The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-06-04
A DISOBEDIENT SOLDIER.
BY DAVID KER.

BY DAVID KER.
"Now, lads, there's the battery remem-
/ Der the emperor himself is watching you
and it is in true French style. The moment
/ you get it make yourself fast against at
tack; and mind that any man who comes
/ out again to pick up the wounded, even
though I myself should be among them,
shall be tried for disobedience as soon as the
battle is over
SO spoke Colonel Masile to his French
/ grenadiers just before the final charge that
decided the battle Of Wagram. Then he
waved his sword and shouted, "En avant I"
Forward swept the grenadiers like tor
rent with the shout which the Austrians
opposed to them already knew to their cost.
Through binding smoke and pelting shot
they rushed headiOng on, with mouths parch-
ed, faces burning, and teeth set like vice.
Ever and anon a red flash rent the murky
cloud around them and the cannon-shot came
tearing through their ranks, moving them
down like grass. But not a man finched
for the same thought was in every mind,
that they were fighting under the eyes OF
their Little Corporal" " as they affectionate-
ly called the terrible Napoleon.
Suddenly the smoke parted, and right in
front of them appeared the dark muzzies of
cannon, and white uniforms of Austrian
soldiers. One last shout which rose above
the roar of the battle, the bayOnets went
giitterirg over the breastworl1s like the spray
of breaking wave and the battle was won.
where's the colonel 90 cried a voice sud
denly.
There was no answer. The handful of
men that remained OF the doomed band look
ed meaHngly at each other, but no one spoke.
Strict discplinarian as he was, seldom pass
ing day without Furnishing some one, the
old colonel had nevertheless won his mems
hearts completely by his reckless daring
courage in battle; and every man in the re-
giment would gladly have risked his life to
save that Of ''the old growler," as they call
ed him
But if lie were not with them, where was
he? Outside the battery the whole ground
was scourged into flying jets of dust by
storm of bullets from the fight that was still
raging on the left In such a cross-fre it
seemed as if nothing living could escape,
and if he had fallen there, there was but
little hope for him.
81 see him = cried tall grenadier. "He's
dying 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,
said young captain Cnow the oldest sur
Yiving officer, 50 great had been the havoc
hoping by this means to stop the reckless
man from rushing to certain death. ere
member what the colonel told you-that
even il he were left among the wounded, no
one must 20 out TO pick them up
= can { help that, 80 answered the soldier,
laying down his musket and tightening the
straps of his cross-bets Captain, report
Private Dubois for insubordination and
breach Of discipline. I'm going out to bring
in the coIoneI2"
And he stepped forth unfiinchingly into
the deadly space beyond.
They saw him approach the spot where
the colonel lay they saw him bend over the
fallen man, shielding him from the shot with
his own body. Then he was seen to stagger
suddenly, as if from blow but the next
next moment he had the colonel in his arms,
and was struggling back over the shot-torn
ground, through the dying and the dead.
Twice he stopped short, as if unable to 90
farther; but or he came again, and had just
laid his officer gently down inside the bat
terry, when, with his cOmTades shout of vel
come still ringing in his ears, he fell faintiug
to the earth, covered with blood.
Bv the next morning Col. Lasallc had re
covered sufficiently to amaze the whole re
giment by putting under arrest the man who
had saved his life but the moment it was
done the colonel mounted his horse and rode
off to the headquarters at full gallop. In
about an hour he was seen coming back
again, side by side with a short, square
built man in a gray coat and cooked hat at
sight Of whom the soldiers burst into deaf
ening cheers for he was no other than the
Emperor Napoleon.
Let me see this fellow" said Napoleon,
stemly and two grenadiers led forward
Pierre Dubois, so weak from his wounds
that he could hardly stand.
so fellow, thou hast dared to disObey
orders, ha - cried the emperor. in his harsh
est tones.
L have, sire. And if it were to be done
again, I'd do it -
And what if we We're to shoot you for in
subordination?"
''NIy life is your majesty's, now, as al
ways, - answered the grenadigr boldly, ''and
il l must chose between dying myself and
leaving the colonel to die, the old regiment
can better spare a common fellow like me
than brave officer like him.
\ sudden spasm shook the colonel's iron
face rs lie listened and even Napoleon's
stern grey eyes sOftened as few men had
even seen them soften before
"Thourt wrong there" NE said, ''for l
would not give a common fellow of thy
sort for twenty colonies. were every one as
good as my old Lasalle here. Take this,
Sergeant Dubois and he fastened his own
cross of the legion of honor to Pierre breast
i warrant me thou'lt be a colonel thyself
one Of these days
Aud sure enough, five years later, Pierre
Dubois was not onlya colonel, buta general.
y MOCKIEG BIRDS LOVE FOR CHILD
The Jacksonville, Fla, Breeze tells the fol
lowing: ~ little child in Jacksonville was
in the habit OF DiaViun upOp the UiaZZa of