The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-06-22
the DRUMMER BOY NERO.

the DRUMMER BOY NERO.
Brave az O Lion Was Ne and the
Storm Captain Hold Him to his
Heart.
The Cosmopolitan.
On the first day OF tho battle OF
Custozza. the twenty fourth Of July,
1S4s, about sixty soldiers belonging
to one of the Italian infantry resi.
ments, having been sent to occupy an
isolated house on height, were un-
expectedly attacked by two compan-
les OF Austrians, who, firing OH them
from different points. barely gave
them time to take refuge in the house
and hastily barricadeth doors, leav.
ins several dead and wounded in the
fields. After barricading the doors
the Italian soldiers hastily ran TO the
windows on the first floor and began
to pour u steady fire into the assail.
ants. who were gradually advancing
in n semi circle, and replying vigor.
ously.
The sixty Italians were command.
ed by two subalterns and u captain,
a tall old fellow, lean and severe, with
white hair and moustachcs; with
them was Sardinian drummer boy,
u boy not much more than fourteen
years old. and who scarcely appeared
to be twelve; he was small, with an
olive brown face and two sparkling
little deep black eyes. The captain
was directing the defence from a win
dow OH the first floor. shouting his
orders like pistol shots and with no
sign OF emotion on his hard face. The
drummer hoy, who was u little pale
but firm on his legs, got up OIL u table
ind was stretching out his neck to
see out OF tho windows and leaning
against the wall; through the smoke
he saw the white uniforms OF the Aus
trims, who were slowly advancing
through the fields. The house was
situated on Il summit of q steep slope
and ON the side towards the slope had
but one small window, high up, whrcl,
looked out from the garrett; therefore
the Austrians did not threaten the
house from that side and the slope
was clear; their fire was directed only
towards the front and the two sides.
1t was an Internal fire, IL hail OF lead
Ell bullets, which OH the outside crack.
ell the walls and crumbled tho tiles,
and OH the inside smashed ceilings.
furniture. window frames. and door
posts. filling the air with splinters.
clouds of plaster and bits OF pottery
and gluss; Missing. rtboundinS, crash
ing into everything with u noise iii to
drive one mad. From time to time
one of the soldiers who We're firing
from the windows fell back on the
floor, and was dragged to one side.
Some tottered from room to room,
pressing their hands on their wounds.
In the kitchen there WIS already one
lend man, with IL ball through his
forehead. The semi.circle OF the enemy
kept closing up.
All at once the captain who until
then had been impossible. was seen to
show signs of uneasiness and to stride
out OF the room followed by u ser
geant. About three minutes after.
wards the sergeant came rushing back
and called the drummer boy. beckon-
ing him to follow. The boy ran after
him up wooden staircase, and went
with him into an empty garnet, where
he saw the captain. who was writing
with IL pencil OH Il sheet of paper, lean.
ing against the window, with q we'll.
rope OIL the floor at his feet.
The captain folded the paper and
looking with his cold, grayish eyes,
before which all the soldiers trembled,
into the eyes OF the boy, said abrupt
ly:
drummer boy" The drummer
boy saluted. The captain said,
you've got grit" The boys eyes
lighted up.
eyes, captain" he answered.
Look down there" said the cap
tain, rushing him to the window, sin
the plains near the houses of Villa.
franca. where there is glitterine Of
bayonets. Those are our friends,
standing idle. Take this note catch
hold Of the rope, slide down from the
window. run down the hill. 90 through
the field and give the note to the first
officer you see. Chuck away your
belt and knapsack."
The boy took off his belt and knap.
sack and put the note in his breast
pocket; the sergeant threw out the
rope and erasped one end of it with
both hands; the captain helped the
boy pass backwards through the lit
tie window. Take care" he said to
him, "the safety Of the detachment
depends upon your courage and on
your legs"
Trust me. captain" replied the
drummer boy, swinging himself out.
"Stoop as you 90 down." said the
captain again, helping the sergeant to
hold the rope.
"Never fear"
God help you!"
In n few minutes the boy was on the
ground; tho sergeant drew up the rope
and Disappeared; the captain sprane
to the window and saw the bow flying
down the hill
He was already hoping that he had
succeeded in escaping unobserved,
when five or six little clouds of dust
which rose from the ground both be.
fore and behind the boy warned him
that he had been seen by the Aus.
trians, who were firing at him from the
top OF the hill. Those little clouds
were earth thrown up by the bullets.
But the boy continued to run Mt a
breakneck pace. All at once he fell.
"killed!" roared the capt ain, biting
his fist. But he had scarcely SAID the
word when he saw the boy get up.
"Ah! only fall!' he said to himself,
and breathed again. In fact, the bow
began to run again us fast as he could,
but he linnped. "a sprained ankle, ~
thought the captain.
A few little more clouds of dust rose
here and there around the boy, but
they were always farther off. He was
safe. The captain gave an axclama-
tion OF triumph. But hecontinued to
follow him anxiousiy with his eyes. be.
cause it was II question OF minutes, il
ho did not get down there as quickly
us possible with the note, which re.
questcd immediate relief, either all his
soldiers would be killed or he would
have to surrender and become pris On
ers with them. The boy ran swiftly
for a while and then limped and slack.
ened his pace, and then broke into a
run again. but he seemed to become
moro and moro fatigued, and every
little while stumbled and paused Tor a
moment.
"Porhaps he has been hit by aglanc.
ing bullet" thought the captain, and
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