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〃They shall think of this again； father；〃 said another soldier； raising himself with great pain from the ground。 〃Wait until our wounds have healed； and we will repay them with interest。〃
〃You are wounded； Henry？〃 said the king。
〃Yes； your majesty； in the arm。〃
〃And old Klaus？〃
〃Is dead！〃
〃And Fritz Verder？〃
〃Dead！ He lies with the others upon the battle…field。 There are seven hundred and fifty of us in heaven； and only two hundred and fifty on earth。 But those above； as well as below； still cry'Long live our king！'〃
〃Long live our king；〃 cried they all； rising。
The king made no reply； his eye passed from one to the other pale； exhausted countenance； and an inexpressible sorrow overcame him。
〃Dead！〃 murmured he； 〃my faithful guards dead！ seven hundred and fifty of my choice men have fallen。〃 And overpowered by his emotion； the king did not force back the tears welling to his eyes。 They stole softly down his cheek； and Frederick was not ashamed。 He did not blush； because his warriors had seen him weep。
〃Children；〃 cried the old officer； after a pause； and wiping the tears from his weary eyes； 〃from now on it will be glorious to die； for when we are dead； our king weeps for us。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
THE INIMICAL BROTHERS。
〃The king comes！ The king is entering Bautzen！〃
This announcement brought pale terror to the hearts of the Prince of Prussia and his generals。 They who had heretofore sprang joyfully to meet the call of their king； now trembled at his glance。 They must now present to him the sad and despoiled remnant of that great army which； under the command of the Prince Augustus William of Prussia； had made the retreat from Lausitz。
It had； indeed； been the most fearful retreat ever attempted by the Prussian troops。 It had cost them more than the bloodiest battle； and they had suffered more from hardships during the last few days than ever before during a whole campaign。 They had marched over narrow； stony； rugged mountain…paths； between hills and horrible abysses； sometimes climbing upward； sometimes descending。 Thousands died from exhaustion； thousands pressed backward； crushed by those in the front； thousands； forced onward by those in the rear； had stumbled and fallen into fathomless caverns； which lay at the foot of these mountain passes； yawning like open graves。 If a wheel broke； the wagon was burned； there was no time for repairs； and if left in the path； it interrupted the passage of the flying army。 At last； in order to facilitate the flight； the provision…wagons were burned； and the bread divided amongst the soldiers； the equipages and pontoon…wagons were also burned。 Exhausted by their unusual exertions； beside themselves from pain and unheard…of suffering the whole army was seized with a death…panic。
The soldiers had lost not only all faith in their good fortune； but all faith in their leaders。 Thousands deserted； thousands fled to escape death； which seemed to mock at and beckon to them from every pointed rock and every dark cavern。 ＇Footnote： Warner's 〃Campaigns of Frederick the Great〃＇
While one part of the army deserted or died of hunger or exhaustion； another part fought with an intrenched enemy； for three long days； in the narrow pass of Gabel； under the command of General von Puttkammer。 They fought like heroes； but were at last obliged to surrender； with two thousand men and seven cannon。 Utterly broken by these losses； dead and dying from starvation and weariness； the army drew off toward Zittau。
There was but one thought which sustained the wearied； and lent strength to the starving。 In Zittau were immense magazines of grain。 In Zittau； the rich Saxon city； which throughout all Saxony was called the gold…mine； they dared hope for rest and opportunity to recover。
Before this unhappy army reached Zittau； Duke Charles of Lothringen was in advance of them。 With wanton cruelty he reduced the industrious； open city to ashes； destroyed the Prussian magazines； and； with his army； trampled upon the ruins and the corpses of this unfortified town。 The Prussians had now lost their last hope。 They encamped by Lodau； and after a short rest； advanced to Bautzen； which city the king had appointed for the reunion of the two army corps。 And now； one day after the arrival of this miserable remnant of an army； the king entered the camp of Bautzen。
The unhappy moment was at hand； they must now meet the stern eye of the king。 These were bold； heroic generalsthe Prince of Prussia； Von Bevern； Von Wurtemberg； Von Dessau； Winterfeldt； Goltz； Ziethen； Krokow； and Schmettau。 Bravely； triumphantly had they fought in all previous battles； but now； amidst defeat and disaster； they must meet the eye of the king。 This was more dangerous to them than the most deadly battle； and they shrank appalled before this fearful encounter。
Silently； and frowning darkly； the generals mounted their horses； and rode down the highwaythe Prince of Prussia in advance； and by his side the Duke of Wurtemberg。 And now； in front of them； in an open space； they saw the king。 He was on his horse； and looked sternly toward them。 The Prince of Prussia trembled； and； involuntarily checking his horse； he stooped with a weary smile toward the duke。
〃I have a feeling；〃 said he； in low tones； 〃as if my fate was advancing threateningly； in the form of my brother。 It glowers upon me with a glance which announces that I am condemned to death。 Look； duke！ my sentence is written in the raging eye of the king。〃
〃The king's wrath will not fall upon you alone；〃 whispered the duke；〃 but upon us all。 This is a wild tempest； which threatens us all in the same moment with destruction。〃
〃A tempest？ yes！ the thunder rolls over all； but the stroke of lightning falls only upon me； and II am the one；〃 said the prince； solemnly； 〃I am the sacrificial offering chosen by the king； with which he will seek to propitiate the frowning gods of destiny。〃
〃God forbid！〃 said the duke； sadly。 〃The king will be just！ He will see that these frightful misfortunes were unavoidable； that we are innocent。 He will listen to our explanations； he〃
〃I tell you；〃 said Augustus William； 〃he will demand a subject for his scorn。 I shall be this sacrifice！ Well； so let it be； I am willing to be offered up for my fatherland！ Let us go onward； duke。〃 He drew his bridle and they rode forward。
The king remained immovable in the same spot； his proud head erect； and his icy glance fixed steadily upon them。
As they drew nearer； and could no longer doubt that he recognized them； the king moved slowly round； and turned his back upon them。 They were greatly embarrassedundecided what to do； they looked to the prince； in the hope that he would advance and announce himself to the king； and compel him to notice them。 Prince Augustus William did not advance； he stood firm and immovable； as if moulded in brass。 No muscle of his face moved； but his pale and tightly… compressed lips slightly trembled。 The generals followed his example。 Silently； immovably they stood behind him； their eyes fixed upon the king； who remained still with his back turned to them。
There was a long and painful pause； not a word was spoken。 Those who were arranging