"He is one of us," another soldier remarked. "How do you mean?"

"He is of pure peasant extraction," was the proud reply.

Later such marches with his soldiers became habitual with Skobeleff. It was thus he learned to know them, and they to understand him.

"He can see into your soul. He can see a hundred fathoms through the earth. He has no fear in him. He will show what he is made of yet." Such were the comments these rough critics passed on him, and they did credit to their penetration.

CHAPTER III.

It was on the 6th of June, old style, that Skobeleff was first seen in serious action on the Danube. At four versts from Jourgievo towards the east, was a picket; and at a short distance the 30th Don Cossacks, a company of skirmishers, and a detachment of sappers were encamped. This place was called Malorouge. On the opposite side of the Danube the Turks had planted powerful batteries, which commanded the river from a hillock and reached down to Rustchuck. For some reason or other, Malorouge seemed to rouse the Turks' ire most particularly, and was the object of the assiduous attentions of their artillery. This was quite reason enough for Skobeleff to like it, and he took daily rides to the place, the neighbourhood of which was completely furrowed with Turkish ammunition. Skobeleff speedily taught the troops quartered here a proper contempt for Turkish shells, and even the youngest soldier soon felt ashamed of ducking down before them. Here the sappers dug like moles, moving up one battery after another; and it was Skobeleff's delight to inspect their

work. On the day of which I am speaking, a large party of Russian newspaper correspondents had assembled at the outpost camp, which was constructed of ragged overcoats suspended on poles; for the occupants had no tents and took pride in nothing but their weapons. The exploits of Bashtannikoff, the officer in command, who was subsequently decapitated by the Turks at Shipka, after being most horribly tortured, were highly entertaining. By way of passing the time Bashtannikoff, who was a favourite of Skobeleff's, had, with the aid of the General, invented all manner of practical jokes at the Turks' expense. Sometimes they would get some brushwood and bind it together in the shape of a boat, and, having placed a sheaf of corn in it, wrapped in a cloak (to represent a Cossack), with a pole by its side to look like a lance, they would send it down the Danube. Soon the Turks would open fire on the presumptive Cossack, and a thousand purposeless bullets would fly into space, the alarm would be sounded and the encamped Turks would rush to arms expecting an attack. Sometimes even Turkish batteries would pour out their volleys on the inoffensive sheaf of corn floating down the river. On other occasions they would throw up earthworks in the night, bind straw together in the shape of brass guns and place them in the improvised embrasures. The Turks, on seeing the first rays of the morning sun reflected from these bundles of straw, would open a most determined fire on these batteries, which they supposed had been newly erected during the night, and thus wasted a great deal of ammunition. Sometimes Skobeleff, accompanied by a

few soldiers, would make nightly raids into the enemy's country, and there work his sweet will on the foe, thus satisfying the cravings of his excitable temperament.

"He is one of us!" the soldiers would exultingly exclaim.

On the night in question, the outposts, standing in a circle, were singing their remarkable choral songs, solemn and melancholy, reminding one of church music. In the gloaming of a southern evening, with the camp fires glowing in the distance and the stars shining brightly above, these songs produced a deep impression.

"Ah! there are few old skirmishers left now," sighed Bashtannikoff, looking round.

"Why, are the new ones bad?" "No, that is not what I mean. grown warm towards the old ones.

But one's heart had

We have crept up

to the enemy at night together, we have lain in ambush together; and now—some are in their graves, some have gone home and become old women."

Afterwards their numbers decreased still more when they were employed in the attack like ordinary infantry, and this special and rare branch of the army was almost annihilated by the Turks.

The camp fires went out and left red patches behind them distinguishable in the dark night. The noise of voices and the conversation of the men could still be heard, but there was no more singing, only now and again a plaintive sound was carried through the air as though bewailing someone. . . . What was that? It sounded as if something was cracking in the distance!

There it was again! And again! We jumped up and mounted. The dry cracking sound grew louder. In nervous expectation of a general action we grew more and more excited. The camp rose to arms, horses were placed in position.

Out of surrounding darkness a Cossack galloped in "Where is the commanding officer of the

upon us.

regiment?"

"What do you want?" said D. I. Orloff.

The Cossack whispered something to him.

Another hundred Cossacks were ordered to mount. In the course of two or three minutes a dark mass of Cossacks was already on the march in the direction of the firing. At fifty paces their movements could no longer be distinguished. The firing grew brisker.

Soon the whole neighbourhood resounded with it; other noises were drowned by it. star flying through the air!

There-that looked like a

"Aha! they have commenced sending shrapnels, the affair is getting serious!"

The loud reports of cannon interrupted for a minute the musketry rattle, these were followed by others and others. The Jourgevsky battery replied. At this moment, riding on a white horse, and dressed in his white coat, Skobeleff appeared at the river side; he looked as though he had come dressed for a ball.

"Is not a battle the soldier's ball?" he asked some one. Now, at last, I feel happy!"

"Can the idea of battle make you happy?"

"What other effect could it produce? Is a soldier to cry at the prospect of a fight? War is our element !"