ention to what was going on around; he was a man with a large nose
and wrinkled cheeks, and every moment flew into a passion at his
assistants, who could not give him his knives, pincers, lint, or linen
fast enough, or who were not quick enough sponging up the blood.

Things went on quickly, however, for in less than a quarter of an hour
he had cut off two legs.

Without, against the posts, was a large wagon full of straw.

They had just laid out on the table a Russian carbineer, six feet in
height at least; a ball had pierced his neck near the ear, and while
the surgeon was asking for his little knives, a cavalry surgeon passed
before the shed. He was short, stout, and badly pitted with the
small-pox, and held a portfolio under his arm.

"Ha! Forel!" cried he, cheerfully.

"It is Duchene," said our surgeon, turning around. "How many wounded?"

"Seventeen to eighteen thousand."

"Aha! Well, how goes it this morning?"

"Passably--I am looking for a tavern."

Our surgeon left the shed to chat with his comrade; they conversed
quietly, while the assistants sat down to drink a cup of wine, and the
Russian rolled his eyes despairingly.

"See, Duchene; you have only to go down the street, opposite that well,
do you see?"

"Very well indeed."

"Just opposite you will see the canteen."

"Very good; thank you; I am off."

He started, and our surgeon called after him:

"A good appetite to you, Duchene!"

Then he returned to his Russian, whose neck he laid open. He worked
ill-humoredly, constantly scolding his aids.

"Be quick!" he said, "be quick!"

The Russian writhed and groaned, but he paid no attention to that, and
at last, throwing the bullet upon the ground, he bandaged up the wound,
and cried, "Carry him off!"

They lifted the Russian from the table, and stretched him on a mattress
beside the others; then they laid his neighbor upon the table.

I could not think that such horrors took place in the world; but I was
yet to see worse than this.

At five or six beds from mine sat an old corporal with his leg bound
up. He closed one eye knowingly, and said to his neighbor, whose arm
had just been cut off:

"Conscript, look at that heap! I will bet that you cannot recognize
your arm."

The other, who had hitherto shown the greatest courage, looked, and
fell back senseless.

Then the corporal began laughing, saying:

"He has recognized it. It is the lower one, with the little blue
flower.