Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1905-06-02
A HUMAN sALAMANDER.
TIE story Of JuROt Of the Ntntn @S~
ehe Emperor Napoleon.


day the French soldiers bad pushed
their batteries nearer and nearer 10
ward the besieged town. and now ono
could look out from behind the breast
works and plainly see the faces Oh tne
Austrian artillerymen as they stuck 10
their guns with grim determination ana
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
buslly engaged I'm returning the hre OF
the enemy.
The corporal, a tall. gaunt young fel-
low OF twenty, was directing the WORK
of his men. Often he leaped 10 the
ramparts TO note what effect the hre
OF his guns was producing.
Truly" said one Of the soldiers as
the corporal jumped back among then'
thou art veritable salarnander, ior
thou canst stand fire"
WHO Ia a salamanderT inquired
Rruff voice from the rear Of the smoke
filled battery.
The soldiers turned and saw standing
there n small, pale faced man In a gen
erals uniform.
One Of the men pointed toward the
corporal.
1T Is he. general" he replied.
"A salamander. We will see" reit-
Grated the officer as he ran his eye over
the corporal. Can you writer" he in
qulred.
Yes, my general"
Follow me, then" Out into the
shot swept open the two passed, walk
ing side 10y side.
You seem" remarked the general
pleasantly, Ito he at least a foot taller
than /. Kindly walk on this side" And
he indicated the side nearest 10 the
enemy. 1T will be a great protection
to me-"
Without u word the corporal took the
place.
Just az that moment a 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
Hurried. He did not even quicken his
pace.
Presently they reached and entered a
battery which was the nearest OF all TO
the Austrian lines. II was filled with
dead and wounded soldiers Only one
gun remained standing.
Calmly seating himself on 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 a letter.
The cOrporals hand did not shake.
lie wrote almost as rapidly as the gen
eral spoke.
Suddenly, just as the letter was fin
ished. there was n deafenlng report, and
a huge cannon bail passed close above
them and buried itself with II 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 leaplng upon the ram
part, the corporal waved the finished
letter dehantly 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 namey' he asked
harshy.
corporal Junot OF the Ninth foot,
general"
say rather Captain Junot.' for
cannot afford to let such fellows as you
remain corporals." Aud General Bona
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 ~ Honor 10y the Emperor Ma
IoleOn. Frank r. Chaunon In ST. Mich
olas