uncomfortable where we are, and if +we get back in time for the next campaign, that is all that really +matters." + +The others laughed at the confident tone in which he spoke, but +after hearing the details of the prior attempt, it seemed to them +that their companion was capable of accomplishing what almost +seemed to be impossibilities. They had, they knew, very slight +chance of being exchanged so long as the war lasted. A few general +officers, or others whose families possessed great influence, were +occasionally exchanged; but it was evidently the policy of Austria +to retain all prisoners. In the first place she desired to reduce +Frederick's fighting force, and in the second, the number of +Austrians taken had been very much larger than that of the +Prussians captured, and the support of some fifteen or twenty +thousand prisoners of war added to the drain on Frederick's +resources. Three campaigns had passed without materially altering +the position of the combatants, and as many more might elapse +before the war came to an end. Indeed, there was no saying how long +it might last, and the prospect was so unpleasant that the two +officers were inclined to run a very considerable risk in +attempting to obtain freedom. + +A week later the snow began to fall heavily, and the moat froze. + +"There is no getting across that without being seen, even on the +darkest night," Fergus said, as he walked up and down the rampart +with his two companions, "unless the sentry was sound asleep; and +in such weather as this, that is the last thing likely to happen. +Unless something altogether unexpected occurs, we shall have to +postpone action till spring comes. + +"Now that we have bought some books we can pass the time away +comfortably. It was a happy thought of Major Leiberkuhn that each +of us should buy one book, so that altogether we have got some +forty between us; which, taking our reading quietly, will last us +for a couple of months. They mayn't be all equally interesting; but +as the sergeant bought them second-hand, at about half a franc a +volume, we can lay in another stock without hurting ourselves, +whenever we choose." + +A few days later they bought several sets of draughts, chessmen, +and dominoes, and a dozen packs of cards. This had been arranged at +a general meeting, held in the major's casemate. Strict rules had +been laid down that there should be no playing for money. Several +of the prisoners had had only a few marks in their pockets when +captured. + +They agreed to meet at three o'clock, in two of the casemates by +turn, as one would not hold the whole number. This made a great +break in their day. It would have been better if the meeting had +been held in the evening; but the regulation that, during the +winter months, they were locked up at five, prevented this being +adopted. So the cold weather passed not altogether unpleasantly. +The strict rule that every case in which the slightest difference +of opinion arose should, at once, be submitted to the adjudication +of Major Leiberkuhn and the senior officer of the casemate in which +it occurred, effectually prevented all disputes and quarrels over +the cards and other games; and their good fellowship remained, +therefore, unbroken. + +In March the sun gained power, the snow and ice began to melt, and +Fergus again began to think how an escape could be effected. + +"I can think of only one plan," he said to his two companions, one +evening. "It is clear that it is altogether hopeless to think of +getting out by the door but, as we agreed, it would be possible to +chip off the heads of the rivets, unbar the shutters, and let +ourselves down into the moat. If we were to make our way along at +the foot of the wall, the chance of our being seen by the sentry +above would be very slight; for of course we should choose a night +when the wind was blowing hard, and the water ruffled. In that case +any splash we might make would not be heard. + +"Swimming along to the corner of this face of the fort, we would +turn and keep along until we reached the spot where the cut runs to +the river. Crossing the moat to that would be the most dangerous +part of the business, and we ought, if possible, to dive across. +There is a low wall there, and a cheval-de-frise on the top of it. +We should have to get out by the side of that, and then either swim +along the cut, or crawl along the edge of it till we get to the +river. + +"Then we must crawl along under the shelter of its banks towards +the town, till we get to a boat hauled up, or swim to one moored a +little way out in the stream. Then we must row up the river for +some distance, and land." + +"That all seems possible enough, Drummond," Captain Ritzer said; +"but what about our uniforms?" + +"We must leave them behind, and swim in our underclothes. I should +say we should take a couple of suits with us. We could make them up +into bundles, and carry them on our heads while we swim. Of course, +if we take them we shall not be able to dive; but must swim across +the moat to the cut, and trust to the darkness for the sentries not +seeing us. Then, once on board a boat, we could take off our wet +things and put the dry ones on." + +"But we can hardly wander about the country in shirts and drawers, +Drummond," Stauffen suggested. + +"Certainly not. My idea is that, as soon as we are a mile or two +away, we should either board some boat where we see a light, and +overpower the boatmen and take their clothes, if they will not sell +them to us; or else land at some quiet house, and rig ourselves +out. There should be no great difficulty about that. Once rigged +out we must make south, for as soon as our escape is found out the +next morning, cavalry will scour the country in every direction on +this side of the river, and give notice of our escape at every town +and village. + +"After lying up quiet for a time, we must journey at least fifty +miles west. We might make for Munich if we like; or strike the Isar +at Landshut, and then work up through Ratisbon, and then through +the Fichtel Mountains to Bayreuth, and so into Saxony; or from +Landshut we can cross the Bohmerwald Mountains into Bohemia; or, if +we like, from Munich we can keep west into Wuertemberg, up through +Hesse-Darmstadt and Cassel into Hanover; or, lastly, we can go on +to Mannheim and down the Rhine, and then come round by sea to +Hamburg." + +The others laughed. + +"It looks a tremendous business, anyhow, Drummond, and I should +never think of attempting it by myself," Ritzer said; "but if you +assure me that you think it will be possible, I am ready to try +it." + +"I think that there is every chance of success, Ritzer. I really do +not see why it should fail. Of course there is risk in it, but once +fairly on the other side of the moat, and on the river bank, it +seems comparatively safe. We can see that there are always a lot of +boats moored in the stream, this side of the bridge; and by taking +a small boat, we might put off to one of them and get our change of +clothes, at once bind and gag the crew--there are not likely to be +above two or three of them--give them a piece of gold to pay for +the clothes, and then row straight up the river and land a mile or +two away. That would make it plain sailing. + +"Of course we should push the boat off when we landed, and it would +float down past the town before daylight. The chances are that the +boatmen, finding that they are no losers by the affair, would make +no complaint to the authorities; but even if they did, we should be +far beyond their reach by that time. All we have got to do is to +choose a really dark night, with wind and rain. + +"The first job to be done is to get the heads off these rivets. I +have examined them carefully. They are roughly done, and I don't +fancy that the iron is very hard; and our knives will, I think, +make a comparatively short job of it." + +"We could not work at night," Ritzer said. "The sentry in front +would hear the noise." + +"I think of sawing the heads off," Fergus said. "With the help of a +little oil, I fancy the steel will cut through the iron. Yesterday +I tapped the edge of my knife against the edge of the stone +parapet--it is good steel, but very brittle--and I managed to make +a pretty fair saw of it. Tomorrow I will do yours, if you like." + +All carried clasp knives for cutting their food with, when serving +in the field. They had oil which they had bought for dressing +salads with, and Fergus at once attacked one of the rivets. + +"It cuts," he said, after three or four minutes' work. "Of course +it will be a long job, but we ought to do it in a week. There are +three bars, and if we cut the rivets at one end of each, I have no +doubt we shall be able to turn the bars on the rivets at the other +end." + +They relieved each other at short intervals, and worked the greater +part of the night. At the end of that time the head of one of the +rivets was cut almost through. + +"We will leave it as it is now," Fergus said. "A quarter of an +hour's work will take it off. As it is, no one would notice what +has been done, unless he inspected it closely." + +Greatly encouraged by this success, the others now entered warmly +into his plans. Using his knife instead of a stone, he was able the +next day to convert their knives into much better saws than his own +had been; and the other two rivets were cut in a much shorter time +than the first. + +They waited another week and then the wind began to rise, and by +evening half a gale was blowing, and the rain falling heavily. +There was no moon, and the night would be admirably suited for +their purpose. Their supper was brought in at six o'clock. Knowing +that they would not be visited again until the morning, they at +once began work. + +As soon as they had finished cutting one rivet they tried the bar, +and their united strength was quite sufficient to bend it far +enough to allow it being withdrawn from the rivet; then, throwing +their weight upon it, it turned upon the bolt at the other end, +until it hung perpendicularly. In another half hour the other two +bars were similarly removed, and the heavy shutters opened. They +were closed again, until their preparations were complete. + +First they ate their supper, then sat and talked until nine. Then +they knotted their sheets together, and tied the underclothes into +bundles. + +"The Austrian government will be no losers," Fergus laughed. "They +will get three Prussian uniforms, instead of six suits of prison +underclothing. Now, shall I go first, or will one of you?" + +"We will go according to rank," Ritzer laughed. + +"Very well. Now mind, gentlemen, whatever you do, take the water +quietly. I will wait until you are both down, then we will follow +each other closely, so that we can help one another if necessary. I +can hardly see the water from here; and the sentry, being twice as +far off from it as we are, will see it less. Besides, I think it +likely that they will be standing in their sentry boxes, in such a +rain as this; and I feel confident that we shall get across without +being seen. The river is high, and the opposite wall of the moat is +only a foot above the water, so we shall have no difficulty in +getting out on the other side. + +"I have the money sewn in a small bag round my neck. We may as well +take our knives with us. They will help us to tackle the boatmen. I +think that is everything. Now, we will be off." + +Fastening the sheet firmly to one of the bars, he swung himself +out, slid down the rope quietly and noiselessly, and entered the +water, which was so cold that it almost took his breath away. He +swam a stroke or two along the wall, and waited until joined by +both his comrades. Their casemate being the end one, they had but +some ten or twelve yards to swim to the angle of the wall. + +Another fifty took them to a point facing the cut. Fergus had paced +it on the rampart above, and calculated that each stroke would take +them a yard. It was too dark to see more than the dim line of the +wall on the other side. He waited until the others joined him. + +"Are you all right?" he asked, in a low voice. + +"Yes, but this cold is frightful." + +"We shall soon be out of it," he said. "Wait till I have gone a few +yards, and then follow, one after the other." + +The surface of the moat was so ruffled by the wind that Fergus had +little fear of being seen, even if the sentry above was out and +watching; but he felt sure that he would be in his sentry box, and +so swam boldly across. He at once climbed onto the lower wall, and +helped his two companions out. They were completely numbed by the +cold. + +"Come along," he said. "We are on the lower side of the cut. Crawl +for a short distance, then we can get up and run, which will be the +best thing for us." + +In three minutes they were up on the river bank. + +"Now we can change our clothes," he said. "The others will soon get +wet through, but they won't be as cold as these are." + +The things were soon stripped off. Each gave himself a rub with one +of the dry shirts, and they were soon dressed in the double suits +and stockings. + +"That is better," Fergus said cheerfully. "Now for a run along the +towing path." + +A quarter of a mile's run and circulation was restored, and all +felt comparatively comfortable. They had, at the suggestion of +Fergus, wrung out the things they had taken off; and thrown them +over their shoulders, so as to afford some protection against the +rain. They now dropped into a slower pace and, after going for a +mile, they neared the spot where the craft were lying moored in the +river. + +Several small boats were drawn up on the shore. One of these they +launched, put out the oars, and rowed quietly to a large barge, +fifty yards from the bank, on which a light was burning. Taking +pains to prevent the boat striking her side, they stepped on board, +fastened the head rope, and proceeded aft. A light was burning in +the cabin and, looking through a little round window in the door, +they saw three boatmen sitting there, smoking and playing cards. +They opened their knives, slid back the door, and stepped in. + + + +Chapter 15: Escaped. + + +So astonishing was the spectacle of three lightly-clad men, +appearing suddenly on board a craft moored out on the river, that +the three boatmen sat immovable, in the attitudes in which they had +been sitting at the entry of these strange visitors, without +uttering a word. Superstitious by nature, they doubted whether +there was not something supernatural in the appearance of the three +strangers. + +"If you cry out or make the slightest sound," Fergus said, showing +his knife, "you are all dead men. If you sit quiet and do as we +order you, no harm will come to you. We want clothes. If you have +spare ones you can hand them to us. If not, we must take those you +have on. We are not robbers, and don't want to steal them. If you +will fix a fair price on the things, we will pay for them. But you +must in any case submit to be bound and gagged till morning; when, +on going on deck, you will find no difficulty in attracting the +attention of some of your comrades, who will at once release you. + +"Keep your hands on the table while my friends take away your +knives. If one of you moves a hand, he is as good as a dead man." + +His companions removed the knives from the belts of the two men +sitting outside, and then Fergus said to the third man: + +"Now, hand over your knife. That will do. + +"Now, which of you is the captain?" + +"I am," the man sitting farthest from the door said. + +"Very well. Now, have you spare clothes on board?" + +"Yes, my lord," he replied, in a tone that showed that he had not +yet recovered from his first stupefaction, "we have our Sunday +suits." + +"We don't want them," Fergus said. "We want the three suits that +you have on. What do you value them at?" + +"Anything you like, my lord." + +"No, I want to know how much they cost when new." + +The man asked his two comrades, and then mentioned the total. + +"Very well, we will give you that. Then you will have no reason for +grumbling, for you will get three new suits for three old ones. + +"Now do you--" and he touched the man nearest to him "--take off +your coat, waistcoat, breeches, neck handkerchief, and boots, and +then get into that bunk." + +The man did as he was ordered, as did the other two, in succession. +As they did so, Captain Ritzer had gone up on deck and returned +with a coil of thin rope that he had cut off. With this they tied +the men securely. + +"There is no occasion to gag them, I think," Fergus said. "They +might shout as loud as they liked and, with this wind blowing, no +one would hear them; or if anyone did hear them, he would take it +for the shouting of a drunken man. + +"Now, look here, my men. Here is the money to buy the new clothes. +We have not ill treated you in any way, have we?" + +"No, sir, we are quite satisfied." + +"Now, I should advise you, in the morning, to manage to untie each +other. We shall fasten the door up as we go out, but you will have +no difficulty in bursting that open, when you are once untied. + +"Now I ask you, as you are satisfied, to say nothing about this +affair to anyone. It would only make you a joke among your +comrades, and could do you no good. The best thing that you can do, +when you get free, will be to dress yourselves in your Sunday +clothes, take your boat ashore, and buy new things in the place of +those we have taken." + +"That is what we shall do, sir. No one would believe us, if we told +them that three men had come on board and taken our old clothes, +and given us money to buy new ones in their place." + +The three boatmen were all tall and brawny Bavarians, and their +clothes fitted Fergus and his companions well. Fishermen's hats +completed their costume. The little cabin had been almost +oppressively warm, and they had completely got over their chill +when they left it, closing the door behind them. + +They took their places in the boat, crossed to the opposite shore, +which was to some extent sheltered from the wind, and rowed some +three miles up. Then they landed, pushed the boat off into the +stream, kept along the bank until they came to a road branching off +to the left, and followed it until it struck the main road, a few +hundred yards away; and then walked west. + +There had been but few words spoken since they left the barge. It +had been hard work rowing against wind and stream. The oars were +clumsy, and it had needed all their efforts to keep the boat's head +straight. Now that they were in the main road, they were somewhat +more sheltered. + +"Well, Drummond, we have accomplished what seemed to me, in spite +of your confidence, well-nigh impossible. We have got out, we have +obtained disguises, and we have eight or nine hours before our +escape can be discovered. I shall believe anything you tell me, in +future," Ritzer said. + +"Yes," his companion agreed, "I never believed that we should +succeed; though, as you had set your heart on it, I did not like to +hang back. But it really did seem to me a wild scheme, altogether. +I thought possibly we might get out of the fort, but I believed +that your plan of getting disguises would break down altogether. +The rest seemed comparatively easy. + +"The rain has ceased, and the stars are coming out, which is a +comfort indeed. One was often wet through, for days together, when +campaigning; but after five months' coddling, an eight hours' tramp +in a blinding rain would have been very unpleasant, especially as +we have no change of clothes. + +"Now, commanding officer, what is to be our next tale?" + +"That is simple enough," Fergus said with a laugh. "We have been +down with a raft of timber from the mountains, and are on our way +back. That must be our story till we have passed Ratisbon. There is +but one objection, and that is a serious one. As raftsmen we should +certainly speak the Bavarian dialect, which none of us can do. For +that reason I think it would be safer to leave the Danube at +Passau, and make down through Munich. We should be at Passau +tomorrow morning, and can put up at any little place by the +riverside. Two days' walking will take us to Munich. + +"Certainly no one would suspect us of being escaped prisoners. We +can get some other clothes tomorrow morning, and finish the rest of +our journey as countrymen. + +"The principal thing will be to get rid of these high boots. I +think in other respects there is nothing very distinctive about our +dress. It will be more difficult to concoct a story, but we must +hope that we sha'n't be asked many questions, and I see no reason +why we should be. We shall look like peasants going from a country +village to a town, but if we could hit upon some story to account +for our not speaking the dialect, it would of course be a great +advantage." + +They walked along in silence for some time. Then he went on: + +"I should say we might give out that we are three Saxons who, +having been forced at Pirna to enter the Prussian army, had been +taken prisoners at Hochkirch and had been marched down with the +others to Vienna; and that there, on stating who we were and how we +had been forced against our will into Frederick's army, we were at +once released, and are now on our way back to Saxony; and are +tramping through Bavaria, so as to avoid the risk of being seized +and compelled to serve either in the Austrian army or the Prussian; +and that we are working our way, doing a job wherever we can get a +day or two's employment, but that at present, having worked for a +time at Vienna, we are able to go on for a bit without doing so. + +"I think with that story we could keep to the plan of going up +through Ratisbon. It would be immensely shorter, and the story +would be more probable than that we should make such a big detour +to get home." + +"Yes, I should think that would do well," Ritzer said, "and will +shorten the way by two hundred miles. But after leaving Passau, I +should think that we had better not follow the direct road until we +get to Ratisbon. + +"I grant that as far as that town we ought to be quite safe, for +there is no chance of their finding out that we have escaped until +eight o'clock in the morning; then our colonel will have to report +the matter to the commandant in the town. No doubt he will send off +a small party of cavalry, by the Freyberg road to Budweis, to order +the authorities there to keep a sharp lookout for three men passing +north. But I doubt very much whether they will think of sending in +this direction. The escape of three Prussian officers is, after +all, no very important matter. Still, one cannot be too careful, +for possibly the commandant may send to Munich, Ratisbon, and +Vienna. + +"It is more likely, however, that the search will be made +principally in and round Linz. They will feel quite sure that we +cannot possibly have obtained any disguises, and must have gone off +in our undergarments; and they will reckon that we should naturally +have hidden up in some outhouse, or country loft, until we could +find some opportunity for obtaining clothes. Most likely the barge +went on this morning, before the alarm had been given; but even if +it didn't, boatmen would not be likely to hear of the escape of +three prisoners. + +"No, I think beyond Passau we shall be quite safe, as far as +pursuit goes; but it will be best to halt there only long enough to +take a good meal, and then to go on for a bit, and stop at some +quiet riverside village." + +"I don't think I shall be able to go very far," Ritzer said. "These +boots are a great deal too large for me, and are chafing my feet +horribly. The road is good and level; and I was thinking, just now, +of taking them off and carrying them." + +"That would be the best way, by far," Fergus said. "I should think +at Passau we are sure to find a boat going up to Ratisbon, and that +will settle the difficulty." + +The distance was some thirty miles and, making one or two halts for +a rest, they reached Passau just as morning was breaking. In a +short time the little inns by the river opened their doors, and the +riverside was astir. They went into one of the inns and ate a +hearty meal, then they went down to the waterside, and found that +there were several country boats going up the river. They soon +bargained for a passage, and had just time to buy a basket of +bread, sausage, and cheese, with half a dozen bottles of wine, +before the boat started. There were no other passengers on board +and, telling the story they had agreed upon, they were soon on good +terms with the boatmen. + +Including the windings of the river, it was some eighty miles to +Ratisbon. The boat was towed by two horses, and glided pleasantly +along, taking three days on the passage. They bought food at the +villages where the craft lay up for the night, and arrived at +Ratisbon at nine o'clock in the evening. There they found no +difficulty in obtaining a lodging at a small inn, where no +questions, whatever, were asked. + +A short day's journey took them to Neumarkt, a tramp of upwards of +twenty miles. It was a longer journey on to Bamberg, and two days +later, to their satisfaction, they entered Coburg. + +They were now out of Bavaria, and had escaped all difficulties as +to the dialect far better than they had anticipated, never having +been asked any questions since they left the boat at Ratisbon. They +had now only to say that they were on their way to join the +Confederate army that was again being gathered; but they preferred +avoiding all questions, by walking by night and resting at little +wayside inns during the day. Avoiding all towns, for the troops +were beginning to move, they crossed the Saxon frontier three days +after leaving Coburg, and then travelled by easy stages to Dresden. + +Here they went straight to the headquarters of the commandant of +the town, and reported themselves to him. Fergus had personal +acquaintances on his staff, and had no difficulty in obtaining, for +himself and his companions, an advance of a portion of the pay due +to them, in order that they might obtain new outfits. + +This took a couple of days, and the two captains then said goodbye +to Fergus, with many warm acknowledgments for the manner in which +he had enabled them to regain their freedom--expressions all the +more earnest since they heard that the Austrians had decided that, +in future, they would make no exchanges whatever of prisoners--and +started to rejoin their regiments. + +Fergus felt strangely lonely when they had left him. The king was +at Breslau. Keith was lying dead in Hochkirch. What had become of +Lindsay he knew not, nor did he know to whom he ought to report +himself, or where Karl might be with his remaining charger and +belongings. Hitherto at Dresden he had felt at home. Now, save for +Count Eulenfurst and his family, he was a stranger in the place. + +Naturally, therefore, he went out to their chateau. Here he was +received with the same warmth as usual. + +"Of course we heard of your capture at Hochkirch," the count said, +"though not for many weeks afterwards. We were alarmed when the +news came of the marshal's death, for as it was upon his division +that the brunt of the battle had fallen, we feared greatly for you. +At last came the list the Austrians had sent in of the prisoners +they had taken, and we were delighted to see your name in it; +though, as the Austrians have been so chary of late of exchanging +prisoners, we feared that we might not see you for some time. +However, remembering how you got out of Spielberg, we did not +despair of seeing you back in the spring. + +"Thirza was especially confident. I believe she conceives you +capable of achieving impossibilities. However, you have justified +her faith in you. + +"Supper will be served in a few minutes, and as no doubt your story +is, as usual, a long one, we will not begin it until we have +finished the meal. But tell us first, how were you captured?" + +"I was riding through the mist to find the marshal; whom I had not +seen for two hours, as I was with the regiment that defended the +church at Hochkirch, and then cut its way out through the +Austrians. The mist was so thick that I could not see ten yards +ahead, and rode plump into an Austrian battalion. They fired a +volley that killed poor Turk, and before I could get on my feet I +was surrounded and taken prisoner--not a very heroic way, I must +admit." + +"A much pleasanter way, though, than that of being badly wounded, +and so found on the field by the enemy," the countess said; "and +you were fortunate, indeed, in getting through that terrible battle +unhurt." + +"I was, indeed, countess; but I would far rather have lost a limb +than my dear friend and relation, the marshal. I was allowed to +attend his funeral the next day. The Austrians paid him every +honour and, though I have mourned for him most deeply, I cannot but +feel that it was the death he would himself have chosen. He had +been ailing for some months, and had twice been obliged to leave +his command and rest. It would, in any case, probably have been his +last campaign; and after such a wonderfully adventurous life as he +had led, he would have felt being laid upon the shelf sorely." + +"His elder brother--Earl Marischal in Scotland, is he not?