The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-04
q" SENTRY COZ

SENTRY GO"
ENsS tain In the One Hundred and Tenth
TsStAs "a Regiment. At the period OF my story
AN2we were quartered at D., a fortress OF
considerable size in tie south OF England
In order that the circumstances OF the adven.
ture am about to describe may be understood,
l must explain, at the risk Of being tedious, that
the citadel of the fortress In which my regiment
lay is defended by two circles OF dry bitches,
each about fifty feet wide. The side walls OF
these bitches, technically known as escarps and
counterscarps. are as was usual In Notifications
OF that date riyeted with masonry and are per-
pendlcular, The outer circle ditch is thirty feet
deep, tile bottom being payedswith fags,ones
The inner ditch is forty feet deep, and is SINH
larry paved, so that l need scarcely say that
fall from The edge would be almost certainly
fatal. The regular approach TO the fortress is by
a wide road OF gradual ascent, so coutrved as TO
raked by fire from one or other OF the bastions or
outwoIks throughout lis course. Ii crosses the
bitches over drawbrldges, protected by special
works OF great strength.
In time of war these drawbridges would be
kept raised. and would only be lowered tempo
rarily on urgent occasions. When raised, The
fortress would be inaccessible from without, IN
less sealing ladders were used TO cross the
bitches In time OF peace, however, tie draw
bridges are ralely raised, strong guard, never
theless, being Invariably posted over them.
For The convenience of the officers and certain
OF tile residents in the citadel there was short
cut which might be used. This was fOot-palh
D The steep side OF The clltf, through strongly
guarded pOsIern gale. The path led in zigZas
fashion up 10 tie counterscarps OF the diicheS,
which were crossed by light plank bridges, so
designed as 10 be removable with great ease IN a
few minutes. None but officers quarteled IN Inc
citadel and few persons with special permits
signed by tie officer commanding the garrison
were allowed to make use OF this snort cur, lhe
soldiers and others WHO had occasion 10 visit the
citadel being restricted 10 tie main approach.
Among the Young men OF the company was
lad OF the name OF Adair Cameron / had
horror Of the fav0ritism, the bad effects OF when
1 lad often seen, but II was impossible not 10
feel a strong interest in this young fellow Ciean
and soldelllKe i'll appearance, smart at am,
well set up, and steady as rock, he was model
Of what Young solder should be. deadly
bowler, he was one OF the mainStays oil our COM
pany's crieketing team, and as matches we've ire.
quent saw much of him, and nothing TO nnd
fault with. Though / carefully avoided taking
undue notice of Cameron. The natural instinct
winch tbink men have 10 find out their friends
and the enemies made me aware That whl!e L
greatly liked him, he, on his side, was warmly al
one day batch of recruits arrived at head
quarters. TIE Adiutant, being away on leave,
had got NE 10 do his dulles Tor Nun, ana was
busy all The afternoon drafting the new arrivals
| into companies, and arranging Tor theT rallohs
and bedding.
About ll!f an hour before mess WAS SlllluB
| in my room in The citadel barracks, rather tlred,
! when L heard q knock al the door and my color
sergeant appeared. -.
| Private Cameron wishes to know II he could
speak 10 you, sir," said he, saullDg.
Certainly" replied. "Iell him TO come In"
Cameron entered, salutcd and stood silent,
"We1l, Cameron what is it?" inquired.
Please, sir, wish TO speak about something
private"
Cameron hestaed, ana looking at the colo-
sergeant, who looked straight 10 his front.
knew ii was not regular for an officer 10 con-
| fer with private soldiers without non-eoinGs-
stoned officer being present, but knew Cameron
( might be trusted thoroughly. l directed the
color-seI geant 10 walt 10 tie passage. and clos
ing the door asked Cameron tOiell me his story.
| Tie lad seemed i'll great distress and hesitated Il
! great deal before lie spoke.
"irs my brother, sir. He's Just come IN with
! the batch OF recruits"
Win some difficulty he Told me his tale, which
was TO tile following effect:
! Private Cameron and younger brother were
/ tie only children oil III Old widow living In lie
north Of Scotland. Tie old woman could do lit
tie to support herself, and was mainly dependent
/ upon the labor OF one son and such little help as
/ Private Cameron could send her from savings Of
! his pay. Ii seemed that some family Quarrel had
| taken place between the widow and her youngest
son, and that the latter, In d moment or pIque,
! had enlisted but had, when too late, repeuIed.
! He had been drafted 10 the same regiment as his
elder brother, whom lie had acquainted with
these facts on his arrival In the barracks that
| day. Private Cameron told me, with deep emo
ttOu That lOlnin8 COulu save MS from me
! woTkhouse tan idea which seemed 10 I'LL him
| with shame and horror unless his brother could
| be bought OUT OF the service and sent back home.
As his brother lad not been thGee months en-
listed this could be effected by payment OF
| 410; but such sum was far beyond the means
OF either brother. Cameron in despair had come
to me for help, hardy daring, rs he told me, TO
| hope that l could give 1t. He said lie had been
| encouraged to seek my assistance by my con-
slant kindness 10 him.
" I would pay you back, sir, swear it 10 YOU"
said the poor lad earnestly. " You can stop my
pay every week. sir. want next to nothing
| dent drink any aud l can easy get all need to
| smoke and the like vi that Will pay you back,
| sir indeed l WILL"
| tion, and moi little mselyings as 10 whether III
respect 10 discipline WAS dong right, 1 agreed
| TO let bin have the money. 1 could well afford
| 1t; / liked the man and had been touched by Ills
" You should begin to save up your pay In the
savings bank, Cameron" said l, as lie thanked
| me earnestly.
had rot The least intention OF repaylng myself
from his hard earned savings, and quite looked
upon the loan as gift, but judged 1t better mol
TO say so expressly, lest the easy manner of OBJ
tanning the money might do hahn, While
thought ii a good opportunity oil encouraging
Camerons gratitude was deep, and l could mol
help feeling that his expression OF 1t was sincere
and heartfelt.
AS he was leaving the room he turned, looked
ME full in the face, and said, "God bless yon. Sir
for your kindness 10 me shall not forget H.
i viii repay you. sir, SO help me God !"
was struck by the singular eaInestness OF
the man, and when lie had left the room said
TO myself: q" l may have done right or wrong
but that is real good fellow, aud have rot d
firm friend, verify believe"
/ arranged matters next day. Cameron's
brother was permitted to leave for his home al
most Immediately. My part in The transaction
was not suspected, and in q few weeks the mat.
Ter passed out OF my MUD. Cameron continued
In his steady conduct, and each month OBJ
served that be was putting little sum TO his
credit in the regImental savings bank never
however, alluded TO The occurrence again
About three months afterward went away Oh
short leave. had accepted a yachting invita-
tlon from an acquaintance and spent a very
pleasant three weeks cruising among the Chan
mel islands
returned to D. late one night, and leaving
my heavier baggage at a hotel in the town
started up to barracks with 4 small hand bag.
| l went slowly up the zigZag path, through the
postern gate, crossed the first or outer ditch, and
was within few yards of the inner one, when
was startled by sudden challenge.
" Halt Who goes there?"
"Offieer," l answered, feeling not a little sur
priscd, for there had not used 10 be a sentry over
the plank bridge. Ii was rather dark, and
could not see very distinctly. | advanced pace
| or two, when i was again halted.
You can't pass here Go back % l heard in
| sharp, distinct tones.
This meant a long round for me, which, so late
at night. and carrying as was heavy bag, was
very dlsagreeable.
mot pass herel' 1 exclaimed, peevlshly.