The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-10
The Faithful Sentinel.
An INCIDENT OF SAroLroS's TIME

Tie French army lay cncampcd only
about days march from Berlin. 1t was
ON the 23d of October. The sentincls wcr,
doubled, and the most strict orders riven,
for tho Prussan and Austrian spies were
plenty and troublesome. At midnight Ii
crre Saiicoln was stationed ut one of the
outpoSts. lie was stout, bold, sllrcwd
man, and Il good soldier The colonel o!
ills regiment was with the sergeant on this
bout, having requested to he called at mid
night, that he might visit the outposts.
Pierre" he said, after the man had
been posted, ''you must keep Your eyes O.
pen. Don't let even a stray horse 90 out
or come in without the pass. Do you un-
dcrstand 2"
cay, mon colonel, I shall he prompt"
'Ihe dogs are all round MS" pursued the
officer, land YOU cannot bc too careful.
Don't trust ,neu or brutcs without good
proof"
'Nevcr fear' was Pierre's answer, as he
brought his iirelock to his shoulder, and
moved back pace.
After this the guard moved on to the
next post, and Pierre Sancoin was lett alone
llcrrc's post was one of the most impor.
tant in the camp, or rather around it, and
he had been placed there for that reason.
The ground over which he had to walk
was long knoll, bounded at one end by
a huge rock, and at the other slopinc awav
into narrow ravinc, in Which was Il copsc
Of willows. Beyond this copsc the ground
was low and hoggy, SO that man could
not pass it. The rock was to the westward,
and Picrrc's walk was on the outer side.
The night was quite dark, huge masses of
clouds floating overhead, and Shutting out
the stars; and sort OF fog seemed to be
rising also from the marsh. The wind
noarned through the corse in the ravine,
and the air was damp and chilly; with :.
slow steady tread, the soldier paced his
ground, ever and anon stopping to listen,
as the willows i'll the ravine ratified their
leaves, or some night bird started out will.
its quick Tapping.
An hour had passed away and the scnti.
nel had seen nothing to excite lis suspicious.
lie had stopped for moment close by the
rock, when he was started by quick wild
schrecch from the wood, and in few mo-
mepts more large bird flew over his head.
"Poryleu" lie uttered, after the night
bird had flown over; could mortal man
have stopped that fellow from passins!"
lie satisfied himself that he had done
nothing wrong in suffering the bird to pass
lie had walked the length of his way two or
three times and was just turning by the rock,
when he was sure lie saw dark object
crossing the line Of the copsc.
"lloId!' he cried, bringing his musket
to his shoulder. Hold, or fire !"
And with his piece at aim, lie advanced
towards the spot where the object had stop
ped, but as lie came to within a few yards
OF 1t, 1t started to move on again towards
the camp.
"DiabIe" cried Pierre, "movc any fur
tller and | fire! What, Tardieu! Le Prince?
lilo, ho; why, Prince!''
The animal turned and made motion as
though he would leap up on to the sentinel's
bosom, but the soldier tnotioncd him off.
bravo, Priuce," Pierre cried, reaching
forth his hand and pattng the head Of tic
great shaggy beast, which had now set upon
It's hunclicrs. l'icrrs recognized the iutru-
der now as great dog Of the breed of st.
bernard, which had been owned in the reci-
menis for over year, and which had been
now missing Tor about week He had
disappeared one night from the pickets, aud
all search for him had been unavaline.
"l'arLlen, mon grande Prince" Pierre ut
tered as though the dog could understand
every worn, the man will be happy to sec
you; where lave you been so long."
y The dog made no answer to this save a
low whine, and 4 familiar noddiny of the
head.
"Now, mon ami, you just keep your sit
ting position there till the guard comes, and
then we'll go to the camp together. Mind
that, will you! !"
And with these words uttered with sol.
emn emphasis, and due meaning, Pierre
started on his bout again. lie had not got
half way to the rock, when the idea Of look
ing around struck him, and lie did so. LIE
l'rlnce was moving towards the camp again.
lila! Prince, that won't do! Stop! stop
or III shoot! Diable, the colonel was posi-
tive in his orders. was to let nothing pass
my post without the countersign. A dog is
something. You can't 60, Prince, so now
lie down. Down! Down, | say"
With this the dog lay fla: upon his belly,
and stretched out7his fore paws. Pierre
patted him on the&head again, and having
duly urged upon him the necessity of re.
naming where he was he resumed his
march once more.
During the next fifteen minutes, the ami.
NAL lay perfectly quiet and ever and anon
the sentinel would speak to him by way ol
being sociabIe. But at length the dog made
another attempt to 60 into the camp
Pierre had nearly REACHED the rocL
when he heard the movement, and on turn
ing he could just see his uneasy gcompaniol
making off. .sx.eg,
"Diable!" the honest fellow Uttered, {"
must obey orders. Thacoloners word wa
plain. Here! Parblue Come here Here
Prince Mon Dieu! you must die if yo,
With few quick bounds the soldier LA,
goNnear enoughstbe dog 10 fire, and as til.
latter stopped, he stopped.
mon cher ami, you inust stay will, me
Here4 Come buck lsF must shoot if yo
don't Parbleu what atliing to- start tb
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