Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-04

- Vhe net 9 falrly round them.
90 spoke French grenader to his comrade,
as Che enemy shot came crashing into the
earthen face Of the battery, while the grim
faces of the Austrian gunners doomed out in
tne htiul glimpses through the rolling smoke
tnat billowed around the walls of besieged
Mantua
lrue, answered the other, "but they'll
make It warm for us in the meantime. | sup
pose that's what brings the Salamander here
they always like the warmest places, you
know"
And who's the Salamander, pray?" asked
harsh voice from behind.
AT the sound Of that voice both men started
and turned round Beside them stood little
man IN well-wom gray coat and high boots,
sllli young, hut with many deep line in his
DARK Italian face, framed in long flowing hair.
AT that time the world knew him only as "a
rather clever young fellow called Bonaparte;"
for no one could yet foresee how soon he was
to make all Europe tremble at the name of
Napoleon.
"Who is it that you call Salamander" ask
cd he again.
1T is |, general" replied stalwart young
grenadier, advancing and saluting.
Hal" said the general, running his keen
gray eye over the speakers long limbs and
gaunt, bony frame, 81 should rather have call
ed thee the camel"
A general laugh from the soldiers greeted
their leaders pleasantly.
However," resumed the latter, If you like
warm places, I'll give you your liking. Gan
you writer"
Yes, my general"
Come along, then"
And away they went together the general
walking at leisurely pace through rolling
smoke and crashing shot, and looking keenly
at his companion from time to time, to see IL
he quclSened his step. But the soldier was not
to be outdone He tramped along over the
deadly space as coolly as if he were only on
parade. -,
/ Presently one of the enemy's shells burst
with deafening crash only few feet above
their heads, the fragments flying IN every a.
upon the face of his comrade, who seemed
quite unconscious of his harbreadth escape;
You're head and shoulders taller than |
am said the general, so you stand good
chance of being killed first" =,
giant coolly, 81 hope you'll forgive me Tor
presuning to be killed before my superior Of
hcer"
Bonaparte laughed grimly.
A few minutes later they entered a battery
which, being the nearest of all to the en-
emy's works, was, as the general had prom.
ised, very hot place indeed just then, Shell
and shot were pelting into it like hail, and
men lying dead in all directions, though the
fully as ever.
Now" said Bonaparte, deliberately seating
himself upon an overturned gun carriage, SIT
down and write dispatch for me, as | die
tate"
The soldier quickly obeyed, and copied his
leaders, words almost as quickly as the latter
could utter them.
Strange enough it seemed to see those two
men so calmly at work, with fire flashing and
shot flying all around them, and the thunder
of the cannonade shaking the very ground I'M
der their feet; but although men were drop
ping every side, they remained as cool
and composed as ever.
Suddenly a cannon-bal came whizzing right
between them ESQ close almost to knock
them down with the wind of its rush., and
buried itself in the earth few feet off, cover
ing them both with dust from head to foot
Bonaparte shot lightning glance at his new
unshakable man would show some sign of fear
But he looked in vain.
So far from seeming frightened, the young
hero leaped lightly up on to the nearest gun,
was quite dried up by the spattering DUST
toward the Austrian batteries, cried, laughing:
Thanks. my good, ,ttellows-you've saved us
some blotting paper!"
"So!" mnttered the general between his
teeth, ''you deserve your title. see, after all.
What's your other name beside 'Salamander"
Private Junot, of the Seventh Foot" an
swered the young grenadier.
Sergeant Junot, you mean," said Bonaparte,
clapping him on the shoulder. Fellows Of
your sort don't remain privates very long in
my army, promise you! Tell your comrades
what I've said to you, and if you only go on
as you've begun, l shouldn't wonder if we
see you at the head of an army of your own
some day"
And he spoke truly-for. eight years later,
when "Citizen Bonaparte" had become the
Emperor Napoleon, one of the first things he
4 10 Era-l yI,