THE SHIPKA PASS. 
535 
had been very much excited, but for the rest of the time he kept the 
whole detachment in good humour with his quaint sayings. 
Little by little the rattle of small arms grew fainter, and towards 
6 o'clock only a few shots were fired by the enemy. The sun began to 
go down, and it grew cold. About 8 darkness set in and we were free 
to stroll about on Mount St. Nicholas, which only those who were forced 
to move about dared do in the daytime. Now, however, when the firing 
ceased, a sudden mania for walking about seemed to seize on everyone, 
and the talking, which had been almost suppressed all day, now grew 
louder. The men went to fetch wood and water, and to wait for the 
cooked food which was to be brought up the high road, not far from the 
battery, and which was to serve for supper that day, and breakfast the 
next. Brandy was also to be brought up. As our horses were in 
Gabrova, the kitchen was also established there, and there our food was 
cooked before bringing it up. Everything has to be ready by 3 p.m., 
and at that hour the sergeant-major, who had remained to look after 
the horses, got everything ready for a start. Six of our horses were 
hooked into the sutler’s wagon, in which the kettles with the food were 
closely packed and tied together with ropes. Spirit cases were also put 
in, and the cook on duty had to take some wood with him to heat up 
the kettles when the cart halted at the <e Red hamlet/ - ’ to give the 
horses a rest before ascending the Pass. The food consisted of schtcJii 
(cabbage soup) 1J pounds of beef, and gruel. 
This increase of the ration of meat had been ordered by the Army 
Headquarters, but due praise must be given to the subordinate com¬ 
manders, who displayed the greatest solicitude in seeing their men well 
fed. As regards the artillery, many and many a time did our 
men bless the commander who took such good care of them. The 
tea ration remained the same, but that of brandy was increased, 
and our men preferred tinned meats to their ordinary rations. 
In the morning a large can of ordinary tea was served out with 
two pieces of sugar, at midday two glasses of good Russian 
brandy, and at night the entire rations with half a glass of brandy, 
with a breakfast of tinned meat of great nourishing power for next 
morning. The infantry used to begrudge our men their better food, and 
say that our fellows lived like princes, and that all should fare alike. 
But our commanders were better able to supply good food, as they had 
considerable means in hand, saved on the messing in time of peace, 
which amply sufficed to buy the necessaries, and which were also laid 
out in purchasing extra cattle. 
At 8 o'clock the cooked food arrived at the " Red Hamlet/' where it 
usually remained till darkness sat in, when the isthmus could be crossed 
with less danger, although many a time the Turks fired on it from the 
Woody Hill, and under favourable circumstances it would be generally 
brought up close under the summit of Mount St. Nicholas by the road. 
Hearing the noise of the wheels the Turks often fired a volley at 
random, and sometimes killed or wounded a horse or man, but such 
cases were rare. Along with the mens rations our own dinners were 
brought up, part of which we reserved for breakfast. The proper 
arrival of the rations was an important thing for the men. In the first 
