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ion； thousands pressed backward； crushed by those in the front； thousands； forced onward by those in the rear； had stumbled and fallen into fathomless caverns； which lay at the foot of these mountain passes； yawning like open graves。 If a wheel broke； the wagon was burned； there was no time for repairs； and if left in the path； it interrupted the passage of the flying army。 At last； in order to facilitate the flight； the provision…wagons were burned； and the bread divided amongst the soldiers； the equipages and pontoon…wagons were also burned。 Exhausted by their unusual exertions； beside themselves from pain and unheard…of suffering the whole army was seized with a death…panic。
The soldiers had lost not only all faith in their good fortune； but all faith in their leaders。 Thousands deserted； thousands fled to escape death； which seemed to mock at and beckon to them from every pointed rock and every dark cavern。 ＇Footnote： Warner's 〃Campaigns of Frederick the Great〃＇
While one part of the army deserted or died of hunger or exhaustion； another part fought with an intrenched enemy； for three long days； in the narrow pass of Gabel； under the command of General von Puttkammer。 They fought like heroes； but were at last obliged to surrender； with two thousand men and seven cannon。 Utterly broken by these losses； dead and dying from starvation and weariness； the army drew off toward Zittau。
There was but one thought which sustained the wearied； and lent strength to the starving。 In Zittau were immense magazines of grain。 In Zittau； the rich Saxon city； which throughout all Saxony was called the gold…mine； they dared hope for rest and opportunity to recover。
Before this unhappy army reached Zittau； Duke Charles of Lothringen was in advance of them。 With wanton cruelty he reduced the industrious； open city to ashes； destroyed the Prussian magazines； and； with his army； trampled upon the ruins and the corpses of this unfortified town。 The Prussians had now lost their last hope。 They encamped by Lodau； and after a short rest； advanced to Bautzen； which city the king had appointed for the reunion of the two army corps。 And now； one day after the arrival of this miserable remnant of an army； the king entered the camp of Bautzen。
The unhappy moment was at hand； they must now meet the stern eye of the king。 These were bold； heroic generalsthe Prince of Prussia； Von Bevern； Von Wurtemberg； Von Dessau； Winterfeldt； Goltz； Ziethen； Krokow； and Schmettau。 Bravely； triumphantly had they fought in all previous battles； but now； amidst defeat and disaster； they must meet the eye of the king。 This was more dangerous to them than the most deadly battle； and they shrank appalled before this fearful encounter。
Silently； and frowning darkly； the generals mounted their horses； and rode down the highwaythe Prince of Prussia in advance； and by his side the Duke of Wurtemberg。 And now； in front of them； in an open space； they saw the king。 He was on his horse； and looked sternly toward them。 The Prince of Prussia trembled； and； involuntarily checking his horse； he stooped with a weary smile toward the duke。
〃I have a feeling；〃 said he； in low tones； 〃as if my fate was advancing threateningly； in the form of my brother。 It glowers upon me with a glance which announces that I am condemned to death。 Look； duke！ my sentence is written in the raging eye of the king。〃
〃The king's wrath will not fall upon you alone；〃 whispered the duke；〃 but upon us all。 This is a wild tempest； which threatens us all in the same moment with destruction。〃
〃A tempest？ yes！ the thunder rolls over all； but the stroke of lightning falls only upon me； and II am the one；〃 said the prince； solemnly； 〃I am the sacrificial offering chosen by the king； with which he will seek to propitiate the frowning gods of destiny。〃
〃God forbid！〃 said the duke； sadly。 〃The king will be just！ He will see that these frightful misfortunes were unavoidable； that we are innocent。 He will listen to our explanations； he〃
〃I tell you；〃 said Augustus William； 〃he will demand a subject for his scorn。 I shall be this sacrifice！ Well； so let it be； I am willing to be offered up for my fatherland！ Let us go onward； duke。〃 He drew his bridle and they rode forward。
The king remained immovable in the same spot； his proud head erect； and his icy glance fixed steadily upon them。
As they drew nearer； and could no longer doubt that he recognized them； the king moved slowly round； and turned his back upon them。 They were greatly embarrassedundecided what to do； they looked to the prince； in the hope that he would advance and announce himself to the king； and compel him to notice them。 Prince Augustus William did not advance； he stood firm and immovable； as if moulded in brass。 No muscle of his face moved； but his pale and tightly… compressed lips slightly trembled。 The generals followed his example。 Silently； immovably they stood behind him； their eyes fixed upon the king； who remained still with his back turned to them。
There was a long and painful pause； not a word was spoken。 Those who were arranging the tents for the king's troops were moving actively about； and now they drew near with their measuring…line； exactly to the spot upon which the king stood。 He was forced to take another position； he turned his horse； and stood exactly in front of his generals。 His countenance was not calm and cold； it flashed with rage。 The Prince of Prussia had the courage to brave his anger； and； drawing near； he bowed profoundly。
The king did not answer his greeting； and； indeed； appeared not to see him。 A black cloud was on his brow； and it became still blacker as the other generals dared to approach and salute him。 Suddenly； in that tone of voice he was accustomed to use only upon the field ff battle the king called out：
〃Goltz； come here！〃
The general advanced from the circle； with a firm military bearing； and approached the king。
〃Goltz；〃 said he； loudly； and looking as if he wished to crush the unhappy general〃Goltz； tell my brother and the other generals that if I did justice； I would take off their headsWinterfeldt only excepted。〃 ＇Footnote： The king's own words〃Characteristics of the Seven Years' War。〃＇
A murmur of discontent was heard amongst the generals； and every eye was fixed angrily upon Winterfeldt。 He turned deadly pale； and looked down； as if ashamed of the exception the king had made； and dared not gaze upon those whose guilt he shared； and whose punishment he escaped。
The king fixed his eye so piercingly upon the murmurers； that they felt his glance upon them； without daring to meet it。 Only the Prince of Prussia drew still nearer to the king。
〃Sire；〃 said he； in a calm voice； 〃my duty demands that I should give your majesty a list of the army。 Will you be graciously pleased to accept it from me？〃 He took the paper from his pocket； and handed it to the king； who snatched it from him hastily； and turned his back again upon them。
〃Withdraw； messieurs；〃 said he； 〃your presence oppresses me； you remind me of the disgraceful defeat my army has suffered； through the guilt of its leaders。〃
〃Sire；〃 said the Duke of Severn； 〃will your majesty listen to our justification？〃
〃Justification！〃 cried the king； with flashing eyes〃if this unparalleled disgrace which you have all brought upon my army could be justified； I might pity； but I must curse you。 Go； sir duke； I will not look upon you。〃 And springing with youthful activity from his horse； he entered his tent。
The generals were alone。 They looked upon each other's death…like faces with suppressed scorn upon their trembling lips； and tears of rage in their eyes。
〃Shall we bear this shame silently？〃 said one。
〃Shall we allow ourselves to be scolded like schoolboys？〃 said another。 〃Shall we suffer foul accusations to be brought against us； and no opportunity granted for justification？〃
As the murmur of the generals became louder； the Prince of Prussia； who had been standing aside in deep thought； came forward。 An expression of calm resolve was written upon his noble features。
〃No； gentlemen； you shall not suffer this。 I undertake to justify you to the king。〃
〃Do not attempt it； prince；〃 said the Duke of