We cannot say that justice has overtaken Captain Voulet and
Lieutenant Chanoine, but retribution has. Just at the moment when a memorial service was being performed in Paris in honour of Colonel Klobb, news was received that his murderer, together with Lieutenant Chanoine, who, though not present, condoned the murder, had been shot by their own soldiers. Captain Voulet had announced to his party that he in- tended to set up a State of his own, and they at first assented, but on reflection thought the project too dangerous. Two junior Lieutenants abandoned the party, two sergeants slipped away, and then the men who remained, nearly all Senegalese, but not quite all, shot Lieutenant Chanoine. Captain Voulet escaped for a moment and entered a native village, but was driven out, and returning, was shot like his subordinate. All the officers and most of the men have returned to duty, and as they can plead superior orders, will probably escape punishment. The incident is considered very wonderful because officers were concerned in it, but in the old days white men often turned pirates or bushrangers, and committed enormous crimes. The story as now concluded rather shows the strength of French discipline than its weakness, the subordinate officers and their subordinates, though gravely compromised, feeling irresistibly drawn back to barracks.
