sults. Daun, it was thought,
should have ruined Friedrich in this retreat; but he did nothing of harm
to him. In fact, for a week he could not comprehend the phenomenon at
all, and did not stir from his place,--which was on the other, or wrong,
side of the River. Daun had never doubted but the retreat would be to
Silesia; and he had made his detachments, and laid himself out for doing
something upon it, in that direction: but, lo, what roads are these,
what motions whitherward? In about a week it becomes manifest that
the retreat, which goes on various roads, sometimes three at once, has
converged on Leutomischl; straight for Bohemia instead of Silesia; and
that Daun is fallen seven days behind it; incapable now to do anything.
Not even the Magazine at Leutomischl could be got away, nor could even
the whole of it be burnt.

Keith and the baggage once safe in Leutomischl (July 8th), all goes in
deliberate long column; Friedrich ahead to open the passages. July 14th,
after five more marches, Friedrioh bursts up Konigsgratz; scattering any
opposition there is; and sits down there, in a position considered, he
knows well how inexpugnable; to live on the Country, and survey events.
The 4,000 baggage-wagons came in about entire. Fouquet had the first
division of them, and a secondary charge of the whole; an extremely
strict, almost pedantic man, and of very fiery temper: "HE, D'OU
VENEZ-VOUS?" asked he sharply of Retzow senior, who had broken through
his order, one day, to avert great mischief: "How come you here, MON
GENERAL?" "By the Highway, your Excellency!" answered Retzow in a grave
stiff tone. [Retzow, i. 302.]

Keith himself takes the rear-guard, the most ticklish post of all, and
manages it well, and with success, as his wont is. Under sickness at the
time, but with his usual vigilance, prudence, energy; qualities apt to
be successful in War. Some brushes of Croat fighting he had from Loudon;
but they did not amount to anything. It was at Holitz, within a march
of Konigsgratz, that Loudon made his chief attempt; a vehement,
well-intended thing; which looked well at one time. But Keith heard the
cannonading ahead; hurried up with new cavalry, new sagacity and fire of
energy; dashed out horse-charges, seized hill-tops, of a vital nature;
and quickly ended the affair. A man fiery enough, and prompt with his
stroke when wanted, though commonly so quiet. "Tell Monsieur,"--some
General who seemed too stupid or too languid