eastward just before ending; and not till near Melnick, or the
mouth of Moldau, do we emerge on that grand Elbe Valley,--glanced
at once already, from Pascopol or other Height, in the
Lobositz times."

Friedrich's first problem is the junction with Schwerin: junction
not to be accomplished south of Ziscaberg in the present
circumstances; and which Friedrich knows to be a ticklish
operation, with those Austrians looking on from the high grounds
there. Tuesday, 3d May, in the way of reconnoitring, and decisively
on Wednesday, 4th, Friedrich is off northward, along the western
heights of Lower Moldau, proper force following him, to seek a fit
place for the pontoons, and get across in that northern quarter.
"How dangerous that Schwerin is a day too late!" murmurs he;
but hopes the Austrians will undertake nothing. Keith, with 30,000,
he has left on the Weissenberg, to straiten Prag and the Austrian
Garrison on that side: our wagon-trains arrive from Leitmeritz on
that side, Elbe-boats bring them up to Leitmeritz; very
indispensable to guard that side of Prag. Friedrich's fixed purpose
also is to beat the Austrians, on the other side of it, and send
them packing; but for that, there are steps needful!

Up so far as Lissoley, the first day, Friedrich has found no fit
place; but on the morrow, Thursday, 5th, farther up, at a place
called Seltz, Friedrich finds his side of the Strath to be "a
little higher than the other,"--proper, therefore, for cannonading
the other, if need be;--and orders his pontoons to be built
together there. He knows accurately of the Schwerin Column, of the
comfortable Bevern Victory at Reichenberg, and how they have got
the Jung-Bunzlau Magazine, and are across the Elbe, their bridges