Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

" Where ? " The woman pointed.
A MEDAL. 269
" No ;
that 's not he. You are mistaken, I assure you.
You could not recognize him from here ;
we are too far
away."
" Then that other one."
"
"Which one ? The woman pointed again.
" But no, I tell you, that is n't he it is ; impossible for you to
see him ;
he is in the second line."
" In the second line ?"
"Yes."
" What do "
you mean by the second line ?
" Behind the others."
" " Oh, holy patience
! exclaimed the woman, as she passed
hr hand over her brow and sighed,
" what are they doing
now " ?
" Don't you see ? The colonel has placed himself in front
of the regiment in order to make a speech. Before giving the
medal to the soldier they generally make a speech, in which
they relate the circumstance, and tell
the other soldiers to follow
the example of their companion, who is a brave soldier,
has done his duty, and has done honor to his regiment, and
so forth."
" "
I don't hear any thing. What is he saying
?
" This is the story
: The soldier who is to receive the
medal was one day attacked by three brigands,
all of whom
fired on him at once. He was not hit, and did not get frightened
;
he discharged his musket at one of the assassins, and
killed him ;
then planted his bayonet in the stomach of the
other ;
and took away the knife from the third and cut his
throat."