The Delta independent., 1889-03-26

But by coaxing and threatening, the
sentinel got the dog back to his post,
and there he made him lie down once
more. And thus matters rested till
the tramp OF the coming guard was
heard.
'.Ah, now, Prince, we'll be relieved"
the soldier said, stopping near the dog.
you go and see your old friends"
The tramp of the coming guard drew
near, and Pierre was preparing to
hail them, when the dog took a new
start, and in new direction, this time
starting toward the copse.
Here, here, Prince! Parblue, don't
run of again"
But the fellow took no other notice
of the call than to quicken his speed.
"Back! Back! Here"
"Grand Dieum This last exclama-
tion was forced from Pierre's lips, by
seeing the dog leap to his hind legs
and run thus. In an instant, the truth
bunst upon him. Quick as thought he
clapped his gun to his shoulder and
took aim. He could just distinguish
the dim outlines now and he fired.
There was sharp cry, and then Pierre
had to turn, for the guard were
approaching.
"Qui est ld?'' he cried.
"Garde naontantm was the answer.
And, having obtained the counter
sign, he informed the officer what had
happened.
"a dogp" cried the officer "Prince,
did you sayp"
"He looked like Prince; but, dia5le,
you should have seen him run off on
his hind legs"
"Ehp Hind legsp"
s.Yes."
''Then come; show us where he was"
With this, the officer Of the mounted
guard pulled his lantern from his
breast, and, having removed the shade,
he started on. Pierre led the way to
the corpse, and there the dog was
found, apparently in the last struggles
of death.
"Gra,ad Dieu" he cried, what legs
for dog, ehp"
And no wonder he said so. The
hind legs of the animal were booted,
and had every appearance Of the pedal
extremities Of the genus homo. But all
doubts were removed very quickly, for,
as the officer turned the body again, a
deep groan came up, and the words,
"God take me, 2" in the Prussian tongue,
followed.
"Diable! here's an adventurem utter
ed the officer, and he made Pierro hold
the lantern, while he ripped open
enough of the dogs skin to find the
face.
But they concluded not to stop there
to investigate, so they formed a litter
BY crossing their muskets, and, having
lifted the strange animal upon it, they
proceeded on their way. When they
reached the camp, they found half the
soldiers up, waiting to find out why the
gun was fired.
Lights were now brought, and the
body placed upon the ground The
dog skin was removed, and within was
found Prussian drummer He was
small fellow, though, apparently, some
twenty years of age; but he was dead.
Pierre's ball had touched his heart, or
somewhere very near it. His pockets
were overhauled, and in one OF them
was found a cypher, but no one could
make anything of It. The colonel took
it, and directed that the body should be
placed out of sight, for burial on the
morrow.
But this was not the end. About
four o'clock, just before daylight, an
other gun was fired on the same post
where Pierre had been, and this time
man was shot who was trying to make
his escape from the camp. He was
shot through the head. When the body
was brought into camp, it was found to
be that of a Bavarian trooper, who had
been suspected of treachery, though no
proof had ever before been found
against him. On his person was found
key to the cypher, which had been
taken from the person of the Prussian
drummer; and now that the colonel had
them both, he could translate the mys-
tic scroll. 1t proved to be direction to
the Bavarian to lay his plans for keep
ing as near Napoleon's person as posi-
BILE, after he should enter Berlin, and
then wait for further orders.
The mystery was explained. The
Bavarian had contrived to call the
great dog away from the regiment and
deliver him up to the enemy, and his
skin was to be made the cover for a spy
to enter the camp under. And the spy
would have got in. too, but for the
sportive order of the colonel, and the
wilfully faithful obedience OF Pierre
Sancoin.
On the next day, Pierre was promot-
ed to the rank of u sergeant, and the
emperor said to him, as he bestowed
the boon:
"If you only make as faithful an Of
ficer, as you have proved yourself faith
full as sentinel, can ask no more."-
Yankee Blade.