Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-08-03
A HUMAN SALAMANDER.
b story of Junot Of the Ninth and
the Emperor Napoleon.


the Story of Junot of the Ninth and
the Emperor Napoleon.
Ii was a warm corner. Day after
day 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 see the faces of the
Austrian artillerymen as 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 a small party of French soldiers,
under the command of a corporal, were
busily engaged in returning the fire of
the enemy.
The corporal, a tall, gaunt young fell
low of twenty, was directing the work
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 as
the corporal jumped back among them,
thou art a veritable s~alamander, for
thou canst stand fire."
"Who is a salamander?' inquired a
gruff voice from the rear Of the smoke
filed battery.
The soldiers turned and saw standing
erals uniform.
One Of the men pointed toward the
corporal.
"It is he, general" he replied.
"a salamander! We will seev!' reit-
Grated the officer as he ran his eye over
the corporal. Can you writer" he in
Quired.
Eyes, 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 a foot taller
than /. Kindly walk on this side" And
he Indicated the side nearest to the
enemy. ut will be a great protection
to me-"
Without a word the corporal took the
place.
Just at tbe< moment a shell burst di-
rectly oya0 their heads, but did them
no harm.
The officer cast a quick glance at his
companion. He was not In the least
furried. He did not even quicken his
pace.
Presently they reached and entered a
battery which was the nearest Of all to
the Austrian Jines. 1t was filed with
dead and wounded soldiers. Only II
gun remained standing.
Calmly seating himself ON a broken
gun cartridge, the general gave the cor
pora! paper and quill and ink and COM
handed him to write as he began to
dictate a letter.
The corporars hand did not shake.
He wrote almost as rapidly as the gen.
eral spoke.
Suddenly, just as the letter was fin
ished, there was a deafening report, and
a huge annon ball passed close above
them and buried itself with a dull thud
by It's passage overturned the two, and
dust and dirt completely covered them.
The general picked himself up in an
instant. Calmly leaping upon the ram
part, the corporal waved the finished
letter defiantly toward the Austrian
lines.
Thanks, my friends" 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 name?" he asked
harshly.
Corporal Junot Of the Ninth foot,
general"
Say rather Captain Junot,' for l
cannot afford to let such fellows as you
remain ~corporals." And General Bona
parte-for it 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
poleon.-Frank E. Channon in st. Mich
olas.