met a bloody repulse from her gates. Even Ladislaus did not dare formally to assault an important city of his ally. During this march the multitude of prisoners was constanty augmented, until it became an immense throng. Increasing numbers of starving wretches intensified the devastation until the famishing prisoners became in turn the spoliators of their own land. The population fled to mountains and morasses, and hid in caves and swamps, before this desolating multitude.
On reaching the frontier, several organized bands separated from the main body, quietly established themselves in secure places, and prepared to continue their ravages as man-stealers and slave-dealers. By preconcerted arrangement fixed stations were determined on, the common meeting place being the city of Gran in Hungary.
Of the Bohemian army remained only a few fragments. These discomfited outcasts disguised themselves and straggled back to the desolation where had been their homes. Rudolph early took occasion to relieve himself of the presence of his most useful and timely ally, Milota of Dedicz. This trusted officer’s defection, with the strength of Otakar’s horse, in a critical moment exposed the Bohemian flank to certain destruction. Lord Witek, brother of Lord Zawis, and a few followers slowly and with difficulty wound their way towards the Moravian march. Each troop cautiously approached every other during the day, and avoided all contact during the night. Towards evening of the third day after the battle
