, Desperado individuals of them gallop up
to the Infantry ranks, and fire off their pistols there,--without reply;
reply or firing, till the word come, is strictly forbidden. Infantry
pours along, like a ploughman drawing his furrow, heedless of the
circling crows. Crows or Cossacks, finding they are not regarded, set
fire to Zorndorf, and gallop off. Zorndorf goes up readily, mainly
wood and straw; rolls in big clouds of smoke far northward in upon the
Russian Minotaur, making him still blinder in the important moments now
coming.

Friedrich rides up to view the Zabern Hollow: "Beyond expectation deep;
very boggy too, with its foul leakage or brook: no attacking of their
western flank through this Zaberngrund;--attack the corner of them,
then; here on the southwest!" That is Friedrich's rapid resource. The
lines halt, accordingly; make ready. Behind flaming Zorndorf stands his
extreme left, which is to make the attack; infantry in front; horse to
rear and farther leftwards,--and under the command of Seidlitz in this
quarter, which is an important circumstance. Right wing, reaching to
behind Wilkersdorf, is to refuse itself; whole force of centre is
to push upon that Russian corner, to support the left in doing
it;--according to the Leuthen or LEUCTRA principle, once more. May no
mistakes occur in executing it this day!--

The first division of the Prussian Infantry, or extreme Left, marches
forward by the west end of flaming Zorndorf; next division, which should
stand close to right of it, or even behind it in action, and follow it
close into the Russian fire, has to march by the east end of Zorndorf;
this is a farther road, owing to the flames; and not a lucky one. Second
division could never get into fair contact with that first division
again: that was the mistake: and it might have been fatal, but was not,
as we shall see. First division has got clear of Zorndorf, in advancing
towards its Russian business;--is striding forward, its left flank safe
against the Zaberngrund; steadily by fixed stages, against the fated
Russian Corner, which is its point of attack. First division, second
division, are clear of Zorndorf, though with a wide gap between them;
are steadily striding forward towards the Russian Corner. Two strong
batteries, wide apart, have planted themselves ahead; and are playing
upon the Russian Quadrilateral, their fires crossing at the due Corner
yonder, with terrible effect; Russian artillery, which ar