of these more dead and
wounded than living. There, there, on that side, thought I; otherwise
it would be purely impossible.

"I glided, therefore, at first with slow step, a little to the left,
through the vines. Some Prussians hastened past me. 'Come, come,
brother!' said they; 'victoria!' I replied not a word, but feigned to
be wounded, and went on slowly, but truly with fear and trembling. As
soon as I had got so far, that no one could see me, I mended my pace,
looked right and left like a hunter, viewed again from a distance--and
for the last time in my life--the murderous death struggle; rushed at
full speed past a thicket full of dead Hussars, Pandours, and horses;
ran breathlessly along the course of the river, and found myself in a
valley. On the other side some Imperial soldiers came towards me, who
had equally stolen away from the battle, and when they saw me thus
making off levelled their guns at me for the third time,
notwithstanding I had reversed my arms, and given them with my hat the
usual sign. They did not fire; so I came to the resolution to run
towards them. If I had taken another course they would, as I afterwards
learnt, have certainly fired. When I came up to them, I gave myself up
as a deserter, and they took my weapon away from me, with the promise
that they would afterwards restore it. But he who had taken upon
himself to promise it, stole away and took the gun with him. So let it
be! They then took me to the nearest village, Scheniseck (it might be a
good hour from Lowositz); here there was a ferry over the water, but
only one boat for the passage. And there was a piteous shrieking and
wailing from men, women, and children; each wished to go first over the
water, for fear of the Prussians; for all thought they were close at
hand. I also was not one of the last to jump in with a troop of women.
If the ferryman had not cast out some we should have been drowned. On
the other side of the stream stood a Pandour guard. My companions led
me up to them, and these red-moustachioed fellows received me in the
most polite way; gave me, though neither of us understood a word the
other said, tobacco and brandy, and a safe conduct, I believe, to
Leutmeritz, where I passed the night among genuine Bohemians, and truly
did not know whether I could safely lay my head to rest; but
fortunately my head was in such confusion from the tumult of the day,
that this important point signified very little to me. The follo