STICKING TO HIS POST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1566, 24 May 1887, Page 2

STICKING TO HIS POST

Hugh M'Guire, a son of the Emerald Isle, who had volunteered for the 10th Mississippi Regiment of Infantry, Btationed at Penasoola, Florida, m 1861, was placed upon picket one night on the beach, with orders to walk on two points, and to allow no one to pass without the countersign, and that to be given m a whisper. About midnight the corporal with the relief discovered by the moonlight, Hugh up to his waist m water, the tide having set m since he was posted two hours before. 'Who goes there V ' Belief.' ' Halt, relief ; advance, corporal : ' I am not going inl'o that water to ba drowned. Oomo out here and let me relieve you.' Hugh : • Devil a bit I will ! The lifcenant towld me not to lave my post. 1 - Corporal : ' well then, I'll leave you m the water all night,' — going away bb he spoke. Hugh : 1 Halt ! I'll put a hole m ye if ye pass without the countersign ! Them's me orders from the lif tenant' — cocking and levelling his gun. Corporal; 'Confound you j everybody will hear it if I bawl it out to you.' Hugh: 'Yes me dailint ; and the lifetnant said it must be given m a whispei. ,In wid ye 1 Me finger's on the trigger, and me gun may go off 1' Tho corporal had to yield, and wade m to the faithful sentinel, who exolaimed : 'Be jibers, it's well ye're oome ; the coulterin' tide has almost drowned me !".