Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/77

Rh time. Such was their manner of living during our progress through Poland.

These orgies formed a sad contrast with our sufferings and unfortunate situation. Four officers and three grenadiers relieved one another in turn, and never lost sight of us. I perceived that General Kosciuszko, who, on the first day after the battle, could walk pretty well leaning upon the arm of a man, lost all at once the use of his legs, and when we left the carriage, this weakness was the more astonishing, as his wound on the head was perceptibly improving, and the pike-thrusts on his back seemed to be entirely closed. As to myself, although my wound did not appear dangerous, I suffered excruciating pains, in consequence of the ignorance of my surgeon, and the great number of nerves lacerated by the bullet. These pains were not in the part injured by the shot, but in the palm of the hand I felt intolerable burning. The whole of my arm, shoulder, and hand were considerably swollen, and the pain prevented me from