ere to
take place, Ferdinand's men fell upon him suddenly, scattered his
army in all directions, took twelve hundred prisoners, and sent the
duke with such of his troops as had escaped back to Wuertemberg
again; his subjects, who were largely Protestants, rejoicing hugely
over his discomfiture.

On the day on which Maxim was fought Admiral Hawke, with a small
squadron, utterly defeated the French fleet that was to convey an
invading army to England. France herself was getting as short of
cash as Prussia, and in November it became necessary to declare a
temporary bankruptcy and, the king setting the example, all nobles
and others possessing silver plate sent them to the mint to be
coined into money.

So eager was the king to take advantage of any openings the
Austrians might give for attack that, although so near Dresden,
Fergus was unable to carry out his promise to the Count Eulenfurst
to pay him a visit; for he was kept constantly employed, and could
not ask for leave. Early in April the king sent for him. The
English ambassador was present, but Earl Marischal Keith had gone
away on a mission.

"I have two pieces of news for you, major," the king said
pleasantly. "In the first place, it is now getting on for two years
since you did me that little service at Zorndorf, and since then
you have ever been zealously at work. Others have gone up in rank,
and it is time that you had another step. Therefore, from today you
are colonel. No man in the army has better deserved promotion, and
indeed you ought to have had it after you returned from Brunswick's
army where, as the duke's despatches told me, you had rendered
excellent service. So many officers of rank have fallen since then
that promotion has been rapid, and it is high time that you
obtained the step that you so well deserve.

"The other piece of news is for Sir John Mitchell to tell you, for
it is to his good offices that it is due."

"Very partially so, your majesty," said the ambassador. "It is like
enough that Pitt would not have troubled to take action on my
recommendation only, had it not been that you so strongly backed my
request that, in fact, it became one from yourself. Therefore it is
for you to give him the news."

"As you please," the king said.

"Well then, Drummond, his excellency and your cousin the Marischal
put their heads together, and his excellency sent a warm letter to
the English minister, saying that you had rendered such services t