--who has +been governor for some years at Neufchatel, is with the king at +Breslau, at present. They say the king was greatly affected at the +loss of the marshal who, since Schwerin's death, has been his most +trusted general." + +"I have never seen the marshal's brother," Fergus said, "though I +know that they were greatly attached to each other. I hope that he +will be at Breslau when I get there. I shall go and report myself +to the king, after I have had a few days' rest here. At present I +seem altogether unattached. The marshal's staff is, of course, +broken up; but as I served on the king's own staff twice, during +the last campaign, I trust that he will put me on it again." + +"That he will do, of course," the count said. "After saving his +life at Zorndorf, he is sure to do so." + +Supper was now announced, and after it had been removed and the +party drew round the fire, Fergus told them the story of his +escape. + +"It was excellently managed," the count said, when he had finished. +"I do not know that it was quite as dramatic as your escape from +Spielberg, but I should think that, of the two, the escape from +Linz must have seemed the most hopeless. The plan of getting the +shutters open and of swimming the moat might have occurred to +anyone; but the fact that you were in uniform, and that it would +have been impossible to smuggle in a disguise, would have appeared +to most men an insuperable obstacle to carrying out the plan. + +"You certainly are wonderfully full of resource. As a rule, I +should think that it is much more difficult for two men to make +their escape from a place than it is for one alone; but it did not +seem to be so, in this case." + +"It certainly did not add to the difficulty of getting out of the +fort, count. Indeed, in one respect it rendered it more easy. There +were three of us to work at the heads of the rivets, and it +certainly facilitated our getting clothes from the boatmen, besides +rendering the journey much more pleasant than it would have been +for one of us alone. + +"On the other hand, it would have been impossible to carry out the +escape from Spielberg in the manner I did, if I had had two +officers with me in the cell. We could not have hoped to obtain +three uniforms, could hardly have expected all to slip by the +sentry unnoticed. Lastly, the three of us could not have got post +horses. Still, it is quite possible that we might have escaped in +some other manner." + +"Then you have not the most remote idea where you will find your +servant and horse?" + +"Not the slightest. If Captain Lindsay got safely through the +battle of Hochkirch, I should say that my man would stick by him. +His servant, a tough Scotchman, and Karl are great chums; and I +have no doubt that, unless he received positive orders to the +contrary, Karl has kept company with him." + +"Of course you can find out, from the authorities here, who has +taken command of Marshal Keith's division; and might possibly hear +whether he took over the marshal's personal staff, or whether he +brought his own officers with him." + +"Yes, I should think I might do that, count. I think I shall in any +case report myself to the king; but if Lindsay were stationed at +any place I could pass through, on my way to Breslau, I would pick +up Karl and my horse." + +"I shall of course send you another horse tomorrow," the count +said. "No, no, it is of no use your saying anything against it. It +was settled that I should supply you with mounts, while the war +lasted, and I intend to carry that out fully. I don't know that I +have another in my stables here that is quite equal to the other +pair, but there are two or three that approach them very nearly. If +you can get a mounted orderly, well and good; if not, I will lend +you one of my men. Any of my grooms would be delighted to go with +you, for all regard you as the saviour of our lives. + +"I am afraid, my friend, you will not be able to pay us many more +visits. Your king is a miracle of steadfastness, of energy, and +rapidity; but even he cannot perform impossibilities. Leave out the +Russians, and I believe that he would be more than a match for the +Austrians, who are hampered by the slowness of their generals; but +Russia cannot be ignored. In the first campaign she was +non-existent, in the second she annexed East Prussia. This year you +have had a deadly tussle with her, next year she may be still more +formidable; and I do not believe that Frederick with all his skill, +and with the splendid valour his troops show, can keep the Russians +from advancing still further into the country, and at the same time +prevent the Austrians and the Federal army from snatching Dresden +from his grasp. + +"I myself should regret this deeply. Prussia, although she taxes +the population heavily, at least permits no disorders nor ill +treatment of the people, no plundering of the villages; while the +Austrians, Croats, and Pandoors will spread like a swarm of hornets +over the land, and the state of the Saxons under their so-called +rescuers will be infinitely worse than it has been under their +conquerors." + +"It would be a heavy blow to the king to lose Dresden," Fergus +agreed, "but I am by no means sure that he would not be better +without it; except, of course, that it would bring the enemy so +much nearer to Berlin, otherwise the loss of Saxony would be a +benefit to him. During all his movements, and in all his +combinations, he is forced to keep an eye on Dresden. At one moment +it is Soubise, with his mixed army of French, Austrians, and +Confederate troops, who have to be met and, leaving all else, +Frederick is forced to march away two or three hundred miles, and +waste two or three precious months before he can get a blow at +them. Then he has to leave a considerable force to prevent them +gathering again, while he hurries back to prevent Daun from +besieging Dresden, or to wrest Silesia again out of his hands. +Saxony lost, he could devote his whole mind and his whole power to +the Russian and Austrian armies; who will no doubt, at the next +campaign, endeavour to act together; and the nearer they are to +each other, the more easily and rapidly can he strike blows at them +alternately." + +"Perhaps you are right," the count said, "and certainly the +Austrians would have to keep a considerable force to garrison +Dresden and hold Saxony; for they would be sure that, at the very +first opportunity, Frederick would be among them raining his blows +rapidly and heavily. As to any advance north, they would not dare +attempt it; for Frederick, who can move more than twice as fast as +any Austrian army, would fall on their flank or rear and annihilate +them. + +"Still, the blow would be undoubtedly a heavy one for the king, +inasmuch as it would greatly raise the spirits of his enemies, and +would seem to show them that the end was approaching." + +"I think the end is a good way off still, count. Even if the +Russians and Austrians marched across Prussia, they would hold +little more than the ground they stood on. Frederick would be ever +hovering round them, attacking them on every opportunity, and +preventing them from sending off detached columns; while the +cavalry of Ziethen and Seidlitz would effectually prevent Cossacks +and Croats from going out to gather stores for the armies, and to +plunder and massacre on their own account. I doubt whether anything +short of the annihilation of his army would break the king's spirit +and, so far as I can see, that is by no means likely to take +place." + +"However, the point at present, my friend, is that if the Austrians +get Dresden, it may be long before we see you again." + +"I fancy that when the army goes into winter quarters again, if I +am able to get leave of absence, I shall do myself the pleasure of +paying you a visit, whether the city has changed hands or not. If +one can travel twice through Austria without being detected, it is +hard indeed if I cannot make my way into Saxony." + +"But you must not run too great risks," the countess said. "You +know how glad we should be to see you, and that we regard you as +one of ourselves; but even a mother could hardly wish a son to run +into such danger, in order that they might see each other for a +short time." + +"What do you say, Thirza?" her father asked. + +The girl, thus suddenly addressed, coloured hotly. + +"I should be glad to see him, father--he knows that very well--but +I should not like him to run risks." + +"But he is always running risks, child; and that, so far as I can +see, without so good a reason. At any rate, I shall not join your +mother in protesting. What he says is very true. He has twice made +his way many hundreds of miles in disguise, for the purpose of +getting here in time for the first fighting; and I do not think +that there will be anything like the same risk in his coming here +to pay us a visit. + +"At the same time, I would not say a single word to induce him to +do so. There is no saying where he may be when the next winter sets +in, or what may take place during the coming campaign. In times +like these it is folly to make plans of any sort, three months in +advance. I only say therefore that, should everything else be +favourable, I think that an Austrian occupation of Saxony would not +be a very serious obstacle to his paying us a visit, next winter. + +"Once here, he would be absolutely safe, and as the household know +what he has done for us--and probably for them, for there is no +saying whether some, at least, of them might not have been killed +by those villains--their absolute discretion and silence can be +relied upon. + +"However, it may be that we shall see him long before that. The +king may have occasion to be here many times, during the summer." + +The count would not hear of Fergus returning to the hotel where he +had put up, and for a week he remained at the chateau, where the +time passed very pleasantly. The luxurious appointments, the +hospitable attentions of his host and hostesses, and the whole of +his surroundings formed a strong contrast, indeed, both to his life +when campaigning, and the five months he had spent in the casemate +at Linz. + +At the end of that time he felt he ought to be on the move again. +He had learnt that the officers of the marshal's staff had been +dispersed, some being attached to other divisions; and that Lindsay +was now upon the staff of Prince Henry. The prince was out Erfurt +way, and had already had some sharp fighting with the French and +the Confederate army. Fergus had learned this on the day after his +arrival at the chateau, and also that to the east there was no sign +of any movement on the part of Daun or of the king. He therefore +suffered himself to be persuaded to stay on for the week. + +"Nobody is expecting you, Drummond," the count said. "No doubt they +will be glad to see you, but they will be just as glad ten days +later as ten days earlier. You are believed to be safe in some +Austrian prison, and you may be sure that no one will make any +inquiries whether you spent a week, or a month, in recovering from +your fatigues before taking up your duties again. At any rate, you +must stay for at least a week." + +The visit was, indeed, extended two days beyond that time; for the +count and countess so pressed him that he was glad to give way, +especially as his own inclinations strongly seconded their +entreaties. On the ninth morning he was astonished when his bedroom +door opened and Karl came in, and gave his morning's salute as +impassively as if he had seen him the evening before. + + +[Illustration: "Why, Karl!" Fergus exclaimed, "where do you +spring from--when did you arrive?"] + + +"Why, Karl!" he exclaimed, "where do you spring from--how did you +know that I was here--when did you arrive?" + +"I arrived last night, major, but as it was late we went straight +to the stable." + +"Who is we, Karl?" + +"The count's messenger, sir. He reached me at Erfurt, where I was +with Captain Lindsay, four days ago; and I started with him half an +hour later. He had set out from here with a led horse, and had +ridden through with but one night in bed; and we had changes of +horses, coming back. And Tartar is in good condition, major. I led +him all the way down." + +"That is most kind and thoughtful of the count," Fergus exclaimed, +as he began to dress. + +"Well, I am heartily glad to see you again, Karl. I was by no means +sure that you had got off safely at Hochkirch. I looked round for +you, directly I had been captured; but could see nothing of you, +and knew not whether you had ridden off, or had been killed by that +volley that finished poor Turk, and brought about my capture." + +"It was a bad business, major, and I have never forgiven myself +that I was not by your side; but the thing was so sudden that I was +taken altogether by surprise. My horse was grazed with a bullet, +and what with that and the sudden flash of fire, he bolted. I had +just caught sight of you and Turk, going down in a heap, as my +horse spun round; and it had galloped a full hundred yards before I +could check it. + +"Then I did not know what was best to do. It seemed to me that you +must certainly be killed. If I had been sure that you had been +wounded and taken prisoner I should have gone back; but even then I +might, more likely than not, have been shot by the Austrians before +I could explain matters. But I really thought that you were killed; +and as, from the shouting and firing, it seemed to me that the +enemy had it all their own way there, I rode back to the farmhouse. + +"Luckily the Austrians had not got there, so I took Tartar and rode +with him to the king's quarters, and left him with his grooms, who +knew him well enough; and then later on, having nothing else to do, +I joined Seidlitz, and had the satisfaction of striking many a good +blow in revenge for you. + +"Late in the afternoon when the fighting was over I found Captain +Lindsay, and told him about your loss. He comforted me a bit by +saying that he did not think you were born to be shot, and said +that I had better stay with Donald till there was news about you. +Two days later he told me they had got the list of the prisoners +the Austrians had taken, and that you were with them, and +unwounded. + +"Then, major, I was furious with myself that I had not been taken +prisoner, too. I should have been more troubled still if Captain +Lindsay had not said that, in the first place, Tartar would have +been lost if I had not come back straight to fetch him; and that, +in the second place, it was not likely you would have been able to +keep me with you had I been a prisoner, and we might not even have +been shut up in the same fortress. + +"I asked him what I had better do, and he said: + +"'I am going west to join Prince Henry. You had better come with +me. You may be sure that there will be no questions asked about +you, one way or the other. I have no doubt Major Drummond will be +back in the spring. He is sure to get out, somehow.' + +"It seemed to me that that was the best plan too, major. If I had +been sent back to my regiment, I don't know what I should have done +with your horse; and then, if you did return, I might not have +heard about it, and you would not have known what had become of me. +Once or twice during the last month Captain Lindsay has said to me: + +"'Your master ought to have been here before this, Karl. I quite +reckoned on his arriving by the end of March.' + +"I said perhaps you had not been able to get out, but he would not +hear of it. He said once: + +"'If you were to head up the major in a barrel, he could find a way +out of it somehow. He will be back soon.' + +"He seemed so positive about it that I was not a bit surprised when +the messenger came, and said that you were at the count's here, and +that I was to ride with him post haste, so as to catch you before +you started to join the king at Breslau. + +"Captain Lindsay was as pleased as I was. He was just mounting when +the messenger came in, but wrote a line on the leaf of his pocket +book. Here it is, sir." + +The slip of paper merely contained the words: + +"A thousand welcomes, my dear Drummond! I have been expecting you +for some time. I wish you had turned up here, instead of at +Dresden. Hope to see you again soon." + +By this time Fergus had dressed. + +"My dear count," he exclaimed, as he entered the room where the +count and his wife and daughter were already assembled, "how can I +thank you for your great kindness, in taking such pains to fetch +Karl and my horse down for me." + +"I had no great pains about the matter," the count replied, with a +smile. "I simply wrote to my steward that a messenger must be sent +to Erfurt, at once; to order Major Drummond's soldier servant to +come here, at all speed, with his master's horse and belongings. + +"'Make what arrangements you like,' I said, 'for relays of horses; +but anyhow, he must get to Erfurt in three days, and I will give +him four for coming back again with the man. He is to be found at +the quarters of Captain Lindsay, who is on the staff of Prince +Henry. If Captain Lindsay himself is away, you must find out his +servant.' + +"That was all the trouble that I had in the matter. You have really +to thank Thirza, for it was her idea. Directly you had left the +room, after your telling us that Lindsay was with Prince Henry and +most likely at Erfurt, she said: + +"'I should think, father, that there would be time to fetch Major +Drummond's servant and horse. It is not so very far, and surely it +might be done in a week.' + +"'Well thought of!' I said. 'It is a hundred and seventy miles. A +courier with relays of horses could do it in three days, without +difficulty; and might be back here again, with Drummond's servant, +in another four days. I will give orders at once. We can manage to +get Drummond to delay his departure for a day or two.' + +"So the thing was done." + + + +Chapter 16: At Minden. + + +On the following day Fergus started, riding the new horse the count +had given him, while Karl led Tartar. The journey to Breslau was +performed without adventure. He found on arrival that the king had, +ten days before, gone to Landshut, round which place a portion of +his army was cantoned. At Landshut he commanded the main pass into +Bohemia, was in a position to move rapidly towards any point where +Daun might endeavour to break through into Silesia, and was yet but +a few marches from Dresden, should the tide of war flow in that +direction. + +Already several blows had been struck at the enemy. As early as the +16th of February, Prince Henry had attacked the Confederate army +which, strengthened by some Austrian regiments, had intended to +fortify itself in Erfurt, and driven it far away; while the Prince +of Brunswick had made a raid into the small Federal states, and +carried off two thousand prisoners. Early in March a force from +Glogau had marched into Poland, and destroyed many Russian +magazines; while on April 13th, the very day on which Fergus +arrived at Breslau, Duke Ferdinand had fought a battle with the +French army under Broglio, near Bergen. The French, however, were +very strongly posted, and Ferdinand was unable to capture their +position, and lost twenty-five hundred men, while the French loss +was but nineteen hundred. + +On the same day Prince Henry crossed the mountains, and destroyed +all the Austrian magazines through the country between Eger and +Prague--containing food for an army of fifty thousand for five +months--captured three thousand prisoners, and burnt two hundred +boats collected on the Elbe, near Leitmeritz; and was back again +after an absence of but nine days. A fortnight later he was off +again, marching this time towards Bamberg, burning magazines and +carrying off supplies. He captured Bayreuth and Bamberg, took +twenty-five hundred prisoners, and struck so heavy a blow at the +little princelings of the Confederacy that he was able to leave +matters to themselves in the west, should the king require his aid +against Daun or the Russians. + +On the 16th of April Fergus arrived at Landshut, and proceeded to +the royal quarters. On sending his name to the king, he was at once +ushered in. + +"So you have returned, Major Drummond," Frederick said cordially, +"and in plenty of time to see the play! Though indeed, I should not +be surprised if it is some time before the curtain draws up. I had +some hopes that you might rejoin, for after your last escape I +doubted whether any Austrian prison would hold you long. I am glad +to see you back again. + +"Ah! it was a heavy loss, that of our good marshal. None but myself +can say how I miss him. He was not only, as a general, one of the +best and most trustworthy; but as a friend he was always cheery, +always hopeful, one to whom I could tell all my thoughts. Ah! If I +had but taken his advice at Hochkirch, I should not have had to +mourn his loss. + +"It was a heavy blow to you also, Major Drummond." + +"A heavy blow indeed, your Majesty. He was as kind to me as if he +had been my father." + +"I will try to supply his place," the king said gravely. "He died +in my service, and through my error. + +"For my own sake, I am glad that you are here. You have something +of his temperament, and I can talk freely with you, too, whatever +comes into my head." + +"I did not know whether I did rightly in coming to report myself +direct to you, sire; but your kindness has always been so great to +me that I thought it would be best to come straight to you, instead +of reporting myself elsewhere, having indeed no fixed post or +commander." + +"You did quite right. By the way, Keith's brother, the Scottish +Earl Marischal, is here." + +He touched a bell, and said to the officer who came in: + +"Will you give my compliments to Earl Marischal Keith, and beg him +to come to me for a few minutes." + +Two minutes later Keith entered--a tall man, less strongly built +than his brother, but much resembling him. + +"Excuse my sending for you, Earl Marischal," the king said, "but I +wanted to introduce to you your young cousin, Major Drummond; a +very brave young officer, as you may well imagine, since he has +already gained that rank, and wears our military order of the Black +Eagle. He tells me that he has not hitherto met you; but he came +over here at your brother's invitation, was a very great favourite +of his, and was deeply attached to him." + +"My brother mentioned you frequently, in his letters to me," Keith +said, holding out his hand to Fergus. "I knew but little of your +mother, first cousin as she is; for being ten years older than my +brother, she was but a little child in my eyes when I last saw her. +Were it not that I am past military work, I would gladly try to +fill my brother's place to you; but if I cannot aid you in your +profession, I can at least give you a share of my affection." + +"As to his profession, Keith, that is my business," the king said. +"He saved my life at Zorndorf, and has in so many ways distinguished +himself that his success in his career is already assured. He is, by +many years, the youngest major in the service; and if this war goes +on, there is no saying to what height he may rise. + +"He has just returned from an Austrian prison where, as I told you +when you joined me, he was carried after Hochkirch. I don't know +yet how he escaped. He must dine with me this evening, and +afterwards he shall tell us about it. Mitchell dines with us, also. +He, too, is a friend of this young soldier, and has a high opinion +of him." + +That evening after dinner Fergus related to the party, which +consisted only of the king, Keith, and the British ambassador, how +he had escaped from prison. + +"The next time the Austrians catch you, Major Drummond," the king +said when he had finished, "if they want to keep you, they will +have to chain you by the leg, as they used to do in the old times." + +For months the Prussian and Austrian armies lay inactive. Daun had +supposed that, as the king had begun the three previous campaigns +by launching his forces into Bohemia, he would be certain to follow +the same policy; and he had therefore placed his army in an almost +impregnable position, and waited for the king to assume the +offensive. Frederick, however, felt that with his diminished forces +he could no longer afford to dash himself against the strong +positions so carefully chosen and intrenched by the enemy; and must +now confine himself to the defensive, and leave it to the Austrians +to attempt to cross the passes and give battle. The slowness with +which they marched, in comparison with the speed at which the +Prussian troops could be taken from one point to another, gave him +good ground for believing that he should find many opportunities +for falling upon the enemy, when in movement. + +It was a long time before the Austrian general recognized the +change in Frederick's strategy, still longer before he could bring +himself to abandon his own tactics of waiting and fortifying, and +determine to abandon his strongholds and assume the offensive. When +July opened he had, by various slow and careful marches, planted +himself in a very strong position at Marklissa; while Frederick, as +usual, was watching him. Daun was well aware that Frederick, of all +things, desired to bring on a battle; but knowing that the +Russians, one hundred thousand strong, under Soltikoff, were +steadily approaching, he determined to wait where he was, and to +allow the brunt of the fighting, for once, to fall on them. + +Fergus, by this time, was far away. The long weeks had passed as +slowly to him as they had to the king, and he was very glad indeed +when, on the 2nd of June, Frederick said to him: + +"I know that you are impatient for action, Major Drummond. Your +blood is younger than mine, and I feel it hard enough to be +patient, myself. However, I can find some employment for you. Duke +Ferdinand has now, you know, twelve thousand English troops with +him. He has written to me saying that, as neither of his +aides-de-camp can speak English, he begs that I would send him an +officer who can do so; for very few of the British are able to +speak German, and serious consequences might arise from the +misapprehension of orders on the day of battle. Therefore I have +resolved to send you to him, and you can start tomorrow, at +daybreak. I will have a despatch prepared for you to carry to the +duke; who of course, by the way, knows you, and will, I am sure, be +glad to have you with him. Later on I must send another of my +Scottish officers to take your place with him, for I like having +you with me. However, at present you are wasting your time, and may +as well go." + +"We are off again tomorrow morning, Karl," Fergus said, in high +spirits, as he reached his quarters. + +"That is the best news that I have heard since the count's +messenger brought me word, at Erfurt, that you had returned, major. +It has been the dullest six weeks we have had since we first +marched from Berlin; for while in winter one knows that nothing can +be done, and so is content to rest quietly, in spring one is always +expecting something, and if nothing comes of it one worries and +grumbles." + +"It is a long ride we are going this time, Karl." + +"I don't care how how long it is, major, so that one is moving." + +"I am going to join the Duke of Brunswick's staff." + +"That is something like a ride, major," Karl said in surprise, "for +it is right from one side of Prussia to the other." + +"Yes, it is over four hundred and fifty miles." + +"Well, major, we have got good horses, and they have had an easy +time of it, lately." + +"How long do you think that we shall take?" + +"Well, major, the horses can do forty miles a day, if they have a +day to rest, halfway. Your horses could do more, riding them on +alternate days; but it would be as much as mine could do to manage +that." + +"We must take them by turns, Karl. That will give each horse a +partial rest--one day out of three." + +"Like that they could do it, I should say, major, in about a +fortnight." + +They rode first to Breslau, and thence to Magdeburg, passing +through many towns on the long journey, but none of any great +importance. At Magdeburg they heard that they must make for +Hanover, where they would be able to ascertain the precise position +of the duke's army, which was on the northern frontier of +Westphalia. + +While the French, under the Duke of Broglio, were advancing north +from Frankfort-on-Maine; another French army, under Contades, was +moving against Ferdinand from the west. As it was probable that +there would, at least, be no great battle until the two French +armies combined, Fergus, who had already given his horses two days' +complete rest, remained for three days at Magdeburg; as it was +likely that he would have to work them hard, when he joined the +duke. + +Five days later he rode into the Duke of Brunswick's principal +camp, which was near Osnabrueck, where was situated his central +magazine. + +"I am glad to see you, Major Drummond," the duke said cordially, +when Fergus reported himself. "I thought perhaps the king would +select you for the service, and I know how zealous and active you +are. I am greatly in need of a staff officer who can speak English, +for none of mine can do so. + +"I think that we shall have some hard fighting here, soon. You see +that I am very much in the position of the king, menaced from