The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-03

pipes and tobacco, and litter of straw
to sleep upon. We had seventy mile
drive before us, but our map showed sew.
eral villages en- route, so we felt little
anxiety regarding the possibility Of find
ing food. Just before shutdown we struck
the road which began to wind and wrig-
gle up the famous Bovan Pass one OF
the keys Of Morava valley, which is the
only communication between eastern and
southeastern Servia. The valley was at
this time jealousy guarded by outposts,
for at every few hundred yards we were
challenged. The night was far advanced
when we came to Banja, where we sept.
E,a,,y the next morning we passed the
hot springs Of the place, which bathed the
Romans before the Prophet OF Islam was
even thought Of. The therman springs
were still steaming away thru the noies
in the old Turkish cupolas OF the oath-
house as we passed by. meekly sus
eested to my comrade that we might stay
awhile and soak in the genial warmth OF
the waters, for I had not enjoyed
warm bath for weeks; but my friend was
too much Of an old campa1gner FOR such
frivolity, and ruled otherwise However,
we were able to procure some pread,
onions and eggs at a village store we
also filed our TASKS with slivovitz, spirit
made out of plums, the dopp brandy OF
Servia. -. -..
AS we continued our journey toward
Tukoyo we crossed the precipitous shout
der Of Urtanj, the highest mountain IN
Servia, while vivid lightning played
around it's rocky TANKS, and a storm OF
rain burst over us. making the abominable
road we were travelling the veritable bed
of a torrent For hours we tramped be-
hind our wagon, keeping the wheels from
locking in the deep ruts. or assisting the
horses up the steep incline, scrambhng
and winding over and thru crags and up
and down watercourses, the driver Joining
us whenever we had a declivity to negoti-
ate, when we would all three hang on to
the cart to prevent the horses rolling
down the almost perpendicular slope.
After one final struggle over rugged
shoulder we struck the course Of the
Krivovinsky Tirnok, and drove along its
fertile valley.
We now turned into our cart for lit
| tie rest, and lay In the reek Of the straw;
| but the incessant humping of our spring
| less bed and the appalling craving for
| food, kept us awake the remainder Of the
| night This latter misery was almost I'M
| bearable, for we had not eaten all day.
Our meager rations purchased at Banja
were soon consumed, and there was nc
food to be got elsewhere en- route. The
fear Of the Turkish bashi bazouks had
driven from their homesteads the in
| habitants Of the villages we passed thru
| rounded by luxuriant autumn crops ready
| for the reaper, but there was no one tt
reap. Neither Turk nor Serb dare ven
| ture into this debatable zone to rescue
those splendid crops from rotting an6
wasting where they stood.
It was dawn Of the third day out from
belgrade when our fan1shed horse:
staggered into the Servian bivouac at thu
village of Sarbanovac. We readily
tumbled out Of our wretched cart ant
which had been falling all thru the nigh
had only just ceased The headquarter.
flag hung limp and detected over tn,
schoolhouse, and in its courtyard an<
scattered over an adjacent field were tn,
baggage wagons Of the staff, sihouettet
against a few spluttering camp fires
Tho still dark, the camp was alive, ant
dripping orderlies on shaggy mountai,
tats kept ambl1ng up to the schoolhous
and trotting off with dispatches
Aching in every joint with the merciles
; Jog Of our rough cart, and shuddering II
our soaking garments. I, for one, fel
| little enthusiasm at the prospect Of tn
coming encounter with the Turks,
, tits tommy rot,'' thought I, "hghtin
In this abominable weather. Why doesn'
Dochtouroff put off the event till the mex
fine day."
, Cold and hunger do not Civ cone TIL
I proper stomach for adventure, and I fel
> about as detected as that limp rag lap
ping the roof Of the school house. At las
came the gray light of dawn.
"Hulloa, Is that you, Villiers?" erie
, a familiar voice from an ambulance car
r stuck two feet in g. quaEmire.