The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-11-24

you that am not afraid Of any of YOU
there and there"'
AS he said these two words with
emphasis, he struck out from the shoul
der. not at the little man, but at the
two biggest men in the regiment, and
fellcd them like logs to the ground
cry or rage went up from Their
comrades, but DULLES are towards AT
heart. and while Samson glared al
them. no one made a move.
The matter was reported to the
officer, and Samson was placed under
arrest. When the inquiry was held,
the officer expressed his astonlsh-
ment at the fact that Samson hit two
men who had nothing to do with the
insult he had received, while . real
culprit had been allowed to 90 un-
punished.
They deserved it." said Samson,
sullenly. "for what they had done be-
fore. could not strike the little man.
| should have killed him"
"Silencew cried the officer. "You
must not answer me like that"
Il shall answer you as l like" said
Samson. doggedly.
The officer sprnng to his feet, with
q little rattan cane in his hand, and
struck the insubordinats Soldier twice
across the face. each time raising an
angry red mark.
Before the guards had time to in
terfere Samson sprang upon the Off
Ger. lifted him like child around his
head, and dashed him with a sicken-
ing crash to the ground, where he
lay mOtiOnless.
A cry Of horror went up from every
one present.
x have had enough" cried Sam
son turning to 60. but he was met by
bristling hedge of steel. He was
like rat in trap. He stood de-
family there. a man maddened by op-
preston, and glareG around him help
leSsly.
Whatever might have been his
punishment for striking his comrades.
there was no doubt now about his
fate. The guardhouse was a rude hut
Of logs situated on the banks of the
roaring stream. Into this room
Samson was flung. bound hand
and foot, to await the court
martial next day The shattered
officer, whose sword had broken in
pieces under him. slowly revived. and
was carried to his quarters. A SEN
try marched up and down all night
before the guard-house.
In the morning, when Samson was
sent for. the guard house was found to
be empty. The huge Breton had
broken his bonds as did Samson of
old. He had pushed out log Of wood
from the wall, and had squeezed him
self through to the bank Of the
stream. There all trace of him was
lost. II he had fallen In. then Of |
course he had sentenced and executed |
himself. but in the mud near the |
water were great footprints, which
no boot but that of Samson could
have made; so II he were in the stream
it must have been because he threw
himself there. The trend Of the foot
prints, however. indicated that he had
OH the rocks. and there. OF
course, it was impossible to trace him.
The sentries who guarded the pass
that no one had gone
during the night. but to make
sure. several men were sent down the
path to overtake the runaway. Even
Il he reached a town or a village far
below, SO huge a man could not es-
rape notice. The searchers were In
structed to telegraph his description
md his crime as soon as they reached
l telegraph wire. 1t was impossible
70 hide in the valley, and a RAPID
search speedily convinced the officers
hat the delinquent was not there.
AS the sun arose higher and higher.
; Ill 1t began to shine on the north
snow fields, a sharp-eyed
private reported that he saw a black
,peck moving high up on the great
white slope south of the valley. The
,fficer called for a field-glass. and
placing it to his eyes. examined the
snow carefully.
Call ont a detachment" he said.
that is Samson on the mountain
There was great stir III the camp
when the truth became known. Ennis
aries were sent after the searchers
lown the pass, calling them to re-
urn.
He thinks to get to Italy" said the
,ficer. II did not imagine the fool
new so much of geography. We
,ave him now sure enough"
The officer who had been flung over
head was now able to hob
DE about, and he was exceedingly
litter. Shading his eyes and gazing
It the snow, he said
"A good marksman ought to be able
O bring him down."
"There is no need Of that" replied
lis superior "He cannot escape. We
ave nothing to do but to wait for
i'm. He will have to come down."
All Of which was perfectly true.
A detachment crossed the stream
"a |