two +directions. If I move to attack Contades, Broglio will have Hanover +entirely open to him; while if I move against him, Contades will +capture Muenster and Osnabrueck and get all my magazines, and might +even push on and occupy the town of Hanover, before I could get +back. So you see, I have nothing to do but to wait in this +neighbourhood until I see their designs. + +"I have some twelve thousand of your countrymen here, and I rely +upon them greatly. We know how they fought at Fontenoy. Splendid +fellows they are. There is a Scotch regiment with them, whose +appearance in kilts and feathers in no slight degree astonishes +both the people and my own soldiers. Their cavalry are very fine, +too. They have much heavier horses than ours, and should be +terrible in a charge. + +"How long have you been on the road?" + +"I have been eighteen days, sir. I could have ridden faster myself, +having a spare charger, but my orderly could hardly travel more +rapidly; and indeed, when I got to Magdeburg, and found that it was +not likely that there would be any engagement for some time, I +allowed the horses three days' rest, so that they should be fit for +service as soon as they arrived here." + +A tent was at once erected in the staff lines for Fergus. He found, +upon inquiry, that the British division was at present at Muenster. +He was invited by the duke to dinner that evening, and was +introduced to the officers of the staff; who received him +courteously, but with some surprise that one so young should not +only bear the rank of major, but the coveted insignia of the Black +Eagle. + +The duke, however, when the introductions were over, gave them a +short account of the newcomer's services, and after dinner begged +Fergus to tell them how he escaped from Linz; and they had a hearty +laugh over the manner in which he and his companions obtained their +first disguise. + +"I have heard something of this," Colonel Zolwyn, the head of the +staff, said. "Captains Stauffen and Ritzer were both ordered here, +on their arrival at Berlin; and though I have not met them, I have +heard from others of their escape from Linz, which they ascribed +entirely to a major of Marshal Keith's staff, who was a fellow +prisoner of theirs." + +For the next three weeks Fergus was on horseback from morning till +night. The movements of the troops were incessant. The two French +generals manoeuvred with great skill, giving no opportunity for the +Duke of Brunswick to strike a blow at either. Broglio, guided by a +treacherous peasant, captured Minden by surprise. Contades, with +thirty thousand men, had taken up an unassailable position: his +right wing on the Weser, and his left on impassable bogs and +quagmires, and with his front covered by the Bastau, a deep and +unfordable brook. Thirty thousand of his troops were occupied in +besieging Muenster and Osnabrueck, and other places, and succeeded +in capturing the latter, containing the duke's magazines of hay and +cavalry forage. + +The duke's position became very grave, and the French believed +that, in a very short time, they would be masters of all Hanover. +Broglio's force of twenty thousand men was on the east side of the +Weser, and Ferdinand was unable to move to strike a blow at the +detached force of Contades; for had he done so, Broglio would have +captured the city of Hanover, which lay perfectly open to him +within a day's march. + +Fergus had been specially employed in carrying despatches to the +British division, and had made many acquaintances among the +officers. As the army gradually concentrated, when the French +forces drew closer together, he often spent the evening in their +tents when the day's work was done. + +In the Scotch regiment he was soon quite at home. The fact that he +was related to Marshal Keith, of whom every Scotchman was proud, +and had been one of his aides-de-camp, sufficed in itself to render +him at once popular. The officers followed with eager interest the +accounts of the various battles he had witnessed, and little by +little extracted from him some account of the manner in which he +had won his steps so rapidly in the Prussian service. He found that +they, and the British troops in general, had a profound dislike for +Lord Sackville; who commanded them, but who was especially in +command of their cavalry. All described him as a heavy, domineering +fellow, personally indolent and slow, on ill terms with the Duke of +Brunswick, whom in a quiet and obstinate way he seemed bent on +thwarting. + +"He is an ill-conditioned brute," one of the officers remarked. +"The only thing to be said for him is that he is not deficient in +personal courage. He has fought several duels, into which he +brought himself by his overbearing temper." + +Although he had frequently carried despatches to Sackville, Fergus +had not exchanged a word with him. The English general had taken +the paper from his hand, barely acknowledging his salute; and not +indeed glancing at him, but turning on his heel and walking off to +read the contents of the despatch, which generally appeared to +displease him, judging by the manner in which he spoke to his +officers. Then he would go into his tent, and one of his +aides-de-camp would shortly come out with a letter containing his +reply. + +Fergus naturally came to regard the English commander with the same +dislike that his own officers felt for him. One day, when handing +him a despatch, he omitted the usual salute. Sackville noticed it +at once. + +"Why do you not salute, sir?" he said, raising his head, and for +the first time looking at the duke's aide-de-camp. + +"This is the twelfth time, sir, that I have brought despatches from +the Duke of Brunswick. Upon each occasion I have made the military +salute. By the regulations of the army, I believe that the superior +officer is as much bound to return a salute as the inferior officer +is to render it. As you have not chosen, upon any one of those +twelve occasions, to return my salute, I see no reason why I should +continue to give it." + +Sackville looked at him as he shouted in English, with astonishment +and rage: + +"And who the devil are you?" + +"I am Major Fergus Drummond, a companion of the order of the Black +Eagle, and an aide-de-camp of the King of Prussia." + +"The deuce you are!" Sackville said insolently. "I did not know +that the King of Prussia promoted lads to be majors, chose them for +his aides-de-camp, and made them companions of his order." + +"Then, sir, you know it now," Fergus said quietly; "and for an +explanation of my rank, I beg to refer you to the Duke of +Brunswick; who will, I doubt not, be not unwilling to explain the +matter to you." + +"I shall report your insolence to the duke, at any rate, sir. Were +it not for my position here, I would myself condescend to give you +the lesson of which you seem to me to be in want." + +"I should doubt, sir, whether I could receive any lesson at your +hands; but after this affair has terminated, I shall be happy to +afford you an opportunity of endeavouring to do so." + +Lord Sackville was on the point of replying, when the colonel of +his staff, whom Fergus had met at dinner at the duke's, and who +spoke German fluently, came up and said: + +"Pardon me, general. Can I speak to you for a moment?" + +Fergus reined back his horse a length or two, while the officer +spoke rapidly to Lord Sackville. + +"I don't care a fig," the latter burst out passionately. + +The officer continued to speak. The general listened sullenly, then +turning to Fergus, he said: + +"Well, sir, we shall leave the matter as it is. As soon as this +battle is over, I shall waive my rank and meet you." + +"I shall be ready at any time," Fergus said; and then, formally +saluting, he rode away. + +"I suppose you have no answer, Major Drummond," the duke said, when +he returned to his quarters; "but indeed, there is none needed." + +"I have no answer, sir, and indeed did not wait for one. Lord +Sackville and I had a somewhat hot altercation;" and he related, +word for word, what had passed. + +"It is a pity, but I cannot blame you," the duke said, when Fergus +had finished. "The man has given me a great deal of trouble, ever +since he joined us with his force. He is always slow in obeying +orders. Sometimes he seems wilfully to misunderstand them, and +altogether he is a thorn in my side. I am glad, indeed, that the +British infantry division are entirely under my control. With them +I have no difficulty whatever. He was entirely in the wrong in this +matter; and I certainly should address a remonstrance to him, on +the subject of his manner and language to one of my staff, but our +relations are already unpleasantly strained, and any open breach +between us might bring about a serious disaster." + +"I certainly should not wish that you should make any allusion to +the matter, sir. Possibly I may have an opportunity of teaching him +to be more polite, after we have done with the French." + +By two sudden strokes the duke, in the third week of July, obtained +possession of Bremen, thereby obtaining a port by which stores and +reinforcements from England could reach him; and also recaptured +Osnabrueck, and found to his great satisfaction that the French had +also established a magazine there, so that the stores were even +larger than when they had taken it from him. + +The great point was to induce Contades to move from his impregnable +position. He knew that both Contades and Broglio were as anxious as +he was to bring about a battle, did they but see an advantageous +opportunity; and he took a bold step to tempt them. + +On the 30th of July he sent the Hereditary Prince, with a force of +ten thousand men, to make a circuit and fall upon Gohfeld, ten +miles up the Weser; and so cut the line by which Contades brought +up the food for his army from Cassel, seventy miles to the south. +Such a movement would compel the French either to fight or to fall +back. It was a bold move and, had it not succeeded, would have been +deemed a rash one; for it left him with but thirty-six thousand men +to face the greatly superior force of the French. + +The bait proved too tempting for the French generals. It seemed to +them that the duke had committed a fatal mistake. His left, leaning +on the Weser was, by the march of the force to Gohfeld, left +unsupported at a distance of three miles from the centre; and it +seemed to them that they could now hurl themselves into the gap, +destroy the duke's left, and then crush his centre and right, and +cut off whatever remnant might escape from Hanover. + +On Tuesday evening, July 1st, the French got into motion as soon as +it was dark. During the night Contades crossed, by nineteen bridges +that he had thrown across the Bastau; while at the same time +Broglio crossed the Weser, by the bridge of the town, and took up +his position facing the Prussian left wing, which rested on the +village of Todtenhausen, intending to attack him early in the +morning, and to finish before the duke could bring the centre to +his assistance. + +Feeling sure that the French would fall into the trap, the duke +ordered his cavalry to mount at one o'clock in the morning, and +moved in with his troops from the villages around which they were +encamped; closing in towards Minden, whereby the centre gradually +came into touch with the left, the whole forming a segment of a +circle, of which Minden was the centre. + +The French also formed a segment of a similar circle, nearer to +Minden. Contades was a long time getting his troops into position, +for great confusion was caused by their having crossed by so many +bridges, and it took hours to range them in order of battle. + +Broglio was in position, facing the duke's left, at five o'clock in +the morning. He was strong in artillery and infantry; but as the +ground on both flanks was unfavourable for the action of cavalry, +these were all posted in the centre. The cavalry, indeed, was the +strongest portion of the force. They numbered ten thousand, and +were the flower of the French army. + +The duke placed six regiments of British infantry in his centre. +They were the 12th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 37th and 51st. Some regiments +of Hanoverians were in line behind them. The British cavalry were +on the duke's right. The morning was misty, and it was not until +eight o'clock that both sides were ready, and indeed even then +Contades' infantry was not finally settled in its position. + +The battle began with an attack by some Hessian regiments on the +village of Hahlen, and by a very heavy fire of artillery on both +sides. The orders to the English regiments had been, "March to +attack the enemy on sound of drum," meaning that they were to move +when the drums gave the signal for the advance. The English, +however, understood the order to be, "You are to advance to the +sound of your drums." They waited for a time, while the attack on +Hahlen continued. It was repulsed three times before it succeeded, +but before this happened the English regiments lost patience, and +said, "We ought to be moving." The drums therefore struck up and, +to the astonishment of the Hanoverians, these English battalions +strode away towards the enemy. However, the regiments of the second +line followed. + +As the British stepped forward, a tremendous crossfire of artillery +opened upon them, thirty guns on one side and as many on the other; +but in spite of this the six regiments pressed on unfalteringly, +with their drums beating lustily behind them. Then there was a +movement in their front, and a mighty mass of French cavalry poured +down upon them. The English halted, closed up the gaps made by the +artillery, held their fire until the leading squadrons of the +French were within forty paces, and then opened a tremendous file +fire. Before it man and horse went down. At so short a distance +every bullet found its billet and, for the first time in history, a +line of infantry repulsed the attack of a vastly superior body of +cavalry. + +Astonished, and hampered by the fallen men and horses of their +first line, the French cavalry reined up and trotted sullenly back +to reform and repeat the charge. The British drums beat furiously +as the French rode forward again, only to be repulsed as before. +Six times did the cavalry, with a bravery worthy of their +reputation, renew the charge. Six times did they draw back +sullenly, as the leading squadrons withered up under the storm of +shot. Then they could do no more, but rode back in a broken and +confused mass through the gaps between their infantry, throwing +these also into partial confusion. + +"Ride to Lord Sackville, and tell him to charge with his cavalry, +at once," the duke said to Fergus; and then checking himself said, +"No, I had better send someone else," and repeated the order to +another of his staff. + +Sackville only replied that he did not see his way to doing so. A +second and then a third officer were sent to him, with a like +result, and at last he himself left his cavalry and rode to the +duke and inquired: + +"How am I to go on?" + +The duke curbed his anger at seeing the fruits of victory lost. He +replied quietly: + +"My lord, the opportunity is now past." + +Harassed only by the fire of the British and Hanoverian guns, and +by that of the British infantry, Contades drew off his army by the +nineteen bridges into his stronghold. Broglio, who had done nothing +save keep up a cannonade, covered the retreat with his division. +The total amount of loss on the duke's side was two thousand eight +hundred and twenty-two, of which more than half belonged to the +British infantry. The French loss was seven thousand and +eighty-six, with their heavy guns and many flags; but had Sackville +done his duty, their army would have been annihilated, pent up as +it was with the river on each flank, convergent to each other at +Minden; a perfect rat trap from which no army could have escaped, +had it been hotly pressed by cavalry. + +The feat performed by the British infantry astonished Europe, who +were at first almost incredulous that six regiments in line could +have repulsed, over and over again, and finally driven off the +field, ten thousand of the best cavalry of France. + +While the battle was raging, the Hereditary Prince had done his +share of the work, had fallen upon Gohfeld, crushed the French +division guarding it, cutting the French from their magazines and +rendering their position untenable. They received the news that +evening, and at once commenced their retreat, Broglio towards +Frankfort and Contades straight for the Rhine. The latter was +obliged to abandon all his baggage, and many of his guns; and his +army, by the time it had reached the Rhine, had become a mere +rabble. The general was at once recalled in disgrace, and Broglio +appointed commander-in-chief; although by failing to carry out the +orders he had received, to fall upon the allies left at five in the +morning, he had largely contributed to the defeat that had befallen +Contades. + + + +Chapter 17: Unexpected News. + + +The fury of the British cavalry, at the shameful inactivity in +which they had been maintained, was unbounded; and their commander, +if he moved from his tent, was saluted with hisses and jeers by the +troopers. It was not for long, however; for as soon as the news was +known at home, he was ordered to return. On the afternoon of the +same day, an officer rode over to headquarters and asked for Major +Drummond. + +"I am here, sir," he said courteously, "on behalf of Lord +Sackville. He will be leaving for England tomorrow, and I am the +bearer of a hostile message from him. I shall be obliged if you +will put me in communication with some officer who will act on your +behalf." + +"Certainly," Fergus replied. "I was expecting such a message." + +He had already heard of the order that Sackville had received; and +had requested Major Kurstad, a fellow aide-de-camp, to act for him +should he send him a hostile message. Going in he spoke to Kurstad, +who at once went out and introduced himself to the British officer. + +"This is a painful business," the latter said, "and I can assure +you that I do not undertake it willingly. However, I overheard the +altercation between Lord Sackville and Major Drummond, and the same +night he asked me to act for him, when the time for it came. I +consented, and cannot draw back from the undertaking; but I need +hardly say that, after what happened at Minden, no English officer, +unless previously pledged, would have consented to act for him. I +suppose, sir, there is no use in asking whether the matter cannot +be arranged." + +"Not in the slightest. Major Drummond told me that he had expressed +his willingness to meet the general, and he is certainly not one to +withdraw from his word. My friend chooses swords. In fact the use +of pistols, on such occasions, is quite unknown in the Continental +army." + +"As Lord Sackville leaves tomorrow morning, we should be glad if +you would name an early hour." + +"As early as you like. It is light at half-past four." + +"Then shall we say five o'clock?" + +"Certainly." + +"And the place?" + +"There is a small clump of trees on the heath, two miles west of +our camp." + +"We will be there at that time, sir. Would you object to each side +being accompanied by a second friend? I ask it because, did +anything happen to my principal, I should certainly wish that +another witness was present at the duel." + +"We have no objection," Major Kurstad said. "We shall also bring a +surgeon with us, and of course you can do the same, if you are +disposed." + +The two officers saluted, and the major returned to Fergus. + +"Do you mean to kill him?" he asked, after he had told him of the +arrangements that had been made. + +"Certainly not. The man is an overbearing fool, and I merely wish +to give him a lesson. Personally, I should be glad if the whole of +the officers of the British force could be present, in order that +he might be as much humiliated as possible; but even if I hated the +man--and I have no shadow of feeling of that kind--I would not kill +him. He is going home to England to be tried by court martial, and +its sentence is likely to be a far heavier blow, to a bully of that +kind, than death would be. He has a taste of it already, for I hear +that he is hooted whenever he leaves his tent." + +At the appointed time the two parties arrived, almost at the same +moment, at a spot arranged. Fergus was accompanied by Major Kurstad +and another officer of the duke's staff, and by the duke's own +surgeon. Formal salutations were exchanged between the seconds. The +duelling swords were examined, and found to be of the same length. +There was no difficulty in choosing the ground, as there was an +open space in the centre of the little wood, and the sun had not +risen high enough to overtop the trees. As, therefore, the glade +was in shade, there was no advantage, in point of light, to either +combatant. + +Lord Sackville had the reputation of being a good fencer, but in +point of physique there was no comparison between the combatants. +Sackville was a tall and powerfully-built man, but dissipation and +good living had rendered his muscles flabby and sapped his +strength, although he was still in what should have been his prime. +Fergus, on the other hand, had not a superfluous ounce of flesh. +Constant exercise had hardened every muscle. He was a picture of +health and activity. + +The general viewed him with an expression of vindictive animosity; +while his face, on the other hand, wore an expression of perfect +indifference. The uniform coats were removed, and the dropping of a +handkerchief gave the signal for them to commence. + +Lord Sackville at once lunged furiously. The thrust was parried, +and the next moment his sword was sent flying through the air. His +second did not move to recover it. + +"Why do you not bring it here?" Sackville exclaimed, in a tone of +the deepest passion. + +"Because, my lord," his second said coldly, "as you have been +disarmed, the duel necessarily terminates; unless your antagonist +is willing that the sword shall be restored to you." + +"I shall be obliged if you will give it him, Major Buck," Fergus +said quietly. "A little accident of this sort may occur +occasionally, even to a noted swordsman, when fighting with a boy." + +The general was purple with passion, when he received the sword +from his second. + +"Mind this time," he said between his teeth as, after a preliminary +feint or two, he again lunged. + +Again the sword was wrenched from his hand, with a force that +elicited an exclamation of pain from him. + +"Pray, give the general his sword again, Major Buck," Fergus said. + +"You hold your rapier too tightly, General Sackville. You need a +little more freedom of play, and less impetuosity. I don't want to +hurt you seriously, but your blood is altogether too hot, and next +time I will bleed you on the sword arm." + +Steadying himself with a great effort, Sackville played cautiously +for a time; but after parrying several of his thrusts, without the +slightest difficulty, Fergus ran him through the right arm, halfway +between the elbow and the shoulder, and the sword dropped from his +hand. + + +[Illustration: Lord Sackville stood without speaking, while +the surgeon bandaged up his arm] + + +Lord George Sackville had borne himself well in several duels, and +was accounted a gentleman, though arrogant and overbearing. He +stood without speaking, while the surgeon bandaged up his arm. Then +he said quietly: + +"I ask your pardon, Major Drummond. This matter was altogether my +fault. I said that I would give you a lesson, and you have given me +one, which assuredly I shall never forget. I trust that you will +accept my apology for the words I uttered." + +"Certainly, general, the more so that I own I gave provocation by +failing to salute you--my only excuse for which is that officers of +the highest rank, in Prussia, always return the salute of a junior +officer, of whatever rank; and that I did not reflect that you, +having many important matters in your mind, might have neglected to +return mine from pure absent mindedness, and not with any +intentional discourtesy. I can only say that I have not spoken of +this matter to any but my three friends here, and I am sure that +the matter will not be mentioned by them, when it is my earnest +request that it shall go no further." + +The parties then mutually saluted, and rode off to their respective +camps. The story of the duel did not leak out from Fergus's +friends; but Sackville had openly spoken of the matter, the evening +before, to several officers; and had added to their disgust at his +conduct by declaring that he wished it had been the Duke of +Brunswick, instead of this upstart aide-de-camp of his, with whom +he had to reckon the next morning. He, on his part, exacted no +pledge from the officers who had accompanied him, but rode back to +camp without speaking a word, and an hour later left in a carriage +for Bremen. + +The news of the encounter, then, circulated rapidly, and excited +intense amusement, and the most lively satisfaction, on the part of +the British officers. + +On Sackville's arrival in England he was tried by court martial, +sentenced to be cashiered, and declared incapable of again serving +his majesty in any military capacity. This the king proclaimed +officially to be a sentence worse than death and, taking a pen, he +himself struck out his name from the list of privy councillors. + +No satisfactory explanation has ever been given of Sackville's +conduct at Minden. Many say it is probable that he was disgusted +and sulky at having to rise so early, but this would hardly be a +sufficient explanation. The more probable conjecture is that, as he +was on notoriously bad terms with the duke, he was willing that the +latter should suffer a severe repulse at Minden, in the hope that +he would be deprived of his command, and he himself appointed +commander-in-chief of the allied army. + +A few days after the battle, the exultation caused by the victory +at Minden was dashed by the news that a Prussian army, twenty-six +thousand strong, commanded by Wedel, had been beaten by the +Russians at Zuellichau; and ten days later by the still more +crushing news that Frederick himself, with fifty thousand men, had +been completely defeated by a Russian and Austrian army, ninety +thousand in number, at Kunersdorf, on the 11th of August. + +At first the Prussians had beaten back the Russians with great +loss. The latter had rallied, and, joined by Loudon with the +Austrian divisions, had recovered the ground and beaten off the +Prussians with immense loss, the defeat being chiefly due to the +fact that the Prussian army had marched to the attack through woods +intersected with many streams; and that, instead of arriving on the +field of battle as a whole, they only came up at long intervals, so +that the first success could not be followed up, and the regiments +who made it were annihilated before help came. + +The news came from Berlin. A letter had been received there from +the king, written on the night after the battle. He said that he +had but three thousand men collected round him, that the +circumstances were desperate, that he appointed his brother Prince +Henry general-in-chief, and that the army was to swear fidelity to +his nephew. The letter was understood to mean that Frederick +intended to put an end to his life. He knew that the enmity of his +foes was largely directed against him personally, and that far +easier terms might be obtained for the country were he out of the +way; and he was therefore determined not to survive irreparable +defeat. Indeed, he always carried a small tube of deadly poison on +his person. + +Universal consternation was felt at the news. However, three days +later came the more cheering intelligence that twenty-three +thousand men had now gathered round him, and that he had again +taken the command. The loss in the battle, however, had been +terrible--six thousand had been killed, thirteen thousand wounded. +Two thousand of the latter, too seriously wounded to escape, were +made prisoners. The loss of the enemy had been little inferior, for +eighteen thousand Russians and Austrians were killed or wounded. + +Another letter sent off by the king that night had disastrous +consequences, for he wrote to the governor of Dresden that, should +the Austrians attempt anything on the town beyond his means of +maintaining himself, he was to capitulate on the best terms he +could obtain. + +Happily for Frederick, Soltikoff was as slow in his movements as +Daun, and for two months made no attempt to take advantage of the +victory of Kunersdorf, and thus afforded time to Frederick to +repair his misfortunes. But during the two months Dresden had been +lost. Its governor had received Frederick's letter, and was unaware +how things had mended after it was written, and that a force was +pressing forward to aid him against an Austrian besieging army. +Consequently, after little more than a nominal resistance, he +surrendered when, unknown to him, relief was close at hand. + +The French being defeated, and in full flight for the Rhine, it +seemed to Fergus that it was his duty to return to the king; as +there was no probability whatever of any hard fighting on the +western frontier, while the position of affairs in the east was +most serious. He was still on the king's staff, and had but been +lent to the Duke of Brunswick. He laid the matter before the +latter, who at once agreed with him that he should rejoin the king. + +"Frederick sorely needs active and intelligent officers, at +present," he said. "It is not by force that he can hope to prevent +the Russians and Austrians from marching to Berlin, but by +quickness and resource. His opponents are both slow and deliberate +in their movements, and the king's quickness puzzles and confuses +them. It is always difficult for two armies to act in perfect +concert, well-nigh impossible when they are of different +nationalities. Daun will wait for Soltikoff and Soltikoff for Daun. +The king will harass both of them. Daun has to keep one eye upon +his magazines in Bohemia, for Prince Henry in Silesia still +constantly menaces them, and not only the Austrian but the Russian +army is fed from Prague. + +"Were it not that I am specially bound to defend Hanover from the +Confederate army, I would march with the greater portion of my +force to join the king; but my orders are imperative. 