The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-01-17
THE FAITHFUL SENTINEL.

spies we've plenty and troublesome, AT
midnight Pierre Sancoin was stationed at
one of the outposts He was a stout bold,
shrewd man, and good soldier The
colonel of his regiment was with the ser
geant on this beat, having requested to be
called at midnight that he might visit the
outposts.
''Plerre," he said, after the men had
been posted, you must keep your eyes
open. Don't let even stray horse 60 out
or come in without the pass, Do you un
dersands"
"Aye mon colonel, / shall be prompt"
stThe dogs are all around us, aud you
cannot be too careful. Don'ttrust men nor
brutes"
IN Never fear" was Pierre's answer, as he
brought his firelcck to his shoulder and
moved back a pace
After this the guard moved on to the next
post, and Pierre Sancoin was left alone -
Pierre's post was one of the most important
in the camp, or around it, and he had been
placed there for that reason. TIL ground
over which he had to walk was long knoll
bounded at one end by a huge rock, and at
the other sloping away into narrow IA
vine, in which was copse of willows
Bevond this copse the ground was low and
boggy, so that no man could pass 1t. The
rock was to the westword, and Perre's walk
was to its outer side.
The night was quite dark, huge masses
of clouds floating overhead, and shutting
out the stars; and a sort of a foe seemed to
be rising also from the marsh The wind
ne aned through the copse in the ravine
and the air was damp and chilly With a
slow, steady tread the soldier paced his
round, ever and anon stopping to listen, rs
The willows in the ravine ratified their leaves,
or some night bird startled cut with its
quick tapping.
An hour had passed away. and the sen
tinel had seen nothing to excite his sIls
picion He had stopped for a moment close
by the side of the rock, when he was startled
by quck, wild scream from the wood, and
in a few moments more a large bird flew
over his head.
"Pdrbleu p he muttered, after the night
bird had flown over; "coud mortal man
have stopped that fellow passing 2"
He satisfied himself that he had done
nothing wrong in suffering the bird to pass
He had walked the length of his way two
or three times, an6 was just turning by the
rock, when he was sure he saw dark ob
iect crossing the line toward the copse.
"Holdp' he cried, bringing the musket
quick to his shoulder Hold, or l fire."
And with his piece at aim, he approached
toward the spot where the object stopped :;
but as he came to within a few yards of it,
it started to move on again toward the
camp.
"Dlable" cried Pierre, sDove any further
and fire! What, pdrdieu le Prince 2
Ho, ho; why Prince pc
The animal turned and made motion
as though he would leap upon the sentinel's
bosom, but the soldier motioned HIM off.
"Bravo, Prince" Pierre cried, reaching
forth his hand and pat,ing the head of the
great shaggy beast, which bad now sat upon
his launches. Pierre recognized the in
Itruder as great dog of the breed Of St.
Bernard which had been owned in the reg
irnent for over year, and which had been
missing for about week. He disappeared
one night from the pickets, and all search
for him had beeu unavailing.
"Parbleu mon grand Prince, Pierre
uttered, as though the dog could understand
every word; "the men will be happy to see
you. Where have you been so long?"
The dog made no answer to this. save
a low whine and familiar nodGing of the
head
"Now. mon ami, you just keep Your sit
ting there until the guard comes, and then
we'll 90 to the camp together. Mind that
will you?"
And with these words, uttered with sol
emn emphasis and due meaning, Pierre
started on his beat 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 toward the camp again
"Ha! Prince, that won't do. Stop! stop!
or I'll shoot! Diable, the colonel was pos
tive in his orders. Il was to let nothing
pass nv post without the countersign, You
can't go, Prince; SO now lie down. Down !.
down, | say
With this the dog lay fat on his belly,
and stretched out his fore paws. Pierre
patted him upon his head again, and having
duly urged upon him the necessity of re
manning where he was, he resumed his
march once more.
During the next fifteen minutes the an
imal lay perfectly quiet, and ever and anon
the sentinel would speak to him by way Of
| being sociable. But at length the dog made
another attempt to go into camp. Pierre
had nearly reached the rock when he heard
the movement, and on turning he could just
see his uneasy companion making off.
| "Did6le" the honest fellow mutter, "I
must obey orders Fhe colonel's word was
plain. Here! Parbleu Come here! Here.
Prince lon dieu you must die if you
don't"
With few bounds the soldier had got
near enough to the dog to fire, and as the
latter stopped, he stopped:
"Mou cher ann, you must stay with me-
Here! Come back! | must shoot if you
don't. Par6lcu what thing to start
whole camp for, to shoot dog"
But by coaxlng and threatening. the SEN
tine 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