The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-11-04
Coming Events
Cast Their
Shadows Before
By F. A. mitchell

\ " fAs NA SC1CAA
| Nicoai Morrill, when that war broke
cut between France and Austria In
which Italy joined as an ally of France
was a young citizen Of Rome. When
Morrill, signited his intention to enter
the Italian army his friends shook their
heads, declaring that there was moth.
ing of the soldier in him.
you had better study for the
church" they said to him, "or, rather,
secure u position as professor in q
university. You will be studying the
clouds some fine day, and while you
are wondering whence they come and
where they are drifting cannon ball
will come ulong and take OF your
head"
One person, however, was confident
that Nicolai would return hero This
was Blanca Tarantola, his sweetheart
The young recruit being Of fanciful
turn Of mind, must needs select that
arm of the service for which be was
least fitted. Though he had never been
on horse, he enlisted In a cavalry
regiment. as luck would have it, the
company TO which be belonged was as
signed to generals headquarters to
act % couriers and guard for their
commanders persoa. One day when
the general called upon Nicolai to
carry message the private, turning
bis horse, suddenly lost his balance and
fell to the ground. The general, see-
ing that the youngster was untitled to
60 dashing about as courier, made
him his bugler, in which position he
would be expected to stick to the gen.
eral. Nicolai didn't know how to sound
a bugle, but that didn't matter.
The general received an order one
day to march his command to re-en-
force the allies who were fighting the
Austrians some miles distant Losing
his way In wood, he brought his men
to q halt In dire distress of mind. II
he failed to bring relief to those sorely
pressed he would be in disgrace
Nicolai sat ON his horse looking at the
sky as If In a dream.
Ride out into the open," cried the
general to him impatiently, land see If
you can get q view to help US to find
our way"
Il think, general" said Nicolai, point
ing, I'VE should 60 in that direction"
why so?" ~,
Il see birds lowering me MO
what has that to do with it,
-o{k@r~ n got Of
dead" ugu' r usAs nssu ,on.y,.,s ~
The genaFa1 strained his eyes, for the
birds. then ,gAYas an order to advance
In an entirely different direction from
which he had been moving. He reach;
or the battlefield Just In time to save
e,Qn another occasion the general was
hard dressed BY the Austrians, Withs1
riyer At his back, and If he did not
9plG means of crossing before his en;
epyr could bring up re-enforcement5 he
would be captured with his whole COM
mand. ,s,@s
Look up, at the sky" he said to
Nic0lai, "and see III you, can tell, me
hows to- get aGrQss the river, mn. t,r5,.s
"Thiss time, "a general replied the
young man, II have been looking at
the ground for A means of crossing"
well, it matters, not t9. mf whether
you look at the sky, or the ground. If
you show me how to get across the
river you shall be captain and my
aid-de-camp."
These rocks" said Nicolai, slant
in such direction and over there In
such another direction as to indicate
that somewhat farther down they will
lie fiat instead Of upright on the river
bed. If SO we are liable to find a
ford"
ride on and find out" the general
ordered.
The commander rode after instead of
before his bugler, who kept his eyes
on exposed rock lodges till he came to
a point where the river widened. Not
ing the angle of the ledge, Nicolai
rode into the water and across. When
hc returned the general who had been