František Xaver Svoboda

“ Hardly had we rejoined our company when our Captain, with ruddy face, rode out on his horse. Schuster stepped forward and announced to him what had happened.
“I know,” answered the Captain severely. “The shot came from our division. The bullet found in the breast of Major Holay is our bullet.” Then he turned to us. “Who did it?” he asked, raising himself on his stout mare.
No one answered. “Let him announce himself!” he shouted. Absolute silence reigned in our ranks. “As you know, in war there is no time for investigation. ”

“ Immediately Schuster, with unusual de cision and haste, constantly admonishing someone in his high voice, which sounded strangely in my ears, led us away to the front ranks behind the retreating enemy infantry.
We pressed on like animals, obediently, rapidly and in utter speechlessness. We had all succumbed to the terrible result of the unjust punishment, and all of us were doubtless thinking of those who remained behind. ”

“ Vaněk moved a little in trying to arrange himself to lie as he had been taught in drill and as our service orders prescribed.
“On his raven-black steed he rides,” continued Ejem in a singing and unnatural voice as he set his gun close to his face. “We must act as if we were shooting,” he added, continuing to adjust himself.
The approaching Major Holay caused considerable stir among us, for his extreme severity was not at all in favor among the younger men of the army who were unused to the rigorous military service in which Holay, in former years, had grown up. ”

“ Immediately, at his command, his corporal with four men departed to carry away the corpse of Holay. We did no more firing. We looked continually in the direction in which they were bearing the Major. His horse galloping with flying mane disappeared somewhere near the road among the trees.
About an hour later the enemy infantry retired and our division returned to the main army. We went without a word, agitated and with misgivings. Constantly I saw in my mind’s eye Major Holay, his severe, milky-pale face and his blinking eyes. ”

“ In my eyes a slight wave of heat, then tears and powerless rage followed each other in quick succession. I was crushed, but I could look at all that was happening about me somewhat more resolutely.
Schuster had finished counting. Twenty-one men stood in the foreground. The company which had just arrived with rapid step and in unusual order sent out eight men who took from the selected men their weapons.
Vaněk became pale and his tall body from sheer weakness took on a crooked appearance. ”

“ I thought to myself in fear, changing to a sort of feverishness. “Is it because we are lying here so comfortably and not firing much? He’s certain to order us to lie some different way and do more shooting.” ”