The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-12-02

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A Camp Sfory--Incident of NapO-
Icons Time.
The French army lay encamped only
about a days march from Berlin. 1t was
on the 23d of October. The sentinels we're
/ doubled, and the most strict orders given,
for the Prussian and Austrian spies were
plenty and troublesome. At midnight,
Pierre Sancoin was stationed at one of the
outposts. He was a stout, bold, shrewd
man, and a good soldier. The colonel of
the regiment was with the sergeant on this
/ beat, having requested to be called at mid
night that he might visit the outposts.
@ PIERRE" he said after the man had been
T posted, "yon must keep your eyes OPEN
( Don't let even a stay horse go in or come
out without a pass. Do you understand -
Gay, mon, colonel, shall be prompt
THE dogs are around lis, continued the
officer, g and you cannot be too CAREFUL
Don't trust men, nor brutes, without good
proof"
Never fear, sir" was Pierre's answer, as
! he brought his firelock to his shoulder, and
moved back pace.
After this the guard moved on to the
/ next post and Pierre Sancoin was left alone.
Pierre post was one of the most import
ant in the camp, or rather around it, and he
had been paced there for that reason. The
ground over which he had to walk was a
long knoll, bounded at one edge by huge
rock, and at the other sloping away into a
narrow ravine in which was a copse of
willows Beyond this eopse, the ground was
low and boggy, so that a man could not
pass over it, The rock WAS TO the westward
and Perres walk was to its outer side.
The night was dark, huge masses of clouds
floating overhead, and shutting out the
stars; and a sort of fog seemed to be rising
almost from the marsh. The wind mOaned
through the copse in the ravne, and the air
was damp and chilly; with a slow, steady
tread, and the soldier paced his ground, ever
and anon stoppin to listen, as the willows in
the ravine ratified their leaves, or some night
bird flew out with its quick Tapping.
An hour had passed away, and the senti-
mel had seen nothing to excite his suspic-
ion. He had stopped for a moment close by
the rock, when he was startled by quick,
wild screech from the woods; and in a
moment more a large bird flew over his
head.
"Parbleaur p he uttered, after the night
bird had flown over; "could mortal man
have stopped that fellow from passing ?"
He satisfied himself that he had done
nothing 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 OBJ
ject just crossing the line towards the cOpse.
% Hold = he cried, bringing the musket
quick to his shoulder Hold, or | will
fire.
And, with his piece at aim, he advanced
toward the spot where the object had stop
ped but as he came to within a few yards
of it, it started again towards the camp.
"Diabe !" cried Pierre; move any fur
ther and fire. What, Pardieu? lie Prince.
Hol why, Prince! r
The animal turned and made motion as
though he would leap up on to the senti-
ners bosom, but he motioned him off.
"Braso, Princel" Pierre cried, reaching
tooth his hand and patting the head of the
shaggy beast, which had now sat upon his
launches. Pierre recognized the intruder
now as a great dog, of the breed Of St.
Bernard, which had been owned in the reg
iment for over a year, and which had now
been missing for over week. He had dis
appeared one night from the pickets, and
all search for him had been unavailing.
" Parblcu mon grand Prince p Pierre
uttered, as though the dog could understand
every word, " the men will be glad to see
you. Where have you been SO lOng?'
The dog made no answer to this, save a
low whine, and familiar nodding of the
/ head.
"Now, mon ami, you just keep your sit
! ting there till the guard comes, and then
we will 90 to the camp together. Mind
that, win your
And with these words, uttered with a
solemn emphasis and due meaning, Pierre
started on his bout again. He had 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.
Hal Prince, that won't do. Stop, stop,
or I'll shoot Diable the colonel was pos
tive in his orders. | was to let nothing
pass my post without the countersign. A
dog is something; you can't go Prince, so
now lie down. Down. down, | sayl'
With this the dog lay fiat down on his
belly and stretched out his fore paws.
Pierre patted him the head again, and
having duly urged upon him the necessity
of remaining where he was, resumed his
march once more.
During the next fifteen minutes the ami
NAL 10y perfectly quiet and ever and anon
the sentinel, by way of being sociable,
would speak to him. But at length the
dog made another attempt to go to the
camp. Pierre had nearly reached the rock
when he heard the movement, and, on turn
ing, could Just see his uneasy companion
moving off.
Diable r the honest fellow uttered, l
must obey orGers. The coloners word was
plain Here, parbleu Come here Here,
Prince! Mon Dieul You must die if you
don't"
With 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 must shoot if you
don't Parbleu! what thing to start the
whole camp for, to shoot dog
But, by coaxing and threatening, the SEN
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, he'll be relieved" the
sentinel said, stopping near the dog. You
oh oil nd old friends u