e
his generals, who, having reached Nimburg with the wreck of the army,
hastened to the place of appointment, and were now assembled at a
respectful distance from him.

Frederick continued to sketch. The generals gazed at him in silence,
anxiously awaiting the moment when he would arouse himself. He suddenly
looked up, and did not seem surprised to see them; lifting his hat
slightly, he greeted them, and rose from his lowly seat.

"It is well, sirs, that you are here," said he. "We must now make our
preparations for the future; for our enemies, having beaten us once,
will think us no longer capable of resisting them, and will fall upon us
with renewed courage. We will convince them, gentlemen, that though we
are stricken to the ground for a moment, we are not crushed, not dead.
We will convince them that we still live to tear from them the laurels
they have taken from us this day. Prince von Dessau, hasten immediately
to our army at Prague. I command the Prince of Prussia to raise the
siege there at once. He shall call all his generals together, and hold
council with them as to the most suitable mode of retreat. He shall
determine with them how the siege can best be raised; to avoid, as far
as possible, the appearance of flying from their enemy. With gay music
they should leave their posts; they should not all leave together, but
in groups, so as to mislead the enemy. In small companies should
also the retreat through Bohemia to Lausitz be made, for it would be
difficult for a large army to pass this mountainous district; but they
should remain as near together as possible, choosing the widest, most
convenient roads. These are the orders you are to deliver my brother,
the Prince of Prussia, and his generals. I give to the prince the
command of this portion of my army, and require of him to hasten to
Lausitz. I will join him in Bautzen. And then, gentlemen, we will seek
an occasion to repay our enemies for their civilities of to-day."

The generals had listened to him with breathless attention; and as he
now dismissed them, with a glorious smile upon his lips, they repeated
unanimously his last words, "We will repay our enemies for their
civilities."

As if inspired by this shout, the soldiers, lying about the market
place, at a slight distance from the king, broke into a loud hurrah, and
shouted, "Long live our king!"

The king turned slowly toward them, but when he saw all that remained of
his noble army, he beca