and most of his
tents.

Of the Austrians, three hundred and twenty-five officers and five
thousand six hundred and fourteen rank and file were killed or
wounded, and a thousand prisoners lost. Twenty thousand of their
men deserted, during their passage through the dark and intricate
woods.

Fergus remained with the regiment that had captured him until the
battle ceased; after which he was taken, under a guard, to the spot
where the Prussian prisoners were gathered. Of these there were
fifty-eight officers, the greater part of whom were more or less
severely wounded. Two of the officers belonged to the Kannaker
battalion, and from them Fergus asked for news of Marshal Keith.

"We fear he is killed," one said. "He led us into the battery, and
he was with us after we were driven out again; but after that
neither of us saw him. Everything was in confusion. We could not
see twenty yards, any way. We know that the battalion had suffered
terribly. Just before we were captured, being with a score of men
cut off from the rest by a rush of Austrians, a rumour spread that
the marshal had been killed; but more than this we cannot tell."

Two hours later an Austrian officer rode up, with orders that the
prisoners were to be marched some distance farther to the rear.
Fergus went up to him and said:

"Can you tell me, sir, if Marshal Keith is among the killed? I am
one of his aides-de-camp and, moreover, a cousin of his."

"Yes," the officer said, "he has fallen. His body was recognized by
General Lacy, who commands here. I am on his staff. The general was
greatly affected, for he and the marshal were at one time comrades
in arms. The marshal was shot through the heart, and had previously
received two other wounds. He was a most gallant soldier, and one
highly esteemed by us. He will be buried with all military honours
at Hochkirch, where he has been carried."

Fergus was deeply moved. Keith had been so uniformly kind that he
had come to feel for him almost as a father. He could not speak for
a minute, and then said:

"Would you ask General Lacy, sir, to allow me to attend his
funeral, both as one of the marshal's staff and as a relation, who
loved him very dearly? My name is Major Drummond."

"I will certainly ask him, sir, and have no doubt that he will
grant the request."

He thereupon gave orders that a young officer should remain with
Fergus, until an answer was received. He then rode off, and in a
few minutes the