The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-29

Just DO kind enough to remain quiet"
You SEQ, somo officers will not grant
you the least favor. Then said to myself,
This is Just the thing for Jacquo"
Tho captain seemed to DO of the same
opinion, for he stopped exactly in front of
him and repeated under his nose "A sub
officer willing to undertake dangerous
mission"
1t was plainly to TO seen that no was
making advances to Jacque, and you will
6hinll l am knocking you when 1 tell you
my fine fellow lowered his eyes under the
gaze of tho captain and said not q word.
You may DO 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 snecr under his mustache,
SWELL, ho means to take good care of his
skim"
Ah it was rough. Jacque turned as red
as II beet, but said not u word, only when
the captain had passed no raised his eyes
and fixed them on that bit Of blue sky far
away on tho horizon, where I could see
nothing-nothing ct all.
Then l said to myself, "Well, my fine
fellow, you are decidedly q coward
To be brief, Berthelot of tho third d.
vision was chosen for this expedition. He
returned without even scratch, the Jack
anapes, when my poor Jaoque-
Well, we set of again. There was no
tagging behind this time. About ESQ
meters from the walls tho scoundrels gave
us broadcast in the face. Sapristi, how
it rained! The balls fell to the right, to
the left, in the ricefields, making a "iio-
foe" rs they struck tho water. We an
swered bnck, but 1t was like firing in the
Dir, the rasoals were so we'll protected by
their walls. This fusillade lasted. only
about ten minutes, but shall remember
1t long time.
However, it could not continue in this
way. Tho bugle sounded tho charge.
Sapristil That music always sends a
shiyer Of gayety through me. Behold us
running with fixed bayonets, like mad
mcnl But as 1 have already noticed the
gateway of the citadel opened upon n high
cmbankment scarcely three meters wide.
To enter TINT we must climb the narrow
ascent and push in two by two under
terrible fire, and that, too, through pail
SADIE Of bamboo which the rascals had con-
structed to bar the way, already narrow
enough.
All, it was sufficiently difficult without
that cursed bamboo, and heaven only
knows what 1t cost usl l saw my two lieu
tenants fall, the adjutant of the battalion
and many others Impossible to pass that
cursed bamboo. My captain ragged like a
demon.
AT last he commanded, "a section up
therer'
This time 1t was very serious. No time
to hesitate; oil who climbed there were
sure Of certain death.
think the captain must have retained
some spite against Jaoque, for he turned
70 him and said, go up there, sir, and
tear away that bamboo"
1t is but justice 30 say that he did not
walt to be told second time. Touching
his cap, with IAN right, my captain" he
started at quick run. In passing mo he
drew a packet of letters from bis pocket
Take care OF this for me, Bertrand"
And in the twinkling of an eye no was up
with HE section.
"Tear away this. Throw that into the
ditch" He was as tranquil as II superin-
tending n squad OF soldiers on fatigue
duty. And oil the timo the enemy were
pouring upon them u deadly fire, the balls
whistling, tearing the bamboo, blowing
mp the ground, every now and then crush
ing in shoulder, carrying away an arm
or breaking leg.
Heaven, what sight! They were all
left there, oil my oomrades-Jacque among
the number, but he was the last Just as
the work was finished ball struck him
between the eyes. AS he raised his arms
to shout great "Hurrahr' he fell dead.
face foremost.
Perhaps it was not very proper what 1
did next morning, but truly it was too
much for mc-that packet of letters that
Jacque gave me as he went to his death
l could not keep them.
l thought: "A boy who acts like cow
ard, and q few hours after dies like man!
1t is unnatural; there must be something
under this
And 1 felt had tho explanation there
under my hand in those letters They
burned mo. 1t was impossible to keep
them. Ma fol! L could not. Then then 1
drew out the packet.
Upon my word there wns only one let