The Stiff-Necked King, Stories from the Life of Charles XII of Sweden, Tr. by J. Henderson (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870. Excerpt: ... There seemed to be no other way of forcing the garrison to surrender but by starving them out, and that not only required a great deal of time, but great patience, for the Russian stores were very large. Everything seemed to go against us. In the month of June, some Russian troops came to the relief of the fortress, and General Stackelberg was sent against them with orders to crush them at all hazards; but, unfortunately, Stackelberg was crushed himself, and our hopes of success became worse than ever. The proverb says, 'Misfortunes never come alone, ' and we were doomed to experience the truth of the words. Charles had been so fortunate in all his battles and skirmishes, that he began to look upon himself as invulnerable, so that no ball could hit him or sword pierce him. But this idea was very rudely dispelled at Pultava, and, when once misfortune set in, there seemed to be no end to it. In one of the skirmishes, the king was wounded by a musket-ball in the left foot, but no one observed it, and he remained on horseback leading the troops for several hours without paying any attention to it. At last some one noticed the blood running from his boot, and went for a surgeon, and meanwhile the pain had become so great that the king was obliged to dismount. After looking at the wound, the surgeon gave it as his opinion that the foot must be taken off. But Charles would not hear of that, and disputed a long time with the surgeon, till it occurred to me to go for Neumann, the surgeon of our regiment. It was fortunate that I did so, for Neumann gave hopes of a cure if several deep cuts were made in the flesh. To this Charles had no objection. He took hold of his foot with both hands, clenched his teeth, and said: 'Now then, cut away, and don't be afraid ' The su...