The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-11-22

accepted yachting invitation from
an acquaintance and spent a very
pleasant three weeks cruising among
the channel islands.
returned TO D. late one night.
and, leaving my heavier baggage mt
a hotel In the town, started up to
the barracks with a small handbag.
went slowly up the zigzag path.
through the postern gate, crossed
the first or outer ditch, and was
within a few yards OF the inner one
when was startled by a sudden
challenge
HALT who goes there?"
Officer" | answered, feeling not a
little surprised, for there had not
used TO be- a sentry over the plank
bridge. IL was rather dark, and |
could not see very distinctly. l ad-
vanced pace or two, when / was
again halted.
"You can't pass here. Go backl"
] heard in sharp, distinct tones.
This meant a long round for me.
which, SO late at night, and carrying
as ! was "A heavy bag, was very dis
agreeable.
Not pass here!" exclaimed peev.
ishly. "Why not? i am an officer
qunrtered in the citadel"
You can't pass Go backW repeat
ed the voice, hoarsely.
The tones seemed familiar, and
rather irritated by the somewhat
percmptory answer. ] advanced an
other pace and saw close in front of
me "a sentry with his rifle ut the port.
go back go back" repeated the
figure in the same hurried tones.
The nightwas not so dark but that
could make out the features of Pri-
vate Adair Cameron. For one mo-
ment thought OF inquiring the rea-
son OF the road, which was usually
open. being closed, but on second
thoughts | reflected that IL was
scarcely judicious to enter into an al
tercation with a sentry whose orders
were evidently stringent; so, very
sulkily, | turned and retraced my
steps. had gone only a few yards
when / heard behind me the cry
"Sentry gor' ring through the quiet
night air.
The sound fingered in my ears till
the echoes from the gray ramparts
died away in the still air and all was
once more profoundly silent I'm no
very good humor, found myself at
last. hot and tired with my burden,
in the passage leading to my quar-
tiers.
The room occupied by my subal-
tern was next to mine; the door was
open and l heard voices within.
"rhose Internal sappers are always
at some game! They 90 and move a
bridge Tor some silly reason or other,
and never think OF telling any one
| only heard about it 10 minutes
ago, and now I've get to go and
post a sentry over it or some poor
devil will break his neck TO moralp'
"iou may save yourself the
trouble, old boyf' exclaimed gayly,
as burst into the room. "The sen
try's on already, and so Pve saved
my neck, and Evetts there won't get
his company just yet.
The adjutant for IL was he that
had been speaking) and Evetts, my
subaltern, greeted me with all the
boisterous welcome of old comrades.
"Glad TO see back, old chapl" said
Halves. the adjutant. But what do
you mean about the sentry being
postedp'
"Why, over the ditch on the short
cut, confound himl" | replied. He
made me go back the whole beastly
roundp
cover the bridge at the inner
ditch2" asked Halves with surprise.
Yes" answered.
"But | haven't posted one YETI
said Halves. IL was just going ia
see about doing il when you came
in. For they've taken away the
bridget
well, dear boy, there he il any
way" | answered, laughing.
"But not one of our men," asked
Halves, i'm tones of great surprise,
"Surely not one of our menu"
Yes | replied, still laughing.
lone OF our men! ought to know
him, too, for it was Private Adair
Cameron of my company.
The two officers looked at each
other. A curious expression came
over their faces, after a pause, my
subaltern said slowly: Private
Adnir Cameron died in the hospital
last night. "-Cornhill Magazine.
s'e-