Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-12-14
THE PARISIAN.' ~

IldIdSCQ 10 SGI u1OnS9 very well Win LIS
fellow-soldiers, for he was so lively and
had such fund of ready wit. He had
scarcely had any education, and he was
apprenticed at d very early age, but he
had read q great deal, everything, IN fact,
that he had been able to get hold Of
novels, newspapers, books of travel and
adventure, all kinds and sorts of ltera-
ture: and as he had an excellent memory
he was certainly capital company.
When It was announced in his regiment
that volunteers were wanted for Ion
quin. he enrolled himself without a mo-
ment's hesitation, for. as ne said, he had
always wanted to have a look round III
other countries.
For six months ''the Partisan had
been incorporated in one of the companies
OF marching regiment, and there had
been some hard fighting several times.
but SO far. as he himself said The had
Kept his skin whole" and what was more
extraordinary, he had escaped all feTers
and illness of every kind. He was just
as lively as when in France, and many
time his gayety had put new courage into
some Of the younger soldiers.
Ibis SupeTiors appreciated his bravery
and sangfroid when under fire, and the
happy way he had of making the best of
ali kinds Of privations and fatigue.
lie tine soldier remarked his lieu
tenant one day to the captain, but the
latter. who had noticed his tendency to
INSTRUMENTATION, answered:
Yes. : fine soldier during the cam
paign. but a bad one in the barracks. A
headstrOng fellow to deal WITH
a little later on 4 tachment of the
regiment was told eff TO occupy an iso-
lated post Of observation near the banks
OF the SOng-Cau. For some time the
country round had appeared calm and
peaceful, and, as the guards were on duty
as sentlneIs, the soldiers had, for the time
being, neither fatigue nor privation TO en-
dure.
In order that their inaction should not
nave 2 demoraliZing effect on the men,
the officer in command saw fit to occupy
them III various ways, such as digging
trenches, collecting fagots and all kinds
OF detail, connected with their temporary
encampment. One afternoon, q section of
the troops were engaged in clearing out
the quarters, under the direction of Sergt.
Butin
THE Partisan had never been able to
reconcile himself to handling the pick
axe, and generally he passed his time in
looking on while his comrades did the
work. and as he always kept them en-
tertained with his jokes and nonsense.
neither the men nor the suboffcer in COM
mand had ever made any difficulty about
this. As it happened. though, on the
afternoon in question, Sergt. Butin was
IL q fC4 y Ddu uuJIOI- 1OE ne EdQ IuuJ
morning been hauled over the Goals him
self by his superior officer
On seeing the Parisian." therefore,
seated on the ground making a cigarette.
he called out to him roughly to take his
place and work as the others were doing
On. they i get through it without
me-" he urged.
Take your place." said the sergeant,
roughly.
But, sergeant assure you my trade
is in metal work, and [ don't know how
to go about turning the soil over
The sergeant was furious, and, Selling
the soldier by his arm. Numbered out:
Enough of your foolery, and you can
take a days prison for a change"
With one bound ''the Parisian'' was on
his feet and had shaken himself free from
the sergeant. He was livid with indig-
nation, and there was no sign of Joking
about him now. He stepped up close to
the subofficer and. looking him straight
III the face, said simply, but in a hoarse
voice:
Never lay your finger on me again, or
look out for yOurselfr'
The sergeant exasperated laid hold of
HIM again, shouting:
To prison with you, and we'll see -
de did not finish his sentence. for 1.-The
Partisan raised his hand and dealt him
blow on his cheek, and while the sergeant
stood there as though rooted to the SPOT.
wild with rage and suffering out threats
OF vengeance, the soldier, without even
throwing away his cigarette, moved away
slowly toward his comrades, murmuring,
in a low voice:
L knew it would come to that sooner
or later
The Partisan" was imprisoned while
waiting his trial by courtmartial. The
captain on hearing of what serious mis-
demeanor he had been guilty, judged it
70 1O0ll- III, c L..
50 he was sentenced to await in prison
the 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 Ill
Quiries about the affair, lie appeared to be
quite resigned to whatever fate might be
awaiting HIM
1t happened to be the lieutenant in
command of the section to which "the
Parlslan belonged. and although he was
sorry II his heart for the culprit, the Off
Ger knew that military discipline had to
be maintained, particularly during a cam
paigG.
One night toward 10 O'Clock. firing was
heard in the distance. and almost at the
same moment the sentines gave the alarm
TO the little troop. Then, all at once, a
fierce, deafening volley of firing was
heard, and fearful shouts and yelling
seemed TO come from all sides at once.
In Il few seconds every man of the lit
tie company was on foot, and, with his
gun placed in the gap Of the bamboo pal
ings, was firing recklessly on the enemy
who had surrounded the fort At the
very first shot the Parisian,' knowing
that under present circumstances no one
would trouble about him, escaped from his
prison. rushed for a gun and cartridges.
and, mounting the slope, began to fire
with all his energy.
His lieutenant, in passing by, recognized
him and said:
That's right, my good fellow. Get
wounded, and I'll answer for your other
affair."
I'm sure TO, lieutenant" answered the
trooper. smiling bitterly. and then without
troubling himself about the balls which
fell around him thick and 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 order of the
court-martial.
After an hours desperate firing, the as