The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-08-25
THE PANIC.
Ey Feodor vasilviteh Piacsin.
he cars army was advancing

A company of Russian infantry came
rushing back. and threw themselves
down anlong the cornstalks, which
trembled in the air for a few seconds,
then all was quiet.
In disorder. without leaders, they had
ned like a herd OF scared sheep, In
spired only by the instinct Of self pres
ervation, the desire to live. And now
they were lying there in groups, silent
and downcast. hardly able to breathe,
listening and trembling at every sound.
insane from fright, panic stricken.
From the direction from which they
had come. and, as it seemed. directly
from the yellowish green wall of corn
stalks which stood between them and
the enemy, came the sound Of rifle
shots. with q noise as Of peas thrown
by the handful on a drum. Some
times stronger. sometimes weaker.
sometimes in volleys came the sound,
accompanied on and off by the roar of
the field artillery.
Hardly had they thrown themselves
down when the bullets began to strike
the ground all around them, but they
ing his rifle in his hands, careful not
to look at his %neighbor. every man
ashamed OF his w cowardice. Thus
passed a whole minute-an eternity of
death and destruction it seemed.
A man in the uniform of a captain
SG1AL III o"ol lilG GOIllllGlu
which had swallowed up the company.
He had lost his sword and his uni
form vas torn and dusty. He was fur
ious. his face distorted with rage. He
had been in command OF these people,
lived with them, loved them as chE-
dren. He knew everyone Of them, his
life, his character, he had led them into
death. h death which threatened
them from behind those hastily CON
structed trenches which We're visible in
the horizon, and they had betrayed his
faith in them in this moment.
He rushed into the corr field BREATH
less, unabl to raise his voice to call
Them back, broken down with despair.
They were all there-he knew it. he
felt 1t, only a few steps from him,
stricken with fear Of death, and he did
not have the strength to call them back
to inspire them with new courage.
h old SCARED veteran officer, stern
and grim though he looked, suddenly
began to sob, and sank exhausted to
the ground, never once thinking OF the
bullets which struck everywhere around
him, almost wishing that one OF them
would kill him.
What was his life worth after this dis
grace? Where were they, the miserable
towards?
The corn stalks parted slowly, and
among them appeared the grimy face
of the old sergeant.
Quick as lightning the captain jumped
to his feet.
Thou also-thou also Stephen An
tanovitch!" he shouted ana rushed
toward the old sergeant, who stood
there pale and trembling, afraid to meet
the eye of his superior officer.
ION, captain, captain" he groaned.
II do not understand how it hap
pened.'
dost not know?"
Tho ,,rN 49, ~t-~el ~ - . ~.
hand raised in respectful salute.
The fist of the officer struck the pale
face OF the old sergeant, but he never
stirred, though the tears ran down his
cheeks. He was roken hearted at the
thought OF his disgrace.
Bullets whistled through the air all
around them; it was ike a hailstorm,
but they stood there, needless OF lne
danger of the death which tilleu the
Whole atmosphere.
we might call the roll, captain"
Call the roll OF towards, contempt
ible scoundrels! What GOOD would tnat
do?''
Call them by name. captain. They
will respond
N with a voice as If he had been
standing on the parade ground the cap
tain began calling the names OF his
men.
Dead! Wounded. Missing!" replied
the sergeant.
But one at a time the men came for
ward n too their accustomed places
In the ranks. saluting their captain
with doWncast eyes, crushed by the
feeling of their shame.
Time and again, a peculiar sound was
heard and a man 1ell to the ground
or wounded. grooming with pain.
but no n noticed or cared. The ranks
closed. the holes filled.
And he stood hafnra them 90 if ho
never noticed the wounded, stern and
forbidding. He was no longer their
captain but a merciless judge.
What have you done?"
The pale faces turned still paler, but
no answer came, the grooming of the
broke the awful silence.
What have you done? You have
forgotten your oath, disgraced your
uniform. You towards. you miserable,
contemplate cowards!"
Bullets sang ana whistled around
them but this handful of. men stood
there motionless. at attention.
We have forgotten the car, for
gotten our oaths!"-it came with a
moan from the ranks. I'VE are guilty;
thou must pronounce our sentence,
captain!"
The captain heard it 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 l let this happen. Let US march
into death!"
He put on his old dusty cap, pierced
by bullets, made the sign of the cross
and said:
Forgive your old captain. brethren!"
Forgive us, captain!"
The Little Father forgive US ALL"
Forward march," came the COM
mand. The Russian column had been
beaten and were in full retreat before
the enemy, who came rushing on.
Their out of a cornfield came a hand
full of soldiers. Silently they marched
on in close formation, keeping perfect
time as If on parade, though their faces
were stern and set. An old captain in
a uniform torn with bullets marched in
front and not a man fell back, even the
wounded rising again when they had
fallen. The trumpets sounded the re-
treat but the company did not hear.
They had sentenced themselves to
death inc they came on advancing.
When they came near the Japanese
lines they charged bayonets and
cheered, a weak cheer 1t is true, which