Nelson's history of the war. Vol. XI., The struggle for the Dvina, and the great invasion of Serbia

154 HISTORY OF THE WAR.

The staffs of the hospitals, who for nine months had been fighting the manifold diseases, were scattered far and wide. Some by circuitous roads reached the Allies at Salonika ; some got to the Adriatic coast ; some, including the heroic wife of the former British Minister, chose to remain, and were taken prisoners by the Bulgarians. With the army, too, went the Serbian Court and Government —from Belgrade to Kragujevatz, to Nish, to Novi Bazar, to the Montenegrin hills. In a rude Macedonian cart the King journeyed, old, crippled with rheumatism, but as undaunted as on that day ten months before, when he had given thanks for victory in the cathedral of his capital while the Austrians were still fighting in the streets. In his Army Order of 2nd October he had lamented that his age revented him fighting in the ranks with his people ; bet if he could not share his soldiers’ tasks he could share their suffering. That lonely old figure resting in the roadside snow was a proof that true kingship had not yet vanished from the world.