Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

392 MILITARY LIFE.
And these words were always accompanied by a sigh, which revealed
a sentiment quite different, and one, unfortunately,
which was generally much better founded. An hour after the
expression of that hope the soldiers were suddenly aroused by
an outburst of sharp cries, languid moans, and saw their companions
spring to their feet, crowd around a bed, heard the
officer of
the guard come hurriedly in with the doctor and soldiers
of the guard, and then in a few moments all make way,
and four of the soldiers moving off, carrying a straw ticking
with a dying man stretched on it, then a little whispering, and
finally to bed once more, and a return of the former silence.
In the morning, as soon as they are awake, " Corporal of the
" " He is
week," the soldiers ask anxiously, "... well ?
" and they look one another
dead," the latter replies. " Dead !
in the face.
In many corps, and in some more than once, did it
happen
that an officer and his orderly were seized with the cholera at
one time. And in all these corps I have heard it said the same
scene was repeated. In the evening, after the roll-call, the
quartermaster-sergeant announced the misfortune to the company.
" Who will take care of the officer?"
" I."
" I."
" I too."
" But I said so first, and it is useless
for you to speak."
" Oh ! come now ! I am at liberty to speak
to6."
" But I was the first." "But I tell you.
. . ."
" Will you stop or not ?" shouted the quartermaster-sergeant.
All were silent.
" You shall take care of him," he said, pointing
to the soldier who offered first. The latter gave a smile of
triumph, and the others were obliged to be resigned. The following
morning, before dawn, the generous nurse was beside
the sick officer's bed, and there he passed long days, alone,