The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-01-13
ONLY OCCASION ON WHICH
THIS BRAVE OFFICER
WAS TERRIFIED.

around fire occupied by the first
lieutenant and myself.
The night was chilly and damp
and we were somewhat sad and
gloomy, as we had lost some good
friends during the fight. A silence
had succeeded a dull story related
by chasseur, when suddenly we
were startled by the voice of Cap
tain Dumon of the 10th Dragons,
saying: Il wonder if l will see
again in this world poor Boscal, cut
in two by a canon ball this after
noon"
81 hope you will not" replied a
lieutenant of hussars.
why do you hope that?" asked
the captain.
Because he would brighten the
life out of you if one of these
nights he came to visit you," re-
piled the lieutenant.
"Hussar, l do not permit you to
insinuate that anything supernat-
ural or natural may brighten me,
Capt Chas. Dumon of the 10th dra-
goons," exclaimed angrily the brave
soldier.
"Pshaw! Sweetly, dragon sweet
ly! l have seen men just as cour-
| ageous as you are, and believe
yourself to be, going into frances
through fright" replied the lieu
tenant with the greatest calmness.
"You did not see that, and l defy
you to prove it," said the captain.
81 did see that, and l ready
to bet you good dinner at so
francs per capita, that within two
months I, or somebody else, will
cause you such a fright as will be
remembered by you until your last
hour. Do you accept the wager?"
"Most certainly | do, on the con-
dition that all of us here now, or
what will be left of us after the
taking of Sebastopol, shall feast at
the expense of the loser, cost what
it may"
GAIL right, Dragon"
|
"All right, hussar."
AS the taps" sounded we sepa-
rated, bidding goodby to each other.
The battle of Tukerman was
fought on the 9Th of November,
1854, II days after the battle of
Balaklava. The night following was
exceedingly cold. 1t was about II
O'Clock p. M, and everyone was
asleep in our camp but the sentries
and grand guards. Alone in his
tent, Captain Dumon snored, buried
to the nose In layer Of fresh
straw, discovered by his faithful,
but not over-scrupulOus, orderly
Near him was his big saber, and
under his pillow, made of his
horses saddle, a pair of pistols
showed their brass work. Suddenly
a human form, wrapped in a white
mantle and wearing on his head the
regulation helmet of the dragons
under which appeared a face dead.
ly pale, entered the tent. The ap.
partition seemed to slide rather than
walk. 1t approached the captain
and called him by his name.
The captain awoke, sat up, rub.
bed his eyes and fist and said: Who
is there? What do you want?
HAS the grave changed me so
much that Chas. Dumon. my busom
friend cannot recognize in me Pros
per Boscal, killed II days ago at
Balasklava?
as that your" ironically replied
the captain. well, | thought the
Russians to be better killers. With
us French those that we demolish
never come back to visit their for
mer acquaintance. Meanwhile,
Prosper Boscal, my departed friend,
you will greatly favor me by re-
turning from whence you came
from. You must excuse me my
dear, you being dead have had time
to sleep, and I, being alive, have
not. Then goodby, my respects to
all in shoel, please, and take care
not to get cold, by playing truant
during such Siberian night"
"Dumon," exclaimed sadly the
ghost, you know how much / did
love you while on this earth. In
order to see you once more, in ord
er to bid you an eternal adieu, to
give you the last shake of the hand
have left the spirit world. In
stead of friendly reception have
a right to expect from you, | gel
only sarcasm and derision. Take