'Tis for +Hanover that George of England is fighting, and the British subsidy +and the British troops will be lost to the king, were Hanover to be +taken by the enemy. If Prince Henry could but join him, it would +bring his army again to a strength with which he could fight either +the Russians or Austrians; but their armies lie between Henry and +the king, and unless Daun makes some grievous mistake--and slow as +he is, Daun seldom makes a mistake--it seems well-nigh impossible +that the prince can get through. + +"However, Major Drummond, you are likely to see little fighting +here; while with the king there will be incessant work for you. +Therefore, by all means go to him. He must have lost many of his +staff at Kunersdorf, and will, I doubt not, be glad to have you +with him." + +The ride was a shorter one than it had been when going west, for +the king lay little more than fifty miles to the east of Berlin. +Although there was no absolute occasion for great speed, Fergus +rode fast; and on the tenth day after leaving Minden arrived at the +royal camp. The king was unaffectedly glad to see him. + +"You have been more fortunate than I have," he said. "You have been +taking part in a victory, while I have been suffering a defeat. I +should like to have seen Minden. That charge of your countrymen was +superb. Nothing finer was ever done. Rash, perhaps; but it is by +rashness that victory is often won. Had it not been done, one would +have said that it was impossible for six battalions in line to hurl +back, again and again, the charges of ten thousand fine cavalry. +But the British division at Fontenoy showed us, not many years ago, +that the British infantry, now, are as good as they were under +Marlborough. I would give much if I had twenty thousand of them +here with my Prussians. It would be the saving of us. + +"Did Ferdinand send you back, or did you ask to come?" + +"I asked leave to come, sire. I thought that your staff must have +suffered heavily, and that I might be more useful here than with +the duke." + +"Much more useful, major; and indeed, I am glad to have you with +me. You have youth and good spirits, and good spirits are very +scarce here. Have you heard the last news?" + +"I have heard no news since I left Berlin, sire." + +"Dresden is lost. Schmettau surrendered it, and that when relief +was but within ten miles of him. The place should have held out for +a month, at least. It is incredible. However, I will have it back +again before long and, at any rate, it is one place less to guard. +I should not have cared so much if the Austrians had taken it, but +that that wretched Confederate army, even though they had ten +Austrian battalions with them, should have snatched it from me, is +heart breaking. However, they have but the capital, and it will +take them some time before they can do more." + +Fink, who had been sent off, with six or seven thousand men, to aid +Wunsch to relieve Dresden, on the day before the news of its fall +came, did much. He and his fellow commander failed in their first +object; but they were not idle, for they recaptured Leipzig and +other towns that the Confederate army had taken, and snatched all +Saxony, save Dresden, from its clutches. + +Schmettau was relieved of his command, and never again employed. He +had certainly failed in firmness, but Frederick's own letter to +him, which had never been cancelled, afforded him the strongest +ground of believing that there was no chance of his being relieved. +His record up to this time had been excellent, and he was esteemed +as being one of Frederick's best generals. Frederick's harshness to +him was, at the time, considered to have been excessive. The king, +however, always expected from his generals as much as he himself +would have accomplished, in the same circumstances, and failure to +obtain success was always punished. After the dismissal of his +brother and heir from his command, the king was not likely to +forgive failure in others. + +The time was a most anxious one for him. He had nothing to do but +to wait, and for once he was well content to do so; for every day +brought winter nearer, every week would render the victualling of +the hostile armies more difficult, and delay was therefore all in +his favour. Messenger after messenger was sent to Prince Henry, +urging him to make every possible effort to make his way through or +round the cordon of Austrian and Russian posts, eighty miles long +and fifty or sixty broad, that intervened between them. + +In the evenings the king was accustomed to put aside resolutely his +military troubles, and passed his time chiefly in the society of +the British ambassador, Earl Marischal Keith, and the young +Scottish aide-de-camp, with occasionally one or two Prussian +officers. One evening, when Fergus had been sent with an order to a +portion of the force lying some miles away, Sir John Mitchell said +to the king: + +"I have been talking with the Earl Marischal over young Drummond's +affairs, your majesty. As you know, his father's estates were +sequestrated after the battle of Culloden, where he himself fell. I +am writing a despatch to Pitt, saying that Drummond's son has been +serving under your majesty through the war, and has greatly +distinguished himself; and have asked him to annul the sequestration, +upon the ground that this young officer has done very valiant service +to your majesty, and so to the allied cause, giving a list of the +battles at which he has been present, and saying that the Duke of +Brunswick had, in his report of the battle of Minden to you, spoken +highly of the services he rendered him. If you would add a line in your +own hand, endorsing my request, it would greatly add to its weight." + +"That I will readily do," the king said. "I will write a short +letter, which you can inclose in your own despatch." + +And sitting down at once he wrote: + +"The King of Prussia most warmly endorses the request of his +excellency, Sir John Mitchell. Not only has Major Fergus Drummond +shown exceptional bravery upon several occasions, which resulted in +his promotion to the rank of major with unprecedented rapidity, but +he saved the king's life at the battle of Zorndorf, meeting and +overthrowing three Russian cavalrymen who attacked him. It would, +therefore, give the king very great satisfaction if the English +minister would grant the request made on Major Drummond's behalf by +his excellency, the English ambassador." + +"Thank you very much," the latter said, as he read the note +Frederick handed him. "I have no doubt that this will be effectual. +Culloden is now a thing of the past. There are many Scottish +regiments in the English king's service, and many acts of clemency +have, of late, been shown to those who took part in the rebellion, +and I cannot doubt that Pitt will at once act upon your request. +However, I shall say nothing to Drummond on the subject until I +hear that his father's estates have been restored to him." + +As day after day passed, the king became more anxious as to the +position of Prince Henry. That energetic officer had indeed been +busy and, by threatening an attack upon Daun's magazines, had +compelled the Austrian commander to move to Bautzen for their +protection, and finally to make a decided effort to crush his +active and annoying foe. Gathering a great force in the +neighbourhood of Prince Henry's camp, he prepared to attack him on +the morning of September 22nd; but when morning came Prince Henry +had disappeared. At eight o'clock on the previous evening he had +marched twenty miles to Rothenburg. + +The retreat was superbly conducted. It was necessary to move by +several roads, but the whole of the baggage, artillery, and troops +arrived punctually the next morning at Rothenburg, just at the hour +when Daun's army moved down to the attack of the camp where he had +been the evening before. Austrian scouting parties were sent out in +all directions, but no certain news could be obtained as to the +direction of the Prussian march. The baggage waggons had been seen, +moving here and there, but it was four days before Daun was able to +learn for certain what had become of him, having until then +believed that he must have made for Glogau, to join Frederick. + +Henry had, however, gone in an entirely different direction. After +ordering three hours' rest at Rothenburg he marched west, and +arrived at early morning at Klitten, eighteen miles from his last +halting place. Starting again after another three hours' halt he +marched twenty miles farther, still straight to the west, and fell +upon General Weyler who, with thirty-three thousand men, occupied +the last Austrian position to be passed. + +That officer had not the slightest idea of any possibility of +attack from the east. The whole Austrian army stood between him and +Frederick on the northeast, and Prince Henry on the southeast. He +was therefore taken altogether by surprise. Six hundred of his men +were killed; and he himself, with twenty-eight field officers and +seventeen hundred and eighty-five other officers and men, taken +prisoners. + +This march of fifty hours, in which an army with the whole of its +baggage traversed fifty-eight miles, through a country occupied by +enemies, is one of the most remarkable on record, and completely +changed the whole situation of the campaign. There was nothing for +Daun to do, if he would not lose Dresden and the whole of Saxony +again, but to follow Prince Henry. This movement completed the +dissatisfaction of his Russian ally, Soltikoff, who had been +already sorely worried and harassed by Frederick, ever since Daun +had moved away to defend his magazines and crush Prince Henry; and +now, seeing that his own food supply was likely to fail him, he +marched away with his army into Poland. + +The king was at this time, to his disgust and indignation, laid up +for six weeks with the gout; but as soon as he was better, he set +off to join Prince Henry. Daun was slowly falling back and, had he +been let alone, Dresden might have been recaptured and the campaign +come to a triumphant ending. + +Unfortunately Frederick was not content to leave well alone, and +sent Fink with seventeen thousand men to Maxim, to cut off Daun's +retreat into Bohemia; intending himself to attack him in front. +Daun for once acted with decision, attacked Fink with twenty-seven +thousand men and, although the Prussians fought with most obstinate +bravery, they were surrounded; battered by the Austrian artillery; +while they themselves, having no guns with which to make reply, +were forced to surrender. Some had already made their way off, but +in killed, wounded, and prisoners, the loss was fully twelve +thousand men. + +Frederick threw the blame upon Fink, but most unjustly. That +officer had followed out the orders given him, and had done all +that man could do to hold the position that he was commanded to +take up, and the disaster was wholly due to Frederick's own +rashness in placing so small a force, and that without artillery, +where they could be attacked by the whole Austrian army. Fink, +after his release at the conclusion of the peace three years later, +was tried by court martial and sentenced to a year's imprisonment. + +This disaster entirely altered the situation. Daun, instead of +continuing his retreat to Bavaria, advanced to occupy Saxony; and +drove General Dierocke across the Elbe, taking fifteen hundred of +his men prisoners. Frederick, however, barred the way farther, and +six weeks later both armies went into winter quarters; Daun still +holding Dresden and the strip of country between it and Bohemia, +but the rest of Saxony being as far out of his reach as ever. + +The last six weeks of the campaign was a terrible time for all. +Frederick himself had lived in a little cottage in the small town +of Freyburg, and even after the armies had settled down in their +cheerless quarters, he still made several attempts to drive the +Austrians out, having received a reinforcement of ten thousand men +from Duke Ferdinand. These efforts were in vain. + +The ten thousand, however, on their way to join the king, had +struck a heavy blow at one of his bitterest enemies, the Duke of +Wuertemberg, who had twelve thousand of his own men, with one +thousand cavalry, at Fulda. The duke had ordered a grand ball to be +held, and great celebrations of joy at the news of the Austrian +victory at Maxim; but on the very day on which these things were to +take place, Ferdinand's men fell upon him suddenly, scattered his +army in all directions, took twelve hundred prisoners, and sent the +duke with such of his troops as had escaped back to Wuertemberg +again; his subjects, who were largely Protestants, rejoicing hugely +over his discomfiture. + +On the day on which Maxim was fought Admiral Hawke, with a small +squadron, utterly defeated the French fleet that was to convey an +invading army to England. France herself was getting as short of +cash as Prussia, and in November it became necessary to declare a +temporary bankruptcy and, the king setting the example, all nobles +and others possessing silver plate sent them to the mint to be +coined into money. + +So eager was the king to take advantage of any openings the +Austrians might give for attack that, although so near Dresden, +Fergus was unable to carry out his promise to the Count Eulenfurst +to pay him a visit; for he was kept constantly employed, and could +not ask for leave. Early in April the king sent for him. The +English ambassador was present, but Earl Marischal Keith had gone +away on a mission. + +"I have two pieces of news for you, major," the king said +pleasantly. "In the first place, it is now getting on for two years +since you did me that little service at Zorndorf, and since then +you have ever been zealously at work. Others have gone up in rank, +and it is time that you had another step. Therefore, from today you +are colonel. No man in the army has better deserved promotion, and +indeed you ought to have had it after you returned from Brunswick's +army where, as the duke's despatches told me, you had rendered +excellent service. So many officers of rank have fallen since then +that promotion has been rapid, and it is high time that you +obtained the step that you so well deserve. + +"The other piece of news is for Sir John Mitchell to tell you, for +it is to his good offices that it is due." + +"Very partially so, your majesty," said the ambassador. "It is like +enough that Pitt would not have troubled to take action on my +recommendation only, had it not been that you so strongly backed my +request that, in fact, it became one from yourself. Therefore it is +for you to give him the news." + +"As you please," the king said. + +"Well then, Drummond, his excellency and your cousin the Marischal +put their heads together, and his excellency sent a warm letter to +the English minister, saying that you had rendered such services to +his sovereign's ally that he prayed that the sequestration of your +father's estates should be annulled. I myself added a memorandum +saying that, as you had saved my life at Zorndorf, and rendered me +other valuable services, I should view it as a personal favour if +his request was granted. The thing would have been managed in a +couple of days, in this country; but in England it seems that +matters move more slowly, and his excellency has only today +received an official intimation that the affair has been completed, +and that your father's estates have been restored to you." + +Fergus was, for the moment, completely overwhelmed. He had never +thought for a moment that the estate would ever be restored, and +the sudden news, following that of his promotion, completely +overwhelmed him. + +It was of his mother rather than of himself that he thought. He +himself had been too young to feel keenly the change in their life +that followed Culloden; but although his mother had borne her +reverses bravely, and he had never heard a complaint or even a +regret cross her lips, he knew that the thought that he would never +be chief of their brave clansmen, and that these had no longer a +natural leader and protector, was very bitter to her. + +"Your majesty is too good. + +"Your excellency--" and he stopped. + +"I know what you would say," the king said kindly, "and there is no +occasion to say it. I have only paid some of the debt I owe you, +and his excellency's thought gave me well-nigh as much pleasure as +it does you. Now, be off to your camp. + +"You see, Sir John, between us we have done what the Austrians and +Russians have never managed between them--I mean, we have shaken +Colonel Drummond's presence of mind. + +"There, go along with you, we have matters to talk over together." + +Fergus saluted almost mechanically, bowed gratefully to Mitchell, +and then left the room in a whirl of emotion. To be the head of his +clan again was, to him, a vastly greater matter than to be a +colonel in even the most renowned and valiant army in Europe. Of +the estates he thought for the moment but little, except that his +mother would now be able to give up her petty economies and her +straitened life, and to take up the station that had been hers +until his father's death. + +There was another thought, too--that of Countess Thirza Eulenfurst. +Hitherto he had resolutely put that from him. It was not for him, a +soldier of fortune, without a penny beyond his pay, to aspire to +the hand of a rich heiress. It was true that many Scottish +adventurers in foreign services had so married, but this had seemed +a thing altogether beyond him. He had rendered a service to her +father, and they had, in consequence, been most kind to him; but he +had thought that it would be only a poor return for their kindness +for him to aspire to their daughter's hand. + +He had put the matter even more resolutely aside because, once or +twice, the count had said things that might be construed as hints +that he should not regard such an act as presumptuous. He had +spoken not unapprovingly of the marriages of ladies of high rank to +men who had rendered great services to the countries for which they +had fought, and said that, with such ample means as Thirza would +possess, there would be no need for him to seek for a wealthy match +for her. Thirza herself had evinced lively pleasure, whenever he +went to see them, and deep regret when he left them; while her +colour rose, sometimes, when he came upon her suddenly. But these +indications that he was not altogether indifferent to her had but +determined him, more resolutely, to abstain from taking advantage +of the gratitude she felt for the service he had rendered. + +Now, it seemed to him that the news he had heard had somewhat +changed the position. He was no longer a penniless soldier. It was +true that the Drummond estates were as nothing by the side of the +broad lands owned by her father; but at least, now, he was in the +position of a Scottish gentleman of fair means and good standing, +who could dispense with wealth on the part of a bride, and had a +fair home and every comfort to offer to one in his native land. +That he had, too, obtained the rank of colonel in the Prussian +army, by service in many a desperate battle, distinctly added to +his position. Thus, in every respect, the news that he had received +was in the highest degree gratifying to him. + + + +Chapter 18: Engaged. + + +On the following day, Sir John Mitchell handed to Fergus the +official documents respecting the restoration of the estates and, +after taking copies of the same, Fergus wrote a long letter to his +mother, inclosing the official papers, Mitchell having offered to +send the packet home with his despatches. Fergus was glad to get +the documents sent off in this way--by which, indeed, he had sent +the greater part of his letters to his mother--the post being so +uncertain and insecure that there was no trusting it; and although +his mother's replies were always sent to the care of the +ambassador, a large number of them were lost in the transit. + +Early in April Fergus suddenly broke down. His work had been almost +incessant. The cold in the tent had, at night, been extreme; and, +having been wetted to the skin one day, when a sudden thaw came on, +his clothes had been frozen stiff when, at nightfall, the frost +returned with even greater severity than before. In spite of the +cloaks and blankets that Karl heaped upon his bed, he shivered all +night, and in the morning hot fits came on. The king's surgeon, +coming in to see him, pronounced that the chill had resulted in +what was probably rheumatic fever. + +He was at once carried to a hospital, some miles in the rear. This +was crowded with officers and men, suffering from the effects of +their hardships; but a room was assigned to him in a house close +by, that had been taken for the use of officers of distinction. + +Here for two months he lay helpless, and at times delirious. Karl +sat up with him almost night and day, taking two or three hours' +sleep occasionally on the floor, but starting up whenever his +master moved or spoke. Sir John Mitchell rode over several times to +see him, and the king's own surgeon went over twice a week. These +visits, however, both ceased three weeks after he entered the +hospital, the king's army having rapidly marched away. + +At the end of June he was out and able to sit in the sun in the +garden. + +"How long shall I be before I am fit for duty again?" he asked the +surgeon, two days later. + +"Six weeks or two months. It will be fully that time before you can +regain your strength. In a month, no doubt, you will be able to sit +a horse; but I should say that it would be quite twice that time, +before you will be fit to perform the work that falls to your lot +on the king's staff. You want to have quiet, and at the same time +you need pleasant company. The worst thing you can possibly do is +to worry and fret yourself. Instead of bringing things about +sooner, it will only delay them. What you have to do is to bask in +the sun, eat and drink as much as you can, and take life +pleasantly. + +"There is one thing, you have nothing to grieve about that you are +not with the king. He is marching hither and thither with wonderful +celerity but, do what he will, he cannot induce either Daun or Lacy +to give battle; though together they are three to one against him. +Whenever he approaches they simply shut themselves up in +impregnable places, erect palisades and batteries, and hope that he +will dash himself against them; which he is not likely to do." + +Fergus found that Frederick, when he marched, had left behind a +force sufficient to check any attempt that the Austrian garrison of +Dresden might make, towards the north; but that at present all was +quiet, the enemy venturing on no aggressive movements, never +knowing when the king might suddenly pounce down upon them. He +found that there was no attempt made to blockade the town. No carts +with provisions were allowed to pass in from the north side, but on +the west there was free ingress and egress, there being no Prussian +troops in that direction. Fergus therefore hired a peasant to carry +a letter for him to Count Eulenfurst, explaining how it was that he +had been unable to get leave during the winter; and that, for the +last two months and a half, he had been laid up in the hospital. + +Three days later a carriage drove up to the house. The count +himself leapt out, and hurried across the garden to where Fergus +was sitting. + +"This is indeed kind of you, count," Fergus said, as he rose. + +"By no means, Drummond. I only wish that we had known your +situation before. You should have got someone to write, if you +could not do it yourself. We were not surprised at your not +visiting us in the winter, for with both armies on the alert we +knew that, in the first place, you were busy, and probably not able +to get leave of absence; and in the next place, you could hardly +have got in. + +"You can imagine the concern we felt when your letter reached us, +yesterday evening. Of course, I determined to start at once. You +must indeed have had a hard time of it, for you have fallen away so +much that I should hardly have known you." + +"I have picked up very much in the last fortnight, count; and I +hope, in another month, to be something like myself again; though +the doctor insists that I shall not be fit for campaigning work for +double that time." + +"Well, I have come to take you back with me. The countess asks me +to tell you that if you do not come at once, she will drive hither +with two or three of her maids, and establish herself as your +nurse. It will not be a very long drive, for I am well known to the +Austrians, and have a pass from the governor to go through their +lines when I please, and to visit a small estate I have, thirty +miles to the north. And no doubt you can get a similar pass for us +to leave your lines." + +"I should like nothing so much, count; but might I not get you into +trouble, if it were known that you had one of the king's officers +at your house?" + +"In the first place no one would know it, and in the second place I +don't think that I should get into any trouble, were it found out. +It is not a Prussian officer that I shall be entertaining, still +less a spy, but a dear friend who is an invalid and needs care. As +everyone knows what you did for me, the excuse would be ample. + +"Moreover, it happens that Governor Maguire is a personal friend of +mine, and I shall call upon him and tell him that I have a sick +friend staying with me and, without letting him know who you are, +say that I give him my word of honour that you will, while with me, +remain in the grounds, and will make no inquiries concerning his +fortifications and plans of defence. He will understand what I +mean, and if anyone should make a report to him it will, at any +rate, cause no trouble; though I do not say that he might not feel +obliged to give me notice that you had best go. + +"Well, for today I will remain here and rest my horses; and +tomorrow morning we will start, early. + +"Ah! I see you have your henchman still with you. He, like +yourself, has escaped both Austrian and French bullets. + +"Well, Karl," he went on as the soldier came up, "you don't seem to +have managed to keep your master out of mischief." + +"No, count; but it was not my fault. It was the fault of those +horses you gave him." + +"Why, how was that, Karl?" + +"Well, sir, the colonel was the best mounted man on the king's +staff and, however hard he worked the horses, they always seemed to +keep in good condition. So that whenever there was anything to be +done, it was sure to be, 'Colonel Drummond, please go here or go +there.' He was always on horseback, and so at last he broke down. +Anyone else would have broken down months before, but he never +seemed to know what it was to be tired." + +"What, have you got another step, Drummond?" the count said, +smiling at the soldier's tone of discontent. + +"Yes, count. It is not for anything particular this time, but for +what I may call general services. + +"You are going to have an easy time of it now, Karl. Count +Eulenfurst is kindly going to take me off and nurse me for a bit; +and you will have to stay here and look after the horses, until I +return. It would not be safe for you to accompany me, and I think +you want a rest as much as I want nursing. + +"Why, for two months, count, this good fellow never took off his +coat; and I don't think he ever slept an hour at a time. I have +never once called when he was not there to answer." + +"I did what I could," Karl growled, "but it was not much. The +colonel has always looked well after me, and the least I could do +was to look after him, when he wanted it. + +"I am very glad he is going with you, sir. It is dull enough for +him here; and I am sure he will get on much faster, under your care +and the ladies', than he would do moping about in this place." + +Fergus wrote a note to the general of the division, and Karl +returned with a pass authorizing Count Eulenfurst's carriage to +pass through the lines, at any time. + +"There is one difficulty I have not thought of, count. I have no +civilian