The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1894-12-07

ly said,-
II have no lady fair Bertrand. 1t is
from my MOTHER
All" | felt as if had made fool OF
myself. and said no more. but Jaclue con
tinued-
DO you see these letters Bertrand: 1t
would be better not to receive them in
times like these
That was my opinion, as | have already
said. 1t was not good to allow them to
break ranks. the scamps; they ask nothing
better. But out of politcness to Jacque,
| said
1T is always pleasant to receive good
news from home, no matter where.
hope you had nothing disagreeable.'
Jacque shook his head.
"Oh, no, to the contrary.
That was all Really Master Jacque was
not talkative this morning. His eyes were
fixed on the horizon araway, where there
was nothing to be seen but bit of blue sky.
| wonder what he could see over there.
| Forward, march, | repeated at last
"Forward march, for my section.
Jacque, no doubt. was still dreaming
and did not hear the command for
heard the lieutenant behind me say
"Ah, well, Sergeant Jacque, tagging
behind-already:''
| hoped to hear reply of some kind, no
matter what When an officer so far for
gets himself as to Sre TX III that way to a
subordinate, like to see Il little indigna-
| ton. Parbleu. you dare not speak out
| loud that is against the rules, but Il NUT
tered word under your breath is solace
to your selfrespect.
But Jacque said not a word, he simply
| repeated, Forward, march," in a drag
ging Tone as if weary. That is to say, it
was not the tone French sergeant uses
when he commands, Forward, march,
They never humble those two words, but
shout them out with enthusiasm. What is
the matter with Sergeant Jacque this
morning. He is not like himself.
All, that was a rough day, | tell you.
When night came, we were still in the
water, but up to our waists this time.
And all around us little field pieces were
splitting fire, like so many demons. But
we marched steadily along, uutil we were
within five hundred meters of the citadels
Not gun-shot, nor a movement; the
rascals were saving their powder until we
were nearer | said to myself
Wait, old fellow, you will have some
thing to warm you up by and by; don't be
discouraged
When, behold, we were again cammand-
ed to halt The captain stepped in front
of the ranks, and demanded in a low voice
all the same it was distinctly under
stood,-
"A sub-otficer willing to undertake a
secret and dangerous mission"
Naturally l stepped forward. Now l
have the misfortune to be a little too well
appreciated by my captain, an old tough
skin like myself, who had been my lieu
tenant in Africa
Not you, Bertrand. | know you WELL
and when / want you | will find you.
Just be kind enough to remain quiet"
You see, some officers will not grant you
the least favor. Then | said to myself
This is just the thing for Jacque.
The captain seemed to be of the same
opinion, for he stopped exactly in front
of him and repeated under his nose
A sub-officer willing to undertake a
dangerous mission
1t was plainly to be seen he was making
advances to Jacque, and you will think |
am mocking you when tell you my fine
fellow lowered his eyes under the gaze of
the captain and said not a word You may
be sure the captain was angry, for you know
it is not pleasant to make advances to any
one and have them thrown back in your
teeth | heard him sneer under his mus
tache,-
We'll. he means to take good care of
his skin
All, it was rough Jacque turned as red
as a beet, but said not a word only when
the captain had passed he raised his eyes
and fixed them on that bit of blue sky far
away on the horizon, where | could see
nothing, nothing at all Then l said to
myself
Well, my fine fellow, you are decidedly
a coward"
To be brief Berthelot of the third divis-
ion was chosen for this expedition; he re-
turned without even a scratch, the jacka-
nape, when my poor ,Jacquc-
Well, we set off again; there was no
Tagging behind this time. About two hun
drcd and fifty metres from the walls the
scoundrcls gave us Il broadcast in the face.
Sapristi, how it raincd. The balls fell to
the right, to left, in the rice fields making
IA ''fic floc' as they struck the water. We
answered back; but it was like firing in the
air the rascals were 50 well fortified by
their walls. This fuSilladc lasted only about
ten minutes, but shtll remember it long
time
However. it could not continue III this
way. The buglc sounded the charge.
Saprist. That music always send, Il shiv
er of gaycty through me. Behold us rul
ming with fixed bayonets, like madmeu.
But as have already noticed, the gateway
of the citadel opened upona high embank-
mcnt, scarcely three metres wide, to enter
that we must climb the narrow ascent
and push in two by two under Il terrible
fire, and that, too, through Il palisadc of
bamboo which the rascals had constructed
to bar the way, already narrow enough.
All, it was sufficiently difficult without that
cursed bamboo, and God only knows what
it cost us. | saw my two lieutenantS fall,
the a ljutant of the battalion and many
others. Impossible to pass that cursed
bamboo. NV captain ragged like demon.
| At last he commanded
"A section up there
This time it was serious, very serionS; no
| time to hesitate: all who climbed there
| were sure of certain death | think the