CHAPTER V.

THE FIRST BATTLE OF PLEVNA.

The Town of Plevna--A Natural Stronghold--_Le Petit Village_--The Gypsies' Warning--Dr. Robert--An Expatriated Bacchanalian--We attend a Banquet--The First Battle of Plevna--An Artillery Duel--Surgical Aid to the Wounded--A Gunner's Death--The Zacuska--Arranging the Hospitals--Disposition of the Turkish Line of Defence--Commencement of the Battle--Fighting on the Janik Bair--Arrival of the Wounded--Sufferings in the Arabas--Variety in Gunshot Wounds--Some Extraordinary Recoveries--Turkish Fortitude--Objections to Alcohol--And to Amputation--Berdan v. Krenke Bullets--A Man shot through the Brain--Rapid Cure--An Erratic Rifle-ball--Remarkable Example of Vitality--A Missile in the Heart of a Living Man--My Second Hospital--A Turkish Colonel's Wound--Insufficient Beds--Mangled Wretches lying on the Floor--Two Russians wounded--They both die--The Shambles in the Mosque--Our Open-air Operating Theatre--Calling the Faithful to Prayer 114