Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-03-16
LITTLE SENTINEL.

I'LL Liz DIN llNLL.
1t was in 1859, a few days after the bat
tie of Solferino and San MARITIME, won by
the united Italian and French forces dur
ing the contest with Austria for the liber-
alton of Lombardy.
On a beautiful June morning a little
troop of cavalry left Saluzzo and advanced
cautiously against the enemy, following
deserted bypaths and closely scanning the
adjacent country.
The company was led by a commission
ed officer and q sergeant. All marched in
silence, peering eagerly into the distance,
their eyes fixed straight ahead, each mo-
ment expecting to catch a glimpse of the
enemy's vanguard shimmering through
the trees.
In this manner they stumbled upon a
little rustic hut empowered in ash trees.
Before it stood a solitary boy of perhaps
adozen years, who with a knife was busily
engaged in peeling the bark from a little
fallen bough for a walking stick. A large
tricolored flag iuttered from n window
of the cottage.
Not a living being within.
Having hung out their banner, the
peasants had precipitately fed through
fear of the Austrians.
A single glance at the cavalry, and the
lad threw down his stick and lifted his
cap. His chest was barred, and he was in
his shirt sleeves, but he was q handsome
boy, Of daring mien, with large eyes of
ccrulean blue and long blond hair.
what are you doing here?" asked the
officer, refining up his horse. "VVhy did
you not run away with your family"
81 have no family" answered the lad.
II am q founding. / work u little for
everybody. l staid here to see the war"
Have you seen any Austrians go by?''
"No; not for three days"
The officer pondered a few moments,
then he sprang from his horse, and, leav-
ing his soldiers in line just where they
lad halted, their faces to the enemy, he
entered the house and mounted to the roof.
Tho building was low and from the top
nothing could be seen except a little
stretch Of level country.
"Son,e one must climb to the tree tops"
said the officer as he went down.
Just across the garden stood a lofty,
slender ash, whose swaying branches
reached the very sky.
The officer unused awhile, his gaze wan
dering from tree to soldiers again and
again. Then he asked the boy abruptly:
Have you good eyes, youngsters"
ZIP" answered the lad. II can see a
mite of a sparrow o mile off,"
"And could you climb to the top of that
tree?"
THAT tree? Could II I could be up
there in half q minute"
"And then could you tell me what you
saw from there-if there are Austrian SOL
diers over in that direction, clouds of
dust, glitter of guns, horses?"
"To be sure l could"
"And what would you ask for doing
me this servicc?''
''What would I ask?" said the boy,
smiling. Nothing. Why, it's just fun.
If it were for the Austrians, now, I
wouldn't do it at any price, but for our
people, am a Lombard, you know"
"Good! Up with you, them"
Zone moment, while 1 take off my
Shoes"
He quickly removed them, frightened
the belt that held his trousers, threw his
cap on the ground and clasped his arms
around the trunk of the ash.
"Wait a minute" exclaimed the officer,
as though moved by a sudden compunc-
ton.
The boy turned to look at him with his
beautiful eyes of celestial blue and stood
waiting in expectant attitude.
"No MATTER" said the officer. go
on"
The boy went upward like a cat.
keep close watch there, straight
ahead!" cried the officer to his soldiers.
In a few moments the lad reached the
topmost branches of the tree, his arms
clasping the trunk, his legs lost in the
foliage, but his body exposed, while the
sun, shining full upon his blond head, i'm
parted to it a glitter like veritable gold.
Look straight ahead as far as you can
seel'' cried the officer.
In order to get a better view the lad
loosened his hold with his right hand,
using it to shade his eyes.
what do you seer" demanded the off
Ger.
The boy bent over toward him, and,
making a speaking trumpet of his hand,
replied:
Two men on horseback on the White
road"
How far away
"Half a mile"
care they movingp"
They have halted.
What else 10 you seer" asked the OIL
Ger after a moments silence. Look to-
ward the right"