Louisiana capitolian., 1880-07-06

Then there broke forth terrible cry Of
grief and many hard old soldier, who
had looked without flnching at a line Of
le"eled muskets, felt the tears start into
his eyes at the thought that that bright
face would never be seen among them
again.
But all at once, far below them, out OF
the sh adow of tho black unknown gulf
that lay between those tremendous rocks
arose the faint roll Ola drum. beating
the charge. The soldiers started and
bent forward to listen; then up went q
shout that shook The air.
Hes alive, comrades! our Pierre alive,
after ally
And beati"g his drum still, like a
brave lad. He wanted to have the old
music to tho last' o
But we must save him, lads, or he'll
freeze to death down there. He must be
savedr rs
'llc shall be- broke in a deep voice
from behind, and the General himself
was seen standing on the brink of the
precipice, throwing off his cloak.
No, no, GeneraI' cried the grenadiers
with one voice; you must not run such
a risk as that. Lot one Of us go instead;
your life is worth more than all of ours
put together"
My soldiers arc my children answer
cd Macdonald Quietly, aud no father
grudgos his own life to save his SON.
The suldiers knew better than to
make any more objections. They obey ed
in silence, and the General was swing
ing in mid-air, down, down, till he van
ished at last into the darkness of the
cold, black depth below.
Then every man drew long breath,
and all eyes were strained to watch for
the first sign of his appearing, for they
knew well that he would never come
back without the boy, and that the
chance was terribly against him.
Meanwhile, Macdonald, having landed
safely at the foot of the precipice, was
looking anxiously around in search of
Pierre but the beating Of the drum had
ceased. and he had nothing to guide
him.
Plerre' shouted he, at the top of his
voice, where are yon, my boy ?
Here, Generalr answered weak
voice, SO faint that he could barely dis
tinguish it,
And there, sure enough, was the little
fellows curly head, half buried in a |
huge mound of snow, which alore had |
saved him from being dashed to pieces !
against the rocks as he fell. Macdon-
aid made for him at once and although |
no sank waist deep at every step, reach
I'd the spot at last.
All right now, my brave boy, said
'he General, cheeri]y. Put your arms
'ound my neck and hold tight; we'll
nave you out of this directly
The child tried to obey, but his stiff.
med fingers had lost all their strength
md even when Macdonald himself
lasped the tiny arms about bis neck
heir hold gave way directly.
What was to be done7 A few min.
lies more, and the numbing colds of
hat dismal place would make the re-
cuer as powerless as him whom he
anne to rescue. But General Macdon-
Id was NOT the man to be SO easily
'catcn. Tearing off his sash and knot
ing one end of it to the rope, he bound
himself and Pierre firmly together with
he other, and then gave tho signal to
raw up.
And when the two came swinging up
nto the daylight once more, and tho
oldiers saw their pct still alive and un.
urt, cheer upon cheer rang out, rolling
ar back along the line, till the very
fountains themselves seemed to he re-
oicing.
We've been under fire and snow to-
ether said Macdonald, chatting tho
oy's cold hands tenderly, and nothing
hall part us two after this, SO long as
70 both live
And The General kept his word. Years
ster, when the great wars were all over,
here might be seen walking in the gar
en- of a quiet country house in the
Duth of France a STOPPING, white haired
Id man, who had once been the famous
farshal Macdonald and he leaned for
tpport upon the arm of tall, black
'oustached, soldier like fellow, who
ad once been little Pierre, the drum
lCr,
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