Another　grenadier；　who　had　lost　both　legs；　lay　upon　the　ground　weltering　in　his　blood；　quietly　smoking　his　pipe。　An　Austrian　general　galloping　by　held　in　his　horse　and　looked　in　amazement　at　the　soldier。　〃How　is　it　possible；　comrade；〃　said　he；　〃that　in　your　fearful　condition　you　can　smoke？　Death　is　near　to　you。〃
  Taking　the　pipe　from　his　mouth；　the　grenadier　answered　with　white；　trembling　lips：　〃Well；　and　what　of　it？　Do　I　not　die　for　my　king？〃
  Where　the　danger　was　the　greatest；　there　was　the　king　encouraging　his　soldiers。　When　a　column　was　seen　to　reel；　there　was　Frederick　in　their　midst　inspiring　new　courage　by　his　presence。　The　king　was　the　soul　of　his　army；　and　as　his　soul　was　sans　peur　et　sans　reproche；　the　army　was　victorious。　Napoleon；　speaking　of　this　battle；　says：　〃Cette　bataille　de　Leuthen　est　propre　a　immortaliser　le　caractere　moral　de　Frederic；　et　met　a　jour　ses　grands　talents　militaires。〃　And　somewhat　later；　he　says：　〃Cette　bataille　etait　un　chef　d'oeuvre　de　mouvements；　de　manoeuvres；　et　de　resolution；　seul　elle　suffirait　pour　immortaliser　Frederic；　et　lui　donne　un　rang　parmi　les　plus　grands　generaux！〃
  The　victory　was　gained。　The　defeated　Austrians　fled　in　haste；　leaving　a　hundred　cannon；　fifty　banners；　and　more　than　twenty　thousand　prisoners　in　the　hands　of　the　Prussians；　while　upon　the　battle…field　six　thousand　of　their　dead　and　wounded　were　lying；　with　but　two　thousand　dead　and　wounded　Prussians。　The　victory　belonged　to　Prussia。　They　had　all　distinguished　themselves；　the　king　and　every　common　soldier　had　done　his　duty。　Frederick；　accompanied　by　his　staff；　to　which　Lieutenant　Frankenberg　and　his　fifty　men　did　not　now　belong；　passed　the　bloody；　smoking　battle…field。　His　countenance　was　sparkling　with　joyhis　eyes　shone　like　stars。　He　seemed　looking　for　some　one　to　whom　to　open　his　grateful　heart。
  He　who　had　given　most　assistance　in　the　battle　was　Prince　Moritz　von　Dessau；　whom　at　the　battle　of　Collin　the　king　had　threatened　with　his　sword；　and　with　whom　he　had　ever　since　been　angry　because　his　prophecy　proved　true。　But　there　was　no　anger　now　in　the　king's　heart；　and　as　he　had；　in　the　presence　of　all　his　staff；　threatened　the　prince；　he　wished　also　in　their　presence　to　thank　and　reward　him。　The　prince　was　at　a　slight　distance　from　him；　so　busily　engaged　in　giving　orders　that　he　did　not　perceive　the　king　until　he　was　quite　close　to　him。
  〃I　congratulate　you　upon　this　victory；〃　said　the　king；　in　a　loud　voice〃I　congratulate　you；　field…marshal。〃
  The　prince　bowed　in　a　silent；　absent　manner；　and　continued　to　give　his　orders。
  The　king；　raising　his　voice；　said：　〃Do　you　not　hear；　field…marshal？　I　congratulate　you！〃
  The　prince　looked　hastily　at　the　king。　〃How？　Your　majesty；〃　said　he；　doubtfully；　〃has　appointed　me〃
  〃My　field…marshal；〃　said　the　king；　interrupting　him。　〃And　well　have　you　deserved　this　promotion；　you　have　assisted　me　in　this　battle　as　I　have　never　before　been　assisted。〃　He　grasped　the　prince's　hand　and　pressed　it　tenderly；　and　there　were　tears　of　emotion　not　only　in　the　eyes　of　the　new　field…marshal；　but　also　in　those　of　the　king。
