The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1857-06-13
The Faithful Sentinel.
AN INCIDENT OF sAroLEos's TIME.

" e.. -Tf. rannNa N-s--M ErHrM ..Er
The French army lay encamped only about
o days march from Berlin. It was on the 23d
Of October. The s%ciItinels were doubled, and
the most strict orders were given for the Prns-
Sian and Austrian spies were plenty and troub-
%iesone. AT. midnight Pierre Sancoin was
stationed at one Of the ontposts. THc was a
stout, bold, shrewd man, and a good soldier.
The colonel Of his regiment was with the SER
geant on this bout, having requested TO be
called at midnight to visit the oatposts.
!" Pierre Z he said, after tile man had been
posted. 7 You must keep your eyes open.
Don't let even q stray horse go out or come in
without the pass. Do you uiiderstahd?'
Gay, mon colonel. | shall be prompt
The dogs are all around u.s. pursued the
officer, and you can not be too careful. Don't
trust men nor brites without coed proof"
Never tear," was Pierre's answer as he
brought his irelock to his shoulder, and moved
back a pace.
After this the guard moved on to the next
post, and Pierre Sancoin was left alone.
Pierre's post was one of the most important in
the caup. or rather aroundN, ard he had been
placed there for that reason. The ground over
which be had 10 walk was a long knoll, boun-
ded at one end by huge rock, and at the
Other sloping away into o narrow %ravi,e, IN
which was a copse Of willows. Beyond this
copse the ground was low and boggy, 50 that
westward, and Picfre's walk was to the outer
u man could not pass it. The rock was to the
side.
The night was quite dark, huge muses. of
clouds floating overhead, and shutting out the
stars and q sort Of f,g seemed to be rising al
so from the marsh. The wind moaucd from the
copse in. the ravine, and The air was damp and
chilly with a slow steady tread the soldier
paced bis ground, ever ard amor stopping to
listen, as the willows in the rayine ratified their
@leayes, or some night bird started out with its
quick tapping.
An hour, had passed away, and the sentinel
had seen nothing to excite his suspicious. He
had stopped for a moment close by the rock,
when he was startled bya quick streech from
the wood, nndsin a few moments more u large
bird few overall head.
"Parblen y he uttered, after the nightsbitd
had flown over his. head, " could mortal mai,
have stopped that fellow from passing 2"
/" Hesatisfed himself that he had done moth
ing in suffering the bird to pass. He had
walked the length of his way two or three times,
and was just turning by the rock when he was
sure lie saw q dark object just crossing the line
towards the 'copse.
!" Hold!" he cried, bringing his musket to
his shoulder: " Hold, or l fire p
And with his piece at aim he advanced to-
wards the spot where the object had stopped.
But as be came to within q few yards Of it, it
STARTED to move on again towards the aainp
S Diable ! cried Pierre, move any further
land / fire What. pardiex! La Prince! Ho,
no; why, Prince!7
The animal turned and made a motion as
though he would jump up 10 the ~scntinels
bosom, but the soldier beckoned him off.
" Bravo, Prince" Pierre cried, reaching
forth his handand patting the head ofthe great
shaggy beast, which had now sat upon its
Launches. Pierre now recognized the intruder
as agreat dog ofthe breed of st. Bernard, which
bad been owned in the regiment for over a year,
ard which had now been missing for about a
week. He had disappeared one night from the
pickets, and all search for him had been ~unayuil-
ing. rr- -. m
d 'Parbleu, mon grand Prince" Pierre ut
tered, as though the dog could understand
every word. " the men will be happy to see YOU !.
where have YOU been 50 long2" o6
The dog made no answer to this save a low
Whine and a familiar nodding of the head.
: Now, mon ami, you must keep your sit
ting there till the guard comes, and then We
will go together. Mind that, will Won r"
Aud with these words, uttered with solemn
emphasis, and due meaning, Pierre started on
his bout again. HE had got half way to the
rock when tle idea Of locking around struck
nm and he did so. lie Prince was moving
towards the camp again.
4" liza! Frince, that won't do. Stop! stonl
az MI -h1Dt 7 TN,.Lf. ~ ~