Daun, however, was miles away, intent upon catching Freder-
ick, and did not know until morning that his camp had been
deserted, and Loudon beaten. As soon as he was assured of
this he poured his cavalry across the river, but Ziethen's can-
non drove them back again, and he saw that, with Ziethen's
standing in order of battle in a commanding position with his
guns sweeping the bridges, he could do nothing. Frederick
remained four "hours on the battle-field, collected five thou-
sand muskets lying on the field, and with the six thousand
prisoners, his wounded, and newly, captured cannon, marched
away at nine o'clock in the morning.
A Russian force of twenty -four thousand still blocked the
way ; but desirous above all things to effect a junction with
Prince Henry, Frederick got rid of them by sending a peas-
ant with instructions to let himself be taken by the Russians.
The slip of paper he carried contained the words :

Ausirians totally beaten this day. Now for the Russians^
dear brother^ and swift. Do what we have agreed upon.
The ruse had its effect. The Russian general, believing
that Frederick and Prince Henry were both about to fall upon



S3^ WITH FREDERICK THE GREAT

UiB, retreated at once, burning tile bridge behind him, and
the king pushed on to Breslau, which he reached on the iSth,
having, thanks to the wonderful nuffching of his troops and
his own talent, escaped as if by a miracle fixmi what seemed
eertiun destruction.
