The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-16
AN INCIDENT OF NApoLEoNs TIME

AN INCIDENT OF NAPCLEoNS lime
The French army lay encampcd only about
days march from Berlin. Ii was on the I'D
Of October. The ssptlnels were doubled anu
the most strict orders gwen, ior me irussi u
and Austrian spies were plenty and trouble
some. at midnight, Pierre ss;tncoin was SKA
TONED ut one OF lie outposts lie Was stout,
bold, shire Wd man, and good soIuier. HE
colonel Of the regiment vas win the ser
Seant on this bout, having requested 10 be
called At midnight, that lac might visit the
outposts.
posted .you must keep your eyes osen
Don't let even 4 stray horse goin or out with =
out pass. DO you unoerstand?'
"Ay, mon, coiCRel, l shall be prompt.
.'IhedoSs are around u.s. continued the
officer and You cannot be too careful.
Don'i trust men, nor brutes, without good
proof
Never fear, sir Was Pierre's answer, rs
he brought his nrelock to his shoulder ana
moved back pace.
After this they moved or 10 the next post,
aud Pierre Sancoin was left alone. Pierre r
post WAS one of the most Important IN The
camp, or rather around 1t, and he had been
placed there for that reason. The ground over
which he had 10 walk Was hong knoll, bound
ri at one end by "a huge rock ana 1T iir other
Hiop,ng away into 4 narrow TdIine, i'll winch
was copse of willows. Beyond this copse
the ground Was low and hoggy, ~ that III an
could not pass It. III" rocI, WAS To the west
ward, and Pierres walk was To its outer side.
The night WAS quite dark, huge MASSES OF
clouds floating overhead, and shutting ont
the stars and a SORT OF log seemed 10 he ris
Ing almost from ths marsh. The winds
moanUd through the corpse IN the ray Inc, ana
the AIT damp and chilly with SLOW,
ste:,dy tread, the soldier paced his ground,
ever and anon stopping 10 listen, as the VIII
lows In the irvine rattied their Leaves, or
some night bird few out with its quick nap
ping.
An hour had passed away, aud the sentinel
had seen nothing 10 e3CiIe his SUSPICION. He
h3d stopped for moment close BY tha rock
when he WAS startled by quick, wild
ecrsuch from The woods ana in mo-
meut more large bird iiew over his head.
"Pabiieu"' he uttered, after the night bird
had flown over; could mortal man have
stopped that fellow from passing
He satisfied hmseif that he mad done no III
lug in 81 Herring the bird 10 pass. ellie had
walked the length Of his way Two or three
times, when he sure be saw Il dark object
Just crossing the line toward the corpse
Hold :" he cried, bringing the musket
quick 10 his shoulder Hold or / tire -
And, with his piece at aim he advanced to-
wards the spos where Tie object had stopped
As he came 10 within few lrds OF H. it start
ed again toward the camp.
.Diablsl ~ cried Pierre move auy further
and l ire. What, PariIeu? lie Prince. uo /!
no why, PriEce. -
The animal turned and made Il motion AS
though he would leap up on 10 the sentinel $
bosom, but he motioDed him of.
"Eravo, Prince Pierre cried, reaching
forth his hand and pattng the head of the
shaggg beast, which had now sat upon his
launches. Pierre recognized the in ru uer no "
as great dog. Of the breed Of ST. Bernard,
which had been owned in the regiment for
over wear and which had now been nissiu G
FOR over week lie h al al appeared one night
from the pickets, anu al! search for him had
been unaTailinE.
"Parblien mon grand Prince :" Pierre Mt
tered, as though the dog could understand
every word, 1.-The men Will be- glad TO see you
Where have yoH been for go long7''
The dog made no answer 10 this. sarc i low
whine, and familiar nodding OF the head.
Now, mon ami you just keep your sitting
there till the guard comes, and then we will
go 10 the camp together. Mind that, viii
your
And With these words, uttered with solemn
emphasis and due meaning, Pierre started on
his route again. He had got hail way 10 The
rock, when the idea of looking around struck
him, and he did so. lie Prince WAS moving
toward the camp again
"Ha Prince, that won't do. Stop, STOP or
III shoot Diable the colonel was posi- tive
in his orders. ! WAS to let nothing pass nv
post without the countersign. A dog is some
thing: you can go, Prince, so now lie down
Down, Down. Isay!'
With this the dog lay fiat down on his belly
and stretched out his fore paws. Pierre pat
ted him upon the head again. and, having
duly urged upon him the necessity OF remain
ing where he was, LIE resumed his march once
more.
Daring the next fifteen minutes the animal
lay prefectiy quiet, and ever and anon the
sentinel. by way OF being sooiable, would
speak to him But at length the dog made
another attempt TO so 10 the camp. Pierre
had nearly reached the 70 TX, when he heard
the movement, and, on turning, could Just
see his uneasy companion making off.
"Diable ~ the honest feiio W uttered IL
must obev orders The colonel's word was
plain. Here, Pablieu Come here Here
Prince Mon Dieu You must die If you
don't
With few quick bounds the soldier had
got near enough To the dog 10 fire, anu as The
latter stopped he stopped.
''Mon cher ami, you must stay with me
Come back i must shoot If YOU dou l. Par
blieu. what thing To start IA whole camp
Tor, to shoot dog
But, by coaxing and ihrea tening, the sen tinel
got the dog back 10 his post, and there he
made him lie down once more. And thus
matters rested till tho tramp of the coming
guard was heard.
"Ah, now, Prince, he'll be relieved" the
soldier said, stopping near the dog. You
shall 20 and sea your old friends
The tramp of the coming guards drew near
and Pierre was preparing to hail them when
the dog took a new s,ari aud III q new direc-
ton, this time starting towards The copse
"Here, here, Prince ! Parblieu, con t you
run OF again"
But the dog took no other nstice OF the call
than to quicken his speed
"Back back, here !"
"0rand Dieui'' This last expression WAS
forced from Fierre's lips, by seeing the dog
leap 70 his hind legs and run thus, In an in
Utnht the huka upOu MIN. " ulCk
thought he c!apped hts gun TO his shoulder
and took aim. He could just distinguish the
eati'nes now, and then he fred. There was a
sharp.cry, and Pierre had TO turn, fof the
guards were approaching.
'Qui est la =. e'Who Is thereby He cried
Relief guard, was the answer.
Ano having obtained the countersign, he
Informed the officer Of what had happened
"A dog I" cried the officer. prince, did you
s.y;"
should have seen him run off on his legs -
'.Eh hind legs"
"Yeai,
Thea come; show ua where he was
With this the officer Of the mounted guard
pulled his lantern from has breast, and nav
. Ing removed the shade, he started on Pierre
lea tne way 10 the corse, and there the dog
Mas iouhd Ia the last struggles Of death -
over.
dog. eh"'
Aad no wonder he said So The hind legs
o. the cog were booted, and had every ppear.
nnce OF the pedal exremftiea of the rrnius
man. But all doubts were removed yery
quickly, for the officer turned. the v,orljxs
"God take me-" In the Frassiln tongue, tol.
lowed.
''Dlabie: here's an adventure uttered tAe
officer, and Ls made Pierre hold the lantern
willis he ripped open enough OF the dog 3 skin
% find the face. But they conciaded not 10
stop theirs 70 tnyesttgnte ~ they formed q lit.
tsr BY crossing their muekefs, and, having
Gftsd the stragGe animal upon II, they pro.
eseisd on thelr way When hey reached tbs