ful; but they are gone,
and there are none to fill their places. My brother Henry is a good
soldier, but he is over cautious. Seidlitz has not recovered from
his wounds. Hulsen has done well of late, and has shown wonderful
energy, considering that he is an old man. But there are none of
them who are at once prudent when it behoved them to be prudent,
and quick to strike when they see an opening, like Schwerin and
Keith.

"Ziethen is a splendid cavalry officer, but he is fit to command
cavalry only; and the whole burden falls upon my shoulders, which
are getting too old to bear so heavy a weight."

"I trust, sire, that they will not have to bear the burden much
longer. Just at present Russia and Austria are doubtless encouraged
by success; but the strain must be heavy on them also, and another
defeat might well cause them to doubt whether it is worthwhile to
continue to make sacrifices that produce such small results."

"Heaven grant that it may be so!" the king said earnestly. "God
knows that I never wanted this war, and that from the day it began
I have eagerly grasped every chance that presented itself of making
peace, short of the dismemberment of my kingdom. I would at this
moment willingly accede to any terms, however onerous, in order to
secure peace for my country."

Chapter 20: Torgau.

After many marches and quick blows at the Confederate armies, and
driving them beyond the borders of Saxony, Frederick moved towards
Torgau, where Daun had established himself in a position that he
deemed impregnable. It had been Prince Henry's camp during the
previous autumn, and Daun had in vain beleaguered it. Hulsen had
made it his headquarters during the summer.

Torgau was an old-fashioned town, surrounded by tracts of pine
wood, with pleasant villages and much well-cultivated land. The
town rose above the Elbe, on the shoulder of a broad eminence
called the Siptitz. This height stands nearly a mile from the
river. On the western and southern side of the town are a series of
lakes and quagmires, the remains of an old course of the Elbe.

Set on Siptitz's heights was Daun's camp, girt about by
intrenchments. The hill was mostly covered with vineyards. Its
height was some two hundred feet above the general level of the
country, and its area some five or six square miles. Covered, as
its flanks were, by heights, woods, ponds, and morasses, the
position was an extremely strong one, so much so that Daun had not