CHAPTER VII.

THE SECOND BATTLE OF PLEVNA (JULY 30).

Talks with my Patients--A Candid Kurd--Grim Confessions--How he killed his Enemy--Dr. Robert's Cave of Refuge--He loses his Dinner--The Spy's Death--Canards in the Town--The Second Battle of Plevna--I take a Hand--Turkish Women as Water-carriers--A Woman shot in Action--My Veiled Patient--Osman Pasha's Bay Cob--A Sign of Hot Fighting--The Attack on the Village of Grivitza--Czetwertinski and his Cigarette--Retreat of the Russian Infantry--A Cavalry Pursuit--Mustapha Bey waves his Sword--I join in the Charge--An Exultant Ride--The Retreat sounded--We retire--A sauve qui peut--Horrible Fears--The Ride through the Maize-field--Our Infantry Panic-struck--Osman Pasha's Method of rallying Men--A Timely Reinforcement--The Day is ours--Tremendous Russian Losses--Russian Physique compared with Turkish--Wounded Horses on the Battle-field--Back in the Hospital--Many Operations--Osman Pasha decorated--The Muchir makes a Speech--I shift my Quarters again--Bulgarian Hospitality--A Youthful Friend--A Terrific Rainstorm--The Tutchenitza runs a Banker--A Ghastly Find in a Gooseberry Bush 161