The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-12-02
THE COSSACK.
A Doctors "Reminiscences of the
Russo Turkish War.
BY MARIE DE THILo.


We We're retreating. We had been
on our feet all day long, marching
through the strange country, happily
ignorant of the fact that instead of go.
ing on we We're 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 I served as an assistant surgeon
had already advised me repeatedly to
lie down in one of our ambulance wag-
ops, but / would not give in.
The night was fast closing in, but
not 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-
ing and l was becoming slightly deliri-
Gus, but still kept on walking and try
ing to persuade myself that was quite
right in doing so. i was terribly afraid
OF lying down, because l had taken it
into my head that it would cause my
death. My head was burning, and l
felt as if hundredweight We're tied to
each of my feet. Nobody cared for me,
for every body 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 tt
remember where l was. l did mo-
know who We're my comrades, whether
they belonged to the ambulance or tc
the infantry or to the artillery, ant
followed mechanically the flood OF hu
man beings that was going on in from
of me.
The queerest ideas would keep com
ing into my head: ''Why am J. 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
bright eyes fixed on her; everybody
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 q
wet towel round my head? Who was
that pushing me just now? 1t may
have been either Il tree ora soldier. No
the tree was on the other side vi
the road. oh, say-there's Kolya
wanting me to help him to work out
his snm. Why will they bother theil
heads about arithmetic when the sun
might just as well be worked out by
algebraic formulas? / was never goot
mathematician; that is the reason why
never could learn to skate-or is it be
cause ] am afraid? If had known
that we were going to retreat at nigh
should never have enlisted. How
nice it would be to rest here for mo-
ment, till my strength came back but
If sit down ] shall be crushed tc
death. Supposing | am left behind
And what queer wood this one is
What n pretty little glade that is in the
pinewood at home, and so sunny and
dry. What is that bright spot over
there? must be dreu ming and feverish.
am sure ! have got typhoid fever.
Who viii 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 yon lying down there for?
He must have BEEN an officer, because
the soldierS ba, a hi ffprnnf voinae r NJ,