Stories from Garshin (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ... FROM THE MEMOIRS OF PRIVATE IVANOV, CONCERNING THE CAMPAIGN OF 1877. I. N May 4th, 1877, I reached Kishenev, and half-an-hour after my arrival learned that the 56th division of the line was passing through the town. As I had come on purpose to enter some regiment and take part in the war, on May 7th by four o'clock in the morning I was already standing in the street in one of the grey rows that were drawn up before the quarters of the colonel in command of the 222d Starobyelsky infantry regiment. I wore the grey soldier's cloak, with red shoulder-straps and blue loops, the bluebanded cap, and carried the knapsack on my back, the cartridge-bag on my shoulder, the heavy rifle in my hand. The military band began to play; the standards were carried out from the colonel's quarters. The word of command was given; the regiment silently advanced arms. Then there was a tremendous shout; the colonel first gave the word of command, and after him the commanders of the battalions and companies, and the non - commissioned officers of the platoons. The result of all this was a confused and, for me, utterly incomprehensible movement of the grey cloaks, which ended in the regiment forming into a long column, and moving evenly forwards to the sound of the military band, which had struck up a spirited march. I moved with the rest, trying to keep step and march evenly with my next neighbour. The knapsack dragged backwards, the heavy bags forwards; the rifle kept slipping from my shoulder; the collar of the grey cloak scrubbed against my neck; but in spite of all these little unpleasantnesses, the music, the steady even movement of the column, the fresh early morning, the sight of the bristling bayonets, and stern, sunburnt faces induced a calm and steadfast...