encamped yonder on the broad back of their Zisca Hill, a couple of
miles to southward. "What a set of Austrians," exclaim military
critics, "to permit such junction, without effort to devour the one
half or the other, in good time!" Friedrich himself, it is
probable, might partly be of the same opinion; but he knew his
Austrians, and had made bold to venture. Friedrich, we can observe,
always got to know his man, after fighting him a month or two;
and took liberties with him, or did not take, accordingly. And, for
most part,--not quite always, as one signal exception will Show,--
he does it with perfect accuracy; and often with vital profit to
his measures. "If the Austrian cooking-tents are a-smoke before
eight in the morning," notes he, "you may calculate, in such case,
the Austrians will march that day." [MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS.] With a
surprising vividness of eye and mind (beautiful to rival, if one
could), he watches the signs of the times, of the hours and the
days and the places; and prophesies from them; reads men and their
procedures, as if they were mere handwriting, not too cramp for
him.--The Austrians have, by this time, got their Konigseck home,
very unvictorious, but still on foot, all but a thousand or two:
they are already stronger than the Prussians by count of heads;
and till even Daun come up, what hurry in a Post like this?
The Austrians are viewing Friedrich, too, this morning; but in the
blankest manner: their outposts fire a cannon-shot or two on his
group of adjutants and him, without effect; and the Head people
send their cavalry out to forage, so little prophecy have they from
signs seen.

Zisca Hill, where the Austrians now are, rises sheer up, of well-
nigh precipitous steepness, though there are trees and grass on it,
from the eastern side of Prag, say five or six hundred feet.