The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-02
CHAPTER XIV.
THE sroRMING OF THE REDAN.

The 18TH OF June had passed and gone
with result that astonished the Allied
army pretty nearly as much as it did DR..
Lynden. After the Quarries and the Man,
elon nobody doubted but that when the as
sault did take place we should get in; and
that it would take place very shortly was
evident. That it would be a pretty tough
piece of work it was quits clear. We might
not perhaps get possession Of the whole
place in the first instance only succeed,
perhaps, in capturing the great Reden and
Malekoff; still, that we should be fairly
beaten all along the line and with nothing
to show for the terrible loss of life incurred
in the assault, except the cemetery taken
by Eyre's brigade, would have been cred
tied by no one. A trophy, too, which, as
the men of the left attack contemptuously
remarked. they could have taken any night
with two companies.
When the news was first flashed beneath
the waters to England. you may Judge the
terror it struck to the heart OF Nell LYnden
aud her friend. Those first headlines in the
papers spoke only of general assault on
Sebastopol Terrible Repulse; Frightful
Losses" Bitter lines to women who had
those near and dear to them 10 the Cherso-
nese. DIR. Lynden was also perfectly will
ing TO talk over the successive events of the
war with the two girls, but that his dauRh-
ter had any personal interest in news from
Crimea he had persistently ignored. He
had never alluded to her engagement
seemed. indeed, to regard it as u passing
fancy which separation had effectually put
an end to. and Nell was quite aware that in
the event OF the worst she would have to
bear her sorrow by herself, that she need
expect no sympathy from him. Though
fond of his daughter, the doctor was a hard
and proud nah, with an iron will under his
suave and courteous manner, and he deeply
resented the extreme coldness which Hughs
relations had taken the announcement of
the engagement. AS for Frances Smerdon
he had no idea that she had any peculiar
interest in the march of events. But the
terrible list came at last, without any men
ton Of the til. aud when the full accounts,
and also a letter from Hugh came to hand,
it turned out that the regiment had been
held in reserve, and not engaged at all that
day.
1t is very singular" remarked the doc
tor, it upsets all calculation, the first act is
not over so soon ash anticipated. Well, they
are like cocks in pit-bound to fight it
out-they cannot run away. Singular,
am not clear that it is not the best thing
that could happen to US. II the Allies did
but know il this tremendous struggle at the
extremity of her empire is the most ex-
hausting thing for Russia possible. And
when Seoastopol does fall-what next? All,
oompense ting success elsewhere-take Paris.
for instance, peace might 10 possible. After
shopping queens. Miss Smerdon, one may
offer to draw the game"
The siege dragged on. There was no oar
ticular action, but incessant skirmisheS, aad
the list of trench casualties grew perfectly
portentious 1t was like running sore on
both sides, and cruelty weakening to the
two antagonists The lines of the allies
al nd ole nd
it was evident to the keen observer that
the western powers and the Muscovite must
once more speedily close in the death grip.
Aud with the carly days Of September
comes the fourth bombardment, which pre-
coded the fall of the famous fortress.
1t had been rather q sore subject in the
til that Hugh Fleming had met with 10
reward for the taking of the Quarries. He
had brought the victorious but shattered
band back to camp, and the regiment,
though proud of the well done, til ~
with which their brigadier had ridden up
and congratulated them the next day were
still alike hurt that no honors had been
vouched to them IN recognition of this their
first deed Of daring in the Crimea. Poor
Grogan's step had been filed up by the senior
subaltern who happened not to be present
in the trenches on that occasion. But that
Byng should have had a brevet-mAjority
and that a company should have been found
for Hugh Fleming, the corps was unani-
mously of opinion. If there was not one
vacant iii the regiment, there could be no
difficulty in finding such thing Just now.
Every probability. indeed, of there being
considerable promotion to pestow very
shortly, as it was pretty generally under
stood that the assault would take place in
the next day or two.
The regiment is for the trenches this
night, and Byng and Hugh Fleming are
standing in front of the formers tent.
watching the storm Of shot and shell that is
raining down on the doomed city, and to
which the Muscovlte still replies sullenIy
AID iercely, if not quite SO vigorously as he
did three days ago.
I'VE shall hear for certain when we get
to the brigade grounds" said Bvng, but l
should fancy it will come OF to night. This
fen denter can't 20 on much longer. We
haven't the ammunition for it, We've
silenced some of their guns, but it will be a
toughish job all the same.
Yes" replied Fleming, ''they are no
tilnchers, and not likely to give in without
hard fighting. Here comes the adlutant,
about to tell you off to some peculiarly DEL
lcate piece of work, shouldn't wonder"
I've just run across, Hugh" said the Of
fetal in question, Ito shake hands and con-
graduate you on your company, although
I'm sorry 10 say we are going to lose
you"
Lose him." said Byng ''what on earth
do you meani'
1--WE just had a note from chum of
mine, kenyon; he's on the Headquarter
s aft, you know, and be tells me that the
Quarry Gazette has come, and that Hugh
here is transferred to q lieutenancy and cap
taincy in the Grenadier Guards. You got