按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and south； looking towards the Russian side of things； Friedrich's tent in front of the first line； a warrior King among his people； who have had a day's work of it。 The Russian loss turns out； when counted； to have been 21；529 killed； wounded and missing； 7；990 of them killed； the Prussian sum…total is 11；390 （above the Prussian third man）； of whom 3；680 slain。 And on the shores of Acheron northward yonder； there still is a simmering。 And far and wide the country is alight with incendiary fires；many devils still abroad。 Excellency Mitchell； about eight in the evening； is sent for by the King； finds various chief Generals； Seidlitz among them； on their various businesses there； congratulates 〃on the noble victory ＇not so conclusive hitherto＇ which Heaven has granted your Majesty。〃 〃Had it not been for him；〃 said Friedrich；〃Had it not been for him； things would have had a bad look by this time！〃 and turned his sun…eyes upon Seidlitz； with a fine expression in them。 ＇Preuss； ii。 153。 Mitchell （ii。 432） mentions the Interview； nothing of Seidlitz。＇ To which Seidlitz's reply； I find； was an embarrassed blush and of articulate only； 〃Hm； no； ha； it was your Majesty's Cavalry that did their duty；but Wakenitz ＇my second＇ does deserve promotion！〃 which Wakenitz； not in a too overflowing measure； got。
Fermor； during the night…watches； having cobbled himself into some kind of ranks or rows； moves down well westward of Zabern Hollow； to the Drewitz Heath； where he once before lay； and there makes his bivouac in the wood； safe under the fir…trees； with the Zabern ground to front of him。 By the above reckoning； 28 or 29；000 still hang to Fermor； or float vaporously round him； with Friedrich； in his two lines； are some 18；000：in whole； 46；000 tired mortals sleeping thereabouts； near 12；000 others have fallen into a deeper sleep； not liable to be disturbed；and of the wounded on the field； one shudders to imagine。
Next day； Saturday； 26th； Fermor； again brought into some kind of rank； and safe beyond the quaggy Zabern ground； sent out a proposal； 〃That there be Truce of Three Days for burying the dead！〃Dohna； who happened to be General in command there； answers； 〃That it is customary for the Victor to take charge of burying the slain； that such proposal is surprising； and quite inadmissible； in present circumstances。〃 Fermor； in the mean while； had drawn himself out； fronting his late battle…field and the morning sun； and began cannonading across the Zabern ground； too far off for hitting； but as if still intending fight： to which the Prussians replied with cannon； and drew out before their tents in fighting order。 In both armies there was question； or talk； of attacking anew； but in both 〃there was want of ammunition；〃 want of real likelihood。 On Fermor's side； that of 〃attacking〃 could be talk only； and on Friedrich's； besides the scarcity of ammunition； all creatures； foot and especially horse； were so worn out with yesterday's work； it was not judged practically expedient。 A while before noon； the Prussians retired to their Camp again； leaving only the artillery to respond； so far as needful； and bow…wow across the Zabern ground； till the Russians lay down again。
Friedrich's Hussars knew of the Russian WAGENBURG； or general baggage reservoirs； at Klein Kamin； by this time。 The Hussars had been in it； last night； rummaging extensively； at discretion for some time； and had brought away much money and portable plunder。 Why Friedrich； who lay direct between Fermor and his Wagenburg； did not； this day； extinguish said Wagenburg； I do not know； but guess it may have been a fault of omission； in the great welter this was now grown to be to the weary mind。 Beyond question； if one had blown up Fermor's remaining gunpowder； and carried off or burnt his meal…sacks； he must have cowered away all the faster towards Landsberg to seek more。 Or perhaps Friedrich now judged it immaterial； and a question only of hours？
About midnight of Saturday…Sunday； there again rose bow…wowing； bellowing of Russian cannon； not from beyond the Zabern ground this time； nor stationary anywhere； but from the south some transient part of it； and not far off；one ball struck a carriage near the King's tent； and shattered it。 Thick mist mantles everything； and it is difficult to know what the Russians have on hand in their sylvan seclusions。 After a time； it becomes manifest the Russians are on retreat； winding round； through the southern woods； behind Zorndorf and the charred Villages； to Klein Kamin； Landsberg way。 Friedrich； following now on the heel of them； finds all got to Klein Kamin； to breakfast there in their Wagenburg refectory； sharply vigilant； many FLECHES （little arrow…shaped redoubts； so named） and much artillery round them。 Nothing considerable to be done upon them； now or afterwards； except pick up stragglers； and distress their rear a little。 The King himself； in the first movement； was thought to be in alarming peril； such a blaze of case…shot rose upon him； as he went reconnoitring foremost of all。 ＇Tempelhof； ii。 216…238； Tielcke； ii。 79…154； Archenholtz； i。 253…264； Helden…Geschichte； v。 156…179 （with many LISTS； private LETTERS and the like details）； &c。 &c。＇
And this was； at last； the end of Zorndorf Battle； on the third day this。 Was there ever seen such a fight of Theseus and the Minotaur！ Theseus； rapid； dexterous； with Heaven's lightning in his eyes； seizing the Minotaur； lassoing him by the hinder foot； then by the right horn； pouring steel and destruction into him； the very dust darkening all the air。 Minotaur refusing to die when killed； tumbling to and fro upon its Theseus； the two lugging and tugging； flinging one another about； and describing figures of 8 round each other for three days before it ended。 Minotaur walking off on his own feet； after all。 It was the bloodiest battle of the Seven…Years War； one of the most furious ever fought； such rage possessing the individual elements； rage unusual in modern wars。 Must have altered Friedrich's notion of the Russians； when he next comes to speak with Keith。 It was not till the fourth day hence （August 31st）； so unattackably strong was this position at Klein Kamin； that the Russian Minotaur would fairly get to its feet a second time； and slowly stagger off； in real earnest； Landsberg way and Konigsberg way；Friedrich right glad to leave Dohna in attendance on it； and hasten off （September 2d） towards Saxony and Prince Henri； where his presence is now become very needful。
MAP GOES HERE FACING PAGE 138； BOOK XVIII…
Fermor； walking off in this manner；not till the third day； nay not conclusively till the seventh day； after Zorndorf；strove at first to consider himself victorious。 〃I passed the night on the field of battle ＇or NOT far from it； for good reasons； Mutzel being bridgeless＇： may not I； in the language of enthusiasm； be considered conqueror？ Here are 26 of their cannon； got when I cried 'Arah' prematurely。 （Where the 103 pieces of my own are； and my 27 flags； and my Army…chest and sundries？ Dropped somewhere； they will probably turn up again！）〃 thinks Fermor；or strives to think； and says。 So that； at Petersburg； at Paris and Vienna； in the next thre