The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-10-17

tumnlt was ended and quiet reigned.
We are come to decimate you" continued,
alone. Do you ask whyf Because the colonel
Wishes the execution to be secret; he would
not have the company dishonored before their
backs when all was ready to march upon the
enss% Ryt W.. At, no. a. - ~ ..,., ono ., .,.
men.
"silence. The captain is right" replied
several.
"Then Polidoro deceived us; he told us the
captain would protect u.s." said a young SOL
Their tone had already changed. 1t was no
longer hostile:
to make you doubt the captains honor r.
mo! noW cried voice after voice. 1t is
our fault: Let us suffer the penalty! Decimate
u.s. SsPssn ~ cried snd let qs have
Lieutenant" l continued, advancing to
Polidoro, ~ demand your sword"
He moved his hand to the buckle of his belt
as if to take it off, but the struggle was too
was in arms, and, carried away by passion, he
shouted hoarsely:
"Tben come and take itp'
And drawing it from its sheath. he threw
himself on guard
"Bravo, lieutenant! Let him come and take
itp cried q voice a his side.
"Who spoke then Z" asked, feignipg igno-
| rance of the man.
at" cried an old soldier; one of the
grogndrds of the company.
"Very we'll, Matseo; I will attend to you
presently"
There was no time for consideration; at
| once fell on guard myself. Polidoro awaited
| my attack with his blade low, after the manner
of the Italians, but at my fret lunge, breaking
| down his parade before we had even crossed
| swords, whether it was that remorse for his act
tbroeaS unlneky msehsuoe on bis part dis
| armed him, catching his guard on the point OF
my sword and forcing his weapon from his
hand
| "Maledifto :" he exclaimed augrily, blusbing
| with shame and wrath, and turning to Zanetto,
| who could not forbear laughing at his mishap,
with q blow of his heavy boot. he crushed the
| mingled with the ranks.
Lieutenant, 1 have not degraded you" 1
said softly. at is even possible that. if chance
| favors you, may restore you sword"
This indulgence shown to Polidoro, whose
guilt was aggravated by an attack on his
superior officer, made a greater impression
than severity could. The fascin alton he ex-
ercised over the men, their belief in him, his
prestige were considerably lessened. felt that
1 was master of the troop.
"As for you,' said to Matteo, as Q pun
iahment for your insolenee, you must dig the
trench"
~. my o"ptain''
"Shoot me first, captain, implore you, ,
sobbed MAtteo, pale with shame and despair.
He was one of the Oldest and best soldiers in
tho company; his moustache almost white and
his face scanned with scars He thought him.
self degraded before his comrades, aud did not
see that my aim wae to save him.
"Not So" replied. Go find pickaxe and
, spade in the viliage-and quicklyP
"Your are very hard ON me, captain"
"Obey: no more words y
All this while the sous ,lieatnGnt Brocard
, who guessed my purpose, was Writing The
names of the company upon. slips of paper
which he threw into shake.
Shut this is not the way it ie DONE" cried
Poldoro, in q bantering tone. "Permt me tc
|. instruct you"
"silence in the ranks" cried.
"But We will never get through at this rate
captain"
y al am not responsible to you, sir. It is the
order of the colonel. Now, come hither," sait
I to the drummer, and draw four names fol
q the firing party"
"Am 1 not included. captain" returned
t Zanetto, drawing himself up proudly to hi
Q full height.
J, at seems to me that l counted before thu
enemy" replied the boy.
o drummer duty is to follow the company"
THAT is true," said an old grogndrd. Come
{ Zanetto stick your hand into the bag, bu
IS don't draw my name"
;. But it was the old mans name that he drew
Q 1.-THE grenadier Sampierriw
'! 81 never had any luck" growled Sampierri
stamping angrily upon the ground.
q He took up his musket.
q "Tbe grenadiers Nicolo, Mordini, Ruspone
d continued Brocard.
q Matteo, while this was going on, had re
q q turned from the village, and was silently dig
= ging trench to our left, about two hundre
u PAGES from the mountain, where the earth wa
& soft and offered but little resistance.
:. "Ha Matteo! there are ninety of u.s." erie
~ Corporal Campana; 'nine men to mount guar
" underground to day. Make it wide enough
my old friend"
:, IA corporal is wanting to command the firm
20 party" said Brocard, land have mixed up a.
20 the names again in the shako."
y well, let 1t be Campana," replied
% "Me, mon oapatainef What have done NOR
u, than my comradesH Why choose meT
n What have You done' Have you not thre
u! chevronsf Are you not the Oldest corporal
y You should have set the example of subordini
ton. Cop
$50 belt, then" said the corporal gloomil!
81 Come-attention, firing party!'
ls He marched to the trench at the head of hi
III four grenadiers.
Attention. cried 1. DRAW the names
is the tenth"
Id "Euoughw said Zauetto; "let him bewar
of The business is becoming less amusing, cal
tain"
ee lie drew nine slips successfully, which Br'
ed card did I OF read, 80 that the suspense col
or tnued to the end. The tenth he held up.