The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-11
selected story.
FIVE YEARS ON GUARD

flOn and dlsclDllne. lhe NANhO hlnAl uOSS
were niclSeo up almost everywhere, except in
England They had been recruited in Po-
land. in Prussia, in Holland, in Saxony and
in Flanders. They were monerel mastihs,
mounds, Danish dogs, spanies. But no mat
ter whence they came, they soon turned out
French. Foreign dogs were naturaiized with
out knowing it. -.
Rugen is an island in the Baltic sea, oppo-
site to Stralsmd, ON the coast OF Pomerania.
Fortified both by nature and by az It's STU
alton is exceedingly strong. In time oil peace,
in consequence OF its fertile soil, its salubri-
Gus air, and its mild climate, kugen is de-
lighttul retreat. IN time OF war, 1t Is an inn
portant post, natural citade., a formidable
fortress, whose possession has been purchased
at the expense OF many bloody fight. Dur
ing the campaign Of 1907, this island was
comprised in their sphere IF operations by
the corps commanded by Marshall Oavoust,
and was occupied by IN 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 Ca
pucin-not because he was born in Capu-
chin's convent in Italy (which would have
been quite sufficient reason,) but in allusion
to the copper or iron rings by which a gun
barrel is fastened to its stock. The dogs
short bark m ght perhaps have been thought
to resemble the snappish report OF 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 Pomeranian coast.
Every post, every man, was withdrawn; but
in such hasty way that they forgot an adj
vanced sentinel perchsd on the top of a hill
lock which commanded the entrance Of the
port of Rugen. This sentinel was young
soldier named Firmin Bonard who had teen
three years in the service. AT present, q sol
der who has served three years is condsider-
ed quite q veteran; at that time, troopers
who could reckon three, five, seven, and even
nine years OF service, were still called con-
scripts. Now Bonard the soldier and Capu-
Gin the dog, happened to be particular good
friends, bound by the strongest ties OF mutual
attachment. - -.l.e. 1 4 -. ~ - ..,,,,
The corporaIof the post had planted Firmin
as sentinel on the hillock exactly at midnight.
The latter therefore calculated on being re-
Geyed at two in the morning, he also then
from two till five in the morning would have
three good hours to dose and slumber in the
corps off gurad. So Firmin Bonard bcguiled
the time by anticipating this supreme indul-
gence, also by thoughts Of his village stee-
pie, Of his aged cures ancient househeeper, of
the haystack where he used to play at hide
and-seek. and sundly other recolections. In
this the minutes slipped slowly by, and the
two hours guard were drawing to close.
All at once he heard slight noise. He lis
tened. ut is the corporal coming to relieve
guard he thought, and prepared to utter the
"Qui Vive.p But the sound, which resem-
bled that Of human footsteps. was soon fol-
lowed by complete silence. ct couldn't be
mistakenp 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, who came run
ming forward in his direction. On recogniz-
ipu .if,,c
him an xiously. Perceiving nothing which
threatened an attack, he wondered whatcould
be the meaning OF this nocturnal visit. Be-
fore he had time to consider the matter, the
animal bad climbed the hill and was jumping
up his legs
"It's you, Capucin. Very good You got tir-
ed of waiting there; and am tired of stand
ing here. The air is keen and am terribly
sleepy. You should have brought the corpo-
raj with you. His watch must have stopped.
He ought to sell it for old iron and buy a rev
one" ~ feeia'0 9s5 - '1f5a7
Capucin's answer was a frenzied bark and
series of mad leaps around bis friend.
