The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-07-29
SrlrrtrA Storu.
THE FAITHFUL SENTINEL.


NOout GAYS lnarch from BeriIn. Ii
was on the 23d Of October. The sen,i.
nels were doubled, and the most strict
orders given, for the PruSsiau and Aus
trlan spies were plenty and troublesome.
AT midnight Pierre Sancoin was station
ed Mt one OF the outposts. lie was
bold, shrewd man, and a good soldier
The colonel of his regiment was with the
sergeant on this bout, having requested
TO be called at midnight, that he might
visit the outposts.
Pierre he said, after the man had
been posted. you 'Hust keep your eyes
opsn, Don't let even a stray horse 90
out or come in without the pass. Do
you understand =
'ty, mon colonel shall be prompt
'Ihc dogs are all round us,' pursued
the officer, 'and you cannot be too care,
fu!. Don't trust Men or brutcs without
g"od proof
Never fear was Pierrc's answer, as he
brought his Iirclock to his shoulder, and
moved bas L pace
After tHis the guarl moved on 10 the
next post, and Pierre .Sancoin was lett
alone. Picrrc's post WAS one OF the most
important III the camp, or rather around
1t, 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 aud at the other
sIopng away into n narrow rav;ne, in
which was copsc Of willows. beyond
this c"ESe the ground WAS low and bog
gv, so that nian could not pass il. The
rock was to the westward, and picrrc's
walk was on tue outer side.
The night was quite dark, huge masses
OF clouds floating overhead, and shutting
out the stars an! sort OF foo seemed
to ba rising also from the marsh The
wind mnurl"d through the ccpoc in the
r'yiue, and the air was damp and chilly
with a s.0w steady tread, tie soldier
paced his ground, ever and anon stop
ping to listen, rs tho willows in the ray.
iue ratified their leaves, or some njrht
bird started ont with its quick flnpping.
An hour had passcl away aud The sen
tincI hal seen nothing to excite his su>-
prci"n>. lie had stopped for a moment
clos" ~ the gork. when lie va. stur,c
hy quick wild screcch from the wool.
anl III few raow"n's more large bird
Ucw over .S head.
'ItrJLcu , lac uttered, after ~ nigh,
bird had flown over could mortal man
have stopped rhnt fellow from passing ?
II" 2a.~iirl himself that he had douo
nothing wrong in suffering the bird to
. pass. lie had walked the length Of his
WAY two or three times AMI was Just turn.
ing ~ til" rock, when he was sure he
saw = dark object crossing the line Of the
cnrS".
'IIoIl = hc rrieI, bringing his rauskc,
to his shoulder Hold, or fire !
Aud with las piece At aim, he advanced
towards ;l.e spot. whore the object had
st"ppcI but rs he came TO within Few
yards Of il, it started to move on again
towards the camp.
'Diablc " criel Pierre, 'movc ary far
th"r and fire! What, parlieu lie
l'ruce lio, ho; why, Prince "
TIL" animal turned and made mo-
ton AS though he would leap up on to
the scatjucl's bosom, but the soller mo.
toned him off.
Bravo Prince Pierre cried, reaching
forth his hand and patling the head OF
the great shaggy beast, which had now
set upon its hunchers. Pierre recognized
the in,Iuder now as great dog Of the
breclI Of ST. Bernard, which hal been
Owned in the regiments for over year.
aud which had been now missing for
about week. He had disappeared one
uight from the pickets, and all search for
HIM had been unavaliug.
'Parbleu, mon grande Prince Pierre
utte,ed as though the dog could under
stand every word, the man will I've hap.
py to see you where have you heen so
long 2
The dog made no answer to this save
!ow whine, and familiar nodding Of
She head.
Now, mon ami, You JUS, keep your
sitting position ,Eefa till the guard comes,
aud tbon we'll go TO the camp together.
Mind that, will you 4
And with 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. lie Prince was moving
towards the camp again.
lla ! Prince, that won't do Stop
stop or III shoot ! Diable, the colonel
was positive in his orders. was to let
nothing pass my post without the coun-
tersgn. a dog is something. You can't
GO, Prince, so now lie down. Down
Down, say ! d.
With this the dog lay Cat upon his belly,
and stretched out his fore paws. Pierre
patted him on the bead again, and hav.
ing duly urged upon him the necessity
Of remaining where he was, he resumed
bis march once more.
During the next fifteen minutes, the
animal lay perfectly quiet and ever and
anon the sentinel would speak TO him by
way Of being socisble. But at length
n.he dog made another attempt to go into
he camp. Pierre had nearly reached
the rock when he heard the movement,
and on turning he could just see his un
easy companion making off,