The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-04-20
SID THE SOLDIERS DOG.
He Was an Old Campaigner and at Last
Saved the Honor Of His Regiment.
by sUTToN-LAUMANN.
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BY SUTTON-LAUN1ANN.
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CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
There is great stir in the camp. Var
with Germany is ON the eve of breaking
out; the regiment has received its march
ing orders. The zouaves are falling in,
with their knapsacks on their backs,
glad OF q chance to do battle with enc
mics more serious and more formidable
than the Arabs.
With drawn sword the colonel passes
along the line. He reaches the third
company. Bayardet is at his post, cor
rect and erect. Behind him, as still as
If he were stuffed, stands Sid.
Lieutenant, grunts the colonel,
scarcely concealing cunning smile I'M
der his heavy gray nustache, slieuten-
ant, are you going to take your dogs''
IF he win not be in the way, my
colonel.
''As you please"
A fortnight later, perhaps less, the
regiment was in Alsace. Bayardet, still
accompanied by Sidi, witnessed the daily
growth of his reputation as an officer Of
surly humor, but extraordinarily efficient
in campaign. When he commanded
the main guard, or when he was intrust-
ed with accommodating expedition, he
acquitted himself of his task with skill
and zeal beyond all praise, And Sid, a
true soldiers dog, understanding Won
derfully what was on foot, started ahead
as scout, examined the ground, went
and came warily, disappeared before
any one knew what had become of him,
ard returned to find his master, who
seemed to understand perfectly what
Sid meant by such or such an attitude.
Often in the evening, when the senti-
neis had been stationed, Bayardet said
between his teeth:
We may sleep TRANQUILITY tonight.
Sid saw nothing yonder.p
Sometimes, too, when he was detached
and needed to send some communication,
either to the colonel or to the commander
of the battalion, Bayardet wrote few
lines on bit of paper, which he care
fully folded and placed between the dogs
jaws, saying to him:
Garry it, Sid; carry it to So-and-soI"
And Sid, who knew by name all the
superior officers of the regiment, started
off at full speed and delivered his mes
sage without ever making mistake.
But he had remained an incorrigible
thief, and more than one soldier COM
planned of his robberies "What pity
he is such marauderip said the men.
In the course of one of those slxirmishes
that so frequently take place between
hostile armies at their points of contact,
Sid rendered one of those services that
fix in the minds of troopers the memory
of a good dog Of the regiment whose
brilliant deeds they related in the even
ing at the mess.
Bayardet, with few platoons, had
been ordered to reconnoiter the battalion
of the enemy detached as an advance
guard. The night was dark, and the
zouaves went cropping through the fields
full Of ravines, broken by clumps of
trees, quick set hedges, and trenched
roads. The lieutenant marched at the
head Of the detachment, quickening or
sIackening the pace of his men, guiding
them by gesture, for absolute silence was
necessary. He held Sid by one ear, the
dog having noe COLLAR in order that he might
not be easily taken. From time to time
Bayardet let go the animal, who crept
ahead with legs outstretched and nose in
the air. All halted then until the return
of the dog, who, manifesting no anxiety,
thereby treasured his master. They
started again, still noiselessIy, until Bay
ardet deemed it necessary to call new
halt.
The little troop, which had been ma
neuvering on uneven ground affording
chance for concealment, suddenly found
itself before a vast and naked plain.
They had to redouble their prudence;
according TO almost certain estimation,
they could not be very far from the
enemy, and they were in danger of fall
ing upon him in their groupings.