The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-20

tertained with his jokes and nonsense
neither the men nor the suboilicer in
command had ever made any difficulty
about this. AS it happened, though, Oh
the afternoon i'll question Sergeant Blu
tin was i'll 4 very bad humor, for he had
that morning been hauled over the Goals
himself by his superior officer.
On seeing the Partisan, therefore
seated Oh the ground making Il ciga-
rette, he called out to him roughly TO
take his place and work as the others
were doing.
ooh, they'll get through it without
me-" he urged.
Take your place, said the sergeant
roughly.
But, sergeant, assure you my trade
is Ill metal work, and 1 don't know how
to go about turning the soil OVER
The sergeant was furious, and seiz-
ing tie soldier by his arm Numbered
out:
Enough Of your foolery, and you
can take days prison for Il CHANGE
With one bound the Parisian was OH
his feet and had shaken himself free
from the sergeant. He was livid with
Indignation, and there was no sign of
Joking about him now. He stepped up
close to the subofficer, and looking him
straight in the face said simply, but in
hoarse voice:
Never lay your finger on mo again,
or-look out for yourself!'
The sergeant, eXasperated, laid hold
of him again, shouting:
ITO prison with you, and We'll see'-
He did not finish his sentence, for the
Partisan raised his hand and dealt him
blow OH the cheek, and while the SER
geant stood there as though rooted to
the spot, wild with rage and suffering
out threats of vengeance, tho soldier,
without even throwing away his ciga-
rette, moved away slowly toward his
comrades, murmuring i'll low voice:
~ knew it would come to that sooner
or later
The Partisan was imprisoned while
waiting his trial by court martial. The
captain; OH hearing of what serious mis-
demeanor he had been guilty, judged it
necessary to make an example of him,
and so he was sentenced to await in
prison tho day of his trial at Hanoi.
He made the best of his situation,
and when he answered the questions
which were put to him by the officer
who had been appointed to make the
preliminary inquiries about the affair
he appeared to BIO quite resigned to
Whatever fate might be awaiting him.
1t happened to be the lieutenant i'll
command of the section to which the
Partisan belonged, aid, though he was
sorry Ill his heart for the culprit, the
officer knew that military discipline had
TO be maintained, particularly during
campaign.
One night toward 10 o'clock firing
was heard i'll the distance, and almost
at the same moment the sentinels gave
the alarm to the little'tr Then, all
at once, fierce, deafening volley of fir
ing was heard, and fearful shouts and
yelling seemed to come from all sides at
once
In few seconds every man of the
little company was on foot, and, with
his gun placed III the gap of the bam-
boo palings, was firing recklcssly Oh
the enemy, who had surrounded the fort.
At the very first shot the Partisan,
knowing that under present circum-
stances no one would trouble about
him, escaped from his prison rushed
for gun and cartridges and, mounting
the slope, began to fire with all his en-
ergy.
His lieutenant in passing by rccog-
nizcd him and said:
"That's tight. my coed fellow Get
wounded, and I'll answer for your other
affair."
"Im sure to, lieutenant" answered
the trooper, smiling bitterly, and then,
without troubling himself atout the
balls which fell around him thick ami
fast, the Partisan continued shooting.
1t was very evident that his one desire
was to meet his death there rather than
to be shot dead by his comrades by Or
der of tho court martial.
After in hours desperate firing tho
assailants, numerous though they were,
gave up their attempt to take the post
and beat retreat III all directions.
The captain, wishing to teach them IA
lesson, went ont i'll pursuit of them
with part of his troop, and, following
them up across tho riceficds, caused
them a considerable loss of mon.
Then, on seeing that he was himself
some 800 yards outside the fort and
fearing to have his retreat cut off, he
gave the order TO return. On arriving
within their own Notifications and aft
er having the gate closed securely, he
kept his men III their ranks.
Sergeant Butin," lie said, "call
over the namesr