The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-05-25
A DisObedient Soldier.

A DisObedtent Soldier.
"Now, lads, there's the battery; remember
the Emperor himself is watching you, and |
carry it in true French style. The moment
YOU get into it make yourself fast against an
attack; and mind that any man who comes
out again to pick up the wounded, even
though myself should be among them, shall
be tried for disohedence as soon as the battle
is over"
So spoke Colonel Lasale to bis French
| grenadiers just before the final charge that
decided the battle of Wagram. Then he
| waved his sword and shouted, "En drdnt!"
| Forward swept the srenadiers like torrent,
With the shout which the Austrians opposed
| to them already knew to thek cost. Thregh
| binding smoke and pelting SHOT icy rushed
hesdlong on, with mouths r. Re9 Vaces
| burning, and teeth set like wise. Ever and
anon a. red flash rent the murky cloud around
theni, and the cannon-shot came tearing
| through their ranks, moving them down like
grass. But not man flincked, for the same
was in every mind, that they We're fighting
under the eye of their 'sLittle Corporal" as
they afectionately called the terrible Napo-
leon.
Suddenly the smoke parted, and right in
front of them appeared the dark muzzlss of
cannon, and the white uniform Of Austrian
soldiers. One last shout, which rose high
above all the roar of the battle, the bayonets
went glitteung over the breastwork like the
spray OF q breaking wave, and the battery was
won.
"Whel e's the Colonel o' cried voice, sud-
denly.
There was no answer. The handful of men
that remained OF the doomed band looked
meaningly at each other, but no one spoke.
Strict disciplinarian as he was, seldom passing
day without Furnishing some one, the old
Colonel had nevertheless won his mems
T hearts completely by his reckless courage in
battle; and every man in the regiment would
gladly have risked his life to save that of the
sold growlcr," as they called him.
But it he were not with them, where was
, hep" Outside the battery the whole ground
was scourged into flying jets of dust by a
storm of bullets from the fight that was still
: raging on the left. In such a cross-fire it
, seemed as if nothing living could escape, and
If he had fallen there, there was but little
/ hope for him.
a see him!'' cried tall grenadier. "He's
f lying out yonder, and alive, too, for | saw him
+ wave his hand just now. I'll have him here
: in five minutes, boys, or be left there beside
him."
"But you mustn't disobey orders, Dubois, "
r said young captain (lIow the oldest surviving
/. officer, SO terrible had been the havoc,) hoping
# by this means to stop the reckless man from
a rushing upon certain death. "Remembel
| you-tIoO
It acre left among the wounded, no one must &C
a cut to pick them up'
a. II can't help that" answered the soldier
laying down his musket and tightening thu
Il straps of his cross-bets "Captain, repor
,r Private Dubois for insubordination and breacl
!. Of discipline. Pm going out to bring in th
"a Colonel
"A And he stepped forth untlnchlngly into th
"a deadly space beyond.
ii They saw him approach the spot where th
is Colonel lay; they saw him bend over th
II fallen man, shielding him from the shot wit
II his own body. Then lie was seen to stagge
N suddenly, as if from blow; but the mex
to moment he had the Colonel in his arms, ali
a. was struggling back over the shot-torn grount
through the dying and the dead. Twice h
q stopped short, as if unable to go farther; BIT
he OH be came again, and had Just laid his office
,v gently down inside the battery, when, wit
" his comrades shout of welcome still ringir
"a in his ears, he fell fainting to the cartl, CO,
II cred with blood.
w BY the next morning Colonel Lasallc la
be recovered sufficiently to amaze the whole re-
,is imeut by putting under arrest the man WI
Iv had saved his life; but the moment it W;
NJ M done, the Colonel mounted his horse al
10 rode off to headquarters at a full galop.
- about an hour he was seen coming baC
n again, side by side with short, square bui
NJ man in gray coat and cooked hat at sight
w whom the soldiers burst into deafrnng chee
dc for he was no other than the Emperor \
or poleon.
n, ..Let me see this fellow" said NapoleC
oa sternlv: and two grenadiers led forwal
is Pierre Dubois SO weak from his wounds tn
or he could hardly stand.
~ $50 fellow, thou has dared to disobey 0
Iv ders, al? ?" cried the Emperor, III his Earde
~ tones.
lie Il have, sire: And if it were to be dol
vi again, I'd do it,"
ar ar And what if we vera to shoot thee for il
subordination?"
ha My life is your Majesty's now as always
n,, answered 'he grenadicr boldly. "And If
,s must choose between myself and leaving II
nf Colonel to die, the old regiment can bette
Nc spare common fellow like ne than bra,
80 officer like him."
~, a sudden spasm shook the Old Colonel
j., iron face as he listened, and even Napoleon
-, stern gray eyes sottened as few men had eve
w seen them soften before.
nt "rhOurt wrong Hcre said he, "iur
n would not give a common fellow of thy sol
;, for twenty colonelS were every one OF the1
- as good as my old Lasalle, here. Take thi:
l.. Sergeant Dubos'-and lie fastened his Ow
~ cross of the Legion of Honor to Pierre
10 breast. II warrant ne thou,lt be. a colonc
=, thyself one of these days
,r And sure enough, five years later, Pier
"a Dubois was not only a Colonel, but Gen
4 eral.-IIdrper'S Young People.
99f
"a The Gregory Lode, Montana.