ON THE DANUBE

r La ville de Môlk. — The incident related in this chapter occurred a fortnight after the storniing of Ratisbon. In moviug down the right hank of the Danube, the French met with little résistance till they reached the Traun at Ebelsberg, on May 3rd. Hère the leading columns under Mmnr'na had a severe engagement with an Austrian corps under Hiller. The affair was important because of the bridge over the Danube at Mauthausen. The French reached IfÔDk on the 7th. They had lost touch of the Austrian infantry, and were not sure what was before them. As a matter of fret the Archduke Charles was some marches distant on the other side, and most of Hiller's divisions had crossed over : so that there was no serious obstacle between the French and Vienna.

92 le général Bertrand. — The officer of engineers, who served through most of Xapoleon's campaigns, and was with him to the last at St Helena. The tombs of Duroc and Bertrand are on either side of Xapoleon's at the Invalides.

476 prince Berthier. — Prince of Xeuchâtel. He was chief of the staff in almost ail Xapoleon's campaigns. Xapoleon said of him that he was too undecided, when bv himself, to make a good commander in chief, but had every qualification for au excellent head of staff; he knew his maps thoroughlv. could make the best use of reconnaissances, personallv attended to the despatch of ail orders, could présent clearly the most intricate movements of an army. was indefatigably active. Berthier did not join Xapoleon in the Hundred I)a\ ? ; he left the couutry, and died mysteriously at Bamberg ou Juue 1, 1815.

180 NOTES [chap. vi.

477 de se mettre sur-le-champ en marche. — The army pressed on to secure the bridge at Krems — the last before Vienna. Tins was done successfnlly, and on the llth May the French entered the capital. The Austrians had not failed to destroy the long bridge this time.

526 qu'il ne fut pas dit. — The concluding words of the story give a tonch that is characteristic of the Emperor. However, when the perilous voyage had brought news so much to his mind, he certainly behaved well to ail concerned. But it was cruel work, forcing the wretched boatmen against their will. What were his own cavalry about that they could not find out what was in front of them ?