San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-28
A NOBLE REVENGE.

During the siege of Sebastopel almost every
step of earth round this mighty Russian for
tress in the Crimea was stepped with human
blood. Thousands of Frenchmen, English
men, Italians and Turks had fallen by Rus
sian bullets or been carried off by cholera or
other diseases. Still the fortress defed the
united exertions of the allied armies On
June IS, 1855, the French had, indeed, with
wonderful bravery, attempted to storm the
MaakoR Tower, considered to be the key of
Sebastopol, but they were repulsed with i'm
mense losses by the Russians On'Sept. 8 a
second attack was to be made on the Mala-
koff, and on the preceding day the zouayes
gave themselves up to the few amusements
which the camp afforded them.
The zouave is always merry soldier; he
laughs at everything-at many things at
which he ought not to laugh-at life, at
death at the cholera, at poverty, at guns and
cannon. On that evening the merriest among
the zouaveS were the two brothers, Charles
and Victor Carabine, so called because they
knew no other father than their musket.
They were not even certain whether they
were brothers. the chief proof of their re-
IationShp was their mutual affection. They
were as like, too, in face as they were in
heart Victor was today telling all sorts of
funny stories. they seemed to think little
about the terrible day which was to dawn ON
the morrow.
All the bells of Sebastopol and all the
trumpets and drums of the French camp, too,
announced noon on Sth September, 1855. A
signal sounded from the hill where Gen. Pc
lissier had posted himself with his staff, and
with sharp eye he was following all the move
ments of the army Before this signal Gen.
MacMahon, who commanded the first division,
threw three battalions of zouaves against the
left side of the Malakoff. Charles and Victor
Carabine had the honor to stand in the van
guard. With their comrades they crossed
the enemy's trench, climbed up the breast
work and were soon inside Col Collineau
led them. He received a shot in the head as
he fell upon the Russians, but he quickly
bound up his wound with his handkerchief,
waved his sword and rushed into the fray
Charles Carabine had a young Russian
officer opposed to him, who had already cut
down five or six zouaves with lis sword.
Charles rushed upon him, in order to avenge
his comrades, and disarmed the officer with
the first blow of his sword But the Russian
had already seized a heavy fragment of a
shell, which he was in the act of hurting at
his foe. Victor, who was fighting about
fifteen PAGES off from his brother, saw the
danger in which he was, and fired at the
Russian. The ball struck upon the eagle of
his helmet, without even causing the officer
who wore it to vince. Meanwhile the great
piece of iron had smittcn Charles to the
ground. In a moment Victor is at his side;
but he comes too late-the huge piece of iron
had crushed Charles head.
1t is terrible sight that meets his eyes; to
the right Charles dead at his feet, and his
foe fighting fiercely as ever; to the left, on
the top of the parapet, he sees Corp. Lihaut,
the brave boy of Paris. ulfuriing the stand