The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-24

their
the basket down, picked them up one by one,
and returned them to the basket. as tast as
he did so, out they orept again; until, losing
patience, he killed them, each and SEVERAL by
a sharp bit applied to the nape of the neck.
He then put them into the basket, and set OF
for the chateau at railway speed.
But all this required time. The cook, get
ting fdgety, had sent forward one of his
assistants to see what was the cause of the
delay; AMI to this witness we are indebted for
the correct knowledge of what occurred.
Gabrielle was duly praised and petted; but
from that day forth he loathed the sight of
fish. If the word "eel" were pronounced in
his presence, he ran away and hid himself for
two or three days.
Our third canine friend was a military dog.
During the first French Empire, every regi-
ment had its dog, whose intelligence thanks
to the soldiers care, was improved by educa-
tion and discipline. The Grand Armys dogs
were picked up almost everywhere, except in
England. They had been recruited in Poland
in Prussia, in Holland, in Saxony, and in
Flanders. They were mongrel mastiffs,
hounds, Danish dogs, spaniels. But no mat
ter whence they came they soon turned
French. Foreign dogs were naturalized with
out knowing it.
Rugen is an island in the Baltic Sea, oppo
site to Stralsund, on the coast of Pomerana
Fortified both by nature and by art, its stu
alton is exceedingly strong. In time of peace,
in consequence of its fertile SOIL its salubrious
air, and its mild climate, Rugen is delightful
retreat. In time of war, it is an important
post, natural citadel, formidable fortress
whose possession has been purchased at the
expense of many bloody fight. During
the campaign of 1907 this island was COM
prised in the sphere of operations by the
corps commanded by Marshal Davoust, and
was occupied by an infantry regiment of the
line, and by several companies of sappers and
miners. The regiment, of course, had dog
a black and white poodle-named Capucin-
not because he was born in a Capuchins' con-
vent in Italy (Which would have been quite
sufficient reasOn), but in allusion to the cop
per or iron rings by which gun barrel is
fastened to its stock. The dogs short bark
might perhaps have been thought to re semble
the snappish report of a musket.
In consequence of change in the plan of
operations ordered by Napoleon the First, the
island had to be suddenly evacuated, to carry
out a movement in retreat abandoning the
whole line of the Pomeraniap coast. Every
post, every man, was withdrawn; but in such
a hasty way that they forgot an advanced
sentinel perched on the top of a hillecll
which commanded the entrance of the
port of Rugen. This sentinel was a
young soldier named Firmin Bonard,
who had scarcely been three years in
the service. AT present, a soldier who
HAS SeIN6u IllTe6 years Is COuSlu6feu quite q
veteran; at that time, troopers who could
reckon three, five, seven, and even nine years
of service, were still called conscripts. Now
Bonard the soldier and Capucin the dog hap
pened to be particularly good friends, bound
by the strongest ties of mutual attachment.
The corporal of the post had planted Firmin
as sentinel on the hillock exactly at midnight.
The latter, therefore, calculated on being re-
lieved at two in the morning, and also that
from two till five he would have three good
hours to doze and slumber in the corps-de
garde. So Firmin Bonard beguiled the time
by anticipating this supreme indulgence, also
by thoughts of his village steeple, of his aged
cures ancient hOusel1eeper, of the haystaclS
where he used to play at hide-and-see and
sundry other recollections. In this way the
minutes slipped slowly by, and the two hours
guard were drawing to close.
All at once he heard a slight noise. He lis
tened. ''It is the corporal coming to relieve
guard" he thought, and prepared to utter
the formal "Qui vive?" But the sound, which
resembled that of human footsteps, was soon
followed by complete silence. 81 couldn't be
mistaken % he said to himself. Besides, my
time must now be up.' He listened again,
still more attentively. Almost Immediately,
he heard the barking of dog, which came run
ming forward in his direction. On recognizing
Capucin's voice. the sentinel looked round
him anxiously. Perceiving nothing which
threatened an attack, he wondered what
could be the meaning of this nocturnal visit.
Before he had time to consider the matter,
the animal had climbed the hill and was
jumping up his legs. otis you, Capucin.
Very good. You got tired of waiting there;
and l am tired of standing here. The air is
keen, and l am terribly sleepy. You should
have brought the corporal with you. His
watch must have stopped. He ought to sell
it for old iron and buy new one,
Capucin's answer was a frenzied bark and a
series of mad leaps around his friend.
81 understand" said Firmin, smiling. "You
are asking me to dance to warm myself lt's
a pity you are not provided with the password
and musket."
Capucin continued to bark, running right
and left like creature possessed. Finding al
these man@uvres useless, he ran up to the
soldier, pulled him by the coat and tried hare
to pull him away, renewing his efforts will
such violence as to tear the soldiers uniform
FiTmin, considering this a proof of affection
more troublesome than pleasant, lost his tenn
per and gave poor Capucin kick. The dog
bowling at finding himself so cruelty NAL
treated and misunderstood, retreated to a few
paces' distance, but soon returned, needles
of his friends unkind treatment. All he di
now was to look forgiveness and lick tn
soldiers hands.
''Be quiet, will you, and take yourself off p
said Firmin, harshly, as he threatened hin
with the butt of his gun, to drive him away
Capucin finding he could do no good, un
willingly made up his mind to depart. H
arrived Just in time to 90 on board with th