  A　fearful　day's　work　was　finishedhow　fearful；　could　be　seen　by　the　wounded；　the　dying　lying　pell…mell　upon　the　battle…field　amidst　the　dead；　too　exhausted　to　move。　But　the　day　had　passed。　The　cries　and　shouts　of　the　flying　enemy　had　now　ceasedthe　victory；　the　battle…　field；　belonged　to　the　Prussians。　What　was　now　most　needed　by　them　was　an　hour's　rest。　Above　the　bloody　battle…field；　above　the　dying；　the　sleeping；　the　groaning；　the　sighing；　now　rose　the　moon　grandly；　solemnly；　as　if　to　console　the　dead　and　to　lead　the　living　to　raise　their　grateful　prayers　to　heaven。　And　grateful　praise　ascended　above　that　nightthanks　for　the　preservation　of　their　own　and　their　friends'　livesthanks　for　their　hero's　victory。　Side　by　side；　whispering　in　low　tones；　lay　the　soldiersfor　the　hour　seemed　to　all　too　solemn　to　be　broken　by　any　loud　sound。
  No　hearts　were　so　full　of　gratitude　and　joy　as　those　of　Charles　Henry　Buschman　and　Fritz　Kober。　In　the　pressure　of　the　battle　they　had　been　separated　and　had　not　again　met　during　the　engagement。　In　vain　they　had　sought　and　called　upon　one　another；　and　each　one　thought　of　the　fearful　possibility　that　the　other　had　fallen。　At　last　they　stumbled　upon　each　other。　With　shouts　of　joy　they　rushed　into　each　other's　arms。
  〃You　are　not　wounded；　Fritz　Kober？〃　said　Charles　Henry；　with　a　beating　heart。
  〃I　am　unharmed；　but　you；　my　friend？〃
  〃Only　a　little　cut　in　the　hand；　nothing　more。　How　many　prisoners　did　you　take？〃
  〃Seven；　Charles　Henry。〃
  〃You　will　be　promoted！　You　will　be　an　officer！〃
  〃Not　unless　you　are　also。　How　many　prisoners　did　you　take？〃
  〃I　am　not　sure；　Fritz；　I　think　there　were　nine。　But　the　captain　will　know。〃
  〃We　will　both　be　promoted；　the　king　promised　it；　and　now　I　am　willing　to　accept　it。〃
  〃But　what　is　this　to　us　now；　my　friend？〃　said　Charles　Henry；　〃we　have　found　one　another；　and　I　am　indifferent　to　all　else。〃
  〃You　are　right；　Charles　Henry；　this　has　been　a　fearful；　a　terrible　day。　My　knees　tremble　beneath　melet　us　rest　a　while。〃
  He　laid　himself　upon　the　ground。　Charles　Henry　knelt　beside　him；　laying　one　hand　upon　his　shoulder；　and　looked　at　the　starry　sky；　a　holy　smile　glorified　his　countenance。　As　he　gazed　at　the　moon；　tender　feelings　were　at　work　in　his　heart。　He　thought　of　his　distant　homeof　the　graves　of　his　loved　parents；　upon　which　the　moon　was　now　shining　as　brightly　as　upon　this　bloody　battle…field。　He　thought　how　kind　and　merciful　God　had　been　to　preserve　his　friend；　his　only　consolation；　the　one　joy　of　his　weary；　lonesome　life。　The　solemn　stillness　by　which　he　was　surrounded；　the　bright　moon；　light　which　illuminated　the　battle…field；　the　thought　of　the　hard　struggle　of　the　past　day；　all　acted　strongly　upon　his　feelings。　The　brave；　daring　soldier；　Charles　Henry　Buschman；　was　once　more　transformed　into　the　gentle；　soft…hearted　Anna　Sophia　Detzloff；　now；　when　danger　was　past；　she　felt　herself　a　weak；　trembling　woman。　Deep；　inexpressible　emotion；　earnest　prayers　to　God；　were　busy　in　Anna　Sophia's　heart。
