Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-02-09


the foot Of enc Of the Alpine passes.
They carried with them bayoncis and
nuskets, and parties OF them were
dragging along several heavy cannon.
They were portion of the French
Army, and they bad before them tirst
the steep and dangerous mountain
pass, and beyond it the deadly fire aud
cold steel Of determined enemy. One
OF the two kinds Of foes they scarcely
knew which was most to be feared, but
they kept up brave hearts, in spite OF
both.
II was trying work, ceTtainly, even
for tlie strongest man, to toll up those
slippery sleeps knee-aeep In snow, and
with bitter wind.biting the skin of
the face and making the eye, smart
until they could scarcely see enough to
avoid the edges of the preclpices, which
overriding gray-bisek yawning chasms
like bostomless pits. The men were
heavy eyed for want OF rest, and some
were beginning TO look i'll through
sleer fatigue.
| but there was one In The company
VINO seemed to enjoy tie rough 10 arch-
ling; one who tramped along through
the deep snow and the cold gray mist
as merrily as II he were going to pic
mic. This was Jacques, the drummer
boy, who-e fresh, rosy face looked,
bright and CHEEKY among the grim
yisages of the soldiers. Whenever the
cutting wind whirled shower OF Snow
to his face, he dashed it away with a
merry laugh, and awoke all the echoes
with the livery rattle of his drum.
bravo, my drummer boyn' cried
tall man in long gray CLOAK, who
was walking NJ the head OF the Hue.
"Brayo, jacques, my boy! With such
/, IL usic as that one could march all the
way to Moscoww
| The boy saluted. This rough looking
man WAS no other than the general
hlnself Marshai Le koy, one Of lbe
oravest soldiers OF France, aud one OF
| "f'RAa Lis tiiNii WHY 0GCuSlVifitu tOAAt
that 10 see his tail form Ia the lighting
line was as good asa whole battalion
help.
"Long live the marshalw shouted a
horse voice, and the cheer flying down
the line rolled over the mountain like
distant thunder.
Scarcely had its echo died away,
when the silence was again broken BY
a very different sound--a strange sort
OF U lcanny whispering far away up
the great mountain. Moment by
moment il grew louder till at length 1t
sweled into deep, thunderous roar.
ION your faces, boysW shouted the
general. "Tbe avalanche is coming
Almost before they had time to obey
the peril was upon them. Down
Numbered the great mass Of snow only
a few yards away. lis fringe swept
the narrow path like a waterfall, and
crashing down along with 1t came
stones and gravel, and loose earth aud
uprooted bushes.
For q moment all was as dark as
night. IL When the rush had passed ,
the men locked around them eagerly,
each anxious lest comrade had been
carried over the precipice ana either
killed or buried alive in the snow.
A few strained, anxious moments
then one cry rose to the lips OF all:
Jacques! Where is Jacques. Where is
our little drummer?u
| Where, indeed? Look which way
they would, nothing was to be seen of
their little favorite, aud when his name
was shouted by hundred voices, there
came no answer.
Then broke forth a terrible cry of
! grief, and many hardened cid soldier
who had looked without fiiEching at a
line Of Ievelled muskets, saw a strange
mist-pot the mist VI the mountain
before his eyes. To think that brave
little face would never more I've seen
among them.
But suddenly, far below them, out Of
the darkness Of the dismal gulf that
lay between those tremendous rocks
there came the faint roll OF drum
beating the charge. The old sole .rs
started Then they leaned eagerly for.
ward to listen. Then up wenI sh. ut,
which shook the air.
"He's alive, boys! Little Jacqu, is
alive! And beating his drum. still like
"a brave lad. He wants TO have the old
music to the very last"
"But we must get at him or he will
freeze or bleed to death down there. He
must be savedp'
| she must aud shall be savedr' 1t
was deep voice that made the soldiers
turn around TO see The general coming
to the brink OF the precipice, and I'M
buttoning his long cloak.