The Opposite House: A Novel — page 207: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

202 The Opposite House. Gerrald slowly raised himself; his bewildered gaze rested on the sunset glow, wandered over the field of carnage, the corpses and heaps of ruins, then slowly returned to the broken sword at his side. Where was he? He mechanically pressed his hand upon his shoul. der. The warm blood trickled over his finger, staining his dusty uniform. Gradually conscious. ness returned, and, with a deep sigh, he looked at the aching wound. So he was still alive! He lay bleeding upon the deserted field. Where were his comrades? Where was Haldern? Yes, now he remembered how they had fought—dashed against the hostile square. He saw Haldern fall from his horse ; pressed forward to lift the dying man; he saw the foe dash down upon him ; raised his pistol ; beheld the enemy fall; then his own horse sank under him; he worked his way out from beneath the animal’s weight; his arm fell powerless ; some- thing struck him; then all was darkness. But where was Haldern? Did he still live? Had he escaped? Traugott felt his strength revive. Turning his head, he gazed searchingly around. There lay the Frenchman whom he had shot, and a few paces off, his horse; but he did not see Haldern. And yet, was not that a hussar uniform among yonder heap of corpses? And there again—and there! Ah! He saw several familiar uniforms, COMmicboool<s