lie as he had been taught in drill and as our service orders prescribed.
“On his raven-black steed he rides,” continued Ejem in a singing and unnatural voice as he set his gun close to his face. “We must act as if we were shooting,” he added, continuing to adjust himself.
The approaching Major Holay caused considerable stir among us, for his extreme severity was not at all in favor among the younger men of the army who were unused to the rigorous military service in which Holay, in former years, had grown up.
“Why is he coming here?” I thought to myself in fear, changing to a sort of feverishness. “Is it because we are lying here so comfortably and not firing much? He’s certain to order us to lie some different way and do more shooting.”
“Now then, fire! Fire away!” in muffled tones commanded Lieutenant Schuster who until now had said nothing. “In regular fashion and—give ’em plenty! Hufský, fire! Ejem, shoot! Polák, give heed!”
The shooting from our division in the potato-field echoed in frequent succession now, and into the air were carried innumerable puffs of white, smelling smoke. The observation and firing were now more alert as if we were Heaven knows how enthusiastic about this senseless fusillade. Major Holay had such an influence over us that we feared him and the majority of the soldiers hated him. His full, double-chinned milky white, shaved face, with its moustache and small