clothes. Those I brought with me were left in the magazine +at Dresden, when I first marched away; and there they have been, +ever since. But indeed, even if I had them, I do not think that +they would fit me; seeing that I have grown some four inches in +height since I came out, and at least as much more round my +shoulders." + +"I thought of that," the count said, "and have brought with me a +suit from Dresden that will, I think, fit you as well as an +invalid's clothes can be expected to fit." + +The next morning an early start was made. No difficulties were +encountered on the way and, although sundry detours had to be made, +they reached the count's house after a three-hours' drive. Thirza +ran down to meet them as the count drove up; and she gave a little +cry of surprise, and pity, as the count helped Fergus to alight. + +"I shall soon be better, countess," he said with a smile, as he +held out his hand. "I am quite a giant in strength, compared with +what I was a fortnight ago; but just at present I am a little +tired, after the drive." + +"You look dreadfully bad," the girl said. "Still, I hope we shall +soon bring you round again. My father said you would be back with +him about this time, and we shall begin by giving you some soup, at +once." + +As they entered the hall, the countess herself came down. + +"Welcome back again! I may say, I hope, welcome home again, Major +Drummond!" + +"Colonel Drummond," the count corrected. "He is one of Frederick's +colonels now." + +"I congratulate you," she went on, "though just at present, you +certainly do not look a very formidable colonel. However, we will +soon build you up; but don't try to talk now. I see the journey has +been almost too much for you. + +"In here, please. I thought you had better take something before +you climbed the stairs." + +A meal was laid, in a room leading off the hall; and after a basin +of soup and a couple of glasses of Rhine wine, Fergus felt much +better. + +"That is right," the count said. "You have now got a tinge of +colour in your cheeks. + +"Come, Thirza, you must not look so woebegone, because our knight +is pulled down a bit. Invalids want a cheerful face and, unless you +brighten up, I shall not intrust any of the nursing duties to you." + +Thirza tried to smile, but the attempt was a very forced one. + +"It has been a surprise," she said quietly, but with an evident +effort. "You see, I have always seen Colonel Drummond looking so +strong and bright. Though I knew that he had been very ill, somehow +I did not expect to see him like this." + +"But I can assure you I am better," Fergus said, laughing. "I did +feel done when we arrived, but I can assure you that is not my +normal state; and being here among you all will very soon effect a +transformation. In a very short time you will see that I shall +refuse altogether to be treated as an invalid, and my nurse's post +will be a sinecure." + +"Now you had better go and lie down, and get a sleep for two or +three hours," the countess said, decidedly. "You will have your old +bedroom, and we have fitted up the next room as a sitting room. We +know a good many of the Austrian and Confederate officers, and of +an afternoon and evening they often drop in; and although we are +not afraid of questions, it will be more pleasant for you to have a +place of your own. + +"Still, I hope you will be able to be out in the garden behind the +house, the best part of the day, under the trees. You would be as +safe from interruption, there, as if you were a hundred miles away +from Dresden. We have arranged that Thirza shall have chief charge +of you, out there; while the count and I will look after you while +you are in the house." + +Fergus obediently lay down and slept for some hours. As the +countess had arranged, he rang his bell on waking and, hearing from +the servant who answered it that there were no visitors downstairs, +he went down. The count had gone out, but the countess and Thirza +went out into the grounds with him; and he found that, in a quiet +and shady corner, a sofa had been placed for his use, with a table +and two or three chairs. + +The countess remained chatting with him until a servant came out, +to say that three Austrian officers had called; and she went in, +leaving him to the charge of Thirza. For two or three hours they +talked together, and were then joined by the count and countess; +when Fergus told them the piece of good fortune that had befallen +him, by recovering his father's estates. They were greatly pleased +and interested. + +"And are they extensive?" the count asked. + +"They are extensive," he said, "if taken by acreage; but if +calculated by the revenue that they bring in, they would seem small +to you. But at any rate, they suffice to make one wealthy in +Scotland. The large proportion of it is mountain and moorland; but +as the head of my clan, I shall hold a position far above what is +represented by the income. Two hundred men were ready to draw +sword, at my father's orders, and to follow him in battle. + +"I don't know that, here in Germany, you can quite understand the +ties that bind the members of a clan to their head. They do not +regard him as tenants regard a lord; but rather as a protector, a +friend, and even a relation. All disputes are carried to him for +arbitration. The finest trout from the stream, the fattest buck +from the hills, are sent to him as an offering. They draw their +swords at his bidding, and will die for him in battle. To them he +is a sort of king, and they would obey his orders, were he to tell +them to rise in rebellion. + +"The feeling is to some extent dying out and, since Culloden, the +power of the clans has greatly abated. Nevertheless, some of the +Highland regiments in our army were raised by chiefs wholly from +their own clansmen. + +"In many respects this restoration of my inheritance changes my +position altogether. As I told you the last time I was here, I +shall stop until this terrible war is over. The king has been most +kind and gracious to me, and to leave before the struggle is over I +should feel to be an act of desertion. Once the sword is sheathed, +I intend to return to Scotland; for I should not care to remain in +the service, when there is nought but life in garrison to look +forward to. Moreover, the strength of the army would, of course, be +largely diminished, at once. + +"What I should do afterwards, I know not. Perhaps I might obtain a +commission in our own army, for there are always opportunities of +seeing service in America, India, or elsewhere, under the British +flag. More likely I shall, at any rate for a time, remain at home. +My mother has no other child, and it is a lonely life, indeed, for +her." + +"Do you not think of settling here?" + +"What is there for me to do, count, outside the army? I could not +turn merchant, for I should assuredly be bankrupt, at the end of +the first month; nor could I well turn cultivator, when I have no +land to dig. Now, however, my future is determined for me; and a +point that has, I own, troubled me much, has been decided without +an effort on my part." + +The conversation was continued for some little time, the count +asking many questions about Fergus's ancestral home, the scenery, +and mode of life. Fergus noticed that Thirza took no part in the +conversation, but sat still; and looked, he thought, pale. + +The days succeeded each other quietly and uneventfully, and Fergus +gained strength rapidly; so that, in the middle of July, he began +to feel that he was again fit for service. One evening he was +sitting alone in the garden with the count, when the latter said to +him: + +"You remember our conversation on the first evening of our coming +here, as to the impossibility of your doing anything, did you +remain out here after leaving the army. There was one solution to +which you did not allude. Many Scottish and Irish soldiers, both in +this country, in France, Austria, and Germany, have married well. +Why should you not do the same?" + +Fergus was silent for a minute, and then he said: + +"Yes, count; but they continued in the service, rose to the rank of +generals and, as in the case of my cousin Keith, to that of +marshal." + +"But you might do the same, if you remained in the army," the count +said. "You are assuredly, by far, the youngest colonel in it. You +are a favourite of the king's, and might hope for anything." + +"I am afraid, count, I have too much of our Scottish feeling of +independence; and should not, therefore, like to owe everything to +a wife." + +"The feeling is creditable, if not carried too far," the count +said. "You have a position that is a most honourable one. You have +made your name famous in the army, where brave men are common. You +possess the qualities of youth, a splendid physique, and--I don't +wish to flatter you--a face that might win any woman's fancy. There +are none, however placed, who might not be proud of such a +son-in-law." + +"You judge everyone by yourself, count," Fergus said slowly. "You +overrate my qualities, and forget the fact that I am, after all, +but a soldier of fortune." + +"Then you never thought of such a thing?" + +Fergus was silent for a minute, and then said: + +"We may think of many things, count, that we know, in our hearts, +are but fancies which will never be realized." + +"Let us suppose a case," the count said. "Let us take a case like +mine. You did me an inestimable service. You certainly saved my +life, and the lives of several others; including, perhaps, those of +my wife and daughter. The latter has constantly heard your name +associated with deeds of valour. Would it be improbable that she +should feel a depth of gratitude that would, as she grew, increase +into a warmer feeling; while you, on your part, might entertain a +liking for her? Would it be such an out-of-the-way thing for you to +come to me, and ask her hand? Or an out-of-the-way thing that I +should gladly give her to you?" + +"It may not seem so to you, count," Fergus said quietly; "but it +has seemed so to me. I understand what you are so generously saying +but, even with such encouragement, I can scarce dare to ask what +seems to me so presumptuous a question. For four years, now, this +house has been as a home to me; and it was but natural that, as +your daughter grew up, I should have grown to love her. I have told +myself, hundreds of times, that it would be, indeed, a base return +for your kindness, were I to try to steal her heart; and never have +I said a single word to her that I would not have said, aloud, had +you and her mother been present. During the month that I have been +here, now, I have struggled hard with myself; thrown with her, as I +have been, for hours every day. But I have made up my mind that no +word should ever pass my lips; and if it has done so, now, it is +because you have drawn it from me." + +"I am glad that I have done so," the count said, gravely. "For the +last two years I have hoped that this might be so, for in no other +way could I repay our debt of gratitude to you. I cannot tell what +Thirza's thoughts are; but there have been three suitors for her +hand this year, any of whom might well, in point of means and +character, have been considered suitable; but when I spoke to her +she laughed at the idea and, though she said nothing, I gathered +that her love was already given. + +"As my only child, her happiness is my first consideration. As to +the question of means, it is absurd to mention them; for did she +marry the wealthiest noble, she could desire no more than she will +have. I told you, the first time you came to us after that terrible +night, that we should always regard you as one of ourselves. We +have done so; and I can assure you that her mother and I desire +nothing better for her. + +"For your sake, I am glad that you have come into this Scottish +estate; but for my own I care nothing for it, and indeed, am in one +respect sorry; for you will naturally wish that, for a part of the +time each year, she should reside there with you. + +"Now, that has not been so dreadful, has it?" + +"Not in any way, count; and I thank you, with all my heart, for +your kindness. My feeling for your daughter has grown up gradually, +and it was not until I was last here that I recognized how much I +cared for her. I then, when I went away, resolved it would be +better for me not to return; at any rate, not to stay here again, +until I heard that she was married. It is true that I talked of +paying you a visit, even were Dresden captured; but I knew that +when the time came I should be able to find excuses for not doing +so. During the time that I was laid up with fever, she was ever in +my mind; but the necessity for my remaining away from here only +impressed itself, more and more strongly, upon me. + +"Then you appeared, and carried me off. I could not refuse to come, +without giving my reason; but I fully determined that in no way, by +look or word, would I allow her to see that I regarded her other +than as the daughter of my kind host. I have had a hard fight to +keep that resolution, for each day my feelings have grown stronger +and stronger; and I had resolved that, before I left, I would own +to you, not my presumption, for I have not presumed, but my +weakness, and ask you to press me no more to come here, until your +daughter was married." + +"You have acted just as I should have expected from you, Drummond. +The great hope of the countess and myself has been to see Thirza +happily married. Fortune or position in a suitor have been +altogether immaterial points, excepting that we would assure +ourselves that it was not to obtain these that her hand was sought. +From the first we have regarded you, not only with gratitude, but +with deep interest. It seemed to us only natural that, after so +strange and romantic a beginning to your acquaintance, Thirza +should regard you with more than ordinary interest. To her you +would be a sort of hero of romance. We watched you closely then, +and found that in addition to your bravery you possessed all the +qualities that we could desire. You were modest, frank, and +natural. So far from making much of the service you had rendered +us, you were always unwilling to speak of it; and when that could +not be avoided, you made as little of it as possible. + +"I spoke several times of you to Marshal Keith, and he said that he +regarded you almost as a son, and spoke in the highest terms of +you. We saw, or fancied we saw, in the pleasure which Thirza +betrayed when you returned after each of your absences; and in the +anxiety which she evinced when battles had taken place, until I +could ascertain that your name was not among the lists of killed +and wounded; that what we had thought likely was taking place, and +that she regarded you with an interest beyond that which would be +excited by gratitude only. + +"As to yourself, and your thoughts on the subject, we knew nothing. +We never saw anything in your manner to her that showed that your +heart was affected. You chatted with her as freely and naturally as +to us and, even since you have been here this time, we have +observed no change in you. And yet, it seemed to us well-nigh +impossible that a young soldier should be thrown so much with a +girl who, though it is her father who says so, is exceptionally +pretty and of charming manners, and continue to regard her with +indifference; unless, indeed, he loved elsewhere, which we were +sure in your case could hardly be. I had however, like yourself, +determined to speak on the matter before you left us; as, had you +not felt towards her as we hoped, the countess and I agreed that it +would be better, for her sake, that we should not press you to come +to stay with us again until she was married. + +"I am truly glad that the matter stands as we had hoped. I can only +repeat that there is no one to whom we could intrust her happiness +so confidently as to you." + +"I will do my best to justify your confidence, count," Fergus said +warmly. + +"Now I will go into the house and tell my wife, and then we can +acquaint Thirza. It is the custom here, at least among people of +rank, for the parents first to acquaint their daughter with a +proposal that has been made for her hand, and of their wishes on +the subject. Parental control is not carried to the point, now, +that it used to be; and maidens sometimes entertain different +opinions to those of their parents. Happily, in the present case, +there is no reason to fear that Thirza will exhibit any contumacy. + +"Fortunately we are alone at dinner, today. Therefore do you come +down, a quarter of an hour before the usual hour, and we will get +the matter formally settled." + +When Fergus went into the drawing room, the count was already +there. + +"Thirza shows no unwillingness to carry out our commands in this +matter," he said with a smile, as he held out his hand to Fergus +and shook it very heartily. "I pointed out to her that you would +naturally expect her to accompany you every year to Scotland, and +to spend some months among your people there. She did not seem to +consider that any insupportable objection. + +"In one respect, Fergus, I think that it is well for you that I am +comparatively a young man; being now but forty-four, while the +countess is six years younger; thus it may be a good many years +before you will be called upon to assume the control of my estates, +and the position of one of the great landowners of Saxony. One of +these estates will, of course, be Thirza's dowry at once; but that +will not tie you so much, and you will be freer to come and go as +it pleases you." + +Two or three minutes later the door opened, and the countess +entered, leading Thirza by the hand. The girl advanced with +downcast eyes, until her father stepped forward and took her left +hand, while he held the right of Fergus. + +"My daughter," he said, "your mother and I have chosen for your +husband Colonel Fergus Drummond. We consider the match to be in all +ways a suitable one. We esteem him highly, and are convinced that +he will make you happy; loving you, as he says, tenderly and truly. +In this room where you first saw him, I need not recall to you the +services he rendered to us; and I exhort you to obey this our +order, and to be a true and loving spouse to him." + +The girl looked up now. + +"That will I, father and mother, and most willingly; and will +always, to my life's end, be a true and loving wife to him." + + +[Illustration: "Take her, Drummond, you have won your bride +fairly and well"] + + +"Take her, Colonel," the count said, putting her hand into that of +Fergus. "You have won your bride fairly and well, and I know that +you will be a worthy husband to her." + +"That I swear to be," Fergus said, as he stooped and kissed her. "I +feel how great is the boon that you have given me; and shall, to my +life's end, be deeply thankful to you both for the confidence which +you have placed in me, in thus intrusting her to my care. + +"And to you, Thirza, do I swear to be a loving husband, to the end +of my life." + +"And now," the count said, "we will leave these young people till +the bell rings," and taking the countess's hand, he led her into +the next room. + +The ten minutes that passed, before the signal for dinner was +given, sufficed to do much to lessen the awkwardness of the +occasion; and Fergus was heartily grateful to the count for having +left them to themselves for that short time. The dinner passed off +as usual, the count chatting gaily; while Fergus attempted, with +indifferent success, to follow him. Thirza was very silent, but her +cheeks were flushed, and her eyes radiant with happiness. + +It did not escape the attention of the servants who waited that +instead of, as usual, leading down the countess while the count +brought down his daughter; this time the count and his wife had +come down first, followed by Fergus and the young countess. Nor +were they slow to notice Thirza's flushed face. + +The count's household had been deeply interested in the visits of +Fergus. The women had always been unanimous in their opinion that +they would all have been murdered by the marauders, had it not been +for his interposition; and had also agreed that the most proper +thing in the world, after what had happened, would be that the +young countess should someday marry this brave young officer. Each +time that he had come, during the last four years, they had watched +and hoped that they should hear that this was coming about; but +hitherto they had been terribly disappointed, and had almost agreed +that, if nothing came of this long visit, nothing would ever come +of it. The news, therefore, brought down by the menservants excited +a lively interest. + +"I said all along that it would be so some day," one of the women +exclaimed. "The countess would never have allowed our young lady to +be out in the garden, every afternoon, if she and the count had not +been willing that there should be a match; and I am sure I don't +see how he could help falling in love with the young countess." + +"Nor she with him," another woman added. "He is the +pleasantest-looking young gentleman I have ever seen, and we know +that he is one of the bravest; and though he is a Prussian officer, +there is not a bit of stiffness about him. Well, I only hope it is +true." + +"I would not count on it too much," one of the older women said. +"You never can take menfolks' opinions on such matters. I am sure +any of us would know with half an eye, if we saw them together, how +matters stood; but as for men, they are as blind as bats in such +matters. Still, the fact that he took the young countess down, +instead of our lady, goes for something." + +The next morning, indeed, the news was confirmed. The countess told +her tire woman, who had been Thirza's nurse, what had happened; and +in a few minutes it was known all over the house, and even the +parties most concerned scarcely felt more pleasure than the women +of the count's establishment. + + + +Chapter 19: Liegnitz. + + +"I have news," the count said, when he came in to lunch, after he +had been down into the town; "a messenger has come in with a +despatch this morning, saying that the king, with his army, is +marching hither with all speed." + +An exclamation of alarm broke from Thirza, and one of surprise from +Fergus. They had been in the garden together all the morning. + +"It will be but a day or two earlier," Fergus said in a low tone to +her. "I told you that in three days, at the most, I must leave. The +surgeon gave me six weeks, but I have so thoroughly recovered that +I feel I ought to be with the king." + +Then he raised his voice. + +"That is startling news indeed, count; but I can hardly believe +that he intends to besiege Dresden. He has no siege guns with him, +and though, I suppose, he has as usual got a start of Daun, he can +hardly hope to capture the city before the Austrians come up. At +any rate, I must ride out and report myself, and join him as soon +as he gets close. It is hard, indeed, at this moment. Still, there +is no question but that it is my duty." + +"I see that, and I am sure that Thirza would not wish to keep you +from it. As long as you are a soldier, duty is the first thing. +However, as the king is coming hither, we shall doubtless see you +sometimes. As we are half a mile outside the walls, we shall be +within the besieging lines." + +"I hope that if the king besieges, count, it will not be on this +side, for you might be exposed to shot from the town batteries." + +"If we are so, we must move beyond their range and go to our place +at Wirzow. That is but twelve miles away. It is a small house, but +will do very well for a time." + +"I should hope, count, that there will be no occasion for that. The +king cannot hope to lay siege in regular form, though he may try an +assault. Slow as Daun is, he must be here within ten days or so of +Frederick's arrival; and it is probable that the march here is +intended rather to draw Daun away from his Russian allies, than +with any hope of taking Dresden." + +"Will you go this afternoon?" + +"I think that I ought to, count. If the news has come that +Frederick is marching to besiege Dresden, he cannot be far away; +for it is certain that he will march as fast as he can, and will +himself follow closely on the news. 'Tis plain that Lacy feels +himself unable to oppose him, and must be falling back with all +speed before him. If I were to report myself this evening as +convalescent, I can join him tomorrow, if I find that he is but a +march away." + +"I will take you in my carriage, as before," the count said. "I can +get back here before dark." + +Two hours later they started, Thirza consoled to some extent by the +assurance that, in all probability, Fergus would be back again in +the course of two or three days. They found that the Austrian +advanced posts had already been withdrawn, and experienced no +difficulty with the Prussians; so that by five o'clock they arrived +at the hospital, the count at once starting on his return journey. + +Karl was delighted at seeing his master looking himself again. + +"I hardly thought that a month could do so much for you," he said, +"especially as you were mending but slowly, before you went." + +"Yes, I was a poor creature then, Karl; and I did not think, +myself, that I should be really fit for work for some time to come; +but at any rate, in such weather as this, I have no fear of +breaking down." + +Putting on his uniform, he went to the principal medical officer, +and reported his return and his fitness for duty. + +"You have certainly gained strength a great deal faster than I +expected, Colonel Drummond. I don't know that you are fit for any +really hard work, but I suppose that you will be at least a week +before you join the king; and by that time you may be able to do a +fair amount of work." + +"I fancy I shall join the king tomorrow, doctor." + +"Tomorrow?" the surgeon repeated in surprise. + +"Yes, sir. Have you not heard the news? The king is marching with +all speed this way. I do not know what his intention is--to force +Lacy to give battle single handed before Daun can arrive, or to +besiege Dresden--but in the city they believe that they are going +to be besieged." + +"This is news indeed," the surgeon said. "The scouts brought in +word this morning that a considerable force was seen, coming along +the road from Bautzen. It must be Lacy's army." + +"We may be sure that the king is pretty close at his heels," Fergus +said. "I have no doubt that by tomorrow morning we shall have news +of him, and I fancy that I shall not have far to ride to join him." + +The opinion was justified. That evening Lacy joined the Confederate +army, in their strong position behind the gap of Plauen. He had +been hotly chased, indeed. Frederick had been manoeuvring to pass +Daun and carry on a campaign in Silesia; but the Austrian general +had been too cautious, and it was impossible to pass him without +fighting; so on the night of the 8th he left Bautzen suddenly and +silently, and marched all night, in hopes of catching Lacy at +Godau. The latter's Croats, however, brought him news in time, and +he at once retreated. + +After a short halt the Prussians pressed on for another eighteen +miles, capturing some of Lacy's hussars, but failing to come up +with his main body; which, marching all that day and the next +night, arrived near Dresden on the morning of the 10th, Lacy +himself reaching the town the evening before. By Thursday evening +the whole of his army had crossed Dresden bridge and got in safely +behind Plauen, leaving ten thousand men to aid the four thousand in +the garrison. + +At noon Fergus, hearing that, without doubt, the whole of the enemy +had fallen back, started with Karl; and that evening rode into the +royal camp, and reported himself to the king. + +"I am glad to see you back, Drummond," Frederick said heartily. "I +have sorely missed you; and indeed, when I rode away the accounts +of you were so bad that I doubted whether you would ever be able to +be with me again. You don't look quite yourself yet, but no doubt +the air and exercise will soon bring you round. Have you any news?" + +"Lacy has left ten thousand men in Dresden, sire, and with the rest +of his force has joined the Confederate army at Plauen." + +"Just what I wished," the king said. "It has saved me a long march, +and we will now go straight to Dresden." + +The next day the army marched forward, circled round the western +and southern sides of Dresden, and encamped at Gruna, a mile to the +southeast of the city; and throughout the night laboured at getting +up batteries. The division under Holstein was planted on an +eminence on the other side of the river, across which a pontoon +bridge was at once thrown. There was no fear of disturbance from +Lacy, the united force of the enemy having retreated to the old +Saxon camp at Pirna. The king, after seeing the batteries marked +out, retired to bed early; and Fergus was able to ride round and +pay a short visit to the count. + +On the 14th the batteries opened fire--Maguire having refused the +summons to surrender--and continued for four days without making +much impression upon the walls, the heaviest guns being only +twenty-five pounders. + +On the 18th some heavy guns arrived from Magdeburg. The batteries +were all ready