The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1901-07-17

T. , II
I herer thought Cecil, e.
(s@AsJ earlier awake than those
of his chambree, he stood looking down
the lengthy narrow room where the
| men lay asleep along the bare floor.
| What made life in the barracks OF
Aigiers SO bitter was the ilnpotency, the
subjection, the compelled obedience to
a bidding that he knew often capri
! cious and unjust as it was cruel, which
was so uncomfortable to his natural
| pride. yet to which he had hitherto
rendered undertaking adhesion and
submission, less for his own sake than
4 for that of the men around him, who,
| he knew, would back him in revolt to
| the death, and be dealt with, for such
loyalty to him, in the fashion that the
| yivandiere's words had pictured with
such terrible force and truth.
{. Is it worth while to go on with it ?
| Would it not be the wiser way to draw
my own saber across my throat?' he
/ thought as the brutalized companions
! ship in which his life was spent struck
on him all the more darkly because
\ Cl1C OSIOlC q fO1NOs SlllN
a Woman's face had recalled memories
buried for u long years.
This morning he reused the men of
his cllambree with that kindly gentle
ness which had gone SO far in it's nov
| city as to attach their liking; made
| his breakfast of some Wretched onion
| soup and a roll of. black bread; rode
/
| African day at the head of a score
/ of his men on convoy duty, and
returned jaded, weary, parched with
! thirst. scorched through with heat,
to be kept waiting in his saddle,
| by his colonel's orders, outside the
! barracks for three-quarters of an
| hour, whether to receive a COM
mand or a censura he was left in igno-
rance. When the three quarters had
passed he was told the colonel had
gone long ago and did not require him.
| Cecil said nothing. Yet he reeled
Slightly as he threw himself out of
saddle; a nausea and a giddiness had
come on him. The chasseur who had
| brought him the message caught, his
arm eagerly.
care you hurt, corporal p
Cecil shook his head The speaker
was one known in the regiment as
Petit Picpon. who had begun life as a
gamin Of Paris and now babe fair to
make one of the most brilliant of the
soldiers of Africa. Petit Picpon had
but one drawback to his military ca
reer-he was always in insubordina-
ton. The old gamin daredeyilry was
not dead in him and never would die,
and now he muttered a terrible curse
under his fiercely cnrled mustaehe.
IF the Black Hawk were nailed up
in the sun like kite on a barn door,
throat
Cecil turned rapidly on him.
silence, sir, or | must report you.
Another speech like that, and you shall
have turn at Beylick.
Petit Picpon looked as crestfallen as
one of his fraternity could.
Send me to Beylick if you like, cor
poral,'' he said sturdily. Il was in
wrath for you, not for myself. Z
Cecil was infinitely more touched than
he dared for sake of discipline or sake
OF the speaker himself to show, but
his glance. dWelt on Petit Picpon with
a look that the quicks black, monkey
like eyes Of the rebel were swift to
read
81 know" he said gravely. II do not
misjudge you; but, at the same time.
my name must never serve as a pre-
text for characterization. Such men as
care to pleasure me will best do so in
making my duty ight by their own self
control aud obedience to the rules of
their service
He led his horse away. and Petit Pic.
pom went on an errand he had been
sent to do in the streets for one Of the
officers.
Picpon had been enrolled in the chas,
seTrs at the same time with Cecil and,
following his gamin nature, had ex-
hausted all his resources Of impudence,
righteousness and power Of tol~nenting
on the taristocrat," somewhat disap
pointed, however. that the utmost in
genuities of his insolence and even his
malignity never succeeded in breaking
the "aristoerat's" silence and contempt
uons forbearance from all reprisal,
One day, however, it CHANGED that d
i detach ment of chasseurs, Of which Ce-
ell was one, was cut to pieces by such
an overwhelming mfAs Of Arabs that
scarce dozen Of them could force their
way through the Bedouins with life.
Cecil was among those few, and a flight.
at full speed was the sole chance of re-
gaining their encampment. Just as he
had shaken his bride free Of the Arabs
clutch and had moved himself a clear
path through their ranks he caught.
sight Of his young enemy, Picpon, on
the ground, with lance broken of in
his ribs, guarding his head with bleed
ing hands as the horses trampled over
Kim. 70 make q dash at the boy,
though to- linger 81 moment was Ia risk