The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-10-12
CAPTAIN OBSTINATE.

vember, 1912, short time after the battle q
WANNA. We beat retreat not before the
| Russians, for they were at respectful dis
| lance from our camp, but before the sharp and
bitter cold OF their detestable country-a cold
| more terrible to us than the Russians, Aus
TRANS and Bavarians all put together.
During the preceding days our officers had
told US that we we're approaching Smolensko,
where we should get food, fire, brandy and
| shoes, but in the meantime we were perishing
in the glaciers and continually harrassed by
the Cossacks. We had marched six hours
without stopping to take breath, for we knew
that repose was certain death. An icy wind
blew the drifting snow in our faces, and from
ime to time we stumbled over the frozen corpse
of a comrade. We neither spoke nor sang;
even complaints we're no longer heard, and
that was bad sign. marched by the side Of
my captain-short, strongly built, rough and
severe, but brave and true as the blade of his
sword. We called him Captain Obstinate"
for when once he said thing it was fxed-he
never changed his opinion. He had been
wounded at Warns, and his usually crimson
face was then CHASTITY pale, while a ragged
white handkerchief, all stained with blood, was
bound round his head, and added to the pallor
Of his countenance. All at once saw him
stagger on his legs like drunken man, then
fall like a block to the ground
GOOD heavens captain" said !, bending
over him, lyon cannot remain here"
"You see that can, since do it," replied
he, showing his legs.
Captain" said i, You must not give way"
and, lifting him in my arms, tried to put him
on his feet. He leaned on me and attempted
to walk, but in vain he fell again, dragging
me with him.
John" said he, call is over. Leave me
here, and rejoin your company as quickly %
possible. One word before you go At vorep-
pc, near Grenoble, lives good woman, eighty
two years Of agony mother. Go and see
l,s~ bop fpp xoI1 harv hat
will, but give her this purse and my cross.
us that all, captain 2"
"That is all, God bless you! Make haste.
Adieu p Ny friends, do not know how il
was, but felt two tears roll down my cheeks.
"No, captain" I cried, II will not leave you;
either you come with me, or l will remain with
you"
81 forbid You to remain"
"You may put me under arrest, then, If you
like, but at present you must let me do a. I
please
"You are an insolent fellow"
Very good, captain, but you must come
He bit his lips with rage, but said no more.
lifted him and carried him upon my shout
ders like sack. You can imagine that with
such burden could not keep pace wit my
comrades. In fact, soon lost sight Of their
columns, and could discern nothing around me
but the white and silent plain. still walked
on, when presently appeared q troop Of Cos
sacks gslloping toward me, with curious ges-
ticulations and wild cries.
The captain was by this time completely in
sensible; and l resolved, whatever it might
cost me, not 10 abandon him. l laid down ON
the ground, aud covered him with snow; then
l crept beneath heap Of dead bodies, leaving,
however, my eyes at liberty. Presently the
Cossacks came up, aud began to strike with
their lances right and left, while the horses
trampled us under their feet. One Of these
lo~. As.f ,<k
crushed it. Ny friends, / did not speak, I did
not stir; put my right hand into my mouth
to stifle the cry of torture which nearly escaped
from me, and in few minutes the Cossacks
had dispersed.
When the last of them had disappeared
quilted my refuge, and proceeded to disinter
the captain. To my Joy he gave some signs Of
life; contrived to carry him with my one arm
toward Q rock which offered sort OF shelter,
and then laid myself by his side, wrapping
my cloak about Ms both.
The night had closed in, and the snow con-
tinued to fall. The rear guard had long since
disappeared, and the only sound that broke the
stiffness Of the night was the whistle Of bull
let, or the bowling OF the wolves feasting on the
corpses that lay stretched around Heaven
knows what thoughts passed through my soul
during that dreadful night, which, felt sure,
would be my last upon earth. But / remem-
bered the PRAYER which my mother had taught
mo long before, when l was q child at her
knees, and, bending low, repeated 1t with
fervor. t,r
That did me good, and felt astonishingly
claimed when returned to my place by the
captain. But the time passed. and had fallen
into state Of half-stupor, when I saw group
Of French officers approach. Before I had
time TO speak TO them, their chief, little man,
dressed in . furred pelisse, stepped toward me.
and said: "Whst are you doing here? Why
are You away from your regiment"
"For two good reasons" said l, pointing first
to the captain and then to my bleeding arm.
1.-THE man says true, SIR" observed one Of
those who followed him; II saw him marching
In the rear Of his regiment. and carrying this
officer on his back"
The emperor-for, my friends, it Was he'll
the eagle Of the Alps could give, and said: 1T
opening his pelisse he took the cross which
decorated his green coat. and gave il to me-
At that instant ! was no longer hungry, no
longer cold; felt no more pain from my arm
than II that awkward beast had never touched
it,
"Ddvowsf," added the emperor, addressing
the officer who had spoken to him. ''see the man
and his captain placed in one Of the baggage
wagons. Adieuf' And making me motion Of
the hand, he went away.
Here the veteran ceased end resumed his
pipe.
nate" cried many impatient voices.
1.-The captain recovered. and IL now general
on the retired list. But the best Of the Joke
wassthat - soon - be got we'll, he put me I'M
der rrest for fifteen days, ~ punishment for
my infraction q discipline. This circumstance