"Where are you off to? Come back! Where are you going?" I shouted to
the recruit, who, carrying in his arms his reserve linstock, and a sort
of cane in his hand, was calmly marching off toward the ambulance in
which the wounded man was carried.
But the recruit lazily looked up at me, and kept on his way, and I was
obliged to send a soldier to bring him back. He took off his red cap,
and looked at me with a stupid smile.
"Where were you going?" I asked.
"To camp."
"Why?"
"Because--they have wounded Velenchúk," he replied, still smiling.
"What has that to do with you? It's your business to stay here."
He looked at me in amazement, then coolly turned round, put on his cap,
and went to his place.
The result of the action had been fortunate. The Cossacks, it was
reported, had made a brilliant attack, and had captured three bodies
of the Tatars; the infantry had laid in a store of firewood, and had
suffered in all a loss of six men wounded. In the artillery, from the
whole array only Velenchúk and two horses were put _hors du combat._
Moreover, they had cut the forest for three _versts,_ and cleared a
place, so that it was impossible to recognize it; now, instead of a
seemingly impenetrable forest girdle, a great field was opened up,
covered with heaps of smoking bonfires, and lines of infantry and
cavalry on their way to camp. Notwithstanding the fact that the enemy
incessantly harassed us with cannonade and musketry, and followed us
down to the very river where the cemetery was, that we had crossed in
the morning, the retreat was successfully managed.
I was already beginning to dream of the cabbage-soup and rib of mutton
with _kasha_ gruel that were awaiting me at the camp, when the word
came, that the general had commanded a redoubt to be thrown up on
the river-bank, and that the third battalion of regiment K, and a
division of the fourth battery, should stay behind till the next day
for that purpose. The wagons with the firewood and the wounded, the
Cossacks, the artillery, the infantry with muskets and fagots on their
shoulders,--all with noise and songs passed by us. On the faces of all
shone enthusiasm and content, caused by the return from peril, and hope
of rest; only we and the men of the third battalion were obliged to
postpone these joyful feelings till the morrow.