114 TH E LI r E OF 



tillion for a guide, and then went forth to look 

 for Saxe Coburg in the field of action. 



Being wholly unacquainted with the pofition 

 of the armies, I left it to my guide to condutft 

 me, which he did, until, to my furprifc, I 

 found myfcif in the rear of a French column* 

 In fuch a pofition, there was little time for re- 

 flection, and I determined inrtantly to pafs be- 

 tween this and another column, which I per- 

 ceived at fome diflance on the right ; the enter- 

 prize feemed fraught with danger, but it was 

 authorifed by neceflity, as I could not tell whe- 

 ther there was not another French column to 

 the left : in fliort it feemed to me, that the mod 

 certain and evidently the fiiorteft road to the 

 Auftrian army, was through the French column^; 

 this plan I adopted; I therefore directed my 

 guide to look to his own fafety: and telling the 

 fervant of d' Antra s that it was not his bufmefs 

 to die, I advifed him to accompany the guide, 

 (my huzar I had already difpatched the night 

 belore, towards DiejlJ but this intrepid boy re- 

 fufcd to leave me. We then rode on at an eafy 

 pace, until we were on a line with the head of 

 the columns moft advanced. I could then per- 

 ceive fome part of the Auftrians at a diftance on 

 my right front, and nearer and almoft diredly 

 before me a body of cavalry ; to thofe then I 

 fled with all the fpced the wretched horfe on 



which 



