Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-01-16

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there he need for ito give the alarm and
get IN shot at the enemy at the same time
Truly, Monsieur, it seemed TO me that
stood that way, while my heart went pound
ing against my ribs, for a whole year |
was no longer cold the blood was racing
through my veins, and was everywhere
IN glow. Suddenly there came puff of
wind, and as the mist thinned for a mo
ment ! saw that the whole ravine was full
OF Russians. Their advance already was
halfway up the bank nearest to our works
In less than ten minutes the whole of them
would be dashing into our outlying redoubts
AS l pulled the trigger of nv musket |
tried TO shout, but my throat was as dry as
furnace and could only gasp And
will you believe il my musket missed
hire Name of a name, what a state | was
in There was the enemy coming on un-
der cover of the mist and there was l.,
the only man who could save our army,
standing dumb like a useless fool
w hat must do came to me like a flash
II ! ran back inside of our lines to give
the alarm, the chances were a thousand to
one that the enemy would have the outlv-
ing redoubt, very likely would have them
both, and would turn the guns before help
could come. But | knew, at least hoped,
that there was time for me to get to the
more exposed redoubt ahead of them and
| give the word to spike the guns. IL was
all in all instant / say, that I found this
thought in my mind, and my musket and
| cartridge-hox thrown ! don't where. and
myself dashing off through the mist across
the broken ground like deer.
As ished into the redoubt our mel,
thought that was the Russians and when
they knew me by my uniform fora French
man, and heard me CRYING in n hoarse whis
per- spike the guns they thought that
was mad. But the lieutenant in command
oi the battery had at least Il little sense
eVenlt he did not have much courage and he
looked toward where pointed-and then he
saw the Shakos, as the mist lifted again.
/ not hundred feet away.
Save yourselves, will make the guns
safe he cried to his men-he was not all
coward. poor fellow-and as they ran for it
he picked up the spikes and the hammer.
Tap tap ! tap one gun was spiked. Tap
tap tap another. Then we heard the
Russians beginning to scramble up outside.
He swore great oath as he dropped the
hammer. 1t can't be done Run, cat - he
cried-and away he started after his men.
The name that called him as he ran away.
Monsieur was very foul name God for
give me for what said But was deter
mined that it should be done In a second
had picked up the nails and the hammer,
and-tap tap tap the third gun was
safe. Run. cat :. heard the lieutenant call
again. But-tap Il had the nail started in
the last gun, and then right above me. was
a Russian major and with him dozen of
his men Tap and had the nail halfway
home as the ma jor Jumped down beside me,
with his sword raised. knew that could
parry his blow with the hammer and then,
possibly, get away but wanted to make
sure that that gun could not be turned
And so-it was quick thinking that | did
Just then, Monsier-tap and the gun was
no better than old iron At the same in
slant 1t seemed to me that the whole world
burst INTO a tremendous roar and ten thou
sand blazing stars-but it only was the
sword of that confouuded Russian major
banging against my skull ."
The little woman was almost sobbiug. She
took her husband hand in both of hers
But you see that was not killed. little
one, he said and he raised her hands to
his lips and kissed them
'Itwas not tuntil the next day, Monsieur"
he went on, that knew ANYTHING. Then
was in the hospital
How did it 90 : | asked Of the hospital
steward.
Shut up said the steward.
This made me angry How did it 90,
poisson | cried. Tell me, or III crush
your bones
Then the man was more civil. The
Russians were driven back, he said and a
lot of them were captured. You owe it to
the same Russian major who almost killed
you that your life was saved As soon as he
ntrbt tuf ba
the general begging that you might be looked
after quickly. If there was any life left in
you it was worth saving he said, for you
we're brave man-and he told how YOU had
spiked those last two guns Parbleu, but
for that message you would have died
When they brought you in here you were
nearly gone.
" And the lieutenant who ran away { |
asked
"'tDh, he was killed-as he deserved
Now you know all about it. Hold your
tongue
Il felt foolishly weak, and there was
such a pain in my head as | began TO re-
member it all once more, that | could not
ask any more questions Presently my head
began 10 buzz and the pain in it TO get worse
and then for week had a fever that came
near to taking me off. But pulled through"
he squeezed his wife's hand, that again
had been laid in his-''and in three weeks
was back with the regiment again. 1t was
all due TO my having such a wonderfully
thick skull, the doctors said, that the majors
sword had not broken it past all mending.
When | came into camp the boys all cheered
me, and | was proud as a cock And then,
the first thing | knew, up came a corporal
and file of men and arrested me-
haf / TOD - l
4" For being absent without leave from
your regiment during battle, said the corpo-
raj and marched me off to the guard house.
Then | was not proud at all. But | was
very angry That | should be arrested in
this fashion did not seem TO me fair
In half an hour back came the corporal
and his file of men. This time they took me
TO headquarters. In We went and the cor
poral stood beside me, and his men behind
me row. IL seemed as though half the
officers of our army were there my colonel,
the general of our brigade, the general of
our division. half dozen other generals,
three or four English officers in their smart
red coats presently there was a stir-and
in came the Emperor What the deuce it
all meant | could not tell at al!
Private l.abOnne, said my colonel he
spoke in very harsh tone, yet it seemed 10
me that there was an odd sort of twinkle in
his eye-'you deserted your post, and you
were absent without leave when your regi-
ment went into action
Yes, but
" Not a word of excuse, Private Labonne.
You know the penalty | did know the
penalty, of course it was TO be taken out
and shot | began TO think that this was
worse than the Russians
"'When shall | order the court martial,
your Majesty (: asked my colonel
Il will he the court martial, said the
Emperor. This is serious matter this is
matter TO be dealt with in hurry. The
case Is proved, There is no need for trial
order Private l.abonne To be shot right
awav.'
II shivered all down my hack. 1t was
worse than the Russians; very much worse
Take him away. said my colonel
The corporal put his hand on my shoulder
and the guard closed in, March = said the
corporal
" Stop! said the Emperor Private La
houne, before you are taken away and shot
tell me what you were doing in that hat
terry
Nothing, your Majesty
Nothing l thought that / heard
about guns heing spiked. Did
you not spike gun, Private LabOnne {"
Yes, your Majesty