The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-01-13
THE COSSACK.
A Doctors "Reminiscences of the
Russo-Turkish War.
BY MARIE DE rHH.o.

Copyright 1893 BY the Author
We were retreating We had beer
on our feet all day long, marchin,
through the strange country, happily
ignorant of the fact that instead of go
ing on we were going back. 1t wa,
about noon that the terrible news wa.
proclaimed. Towards night felt as Il
we had been retreating before the enc
my during a 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 wae-
ons, but would not give in.
The night was fast closing in, but
not word has been said about bivonac-
ing. l had hoped that the cool of the
evening would make me feel better,
but was mistaken; the fever kept ris-
Z ing and was becoming slightly deliri-
GUS, but 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 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 IL 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, |
straining every muscle and nerve to the |
utmost, unable for the life of me to |
remember where 1 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 food 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?
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; I
cannot make out what she is talk /,
ing about to save my life. suppose
my headache and fever make me feel :
30 stupid. Why don't they tie
wet towel round my head? Who was +,
that pushing me just now? 1t NAV | :
nave been either tree or a soldier. No. n
The tree was on the other side of r
The road. oh, say-there's Kolya =
wanting me to help him to work out i.
bis sum. Why will they bother their :,
reads about arithmetic when the sum 4
night just as well be worked out bv a.
'lgebraic formulas? was never a good n
that is the reason whv a
never could learn to skate-or is 1t be- "a
ause l am afraid? If had known 81
hat we were going to retreat at night 70
should never have enlisted. How
Ice 1T would be to rest here for mo- I.
rent, till my strength came back-but ~
sit down l shall be crushed to 4,
cath. Supposing l am left behind!
no what q queer wood this one is. n,
what pretty little glade that is in the in
lnewood at home, and so sunny and !,
ry. What is that bright spot over -.
,ere? must be dreaming and feyerish. =:
am sure l have got typhoid fever. r,
mo viii attend me in my illness? / -.
INK shall ask Nicolai vassilyeyitch, a.
1T on the whole it's the same to me- O.
le hospital beds are very comfortable III,
no was that calling to me just now -
Vhat are You lying down there for?' e.
must have bee n an officer, because ~.
e soldiers have different voices. l am oo'
ming. l only wanted to rest for a VIC
tile while. How should like a glass gu
lemonade now-not that stuff they
II in bottles, but of the kind which 3.
y mother makes at home, with slices 10y
orange and lemon floating about the %.
:, crystal jug. and lots of ice in it 4.
'iy don't let 1t be too sweet pray. 81,
not like sugar, because have such !.
lain in my side"
Good Heavens! He's alivem said a q
ce' close to my ear. 1 opened my MIC
IS and tried to raise my head. The ;rr
rkness was less dense than before .
the moon had evidently risen. A :.
n was kneeling by my side, and
rse stood few yards further of. :.
What is it, eh?" asked, irving n
member where I was oue
Why. you have been left behind 80
ST hiRhborn one" said the man who Az
S STOPPING over me.
1 am Ill. Have really been left lac.
lind? Where's my compapv?n .% s.
Your company! Why. they must be ont
least verst from here" Co.'s
Indeed! then must catch them ne
talit
staggered painfully to nv feet the
short rest had given me a little cor
myth.
What regiment do you belong to. AZ
Il highborn one?"
am doctor-one of the assistant s;bls
yeons at the field hosnifaI