The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-11-21
Selected Storp.
The Drummer Boy.


occupy an isolated house on height,
were unexpectedly attacked by two
companies of Austrians, who, firing on
them from different points, barely gave
them time to take refuge in the house
and hastily barricade the doors, leaving
several dead and wounded in the fields.
After barrcading the doors the Italian
soldiers hastily ran to the windows on
the first floor, and began to pour
steady fire into the assalants, who were
gradually advancing in semicircle
and replying vigorously.
The sixty Italians were commanded
by two subalterns and a captain, tall
old fellow, lean and severe, with white
hair and moustache. With them there
was a Sandman drummer boy,
boy not much more than fourteen years
old, 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 window on the first floor, while
the semicircle of the enemy kept clos
ing 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 a sergeant.
About three minutes afterward the SER
geant came running back and called the
drummer boy, reckoning him to follow.
The boy ran after him up wooden
staircase, and went with him into an
empty garnet, where he saw the cap
tain, who was writing with a pencil on
sheet of paper, leaning against the
window, with a well rope on the floor
at his feet
The captain folded the paper and,
looking with his cold, grayish eyes, be-
fore which all the soldiers trembled,
into the eyes of the boy, said abruptly:
drummer boy!' The drummer
boy saluted. The captain said: "You
have got grit" The boys eyes lighted
up.
eyes, captain" he answered.
Look down there" said the cap
tain, pushing him to the window; " in
the plain, near the houses of Villa
franco, where there is glittering 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, go through
the fields, reach our friends, and give
the note to the first officer you see.
Chuck away your belt and knapsack."
The boy took off his belt and KNAPP
sack and put the note into his breast
pocket; the sergeant threw out the
rope and grasped one end of it with
both hands; the captain helped the
boy pass backward, through the little
window. "Take care" he said to
him; "the safety of the detachment
depends on your courage and on your
legs"
"Trust me, captain" replied the
drummer boy, swinging himself out.
"Stoop as you 60 down." said the
captain again, helping the sergeant to
hold the rope.
"Never fear"
Good help YOU"
In a few moments the boy was on
the ground, the sergeant drew up the
rope and disappeared: the captain
sprang to the window and saw the boy
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 Austrians, 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 at breakneck pace.
All at once he fell.
Killed." roared the captain, biting
his fist. But he had scarcely said the
word when he saw the boy up. "Ah,
only fall" he said to himself, and
breathed again. In fact the boy began
to run again as fast as he could, but he
limped. " A sprained ankle" thought
the captain.
The boy ran swiftly for while, then
limped and slackened his pace, and
then broke into run again, but he
seemed to become more and more ia
tigued, and every little while stumbled
and paused for moment.
g Perhaps he has been hit by glanc-
ing bullet" thought the captain, and
he shudderingly watched his move.
ments and encouraged him and spoke
to him, as if the boy could hear him
He measured necessarily with keen
eyes the distance interposing between
the running boy and the glitterlng of
arms which he saw down there in the
plain in the midst of the wheat fields
gilded by the sun. And, meanwhile
he heard the whistling and the noise Of
the bullets in the rooms below, the i'm
perious angry cries of the officers and
and sergeants, the groans of the
wounded, and the crashing of the fur.
niture and plaster. Sup! courager
he cried, following with his gaze the
distant boy. Forward run. He has
stopped, curse himl All! he is running
again"
An officer came, out of breath, to say
that the enemy, without ceasing thei
fire were wavinga white flag, as a sum
mons to surrender.
Don't answer" he cried, without
removing his eyes from the boy, wh'
was already in the plain, but who wa
no longer running, and who appeared
to be dragging himself along with diff
fculty.
Z" But get on! rum" said the captain
grinding his teeth and clenching hi
fists; sc kill yourself, die, scoundrel
but 90 on" Then a horrible oath burs
from him. Ali the infamous coward