The Republican., 1893-12-07
THE COSSACK.
A Doctors Reminisoence of the
Russo-Turkish War.
BY MARIE DE THILo.

y JnrOuKH JHc sJrdHSe COuuITy, Hdpphy
ignorant of the fact that instead of GO
ing on we were going back. 1t was
about noon that the terrible news was
proclaimed. Towards night felt as If
we had been retreating before the enc
my during a whole week.
was i'll with typhoid fever. The
chief doctor of the field hospital in
which served as an assistant surgeon
had already advised me repeatedly to
lie down in one of our ambulance wag-
ons but would not give in.
The night was fast closing in, but
not a word has been said about bivouac-
ing had hoped that the cool of the
evening would make me feel better,
but was mistaken; the fever kept ris-
lng and was becoming slightly deliri-
Gus, but l still kept on walking and try
ing to persuade myself that was quite
right in doing so. was terribly afraid
of lying down, because had taken it
into my head that it would cause my
death. My head was burning, and |
felt as If a hundredweight were tied to
each of my feet. Nobody cared for me,
for everybody was fully occupied with
his own affairs.
The night came at last but it was
different from the nights in the north
There was no twilight, no cleaning.
The firing ceased. Dark heavy clouds
seemed to be resting on the tops of the
trees. The ground beneath our feet
exhaled peculiarly damp and musty
smell / was still hobbling along,
stralning every muscle and nerve to the
utmost unable for the life of me to
remember where l was. l did not
know who were my comrades, whether
they belonged to the ambulance or to
the infantry or to the artillery, and
followed mechanically the flood of hui
man beings that was going on in front
of me.
The queerest ideas would keep COM
ing into my head: "Why am l here?
How comfortable they are all at home
now! My sister, Varya, has just come
in from her lesson; she takes her music
out of the portfolio and is telling them
something in her brisk, lively manner,
and they are all listening Even Kolya
has laid down his slate and keeps his
understands her except myself;
cannot make out what she is talk
ing about to save my life. suppose
my headache and fever make me feel
so stupid. Why don't they tie a
wet towel round my headp Who was
that pushing me just now? 1t may
have been either tree or a soldier. No,
the tree was on the other side of
the road. Oh, say-there's Kolya
wanting me to help him to work out
his sum. Why will they bother their
heads about arithmetic when the sum
might just as well be worked out by
algebraic formulas? was never a good
mathematician; that is the reason why
never could learn to skate-or is it be-
cause ! am afraidp If had known
that we were going to retreat at night
/ should never have enlisted. How
nice 1t would be to rest here for mo-
ment till my strength came back-but
II sit down l shall be crushed to
death. Supposing am left behind!
And what a queer wood this one is.
What pretty little glade that is in the
pinewood at home, and so sunny and
dry. What is that bright spot over
there? must be dreaming and feverish.
am sure | have got typhoid fever
Who will attend me in my illness?
think shall ask Nicolai Vassilyevitch
but on the whole it's the same to me
the hospital beds are very comfortable.
Who was that calling to me just now
'What are you lying down there for?'
Lax h..>
the soldiers have different voices l am
coming. / only wanted to rest for a
little while. How / should like glass
of lemonade now-not that stuff they
sell in bottles, but of the kind which
my mother makes at home, with slices
of orange and lemon floating about the
big, crystal jug, and lots of ice in it
Only don't let 1t be too sweet, pray.
do not like sugar, because have such
pain in my side"
Good Heavens! He's alivew said a
voice, close to my ear. / opened my
eyes and tried to raise my head. The
darkness was less dense than before,
for the moon had evidently risen. A
man was kneeling by my side, and a
horse stood few yards further off.
''What is it, eh?" asked, trying to
remember where was
''Why, you have been left behind,
most highborn oue." said the man who
was STOPPING over me.
II am ILL., Have l really been left
behind? Where's my company?"
Your company! Why, they must be
at least verst from here"
Indeed! then / must catch them
up"
staggered painfully to my feet
the short rest had given me little
strength.
"What regiment do you belong to,
most highborn one?"
II am a doctor-one of the assistant
surgeons at the field hospital"
II see. But your hospital must be
pretty far gone on its way by this
time unless they have called halt"
But what shall do?" asked l, be.
ginning to feel terribly helpless.
IF we could only reach the company
you will be all right afterwards, Come
along, / will accompany you"
"But who are your l inquired of my
companion.
"A Cossack." replied he, getting on