every time the youth shuddered with fear at the violent sound of the cannon-shot, he slapped him vigorously on the back and cried out:  ’You are not in the company of your fiddle here, my friend.  What a pity you didn’t stay where you were!’ Bakinin then gave me a short and precise account of what had happened since I had left him on the previous morning.  The retreat which had then been decided upon soon proved unadvisable, as it would have discouraged the numerous reinforcements which had already arrived on that day.  Moreover, the desire for fighting had been so great, and the force of the defenders so considerable, that it had been possible to oppose the enemy’s troops successfully so far.  But as the latter had also got large reinforcements, they again had been able to make an effective combined attack on the strong Wildstruf barricade.  The Prussian troops had avoided fighting in the streets, choosing instead the method of fighting from house to house by breaking through the walls.  This had made it clear that all defence by barricades had become useless, and that the enemy would succeed slowly but surely in drawing near the Town Hall, the seat of the provisional government.  Bakunin had now proposed that all the powder stores should be brought together in the lower rooms of the Town Hall, and that on the approach of the enemy it should be blown up.  The town council, who were still in consultation in a back room, had remonstrated with the greatest vehemence.  Bakunin, however, had insisted with great firmness on the execution of the measure, but in the end had been completely outwitted by the removal of all the powder stores.  Moreover, Heubner, to whom Bakunin could refuse nothing, had been won over to the other side.  It was now decided that as everything was ready, the retreat to the Erzgebirge, which had originally been intended for the previous day, should be fixed for the early morrow.  Young Zichlinsky had already received orders to cover the road to Plauen so as to make it strategically safe.  When I inquired after Rockel, Bakunin replied swiftly that he had not been seen since the previous evening, and that he had most likely allowed himself to be caught:  he was in such a nervous state.  I now gave an account of what I had observed on my way to and from Chemnitz, describing the great masses of reinforcements, amongst which was the communal guard of that place, several thousands strong.  In Freiberg I had met four hundred reservists, who had come in excellent form to back the citizen army, but could not proceed further, as they were tired out by their forced march.  It seemed obvious that this was a case in which the necessary energy to requisition wagons had been lacking, and that if the bounds of loyalty were transgressed in this matter, the advent of fresh forces would be considerably promoted.  I was begged to make my way back at once, and convey the opinion of the provisional government to the people whose acquaintance I had made.  My old friend