They
were brave fellows but unsophisticated in the ways of war. They were
well supplied with nice blankets and abundance of provisions as they
were never camped far from their native places. This branch of the
service was looked upon by the fight-worn and weather beaten Franc-
tireurs as their lawful prey. To be camped near one of them was looked
upon as a direct gift from above. At such times the Franc-tireurs
never thought of cutting wood for themselves. They frequently changed
their dirty and dilapidated blankets for the fresh warm ones of the
inexperienced Mobiles.
Hares abound in this part of France and many of them helped to make soup
for the freebooters. So frequently had the shots been heard and
needless alarms raised that a strict order was given out that there was
to be no firing unless at an enemy. One day Paul was doing duty as a
sentinel on an outpost, when a large, fat hare appeared on a little
hillock not thirty yards from where he stood. Before he remembered
about the order he had raised his rifle and sent a bullet crashing
through its body. Paul had no time to pick up the hare before he saw
the relief advancing on "double quick." So he stood on his post,
saluted the officer in command, and in reply to his inquiry said that
his gun had gone off accidentally.
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