The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-03-08
THE DRUM MER.

the line, there was drummer boy only
13 years OF age, a child of the troop,
whose true name was Frolut, though
the soldiers called him nothing but
Bilbouuuet. Truly, with his tall, thin
body, surmounted by a big round
head, he certainly did resemble the
object which had earned him the so
briquet.
Frolut, or Bilbouquet, as you please,
was not in other respects remark
able boy, and the drum major OF the
regiment frequently beat the measure
on his shoulders with the end OF his
long drum staff till the music Of the
rat-a-tat had entered head as we'll as
hands. Moreover, for some reason
which Frolut could never explain, his
regulation drummer's cap refused to
hang upon his ear as 1t did upon the
others, and as yet he was too young
and awkward to march and twist HIM
self gracefully like his superiors.
One day, when in fit of ungovern-
able vanity, he tried to wear a sword
between his legs like the elegantes OF
the regiment, he got it entangled in
his feet and tumbled upon his nose,
to the great amusement OF his COM
rades, laughing, as they always did,
at those whom they considered their
interiors. In addition to his other
misfortunes Bilboquet's manners were
against him. but then how could one
expect him to be less than savage and
reserved, singularly so for his age,
when he had always been subjected
to the toughest treatment. There
was no doubt about 1t, bad luck pur-
sued him, or as the men expressed 1t,
1.-The devil sat upon his back"
Even at drogue he always lost, and
whether 1t was the i'll nature OF the
other petit tambours, or that he really
had, as they claimed, a nose like a po-
tato, he was greeted every morning
with the same stale joke: Marshal
thy nose into line, Bilboquet, or we'll
do it for thee" and they would fall
upon the youngster and pinch and
pull it SO horribly that frequently 1t
would bleed and was sore for hours.
If he cried at such treatment, or
when they slapped his palms In the
game of main claude" till, red and
blistered, they called him girl" and
baby" and slapped them harder than
ever, in order, they said, to see the
drum major at the mornings exercises
establish the time on Bilboquet's back
when his still tender fingers failed to
bring out the 'ra' and the fla with
perfect precision"
The child had reason to be disgusted
with military life, but, as l said a
while ago, he was close mouthed and
held himself aloof from the others.
One morning, the 18th Of July, II
remember Alright, the general in COM
mand received orders from the Emper-
or to take up his position on the other
side Of narrow ravine, a dangerous
place at the best Of times, and now
defended by battery Of six cannon
commanding its approaches and our
entire file as soldiers as well. To
reach the place designated by the EN-
peror it was necessary to take this
battery on the banks Of the Dwina,
for the events that l am relating to
you took place in the famous CAM
paign against Russia.
All at once they see coming at full
gallop an aide-de-camp Of the general
bearing the order for two companies
of the sharpshooters to advance upon
the battery. Three-fourths of them
were bound to be killed. and the Voltt-
geurs, in spite of their intrepidity,
point to the yawning cannon and
grumble openly.
"Does the General look upon US as
roasted apples?" they say; docs he
wish to serve us as mincemeat to the
Cossacks, that he sends but 200 Of us
against a redoubt like this?"
"It is the order Of the Emperor"
answered the aide-de-camp, as he flies
away.
"All right; let us do it then" cried
or htc how
onet to the end of his gun; ''let us do
1t at once; we mustn't keep the Little
Corporal waiting. When he has or
dered us to be killed, he doesn't like
to see us sulking."
Nevertheless, there was still per-
ceptible hesitation in the company.
The captain had twice ordered the
drum-major to call the tambours to
the front to beat the charge, but he
remained leaning upon his long STAFF,
wagging his head, and little disposed
to obey.
All this while Bilboquet was seated
astraddle his drum, his eyes upon his
chief, his lips whistling softly to him
self the air of the fife and his fingers
tattoing the charge. AS the COM
mand to forward comes again and for
the third time from the captain, he
leaps to his feet, places his drum
sticks in position, passes under the
nose of the drum-major and with n
scournful "come on, old girl, come onw
pours out in single phrase all the
anger and insults that he has treas
ured in his heart.
The drum-major raises his cane, but
1t is too late-Bilboquet is at the head
OF the two companies and beating the
charge like a mad one. The soldiers
follow him and rush upon that terri
Bile battery. The cannons roar, tho
Voltiguers roll In the dust, many OF
them to rise no more; the smoke,
blown by the wind, envelopes us like
a cloud, the noise deafens us, but as
1t lifts a moment and floats away we
can still see upright before us not
twenty steps in advance the daunt-