Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-13
ANOBLE REVENGE

During the saige of Sebastopol almost
every step of earth round this mighty
Russian fortress in the Crimea was steep
ed with human blood. Thousands of
Frenchmen, EHgiishmen, Italians and
Turks had fallen by Russian bullets or
been carried off by cholera or other dis
eases. Still the fortress defed the united
exeration of the allies. On June Is, 1855,
the French had, indeed, with wonderful
bravery, attem pied to storm the Malakoff
Tower, considered to be the key of Sc
bastopel; but they were repulsed, with
immense lossee, by the Russians. On
Sept. a second attack was to be made
on the Malakoff, and on the preceding
day the zouaves gave themselves up to
the few amusements which the camp af-
forded 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 we're the two
brothers, Charles and Victor Carabine, so
called because they knew no other father
than their musket. They were not even
certain that they were brothers; the chief
proof of their relationship was their mu-
tual affection. They were as like, too, in
face, as they were in heart. Victor was
to-day 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 Sept. 8, 1855. A
signal sounded from the hill where Gen
eral Pelissier had posted him'e elf with his
staff, and with sharp eye he was following
ali the movements of the army. Before
this signal Gen. MacMahon, who com
manded 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
vanguard. With their comrades they
crossed the enemy's trench, climbed up
the breastwork, and were soon inside.
Colonel CCllineau 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 MIN, who had already
cut down five or six zouaves with his
sword. Charles rushed upon him, in
order to avenge his comrades and disarm-
ed the G fficer with the first blow of his
sword. But the Russian had already
seized heavy fragment of 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 dan
ger in which he Was, and fired at the Rus
sian. 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 smitten
Charles to the ground. In moment
Victor is at his side: but he comes too
late-the huge piece of iron had crushed
Charles head.
1t is a terrible sight that meets his
eyes; to the right Charles dead st his feet
and his fee fighting fiercely as ever; to
the left on the top of the parapet he
sees Corporal Lihaut, the brave Paris boy
unfurIing the standard of the zouaves,
and close to him MacMahon planting
his sword on the ground they he'd taken.
Urged on by the madness of victory
and thirst for revenge, Victor cries.
"This way, comrades" and like torrent
his companions rush down upon the Rus
slams. The captain who had slain Charles
is cut down, together with his soldiers,
and hurled into the trench. Is he dead
or alivei The zouaves don't know, but
at O'Clock they are masters of Sebasto
pol.
Victor was made sergeant for his BRAY
cry during the attack. He marched with
his comrades through the suburb of Kar.
abelnaia as sword in hand they drove the
Russians to the bridge, which WAS their
last refuge. The city was on fire in sew
rNiapaS Victor pamR of last tn G
house whose appearance showed it be
Ionged TO people of high rank. 1t was
the dwelling of a rich inhabitant of Sc
bastopol; perhaps one of the leaders OF
the defense, whose military skill had cost
the French so much blood. Vengeance
again awoke in Victor's breast. The
house did not seem to be altogether de-
ser'ed If he could only find brotheI
here to butcher as they had butchered hi;
brotber-hesrts that he could rend as his
had been rent. Such were the revengefu
feelings of his heart.
He will avenge himself by plumber, il
he cannot by murder. He will take gold
if there is no blood TO shed. He noV
stands on the threshold of the rich house
He now strides through porch filled
with flowers. Flowers in the midst o
his bloody massacre! But whence comes
it that the zouave hesitates? Close to tn,
flowers some children's plsyrhings ar
Iying-tin soldiers, a sword and ooppe,
cannon, the uniform of little four-year
old artilleryman. Little children have
here been rehesrsing the tragedy
which their father has been playing
Victor goes on; he penetrates into th'
drawing-room, which had been abandon
ed in terror and dismay. The zouavs cas-
a triumphant glance at the treasure
which the owners could not take Will
them-a rich booty for the soldier, i
they had not murdered his brother.
He was on the point of calling in hi
comrades to plumber, when he heard
heartrending cry from above him.
shell had fallen into the upper story o
the house. The zouave fastened up AM
saw in a room, in the midst of the ruin
caused by the explosion, young mother
apparently dead, and q child in her arms
"The poor boy!" cried Victor, horrlfie,
at the sight, and he forgot everything
his dead brother, his revenge, the victory
Sebsstopol and the rich booty. He has
tens to the help of the mother-he, VIII
never remembers to have had mothe
himself-he seeks to restore her to life
But all his efforts to restore her to Ef
are vain.
"Come," he says to himself, sit is n
good; nothing will help her. Now, le
me see to saving the Child" and he looks 6
the little boy who has fallen to the groun
and stares with terror at his dead mothe
and his unknown enemy.
The zouave sought for the vIctor's re
ward. There it is before him! To pre-
tect an innocent life! to give father