  Kneeling　upon　the　ground；　resting　on　her　friend；　she　raised　her　eyes　heavenward；　and　commenced　singing　in　an　earnest；　impassioned　tone　that　glorious　hymn；　〃Thanks　unto　God！〃　Fritz　Kober；　actuated　by　the　same　feelings；　joined　in　the　hymn；　and　here　and　there　a　comrade　lent　his　voice　to　swell　the　anthem；　it　became　stronger；　louder；　until　at　last；　like　a　mighty　stream；　it　passed　over　the　battle…field；　knocking　at　every　heart；　and　urging　it　to　prayer；　finding　everywhere　an　open　ear。
  The　moon　stood　smiling　above　the　battle…field；　upon　which　eight　thousand　dead　and　wounded　men　were　lying。　Even　the　wounded；　who　a　short　time　before　filled　the　air　with　groans　of　pain　and　agony；　raised　themselves　to　join　in　the　song　of　praise　which　was　now　sung；　not　by　a　hundred；　not　by　a　thousand；　but　by　thirty　thousand　soldiers；　thirty　thousand　heroes；　who；　after　that　bloody　day　had　earned　the　right　to　sing　〃Thanks　unto　God。〃
  CHAPTER　XV。
  WINTER　QUARTERS　IN　BRESLAU。
  Faint　and　exhausted；　the　king　had　withdrawn　to　his　room；　he　was　alone。　To…day　was　the　twenty…fourth　of　January；　Frederick's　birthday；　and；　although　he　had　forbidden　all　congratulations；　he　could　not　avoid　receiving　the　highest　tribunals　of　Breslau；　and　also　a　few　deputations　of　the　citizens　of　this　reconquered　city。　These　visits　wearied　the　king；　he　was　grave　and　out　of　spirits。　Once　more　alone；　he　could　indulge　in　the　sad　memories　that　came　over　him　involuntarily　and　forcibly。　For　here　in　Breslau　he　had　lately　experienced　a　bitter　disappointment；　every　thing　in　the　castle　reminded　him　of　the　treacherous　friend　whom　he　bad　loved　so　dearly；　and　who　had　so　shamefully　betrayed　him。
  The　king　was　now　thinking　of　the　Bishop　von　Schaffgotsch。　An　expression　of　painful　gloom　clouded　his　face；　he　felt　solitary　and　deserted；　the　cold；　silent　room　chilled　his　heart；　and　the　snow　blown　against　the　window　by　the　howling　winds；　oppressed　him　strangely。　He　was　more　dejected　and　anxious　than　he　had　ever　felt　before　a　battle。
  〃The　marquis　cannot　travel　in　such　weather；〃　he　said；　sighing；　〃and　my　musicians　will　be　careful　not　to　trust　themselves　upon　the　highway；　they　will　imagine　the　snow　has　blocked　up　the　way；　and　that　it　is　impossible　to　come　through。　They　will　remain　in　Berlin；　caring　but　little　that　I　am　counting　the　weary　hours　until　they　arrive。　Yes；　yes；　this　is　an　example　of　the　almighty　power　of　a　king；　a　few　snow…flakes　are　sufficient　to　set　his　commands　aside；　and　the　king　remains　but　an　impotent　child　of　the　dust。　Of　what　avail　is　it　that　I　have　conquered　the　Austrians　and　the　French？　I　have　sown　dragons'　teeth　from　which　new　enemies　will　arise；　new　battles；　perhaps　new　defeats。　What　have　I　gained　by　consecrating　my　heart　to　my　friends？　They　are　but　serpentsI　have　nourished　them　in　my　breast；　and　they　will　sting　when　I　least　suspect　them。　Even　those　whom　I　still　trust；　forsake　me　now　when　I　most　need　them！〃
  The　wild　storm　increased；　and　blew　a　cloud　of　snow…flakes　against　the　window；　and　the　wind　whistled　mournfully　in　the　chimney。
  〃No；〃　murmured　the　king；　〃D'Argens　will　certainly　not　come；　he　will　remain　quietly　in　his　beloved　bed；　and