SOME SITES OP BATTLE. 
585 
limber. Gretchen he had tied up to the wheel on. the sheltered side. 
So engrossed was he on the service of his gun that some strange 
incidents close by escaped him. The bolting of the limbers of the bat¬ 
tery which followed his across he never noticed, nor its retreat, nor yet 
the disappearance of tho cavalry back towards Gravelotte. Two of 
the detachment were down already, and another horse. Bullets kept 
whizzing around, and many struck the gun and limber. The wheel- 
driver, Hans* chum whom he had known away in his native village 
almost since he could speak, was struck down beside him, shot right 
through the head. Then the idea came to Hans, why should he not slip 
off back to the ravine. No one would miss him nor think of him. 
Why should he stop out there in the open to be shot? Was it good 
enough ? He made a move to go, though in some doubt. But he 
thought suddenly of Gretchen left alone tied up to the limber wheel, and 
—and he turned back determined to see the thing through. He thought 
no more of danger or himself. From that moment he did the work of 
ten men. One moment at the trail, the next straining at a wheel, the 
next staggering up with ammunition. Yet, in the very thick of it, he 
managed every now and then to lend a hand to wounded comrades, or 
to buoy them up with what they wanted almost more, a whisper of 
encouragement. And when he came upon the corporal lying stark 
and stiff—the corporal had been a rough fellow enough, with much 
wealth of guttural expletive, harsh to young hands, violent when 
crossed, feared not loved—Hans thrust a crumpled cartouche into the 
rut in which his head was jammed, that he might rest the easier. 
They had been out, right in the enemy ’s position, almost unsupported, 
for three hours. The cavalry had gone. The infantry were crouching 
under cover. Ammunition now was well nigh spent. Hans* limber 
was empty, that next to it was empty, only a few rounds remained still, 
further down. Some while back he had seen an officer gallop from in 
rear up to the captain and point with eager gesture towards the hollow 
road, and had seen the captain shake his head. Another came rushing 
breathless up on foot urging retreat, but the captain stamped his foot 
and turned away. Yet now, at last, the time had come to go. Ammu¬ 
nition all was gone. The game was up. The order came to limber-up. 
And a strange procession the battery, which only a few hours before 
had trotted out upon the battle-field from Gravelotte complete down 
to the last tie, formed as it slowly wended its way back to safety. 
Hans and two others hooked in Gretchen and another horse—Hie 
only two remaining in the team. Then, by a desperate effort, they 
managed to limber-up. And Hans prepared to lead the horses down. 
The gun next to them took longer to prepare, and the captain called 
to Hans to pass it and move on. It was the first time and the last 
in his service that he disobeyed an order. He would not stir. 
Wounded men, who had clambered on to the limber and axle seats, 
prayed to him to go on for the love of God. But Hans doggedly 
stood still, deaf to their entreaties. He and Gretchen had been the 
first to cross, they should be the last to go. And when the gun in front 
at last got off and with two drivers mounted started at a swinging 
trot, Hans gloried in being left behind to bring up the rear. Even the 
i captain had hurried on, for one of the leading guns had broken down. 
