Napoleon and the Queen of Prussia | Page 7

a definite plan, count?"
"Being disabled from active service by my wounds, I shall repair to my
estates in Silesia, and remain there till I have recovered. And you,
comrade--will you permit me to make you an offer? If you have not yet
come to a different decision, you ought to accompany me, and stay at
my house till your wounds are healed. I have splendid woods, and

facilities for angling on my estates; and if you like hunting and fishing,
I am sure a sojourn at my house will afford you plenty of amusement."
"But you forget that my right arm is wounded, count," said Schill, with
a melancholy smile; "hence, I shall be but a poor companion for you,
and ought not to accept your kind offer. I confess, moreover, that my
mind is too restless, and my heart too deeply grieved, to enjoy the
peace and quiet of country life. I must remain in the noise and turmoil
of the world, and see what will become of poor Prussia. I intend going
to Kolberg; the fortress is strong and impregnable; it will be an
insurmountable bulwark against the enemy, and I have several intimate
friends at the fortress. I will stay with them till I am well again."
"Our paths, then, will soon be different. You will go to the north; I, to
the east. But, for a few days, we shall still remain together, for the
wound-fever will compel us to advance very slowly. Let us look out
now for a dinner, and for a place where we may safely sleep to-night."
"And, it seems to me, I see a prospect of obtaining both. Yonder," said
Schill, pointing with his left hand to a small point on the horizon. "Do
you perceive that steeple? There is a village, and consequently there are
men; and, as it is situated northeast, it is in the right direction for both
of us."
"You are right; we will direct our steps thither," exclaimed Count
Pückler. "May Fate be propitious to us, and keep the French out of our
path!"
They walked down the hill on the opposite side, and then commenced
crossing, arm in arm, the stubble-field that lay stretched out before
them. All around them nothing whatever was stirring--not a sound, not
even the chirping of a bird, or the humming of a beetle, interrupted the
profound silence; neither a house, nor any trace of human life, was to
be seen anywhere.
"It is as still here as the grave," whispered Count Pückler.
"Death probably has already stalked across this field on its way to Jena

and Auerstadt," said Schill, "and for this reason all Nature seems to
hold its breath lest it should return."
"But it will not return very soon, for I should think Death itself must be
exhausted by the terrible work it had to perform on the battle-field.
Comrade, now that we know our destination, and have arranged our
affairs, we may converse a little about the dreadful events which
occurred yesterday. You were at Auerstadt. Do you know that at Jena
we had no knowledge whatever of the battle that was going on at
Auerstadt, and were informed of it only in the evening, after we had
been completely routed? We did not hear the reports of your guns!"
"So it was with us, too. At Auerstadt we did not know that a battle was
being fought at Jena; the roar of our own artillery prevented us from
hearing yours. Only when the king had sent off several orderlies to
order the Prince of Hohenlohe and General Rüchel to cover our retreat,
we learned, from the chasseur who returned first, that a battle had been
fought also at Jena, and that Hohenlohe and Rüchel were unable to
afford us any assistance. I cannot describe to you the dismay produced
by this intelligence. Every one thought only of saving himself; there
was no longer any obedience, sense of honor, or bravery. The generals
were too confused to issue orders, and the soldiers too frightened to
listen to their officers."
"And the king?"
"The king was evidently determined to die. His face was livid, his lips
were quivering; wherever the bullets rained down most murderously,
thither he spurred his horse. He had two horses killed, but remained
uninjured. It seems Fate was too unmerciful toward him: it had decreed
that the King of Prussia should not die, but learn in the stern school of
suffering and experience what Prussia needs."
"And the Duke of Brunswick--the commander-in-chief?"
"Ah, you do not yet know the terrible fate that befell him? A bullet
passed through his head; it entered on the right side, and came out on
the left. This happened in the early part of the battle; the duke was

brought