IL understand said FirInin smiling. You
are asking me to dance to warm myself. It's
apity you are not provided with the password
and a musket. fdl 3E hi
Capucin commenced to bark, running tight
apdieft like creature possessed. Finding all
these maneuvres useless he ran to the soldier
pulled him by the coat, and tried bard to pull
him away, renewing his efforts with such vio-
lence that he tore the soliiers uniform. Fir
min considering this proof of affection more
troublesome than pleasant, lost his temper and
gave poor Capucin a kick. The dog. howled
at finding himself SO cruelty maltreated and
misunderstood, retIeated few paces' dis
ance; but soon returped, needless of his
friends unkind treatment. Ali he did now,
was to look forgiveness and lick the soldiers
hands. f 1-
BE quiet, will you? And take yourself
Off" said Firmin, harshly, as be threatened
him with the butt of his gun to drive him
away. Capucin finding he could do no good,
unwillingly made up his mind to depart. He
arrived just in time to 60 on board with the
last detachment OF the corps.
At tour o'clock he began to lose patience.
Discipline forbade his quitting the post; but
hunger, which drives the volt out of the
wood, compelled him to forget the code Mill
taiTe. He left his station, and went TO the
guard house, muttering to himself, "If any
body deserves to be shot for this, it is not 1,
but the corporal who doesn't know his bust
ness, ane keeps sentinel on guard six hours
at time. sfH ~ isstL 1895 Is III
q In. the guard house not a creature! The
only supposItion he could form was, that the
regiment had gone to occupy another part of
the island. He shouldered his gun and
walked off across the country in search of
the regiment. On the way be fell in with a
tanner ploughing field. Can you tell me-"
he asked ar him in which direction the French
ss""They are gone away" was the startling
reply. They embarked at two this morn.
ing, stepping lightly, and without word, in
consequence of an order received from the
Emperor" IA g H2osas@
"Gone away, leaving me behind I shall be
reported as deserter! Confound that cor
poral; he has been my ruin.i now under
stand what poor Capucin meant. Il is
not the death fear SO much as the disgrace"
Don't take on in that way" said the farm
er, in a consolatory tone. Stay here and
make the best OF bad business. IF the
French come back again, can prove that it
was no fault OF yours"
"My good man, you don't know the sever
fly of our rules" ,snoa
5ssFhey win not punish you for a crime YOU
have not committed Meanwhile yon can
not live on air. You were probably brought
up in the country and are accustomed to do
country work? afao5F
Certainly, can plough, for instance"
s"The very thing Tor me. can offer you
good board and lodging, with small weekly
payment into the bargain. 1t will be the
best thing you can do under the circum-
stances" The soldier heaved a heavy sigh,
and slowly gazed all around the horizon to
see whether any of the ships were still yisi-
bic. Beholding nothirg, he said at last: 81
thankfully accept your offer."7aa co
"Goodv' said the farmer, Peter Baxen,
"Come and breakfast at once. We will 90
on with the ploughing afterwards"
At Baxen's farm the soldier-ploughman
had plenty of opportunities of proving his
capacity. He found such favor in the farm
er's eyes and in other peoples too-that
Baxen determined to- try and keep him for
good and all. - srs.su ---
"My worthy, fellow" he. said, one day, II
look upon you almost as SEM ri
eff my poor old father" Firmin answered,
were not anxieusy awaiting my return to
France I would willingly remain in Rugen."
"You can bring him back with You, the
next time you go to France. But what /
want to say to you now, concerns my daugh-
ter" -, ..-..s--..-,7 u
Firmin coIored up to the eyes. l l'.--ll'',-
"Unless am much mistaken you and she
are very good friends"
Firmin uttered lew unintelligible words.
"The neighbors e'en say you are in love
with her," .aaGee,
81 assure you never uttered word which
could lead her to suppose that 1900 =
~ know it; and for that very reason took
upon myself to tell her that, II you had no OBJ
lection, she might have you for husband
"And she saiG-w .ssasE 78s.e - sa
'.Not word ;-but she then thew her arms
around my neck and kissed me for quarter
of an hour" A fortnight afterwards, Firmin
Botiard was married to the tair-haired Claris-
sa, Peter Baxen's only daughter. n
T.,,r ~. - II