A NIGHT OF HORROR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2376, 4 February 1915, Page 3

A NIGHT OF HORROR

The following story of a night's terrible experience was related by a wounded Russian officer to the correspondent of a Riga newspaper.. The officer was wounded during a battle in a desolate part of Russian Poland, and when he awoke it was night, and he was the only living soul left on a battle'field thickly strewn with dead. With great difficulty, because of his severe wound, he got on his feet, and endeavoured to get away from the dreadful scene, using his sword as a support. Picking his way among the silent, immovable bodies around him, he made for a grove of bushes where the Russian troops had been concealed before the battle started. "Hardly had I reached the first group of hushes," he continued, "when I stopped in terror. From the very far distance—at least, so it seemed to me just then —there came the howling of a single wolf. It sounded unutterably melancholy ' and dreadful in the still autumn night. Another wolf answered, in the same long-drawn out, dismal note, but nearer to me now. And then I heard a howling all round me, without pause, growing louder and more exultant every moment. I am no coward. I am a sportsman, and have killed many wolves at hunts, but what I heard on thisnight I can never forpet. The chaotic howling which enclosed me like a chain, kept coming closer, drawing to the centre of the circle where I was standing. I stood, hardly breathing, listening to this 'conce-t of hell.' I saw clearly that there was no chance of saving myself when the circle had closed finally upon me. And suddenly I was running—how I managed it I do not know—towards a group of two or three hushes at the edge of the wood. I reached them and dropped to the ground. I was resolved to fight as long as I could. I had my loaded revolver and sword. The wolves came nearer, and their howling filled the night. Now they were prowling along the border of the wood. In the darkness I could sen dim shadows moving slowly between the trees. .. . They came out of the wood from different directions, and drew together into one dark pack, and stood- thus for -some minutes. Then tnother ' wolf howled—quite far away—and out in a field yet another answered, and nil at once the pack began to move. Without haste, in a little deliberate trot, thevwent-oasme, nast the very clumo of bushes "where I was sitting, with drawn revolver. Not one turned towards me. I watched each one as it went by, nxnectinp. that it would springnt me. Ido not know how many there were, but there were verv, very many —trotting so quietly to the fiold where Hie d°ad bodies were lying. After sunris° I was nicked up nnconsnioiis." Thp wounded man wns ultimately nicked lmbya Cossaclc rat-rol, and taken to a field hospital. He is now recovering, and exnents to return to tho front again sliortlv. Hit he tuMs, though he is not friylitened of the fiercest battle, he would nrcfer death in nny form tlian to go through such another night of horror