Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-13
THE DOC-SOLDlER.
He.Sayed the Life of Colonel and Re-
eeived Decora ton.

So spoke, IN his deepest and SterneSt
tones. old Col. Eugene Noirmont. as
he rode out of the French fort at Bis
kra, in the Sahara desert. at the head
of strong body of irregular cavalry
which had been sent to check the raids
of hostile Arab tribe.
He is my dog, colonel" answered
the Junior captain, young Alphonse de
Picardon, glancing ALPHABETICALLY at
the small white poodle that was close
at his horses heels; land | hope you
will not object to his going with us, for
1t would break his heart to be left be-
hind"
And whose heart will it break"
growled the colonel, IF the brute be-
gins barking just as we're going to
take the Arabs by surprise, and warns
them of our coming?"
1T is not for me to contradict you,
colonel" said the young officer re-
spectfully, but with your permission.
| can soon show you that there is no
fear of that" Then he turned to the
dog and said sternly: 'Jacquot, silence
Ia mort"
Then, at sign from the captain,
several of the men began to Shout,
clap their hands. and make noise
enough to set an ordinary dog barking
furiOusly, but Jacquot never uttered a
sound.
Very WE'LL" said the colonel at
length, 1.-THE dog may go, but remem-
Der, Capt. de Picardon, that l shall
hold you responsible for his behavior"
The young captain saluted and fell
into his place without a word, and off
rode the detachment.
1t was weary work riding over stony
ridges and sandy hollows through the
blistering heat and the binding glare,
while the hot, prickly dust, rising up
in clouds at each step, clogged every
pore and choked every breath. Mile
after mile of the desert was left be-
hind; hour after hour of the burning,
weary, interminable day crept slowly
past; but still there was no sign of the
enemy, or of any living thing save a
WIDENING d vulture, which hung
poised in midair. like blot upon the
bright, scorching, cloudless sky. The
soldiers grew inpatient and began to
murmur and growl.
But all at once the dog (Which was
still keeping pace with them) stopped
short snutfed the air uneasily, and
then began to run restlessly backward
and forward, uttering a low anxious
whine.
do yoe think he scents the enemy?"
whispered Col. Noirmont to Capt de
Picardon.
III stake my life that he does" re-
Il, ID 4
found him wrong. There must be
some hollow here that we can't see.
Here, Morel. Barbot, hold fast to each
other while | climb on to your Shout
derS"
And then, supported by the two bur-
" troopers, be raised himself high
enough to make out a dry water-course
a few hundred yards ahead, in the hol-
low of which large number of men
might easily be hidden.
'FAha!' cried the colonel, when he
heard this. they want to catch us in
an am bush, do they? No so fast, my
fire fellows! Half dozen of you dis
mount, lads, and unsling your carbines,
move forward about fifty PAGES, and
then fire"
The crash of the volley rolled like
thunder along the silent desert, while
the colonel roared, in Arabic:
Come out, you dogs! We see you
plainly"
The effect was magical, Up started,
as if rising through the earth, a swarm
of savage faces and wild figures, while
the flash and crackle of the answering
volley followed as thunder follows
lightning, but the Arabs, firing hastily
and almost at random, only wounded
two men.
Now" Numbered the colonel, upon
them before they can reload.
Down went the French upon their
enemies like whirlwind, and in mo-
ment were hand to hand with them.
The Arabs fought like tigers, but train
ing and discipline soon began to tell,
and the battle was over Gas one of the
French troopers regretfully observed)
almost before one had time to enjoy
it,
But, when the Arabs began to scat
ter and fly, the colonel (whose blood
was fairly up) dashed off in pursuit of
them SO recklessly that he was soon
left almost alone, seeing which three
of the enemy faced around and attack
ed him.
Capt. de Picardon, who was famous
as the best swordsman in the regiment,
came dashing up, barely in time to cut
down one of Noirmont's assailants,
while the colonel himself disposed of
another; but the third man was just
about tc stab De Picardon in the back
when the dog flew at the Arabs throat
and clutched it with such hearty energy
that the man fell to the ground, bleed
ing and half strangled.
Form in line!" shouted Col. Noir-
mont when the fight was over and all
the wounded had been brought in.
my children, you have done well, and
| thank you. Tomorrow you shall be
reported for good service to the COM
mander-in-chief himself and he will
not forget you, but | have one ac-
acknowledgement to make before that.
Capt. de Picardon, bring forward your
dog"
The four-footed scout was at once
produced, and, when set down in front
of the colonel, he stood up on his hind
legs and made a military salute with
fore paw, to the unbounded delight of
the soldiers.
"a soldier who knows his duty so
well, said the colonel, with grim
smile, ''must not 90 unrecOmpensed,
and thus | reward his services"
So saying he detached from his own
uniform the cross of the Legion of
Honor and hung it around the dogs
neck amid laundering cheers from the
assembled troopers, who declared with
one voice that this decoration lad been
fairly won by their .sdop soldier. =