Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-08-21
A FAITHFUL SENTINEL.
AN INCIDENT OF sApoLrcS's TINE.

ia5 euca'upeu oEly
about days march from Berlin. 1t was
on the I'D Of October. Tie sentinels we're
given, for the Prussian and Austrian snies
we're plenty and troublesome. At midnight
Pierre Sascoin was stationed at one of the
outposts. He was a stout, bold, shrewd
man, and good soldier. The colonel Of
his regiment was with the sergeant on this
bout, having requested to be called at mid
night to visit the ontposts.
'Pierre,' he said, after the man had been
posted, 'gou must keep your eyes open.
Don't lei even stray horse 20 out or come
IN without the pass. Do you understands
'Ay, mon colonel, | shall be prompt
The dogs are all around us, pursued the
officer, sand yoT cannot be too careful. Don't
trust men nor brutes without good proof.
'Never fear,' was Pierre's answer as he
brought his frelook to his shoulder, and mo-
we'd back pace.
After this the guard moved on to the
next post, and Pierre Sascoin was left alone.
Plerre's post was one of the most impor-
tant in the camp, or rather around it, and
lac had been placed there for that reason.
The ground ever which he had to walk was
long knoll, bounded at one end by huge
rock, aud at the other sleping away into a
narrow ravine, in which was copse of will
lows. Beyond this copse the ground was
low and boggy, so that man could not pass
IL. The rock was to the westward, and
Pierre's walk was to The outer side.
The night was dark, huge masses of
clouds floating overhead, and shutting out
the stars; with a sort of fog seemed to rise
also from the marsh. The wind moaued
from the copse IN the raEine, aud the air
was damp and chilly; with slow, steady
tread the soldier paced his ground, ever and
anon stopping to listen, as the willows in
the ravine ratified their leaves, or some night
bird started out with its quick Tapping.
Au hour had passed away, aud the senli-
mel had seen nothing to excite his suspicious.
lie had stopped for moment close by the
lock, VIXEN he was startled by quick screach
from the wood, and in a few moments more
a large bird few over his head.
''Parbleu he uttered, after the night
bird had flown over his head, 'scoulI NOR
tai man have stopped that fellow from pas
sing 90
''He satisfied himself that he had done
nothing 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 he saw dark object just
crossing the line towards the copse.
''IIold =" he cried, bringing his musket to
his shoulder 'slIold, or FIRE -
And with his piece at aim be advanced
towards the spot where the object had stop
ped. But as he came TO within few yards
Of II, it started to move on again toward the
camp.
s'Diable..'' cried Pisrre, s'moee any fur
ther aud | FIRE What, pardicu' La prince!
IIo, ho; why Priucel''
The animal turned and made motion as
though he would jump up to the sentinels
bosom, but the soldier be:koned him off.
''Bravo Prince Pierre cried reaching
b forth his band and patting the head Of the
great shaggy beast, which had now sat upon
its launches. Pierre DOW recognized The
intruder as a great dog of the breed of St.
Bernard, which had been owned in the regl-
nIant for over year, aud which had now
been missing for about a week. He had
disappeared one night from the pickets, and
all search for him had been unavailing.
eParblea, mon grarde Princc," Pierre
uttered as thongh the dog could understand
overy WORD, @'the men will be happy to see
you; where have you been SO loug?"
The dog made 20 answer to this save
low whine and familiar nodding Of the
head.
'sNow, mon atni, you must keep your sit
ting there till the guard comes, and then
we WILL go together. Mind that will you ?"
And with these words uttered with solemn
emphasis, and due moaning. Pierre started
on bis bout agar. He had got half way TO
the rock when the idea,of looking around
struck him, and he did so. La Prince was
moving towards the camp again.
fla. Prince that won't 90 Stop! Stop
or I'll shoot Diable, the Colonel, was pos
tive in bis orders. / was to let nothing
pass my post without the countersign. A
dog is something. You cant go. Prince,
SO lie down. Down! Down, Prince l say"
With this the dog lay fat down upon his
belly, and stretched out his paws. Pierre
patted bin upon the head again, and having
duly urged upon him the necessity of re-
naming where hc was, he resumed his march
once more.
During the next fifteen minutes, the an