ski, "that
will be easier;"--and forthwith sets about preparing for it, secretly
collecting boats at Pirna, steersmen, towing-men, bridge-tackle and what
else will be necessary.

Rutowski made, at least, no delay. Browne's messenger, we find, had come
to him, "Thursday, 7th:" and on Friday night Rutowski has a squad of
boatmen, steersmen and twoscore of towing peasants ready; and
actually gets under way. They are escorted by the due battalions with
field-pieces;--who are to fire upon the Prussian batteries, and keep up
such a blaze of musketry and heavier shot, as will screen the boats in
passing. Surely a ticklish operation, this;--arguing a sanguine temper
in General Rutowski! The south bank of the River is ours; but there are
various Prussian batteries, three of them very strong, along the north
bank, which will not fail to pelt us terribly as we pass. No help for
it;--we must trust in luck! Here is the sequel, with dates adjusted.

ELBE RIVER, NIGHT OF OCTOBER 8th-9th. Friday night, accordingly, so
soon as Darkness (unusually dark this night) has dropt her veil on the
business, Rutowski sets forth. The Prussian battery, or bridge-head
(TETE-DE-PONT), at Pirna, has not noticed him, so silent was he. But,
alas, the other batteries do not fail to notice; to give fire; and, in
fact, on being answered, and finding it a serious thing, to burst out
into horrible explosion; unanswerable by the Saxon field-pieces;
and surely perilous to human nature steering and towing those big
River-Boats. "Loyal to our King, and full of pity for him; that are
we;"--but towing at a rate, say of two shillings per head! Before long,
the forty towing peasants fling down their ropes, first one, then more,
then all, in spite of efforts, promises, menaces; and vanish among the
thickets,--forfeiting the two shillings, on view of imminent death.
Soldiers take the towing-ropes; try to continue it a little; but now the
steersmen also manage to call halt: "We won't! Let us out, let us out!
We will steer you aground on the Prussian shore if you don't!" making
night hideous. And the towing enterprise breaks down for that bout;
double barges mooring on the Saxon shore, I know not precisely at what
point, nor is it material.

SATURDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 9th-10th) New boatmen, forty new towmen have
been hired at immense increase of wages; say four shillings for the
night: but have you much good probability, my General, that even for
that high guerdon immin