are fixed and sure; but the plan
or route he will take is unknown to everybody, and indeed to Browne
himself, till he see near at hand and consider. Browne's problem, he
himself knows, is abundantly abstruse,--bordering on the impossible;
but he will try his best. To get within reach of the Saxons is almost
impossible to Browne, even were there no Keith there. As good as
impossible altogether, by any line of march, while Keith is afoot in
those parts. By Aussig, down the River, straight for the interior of
their Camp, it is flatly impossible: by the south or southeast corner of
their Camp (Gottleube way), or by the northeast (by Schandau way, right
bank of Elbe), it is virtually so,--at least without beating Keith.
Could one beat Keith indeed;--but that will not be easy! And that,
unluckily, is the preliminary to everything.

"By the Hellendorf-Hennersdorf side, in the wastes where Gottleube Brook
gathers itself, Browne might have a chance. There, on that southeast
corner of their Camp, were he once there to attack the Prussians from
without, while the Saxons burst up from within,--there," thinks a good
judge, "is much the favorablest place. But unless Browne's Army had
wings, how is it ever to get there? Across those Metal-Mountain ranges,
barred by Keith:--by Aussig, with the rocks overhanging Elbe River and
him, he cannot go in any case. Were there no Keith, indeed (but there
always is, standing ready on the spring), one might hold to leftward,
and by stolen marches, swift, far round about--!

"By Schandau region, north side of the Elbe, is Browne's easiest, and
indeed one feasible, point of approach,--no Prussians at present
between him and that; the road open, though a far circuit northward for
Browne,--were he to cross the Elbe in Leitmeritz circle, and march with
velocity? That too will be difficult,--nearly impossible in sight of
Keith. And were that even done, the egress for the Saxons, by Schandau
side, is through strait mountain gorges, intricate steep passes,
crossings of the Elbe: what force of Saxons or of Austrians will drive
the Prussians from their redoubts and batteries there?" [_OEuvres de
Frederic,_ iv. 86, 93, 96.]

Browne's problem is none of the feasiblest: but his orders are strict,
"Relieve the Saxons, at all risks." And Browne, one of the ablest
soldiers living ("Your Imperial Majesty's best general," said the dying
Khevenhuller long since), will do his utmost upon it. Friedrich does
not thi