Chapter 8

Every one who has been in an action has no doubt experienced that strange and strong, though not at all logical, feeling of disgust with the place where one has been killed or wounded. In the first moment my sol- diers were obviously experiencing this feeling, when it was necessary to lift up Velenchiik and carry him to the vehicle which had just come up. Zhdanov angrily went up to the wounded man, in spite of his increasing shrieks took him under his arms, and raised him. " Don't stand around ! Take hold of him ! " he shouted, and imme- diately some ten men, even superfluous helpers, surrounded him. But the moment he was moved away, Velenchiik began to cry terribly and to struggle.

" Don't yell like a rabbit ! " said Antonov, rudely, hold- ing his leg, " or we will throw you down."

The wounded man really quieted down, and only occa- sionally muttered, " Oh, I shall die ! Oh, brothers ! "

When he was laid on the vehicle he stopped groaning, and I heard him speaking with his comrades in a soft, but audible voice, — he evidently was bidding them good- bye.

During an action, nobody likes to look at a wounded man, and I, instinctively hastening to get away from this spectacle, ordered that he be taken at once to the ambu- lance, and walked over to the guns ; but a few minutes later I was told that Velenchiik was calling me, and I went up to the vehicle.

In the bottom of it, clinging with both hands to the edges, lay the wounded man. His healthy, broad face had completely changed in a few seconds : he looked rather haggard and had aged by several years ; his lips were thin, pale, and compressed under an evident strain ; the restless, dull expression of his glance had given way to a clear, quiet gleam, and on his blood-stained forehead and nose already lay the imprint of death.

Notwithstanding the fact that the least motion caused him untold sufferings, he asked them to remove the money-pouch which was tied around his left leg, below the knee.

A terrible oppressive sensation overcame me at the sight of his white healthy leg, when the boot was taken off, and the pouch was ungirded.

" Here are three rubles and a half," he said to me, as I took the purse into my hand ; " you keep them for me."

The vehicle started, but he stopped it.

" I was making an overcoat for Lieutenant Sulimovski. He has given me two rubles. For one ruble and a half I bought buttons ; the remaining half-ruble is in the bag with the buttons. Give it to him ! "

" Very well, very well," I said, " only get well, my friend ! "

He made no reply ; the vehicle started, and he again began to sob and groan in the most heartrending manner. It looked as though, having arranged all his worldly affairs, he no longer saw cause for restraining himself, and considered it permissible to alleviate his suffering.