The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-29
THE COSSACK.
A Doctors Renaissance OF the
RussO-Turkish War.

4
copyright, 1893. by the Author.l
We were retreating. We had teen
on our feet all day long. marching
through the strange country, happily
ignorant of the fact that instead Of go
ing on we were going back. It was
about noon that the terrible news was
| proclaimed. Towards night felt as if
we had been rctreating before the Gne-
my during whole week.
| l 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-
| OBS, but would not give in.
The night was fast closing in, but
| not a word has been said about bivt,uac-
ing. had hoped that the cool OF the
evening would make me feel better,
but l was mistaken; the fever kept ris-
ing and was becoming slightly de,firi-
GUS, but l still kept on WALKING and Try
ing to persuade myself that was qtdte
right in doing SO. / was terribly afr aid
of lying down, because had taken it
into my head that it would cause my
death. Ny bead was burning, and l
felt as if lsnnd1edweight We're tied to
each of my feet Nobody cared for me,
for everybody was fully occupied with
his own affairs
The night came atlast but it was
different from the nights in the north.
There was no twilight, no gloaning.
The firing ceased. lark heavy clouds
seemed to be resting on the tops of the
trees. The ground beneath our feet
exhaled peculiarly damp and musty
smell 1 was still hobbLng along,
stralning every muscle and erve to the
utmost, unable for the life of me to
remember where I 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 / here?
now! My sister, Varya, has just come
in from her lesson: she takes her music
out of t. g 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
bright eyes fixed on her; everybody
understands her except myself; [
cannot make out what she is talk
ing about to save my life. 1 suppose
my headache and fever make me feel
SO stupid. Why don't they tie q
wet towel round my head? Who was
that pushing me just now? 1t may
have been either a tree or soldier. No.
the tree was on the other side Of
the road. Oh, I say-there's K.slya
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? I was never a good
mathematician; that is the reason why
I never could learn to skate-or is it be-
cause I am afraid? If had Known
that we were going to retreat at night
I should never have enlisted. How
nice it would be to rest here for mo-
ment, till my strength came back-but
if sit down I shall be crushed to
death. Surprising am left behind!
And what queer wood this one is.
What pretty little glade that is I'M the
pinewood at home and so sunny and
dry What is that bright spot over
there? l must be dreaming and feverish.
am sure I have got typhoid fever.
Who will attend me in my ILLNESS? l
think shall ask Nicolai Vassilyevitch,
but on the whole it's the sam TO me-
the hospital beds are very con Portable.
Who was that calling to me just now
What are you lying down there fcr?'
He must have bee n an officer. because
the soldiers have different voices / am
comipa. I only wanted to rest for
little while. How should like glass
Ct lemonade now-not that stuff they
sell in bottles, but Of the kind which
ny 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 it be too sweet. pray. l
do not like sugar. because have such
pain in my side"
Good Heavens! He's aliver' said a
voice. close to my ear. l 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?' l asked, trying to
remember where I was
''Why. you have been left behind,
most highborn one" said the man who
was STOPPING over me-
81 ara i'll Have I really been left
behind? Where's my company?"
Your company! Why. they must be
at least a verst from here"
"Indeedl then I must catch them
up"
l staggered painfully to my feet |
the short rest had given me . little |
strength.
What regiment do you belong to,
most highborn one?'
II am doctor-one of the assistant |
surgeons at the field hospital"
81 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 /. 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?" inquired of my
companion.
"a Cossack." replied he. getting on
his horse.
We set out, but hardly had walked
a few steps when l felt my strength
give way again, my legs would not car