PAGE

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

I.

10.

II.

2
*

VI  (pp.  34-41)

The  king  inquired  who  had  brought  the  news  that  the
Austrians  to  all  appearances  were  going  to  attack  on  the
morrow.

I  thought  at  first  that  there  must  be  a  mistake,  but  I  see
now  that  the  matter  is  exactly  as  you  reported  it.

Before  he  had  finished  the  king  interru'pted  him  and
#ordered  him  to  report  the  matter  to  Aloltke.

The  king's  aide-de-camp  rode  without  delay  to  Königinhof
to  deliver  an  order  to  the  crown-prince  to  start  at
once.

Wbhile  he  was  considering  whether  he  should  start  at  once
#on  not,  a  message  arrived  from  Alolike  to  the  effect  that
he  had  dirined  the  enemy's  plan  and  made  the  necessary
arrangements.

The  king  rose  at  four  orclock,  and  after  a  four  hours’
drive  mounted  his  horse  and  galloped  up  the  hill.

When  the  king  saw  the  troops  Cross  the  river  Bistritz  to
storm  the  wocded  hill  on  the  opposite  bank,  his  anziety
became  very  great.

There  seemed  to  be  no  prospect  of  success  unless  the
Crown-prince  arrived  in  time.

On  a  shell  bursting  quite  close  to  the  king,  Bismarck  rode
up  to  him  to  ask  him  not  to  expose  himself  to  such  great
danger.

Even  though  Bismarck  as  major  had  no  right  to  give  the
commander-in-Cchief  advice,  it  was  his  duty  as  primeminister
  to  call  the  king's  attention  to  lihe  danger  to
which  he  was  exposing  bimsell.

The  outlock  from  the  Rosko  Alountain  was  better.  though
the  latter  was  not  out  of  range.

At  last  Mloltke  galloped  up  to  the  king  and  reported  that

the  Crown-  prince  had  arrived  and  had  already  joined  in
the  battle.

The  enemy  centre  soon  began  to  waver  and  the  artillery
lire  became  feebler.

As  the  king  rode  along  between  ihe  regiments  he  was
everywhere  received  with  loud  cheers.

Ab#er  a  twelve  hours'’  march  the  king's  grenadiers  joined

in  the  battle  with  irresistible  bravery.
Ac  the  close  of  the  day  the  King  handed  to  his  son,  the
crown-prince  Frederick,  the  orure  poier  le  uiérite  in

N