The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-02

behindY where's my companyY
"Your companyl Why, they must b,
at least a verst from here"
'Indeedl then I must catch then
up"
staggered painfully to my feet
the short rest had given me littl,
strength.
what regiment do you belong to
most highborn one?"
~ am doctor-one of the assistan
surgeons at the field hospital"
II see. But your hospital must b,
pretty far gone on its way by thi
time unless they have called halt"
But what shall do2" asked I, 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 you?" I inquired of my
companion.
"A Cossacl." replied he, getting on
his horse.
We set out, but hardly had ! walked
few steps when l felt my strength
give way again, my legs would not car
ry me, and could not keep up with
the Cossack. Noticing my condition he
stopped his horse, got down again, and
proposed to me that should ride in his
stead, adding that he was perfectly well
able to walk.
1t was, of course, far more pleasant
to ride, but as soon as l was well in the
saddle l began to feel drowsy, and fear.
ing lest might fall off my horse ant
hurt myself tried to keep awake by
talking to the Cossack, who was walk
ing by my side
"And so you, too, We're left behind?'
remarked.
YES" was the curt reply.
But how did it happen?"
by accidcnt!' replied he, unwilling
ly, quiclening his steps at the same
time.
The moon disappeared behind the
clouds, and the wood became uncom-
-fortablY dark: The horse stepped eau.
tiously over the damp, marshy ground,
stopping frequently and snorting, and
could only be induced to advance by
frequent admonitions from his master.
"Did you say that my battalion was
a verst ahead of us?" l began again the
conversation, in order to prevent us
from relapsing into a silence that threat
ened to become irksome.
who can tell? 1t may be more and
it may be less. Halo, stopping again,
are you? Confound the brute! There's
nothing worse than riding horse that
you are not accustomed to-"
"Does this horse not belong to you?'
mo, mine is with the baggage train.
He hurt his foot and went lame. My
other horse was killed five days ago, SO
that l had to take this one from among
the militia horses and have never in
all my life set eyes on such brute as
he is.
'It was your own fault. after all.
You ought to have looked sharp when
you chose him."
Gas if had time to pick and choose
horse at that moment. Stop there!
Whoa. Where are you going to?
Straight into the swamp, I'll be bound.
can hear the water splashing under
his feet A little more to the left,
please"
l guided my horse to the left, and
my brain trying to discover some topic
of conversation, but my poor, aching
head was unable to bring forth any
thing.
What regiment do you belong top
l burst out at last in my despair.
81 am in line regiment Good
Heavens! there is not one tiny star tc
be seem" he added, with Il half-smoth.
cred sigh.
What do you want to see a star for?'
"Why, because we're in strange
place where it is easy enough to los.
ones way, and besides he is coming
after us all the time
knew that he was thinking of tn,
Turks and began to feel anxious. AL
nay drowsiness vanished and, although
my head felt hot and heavy, still tn,
possibility of such terrible meeting
restored my lucidity of thought.
Are you sure that we have lost ou
way?" asked my companion, timidly
"IIow can tell? 1t may or may no
be 50. To the right, please, there's {
hole there-it is easy enough to lost
ones way under the circumstances
D. the country" he suddenly burst
out, giving the horse at the same time
blow on the nose, which made the
frightened animal swerve aside, and in
doing SO knock my leg violently
against Il tree. l very nearly lost my
balance and almost fell out of the sad.
die, but cared little for the pain, in
fact, / hardly felt it. My teeth were
chattering and my heart sank with
fear and anxiety.
"Where are we going to-" said al
last, speaking with difficulty. "Hadn't
we better stop here and wait till tho
day?"
''Oh, certainly; only we might fine
ourselves skinned alive before morn
ing,' answered the Cossacls, grimly.
! knew somehow that he, too, was wor
ried and anxious, SO held my peace
Silence reigned once more in the wood
The only sounds we heard were the foot
steps of the horse and the cracking O.
the dead branches beneath his hoofs
Several times we stopped to listen
The Cossack even put his ear TO the
ground repeatedly, but we could hea,
nothing. Once only jackal howlet
somewhere in the distance, but he, too
was soon silent. There was no wind
and the boughs of the trees were per
fectly still.
81 suppose that our men are bivouac
ing somewhcre?" remarked my com
rade.
why do You think SOP"
ID 7 Il. III I.