It was a carriage which belonged to one of his generals, and which, by

some means or other, had been saved in the flight of the army. The

route which they were to take led across the country where there were

scarcely any roads, and a team of twelve horses was harnessed to draw

the carriage which conveyed the king.

No time was to be lost. The confused mass of officers and men who had

escaped from the battle, and had succeeded in rejoining the king, were

marshaled into something like a military organization, and the march,

or rather the flight, commenced. The king's carriage, attended by such

a guard as could be provided for it, went before, and was followed by

the remnant of the army. Some of the men were on horseback, others

were on foot, and others still, sick or wounded, were conveyed on

little wagons of the country, which were drawn along in a very

difficult and laborious manner.

[Illustration: Flight of the King of Sweden.]

This mournful train moved slowly on across the country, seeking, of

course, the most retired and solitary ways to avoid pursuit, and yet

harassed by the continual fear that the enemy might at any time come up

with them. The men all suffered exceedingly from want of food, and

from the various other hardships incident to their condition. Many

became so worn out by fatigue and privation that they could not

proceed, and were left by the road sides to fall into the hands of the

enemy, or to perish of want and exhaustion; while those who still had

strength enough remaining pressed despairingly onward, but little less

to be pitied than those who were left behind.

When at length the expedition drew near to the Turkish borders, the

king sent forward a messenger to the pasha in command on the frontier,

asking permission for himself and his men to pass through the Turkish

territory on his way to his own dominions. He had every reason to

suppose that the pasha would grant this request, for the Turks and

Russians had long been enemies, and he knew very well that the

sympathies of the Turks had been entirely on his side in this war.

Nor was he disappointed in his expectations. The pasha received the

messenger very kindly, offered him food, and supplied all his wants.

He said, moreover, that he would not only give the king leave to enter

and pass through the Turkish territories, but he would give him

efficient assistance in crossing the river which formed the frontier.

This was, indeed, necessary, for a large detachment of the Russian army

which had been sent in pursuit of the Swedes was now coming close upon

them, and there was danger of their being overtaken and cut to pieces

or taken prisoners before they should have time to cross the stream.

The principal object which the Czar had in view in sending a detachment

In pursuit of the fugitives was the hope of capturing the king himself.

He spoke of this his design to the Swedish officers who were already

his prisoners, saying to them jocosely, for he was in excellent humor

with every body after the battle, "I have a great desire to see my

brother the king, and to enjoy his society; so I have sent to bring

him. You will see him here in a few days."

The force dispatched for this purpose had been gradually gaining upon

the fugitives, and was now very near, and the pasha, on learning the

facts, perceived that the exigency was very urgent. He accordingly

sent off at once up and down the river to order all the boats that

could be found to repair immediately to the spot where the King of

Sweden wished to cross. A considerable number of boats were soon

collected, and the passage was immediately commenced. The king and his

guards were brought over safely, and also a large number of the

officers and men. But the boats were, after all, so few that the

operation proceeded slowly, and the Russians, who had been pressing on

with all speed, arrived at the banks of the river in time to interrupt