The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-08-18

hut was dltht and the air foul bat
there Gaspard had to remain. thirsty
and restless ard silent. until the
glar3 was relieved, aud then he asked
for water.
"~Sergeant's orders are that you are
to have none until You recover your
SENSES comrade Come, be q mani"
the sentiners reply,
"IHm q mum" Gaspard said, proudly
and he waited without complaint until
morning, when the sergeant fetched
him and marched him TO the lieuten-
ant
well, prisoner, are you going TO do
your duty2" asked the officer.
II cannot kill was the hoarse reply
and the swollen tongue and the
cracked purple lips told what agony Of
thirst the man had endured. IN that
hot climate thirst is the most 6endlsh
Of tortures, and the sergeant had
chosen d strong measure to bring Gas
pard to a right mind.
'Vcry we'll, said the lieutenant edo
with him as you suggest, sergeant"
Prisoner! Right about facet
Marchl" cried the sergeant and,
Joined by the guard at the door, they
marched 10 a stake that had been set
up in the village street, and Gaspard
was bound to it.
There, in the burning rays Of che
sun, half crazed with the heat and The
longing for water, Gaspard remained
untIl late IN the afternoon. Then the
sergeant approached him, bearing In
his hand a flask Of water and a cup,
into which he poured some Of the cool
liquid, raising the flask so high that
the water fell into the cup with the
sound that there is no forgetting. Gas
pard's eyes glared at it ~wolhshly but
his lips and tongue were SO swollen
that he could not utter a sound,
Private Meudon, win you obey or.
ders2' asked the sergeant.
The poor seorched head nodded as
sent, and the mouth moved feebly;
the sergeant poured a little Of the wa
ter between Gaspard's lips, and be
tried 70 swallow I'll. Then, ia a mo-
ment, his eyes frightened, and be
opened lis mouth Tor more. and swaL
lowed tt. and mumbled that he wanted
sim more.
So, having surrendered. he was cast
loose and carried to a hut, where he
Law for a week between ice and death.
and when three weeks had passed he
came again mon parade. a hollow
checked. su~nken-eyed wreck. hardly
able 10 stand. His rife was IN lis hand.
and mechanically he went through his
drfll, managing to last out until "a
rade was dismissed and he could rest
again.
Next day some Of the soldiers went.
as was their daily custom, to battle In
the river. and while there they were
surprised bv 4 body of MandinDoes
who killed ten or twelve Of them be-
fore help could arrive. There was a
fort Just outside the village. and the
garrison, 20 in all, had rushed out 10
the rescue. but they. too. we're so far
outnumbered that they could oply
show a bold front and retreat fo their
fortress with the rescued men IA tbeir
midst. The remainder Of the garrison
left III tie village we're aIready En-.
gagged with a numerous enemy. and NO
help could be expected from that quar-.
ter.
Only that morning Gaspard had
taken bis place with the garrison Of
the fort, and be. with the Others. had
sailed out to beat back the enemy;
/ but although. like the rest. ne placed
himself between his d-efenseless com.
rades and Their fees, he made no at.
| tempt to fire his rife. merely threat.
enlng with it, and failing back step by
step.
By the time they reached their mud
fort they were almost surrounded by
a fproclous horde. mad with The lust
/ for blood. and only one person at 4
time could pass in through the small
door to safety. The fort which baf
been bnilt bv tbe Arabs and renairo,
III tbe French was nie1ced ~ INNS.
| kerry above the line Of the door. ana
| those who were within fired down into
/ the black crowd keeping them some.
what at bav.
stlI the enemy fred. and advanced
and Frenchmcn fen dead ana wound.
ed. and those who were able IL stanf
struggled among themselves ID oair
access. untll At last TIE Inevitable Ne
suit arrived ana the door was blocked
Gaspard never looked al fbe door
but faced The foe with 4 calm and reso
lutte courage that moved the sergeant
who was near HIM. Ia admiration !,
that he cried out words of encofraoe
ment to him. Every time che foe made
a rush he poipted his rife and tbAy
/ fen back before the determiuedlooE
ing soldier. ana fred M him instaad
They we're ma auopyb sbo+g tbos.