for them, and as soon as they arrived they were set +to work. Maguire burnt the suburbs outside the town, and answered +the cannonade hotly. + +Finding that the guns on the walls did but little damage to the +Prussian batteries, Maguire mounted two or three guns on to the +leads of the Protestant church, and from this commanding position +he was able to throw shot right into them. The Prussian fire was at +once concentrated on the church, which was speedily set on fire. +This spread through the surrounding streets, and a tremendous +conflagration raged for the next forty-eight hours. But by this +time Daun, who had lost some days before setting out in pursuit of +Frederick, was within five miles of the town, had driven Holstein +across the river, and was in communication with Maguire. + +On the night of the 21st-22nd Maguire's garrison, led by General +Nugent, sallied out from Dresden; while four thousand of Daun's men +marched round from the north side. For a time the assault on the +Prussian intrenchments was successful, although Nugent was, on his +first attack, repulsed and taken prisoner. But when Daun's people +arrived the regiments defending the trenches were driven out. Then +fresh battalions came up and drove the Austrians out, taking many +prisoners. + +Daun remained passive for some days after this, and Frederick +continued to cannonade the city until the 29th; making, however, +his preparations for departure, and going off unmolested by the +enemy towards Meissen. The news reached him that Glatz, one of the +barrier fortresses of Silesia, had been taken by Loudon, and that +the latter was besieging Breslau. + +Daun had guessed the way by which Frederick would retire, and had +broken up the roads and bridges, and felled trees in the forests so +as to render them impassable; and as soon as Frederick started he +moved in the same direction, his position so serving him that, +marching by a road parallel to that taken by the king, he was ahead +of him. Lacy had been warned to be prepared, and he too started +with his army, so that the three forces moved eastward at a +comparatively short distance apart. + +Although hampered by the obstacles in their way, and by a train of +two thousand wagons, the Prussians moved rapidly and covered a +hundred miles in five days. Daun made what was, for him, prodigious +efforts also, and kept the lead he had gained. + +On the 7th of August Frederick was thirty miles west of Liegnitz. +Here he halted for a day, and on the 9th marched to the Katzbach +valley, only to find that Daun was securely posted on the other +side of the river, and Lacy on the hills a few miles off. The next +morning Frederick marched down the bank of the Katzbach to +Liegnitz, Daun keeping parallel with him on the other side of the +river. + +Knowing that Daun had been joined during the night by Loudon, and +that they were vastly too strong to be attacked, Frederick started +at eleven at night, and at daybreak was back on his old camping +ground. He crossed the river, hoping to be able to fall upon Lacy; +but the latter had moved off, and Frederick, pressing on, would +have got fairly ahead of his enemies if it had not been for the +heavy baggage train, which delayed him for five hours; and by the +time it came up he found that Lacy, Daun, and Loudon were all round +him again. + +The situation seemed desperate. The army had but four days' +provisions left, and a scout sent out on the 12th reported that the +roads over the hills were absolutely impassable for baggage. At +eight o'clock the army set out again, recrossed the Katzbach, and +again made for Liegnitz, which they reached after a sixteen hours' +march. Here the king halted for thirty hours, and his three enemies +gathered round him again. + +They were ninety thousand strong, while he was but thirty. Daun +made elaborate reconnaissances, and Frederick had no doubt that he +would be attacked, that night or early the next morning. After dark +the army marched quietly away, and took up its position on the +heights of Torberger, its fires being left burning brightly, with +two drummers to beat occasionally. + +Daun's and Lacy's fires were clearly visible; but they, like his +own, were deserted, both having marched to catch him, as they +hoped, asleep at Liegnitz; but it chanced that Loudon had been +ordered to take post just where Frederick had halted, and his +troops came suddenly upon the Prussians in the dark. + +A battalion was despatched at once, with some cannon, to seize the +crest of the Wolfberg. Loudon, whose work was to prevent Frederick +from flying eastward, had hurried forward; his scouts having +informed him that a number of the Prussian baggage waggons were +passing, and hoped to effect a capture of them; and he was vastly +surprised when, instead of finding the baggage guard before him, he +was received with a tremendous musketry fire and volleys of case +shot. + +He at once rallied his troops and, with five battalions in front, +dashed forward. He was repulsed, but returned to the attack three +times. He kept edging round towards the right, to take Frederick in +flank; but the Prussians also shifted their ground, and met him. +The Austrian cavalry poured down again and again, and fresh +battalions of infantry were continually brought up. + +At last Loudon felt that the contest was hopeless, and fell back +across the Katzbach. The Prussians captured six thousand of his men +before they could get across the river, four thousand were killed +and wounded, and eighty-two cannons captured. Thus his army of +thirty-five thousand strong had been wrecked by the Prussian left +wing, numbering fifteen thousand; the rest of the Prussian forces, +under Ziethen, keeping guard lest Daun and Lacy should come on to +aid him. Daun, however, was miles away, intent upon catching +Frederick; and did not know until morning that his camp had been +deserted, and Loudon beaten. + +As soon as he was assured of this, he poured his cavalry across the +river, but Ziethen's cannon drove them back again; and he saw that, +with Ziethen standing in order of battle, in a commanding position, +with his guns sweeping the bridges, he could do nothing. + +Frederick remained four hours on the battlefield, collected five +thousand muskets lying on the field and, with the six thousand +prisoners, his wounded, and newly-captured cannon, marched away at +nine o'clock in the morning. + +A Russian force of twenty-four thousand still blocked the way; but, +desirous above all things to effect a junction with Prince Henry, +Frederick got rid of them, by sending a peasant with instructions +to let himself be taken by the Russians. The slip of paper he +carried contained the words: + +"Austrians totally beaten this day. Now for the Russians, dear +brother, and swift. Do what we have agreed upon." + +The ruse had its effect. The Russian general, believing that +Frederick and Prince Henry were both about to fall upon him, +retreated at once, burning the bridge behind him; and the king +pushed on to Breslau, which he reached on the 16th; having, thanks +to the wonderful marching of his troops, and his own talent, +escaped as if by a miracle from what seemed certain destruction. + +For a fortnight Frederick remained encamped, at a short distance +from Breslau, waiting to see what Daun and Soltikoff intended to +do. Daun was busy urging the Russians to come on. Soltikoff was +sulky that Daun had failed in all his endeavours, and that the +brunt of the affair was likely, again, to fall on him and his +Russians. + +Elsewhere things had gone more favourably for the king. Ferdinand +of Brunswick had now twenty thousand British with him, and fifty +thousand Hanoverians and Brunswickers; while the French army under +Broglio was one hundred and thirty thousand strong. A check was +first inflicted on the French at Korbach and, a few days later, an +English cavalry regiment and a battalion of Scotch infantry cut up +or captured a brigade of French dragoons. + +On the 29th of July, as Frederick was leaving Dresden, a serious +engagement took place at Warburg. Here Broglio's rear guard of +thirty thousand infantry and cavalry, under the Chevalier du Muy, +were attacked; in the first place by a free corps called the +British Legion, composed of men of many nationalities, who turned +Du Muy's right wing out of Warburg. Then the Prince of Brunswick +fell upon the whole French line, and the fight was a stubborn one +for two or three hours, Maxwell's British brigade fighting most +obstinately. They were greatly outnumbered, but were presently +joined by Lord Granby, at the head of the English cavalry, and +these decided the battle. + +The French lost fifteen hundred killed, over two thousand +prisoners, and their guns; the allies twelve hundred killed and +wounded, of whom eight hundred were British, showing how large a +share they had taken in the fighting. + +Another good bit of news for Frederick was that Hulsen, whom he had +left to watch the enemy in Saxony, had, with ten thousand men, +defeated an army thirty thousand strong; who, as they thought, had +caught him in a net. The Russians had fallen back, but only to +besiege Colbert again. + +Prince Henry was ill, but Frederick had made a junction with his +army, bringing his force up to fifty thousand. During the whole of +September there were marches and counter-marches, Frederick pushing +Daun backwards, and preventing him from besieging any of his +fortresses, and gradually cutting the Austrians from their +magazines. + +General Werner on the 18th, with five thousand men, fell suddenly +upon fifteen thousand Russians covering the siege of Colbert, +defeated, and scattered them in all directions. The Russian army at +once marched away from Colbert; not however, as Frederick hoped, +back to Poland but, in agreement with Daun, to make a rush on +Berlin. + +One force, twenty thousand strong, crossed the Oder. The main body, +under Fermor, for Soltikoff had fallen sick, moved to Frankfort; +while Lacy, with fifteen thousand, marched from Silesia. On the 3rd +of October the Russian vanguard reached the neighbourhood of +Berlin, and summoned it to surrender, and pay a ransom of four +million thalers. The garrison of twelve hundred strong, joined by +no small part of the male population, took post at the gates and +threw up redoubts; and Prince Eugene of Wuertemberg, after a +tremendous march of forty miles, threw himself into the city. + +The Russian vanguard drew off, until joined by Lacy. Hulsen, with +nine thousand, had followed Lacy with all speed; and managed to +throw himself into Berlin before the twenty thousand Russians +arrived. There were now fourteen thousand Prussians in the city, +thirty-five thousand Russians and Austrians outside. + +The odds were too great. Negotiations were therefore begun with the +Russian general Tottleben, and Berlin agreed to pay one million and +a half thalers, in the debased coin that now served as the medium +of circulation. Lacy was furious and, when he and the Russians +marched in, his men behaved so badly that the Russians had, two or +three times, to fire upon them. Saxon and Austrian parties sacked +Potsdam and other palaces in the neighbourhood, but the Russians +behaved admirably; and so things went on until, on October 11th, +came the news that Frederick was coming. + +Lacy at once marched off with all speed towards Torgau; while +Tottleben and the Russians made for Frankfort-on-Oder, the Cossacks +committing terrible depredations on the march. + +The king halted when he heard that Berlin had been evacuated. He +was deeply grieved and mortified that his capital should have been +in the hands of the invaders, even for three days; and his own +loss, from the sacking of Potsdam and other palaces, was very +heavy. However, he paid the ransom from his own pocket, and +bitterly determined to get even with the enemy, before winter came +on. + +While Hulsen was away, the Confederate army had captured all the +strongholds in Saxony. Daun had, as usual, advanced with his sixty +thousand men, and intended to winter in Saxony; but before he could +get there, Frederick had dashed south and recaptured Wittenberg and +Leipzig, crossed the Elbe, and driven the scattered corps of the +Confederate army before him. Prince Eugene had also hurried that +way, and defeated his brother, the reigning Duke of Wuertemberg. + +Daun moved with the intention of aiding the Confederate army, but +before he could reach them Hulsen had driven them across the +mountain range into Bohemia, and fell back towards Torgau. + +Long before this Fergus had received a reply, from his mother, to +his letter announcing the glad news of the restoration of the +estate: + +"It will be doubly dear to me," she said, "as having been won back +by your own exertions and bravery. These four years have been an +anxious time, indeed, for me, Fergus; but the thought that you are +restored to your own, as the result of what you have done, makes up +for it all. I quite see that as long as the war continues you +cannot, with honour, leave the king; but I cannot think that this +war will go on very much longer, and I can wait patiently for the +end. + +"And, Fergus, I am not quite sure that the end will be that you +will quietly settle down in the glens. A mother's eye is sharp, and +it seems to me that that young countess near Dresden is a very +conspicuous figure in your letters. During the four years that you +have been out, you have not mentioned the name of any lady but her +and her mother; and you always speak of going back there, as if it +were your German home. That is natural enough, after the service +that you have rendered them. Still, 'tis strange that you should +apparently have made the acquaintance of no other ladies. I don't +think that you have written a single letter, since you have been +away, in which you have not said something about this Saxon count +and his family. + +"However, even if it should be so, Fergus, I should not be +discontented. It is only natural that you should sooner or later +marry; and although I would rather that it had been into a Scotch +family, it is for you to choose, not me. I am grateful already, +very grateful for the kindness the family have shown you; and am +quite inclined to love this pretty young countess, if she, on her +part, is inclined to love you. I don't think I could have said so +quite as heartily, before I received your last letter; for I had a +great fear that you might marry and settle down, altogether, in +Germany; but now that the estate is yours, and you are the head of +your clan, I feel sure that you will, at any rate, spend a part of +your time among your own people." + +A second letter reached Fergus at the beginning of October; in +answer to his from the camp in front of Dresden, in the middle of +July, which had been delayed much on its way, owing to the rapid +marches of the army, until it had shaken itself free from its +pursuers after the battle of Liegnitz. It began: + +"I congratulate you, my dear Fergus, congratulate you with all my +heart; and if there is just a shadow of regret that you should not +have married and settled here entirely, it is but a small regret, +in proportion to the pleasure I feel. It is not even reasonable, +for when I consented to your going abroad to take service in +Prussia, I knew that this would probably end in your settling down +there altogether; for it was hardly likely that you could win a +fortune that would admit of your coming back to live here. + +"Of course, had your estate at that time been restored to you, you +would probably not have gone at all; or if you had done so, it +would have been but to stay for a few years, and see service under +your cousin Keith, and then return to live among your own people. +As it was, there was no reason why you should greatly wish to +return to Scotland, where you were landless, with no avenues open +to employment. However, what you tell me, that the count and +countess are willing that you should spend some months here, every +year, is far better than I could have expected or even hoped; and, +as you may imagine, quite reconciles me to the thought of your +marrying abroad. + +"In all other respects, nothing could be more satisfactory than +what you tell me. Your promised wife must be a charming young lady, +and her father and mother the kindest of people. Of course, your +worldly prospects will be vastly beyond anything that even my +wildest dreams have ever pictured for you, and in this respect all +my cares for you are at an end. + +"It will be delightful, indeed, to look forward to your homecoming +every year; and I consider myself in every way a fortunate woman. I +am sure that I shall come to love your Thirza very dearly. + +"The only question is, when is the first visit to take place? +Everyone says that it does not seem that the war can go on very +much longer; and that, wonderful as the king's resistance to so +many enemies has been, it cannot continue. However, from what you +say of his determination, and the spirit of the people, I cannot +think that the end can be so near as people think. They have been +saying nearly the same thing for the last three years; and yet, +though everything seemed as dark as possible, he always extricated +himself somehow from his difficulties. + +"Besides, his enemies must at last get tired of a war in which, so +far, they have had more defeats than victories, and have lavished +such enormous sums of money. France has already impoverished +herself, and Russia and Austria must feel the strain, too. In every +church here prayers are offered for the success of the champion of +Protestantism; and I am sure that if he had sent Scottish officers, +as Gustavus Adolphus did, to raise troops in Scotland, he could +have obtained forty or fifty thousand men in a very few weeks, so +excited is everyone over the struggle. + +"You would be surprised what numbers of people have called upon me, +to congratulate me upon your rising to be a colonel in Frederick's +army--people I have never seen before; and I can assure you that I +never felt so important a person, even before the evil days of +Culloden. When you come back the whole countryside will flock to +give you welcome." + +This letter was a great comfort to Fergus. That his mother would +rejoice at his good fortune, he knew; but he feared that his +marriage with a German lady, whatever her rank, would be a sore +disappointment to her, not so much perhaps for her own sake as for +that of the clansmen. + +The English ambassador was no longer with the army. At the fierce +fight of Liegnitz he had been with Frederick, but had passed the +night in his carriage, which was jammed up among the baggage +wagons, and had been unable to extricate himself or to discover how +the battle was going on. Several times the Austrian cavalry had +fallen upon the baggage, and had with great difficulty been beaten +off by its guard; and the discomforts of the time, and the anxiety +through which he had gone, so unhinged him that he was unable to +follow Frederick's rapid movements throughout the rest of the +campaign. + +Fergus had confided to Earl Marischal Keith, later, his engagement +to the Count Eulenfurst's daughter. + +"You are a lucky young dog, Fergus," he said. "My brother and I +came abroad too late for any young countess to fall in love with +us. There is nothing like taking young to the business of +soldiering abroad. Bravery is excellent in its way; but youth and +bravery, combined with good looks, are irresistible to the female +mind. I am heartily glad that one of our kin should have won +something more than six feet of earth by his sword. + +"Count Eulenfurst is one of the few men everyone speaks well of. +There is no man in Saxony who stands higher. In any other country +he would have been the leading statesman of his time, but the +wretched king, and his still more wretched minister, held in +disfavour all who opposed their wanton extravagance and their +dangerous plans. + +"It is an honour indeed to be connected with such a family, putting +aside all question of money; but indeed, in this respect nothing +could be more satisfactory. His daughter is the sole heiress of his +wide estates, and as her husband you will have a splendid position. + +"I am very glad, lad, that the count has no objection to your +passing a portion of your time in Scotland. They say, you know, +that much as Scotchmen boast of their love of their country, they +are always ready to leave it to better themselves; and that it is +very seldom they ever return to it. Such was, unhappily, the case +with my brother; such will probably be the case with myself; but I +am glad that you will be an exception, and that you will still keep +up your connection with your old home. + +"I hope, lad, that you will have more than one son. The first, of +course, will make Saxony his home; but bring up the second as a +Scotchman, send him home to be educated, and let him succeed you in +the glens. If he has the family instinct for fighting, let him go +into the British army--he can go into no better--but let your +people have some one who will be their own laird, and whose +interests will be identified with their own." + +Fergus smiled at the old man's earnestness. + +"That is rather looking ahead, sir," he said. "However, it is +certainly what I should like to do, myself; and if, as you say, I +have more than one son, I will certainly give the second the +training you suggest, and make a Scotchman of him. Certainly, if he +has fighting instincts, he will see that he will have more +opportunities of active service, in the British army, than he could +have in that of Saxony; which has been proved unable to stand +alone, and can only act as a small ally to either Prussia or +Austria. Even putting aside my nationality, I would rather be +fighting under Clive, in India, than in any service in the +world--even in that of Prussia." + +"You are right, lad. Since the days of Marlborough, people have +begun to think that the British were no longer a fighting people; +but the way in which they have wrested Canada from the French, and +achieved marvels in India, to say nothing of the conduct of their +infantry at Minden, shows that the qualities of the race are +unchanged; and some day they will astonish the world again, as they +have done several times in their history." + +The king soon heard the news from the Earl, and one evening said to +Fergus: + +"So, as the Earl Marischal tells me, you have found time, Colonel +Drummond, for love making. I thought, that day I went to express my +regrets for the outrage that had been committed at Count +Eulenfurst's, that it would make a pretty romance if the young lady +who received me should take a fancy to you; which was not +altogether unlikely, after the gallant manner in which you had +saved them all from those rascals of mine; and when you told me, at +Dresden, that they had been nursing you, the idea again occurred to +me. Well, I am glad you have done so well for yourself. As a king, +I rejoice that one who has fought so bravely should obtain a meet +reward; and as one who dabbles in poetry, the romance of the thing +is very pleasant to me. + +"But I am not to lose your services, I hope?" + +"No, sire. So long as the war goes on, I shall continue to serve +your majesty to the best of my powers." + +The king nodded. + +"It is what I should have expected, from one of Marshal Keith's +relations," he said; "but it is not everyone who would care to go +on leading this dog's life, when a pretty and well-endowed bride is +awaiting him. + +"However, it cannot last much longer. The crisis must come, ere +long. If we can defeat Daun, it may be put off for a time. If we +are beaten, I do not see that I can struggle longer against fate. +With Berlin already in their hands, with the country denuded of men +and almost exhausted in means, with the Russian and Austrian armies +already planted on Prussian soil, I can do no more, if I lose +another great battle." + +"We must hope that it will not be so, sire. The spirit of the +soldiers is as high as ever and, now that they will be fighting +nearly within sight of their homes, they can be trusted to achieve +almost impossibilities." + +"The men are good men," the king said, "and if I had Keith and +Schwerin by my side, I should feel more hopeful; but they are gone, +and there are none to fill their places. My brother Henry is a good +soldier, but he is over cautious. Seidlitz has not recovered from +his wounds. Hulsen has done well of late, and has shown wonderful +energy, considering that he is an old man. But there are none of +them who are at once prudent when it behoved them to be prudent, +and quick to strike when they see an opening, like Schwerin and +Keith. + +"Ziethen is a splendid cavalry officer, but he is fit to command +cavalry only; and the whole burden falls upon my shoulders, which +are getting too old to bear so heavy a weight." + +"I trust, sire, that they will not have to bear the burden much +longer. Just at present Russia and Austria are doubtless encouraged +by success; but the strain must be heavy on them also, and another +defeat might well cause them to doubt whether it is worthwhile to +continue to make sacrifices that produce such small results." + +"Heaven grant that it may be so!" the king said earnestly. "God +knows that I never wanted this war, and that from the day it began +I have eagerly grasped every chance that presented itself of making +peace, short of the dismemberment of my kingdom. I would at this +moment willingly accede to any terms, however onerous, in order to +secure peace for my country." + + + +Chapter 20: Torgau. + + +After many marches and quick blows at the Confederate armies, and +driving them beyond the borders of Saxony, Frederick moved towards +Torgau, where Daun had established himself in a position that he +deemed impregnable. It had been Prince Henry's camp during the +previous autumn, and Daun had in vain beleaguered it. Hulsen had +made it his headquarters during the summer. + +Torgau was an old-fashioned town, surrounded by tracts of pine +wood, with pleasant villages and much well-cultivated land. The +town rose above the Elbe, on the shoulder of a broad eminence +called the Siptitz. This height stands nearly a mile from the +river. On the western and southern side of the town are a series of +lakes and quagmires, the remains of an old course of the Elbe. + +Set on Siptitz's heights was Daun's camp, girt about by +intrenchments. The hill was mostly covered with vineyards. Its +height was some two hundred feet above the general level of the +country, and its area some five or six square miles. Covered, as +its flanks were, by heights, woods, ponds, and morasses, the +position was an extremely strong one, so much so that Daun had not +ventured to attack Prince Henry, though in vastly superior force; +and still more difficult was it for Frederick to do so, when held +by an army greatly superior to his own, for the Austrian force +numbered sixty-five thousand, while the king, after being joined by +all his detachments, had but forty-four thousand. Nothing, indeed, +but the most urgent necessity could have driven the king to attempt +so difficult an enterprise. + + +[Map: Battle of Torgau] + + +His plan was to attack it simultaneously in front and rear; and to +do this he decided that half the force, under Ziethen, should +attack the Siptitz hill on the south side; while he himself, with +the other half, was to make a long detour and assault it, at the +same moment, on the north. + +Frederick's march was some fifteen miles in length, while Ziethen +had but six to traverse; and as the route was through forests, the +difficulties in the way of the two columns arriving at their point +of attack, simultaneously, were great indeed; and were increased by +the fact that the weather was wet, the ground heavy, and the +streams swollen. + +The king's force marched in three columns, by roads through the +forest. There were no villages here, no one to question as to the +turns and branchings of roads, thus adding to the chances that even +Frederick's force would not arrive together at the point of attack. +Frederick's own column contained eight thousand grenadiers and foot +guards, with a force of cavalry; and his line of march was by the +road nearest to Daun's position. + +Two other columns--Hulsen's, composed principally of infantry; and +Holstein's, chiefly of cavalry--marched on parallel roads on a +wider circle; and the baggage, in a column by itself, outside all. + +Daun had news of Frederick's approach, and had strong detachments +watching in the woods. The scouts of one of these parties brought +in news of the king's march. A signal cannon was fired immediately, +and Daun learned thereby of the movement to attack him from the +north. + +Daun at once wheeled round a portion of his force to receive +Frederick's attack. Lacy, with twenty thousand men, had been placed +as an advanced guard; and now shifted his position westward, to +guard what had become Daun's rear; while two hundred fresh cannon +were added, to the two hundred already placed, to defend the face +threatened by Frederick. + +For an hour before the king arrived at his point of attack, a heavy +artillery fire had been heard from Ziethen's side; and it was +supposed that he had already delivered his attack. Unfortunately, +he