Wounded men, who had made their way down the hill, came
and sat down on the other sides of it. Many other fires were
lighted as it grew dusk. In front the battle had broken out
again as furiously as ever, and erelong wounded men began
to come down again. They brought cheering news, however.
The Prussians were still pressing forward, the cavalry had



TORGAU 355

thrown the Austrian line into terrible confusion. No one
knew exactly where any of the Prussian battalions had got to,
but all agreed that things were going on well.
At five o'clock the roar gradually ceased, and soon all was
quiet. The wounded now came in fast, but none could say
whether the battle was won or lost, for the night was so dark
that each could only speak of what had happened to his own
corps. Presently the number round the fires was swelled by
the arrival of numerous Austrians, wounded and unwounded.
Most of these laid their rifles by, saying, ** It is a bitter night,
comrades ; will you let us have a share of the fire ? '*

*' Come in, come in,*' the Prussians answered, ** we are all
friends for to-night, for we are all in equally bad plight. Can
you tell us how matters have gone up there ? * *

But these knew no more than the Prussians. They had got
separated firom their corps in the confusion, and losing their
way altogether, had seen the glow of the fires in the forest,
and had come down for warmth and shelter.
Presently Major Kaulbach rode up again.
** How have things gone, Major ? '' Fergus asked, eagerly.
