The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-20
ON A BATTLEFIELD.


we could see something red flashing
here and there. Sidoroff. young sol
der from the First battalion. suddenly
fell to the ground. and silently looked
at me with big. frightened eyes. From
his mouth poured wave Of blood. Yes,
I remember it very we'll
also remember the Turk / noticed
when we reached the clearing. He was
tall and stout, and was short and
thin. ran straight toward him. Some
thing snapped. Something huge, as it
seemed to me, few past me. heard 1t
whistle. "He has shot at me-"
thought. But he, with wall Of pain,
leaned against the hawthorn bush. With
a blow knocked the musket out of his
hands. With another thrust his bayonet
far away. heard him moan, and then
rushed on.
Our men cried, "Hurrahp Some fell.
Some gave fire. When had left the
wood, / also fired several times right
on the plain. Suddenly the "Hurrah -
grew louder, and we all rushed on
that is, not we, but our men, for / re-
manned. This seemed strange to me,
and, yet more strange, that everything
had disappeared and the noise had stop
ped. j heard nothing, but saw a bit of
blue color before me, very likely the
sky. After awhile this also had van
ished.
I was never in such q funny state be-
fore. am lying. it seems, on my stom-
ach, and see before me bit of ground.
A few grasses little broken pieces OF
last years herbs and some ants crawling
over them-this is all my world. And
all this see with but one eye; the 9th
or is closed with something hard-per-
haps q branch on which my head rests.
/ feel very uncomfortable, and want to
move. but / do not understand why I
am not able to. Time passes. l hear the
noise of the grasshopper, the buzzing Of
| the bee At last / made an effort to free
my right hand from under my body, and
leaning with both hands on the ground
/ try to stand ON my knees. Something
sharp and quick as lightning passes
through my body, and once more fall.
| Once more darkness and nothingness.
Iawake How is il that now see the
stars shining brightly on the dark blue
| Bulgarian sky? Am not in my tent!
Why am l not there? try to move, but
| ! feel torturing pain in my leg. Yes, l
have been wounded in the battle. Dan
gerously? / touch my leg where feel
the pain. Both legs are covered with
blood. When / touch them. the pain
grows stronger. There is noise in my
ears. and my head is heavy. In con-
fused way l understand that am hurt
in both legs
How did it happen? Why did they not
pick me up? Is it possible that the Turks
have beaten us? try to remember what
has happened to me. first in confused
manner and afterward more clearly.
remember now that we were not beaten
at all but that we began to run and that
/ ! had to drop down on the plain near
the hill. Our commander had pointed to
the plain "Boys. we shall be there, u
he had called ont. And we were there
that proves that we are not beaten. But
why did they leave me? This is an open
place where they could have seen me.
They fired SO often very likely am not
alone. ! must turn my head and see.
can do SO easily as this time had fallen
on my back--this accounts for my seeing
the stars instead of the ground.
raise myself into sitting position,
but this is hard work, when both legs
are wounded. Several times / have tc
rest, and the pain brings tears into my
eyes. At last sit up Above mo are
the dark blue sky and the twinkline
stars; around mo seems something dark
and high. My hair stands on end.
have fallen into the bushes, and they
have not found me. But how did get
here, when they shot at me on the plain
Very likely, driven by pain. l had
rushed on. Strangei Now am not able
to move. and then could run so far.
The big stars have grown paler ant
the little ones have disappeared; the
moon is rising. How good to bo al
homel hear strange sounds. 1t seem.
that, after all. there is somebody. Yes
that was a groan. Is there somebody
near me, also forgotten, with wounded
legs or q ball in his stomach? No. th'
| groans are too near, for there is nobody
SO close to me. Good heavens, it is my
self Slow, plaiutive groans! Am
really so sick? Very likely But hard
" realize the pain, because there Is [
mist in my head, il feels like lead.
had better lie down and sleep Sleep
Shall ever wake up? hardly care.
Suddenly broad streak of mconligh
Eliminates the place where l am abou
TO lie down, and 1 see something darl
and big lying at few steps from me
Something OH il glistens in the light o.
the moon. recognize brass button
Very likely dead body or wounde'
man. All the same to me. lie Gown.
No, it cannot be Our men have no
left the field. They have beaten tn
Turks and have remained in this posi-
ton. But why do not hear the SCUM
OF voices or the cracking Of fire! Blu
then am so weak that am not abb
to strain my cars. Surely they are here
"Help, helpp l call out.
Wild, hoarse sounds burst from m
chest. They remain unanswered. All
, silent around me- The moon has
! mournful expression ON her round face
remember tho bright buttons. IF
were alive. he would have heard m
call. He is dead. Is he ours or Turk
Oh, God, il it were not, all the same !!
And sleep closes my weary eyes.
am lying with shut eyes, althoug
J awoke long ago. Through the THO
branches Of the hawthorn feel the hes
of the sun, and do not care to ope
them. IL is better not to move at al
Yesterday-wss it yesterday?-I wa
wounded. One day has passed, Other