Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-09-02
LEFT ON the FIELD.

CdH ESI1eLAUeI OuL IusH luOuPL tue
woods, the hummings Of bullets, the
falling of the branches broken by them
and all the trouble it cost us to force
our way through the thickets Of white
thorn. The rifle became heavier.
Though the edge OF the woods we
could see something red, shining at
intervals. Sidorof, ayoung soldier Of
the first company, a little fellow tand
how did he happen to be in that COM
pany, kept wondering, suddenly
sank on the ground and began to stare
at me with his eyes very wide open.
Then gush of blood came from his
mouth.
Yes, can remember it well, |
also remember that when We We're
nearly to the edge ofthe woods, among
the thick bushes, saw hlm-him, the
Turk, huge, enormous. ran right at
him, slim and weak as | aIn. Some
thing burst-something tremendous,
it seemed to me, flew right by me, and
my ears rang. He shot at me"
thought to myself; but he, yelling with
rage, nung hiuSerr IutV i" OK UiuIur
of thorn-bushes. lie might have run
round it: but in his fright, he never
thought Of doing it, and tried to break
his way through the branches. With
one blow knocked his rifle out of his
hand then | plunged my boyonet in
in him somewhere, | did not know
exactly where: something half roared,
half moaned. Then rushed farther
on.
Oar men We're cheering, falling,
firing. remember also shooting sew
eral times. but not until after | had
got out of the woods, into the open
field. All Of a sudden the hurrahs
became louder than ever, and We adj
vanced-that is to say our men all
vanced-for | remained behind. 1t
seemed queer to me that ! was staying
behind, but what seemed still queerer
was that everything disappeared, and
all the sound of firing and OF shooting
suddenly stopped | heard nothing
MORE could still see something blue.
Then the blue was gone also.
Never before in my life had | found
myself in such strange condition ]
am now lying upon my stomach, and ali
can see is bit Of the ground. There
are few blades OF grass, an ant run
ming down one OF them, head foremost.
these are patches of last years grass,
and this is my universe now. And |
can see it only with one eye, for the
other is pressed against by something
hard-the branch under my head.
feel myself HORRIBLY cramped, fright
fully incommoded, and want to move,
but cannot. and it is absolutely i'm
possible for me to understand why |
cannot.
Thus time passes. hear the whizz-
ing sound made by grasshoppers, the
humming Of the bees. Nothing except
that-absolutely nothing else. Final
", | make great effort. | manage
to get my right arm from underneath
me, and by pressing both arms against
the ground ! try to lift myself so as
to get upon my knees. \ lanciuating
pain, swift as lightning, shoots through
my whole body-from my knees to
nv chest and head; | fall back. Dark
ness again. and nothingness.
sm awake once more. How is it
that | see the stars which shine so
bright in this dark. sky Of Bull
garia? Then am not in the tent?
Why did ! leave it l try to move.
and feel an atrocious pain in my legs,
| lift myself and try to sit on the
ground. 4 hard thing TO do when
ones feet are shot to pieces. Several
times try feel like giving it up
in despair At last with tears of pain