The watch had a double cover, and was enclosed in a bag of thick chamois leather, a part of which had been forced into the case by the impact of the bullet.
The case itself was badly battered and the works smashed.
I passed it to the other fellows, who examined it in profound astonishment and warmly congratulated the colonel on his marvellous escape.
"Yes," said he brightly; "but for that watch Görgei might have looked for a new colonel."
"We prefer to keep our old one, though he does wear a watch that won't tell the time," I remarked.
Dobozy asked if it could be mended, but the colonel said he preferred keeping it as it was, which I certainly should have done.
We did not sit long, having to rise early; and in the morning, as soon as it could be managed, Rakoczy turned out the regiment to pay the last honours to our valiant opponent.
We buried him in the Catholic cemetery, where I made arrangements for a handsome stone to be erected in his memory. It stands there to this day.
When all was over, the men marched back to the strains of martial music, while I felt as sorrowful as if we had been assisting to bury a valued friend.
Fortunately, a soldier on active service has little leisure in which to indulge his grief, and thus it was with me now.