Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-13
UNDER TWO FLAGS
By "oUIDA.".

q wild lion of the chaSSeurS, whose daring outdared all the fire eaters and whose negligent devilry had become q password all over Africa till What special exploit has he done todayT became the question put after every skirmish or expedition. But he was much more of soldier than thinker at any time, and, instead of following out the problem of the worlds uses of it's two raw materials, time and men, he found a subject more con genial in the discussion of stable sci enee with the emir.
 The night was some way spent when the talk of wild pigeon blue mares and sorrel stallions closed between the Djied and his guest, and the French soldier, who had been sent hither from the Bureau Arabe with another of his comrades, took his way to the black and white tent prepared for him.
 As he opened the folds and entered, his fellow soldier, who was lying on his back with his heels much higher than his head and short pipe in his teeth, tumbled himself up with rapid somersault and stood bolt upright. Beg pardon, sir! I was half asleep"
 The chasseur laughed little.
 Don't talk English. Somebody will hear you one day.
 "What'S the odds if they do,N sir?" responded the other. Tt relieves O, e's feelings little. All of lem know Pl.ss English, but never a one of lem knows what you are. The name you was enrolled by won't really tell lem noth- ing. They guess it ain't yours. That cute little chap, Tata, he says to me yesterday, You're always a-treating of your corporal like as if he was prince' Hang me- says I, I'd like to see the prince as would hold candle to him. You're right there,' says the little un. There ain't his equal for taking off a beggar's head with back sweep"
 The corporal laughed little again as he tossed himself down on the ear pet.
 "Wen, it's something to have one virtue. But have a care what those chatterboxes get out of you"
 '1Lord, sir, ain't been a-taking care these ten years? I've told lem such a lot of amazing stories about where we kem from that they've got half a mill lion different styles to choose out of. Bless you, sir, you may let me alone for bamboozling of anybodyp'
 With which the speaker dropped on his knees and began to take off the trappings of his fellow soldier with as reyerential service as though he were a lord of the bedchamber serving a Louis >Quatorze. The other motioned him gently away.
 ..No, no; have told you 9 thousand times, sir, that we aren't >and never will be and don't oughtn't to be- re- piled the soldier doggedly, drawing off the spurred and dust covered boots. "A gentleman's gentleman, let alone what straits he falls into, but ceases to be one as he takes a service he cannot requite or claims a superiority he does not possess. We have been fellow sol diers for 12 years"-
 'So we have, sir, but we are what we always was and always will be- one, gentleman, tother a scamp. If you think so be as I've done good, thing side by side with you now and then in the fighting, give me my own way and let me wait on you when I can. I can't do much on it when those other fellows eyes is on us, but here can and I will-begging your pardon so there's an end of it. One may speak plain in this place, with nothing but them Arabs about, and all the army knows well enough, sir, that if it weren't for that black devil, Chateau roy, you'd have had your officers com mission and your troop, too, long be- fore now'-
 ''Oh, no. There are scores of men in tue ranks who merit promotion better far than do. And-leave the colonePs name alone. He is our chief, whatever else he be-
 The words were calm and careless, but they carried weight with them that was not to be disputed. The other hung his head little and went on un- harnessipg his corporal in silence, con- tenting himself with muttering in his threat that it was true for all that and the whole regiment knew 1t.
 "You are happy enough ill Algeria, eh?'' asked the one he served as he stretched himself on the skins and car pets and drank down sherbet that his self attached attendant had made.
 T, sir? Never was so happy in my life, sir. I'd be discontented, indeed, if I wasn't. Always some spicy bit of fighting. If there aren't a fantasia, as they call it, in the field, there's always somebody to pot in small way, and if you're lying by in the barracks there's always a serimmage hot as pepper to be got up with fellows that love the row just as well as you do. It's life; that's what it is. It ain't rusting."
 "Then you prefer the French serv- icef"
 Right and away, sir. But won't there never be no hope, sir?" he whis- pered, while his voice trembled little under the long, fierce sweep of his yell low mustaches, mo hope of you ever being again.
 He stopped. He scarcely knew how to phrase the thoughts he was thinking.
 The other moved with certain impa- tience.
 How often must tell you to forget that was ever anything except sol dier of France? Forget, as have for gotten itv'
 The audacious, irrepressible Rake, whom nothing could daunt and noth-