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y cannonading convinced him。 〃Haha； there are my guests；〃 said he； 〃we must see if we cannot entertain them right！〃 sprang to horseback； ordered on； double… quick； the three regiments nearest him； and was off at the gallop； too late； or； alas； too EARLY we might rather say！ Arriving at the gallop； Winterfeld found his grenadiers and their insufficient reinforcements rolling back； the Hill lost； Winterfeld 〃sprang to a fresh horse；〃 shot his lightning glances and energies； to his hand and that； stormfully rallied the matter； recovered the Hill； and stormfully defended it； for； I should guess； an hour or more； and might still have done one knows not what； had not a bullet struck him through the breast； and suddenly ended all his doings in this world。
Three other reasons the Prussians give for loss of their Hill； which are of no consequence to them or to us in comparison。 First； that Bevern； on message after message； sent no reinforcement； that Winterfeld was left to his own 10；000； and what he and they could make of it。 Bevern is jealous of Winterfeld； hint they； and willing to see his impetuous audacity checked。 Perhaps only cautious of getting into a general action for what was intrinsically nothing？ Second； that two regiments of Infantry； whom Winterfeld detached double…quick to seize a couple of villages （Leopoldshayn； Hermsdorf） on his right； and therefrom fusillade Nadasti on flank； found the villages already occupied by thousands of Croats； with regular foot and cannon…batteries； and could in nowise seize them。 This was a great reverse of advantage。 Third； that an Aide…de…Camp made a small misnomer； misreport of one word； which was terribly important： 〃Bring me hither Regiment Manteuffel！〃 Winterfeld had ordered。 The Aide…de…Camp reported it 〃Grenadiers Manteuffel：〃 upon which； the grenadiers； who were posted in a walled garden； an important point to Winterfeld's right； came instantly to order； and Austrians instantly rushed in to the vacant post； and galled Winterfeld's other flank by their fire。 ＇Abundant Accounts in Seyfarth； ii。 （ Beylagen）； 162…163； Helden…Geschichte； iv。 615…633； Retzow； i。 216…221。＇
Enough； Winterfeld lay bleeding to death； the Hill was lost； Prussians drawing off slowly and back…foremost； about two in the afternoon； upon which the Austrians also drew off； leaving only a small party on the Hill； who voluntarily quitted it next morning。 Next morning； likewise； Winterfeld had died。 The Hill was； except as bravado； and by way of comfort to Kaunitz； nothing for the Austrians； but the death of Winterfeld； which had come by chance to them in the business； was probably a great thing。 Better than two pitched battles gained： who shall say？ He was a shining figure； this Winterfeld； dangerous to the Austrians。 The most shining figure in the Prussian Army； except its Chief； and had great thoughts in his head。 Prussia is not skilful to celebrate her Heroes；the Prussian Muse of History； choked with dry military pipe…clay； or with husky cobwebbery and academic pedantry； how can she？but if Prussia can produce heroes worth celebrating； that is the one important point。 Apart from soldiership； and the outward features which are widely different； there is traceable in Winterfeld some kinship in soul to English Chatham his contemporary； though he has not had the fame of Chatham。
Winterfeld was by no means universally liked； as what brave man is or can be？ Too susceptible to flattery； too this； too that。 He is； one feels always； except Friedrich only； the most shining figure in the Prussian Army： and it was not unnatural he should be Friedrich's one friend；as seems to have been the case。 Friedrich； when this Job's…message reached him （in Erfurt Country； eight days hence）； was deeply affected by it。 To tears； or beyond tears； as we can fancy。 〃Against my multitude of enemies I may contrive resources；〃 he was heard to say； 〃but I shall find no Winterfeld again！〃 Adieu； my one friend； real Peer； sole companion to my lonely pilgrimage in these perilous high regions。
〃The Prince of Prussia； contrariwise；〃 says a miserable little Note； which must not be withheld； 〃brightened up at the news： 'I shall now die much more content； knowing that there is one so bad and dangerous man fewer in the Army！' And； six months after； in his actual death…moments； he exclaimed： 'I end my life； the last period of which has cost me so much sorrow； but Winterfeld is he who shortened my days！'〃 ＇Preuss； ii。 75； citing Retzow。＇Very bitter Opposition humors circulating； in their fashion； there as elsewhere in this world！
Bevern； the millstone of Winterfeld being off his neck； has become a more responsible； though he feels himself a much…delivered man。 Had not liked Winterfeld； they say； or had even hated him； since those bad Zittau times。 Can now； at any rate； make for Schlesien and the meal…magazines； when he sees good。 He will find meal readier there； may he find other things corresponding！ Nobody now to keep him painfully manoeuvring in these parts； with the King's Army nearer to him； but meal not。
On the third day after （September l0th）； Bevern； having finished packing； took the road for Schlesien； Daun and Karl attending him； nothing left of Daun and Karl in those Saxon Countries；except； at Stolpen； out Dresden…wards； some Reserve…Post or Rear…guard of 15；000； should we chance to hear of that again。 And from the end of September onwards； Bevern's star； once somewhat bright at Reichenberg； shot rapidly downwards； under the horizon altogether； and there came； post after post； such news out of Schlesien； to say nothing of that Stolpen Party；as Friedrich had never heard before。
Chapter VII。
FRIEDRICH IN THURINGEN； HIS WORLD OF ENEMIES ALL COME。
The Soubise…Hildburghausen people had got rendezvoused at Erfurt about August 25th； 50；000 by account； and no enemy within 200 miles of them； and in the Versailles circles it had been expected they would proceed to the 〃Deliverance of Saxony〃 straightway。 What is to hinder？Friedrich； haggling with the Austrians at Bernstadt； could muster but a poor 23；000； when he did march towards Erfurt。 In those same neighborhoods； within reach of Soubise； is the Richelieu； late D'Estrees； Army； elated with Hastenbeck； comfortably pushing Royal Highness of Cumberland； who makes no resistance； step by step； into the sea； victoriously plundering； far and wide in those countries； Hanover itself the Head…quarter。 In the Versailles circles； it is farther expected that Richelieu； 〃Conqueror of Minorca；〃 will shortly besiege and conquer Magdeburg； and so crown his glories。 Why not； were the 〃Deliverance of Saxony〃 complete？
The whole of which turned out greatly otherwise； and to the sad disappointment of Versailles。 The Conqueror of Minorca is probably aware that the conquering of Magdeburg； against one whose platforms are not rotten； and who does not 〃lie always in his bed；〃 as poor old Blakeney did； will be a very different matter。 And the private truth is； Marrchal de Richelieu never turned his thoughts upon Magdeburg at all； nor upon any point of war that had difficulties； but solely upon collecting plunder for himself in those Countries。 One of the most magnificen