The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-02
A HUMAN sALAMANDER.
fks stsry Of Jsset Of the sisth asS
the Emperor NspsIsen.

the Emperor NspsIsen.
Il was a warm corner. Day after
Gay the French soldiers had pushed
their batteries nearer and nearer to
ward the besieged town, and now one
could look out from behind the breast
works and plainly zee the faces OF the
Austrian artillerymen a. they stuck TO
their guns with grim determination and
sent their shots flying into the French
forts.
In one OF these little mud constructed
forts small party Of French soldiers.
under the command Of corporal. were
busily engaged In returning the Ere Of
the enemy.
The corporal. a tall. gaunt young fel
low Of twenty. was directing the wort
Of his men. Often he leaped to the
ramparts to note what effect the fire
Of his guns was producing.
"Truly." said one OF the soldiers N
the corporal jumped back among them.
''thou art q verltable salamander. for
thou canst stand fire."
"who IL q salamanderf" inquired O
grufY voice from the rear Of the smoke
filed battery.
The soldiers turned and saw standing
there a small. pale faced man In a gen.
erals uniform.
One Of the men pointed toward the
corporal.
"It II he. general" be replied.
"A sahmanderl We will seer reit.
Grated the efiicer as he ran his eye over
the corporal. "Can you writer be In
quired.
"Yes. my general"
Follow me, then" Out into the
shot swept open the two passed. walk.
ing side by side.
"You seem." remarked the general
pleasantly. ito be at least foot taller
than /. Kindly walk on this side" And
be indicated the side nearest 70 the
enemy. "lt will be great protection
10 me-"
without word the corporal took the
place.
Just at that moment shell burst d.
rectly over their heads. but did them
no harm.
The officer cast a quick glance at bis
companion. He was not In the least
fiurried. He did not even quicken bis
pace.
Presently they reached and entered a
battery which was the nearest Of all to
the Austrian lines. II was Oiled with
dead and wounded soldiers. Only one
gun remained standing.
Calmly seating himself on q broken
gun cartridge. the general gave the cor
poral paper and quill and Ink and COM
manded him to write as he began to
dictate letter.
The corporai's hand did not shake.
He wrote almost as rapidly as the gen.
eral spoke.
Suddenly, Just as the letter was I'm
ished. there was deafening report. and
q huge cannon ball passed close above
them and buried itself with dull thud
In the earth beyond. The wind caused
by its passage overturned the two. and
dust and dirt completely covered them.
The general picked himself up In an
instant. Calmly ieaping upon the ram.
part, the corporal waved the finished
letter dehantly toward the Austrian
lines.
Thanks. my friendsr' he shouted.
"You have saved me the trouble Of
blotting it!''
A look Of genuine admiration crept
into the eyes Of the general.
"what is your Manner hs asked
harshly.
Corporal Junot Of the Ninth foot.
general"
"Say rather Captain Junot,' for I
cannot afford to let such fellows as you
remain corporals." And General Boha.
parte-for II was he-clapped the young
man on the shoulder.
Eight years later Marshal Junot was
decorated with the grand cross OF the
Legion Of Honor by the Emperor Ma
poleou. Frank z. Channon In 81 Mich
olaa, esrTs4xsk