had not done so. He had calculated his pace accurately, but had +come upon a small Austrian force, like those Frederick had +encountered. It had for a time held its ground, and had replied to +his fire with cannon. Ziethen, not knowing how small the force was, +drew up in order of battle and drove it back on Lacy, far to the +east of his proper place of attack. Here he became engaged with +Lacy, and a cannonade was kept up for some hours--precious time +that should have been spent in ascending the hills, and giving aid +to the king. + +When Frederick's column emerged from the woods, there was no sign +of either Hulsen or Holstein's divisions. The king sent out his +staff to hurry them up, and himself reconnoitred the ground and +questioned the peasants. + +The ground proved so boggy as to be impassable, and Frederick +withdrew into the wood again, in order to attack the Austrian left. +This had, in Prince Henry's time, been defended by a strong +abattis; but since the cold weather set in, much of this had been +used by the Austrians as firewood, and it could therefore be +penetrated. + +Frederick waited impatiently. He could hear the heavy cannonade on +Ziethen, and feared that that general would be crushed before he +could perform his part of the plan arranged. His staff were unable +to find Holstein's cavalry, which had taken the wrong turning at +some point, and were completely lost. Hulsen was still far away. + +Nevertheless, in his desire to give support to Ziethen, the king +decided upon an attack with his own column, alone. The grenadiers +were placed in the front line, the rest of the infantry in the +centre. The cavalry, 800 strong, followed to do any service that +chance might afford them. + +It took some time to bring the troops into their new position and, +while this was being done, Daun opened fire, with his four hundred +cannon, upon the forest through which they were marching, with a +din that Frederick declared exceeded anything that he ever heard +before. The small force of artillery took its place outside the +wood to cover the attack but, as soon as a few shots were fired, +the Austrian guns opened upon them and they were silenced. + +Frederick's place was between the two lines of his grenadiers, and +they issued from the wood within eight hundred yards of Prince +Henry's abattis, and with marvellous bravery ran forward. Mowed +down in lines by the storm of cannon shot, they suffered terribly. +One regiment was almost entirely destroyed, the other pressed +forward as far as the abattis, fighting so desperately that Daun +was obliged to bring up large reinforcements before he could drive +the survivors back. + +The Austrians, believing that victory was won, charged down in +pursuit; but the second line met them firmly, drove them back and, +following hotly, again reached the abattis; and only retreated +slowly before the overwhelming forces which the Austrian then +brought up. The battle had lasted only an hour, but half +Frederick's column were already killed or wounded. + +Shortly after they had retired, Hulsen's column came up. The four +hundred guns had never ceased pouring their iron rain into the +forest, but the newcomers arrived in splendid order. The remnant of +Frederick's column joined them, furious at defeat and burning to +meet the enemy again. + +So stern and resolute was the attack that, for a time, it carried +all before it. Daun's line of defence was broken, most of his +cannon silenced, and for a time the Prussians advanced, carrying +all before them. Had Ziethen been doing his part, instead of idly +cannonading Lacy, the battle would have been won; but his +inactivity enabled Daun to bring up all his forces against the +king. These he hurled at the Prussians and, foot by foot, drove +them back and pushed them down the hill again. + +Frederick himself had been struck from his horse by a piece of case +shot, fortunately almost spent, and which failed to penetrate his +thick pelisse. He was badly contused, and for a short time +insensible; but he quickly sprung to his feet again, mounted his +horse, and maintained his place in the fight as if nothing had +happened. After this second repulse he again formed up his troops, +and at that moment he was joined by Holstein with his cavalry. + +The sun had already set, and the darkness favoured the attack. Daun +had not yet recovered from the terrible confusion into which his +troops were thrown by the attack, and the Prussians again mounted +the hill, Holstein attacking Daun's right wing. + +The main body of the cavalry found the morasses and obstacles so +impracticable that they were unable to attack as arranged, but two +regiments succeeded in gaining the plateau. One of these dashed +upon the Austrian infantry. They met, broke into fragments, and +took two whole regiments prisoners; and brought them and six guns +triumphantly off. The other regiment charged four Austrian +battalions, broke them, and brought the greater portion off, +prisoners. + +Night fell upon a scene of general confusion. The two armies were +completely mixed up. In some places Austrians were in the rear of +the Prussians, in others Prussians in the rear of Austrians. + +Nothing more could to be done. So far Frederick had gained a +success and, thanks to the extraordinary bravery and determination +of his soldiers, had broken up Daun's line and planted himself on +the plateau; but he had suffered terribly in doing so, and could +hardly hope, in the morning, to make head against the vastly +superior forces of the Austrians. + +Daun himself had been wounded in the foot, and had gone down to the +town to have it dressed. Had he been able to remain on the field, +late as it was, he might have been able to restore order and to +continue the battle; as it was, gradually the firing ceased. +Exhausted by the long march and the desperate efforts they had +made, the Prussians wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and lay +down to sleep where they stood--if sleep they could, on so bitterly +cold a night. + +On the hilltop there was no wood to be had, but in the forest great +fires were lighted. Round these Prussian and Austrian stragglers +alike gathered. In the morning they would be foes again, but for +tonight they were content to lay their quarrel aside, none knowing +who was victor and who vanquished; and which, in the morning, would +be prisoners to the others. + +The king, now that the excitement was over, felt the pain of his wound. +He descended the hill, and took up his quarters in the church at the +little village of Elsnig, where every house was full of wounded. He had +left Hulsen the charge of endeavouring to reform the scattered troops, +but he could do but little that way. In vain did the generals and +officers move about with orders, expostulations, and threats. For once +the Prussian soldier was deaf to the word of command. He had done all +that he could do, and nature triumphed over long habits of obedience; +even the sound of cannon and musketry, on the other side of the hill, +fell dead upon his ears. Ziethen had been cannonading all day. Nothing +had come of it, and nothing could come of it. + +Still, Hulsen did a good deal, and by six o'clock had got some of +the cavalry and infantry battalions in fair order, on the extreme +right; where, in the morning, Daun's left flank stood. + +Ziethen, ordinarily a brilliant and active man, had been a strange +failure that day. Not even the terrible din of the king's battle +had roused him to take any measure to support him, or even to make +a diversion in his favour. In vain Mollendorf, an active and +enterprising general, had implored him to attempt something, if +only to draw off a portion of the Austrian strength from the king. +Saldern, another general, had fruitlessly added his voice to that +of Mollendorf. + +A feeling of deep gloom spread through the army, a feeling that the +king had been deserted, and must have been crushed; just as, on the +other side, all felt certain that some serious misfortune must have +happened to Ziethen. + +At last, as darkness began to set in, at four o'clock, Ziethen was +persuaded to move. He marched towards the left, to the point where +he should have attacked in the morning, but which he had passed in +his hot pursuit of the small Austrian force; but first sent Saldern +against the village of Siptitz. + +Burning with their repressed impatience, Saldern's infantry went at +the enemy with a rush, captured the battery there, and drove the +Austrians out; but the latter fired the bridge so that, for the +present, farther advance was barred to the Prussians. + +Fortunately at this moment Mollendorf, more to the west, came upon +the road by which Ziethen should have marched. It was carried +firmly over the marsh ground, and by a bridge over a stream between +two of the ponds. Seizing this pass over the morasses, Mollendorf +sent to Ziethen; who, roused at last, ordered all his force to +hurry there. + +The Austrians had now taken the alarm, and hurried to oppose the +passage; but Mollendorf had already many troops across the bridge, +and maintained himself till he was sufficiently reinforced to push +forward. + +For an hour and a half a desperate fight raged. The Prussians +gained but little ground, while the Austrians were constantly being +reinforced from Lacy's command, on their left. Hulsen, however, +just as he had got a portion of his infantry and cavalry into some +sort of order, had marked the sudden increase of the cannonade on +the other side of the hill; and, presently seeing the glow of a +great fire, guessed that it must come from the village of Siptitz. +Then came a furious cannonade, and the continuous roar of musketry +that spoke of a battle in earnest. Ziethen, then, was coming at +last, and the old general determined to help him. + +His own riding horses had all been killed, and he had been sorely +bruised by the falls. Sending for a cannon, he got astride of it, +called up the infantry round him--the brigade of General +Lestwitz--begged the drummers to strike up the Prussian march and, +through the blackness of the night, started for the point where the +din of battle was going on unceasingly. + +Forgotten now were the fatigues of the day. The Prussians pressed +on with their quick strides, their excitement growing higher and +higher as they neared the scene of action; and breaking out into a +roar of cheering as, sweeping round on the side of the hill, they +joined Ziethen's hardly-pressed troops and rushed upon the enemy. + +But though the news of their coming cheered all the line to fresh +exertions, not yet was the combat finished. The whole of Lacy's +command was opposed to them, swelled by reinforcements sent down +from above by O'Donnel who, in Daun's absence, was in command. It +was another hour before the foe gave way, and the Prussians pressed +steadily up the hill; until at nine o'clock they were planted on +the top of the Siptitz hill, on the highest point of the plateau, +whence their cannon commanded the whole ground down to Torgau. + +Daun, conscious of the danger, had, as he heard of Ziethen's +advance, sent order after order that he must at all costs be driven +back; and even when the Prussians gained the position, they had +still to struggle fiercely for another hour to hold it. Daun knew +that, with Frederick established on one side of the position, and +with Ziethen well planted upon the other and commanding the whole +of it with his guns, there was nothing for it but to retreat; and +already he had sent orders that a strong force should form in order +of battle to repel an attack, close to the suburbs of Torgau. As +soon as this disposition was effected, he ordered the retreat to +commence. + +Fortunately he had four bridges across the river; and he had, on +the previous day, taken the precaution of sending the whole of his +baggage wagons over. On occasions of this kind Daun's dispositions +were always admirable, and he drew off his army across the river in +excellent order; half the Prussian army knowing nothing of what was +going on, and the other half being too exhausted to attempt to +interfere, ignorant as they were of the position and state of +Frederick's division. + +Had the king known earlier what was taking place, comparatively few +of the Austrian army would have got across the river. But it was +not until long after the battle was done that Frederick, sitting +depressed and heavy hearted, dictating his despatches in the little +church seven or eight miles away, learned that what had seemed +likely to terminate in a terrible disaster, had ended with a +decisive victory. Daun lost in the battle twelve thousand killed +and wounded, eight thousand prisoners, and forty-five cannon; while +the Prussians lost between thirteen and fourteen thousand, of whom +four thousand were prisoners. + +It was not until nearly one o'clock in the morning that Ziethen +learned that the Austrians were already across the river. Then he +pushed down into Torgau, and crossed the town bridge in time to +capture twenty-six pontoons. + +Daun retreated by the right side of the river, Lacy by the left; +and the two forces rejoined at Dresden, and took up their position, +as usual, in the Plauen stronghold; while Frederick, after +finishing the clearance of all Saxony save the capital, took up his +winter quarters at Leipzig on the 6th of December. + +The result of the battle of Torgau was not to be measured by the +respective losses of the two armies. It had the effect of entirely +undoing all the advantages that the Austrians had gained, +throughout the campaign; and left the king in a better position +than when it opened in the spring. The Russian army had been +attacked and beaten, while the Austrians were shut up in their +natural stronghold, near Dresden. The whole of Saxony had been +recovered; and Silesia, with the exception of one or two +fortresses, was still in Frederick's hands. How light hearted the +king felt, after the load of care that had lain upon him had been +lifted, may be judged by an extract from a letter, written a +fortnight after the battle to an elderly lady of the court at +Magdeburg. + +"I am exact in answering, and eager to satisfy you (in that matter +of the porcelain). You shall have a breakfast set, my good Mamma: +six coffee-cups, very pretty, well diapered, and tricked out with +all the little embellishments which increase their value. On +account of some pieces which they are adding to the set, you will +have to wait a few days; but I flatter myself this delay will +contribute to your satisfaction, and produce for you a toy that +will give you pleasure, and make you remember your old adorer. It +is curious how old people's habits agree. For four years past I +have given up suppers, as incompatible with the trade I am obliged +to follow; and on marching days my dinners consist of a cup of +chocolate. + +"We hurried off like fools, quite inflated with our victory, to try +if we could not chase the Austrians out of Dresden. They made a +mockery of us from the tops of their mountains. So I have +withdrawn, like a bad little boy, to conceal myself, out of spite, +in one of the wretchedest villages in Saxony. And here the first +thing will be to drive the Circle gentlemen (Reich's army) out of +Freyberg into Chemnitz, and get ourselves soon to quarters, and +something to live upon. + +"It is, I swear to you, a hideous life; the like of which nobody +but Don Quixote ever led before me. All this tumbling and toiling, +and bother and confusion that never ceases, has made me so old that +you would scarcely know me again. On the right side of my head the +hair is all gray. My teeth break and fall out. I have got my face +wrinkled like the falbalas of a petticoat, my back bent like a +fiddle bow, and spirit sad and cast down like a monk of La Trappe. +I forewarn you of all this lest, in case we should meet again in +flesh and bone, you might feel yourself too violently shocked by my +appearance. There remains to me nothing but the heart, which has +undergone no change; and which will preserve, as long as I breathe, +its feelings of esteem and of tender friendship for my good Mamma. + +"Adieu." + +Fergus knew nothing of the concluding scenes of the battle of +Torgau until some little time afterwards. He was not with the king +when the grenadiers first made their attack on the hill, having +been despatched to find and bring up Hulsen's column. Having +discovered it, he guided it through the forest to the point where +Frederick was so anxiously expecting its arrival; and when it +advanced, with the survivors of the grenadiers, to the second +attack, he took his place behind the king. They were halfway up the +ascent when a cannon ball struck him on the left arm, carrying it +away just above the elbow. + + +[Illustration: "As Fergus fell from his horse, Karl, who was +riding behind him, leapt from his saddle"] + + +As he fell from his horse, Karl, who was riding behind him, leapt +from his saddle with a hoarse cry of rage. Then, seeing the nature +of the wound, he lifted him in his arms, mounted Fergus's horse, +and rode down through an interval between the regiments of the +second line; and then into the wood, to the spot where the surgeons +were dressing the wounds of those hurt in the first charge. One who +had just finished attending one of the grenadiers, seeing that the +trooper was carrying a colonel of the king's staff, at once helped +Karl to lower him to the ground. + +"You have done well to bring him down at once, my man," he said. +"It may be the saving of his life." + +As he spoke, he was cutting off the tunic. + +"There is not much flow of blood. You see, the contusion has closed +the main artery. If we can keep it from bursting out, he will do." + +He took out from his case some stout tape, passed it round the arm, +asked Karl for a ramrod out of one his pistols and, with this, +twisted the tape until it almost cut into the skin. Then he gave a +few more turns, to hold the ramrod securely in its place. Then he +called a young surgeon to him. + +"We had better make a good job of this, at once," he said. "This is +Colonel Drummond, one of the king's favourite officers, and a most +gallant young fellow. It will not take us five minutes." + +The artery was first found and tied up; for Prussian surgery was, +at that time, far ahead of our own. The bruised flesh was pressed +up, the bone cut off neatly, above the point where it was +splintered, the flesh brought down again over it and trimmed, then +several thicknesses of lint put over it, and the whole carefully +bandaged up. + +"There," he said to Karl, as he rose from his work, "that is all +that I can do for him; and unless it bursts out bleeding again, he +is likely to do well. If it does, you must tighten that tape still +more. All there is to do is to keep him as quiet as possible. + +"Have you any spirits?" + +"Yes, doctor, there is a flask in his holster." + +"Mix some with as much water, and pour a little down his throat +from time to time. Fold his cloak, and put it under his head. He +will probably recover consciousness in a short time. When he does +so, impress upon him the necessity of lying perfectly quiet. As +soon as the battle is over, we must get him moved into shelter." + +In half an hour Fergus opened his eyes. Karl, who was kneeling by +him, placed one hand on his chest and the other on the wounded arm. + +"You must not move, colonel," he said. "You have been hit, but the +doctor says you will get over it; but you must lie perfectly +still." + +Fergus looked round in bewilderment. Then, as the roar of the +battle came to his ears, he made an instinctive effort to rise. + +"It is going on still," Karl said, repressing the movement. "We +shall thrash them, presently; but you can do nothing more today, +and you must do as the doctor bids you, sir." + +"Where am I hit?" + +"It is on the left arm, colonel. An Austrian cannonball did the +business. If it had been three or four inches farther to the right, +it would have finished you. As it is, I hope that you will soon get +about again." + +"Then it has taken off my arm," Fergus said feebly. + +"Better that than your head, sir. The left arm is of no great +account, except for holding a bridle; and there is a good bit of it +left. + +"Drink a little more of this brandy and water. How do you feel now, +sir?" + +"I feel cold," Fergus replied. "My feet are like ice." + +Karl wrapped Fergus's fur-lined pelisse round his feet, undid his +blanket and cloak from his saddle, and laid them over him. + +"That will be better, sir. Now, if you will promise to lie quite +quiet, I will fasten your horse up--I don't know what has become of +mine--and will go and collect some firewood and get up a good +blaze. I am afraid there is no chance of getting you into a +shelter, tonight." + +"I am afraid we are being driven down the hill again, Karl. The +roll of musketry is coming nearer." + +"That is so, colonel; but we shall have the cavalry up soon, and +that will make all the difference." + +Just as Karl came back with an armful of firewood, a staff officer +rode up. + +"The king has sent me to inquire how Colonel Drummond is," he said. +"His majesty has heard that he is badly wounded, and has been +carried here." + +"This is the colonel, major," Karl said, leading him to the side of +Fergus. + +"I am sorry to see you here," the officer said. "The king has sent +me to inquire after you." + +"Will you thank his majesty, Major Kaulbach; and tell him that it +is nothing worse than the loss of a left arm, and that the +surgeon's opinion is that I shall do well. How goes the battle?" + +"Badly, badly; but Holstein will be up in a quarter of an hour, and +then we shall have another try. We broke their line badly, last +time; and if we had had cavalry to launch at them, we should have +managed the business." + +"The king is unhurt, I hope." + +"Not altogether. He was struck from his horse by a piece of case +shot, but his pelisse saved him. He was able to mount again in a +few minutes, making very light of the affair; and was in the middle +of the fight, as usual. I was next you when you were hit, and I saw +your orderly lift you on to your horse before him and, as soon as +we got down here, reported it to the king." + +"Our loss must be terribly heavy." + +"Terrible! There is no saying how severe it is, yet; but not half +the grenadiers are on their feet. + +"There is nothing I can do for you?" + +"Nothing at all. My orders are to lie still; and as I feel too weak +to move, and there is no one to carry me away, and nowhere to take +me to, I am not likely to disobey the order." + +The officer rode off again. Karl soon had a fire lighted, +sufficiently close to Fergus for him to feel its warmth. Wounded +men, who had made their way down the hill, came and sat down on the +other sides of it. Many other fires were lighted, as it grew dusk. + +In front the battle had broken out again, as furiously as ever; and +ere long wounded men began to come down again. They brought +cheering news, however. The Prussians were still pressing forward, +the cavalry had thrown the Austrian line into terrible confusion. +No one knew exactly where any of the Prussian battalions had got +to, but all agreed that things were going on well. + +At five o'clock the roar gradually ceased, and soon all was quiet. +The wounded now came in fast, but none could say whether the battle +was won or lost; for the night was so dark that each could only +speak of what had happened to his own corps. + +Presently the number round the fires was swelled by the arrival of +numerous Austrians, wounded and unwounded. Most of these laid their +rifles by, saying: + +"It is a bitter night, comrades. Will you let us have a share of +the fire?" + +"Come in, come in," the Prussians answered. "We are all friends for +tonight, for we are all in equally bad plight. Can you tell us how +matters have gone, up there?" + +But these knew no more than the Prussians. They had got separated +from their corps in the confusion and, losing their way altogether, +had seen the glow of the fires in the forest, and had come down for +warmth and shelter. + +Presently Major Kaulbach rode up again. + +"How have things gone, major?" Fergus asked eagerly. + +"No one knows," he said. "The Austrians are broken up; and our +battalions and theirs are so mixed that there is no saying where +they are, or how matters will stand in the morning. The king has +gone to Elsnig, two or three miles away." + +"Is there no news of Ziethen?" + +"None. They have just begun to fire heavily again in that +direction, but what he has been doing all day, no one has any +idea." + +But little was said round the fires. A short distance away the +surgeons were still at work with the more serious cases, while the +soldiers roughly bandaged each other's wounds; but as, gradually, +the distant firing increased in fury, and seemed to grow in +distinctness, men who had lain down sat up to listen. There was no +longer any talking, and a hush fell upon the forest. + +"It is certainly coming closer, colonel," Karl said at last. "It +seems that Ziethen has woke up in earnest. May the good God grant +that he win his way up on to the heights!" + +"If he does, we shall have the Austrians, in the morning. If he +doesn't, we shall have a poor chance with them." + +"I am afraid we sha'n't, colonel; but it certainly sounds as if +Ziethen was making way." + +At nine o'clock a cavalry officer came riding along. He drew rein +at the fire. + +"Can anyone tell me where I can find the king?" + +"He is at Elsnig, captain," Karl said, rising and saluting. "May I +ask what is the news, sir?" + +"The news is good. Ziethen has gained the heights. We can see the +flash of fire round the Siptitz hill." + +A cheer broke from all the Prussians within hearing. There was not +a man but knew that the fate of Prussia hung on the result of this +battle, and for the moment wounds were forgotten. Men shook hands, +with tears of joy streaming down their rugged cheeks; and as others +came running up from the other fires, to know what was the news, +and then hurried off again to tell their companions, the forest +rang with their cheering. + +All was not over yet. For a time the firing was louder and heavier +than before, but towards ten o'clock news came that Ziethen was +firmly established on the Siptitz hill, and that the Austrian +battalions were drawing off. Then all lay down to sleep, rejoiced +and thankful; and even the Austrians, disconcerted as they were, +were not altogether sorry that they must now consider themselves +prisoners; and free, for a long time to come, from further risk of +battle. + +The news, in the morning, that the Austrian army had already +crossed the river and was in full retreat southwards, afforded the +most intense satisfaction. There was now a hope of shelter and rest +in Torgau, instead of the prospect of remaining in the forest, +drenched to the skin by the rain that had come down, without +intermission, for the last twenty-four hours. + +An hour later Major Kaulbach again rode up, accompanied by four +infantry men bearing a stretcher. + +"The king has already gone on to Torgau, and he has given me orders +to see that you are carried there, at once. There will be no more +fighting, at present. Daun has got a long start, and there will be +enough to do here, for the next twelve hours, in collecting the +wounded. Lacy has retreated this side of the river, and Ziethen's +cavalry started in pursuit, some hours ago." + +Fergus was carefully lifted onto the litter, and carried down to +Torgau; where several large houses had already been assigned for +the use of wounded officers, while the soldiers were to be placed +in the hospitals, public buildings, and churches, Austrians and +Prussians being distributed indiscriminately; and by nightfall some +twelve thousand wounded were housed in the town. A small body of +troops was left there. The inhabitants undertook the charge of the +wounded, and the next morning the king marched away south, with the +army. + +Soon after Fergus was brought in, Frederick paid a visit to the +house where he had been carried, and said a few words to each of +the wounded officers. + +"So you are down again, Drummond. Fortune is not treating you so +favourably as she used to do." + +"It might have been a good deal worse, your majesty. I think that +one who has got off with only the loss of his left arm has no +reason to complain." + +"No, it might have been worse," the king replied. "I have lost many +good friends, and thousands of brave soldiers. However, I too must +not complain; for it has saved Prussia. + +"Don't hurry to rejoin too soon, Drummond. Another month, and we +shall all be in winter quarters." + + + +Chapter 21: Home. + + +Fergus remained at Torgau for six weeks. He had, two days after the +battle, sent Karl off to carry a letter to Thirza; telling her that +he had been wounded, but that she need have no uneasiness about +him; the surgeon saying that the wound was going on well, and that, +should it not break out bleeding in the course of another week, he +would make a quick cure, and would be fit for service again, long +before the spring. + +Karl had not found his horse again, but had bought, for a trifle, +an Austrian officer's horse that was found riderless; and had +become the prize of a trooper, who was glad to part with it at a +quarter of its value. He took with him the disguise of a +countryman, to put on when he approached the ground held by the +Austrians near Dresden; and, leaving his horse fifteen miles away, +had no difficulty in making his way in on foot. Karl went round to +the back of the house. The servants recognized him as soon as he +entered. + +"Will one of you ask the count to see me? Let him have the message +quietly, when he is alone." + +"Your master is not killed?" one of the women exclaimed, in +consternation. + +"Killed! No, Colonel Drummond is not so easily killed," he replied +scornfully. "I have a letter from him in my pocket. But he has been +somewhat hurt, and it were best that I saw the count first, and +that he should himself give the letter to the Countess Thirza." + +In two or three minutes the man returned, and led Karl to a room +where the count was awaiting him, with a look of great anxiety on +his face. + +"All is well, your excellency," Karl said, in answer to the look. +"At least, if not altogether well, not so bad as it might be. The +colonel was hit at Torgau. A cannonball took off his left arm at +the elbow. Fortunately, there were surgeons at work a quarter of a +mile away, and he was in their hands within a very few minutes of +being hit; so they made a job of his wound, at once. They had not +taken the bandages off, when I came away; but as there had been no +bleeding, and no great pain or fever, they think it is going on +well. They tell him that he will be fit for service, save for his +half-empty sleeve, in the spring. + +"Here is a letter for the Countess Thirza. It is not written by his +own hand, except as to the signature; for the surgeons insist that +he must lie perfectly quiet, for any exertion might cause the wound +to break out afresh. He is quite cheerful, and in good spirits, as +he always is. He bade me give this note into your hands, so that +you might prepare the young countess a little, before giving it to +her." + +"'Tis bad news, Karl, but it might have been much worse; and it +will, indeed, be a relief to us all; for since we heard of that +desperate fight at Torgau, and how great was the slaughter on both +sides, we have been anxious, indeed; and must have remained so, for +we should have had little chance of seeing the list of the Prussian +killed and wounded. + +"Now, do you go into the kitchen. They all know you there. Make +yourself comfortable. I will give orders that you shall be well +served." + +He then proceeded to the room where Thirza and her mother wore +sitting. The former was pale, and had evidently been crying. + +"Some news has come," he said. "Not the very best, and yet by no +means the worst. Drummond is wounded--a severe wound, but not, it +is confidently believed, a dangerous one." + +Thirza ran to her father and threw her arms round his neck, and +burst into a passion of tears. He did not attempt to check them for +some little time. + +"Now, my dear," he said at last, "you must be brave, or you won't +be worthy of this lover of yours. There is one bad point about it." + +She looked up in his face anxiously, but his smile reassured her. + +"You must prepare yourself for his being somewhat disfigured." + +"Oh, that is nothing, father; nothing whatever to me! But how is he +disfigured?" + +"Well, my dear, he has lost his left arm, at the elbow." + +Thirza gave a little cry of grief and pity. + +"That is sad, father; but surely it is no disfigurement, any more +than that sabre scar on his face. 