The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-08
Five Wears Oh Guard.

During the first French empire, every rcgl-
ment had its dog. whose intelligence thanks To
the soldiers care was improved by education and
discipline. The grand ar:ny's dogs were picked
up almost everywhere, except in England. They
had been recruited in Poland in Prussia, in Hol-
land, in Saxony, and in Flanders They were
mongrel Inastitts, hounds, Danish dogs, spanials.
Bu; no matter whence they came, they soon
turned ont French. Foreign dogs were natural
lied without knowing it.
Rugen is an island in the Baltic sea, opposite
10 Stralsund, on the coast OF Pomeran. fortl-
fed both by nature and by art, its situation is
exceedingly strong In time of peace, in conse-
ouence of its fertile soil, its salubrious air, and
its mild climate, Rugen is delightful retreat
In time OF var. it is an important post, natu-
raj citadel, formidable fortress, whose posses
sion has been purchased at the expense OF many
a bloody fight. During the campaign of 1907,
this island was comprised in their sphere of OPP
eratons by the corps commanded by Marshal Da-
youst, and was occupied by an infantry regiment
of the line and by several companies OF sappers
and miners. The regiment, of course, had u dog
q black ana white pcodle--named Capucin-
not because he was born in Capucin's convent
in Italy (which would have been sufficient rea-
son. but in alluson to the copper or iron rings
by which a gun barrel is fastened to its stock.
The dogs short bark might, perhaps, have been
thought to resemble the snappish report OF mus
ket
In consequence OF a change in the plan of OPP
erations ordered by Napoleon the First, the is
land had to be suddenly evacuated, to carry out
movement in retreat, abandoning the whole
line of the Pomoranian coast. Every post, every
ma,ewas withdrawn, but in such hasty way
thasShey forgot an advanced sentinel perched on
the ton of q hillock which commanded the ell
trance of the port of Rugen. This sentinel was
a young soldier, named Firmin Bonard, who had
scarcely been three years in the service. AT pres
emit, q soldier who has served three years is con-
sidered quite veteran at that time, troopers
who couid reckon three, five, seven, and even
nine wears of service were still called conscripts.
Now, Bonard, the soldier, and Capucinethe dog,
happened to be particular 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 OH being relieved
at in the morning, and also then from TIL IN
the morning he would have three good hours u
dozc and slumber in the corps off garde. So Fir
| min Bonard bcguiled the time by anticipating
this supreme indulgence also by the thoughts OF
his village steeplc of his aged cures ancien'
| housekeeper, of the haystack where no used &c
| play at hide-and-seek, and sundry other recot
lections In this way the minutes slipped Glow
~ by, and the two hours guard were drawing &c
! a close. :.
| All at once he heard slight noise. lie lis
toned. 1t is the corporal coming to relieve
guard" he thought, and prepared to utter the ior
! NAL "qui yive." But the sound, which resem
bled that of human footsteps, was soon Followed
by complete silence. ~ couldn't be mistaken )!
Ls said 10 himself. Besides my time must nov
be up" He listened again, still more attentively
Almost Immediately, he heard the barking OF