Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-17

for a long time peculiar taste on account
of the tears shed when speaking Of the de-
parture of the Joyful"
Four months later we returned to the
plain where we had abandoned the sheep.
The expedition had been gone longer than
we at first supposed, but it had ended hap
PLY. Kabylia was subdued, the Douars
had surrendered, the tribute had been dis
charged, and the Kabyles, who had received
us with musket shots at the beginning OF
the campaign, returned in our ranks de-
serting as they neared their own villages.
When the advance guard emerged from
the mountains onto the plain and saw 1t
covered with sheep browsing quietly, a
great cry arose, and the news spread with
rapidity of telegram from head to foot
of the column. "Carette and the sheep
The sheep and the zephyrl Impossible!
But look, there they arep' These phrases
and others like them were repeated from
left to right of our little army and reached
the general, who, not finding 1t credible,
put his horse to gallop In order to con-
firm such o miracle with his own eyes.
The Zephyrs, more interested than any
body In the matter, as it was to them an
affair Of honor, raised "hurrah" and
broke into a run. At last we had to yield
to ocular evidence. The sheep were there
and Carette, leaning on his gun, smiling
but with something grave In his eyes,
waited our arrival with dignity.
Then the drums beat, the bands played
their gayest airs and for an hour the brave
zephyr was the object Of veritable ovation.
Here perhaps l ought to end this cpl
6ode, Of which can attest the truth, be-
ing an eyewitness, but I am o conscien-
tious writer and believe I shall satisfy my
readers more by telling them what even
tually became of Carette. If he had not
belonged to the African battalion, 1t Is
probable that ha would have been deco
rated, but his artistic antecedents forbade
his having that distinction-at least so
thought the general, who gave him in
stead 100 francs On their side the BENZ
Hammers had prepared the lions skin, as
they know how to do it in the desert, and
when we entered Constantine Carette
found himself rich. He sold the skin for
300 francs. AS soon as he was in posses
sion Of that sum he took q stretch" ollie
gal absence) Of three days with two COM
rades. This escapade cost him what the
regiment calls eleven and four is,
II days in prison and four In tho black
hole.
''Sio transit gloria mundi."
met him precisely at the moment when
they were taking him to the "carcere
duro," and the interest I felt In him
prompted me to demonstrate with him on
the past. BAH" he replied, 'if instead
of giving me 100 francs the general had
given me handshake it might perhaps
10, 40 I,,k bo
the money. What could l do with itf Buy
house" He shrugged his shoulders.
sit was to have q spree with, wasn't itP
That's what 1 did, and now they lock me
up. All, well. 1t is not just Because,
you see the general never would have got
clear, as 1 did, with 5000 sheep on his
hands, and lion, and all the Bedouins-
men and women. 1 would like to have
seen him in my place" He gave another
shrug showing his disdain for the general,
after which he went off with the corporal
to remain under lock and key for Is days.
Ten years later had left the army and
settled in the country. One day, hearing
lively alteration outside the grating,
opened the window to find out the cause.
1t was my servant opposing most energet-
ically the entrance Of q man, an ass a
woman and little girl. The man seemed
determined to enter in spite Of all remon-
strances. recognized him at once by his
sly air, his blue eyes and curly hair. 1t
was Carette. confess that 1 was pleased
to see him again, not only for himself,
but for all the memories evoked by his
presence. I called to the servant to let him
in and ran out to meet him. The ass and
the indescribable baggage which he carried
were put in the stable, and made ca
rette and his family come into the dining
room. Then he told me that he was mar
ried and that he travelled in turn as musi-
clan, dentist and prestidigitator; that,
thanks to his industry, he lived well and
was content with his lot. but all the
same " he added, with a sigh of regret, II
have never had and never shall have such
good time as during the four months I
spent with the Beni-Hammers. Trans
lated From the French of Count Alfred de
Vervins For Short Stories.