The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-09-19
The Faithful sentinel.
AN INCIDENT OF NAPoLEoN's TINE.

%, for the Prussian and Austrian spies we
plenty and troublesome. About midnigi
Pierre Sancoin was stationed at enc Of Il
outposts.-He was a stout, bold, shrev
man, and good soldier The colonel Of Il
regiment was with the sargeant on this bea
having requested to be called at midnigh
. that he might visit the outposts.
r. "Pierre," he said, after the man had bee
posted. "you must keep your eyes open.-
Don't let even a stray horse go out or con
If in without the pass. Do you understand
n "Ay, mon colonel, | shall Le prompt"
v "The dogs are all around u.s." pursue
the officer, "and you cannot be too careful
Don't trust men or brutes without goo
Il proof"
Never fear" was Pierre's answer, as h
/ brought his fre'ock to his shoulder. an
t moved back pace.
After this the guard moved on to the mex
! post and Pierre Sancoin was left alone
Pierre's post was one Of the most importau
in the camp, or rather around it, and he ha
been placed there for that reason. TIL
ground over which he had to walk was
long knoll, bounded at end by huge rock
and at the other sOping into a narrow ra
vine, in which was copse of willows. Be
yond this copse the ground was low anC
boggy, so that man could not pass it. Tht
! rock was to the westward and Pierre's wall
| was the outer side.
The night was quite dark, huge masses ot
clouds floating over head, and shutting out
the stars; and sort of fog seemed to be ris
ing also from the marsh. The wind moan
/ ed through the copse in the ravine, and the
air was damp and chilly; with a slow, steady
/ tread, the soldier paced his ground, ever
I and anon stopping to listen, as the willows
! in the ravine ra,tled their leaves, or some
night birds started out with lis quick flap
/ ping.
An hour had passed away, and the senti-
( mel had seen nothing to excite his suspicious
| He had stopped for moment close by the
rock, when he was startled by quick, wild
scrcech from the wood. and in a few mo
ments more a large bird flew over his head.
Parblcui' he uttered, after the night
bird had flown over him: "co uld mortal
man have stopped that fellow from passing
hereY'
He satisfied himself that ne had done no.
thing wrong 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 he saw dark ob-
iect crossing the line OF the copse.
"Hold," he cried, bringing his musket to
his shoulder "IIold, or fret
And with his piece at aim, he advanced
towards the spot where the object had stop
ped, but as he came to within a few yards
Of it, il started to move on again towards
the camp.
"Diable'T cried Pierre, "move any fur
ther and fire What. Pardieu lie Prince;
Ho, hol why, Prince :"
The animal turned, and made a motion as
though he would leap up on the sentinels
bosom; but the soldier motioncd him off.
bravo, Princel" Pierre cried, reaching
forth his hand and patting the head of the
great shaggy beast, which had now sat up
on its launches. Pierre recognized the in
&. Bernard which had been owned in the
regiment for over 4 year, and which had
been missing about week. lie had disap
peared one night from the piclets, and all
search for him had been unavailing.
"Parbeu, mon grande Prince" Pierre
uttered, as though the dog could understand
every word. 1.-The men will be happy TO see
you Where have you been so long,"
The dog made TO answer to this, save
low whine, and a familiar nodding Of the
heai
Now, mon, ami, You must keep you sit
sing position there till the guard cones, and
then we'Il 20 to the camp together. Mind
that, will you''
And these words, uttered with solemn
emphasis and due meaning, Pierre started
on his bout again. lie had not got half
way to the rock, when the idea of looking
around struck him, and he did so. Prince
was moving towards the camp again.
=" Hal Prince, that won't do: Stop,
stopl or I'll shoot. Diable, the colonel
was positive in his orders | was TO let no.
- l . H. lte,rN
4 dog is something. You cant 60, Prince,
so now lie down Down. Down. say
With this the dog lay flat upon his belly.
aud stretched out his fore paws. Pierre
pat,ed him on the head again, and having
duly urged upon him the necessity OF re-
manning where he vas he resumed MS 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 the way
of being socabie. But at length the dog
made another attempt to 90 into the camp.
Pierre had nearly reached the rock when he
heard the movement, and on turning he
could just see his uneasy companion max
ing off.
"Diablel' the honest fellow uttered, q"
must obey orders. The colonel's word was
plain Here, Parbleu, Come here! Here,
Prince, Mon Dieu! you must die if you
don't."
With a few quick bounds the soldier had
got near enough the dog to fire, and as the
latter stopped, he stopped. |
"Mon cher ami, you must stay with me +.
Here, Come back I must shoot if you
don't Parbleu, what a thing 10 start
whole camp for, to shoot dog!"
But by coaxing and threatening the sem
tinel got the dog back to his post, and there
he made him lie down once more. And
thus matters rested till the tramp Of the
coming guard was heard.
"Ah, now Prince will be relieved" the
soldier said, stopping near the dog. ou
shall go and see your old friends"
The tramp of the coming guard drew near
and Pierre was preparing to al them, when
the dog took now start, and in new d.
recton, this time starting t. owarus the copsc
Back Backl Here!"
"Grand Dieu!" This last exclamation
was forced from Pierre's lips, by seeing the
an instant the truth burst upon him.-Qulck
as thought he clapped his gun to his shoul-
der and took aim. He could just discover
the dim outlines now, and he fired.-Ihere
was a sharp cry and then Pierre had to turn,
for the guard were approaching.
"Qui est Ia f'-twho is there p he cried,
"Relief guard, was the answer.
And having obtained the counterslgn, he
informed the officer what had happened.
"A dog?" cried the officer. Prince,
did you say ?"
"He looked like Prince but diable, you
should have seen him run off on his hind
legs!" 80.
"Eh9 Hind legs?"
EYES"
"Then come show us where he was.
With this the officer of the mounted guard
pulled out his lantern from his breast, ana