The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-13

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Some Ara6 boys had tied stone 10 the
dogs neck.
Sidi's master was Lieut.. Bayardet, a
poor French officer who had risen from
the ranks, and who lived entirely on his
pay.
Sid and Bayardet were but one.
Whenever you saw the end of the for
mer's black nose you were sure to see,
a moment later, the latter's scowIing
face; for Sid, like the vigilant dog that
he was, always trotted fifteen or twenty
steps in advance Of his master, habit
which he had formed during the cam
paigns in Algeria.
Homely, lean and snarling, Sid be-
longed to no race; but the zouaves, who
were good judges, declared that he was
a cross between a jRckal and a spaniel.
He had, in fact, the slender jaws and
long, pointed teeth of the one; the other
he resembled in his large silken ears, his
very curly though very short hair, and
his abundantly thick tail In shrewd-
ness and cunning he took after the ami
NAL that was regarded as his father,
while he had all the vivacity of the race
to which his mother was said to have be-
longed
Neither dog nor master was loved
The officer, though not looked upon as a
mean fellow, was meroilessly strict in
the service; he passed for the model of
soldier, severe, prompt at repression,
scrupulous, just. Moreover, he was much
esteemed for his bravery. The dog, who
also possessed this virtue-fOr there was
not one of his fellows that he had not
vanquished-the dog had against him
his love Of marauding, of which moth
ing, not even the severest punishments,
had served to cure him.
Many time he had been surprised in
the camp kitchens, seeming the roast
and ready to carry it off the moment the
cooks back was turned. He had thus
curtailed many portions; but, on the
other hand, he had received some terri
BILE rakingS. If they did not kill him,
1t was simply from fear Of his master,
who would have avenged his death in
some fearful manner. Once, Sid having
been caught in the act. an assistant cook
tried to kick him with his wooden shoe.
But the dog leaped at the mans throat,
and he would have been straightway
strangled, had it not been for his COM
rades, and who escaped as it was not
without few savage bites on his arm,
The story was noised about. The colonel
sharply reprimanded Bayardet, charging
him thenCeforth to keep a better watch
over his dog, under penalty of seeing
him hanged if he allowed him to run
about the camp. That day Sid received
frightful drubbing. Applying the prin-
ciple that ''he who loveth chasteneth,"
the lieutenant, armed with a thick bam-
boo, gave him a oudgeling in the most
approved style. But Sid always began
his laroenies afresh, and the men final
" came TO laugh at them, so sllillfulIy
did he execute them.
Besides, Sid had a precious gift; he
was a marvellous hunter, and brought
the game with rare.iideHty, without ever
damaging it, Feathers or fur, it made
no difference TO ham, If he exceIled as
a pointer, he also knew how to run down
a hare Now, B$yasdet was a great
hunter. That is why, affection aside, he
set SO much store 10y Sid. On the march,
when they reached hating place, very
often they saw the deg arrive holding in
his iron jaws some "prOwler of the un-
derbrnsh, " with flesh perfumed with the
Odor Of thyme and lavender. And Bay
ardet, who had hind heart at bottom,
sent the game, after cutting of bit
for himself, now to one squad, now
TO another, in order TO add Little
10 the fare of his aouaveS Then Sid.
admired and Petted, was willingly for
given for all his misdeeds, For the rest, !
ia point of intelligence be left far behind
him all the poodles, grifTons and spaniels /
of the regiment. He could rival any dog
whatever in parades, exercises and tricks /
Sometimes, when the master was in the /
humOr, he made Sidi perform, and amid
a vast circle of admirers the dog went
through his eyoluuons, supplying sport
gratis.
But, notwithstanding everything. Bay
ardeJ and Sid did not succeed in win.
ming love.
1t was on the seashore in Algeria that |
Bayardet, then an adjutant in the first
battalion, one morning made the ac-
quaintance of Sid, VINO was only a few
weeks old. Some Arab boys had tied a !
stone TO the dogs neck and were getting |
ready 10 drown him. when Bayardet. in |
tervening. saved MIN by generously dis |
tri0uting among tine little wresohes few |
blows with a switch and then giving
them some coppers TO make them forget
the blows. .Bayarcet, who had no ties
beyond those of simple comradeShip in
the regiment, and no family save an old
stunt, whose shriveled and grabbed face
10 had not seen fer years, became at
tached to the animal, cared for him,
brought him up and educated him. The
dog adorod MS master; there was a oeef !
aid unalterable friendship between the |
biped and the quadruped
CHAPTER II.
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