The Phoenix herald., 1879-06-28
The Forgotten Sentinel.

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 The Island of Rugen, in the Baltic, opposite Stralsund, Is strong natural position strongly fortified. During the campaign of 1907 Davoust had occupied 1t with regiment of infantry and some companies of sappers and miners, and one of the infaDtrymen was Firman Bonard, young soldier posted one night on a little eminence near the har- bor.
 It was near midnight when the cor poral of the guard left him, and he ex- pected to be relieved at 2o'clock, which would leave him three hours sleep be- fore morning. The minutes slowly wore away, and the two hours, accord ing to the sentry's ulation. had abont expired, when suddenly he heard a sound as Of footsteps approaching.
 Good Here comes the relief r said FiImin Bonard to himself, then cried aloud: 6 Who goes there ?''
 There was no reply. '' And yet 1 heard something, muttered the sol dler, ''and 1 can take my oath my two hours are up. Almost immediately thereafter there was another rustic in the bushes, then bark, and the poodle Capucin, the Dog of the Regiment, and warm personal friend of the young sentry, bounded up to him.
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 On hearing the dog bark the senti- nel at first fancied that something was wrong. and cooking his musket he cast a searching glance into the obscurity, holding hls breath to listen. But there was neither sound nor sight of a foe. and Capucin, clambering up the rocks, came bounding to Bonard's feet.
 Oh, that's you, old fellow, is it ?'' said the soldier. You found it dull did you ?'' well, Capucin, 1t is not par tlcuiarly lively here. It is pity you didn't think to invite the Corporal to accompany you, for the night is decid- edly cool aEd 1 have an exposition of sleep come upon me. The Corporal's watch is always slow, and will be till he takes it to the blacksmith for repairs '' In response to these words, to which he had patiently listened, Capucin be- gan to bark and gambol furiously round his friend.
 ' Oh. you think that if am chilled and sleepy had better warm my blood and wake myself up with a dance, eh :? But, Capucin, you have no lusket to carry, or you wouldn't frisk so"
 Still Capucin continued to bark and
 
 left, as if possessed, till finally losing all patience he came up to the soldier, seized him by the overcoat and rugged so heartily at 1t that he tore away a fragment of the cloth.
 Bonard was not in the best of humor originally. now his anger was increased and transferred from tne absent cor poral to the present Capucin, and he saluted the animal with d Iusty kick.
 The dog was vlsibly grieved to be so maltreated and misunderstood, and re tired to some little distance, then slow ly returned, looked reproachfully at tie soldier. and licked hls h nds.
 " Go Be off with you P said Bonard steeling his heart and threatening him with the but end of his iece.
 CapuelD, seeing that he could not pre- vail with him, at last retired. often look Ing back and barking invitingly.
 But the sentinel stood resolntely at his post and Capucin jast reached the beach ln time to embark with the cor poral Tn the last boat, for Napoleon had formed new strategic combination and was retiring inland and had sent Davoust orders to join him instantly, evacuating Rugen on an hours notics |. In the hustle, the corpor l-eyery one but Capucin = had forgotten about Bonard
 Firmin Bonard, pacing his beat with his musket under his arm, heard 3 o'clock strike in the distant belfry of the old church of Rugen, then 4, then Q. The swallows began to twitter and tue sun came up.
 Losing all patience, and in desperate defiance of militia y law, which eDjoined him to remain on post till he was duly relieved, he descended from the heights and sought the guard-house. t If any body IS going to be shot," he grow led " 1t ought to be the corporal, for the idea of leaving a man on guard for six hours is absurd''
 So saying he entered the guard house and found 1t deserted. 'The devil he exclaimed, and was sorely puzzled, but after a few moments reflection came to the conclusion that the regi- ment had moved to some other part of the island. Throwing his gun over his shoulder, he set off across the island and presently came to peasant who was plowing in field.
 My good man," said the soldier, ''can you tell me which way the French troops have gone? ?"
 By water," answered the peasant, surprised at seeing the solitary soldier;