Formidable, fatal, thinks Friedrich; and yet admirable on the part of Traun: 'a design beautiful and worthy of admiration.' If we stay near Prag, what becomes of our communication with Silesia; what becomes of Silesia itself?
If we go towards Pardubitz, Prag and Bohmen are lost! What to do?
'Despatch reinforcement to Pardubitz; thanks to Nassau, the Kolin-Pardubitz road is ours!' That is done, Pardubitz saved for the moment.

Could we now get to Kuttenberg before the old Marshal, his design were overset altogether.

Alas, we cannot march at once, have to wait a day for the bread.

Forward, nevertheless; and again forward, and again; three heavy marches in November weather: let us make a fourth forced march, start to-morrow before dawn,--Kuttenberg above all things! In vain; to-morrow, 4th November, there is such a fog, dark as London itself, from six in the morning onwards, no starting till noon: and then impossible, with all our efforts, to reach Kuttenberg.

We have to halt an eight miles short of it, in front of Kolin; and pitch tents there.