The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-05-30
.NSBURG, PA, FRIDAY, MAY 80. 1879.
THE FORGOTTEN SENTINEL.

| The Island of Rugen, in the Baltic,
/ opposite Stralsund. is a strong natural
position strongly fortified. During the
campaign of 1907 DavOust had occupied
I it with regiment of infantry and some
companies of sappers and pioneers, and
/ one of the infantrymen was Flrmln BOZ
I ard. a young soldier posted one night as
/ sentry on a little eminence near the har-
bor
1t was midnight when the corporal of
the guard left him and he expected to
be relieved at ? O'Clock, which would
leave him three hours sleep before
/ morning. The minutes slowly wore
away, and the two hours, according to
the sentry's calculation, had about ex-
pired, when suddenly he heard sound
as Of footsteps approaching.
Good Here comes the relief - said
Firmin BOnard to himself, then cried
aloud, 'Who goes there ~
There was nOreply and yet heard
something" " muttered the soldier, ''and
l 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 per
sonal friend of the young sentry, bound
ed up to him.
On hearing the dog bark the sentinel
at first fancied that something was
wrong, and cooking his musket he cast
a searching glance into the Obscurity,
holding his breath to listen. But there
was neither sound nor sight of foe, and
Capucin, clamberlng up the rocks, came
bounding to BonaTd's feet.
oh that's you, old fellow, is it -
said the soldier. .'You found it dull,
did you ? Well. Capucin. it is not par
ticularly lively here. 1t is pity you
didn't think to invite the corporal to ac-
company you, for the night is decidedly
cool and I 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 began
TO bark and gambOl furiouSiy round hi
friend.
'-Oh. YOU think that if I am chilled
and sleepy I had better warm my blood
and wake myself up with a dance. eh 3?
But, Capucin, you have no musket to
carry, or you wouldn't fTiSk so. =
Still Capucin continued to bark and
to run. now to the right. now to the left.
as if possessed. until finally losing all
patience he came up to the soldier. seized
him by the OveTcOat and tugged so heart
lily at it that he tore away fragment of
the cloth.
Bonard was not in the best humOr
originally; now his anger was increased
and transferred from the absent corporal
to the present Capucin. and he saluted
the animal with a lusty kick.
The dog was visibly gTieved to be so
maltreated and misunderstood and re-
l1T, IL
returned, looked reprOachfully at the
soldier and licked his hands.
"GOl Be off with YOU - said Bon
ard, steeling his heart and threatening
him with the butt end of his piece.
Capucin seeing that he could not pre-
vail with him at last retired, often look
ing back and barking invitingly.
But the sentry stood resolutely at his
post and Capucin just reached the beach
in time TO embark with the corporal in
the last boat, for Napoleon had formed
new stUagetic combination and was re-
firing inland, and had sent Dayoust or
derS to join him instantly. evacuating
Rugen on an hours notice. In the bus
tie the cOrpOTal-eyeTyO one but Capucin
had forgotten about BOuard.
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 D The
swallows began to twitteT and the sun
came up.
! Losing all patience and in desperate
defiance of all military law, which en-.
Joined him to remain on post until he
/ was duly relieved, he descended from
the heights aud sought the guard house
/ If anybody is going TO be shot" he
grOwled. lit 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 it deserted The devil - he
+ exclaimed. and was sorely puzzled. but
after a few moments reflection came tC
the conclusion that the regiment haC
moved during the night to some Other
part of the island Throwing his gun
/ over his shoulder, he set off across the
island and presently came to a peasant
/ who was ploughing in field.
My good man, = said the soldier
/ ''can you tell me which way the Frencl
troops haze gone ~
/ ''By water" answered the peasant
/ surprised at seeing the solitary soldier.
4 don't know where they have gone
but at , O'Clock this morning they sailed
with the greatest haste and in the com
pletest silence. =
''Gone - said the sentry; "and they
have abandoned me l shall be set dow
as a deserter. Damn that cOpOral-ht
not only left me on watch six hours. but
( he has ruined my Teputation-dishonor
ed me. Now | understand poor Capu.
cln S visit he came to warn me thai
/ they were going, and /, dull fool that
/ was. could net understand him. GooC
dog, and | kicked him-the first time
+ one of our men ever struck him. Oh
/ Capucin, Capucin, why didn't you thinI
/ of tearing the corporal's coat, too -
, And the sentinel burst into tears O.
regret and despair.
Come, come. my son, = said the peas
/ ant, kindly, don't give way so. Cry
ing won't mend matters. Stay here
you can't do anything else. If tn,
French return and take you l will eX
/ plain everything"
But you do not understand wha
martial law is-if they return there vii
be no pity shown me. -
"Tu-tut That is absurd. You can
not be punished for a crime you neve
committed. If any body is to be blamed
it is your superioTs who forgot every
thing about you.
Firmin BOnaTd made no answer bu
swept with a despairingly hopeful ey
the distant horizon. Alas. there wa
not the white fieck of a single sail to b
seen, and again he gave way to his grief
Take my advice" " said the old man
"and bear up with a good heart. Yo'
too are from rural parts, unless l al
greatly mistaken, and can find in me
friend if you are only willing to let III