The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1879-07-19
THE FORGOTTEN SEN
TINEL.

The Island Of Rugcn, in the Bal
tic, opposite Stralsund, is u strong
natural position strongly fortified
During the campaign of 1907, Da'
voust had occupied it with regi-
mcnt of infantry and some compa.
mics of sappers and miners, and
one of the infantrymen was Firmin
Donard, n young soldier posted one
night on a little eminence near the
harbor.
It was midnight when the corpo-
raj Of the guard left him and he ex-
pected to be relieved at 2 o'clock,
which would leave him three hours
sleep before morning. The min
utes slowly wore away, and the two
hours according to the sentry's
calculation, had about expired,
when suddenly he heard a sound as
of footsteps approaching.
"Good! Here comes the reliefw
said Firmin Bonard to himself,thcn
cried aloud: "Who goes there?"
There was no reply. Sand yet I
heard something" muttered the SOL
dier, "and I can take my oath my
two hours are up" Almost imme-
diately thereafter there was another
rustic in the bushes, then bark,
and the poodle Capucin, the Dog of
the Regiment, and n warm personal
friend of the young sentry,boundcd
up to him.
j, II: g
ION hearing the dog bark the sem
tinel at first fancied that something
was wrong, and cooking his musket
he cast q searching glance into the
obscurity, holding his breath to
listen. But there was neither
sound nor sight of foe, and Cap
ucin, 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, is
not particularly lively here. 1t is Il
pity you didn't think to invite the
corporal to accompany you, for
the night is decidedly cool, and !
have an exposition Of sleep come
upon me. The corporal's watch is
always slow, and will be till he
takes it to tho blacksmith for re-
pairs"
In response to these words. to
which he had patiently listened,
Capucin began to bark and gambol
furiously round his friend.
"Oh, you think that if l am
chilled and sleepy l had better
warm my blood and wake myself
up with dance, eh2 But, Capu-
Gin, you have no muskct to carry,
or you wouldn't frisk So"
Still Capucin continued to bark
and to run, now to the right,now to
the left, as if possessed, till finally
loosing all patience he came up to
the soldier, seized him by tho over
coat and tuggcd so heartily at it
that he tore away a fragment Of the
cloth.
Bonard was not in the best Of
humor originally, and 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 grieved to be
30 maltrcated and misunderstood,
and retired 10 some little distance,
then slowly returned, looked re-
proachfully ut the soldier and licked
his hands.
GO! Be offwith you!" said Bo-
nard, steeling his heart and threat
ening him with the butt end of his
piece.
Capucin, seeing that he could not
prevail with him, at lust retired, Of
ten looking back and barking in
vitingly.
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 a new strate-
gic combination and was retiring