The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-08-24
THE PANIC.
By Feeder vssiIviteh Plaesin.

- ANNs A&o NV ~ 10 WI ~
ground was trampied down by thou
sands OF feet. and the only protection
and v were the corn fields. whose
tall wfthered stalks concealed friend
and enemy alike.
A company Of Russian infantry came
rushing back, and threw themselves
down among the ~cornstaiks. which
trembled In the air for q few seconds,
then all was quiet.
In disorder. without leaders. they had
0sd like n herd OF scared sheep. In
spired only by the instinct OF self pres
ervation. the desire 20 live. And now
they were lying there I'm groups. silent
and dcwncast, hardly able TO breathe.
listening and trembling at every sound.
insane from fright panic stricken.
Prom the direction from which they
had come. and, N II seemed. directly
nom the yellowish green wall OF corn
stalks which stood between. them and
he enemy. came the sound OF rife
shots. with q noise N OF peas thrown
By the handful on q drum. Some
times stronger. sometimes weaker.
sometimes In volleys came the sound.
accompanied on n on by the roar Of
h field artillery.
Hardly had they thrown themselves
down when tho bullets began to strike
h ground oil around them. but they
remained m~otionlcss. every man clutch
ing his rife In his hands. careful not
TO look at his neighbor. every man
ashamed OF his own c~owardice. Thus
passed a whole minute-an eternity OF
death and destruction u seemed.
A man In the uniform OF n captain
ramc running toward tho cornfield
which had swallowed up the company.
He had lost his sword and his uni
form wal torn and dusty. He was fur
ious. his face distorted with rage lie
had been In command OF these people.
lived with them. loved them N chs
dren. He knew everyone OF them. his
life. his character. he had led them into
death. tho death which threatened
them from behind those hastily con-
structed trenches which were visible In
the horizon. and they had betrayed his
Gath In them I'm this moment.
He rushed into the corn field breath
Tess. unable TO raise his voice TO call
hem back. broken down with despair.
They were all there-he knew Il. no
felt II, only a few steps from him.
not ave the strength to call them back
60 inspire them with new ourage
The old SCARED veteran officer. stern
and grim though he looked. suddenly
began to sob. and sank exhausted To
the ground. never once thinking OF he
bullets which struck everywhere around
him. almost wishing that one OF them
would kill him.
nat was his life worth after this dis
grace? Where were they. the miserable
cowards7
The corn stalks parted slowly. and
among them appeared the grimy face
OF the old sergeant.
Quick a. lightning the captain jumped
TO his feet.
Thou also-thou also stephen An
~tanoyitch!' no shouted and rushed
toward the old sergeant. who stood
there pale and trembling. afraid to meet
the eye OF his superior officer.
oh, captain. captain he groaned.
II do not understand how IL hap
pened."
Thou dost not know"
h sergeant stood at attention. his
hand raised In respectful salute.
The nst OF the officer struck the pale
face OF the old sergeant. but he never
stirred. though the tears ran down hts
cheeks. He was broken hearted ut the
thought OF his disgrace.
Bullets whistled through the air all
around them; IL was like a haiistorm.
but they stood there. needless OF tho
danger OF the death which filled tho
whole atmosphere.
We might call the roll. captain"
call the roll of towards. contempt
ible scoundrels! What good would THAI
ao."
call them by name. captain. They
will respond"
standing on the parade ground h cap
tain began calling the James or his
men.
Dead. Wounded! Missing" replied
the sergeant.
Dut one at n time the men came for
ward and took their accustomed places
in tho ranks. saluting their captain
with downcast yes. crushed by the
feeling of their shame.
Tim and again, "A peculiar sound was
heard and "A man Tell To the ground
dead or wounded. grooming with pain,
but no one noticed or cared. The a
closed, the holes filled.
M he stood before them. as II he
never noticed the wounded. stern and
beloved captain but n merciless judge.
What have you done:
Tne pale faces turned still paler. but
no answer came. the groaning OF the
wounded was the only "a which
brogc the awful silence.
What have you done? You nave
forgotten your oath. dlsgrnced your
uniform. You towards. you miserable.
contemplate co~wards!"
Bullets sang n whistled around
them but this n OF men stood
there motionlcss. at attention.
We "a forgotten the czar. for
gotten our oathsi"-it came with a
moan from the n we are guilty:
thou must pronounce our sentence.
captaIn!"
The captain heard IL and his heart
filled with Joy. He did not notice the
thou" His eyes shone. his chest la
bored heavily.
Children" he said. also I am guilty
that I let this happen. Let US march
into DEATH"
= lie put on his old dusty cap. pierced
by bullets. made the sign OF the cross
aud said:
Forgive your old captain, %brethren!"
Forgive US, captain"
THE Little Father forgive US ALL"
Forward march," came the COM
n.n1. The Russian column had been
b...sn n were In full retreat before
the enemy. who came rushing on.
Then out OF a cornticld came a hand
frl OF soldiers. Silently they marched
on In close formation. keeping perfect
time as II on parade. though their faces
we're stern and set. An old captain I'm
a uniform torn with bullets marched In
frcut n not a man fell back. even the
wounded rising again when they had
fallen. The trumpets sounded the re-
trent but the company did not hear.
They had sentenced themselves to
Gtath and they came on advancing.
When they came near the Japanese
lines they charged bayoncts and
chrcrsd. "A weak cheer AZ il true. which