Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-06
The Daily
Short Story
A SOLDIER DOG.
BY Ethel Holmes.

were ABOUT 10 invade France nv
brother, Pierre. and commended vhias
should join the eofors--for va ~.
both exempt from military service
the other to remain with mother Al.
decided the matter by telling us ~.
we must both go to the defense ~ aas
country; and SO we did.
Pierre had small dog Of mon,,.,
breed which was very much attacks
to him and he was as much attachsS -
the dog. My brother who was ar~ss
mirer of the great Napoleon ~
named him Nap.
Nap knew as we'll as any OF us fh.,
something of great Importance wa
transpiring in the family and that n.
master. was concerned in It. He hun.
about Pierre all the day that we rsrs
preparing for our departure ana wh.s
we left home, seeing US kiss our rn,h
er goodby, he knew very we'll that :.
were going away. He trotted alon.
beside us for some distance 49,
Pierre stopped and taking him In HE
arms said to him:
Now, Nap, must ssy rooshv ).
you. Go back home and take good care
OF mother"
Nap must have understood what ha
said for he whined pitifully. pierre
released him, and we walked on. Nan
looking at US wistfully waggins ii.
tail, his affection for his master strur-
Cling with his sense OF obedience Tha
former soon conquered and he cams
after us, cringing and whining to he
permitted to go with us. Pierre tried
in every way to drive him back. and
failed. ! suggested that we take him
along with us and have him trainsa
for carrying messages or hunting am
the wounded on the battlefield. Piey,a
consented and when he called to Nan
the dog dashed to his side spr,nriss
in the air for Joy.
Pierre and / enlisted IN the sama
regiment and left Nap TO be trained
at the school for dogs. But they couid
not keep him. he ran away and hunted
through the army till he found bis be.
loved master. 1t was then suggested
that Pierre train him, and Pierrs VI.
detailed for this duty.
| Nap was found to be so efficient n
carrying messages that after awhile
he was used almost exclusively for
this purpose He seemed to kno~.
when a message was tied to bis collar.
the nature Of the duty required OF hin.
and soon became very expert IN run
ming the gauntlet of the enemy's Gre,
taking advantage of any cover within
his reach, such as high weeds or grass.
logs, fences Or woods.
Nap was sent with message one
day and when he came back with the
reply WAS badly wounded He was
carried to the hospital for animals and
was given every care 1t was neess.
sary to keep him confined till hi.
wound had healed and when this va.
eHected he started off on run TO ioir
MS master. But he soon found gu
now weak he was and proceeded NOR.
le1surely. Nevertheless, when he has
spent some time in Pierre's lap Iickin,
: his hand and Pierre was called to ths
trenehes-where Nap was never al
lowed-the dog appeared ia the gen
erals tent, and looking up at the CON
, manaer wagged his tail and Whined To-
=, another message to carry. Many sol
, der mas been eager to rejoin his com
mand on recovering from a wound, hu
Nap is the only dog have ever know
: to perform this act of heroism.
| had the misfortune to lose m,
: brother, Pierre. during the struggle TO
: Verdun. He was reported among til
. missing after one of the attacks mad
on our works by the Germans, and hi
body was not found for several days
: when he had recovered ground tina
} we had lost.
After the fight our regiment va
given a rest. Nap looked eyefywher
for his master When he did not fiji
him ne began to be troubled. When
whole day had passed and Pierre di
!. not appear the dog remained with gu
company waiting for him to return
After two or three days Nap must hay
made up his mind that his master ia
j been killed, for he showed intsns
+ grief
When the regiment was ordered o
e duty again we pushed forward seFsrs
hundred yards. Nap went with u
!. After some fighting / missed the dc
! and concluded to make search 70
him, While doing so l entered a WOO
Hearing moan ] followed the diref
tion from which it came and soon cam
: upon Nap beside his masters des
I body.
! Pierre was given a soldiers huris
. and a wooden cross was erected owe
= the grave. Little Nap alone refuse
to Leave the spot where his master Ia,
, took food to him but he would NJ
d touch it. An order came from the ger
/ eral to take him to headquarters. a
- he was needed for an important SER
ice. Several men successfully trie
!, to get the dog away from his master
\ grave. They all failed. Whereupon
y went to him. strOked him, and takin
y him in my arms carried him to heal
quarters. He was petted. but shove
i no response. Then a message was tie
: TO his collar and he was told where
;. take it, He took it to his master
d grave.
u Nap stayed there till the eneu
, made another rush Upons our wore
Il After the fight / found his dead BOD
. full Of wounds. Had ne been left aioL
he would have died OF starvation 4
il was. he died a soldiers death.
- / gave him soldiers burial.
A.rr4