in taking
the town. The place was strongly fortified, and the garrison, though
comparatively weak, defended it with great bravery. The Russian army
was encamped in a very strong position just outside the town. As soon
as news of the coming of the King of Sweden arrived, the Czar went off
into the interior of the country to hasten a large re-enforcement which
had been ordered, and, at the same time, General Croy sent forward
large bodies of men to lay in ambuscade along the roads and defiles
through which the King of Sweden would have to pass on his way from
Riga.

But all these excellent arrangements were entirely defeated by the
impetuous energy, and the extraordinary tact and skill of the King of
Sweden. Although his army was very much smaller than that of the
Russians, he immediately set out on his march to Narva; but, instead of
moving along the regular roads, and so falling into the ambuscade which
the Russians had laid for him, he turned off into back and circuitous
by-ways, so as to avoid the snare altogether. It was in the dead of
winter, and the roads which he followed, besides being rough and
intricate, were obstructed with snow, and the Russians had thought
little of them, so that at last, when the Swedish army arrived at their
advanced posts, they were taken entirely by surprise. The advanced
posts were driven in, and the Swedes pressed on, the Russians flying
before them, and carrying confusion to the posts in the rear. The
surprise of the Russians, and the confusion consequent upon it, were
greatly increased by the state of the weather; for there was a violent
snow-storm at the time, and the snow, blowing into the Russians' faces,
prevented their seeing what the numbers were of the enemy so suddenly
assaulting them, or taking any effectual measures to restore their own
ranks to order when once deranged.

When at length the Swedes, having thus driven in the advanced posts,
reached the Russian camp itself, they immediately made an assault upon
it. The camp was defended by a rampart and by a double ditch, but on
went the assaulting soldiers over all the obstacles, pushing their way
with their bayonets, and carrying all before them. The Russians were
entirely defeated and put to flight.

In a rout like this, the conquering army, maddened by rage and by all
the other dreadful excitements of the contest, press on furiously upon
their flying and falling foes, and destroy them with their bayonets in
i