St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-12-26
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The French army lay euc.mped only
about I daJs march from Berlin. The
seutineh were doubled, aud the strictest
orders given, for the Austrian, and Aus.
triau spies were plenty and troublesome
At midnight, Pierre sanooin vas stationed
at one Of the soutposts. He was = stout,
bold, shrewd man and good soldier: -
The colonel Of bis regiment vas With the
sergeant on this beat; having requested
to be called At midnight, that be mig hit
visit the outposss. ~'T't .:'"j ~:
"Pierre," he said, after the men had
been posted, "you must keep your eyes
open. Don't let. even stray shorse go
out or come IN without the pass. Do you
understand? p" ia >Ict ~ 1j** -
"Aye, mon colonel, I shall be prompt.
"The dogs arc all around US, and you
cannot be too careful. Don't trust men or
brutes."
"Never fear" was Pierre's answer, as
he brought his frelock to his shoulder and
moved back pace:
After this tee guard moved on to the
next post, aud Pierre Sancoin was left
alone. Pierrc's post was one Of the most
important in the camp, or around it, and
he had been placed there for that reason.
The ground over which be bad to walk
was long knoll, bounded at one end by a
huge rock, and at the other sloping sway
into a narrow ravine, in which was a copse
Of willows. Beyond this copse the ground
was low and boggy, SO that a man could
! not pass it. The rock was to the west
ward, and Pierre's walk was to its outer
side. ID"
The nj ght was quite dark, huge masses
of clouds aoated overhead shutting out the
stars; and sort of fog seemed to be RI
sing also from the marsh. The wind moan
ed throug the copse in the ra7ine, and
the air was damp and chilly. With a
slow, steady tread, the soldier paced bis
ground, ever and anon stopping. to listen,
as the willows in the ravine ratified their
leaves, or some mig ght bird started out with
its quick tapping. ...;' .''
An hour had passed away and the senti-
mel had seen. nothing to excite his suspi-
cion. He had stopped for a moment close
by the side of the rock, when he was
startled by quick wild scream from the
wood, and large bird few over his head.
"Parbleul" he muttercd, after the night
bird had flown over; "could mortal ma n
have stopped that fellow passing? "
He satisfied himself he had done moth.
ing wrong in letting the bird to pass. He
had walked the length. of his way two Of
three times, and was just turning by the
rock, when he saw a dark object crossing
the line towards the copse. - :.-:..:
'"nold !" he cries, bringing the musket
to his shoulder. ''Hold, or i irew -:
And with his piece at aim, he advanced
towards the spot where the object stop
ped but as he came to within q few
yards of it, it started to move on again
toward the camp. ~ ii
" "Diable p cried Pierre, ''move any fur
tber and fire! " What, parbleu! LIE
Prince? Ho, ho; Why Princep
The animal turned and made motion
as though he would leap upon the senti-
nePs bosom, but the sentinel motioned
him off. - :. ....' -
"Bravo, Prince" Pierre cried, reaching
forth his hand and patting, the head Of
the great shaggy beast which had now sat
up on his launches. Pierre recognized
the intruder as a great dog Of the breed Of
St. Bernard, whiuh had been owned in the
regiment for over year, and which had
been missing fol, about week He disap-
peared one night from the .pickets, aud all
search for him had been unavaili.g. r"'
"Parbleu, mon grand Prince" Pierre
uttered, as though the dog could under
stand every word the men will be happy
you; where have you been SO longF'''
The dog made no answer to this, save
whine, and familiar nodding Of the
head. =, ''' .@.''@'" II - d'''" ,..t
',"Now mon ami, you just keep your Sit
ting there, until the guard comes. and
then we viii go to the camp together
Mind that, will you2" '.'' II. = - ,
F, And with these words, uttered with SOL
emn emphasis and due meaning, t'ierre
started on his beat again. He had got
half way to The rock, when the idea of
looking around struck him, and he bid 50.
Le Prince was moving toward the camp
araiu. >"nt ,GI is;>h,. ,,,'h'GH2 2H""I; 1Ifv
.rf'"Ha! Prince, that WON'T do r." Stop !!