Page:Albert Beaumont - Heroic Story of the Czecho-Slovak Legions - 1919.djvu/11

 down. “We are Czechs,“ was the cry, as the men ran to get behind the Russians, and nothing now would keep them back. Our most exemplary group was the band, which kept together, every man clinging to his musical instrument as the one thing to be saved. The Russians pointed the direction we were to take, and our men lost no time getting to the opposite hill. The first stragglers had hardly reached it when there was a change. The Austrian Gunners had observed the movements of our regiment. A whole regiment surrendering with its band and banner could not pass unobserved. In an instant the guns of the 27th and 59th Regiments to our right and left that still remained in position opened fire on our men. But it was too late!

The regiment got safely over the hill opposite, and the men looked radiant. It was too much for them. The national song burst out spontaneously, our own flag waved around a small group, and the men of our band stood up and played our hymn, leading the march farther into the Russian lines. As we passed, the Russians looked on in wonder, and the word went round that we were Czechs, and some Russians cheered. The “Children of Prague“ had done their duty. Only ten had been defaulters, and we were sorry for them. The rest were safe. It was no small thing to keep one's nerves, for the private to keep his eye on his officer, and for the officer to keep his eye on the private, in the midst of the most furious of battles. To stand the strain, even for half an hour, of remaining firm and inactive in the midst of furious tumult was an act of sublime bravery and self-possession, and when the ordeal was over and our nerves instrung, the first relief was to burst out into song, and to feel that though prisoners, we were “free“.