Page:Albert Beaumont - Heroic Story of the Czecho-Slovak Legions - 1919.djvu/28

 last man!“ Two of my corporals again came during the night and wanted to know whether they were not to call the men to get ready. “Go and sleep,“ I said.

The Russians made their attack just before dawn. I heard it in my trench, but did not move. My corporals again came and wanted to know what to do. As they were talking there was firing already on all sides. I said we had orders simply to hold our positions. “Were they to fire?“ they asked. “No,“ I replied. I had some difficulty in keeping my men quiet. They were getting nervous. The battle was raging all round. Whole companies were surrendering right and left. The Russians were making progress at all points. One of my men fired a shot out of sheer excitement. I boxed his ears. I took out my revolver and I said: “Now the first man who attempts to leave his position and fly I will shoot down. Orders are to keep your positions and nothing more.“ My corporals grumbled but obeyed.

The Russians had already passed us to the right and left. Suddenly I saw them coming up to our trenches. I made a sign to them to come along. At that moment one of my sergeants started out of the trenches and ran away. I let him go. My men then seemed to understand. They climbed out of the trenches and waved to the Russians not to fire.

I went ahead, and the Russians called out. “Offizier!“ I nodded, and joined them. They passed me and made a sign to me in what direction to go. This time I was decided not to lose my chances. I followed my men, who were now as nimble as hares, and we got to a hill beyond which a lot of Russians were lined up for firing with their rifles. Their officer came forward and told me to get behind his men. I thought it a dangerous position, as the men soon started firing, and were answered by some distant companies. I asked the officer to let me get farther on. He refused to let us go, and said we would be all right where we were. I was standing up, and was about to light a cigarette, when a Russian soldier came up to me and roughly wanted me to give him my cigarette. I looked at him and refused. He threatened me. The officer saw it, and called him. He said a few words to him, and the soldier came back, saluted me, and apologised. I then offered him all the cigarettes he wanted out of my case.

I was anxious to get away. I did not wentwant [sic] to be recaptured a third time. The officer finally consented to let us go. We walked beyond the woods until we got far out of rifle range, and joined other prisoners near a village. I now felt safe at last. The Austrians would get me no more. It happened that I also had surrendered to Radko Dimitrieff’s army. This time his headquarters had been changed. They were at Pilsno,