Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-06-19

say that during those two hours Of sgO-
Mining suspense, the brave old nsn bad
thought more of the danger Of that mad.
cap Norval" than Of bis own imperilled
commission. Tho trembling voice and
the OOnvulsive grip with which be greeted
the young engineer told how much be bad
gone through.
With very fsvsn; '.Good-s;gst.'
and 'God ble.s you" to him and TO Par.
ker. and with kindly shake Of the hand
to each Of the men, and the assurance he
should never forget how they had joined
him in venture Of life and death, Nor
val made straight for the brigadier's tent.
The old man was asleep; so seeing
light in the chief engineers tent close by.
he walked in, and said:
Colonel, find the brigadier has
turned in, so | come to you. If you'll
kindly untcind me. you'll know the depth
of the ditch under the fort rampant. Tell
the brigadier Lwill voucb for its accuracy
"Tell me how you did it," he asked.
eagerly.
"Lct me off for tonight, colonel. To.
morrow you shall hear all, when in re.
porting it, may have to ask your par.
don for unauthorized absence from camp
after tattoo"
He had not left the tent many minutes
when the general awoke, aud was told
by his bearer that "Norval sahib" had
been to see him, and had gone to the
chief engineer. A note at once brought
the colonel with the line in his hand.
Nothing would now satisfy the general,
but that Norval should be sent for, as he
could not sleep again till he heard how
: it had been done. -.
"Captain Wilson !" he called out-for
Wilson was his orderly officer. and was
in attendance close at hand-"will you
oblige me by telling Lieutenant Norval
that l wish to see him. He has actually
gone and plumbed the ditch"
Captain Wilson. who was very comfort
able, as he lay back in his easy.chair,
doing over his cheroot, was not over.
pleased to be thus disturbed, and still
less for such an object. So he went on
his errand in no very gracious mood. On
: reaching Norval's tent he made straigh:
for tho purdah, and was about to open it.
when the bearer stopped him !: "Hookun,
ma, "he said. "The order is to admit NO
one." .a
, Il must see your MASTER" Captain
, Wilson retorted haughtily, and was onoc
more moving to lift the pur1ah, but the
bearer again interfered, and joining his
hands, deprecating Captain Wilson's en-.
o tering the tent, said, "Sahi6 girja par.
v htta has," c"My master is saying biz
: prayers
; Wilson turned contemptuously on his
! heel, saying loud enough for Norval tc
D hear, Tell your master the brigadieI
v sahib wants him Immediately"
K Saying his prayers hum! more can,
and humbug, eh? Yet, did he expect
i would come for him at this moment? Nc
g it cau't be-" Wilson soliloquised as ht
u walked back There is no hypocrisy in
: this, at any rate. That man must DO sin
Q cere. Saying his praycrsr The sount
of his own voice this time, in such yer,
different tones from that in which th,
j. words were first uttered, set him musing
Ind his uncertain stops. now slow, no,
n quick. betrayed the struggle going on ii
1t his miud as he wended his way back t.
d the brigadier's tent.
'c Norval the while, had been as hi
: bearer had truly said, "saying his pray
y ers"-prayers overfewing with thank
'c fulness that his life had been preserved
" AS he rose. he called to his servant an
asked for the packet be had put into hi
ct care. He opened it with fearful eye an
TX trembling hand, as he thought how th
as contents might have been told to his moth
u. er aud to her whom, in time, he hoped
w make the sharer OF his life, the tale Z
I'd his soldier death. Again ascende ed fror
I'd his heart the prayer Of gratitude to Hi
ut into whose hands he bad committed him
~ self for that he had gained his objec
nc and vas safe.
wv He proceeded at once to the brlgadier
tent. As he reached il he was accoste
- by Captain Wilson. "Norval, can 20
d' ever forgive me the wrongs | have dor
he you in thought and act? feel now tn,
on l have wrongcd you. Can you ever 70
on give me? May we not be friends. sue
!, friend as you know need or | a
~ lost"
n From that hour they were friends i
to deed.
re
mn The assault was made on the fort itse
and in afew months--the Victoria Gro
not having then been established--tl
,er Gazette which announced Lieutena