The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-08-19
The condemned sentinel.
A STORY OF THE rEEScH ARMY.

zens, presented nearly double the force
which could be brought to the assault. So
there was need of the utmost vigilance on
the part of the sentibels, for desperate
sortie from the garrison made unawares
might prove calamitous.
At midnight jerome Dubois was placed
upon one of the most important posts in
the advanced line of pickets, it being
narrow strip Of land raised above the
marshy fiat, called the peninsula of Neh-
ruDg. For more than an hour he paced
| his lonesome beat without hearing any,
thing more than the moaning of the wind
and the driving of the rain. At length,
however, another sound broke upon his
ear. He stopped and listened, and pres
emily he called out:
who's there?" The only answer was
moaning sound.
He called again, and this time, be heard
something like the cry of child and pref
ty soon the object came towards him out
from the darkness. With a quick emphat-
ic movement he brought his musket to the
charge and ordered the intruder to halt.
"Mercy~ exclaimed a childish voice.
'Don't shoot me; | am Natalie. Don't
you know me?"
"Heavensl" cried Jerome. elevating the
muzzle of his piece, ais it you dear child?"
Yes; and you are good jerome. Oh,
you will come and help mamma! Come,
she is dyingw
1t was certainly Natalie, a little girl only
eight years Old, daughter of Lisette Vail
liant. Lisette was the daughter of Pierre
Valiant, sergeant in Jerome's own regi-
ment and was in the army in the capacity
Of nurse
"Why, how is this, my child" said Js-
rome, taking the little one by the arm
what is it about your mother?"
"Oh, good jerome, can you hear her
now. Hark!"
The sentinel bent his ear, but could hear
only the wind and rain.
- Mamma is in the mud" said the child,
"and is dying she is not far away. Oh,
can hear her crying"
BY degrees Jerome gathered from Nata-
lie, that her father had taken her out with
him in the evening, when the storm came
on. Her mother came after her, and the
sergeant had offered to send man back
to camp with his wife; but she preferred
TO return alone, feeling sure that she would
meet with no trouble. The way, however,
had become dark and uncertain, and she
lost her path, and wandered off to the edge
of the morass, where she sunk into the
soft mud.
"Oh, good Jerome" cried the little one,
seizing the mans hand, cant you hear her?
She will die if you do not come and help
her."
At that moment he fancied he heard the
wall Of the unfortunate woman. What
should he do? Lsette, the good, the beau
tiful, the tender-hearted Lisette, was in
mortal danger, and it was in his power to
save her. 1t was not in his power to with
stand the pleadlngs Of the child. He could
90 and rescue the nurse aud return to the
post without detection. At all events, he
could not refuse the childish pleader.
Give me your hand, Natalie, l will go
with you"
With cry of Joy, the child sprang to
The soldiers side, and when she had secur-
ed his hand she hurried him along towards
he place where she had left her mother.
1t seemed long distance to Jerome, and
once he stopped as though he would turn
back He did not fear death, but he fear
ed dIshonor.
"Harkl' uttered the child.
The soldier listened, and plainly heard
he voice of the suffering woman calling
or help. He hesitated no longer. On he
through the storm, and found |
Lisette, sunk to her armpts in the soft
norass. Fortunately, a tuft of long grass
lad been within her reach, by which she
leld her head above the fatal mud 1t |
vas no easy task to extricate her from the I
niry pit, as he had to be very careful that
lie did not himself lose his footing. At
eDgth, however, she was drawn forth, and
Jerome led her toward his post.
''Who comes there?" cried voice from
he gloom.
"Heavens!" gasped Jerome, stoppingand
rembling from head to foot.
"Who comes there?" again repeated the
dice.
Jerome heard the click of musket-lock.
nd well he knew that another sentinel
ad been stationed at the post he had left.
he relief guard had come while he was
bsent.
Friend, with the cOuntersignl" he an
wered to the new sentinel
He was ordered to advance, and when
e had given the countersign, he found
imself in the presence of the officer of
he guard. In a few hurried words he told
is story, and had the officer been alone,
e might have allowed the matter to rest
here it was; but there were Others pres
ut, and when ordered to give up his mus
ct, he obeyed without murmur, and
lently accompanied the officer to the
amp, where he was at once put in irons.
On the following morning Jerome Du- 4,
OILS was brought before court-martlal,
nder charge of having deserted his post.
lie confessed that he was guilty, and then
emission was granted him to tell his own
.ory.
This he did in few words, but the court
'uld do nothing but pass sentence of
cath; but the members all signed petit
on praying that Jerome Dubois might be {
lrdoned, and this petition was sent to the
eneral of the division, by whom it was
ldorsed and sent up to the marshal
Lefebvre was kind and generous to his
'ldiers, almost to fault but he could !
1t overlook so grave an error as that
hich had been committed by Dubois.
he orders given to the sentinel had been /
cry simple, and foremost, of very neces-
ty, was the order forbidding him TO leave q
5 post until properly relieved. To GER r
in extent, the safety of the whole army f
sted upon the shoulders of each indiyid- i
Il sentinel, and especially upon those, who
night, were posted nearest the lines of /
10 enemy. 7
Il am sorry" said the gray haired old '
arrlor, as he folded up the petition and