The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-01-14
'I1GflIsT ,l3l@)IgI2" !"

| too, for he was one OF those fellows who are
never ont of the canteen, and would toss of
his IL glasses of brandy, one for each stroke
when the clock struck IL. He was Sergean,
! I in the same company where was Quarter.
master, and we walked side by side in the
ranks. A good soldier-a capital soldier
drunkard, quarrelsome and q brawler
He had all the faults of the African army
but he was as brave as an African lion He
was not an easy one to manage-you could
see that with the first look at his sunburnt
face, with its red beard and cold, steel-blue
eyes.
When joined the regiment Thirsty had
just finished his time; he re-enliseed, re-
ceived the bounty, and went in for a three
days regular carouse in the lowest parts of
Algiers With four or five boon companions
like himself they drove about, all packed in
an open carriage, and fourishing tri-col-
Ored flag with the motto, This can't last
forever!' on it. He was brought back to
the barrack with his head cut open by q
sword wound that he had got in Moorish
den, where he had fight with the Arabs.
Thirsty got well; he was sent to prison for
fortnight, and had his stripes taken from
him. 1t was the second time he had been
put back into the ranks. If it hadn't been
for his bad conduct he would have been an
officer long ago, for he belonged to very re-
spectacle family, and had been we'll edu-
Gated.
"Well, he lost his stripes after that affair
with the Arabs, but he got them back again
Is months later-at the same time that
myself rose to be Sergeant t-Quartermaster-
thanks to the kindness of the Captain, who
had always great patience with Thirsty. He
was an old African soldier himself, and had
seen him under fire at Kabylie.
But just at that time our old Captain WAS
promoted and left the regiment and they
sent us out young fellow, only %, 10 take
his place. He was a Corsican, named
Gentle; cold. ambitious man, just out Of
the scho0l-a very good officer, they said,
but fearfully hard ON the men. He would
give you eight days under arrest for a spot
of rust on your rifle or button missing off
your CATERS. He had never served in AL
geria, and had no notion Of any insubOrdi-
nation or disorder. From the first moment
he and Thirsty were at daggers drawn. That
they were sure to be. The first time the
Sergeant was absent from roll-cali he put
him under arrest for a week; the first time
he got drunk, for a fortnight. When the
Captain-a little, dark man, as stiff as o
poker, with bristling mustaches-ordered
him under arrest, adding in a stern toue,
know you, my friend, and / mean to master
yOu!' Thirsty never answered q word, bat
walked quietly away toward the guard room.
Still, fancy the Captain would have lowered
his tone a bit, all the same, if he had seen
how the Sergeants face reddened with anger,
and how his terrible blue eyes flashed as he
turned away.
Meanwhile, the Emperor declared war on
Austria, and We were all shipped off to Italy.
pass over the incidents OF the campaign,
and come to the point at once. The evening
before the Battle of Melegnano-whereI lost
my arm, you know-our battalion was en-
camped in q small village, and before we
broke ranks our Captain made us little
speech-he was quite right, was the Captain
reminding us that we were in friendly
country, and that for the honor of the army
we should be on our good behavior; and he
added that anyone who caused the slightest
annoyance to any of the inhabitants would
be punished most severely. While he was
making this speech, Thirsty, who was stand
ing near me- leaning upsteadily on his bayo-
net-he had emptied good many glasses
since the morning-shrugged his shoulders,
but fortunately the Captain did not notice
him.
"In the middle Of the night / was
wakened up suddenly. / sprang from the
heap of straw had been sleeping on in
corner of a farmyard, and by the light of the
moon saw Thirsty with young girl in his
arms, all torn and dishevelled, and calling on
the Madonna and all the saints in Heaven
to save her. He was struggling furiously,
like lion, with a lot of peasants and soldiers
who were trying to rescue her from him.
ran up to help, but Capt. Gentle got there
before me. With one glaDce-he had very
commanding glance had the little Corsican
-he drove back the Sergeant, cowed. Then,
when he had spoken a few reassuring words
to the girl in Italian, he came back aud stood
before the culprit, and shaking his finger
before the others face:
"'They ought to blow out the brains of
wretches like you,' said he. AS soon as
can see the Colonel you shall have your
stripes taken from you and it will be for
good this time. There will be battle to-
morrow; you had better try and get killed. ,
I'VE went back to bed again. But the
Captain was right, and before the break of
day we were awakened by cannonade. We
flew to arms and formed column, Thirsty
taking his place next to me. 1 thought
had never seen his fierce blue eyes look more
terrible. The battalion began its march.
We were to dislodge the white coats, who
had taken up their position in the village of
Melegnano, which they had fortified with
cannon. Forward, march! We hadn't gone
two miles, when, bang! the Austrian cannon
burst upon Us, aud knocked down Is of
our men. After that the officers, who had
been waiting for the order to charge, made us
lie down in the maize fields like the sharp
shooters. They remained standing them
selves, of course, and l can tell you our
Captain stood up as straight as any of them.
We men, kneeling among the cornstalks,
kept up an incessant fire on the Austrian
battery, which was within range. Suddenly
felt someone nudge my elbow. turned
round, and saw Thirsty loading his rifle,
and looking at me with sort of daredevil
smile lurking in the corners of his mouth.
"' You see the Captain p said he. jerking
his head towards that officer, who was stand
ing at distance of about 20 feet from us.
Yes; what of it?' answered, looking
in the same direction.
"What of it? He ought not to have
spoken to me az he did last night
Then with rapid, wel-calculated move
| ment, he leveled his piece and fired. saw
the Captain, with sudden, convulsive
spasm, throw back his head and beat the air
| with his hands, then drop his sword and
fall heavily backward to the ground.
Murderer!' / cried, seizing the Ser
geant's arm.
But he sent me rolling two or three feet