The Countersign

By Anonymous

One fine moonlit night, during a late war in Europe, a lonely sentinel was pacing up and down his solitary beat when, suddenly, he heard a faint sound, like that of a stealthy footstep. It came from a clump of trees which formed the boundary to a portion of the land occupied by the camp.

He at once concluded that someone was trying to enter secretly, and so moved forward to the spot just as a man in uniform came into view.

Loud and clear rang the sentry's voice, as placing himself in front of the stranger he spoke the words usual at such a time -"Who goes there?" " A friend," was the feebly uttered answer. "Advance, friend, and give the countersign."

I ought to explain here to my young readers, that, in time of war, soldiers are every night placed at regular distances from each other, on all sides of the camp, to act as watchmen, and are forbidden under pain of death to permit anyone to pass them in any direction, unless sent by an officer.

To make sure of this, a word or two, or a sign, is chosen every night by the officers, which none know but their own men and the sentinels. This is called the countersign. Of course, anyone who does not know the countersign is considered to be an enemy.

When the sentinel said, " Advance! and give the countersign," the stranger replied, "I do not know it. If I did, I would not have tried to enter secretly; but do you not see by my dress that I am one of you. Three months I pined in the enemy's prison; yesterday, I escaped. Let me pass, for the love of God. I am ready to die with fatigue."

The sentry shuddered at the words, "for the love of God;" for he was a devout Catholic, and his heart ached to have to refuse this request. Besides, he believed the stranger was speaking the truth.

Still his orders were to shoot anyone who attempted to enter the camp without giving the countersign. "You have broke our rule," he said, sorrowfully. "You have broken it, and the punishment is death."

"I am not fit to die" said the other, in a hoarse voice. "I have offended God grievously in the past; I must have time to repent before death."

"I give you five minutes to pray." The young man sank upon his knees, raised his eyes to heaven, and made the sign of the cross. "You are saved!" cried the sentry, "because of our holy Faith. The Sign of the Cross is the countersign tonight."