Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 20.djvu/198

178 This surprising retreat was of great consequence in such distressful circumstances; but he was obliged to fly to a still greater distance. They found Count Piper's coach among the baggage; for the king had never used one since he left Stockholm: they put him into this vehicle, and fled towards the Boristhenes with great precipitation. The king who, from the time of his being set on horseback till his arrival at the baggage, had not spoken a single word, at length inquired, what had become of Count Piper. They told him he was taken prisoner, with all the officers of the chancery. "And General Renschild and the Duke of Würtemberg?" added the king. "Yes," says Poniatowski. "Prisoners of the Russians!" resumed Charles, shrugging his shoulders; "Come then, let us rather go to the Turks." They could not perceive, however, the least mark of dejection in his countenance; and whoever had seen him at that time without knowing his situation, would never have suspected that he was conquered and wounded.

While he was getting off, the Russians seized his artillery in the camp before Poltava, his baggage, and his military-chest, in which they found six millions in specie, the spoils of Poland and Saxony. Nine thousand men, partly Swedes and partly Cossacks, were killed in the battle, and about six thousand taken prisoners. There still remained about fifteen thousand men, including the Swedes, Poles, and Cossacks, who fled towards the Boristhenes, under the conduct of General Löwenhaupt. He marched one way with these fugitive troops; and the king took another road with some of his horse.