St. Landry democrat., 1879-05-24
ONE AGAINST THREE.

It happened in the valley Of the Spree
cha, between Dolnja nja-Tuzla and Hau-
PirkQvac. On the road, and on both
sides furious conflict was going on,
which spread itself by degrees into the
neighbo1ing forest, whittier the retreat
ing Turks were hotly pursued by our
men.
After an hours skirmish I suddenly
remarked that l and handful of brave
fellows had separated ourselves from
the rest, and although we still heard the
sound of distant firing, we had entirely
lost sight of our companions and of
the Turks, with the exception of those
directly ahead of us. Rere we were,
fifteen men against nearly twenty Turks!
My Friend P called to me suddenly
in the thickest of the fight, to withdraw
my men, as the Turks were in the mas
jority, and We had gone too far from our
center GA little while longer" I
ahouted, "and perhaps we shall receive
help" The firing continued with the
greatest rapidity; the balls struck the
trunks of the trees, or flew kissing
through the branches, which fell to the
ground. Suddenly, as if by agreement,
the firing ceased; the ammunition on
both sides was exhausted. We faced
each other with unloaded firearms.
No sooner did the Turks see that we,
too. were without ammunition than they
sprang from behind the trees and fell
upon us like wild beasts, shouting
"Allah" The foremost of our men
beat down the cimeters they brandished
with their bayonots those in the rear
began to run away. "Back back i I
cried to my men. Those who remained
surrounded me, and we retired as we'll
as We could, facing the enemy when
they approached too nesr. Soon one
and then another of our company fell.
But then came misfortune. The woods
suddenly brought us to long precipice,
from where there was no escape. Here
the Turks reached us. Their cimeters
came down on us like hail. Our square
of glitterlng bayonets defended us we'll
enough, while the Turks, dispensing
themselves like swarm of wasps, at.
tackled us one by one.
Fighting with the courage OF despair,
we mounted again slowly, but the Turks
pressed ON with such fury that we felt
it was all over. In about ten minutes
only five of our men remained to face
seven strong Turks Brothers, let us
die gloriously there is no help for u.s."
I cried, and threw myself, swerd in
hand, against my nearest opponent. MY
companions followed my example. Then
ensued short but terrible atruggle.
How it happened that I found myself
all of sudden, fighting three Turks,
dent know and can't remember how
and where my friend was killed. I only
know that I ran-ran as fast as could
knowing that cold death, in the form
of three sharp cimeters, was behind me.
If the Turks reached me I knew they
would cut me inte hundred pieces.
wondered that running so furiously, /
bad time to repent having left our troops
80 far behind, and I had spent the last
charge from my revolver. What was one
sword against three cimeters sharp as
razors? NV head swan, my heart felt
as if it would burst But lock A help
from God Not far from me was an off.
Ger, with his head leaning against the
trnnk of a tree, mortally wounded,
dying; but near bim was my life, my
only help-a revolver! In moment it
was In my hand, and had taken up my
position behind a tree. The revolver
had six barrels, and was charged With
four balls.
Suddenly the three Turks faced me
with their menacing blades between me
and them there was only the small trunk
Of beech tree, which was our mutual
shield. Bang! went my revolver, and
the nearest Turk rolled backward on the
grass. Bang and the second Turk, who |
was trying to get up behind me, uttered |
wild cry. At this moment the third
Turk, seizing him under the arm with
his left hand, drew him with herculean |
strength, before him as shield, and,
covered in this way, approached me
with uplitted cimeter. My strength was
almost exhausted. For. the third time
fired, but the contents, instead Of en-.