o see that you are carried there, at once. There will be no more
fighting, at present. Daun has got a long start, and there will be
enough to do here, for the next twelve hours, in collecting the
wounded. Lacy has retreated this side of the river, and Ziethen's
cavalry started in pursuit, some hours ago."

Fergus was carefully lifted onto the litter, and carried down to
Torgau; where several large houses had already been assigned for
the use of wounded officers, while the soldiers were to be placed
in the hospitals, public buildings, and churches, Austrians and
Prussians being distributed indiscriminately; and by nightfall some
twelve thousand wounded were housed in the town. A small body of
troops was left there. The inhabitants undertook the charge of the
wounded, and the next morning the king marched away south, with the
army.

Soon after Fergus was brought in, Frederick paid a visit to the
house where he had been carried, and said a few words to each of
the wounded officers.

"So you are down again, Drummond. Fortune is not treating you so
favourably as she used to do."

"It might have been a good deal worse, your majesty. I think that
one who has got off with only the loss of his left arm has no
reason to complain."

"No, it might have been worse," the king replied. "I have lost many
good friends, and thousands of brave soldiers. However, I too must
not complain; for it has saved Prussia.

"Don't hurry to rejoin too soon, Drummond. Another month, and we
shall all be in winter quarters."

Chapter 21: Home.

Fergus remained at Torgau for six weeks. He had, two days after the
battle, sent Karl off to carry a letter to Thirza; telling her that
he had been wounded, but that she need have no uneasiness about
him; the surgeon saying that the wound was going on well, and that,
should it not break out bleeding in the course of another week, he
would make a quick cure, and would be fit for service again, long
before the spring.

Karl had not found his horse again, but had bought, for a trifle,
an Austrian officer's horse that was found riderless; and had
become the prize of a trooper, who was glad to part with it at a
quarter of its value. He took with him the disguise of a
countryman, to put on when he approached the ground held by the
Austrians near Dresden; and, leaving his horse fifteen miles away,
had no difficulty in making his way in on foot. Karl went round to
the back of the house. The servants r