'clock, as they were timed to do, they
would be detained and not get in until after dark.

"They are clear-headed fellows, these Scotchmen; whether they are
in our army or Frederick's. What makes the affair more wonderful is
that this was quite a young fellow, and probably understood no
German; but I think that he would have acted more wisely, had he
waited until the spring."

"I don't know," the other said. "When once the troops are all in
movement north, he certainly could not have escaped in a military
uniform without being questioned; and it scarcely seems possible
that he could have procured any other. He must be in more of a
hurry to fight again than I am."

"There can hardly be much serious fighting," the other said. "With
us, Russia, and France, and with the 50,000 Swedes who have been
bought by France, we shall have 500,000 men under arms; while we
know that 200,000 is the utmost Frederick can muster, and these
will have to be scattered in every direction round his frontier."

"I am sorry that France has joined in," the other said. "It is
unnatural enough that we and Russia should combine to crush
Prussia, but when it comes to our old enemies the French helping us
against a German power, I say frankly I don't like it. Besides,
though we may get Silesia back again, that will be a small
advantage in comparison to the disadvantage of France getting a
firm foothold on this side of the Rhine. Even if her share of the
partition doesn't extend beyond the river, this will be her
frontier nearly down to the sea; and she will have the power of
pouring her troops into Germany, whenever she chooses."

Fergus had now finished his meal, and without caring to listen
longer he betook himself to bed. To avoid all appearance of haste,
he did not start so early the next morning, but mounted at ten and
rode to the junction of the Eger with the Elbe. It was too late to
cross the river that night, and he therefore put up at a village on
the bank, and crossed in a ferry boat on the following morning to
Leitmeritz, a town of considerable size.

He was now within a day's ride of the defile through which the Elbe
finds its way from Bohemia into Saxony. His papers were inspected,
as usual, by the officer in command of a troop of cavalry there.

"You will have a rough time of it, if you push on," he said. "There
is no traffic through the passes now, so the snow will lie as it
fell, and at any moment it may come down again. As far