t
Marshal Ney had followed the Emperor in the direction of Leipzig and
came back on hearing the sound of cannon.

The Prussians halted, and the firing ceased on both sides. Our squares
and columns began to climb the hills again, opposite Starsiedel, and
the defenders of the village rushed from the houses to join their
regiments. Ours had become mingled with two or three others; and, when
the reinforcing divisions halted before Kaya, we could scarcely find
our places. The roll was called, and of our company but forty-two men
remained; Furst and Leger were dead, but Zebede, Klipfel, and I were
unhurt.

But, unluckily, the battle was not yet over, for the Prussians, flushed
with victory, were already making their dispositions to attack us at
Kaya; reinforcements were hurrying to them, and it seemed that, for so
great a general, the Emperor had made a gross blunder in stretching his
lines to Leipzig, and leaving us to be overpowered by an army of over a
hundred thousand men.

As we were re-forming behind Brenier's division, eighteen thousand
veterans of the Prussian guard charged up the hill, carrying the shakos
of our killed on their bayonets in token of victory. Once more the
fight began, the mass of Russian cavalry, which we had seen glittering
in the sun in the morning, came down on our flank,--on the left,
between Klein-Gorschen and Starsiedel,--but the Sixth corps had arrived
in time to cover it, and stood the shock like a castle wall. Once more
shouts, groans, the clashing of sabre against bayonet, the crash of
musketry and thunder of cannon shook the sky, while the plain was
hidden in a cloud of smoke, through which we could see the glitter of
helmets, cuirasses, and thousands of lances.

We were retiring, when something passed along our front like a flash of
lightning. It was Marshal Ney surrounded by his staff. I never saw
such a countenance; his eyes sparkled and his lips trembled with rage.
In a second's time he had dashed along the lines, and drew up in front
of our columns. The retreat stopped at once; he called us on, and, as
if led by a kind of fascination, we dashed on to meet the Prussians,
cheering like madmen as we went. But the Prussian line stood firm;
they fought hard to keep the victory they had won, and besides were
constantly receiving reinforcements, while we were worn out with five
hours' fighting.

Our battalion was now in the second line, and the enemy's shot passed
over our hea