The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-12-03
An Obstinate Captain.

NY story commences on the 9Th OF
Novem Der, 1912, short time alter
the battle Of Wanna. We, the
French, beat q retreat, not before the
Russians, for they were at o reSpec'
table distance from our camp but be-
fore the sharp and bitter cold of their
country.
During the preceding days our
officers had told us that we were ap-
ipIoachlng Smolensko, where we
should get food, fire, brandy and
shoes; but in the mean time We were
pcrishing in the glaciers, and contln-
uallv harrassed by the Cossacks. We
had marched for six hours without
stopping to take breath, for we knew
that rcpose was certain death. An
icy wind blew the drifting snow in
our faces, and from time to time we
tumbIed over the frozen corpse OF a
comrade. We neither spoke or sang,
even complaints were no longer heard,
and that was bad sign. l marched
by the side of my captain; short,
strongly bnilt, rough and severe, but
brave and true as the blade Of his
sword; we called him 'Captian Oh
stinatc,' for when he once said q
thing, it was fixed; he never changed
his opinions. He had been wounded
at Wiiazma, and his usually crimson
face was then ghastly pale, while a
ragged white handkerchief, all stain
ed with blood, was bound round his
head, and added to the pallor of his
countcnance. All at once l saw him
staggcr on his legs like q drunken
man, then fall like y block to the
grousd.
wMorbleu captain said I, bending
over him, you cannat remain here
You see that I can, since l do it,"
replied he showing his legs.
"Captain,' said I, you must not
give way lifting bim in my arms, l
tried to put him on his feet. lie
leaned on me and attempted to walk,
but in vain; he fell again, dragging
me with him.
"Jobin,' said he, 'all is over. Leave
me here, and rcjoin your army as
quickly as possible. One word before
you 60: at Vercppc. near Grenoblc,
lives good woman, eighty-two years
of age, my-my mother. Go and See
her, embrace her for me, and tell her
that-tnat-tell her what you will,
but give her this purse and my cross
1t is all have! Now CO.
"Is that all, captain?"
"That is all! God bless you! Make
haste. Adieu My friends, l DO
not know how it was, but [ felt two
tears roll down my cheeks.
mo, captain | cried, L will not
leave you; either you come with mt,
or l will remain with You"
II forbid you to remain"
"You may put me under arrest,
then, if You like, but at present you
must let me do as / please
.You are an insoleut fellow
every good, captain, but you must
come with me- He bit his lip with
rage, but said no more. l llttcd him'
and carried him on my shoulders like
a sack. You can easily imagine that
with such a burden, l could not keep
my pace with my comrades. In fact,
I soon lost sight Of their columns,
and could discern nothing around me
but tie white ond silent plain. l
still walked ou, when presently ap-
pcared troop of Cossacks galloplng
toward me, with furious gcstlculatlons
and wild cries.
"The captain was by this time com
plctely inscnsible, and l resolved,
that | would not abandon him,
I laid him down on the ground, and
covered him with snow then crept
beneath heap of dead bodies, leav-
ing. however, my eyes at liberty.
Presently the Cossacks came up, and
began to strike with their lances
right and left, while theil horses
tramped us under their feet. One of
these heavy beasts set his foot upon
,,;,,Lt orp, ond o,ushn6 If NV