The peasants in the villages, likewise, are daily appointed to rim
to the guard of certain posts. The officers immediately fly to
these posts to see that the peasants do their duty, and prevent the
prisoner's escape. Thus does it seldom happen that a soldier can
effect his escape unless he be, at the very least, an hour on the
road before the alarm-guns are fired.

I now return to my story.

I came to the Neiss, which was a little frozen, entered it with my
friend, and carried him as long as I could wade, and when I could
not feel the bottom, which did not continue for more than a space of
eighteen feet, he clung round me, and thus we got safely to the
other shore.

My father taught all his sons to swim, for which I have often had to
thank him; since by means of this art, which is easily learnt in
childhood, I had on various occasions preserved my life, and was
more bold in danger. Princes who wish to make their subjects
soldiers, should have them educated so as to fear neither fire nor
water. How great would be the advantage of being able to cross a
river with whole battalions, when it is necessary to attack or
retreat before the enemy, and when time will not permit to prepare
bridges!

The reader will easily suppose swimming in the midst of December,
and remaining afterwards eighteen hours in the open air, was a
severe hardship. About seven o'clock the hoar-fog was succeeded by
frost and moonlight. The carrying of my friend kept me warm, it is