Year: 1862

At midnight Pierre Sancoin was statlonet
at one of the outposts, He was stout
bold and shrewd man, and good soldier
The Colonel of the regiment was with th,
Serg cant on this beat. having requesteC
to be called at midnight, that he NIGH
visit the outposts.


Pierre, he said, after the men had beer
posted. You must keep your eyes open,-
don let even stray horse go out or come
in without the pass Dc you understand


Aye, mon, colonel, | shall be prompt.


The dogs are all around US, and you
cannot be too careful. Dout trust them
or brutes


Never fear. was Picrre's answer, as he
brought his frelock to his shoulder and
moved back pace.


After this the guard moved on to the
next post and Pierre was alone His post
was one Of the most important in the camp,
OF around it, and he Lad been placed there
for that reason. Tie ground over which
be had to walk was long knoll, bounded
at one end by huge rock, and at the 9TH
er sloping away into narrow ravine in
which was copse Of willows Beyond
this copse, the ground was low and bopgv,
SO that man could not pass it. The rock
was to the westward, and Pierre's walk
to ths outer side.


The night was quite dark, huge masses
of cloud feated over head and shut out the
stars, and solt of fog also seemed to be
rising from the marsh TIE wind moaned
through the copsc in the ravine, and the
all was damp and chilly. With slow,
steady tread the soldier paced bis ground,
ever and anon stopping to listen, as the
willows in the ravine ratified their leaves,
or scme night bird started cut with its
quick tapping.


An hour had passed and the sentinel
Lad seen uotlirg to excite his suspicion.
lie had stopped for minute close By the
side Of the rock, when be was stortled bg
a quick wilk scream from tie wood. and In
few moments more large bird few over
his head


l'arl .eu ! he nuttered, after the night
bird had flown over, could mortal man
have stopped that fellow passing?


He was satisf ID that he / al done moth
ing wrong in suffering the bird to pass
He had walked the length of bis way two
or three times, and was just turning by
Z lie rock, when he was sure he saw dark
oliect crcssi G tie line towards the ccpse.


Hold /! he cried, bringing the musket
quick TO his shoulder Holu or I fire


And with his piece at aim he advanced
tawards the spot where the object stop
ped but as he came to within few yards
of it, it started to move off again towards
the camp.


Diable' cried Pierre. move any further
and fire! What, pardieu! LIE Prince
Ho, ho, why Prince.


The animal turned and made motion
| as though he would leap upon the soldiers
breast, but the soldier motioned him off


Bzavo, Prince, Pierre cried, reaching
forth his hand and patting the head of the
great 81 aggy beast which had now sat up.
on his haul chts. Pierre recognized the
Intruder as great dog Of the breed Of st.
Bernard. which bad been owned in the re-
giment for over year, and which had been
missing for about week He disappear.
ed from t. pickets one night, and all
search for him lad been unavaling
Parhleu, mon grand Prince Pierre ut
tered, as though the dog understood eve
ry word; the men will be glad to see you;
where have you been so long? a


The dog made no answer to this. save q
low whine and familiar nodding Of the
head.


/ Now mon ami. just keep sitting there
until the guard comes s, and then wei GO
to the camp together, Mind that, vii
you?


And with these words. uttered with sol
emn EN- phasis. and due meaning, Pierre
started on his beat. He lad got halfway
to the rock. when the idea of looking
struck him, a he did so, lie Prince
was moving towards the camp again.


Ha Prince, bat won't do! Stop stop
OF ii shoot you Diable The colone
was positive in his orders ] was to lei
nothing pass without the countersign. A
dog ia something. You can't 60. Prince
so now lie down Down down. l say


With this the dog lay fiat OH his belly
and stretched out bis fore paws. Pierr'
patted him on the head again. aud having
/ duly urged upon him the necessity for re
naming where he was, be resumed hi
march once more.


During the next fifteen minutes the am
NAL lay perfectly quiet, and ever and anon
the sentinel would speak to him by wa,
of being sociable. But at length the do;
made another attempt to 90 into camp
Pierre reached tie rock when be hear,