False Honour (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 edition. Excerpt: ...be to go over to the enemy ' "' You had better not try it on, ' was the reply, 'or, as sure as my name is Bill, I'll let fly at you.' "Well, not long after, the first-mentioned watched his opportunity, slipped over the parapet, and began to run towards the enemy's line of defence. As soon as his intention was perceived, there was of course a great outcry, and several of his comrades, who were near enough, fired their rifles at him, but with no other effect than that of quickening the pace of the fugitive. He had already reached the enemy's lines, and was almost out of reach, when his friend raised his rifle, and only saying, ' I told you I would, and here goes, ' took aim and fired.--The deserter fell. Do you condemn that man?" Before Sebastopol. Rich. "I don't exactly know. It was a hard case." Rob. "It was a painful one, and therefore, in my opinion, all the more honourable to the party concerned. We can't suppose for an instant that it was a pleasure to him to shoot his own friend, but he knew his duty as a soldier to his Queen, his country, and his commander, and therefore he overcame his own private feelings.--And here lies the secret. It may be often more pleasant to slur over a friend's faults, but we must not let feeling interfere with duty." Rich. "Well, I think that was carrying it almost too far." Rob. "Why, you see, your plan of threatening did not succeed, and he was obliged to resort to other means. And so it will often happen: persuasion will do much, but not everything." Rich. "For all that, I am hardly convinced, Bob." Rob. "I am sorry for it. Suppose you found out your friend or fellow-servant in an intention to murder your master, wouldn't you betray...