The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-05-30

~ / 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
Algiers SO bitter was the impotency, the
subsection, 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
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
WANDERERS words had pictured with
such terrible force and truth.
sis 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 companion
ship in which his life was spent struck
on him all the more darkly because
the night before woman's voice and
woman's face had recalled memories
buried for II long years.
This morning he reused the men of
his chambree 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
30 miles in the blazing heat Of the
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 colone's orders, outside the
barracks for three-quarters of an
hour, whether to receive CON-
mand or censure 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; nausea and a giddiness had
come on him. The chasseur who had
brought him the message caught his
arm eagerly.
OAC SOu AuA T., CVlpOAd
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-
<ron Ia 10
not dead in him and never would die,
and now he muttered terrible curse
under his fiercely curled mustache.
IF the Black Hawk were nailed up
in the sun like kite on a barn door, l
would drive 20 nails through his
throat!'
Cecil turned rapidly on him.
"Silence, sir, or I 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"
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 quick, black, monkey
like eyes Of the rebel were swift to
read.
81 Know he said gravely. 81 do not
misjudge you; but, at the same time,
my name must never serve as a pre-
text for INSTRUMENTATION. Such men as,
care to pleasure me will best do so in
making my duty light by their own self
control and 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-
seurs at the same time with Cecil and,
following his gamin nature, had ex-
hausted all his resources Of impudence,
righteousness and power of tormenting
on the "aristocrat," somewhat disap-
pointed, however, that the utmost in
genuities of his insolence and even his
malignity never succeeded in breaking
the "aristocrat's' silence and contempt
uous forbearaIce from all reprisal. :
One day, however, it CHANGED that a
detachment of chasseurs, of which Ce-
Gil was one, was cut to pieces by such
an overwhelming mass of Arabs that
scarce dozen Of them could force their
way through the Bedouins with life.
Cecil was among those few, and 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 off in
his ribs, guarding his head with bleed
ing hands as the horses trampled over.
MIN. 10 make a dash at the boy,
though to linger moment was to risk
certain death, to send his steel through
an Arab who came in his way, to lean
down and catch hold of the lads sash