'Tis an honour, to a brave +soldier, to have lost a limb in battle. Still, I am glad that it is +his left arm; though, had it been his right and both his legs, it +would have made no difference in my love for him." + +"Well, I am very glad, Thirza, that your love has not been tested +so severely; as I confess that, for my part, I would much prefer +having a son-in-law who was able to walk about, and who would not +have to be carried to the altar. Here is a letter to you from +him--that is to say, which has been written at his dictation, for +of course the surgeons insist on his lying perfectly quiet, at +present." + +Thirza tore it open, and ran through its contents. + +"It is just as you say, father. He makes very light of it, and +writes as if it were a mere nothing." + +She handed the letter to her mother, and then turned to the count. + +"Is there anything we can do, father?" + +"Nothing whatever. With such a wound as that, he will have to lie +perfectly still for some time. You may be sure that, as one of +Frederick's personal staff, he will have every attention possible; +and were we all in the town, we could do nothing. As soon as he is +fit to be moved, it will be different; but we shall have plenty of +time to talk over matters before that. + +"For some few months travelling will be dangerous. Frederick's army +is in the neighbourhood again and, as Daun and Lacy are both in +their intrenchments behind the Plauen, there is no chance of his +again besieging Dresden; but his flying columns will be all over +the country, as doubtless will the Croats, and the roads will be +altogether unsafe for travelling. No doubt, as soon as he is able +to be moved, he will be taken to Frederick's headquarters, wherever +they may be established. The king will assuredly have the hospitals +at Torgau cleared, as soon as he can; lest, when he has retired, +the Austrians might make another dash at the town." + +The next morning Karl set out again, bearing a letter from the +count; and one from Thirza which was of a much less formal +character than that which he had dictated to her, and which, as he +told her afterwards, greatly assisted his cure. A month after the +battle he was pronounced fit to travel, and with a large train of +wagons filled with convalescents, and under a strong escort, he was +taken to Leipzig; where the king had just established his +headquarters, and to which all the wounded were to be sent, as soon +as they could safely be moved. Here he was established in +comfortable quarters, and Karl again carried a letter to Thirza. + +Ten days later Count Eulenfurst entered his room. + +"You here, count!" he exclaimed. "How kind of you! What a journey +to make through the snow!" + +"I have been dragged hither," the count said, with a smile. + +"Dragged hither, count?" + +"Yes. Thirza insisted on coming to see you. Her mother declared +that she should accompany her, and of course there was nothing for +me to do but to set out, also." + +"Are they here, then, count?" Fergus exclaimed incredulously. + +"Certainly they are, and established at the Black Eagle Hotel. I +could not bring them here, to a house full of officers. You are +well enough to walk to the hotel?" + +"Yes, indeed. I walked a mile yesterday." + +As Karl was helping Fergus into his uniform, he asked: + +"How long were you in coming here, count?" + +"We did it in a day. I sent on relays of horses, two days before; +and as the carriage is of course on runners, and the snow in good +order, we made quick work of it. Your man went on with the horses, +and rode with us from the last place where we changed. I did most +of the journey sitting by the coachman; which gave them more room +inside, and was more pleasant for me, also." + +In a few minutes they reached the hotel, and the count led Fergus +to a door. + +"You will find Thirza alone there. We thought that you had best see +her so, at first." + +Half an hour later, the count and countess entered the room. + +"He looks very pale and thin, mother," Thirza said, after the +countess had affectionately embraced Fergus. + +"You would hardly have expected to find him fat and rosy," the +count laughed. "A man does not lose his arm, and go about as if the +matter was not worth thinking of, a few weeks afterwards. He is +certainly looking better than I expected to find him. + +"That empty sleeve is a sad disfigurement, though," he added slyly. + +"How can you say so, father?" Thirza exclaimed indignantly. "I +think quite the contrary, and I feel quite proud of him with it." + +"Well, there is no accounting for taste, Thirza. If you are +satisfied, I have no reason to be otherwise. + +"And now, Drummond, we want to hear all about Liegnitz and Torgau; +for we have only heard the Austrian accounts. Dresden illuminated +over Daun's first despatch from Torgau, saying that the Prussian +attacks had been repulsed with tremendous slaughter, and a complete +victory gained. The next morning there came, I believe, another +despatch, but it was not published; and it was not until we heard +that Daun and Lacy were both within a few miles of the town that we +knew that, somehow or other, there had been a mistake about the +matter, a mistake that has not yet been cleared up, at Dresden." + +"The defeat part of the business I can tell you from my personal +observation, the victory only from what I heard. Certainly, when I +came to my senses, after the surgeons had seen to my wounds, I had +no thought of anything but a disastrous defeat. Never did the +Prussians fight more bravely, or more hopelessly. They had to mount +a steep ascent, with four hundred cannon playing upon them; and an +army, more than three times their number, waiting at the top to +receive them." + +He then proceeded to tell them the whole story of the battle. + +"Ziethen seems to have blundered terribly," the count said. + +"I believe that that is the king's opinion, too; but Ziethen +himself defends his action stoutly, and maintains that he could +never have succeeded in a direct attack, in broad daylight. Anyhow, +as the matter came out all right in the end, the king was too well +satisfied to do no more than grumble at him. + +"The other was a hard-fought battle, too." + +"The news of that was a relief to us, indeed," the count said. "It +seemed to everyone that Frederick was so completely caught in the +toils that he could not hope to extricate himself. As you know, in +this war I have, all along, held myself to be a neutral. I +considered that the plot to overthrow Frederick and partition the +kingdom was a scandalous one, and that the king disgraced himself +and us by joining in it; but since that time, my sympathies have +become more and more strongly with Frederick. It is impossible not +to admire the manner in which he has defended himself. Moreover, +the brutality with which the Confederates and Austrians, wherever +their armies penetrated Saxony, treated the Protestants, made one +regard him as the champion of Protestantism. + +"He was wrong in forcing the Saxons to take service with him in his +army, after their surrender at Pirna; and the taxes and exactions +have, for the last three years, weighed heavily on Saxony, but I +cannot blame him for that. It was needful that he should have money +to carry on the war, and as Saxony had brought it on herself, I +could not blame him that he bore heavily upon her. + +"Then, too, Thirza has, for the last two or three years, become a +perfect enthusiast for the Prussians. Whether it was the king's +gracious manner to herself, or from some other cause, I cannot say; +but she has certainly become an ultra-Prussian. + +"And now lunch must be ready, and you look as if you wanted it, +Drummond; and I am sure Thirza does. She was too excited to eat +supper, when we got here last night; and as for her breakfast, it +was altogether untouched." + +"No doubt you think, Drummond," Count Eulenfurst said, when he +called the next morning, "that you have done your duty fairly to +Prussia." + +"How do you mean, count?" Fergus replied, somewhat puzzled by the +question. + +"I mean that you have served five campaigns, you have been twice +made a prisoner, you were wounded at Zorndorf, you nearly died of +fever last winter, now you have lost your arm at Torgau; so I think +that you have fully done your duty to the king under whom you took +service, and could now retire with a thoroughly clear conscience. + +"My own idea is that the war has quite spent its strength. France +is practically bankrupt. Austria and Russia must be as tired of the +war as Prussia, and this last defeat of their hopes cannot but +discourage the two empresses greatly. I hear, from my friends in +Vienna, that in the capital and all the large cities they are +becoming absolutely disgusted with the war; and though it may go on +for a while, I believe that its fury is spent. + +"At any rate, I think you have earned a right to think of yourself, +as well as others. You certainly have nothing to gain by staying +longer in the service." + +"I was thinking the same, last night, count. Certainly one man, +more or less, will make no difference to Frederick; but I thought +that, unless you spoke of it, I should let matters go on as they +are, except that I thought of asking for three months' leave to go +home." + +"That you should go home for a few months is an excellent plan, +Drummond; but I think it would be better that, when you were there, +you should be able to stay five or six months, if so inclined. Go +to the king, tell him frankly that you feel that you want rest and +quiet for a time, that you have no longer any occasion in the +pecuniary way for remaining in the army, and that you want to get +married--all good reasons for resigning a commission. You see, we +have now some sort of right to have a voice in the matter. You had +a narrow escape at Torgau, and next time you might not be so +fortunate; and, anxious as we are for Thirza's happiness, we do +think it is high time that you retired from the service." + +"That decides it, count. I myself have had quite enough of this +terrible work. Were I a Prussian, I should owe my first duty to the +country, and as long as the war continued should feel myself bound +to set aside all private considerations to defend her to the last; +but it is not so, and my first duty now is assuredly to Thirza, to +you, and to the countess. Therefore I will, this morning, go to the +king and ask him to allow me to resign my commission." + +"Do so, Drummond. I thought of saying as much to you, last year; +but the anxiety of those terrible three or four days after Torgau +decided me. If I thought that your honour was concerned in +remaining longer in the army, I should be the last to advise you to +leave it, even for the sake of my daughter's happiness; but as it +is not so, I have no hesitation in urging you to retire." + +"'Tis a good time for me to leave, now. My cousin, the Earl +Marischal Keith, returned here three days ago, and I will get him +to go with me to the king." + +"I shall say nothing to my wife and Thirza about it, till I see you +again, Drummond. Of course the king cannot refuse, but I should +like him to take it in good part; as indeed, I doubt not that he +will." + +"I have no doubt that he will, too, count. You may think it absurd, +and perhaps vain of me; but indeed it is of the king that I am +thinking, rather than of myself. During the past three years he has +been good enough to treat me with singular kindness. He has had +trouble and care which would have broken down most men, and I think +that it has been some relief to him to put aside his cares and +troubles, for an hour or two of an evening, and to talk to a young +fellow like myself on all sorts of matters; just as he does to Sir +John Mitchell, and my cousin, the Earl Marischal." + +"I have no doubt of it, Drummond, and I quite understand your +feeling in the matter. Still, we are selfish enough to think of our +feelings, too." + +As soon as the count left, Fergus put on his full uniform and went +to the king's quarters. He first saw the Earl Marischal, and told +him his errand. + +"You are quite right," the old man said heartily. "You have done +more than enough fighting, and there is no saying how long this war +may drag on. I told you, when I first heard of your engagement to +the young countess, that I was glad indeed that you were not always +to remain a soldier of fortune; and I am sure that the king will +consider that you have more than done your duty, by remaining in +his service for a year, after having so splendid a prospect before +you. Frederick is disengaged at present, and I will go over with +you to him, and will myself open the matter." + +Fergus had not seen the king since his arrival at Leipzig. + +"I am truly glad to see you on your feet again," the latter said, +as Fergus followed his cousin into the room. "I felt by no means +sure that I should ever see you again, on that day after Torgau; +but you still look very thin and pulled down. You want rest, lad. +We all want rest, but it is not all of us that can get it." + +"That is what he has come to speak to you about, your majesty," +Keith said. "I told you, a year ago, that he was engaged to be +married to the daughter of Count Eulenfurst." + +The king nodded. + +"I remember her, the bright little lady who received me, when I +went to her father's house." + +"The same, sire. He thinks that the warning he had at Torgau was +sufficient; and that, having done his best in your majesty's cause, +he has now earned a right to think of himself and her; and so he +would beg your majesty to allow him to resign his commission, and +to retire from the service." + +"He has certainly well earned the right," the king said gravely. +"He has done me right good and loyal service, even putting aside +that business at Zorndorf; and not the least of those services has +been that he has often cheered me, by his talk, when I sorely +needed cheering. That empty sleeve of his, that scar won at +Zorndorf, are all proofs how well he has done his duty; and his +request, now that fortune has smiled upon him in other ways, is a +fair and reasonable one. + +"I hope, Colonel Drummond," he went on in a lighter tone, "that as +you will be settled in Saxony--and this war cannot go on for +ever--I shall someday see you and your bride at Berlin. None will +be more welcome." + +"He is going home to Scotland for a few months, in the first +place," Keith said. "It is only right that he should visit his +mother and people there, before he settles here. He will, like +enough, be back again before the campaign opens in the spring." + +Fergus, whose heart was very full, said a few words of thanks to +the king for the kindness that he had always shown him, and for +what he had now said; and assured him that he should not only come +to Berlin, as soon as peace was made; but that, as long as the war +lasted, he would pay his respects to him every year, when he was in +winter quarters. He then withdrew, and made his way to the hotel. + +"It is done," he said to the count as he entered. "I have resigned +my commission, and the king has accepted it. He was most kind. I am +glad that I have done it, and yet it was a very hard thing to do." + +Thirza uttered an exclamation of joy. + +"I am glad, indeed, Fergus, that you are not going to that terrible +war again." + +"I can understand your feelings, Drummond," the count said, putting +his hand upon his shoulder. "I know that it must have been a wrench +to you, but that will pass off in a short time. You have done your +duty nobly, and have fairly earned a rest. + +"Now, let us talk of other things. When do you think of starting +for Scotland?" + +"To that I must reply," Fergus said with a smile, "'How long are +you thinking of stopping here?' Assuredly I shall not want to be +going, as long as you are here. And in any case, I should like my +mother to have a week's notice before I come home; and I think +that, in another fortnight, my wound will be completely healed." + +"I was thinking," the count said, "that you will want to take a +nurse with you." + +"Do you mean, count," Fergus exclaimed eagerly, "that Thirza could +go with me? That would be happiness, indeed." + +"I don't quite see why she should not, Drummond. There are churches +here, and clergymen. + +"What do you say, Thirza?" + +"Oh, father," the girl said, with a greatly heightened colour, "I +could never be ready so soon as that! + +"Could I, mother?" + +"I don't know, my dear. Your father was talking to me an hour ago +about it, and that was what I said; but he answered that, although +you might not be able to get a great many clothes made, there will +be plenty of time to get your things from home; and that, in some +respects, it would be much more convenient for you to be married +here than at Dresden. Your marriage, with one who had so lately +left the service of Prussia, would hardly be a popular one with the +Austrians in Dresden. So that, altogether, the plan would be +convenient. We can set the milliners to work at once and, in +another fortnight, get your bridal dress ready, and such things as +are absolutely necessary. + +"Of course, if you would rather remain single for another three or +four months, your father and I would not wish to press you unduly." + +"It is not that, mother," she said shyly; "but it does seem so very +quick." + +"If a thing is good, the sooner it is done the better," the count +said; and Thirza offered no further objection. + +The next day an order appeared, that Colonel Fergus Drummond had +been advanced another step in the order of the Black Eagle, +following which came: + +"Colonel Fergus Drummond, having lost an arm at the battle of +Torgau, has resigned his commission; which has been accepted with +great regret by the king, the services of Colonel Drummond having +been, in the highest degree, meritorious and distinguished." + +The king, having heard from the Earl Marischal that Fergus was to +be married at Leipzig before leaving for Scotland, took great +interest in the matter; and when the time came, was himself present +in the cathedral, together with a brilliant gathering of generals +and other officers of the army in the vicinity, and of many Saxon +families of distinction who were acquainted with Count Eulenfurst. +Fergus had obtained Karl's discharge from the army--the latter, who +had long since served his full time, having begged most earnestly +to remain in his service. + +On the following day Fergus started with his wife for Scotland, +drove to Magdeburg and, four days later, reached Hamburg; where +they embarked on board a ship for Edinburgh, Karl of course +accompanying them. + +It was a day to be long remembered, in the glen, when Colonel +Drummond and his Saxon wife came to take possession of his father's +estates; where his mother had now been established for upwards of a +year, in the old mansion. It was late when they arrived. A body of +mounted men with torches met them, at the boundary of the estate; +and accompanied them to the house, where all the tenants and +clansmen were assembled. Great bonfires blazed, and scores of +torches added to the picturesque effect. A party of pipers struck +up an air of welcome as they drove forward, and a roar of cheering, +and shouts of welcome greeted them. + +"Welcome to your Scottish home!" Fergus said to his wife. "'Tis a +poor place, in comparison with your father's, but nowhere in the +world will you find truer hearts and a warmer greeting than here." + +His mother was standing on the steps as he leapt out, and she +embraced him with tears of joy; while after him she gave a warm and +affectionate greeting to Thirza. Then Fergus turned to the +clansmen, who stood thronging round the entrance, with waving +torches and bonnets thrown wildly in the air; and said a few words +of thanks for their welcome, and of the pleasure and pride he felt +in coming again among them, as the head of the clan and master of +his father's estates. + +Then he presented Thirza to them as their mistress. + +"She has brought me another home, across the sea," he said, "but +she will soon come to love this, as well as her own; and though I +shall be absent part of the time, she will come with me every +summer to stay among you, and will regard you as her people, as +well as mine." + +Among the dependents ranged in the hall was Wulf, with whom Fergus +shook hands warmly. + +"I should never have got on as well as I have, Wulf," he said, "had +it not been for your teaching, both in German and in arms. I +commend to your special care my servant Karl, who speaks no +English, and will feel strange here at first. He has been my +companion all this time, has given me most faithful service, and +has saved my life more than once. He has now left the army to +follow me." + +Fergus remained three months at home. Thirza was delighted with the +country, and the affection shown by the people to Fergus; and +studied diligently to learn the language, that she might be able to +communicate personally with them, and above all with Mrs. Drummond, +to whom she speedily became much attached. + +At the end of April they returned to Saxony, and took up their +abode on the estate the count had settled on them, at their +marriage. + +For two years longer the war continued, but with much diminished +fury, and there was no great battle fought. The king planted +himself in a camp, which he rendered impregnable, and there +menacing the routes by which the Saxon and Russian armies brought +their supplies from Bohemia, paralysed their movements; while +General Platen made a raid into Poland, and destroyed a great +portion of the Russian magazines in that direction, so that the +campaign came to naught. Ferdinand, with the aid of his English, +defeated Broglio and Soubise at Villingshausen; Soubise remaining +inactive during the battle, as Broglio had done at Minden. + +At the beginning of 1762 a happy event for the king took place. The +Empress of Russia died; and Peter, a great admirer of Frederick, +came to the throne. The Prussian king at once released all the +Russian prisoners, and sent them back; and Peter returned the +compliment by sending home the Prussian prisoners and, six weeks +after his accession, issued a declaration that there ought to be +peace with the King of Prussia, and that the czar was resolved that +the war should be ended. He at once gave up East Prussia and other +conquests, and recalled the Russian army. He not only did this, but +he ordered his General Czernichef to march and join the king. + +The news caused absolute dismay in Austria, and hastened the Swedes +to conclude a peace with Frederick. They had throughout the war +done little, but the peace set free the force that had been +watching them; and which had regularly, every year, driven them +back as fast as they endeavoured to invade Prussia on that side. + +In July, however, the murder of Peter threw all into confusion +again; but Catherine had no desire to renew the war, and it was +evident that this was approaching its end. She therefore recalled +her army, which had already joined that of the king. England and +France, too, were negotiating terms of peace; and it was clear that +Austria, single handed, could not hope to win back Silesia. + +The king gained several small but important successes, and +recaptured the important fortress of Schweidnitz. Then came long +negotiations and, on the following February, a general peace was +signed by all the Powers; Prussia retaining her frontiers, as at +the beginning of the war. + +From this time Fergus Drummond's life passed uneventfully. Every +year he went to his old home with his wife, and as time went on +brought his children to Scotland; and every winter he spent a +fortnight at Berlin. When his second son reached the age of twelve, +he sent him to school in England, and there prepared him to succeed +to the Scottish estate. This he did not do for many years, entering +the British army and winning the rank of colonel in the Peninsular +war; and it was not until some years after the battle of Waterloo +that, at the death of his father, he retired and settled down on +the Scottish estates that were now his. + +The rest of Colonel Drummond's family took their mother's +nationality. + +Fergus did not come in for the whole of the Eulenfurst estates, +until thirty years after his marriage. He then took up his abode, +with his wife, at the mansion where they had first met, near +Dresden; and retaining a sufficient share of the estates to support +his position, divided the remainder among his children, considering +that the property was too large to be owned with advantage by any +one person. His descendants are still large landowners in various +parts of Saxony. + +The king survived the signature of the peace for twenty-five years, +during which he devoted himself to repairing the damage his country +had suffered by the war; and by incessant care, and wise reforms, +he succeeded in rendering Prussia far wealthier and more prosperous +than it had been when he succeeded to the throne. Lindsay rose to +the rank of general in the Prussian service, and his friendship +with Fergus remained close and unbroken. The old Earl Marischal +survived his younger brother for twenty years; and was, to the +last, one of the king's dearest and most intimate friends. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITH FREDERICK THE GREAT*** + + +******* This file should be named 19714.txt or 19714.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/7/1/19714 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/19714.zip b/19714.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4fc570e --- /dev/null +++ b/19714.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..714b9bf --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #19714 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19714) |
