The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 107: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. He directed his footsteps along a broad passage that had been cut out of the solid rock. It was dark, winding, cold, and oppressive. He reached the cell wherein Frank was confined, and was surprised to hear the ‘captive singing as unconcernedly as if he had a lease of his life for a thousand years to come. “This is a brave youngster,’ mused Ambrose, with asmile, ‘“‘Nowonder that Agnese loves and raves about him in her sleep. The bandit band would rejoice at having such a fearless, dare-devil for a leader, if it could only be brought about. Basil is brave, but he is getting too old now to lead on, and all he cares about is getting drunk and hoarding money. He has sacks upon sacks of gold and silver coin, besides an immense amount of booty stowed away somewhere in the cavern.” While thus he thought, Ambrose unlocked the cell door and entered. Frank was surprised at this unexpected visit, but said not a word. “You are to be tried to-night,’ said Ambrose, ‘and will be condemned.” “If my death is resolved upon by the bandit council, why go through the farce of pretending to try me?” “Tt is the custom among us,”’ **Who is my accuser ?” ‘A fellow-countryman of yours ; Basil a large price for your head,”’ “ Indeed !” “Yes, the money arrived in several large bags this morning. I brought it, and it has been safely stowed away by our chief.” ‘‘Then why came you thus to inform me of such a barbarous proceeding ?”’ ‘“T could tell you,’ said Ambrose, in a whisper, **but I dare not.” “Dare not! why?” ‘You are not rich.” “T know it.” “Then you cannot have many friends. Poor people,” chuckled Ambrose, “never have many to assist them in the hour of need.”’ *‘T know that, also; but why came you here to taunt me?” ‘No, I came as a friend, and will prove it.” “ How 2 ) “‘T will soon show you; but, in the first place, you must answer my questions truly,” ‘T will ; what are they?”’ “Now don’t be surprised at what I say. This fellow-countryman of yours, whose name I could never yet learn, lives not far from here, and seeks your life, by fair means or foul; he told me so,” ‘ Indeed ! why?” “He told me this morning, when I took Basil’s message to him, that he wishes it from a sense of justice : for he calls you a murderer !”’ ‘© A murderer!” gasped Frank. “Yes, a murderer! Don’t turn so pale; he has got an Enelish detective officer with him, as I learn, who has come to capture you if he can for the murder of your uncle, Mr. Ford.” “Oh, heavens! ie murdered !” said Frank, with choked utterance, “and Zaccused of that bloody deed !” “ He says so, and offers to prove it: but Z don’t believe it.” “ You do not, Ambrose ?” ‘No, Ido not. I have seen enough of you here he has paid to know that you would not, cowld not, do such a - cold-blooded deed as that,”’ - | “Qh! thanks, Ambrose! thanks!” said Frank, shaking the brigand heartily by the hand. 101 ‘** And to prove what friendship I have for you, I will run the risk of my own life to serve and save you.” ‘‘ But, how ?” said Frank, with a quivering voice, “Oh! that I had the base accuser face to face. Me? JI kill my poor old uncle? No! heaven knows I did not. Icould not. Alas! for the old man’s untimely fate.” “ There are not many hours ere the council will sit, Frank,” said Ambrose, “and if I do something towards your release, you must promise secresy on your oath.” “T will, willingly, brave Ambrose.” “Then write me a note at once to your band in the mountains, and sign it with your own name and private mark, that they may not disbelieve me,’ “What would you have me say?” “Only this—‘ The bearer is a friend, and perils his life to save me from an unjust and ignominious death ; obey him as you would me, and place your- selves under his guidance.’ ”’ “But this may be a snare to entrap my brave boys,” replied Frank. “Nay, have faith in me,” said the young brigand, “you shall not be deceived.” ‘‘T will, There is the note,” said Frank ; ‘ when shall I see you again?” “Not before the council meet; but be not alarmed, trust to me: for the present farewell.” Ambrose closed the iron door and locked it. He did not retrace his footsteps, but plunged farther along the winding stone passages, which at every yard became narrower and darker. At length he issued out at the opposite side of the mountain by a large round hole, which was partly covered with ivy and concealed from the sight of any common observer. Once he had gained the fresh air, he clambered down the mountain side and was soon lost to view on his way to the camp of the Boy Soldiers. * * : * This visit, and the disclosure made by Ambrose, the young brigand, filled Frank with amazement, and he sat in his lonely cell, pale, thoughtful, and sorrowful. “ My uncle murdered,” he thought, ‘and I accused of the horrid deed! How could all this have come to pass? ’Tis most revolting, and I cannot believe it.” ; He paced up and down his dark dungeon, and sighed as he thought, ‘Perhaps, after all, this Ambrose is an impostor, and has played this cruel trick upon me to entrap all my brave young band, I am sorry now I placed any confidence in him at all. What an idiot I was to be deceived by his plausible manner and smooth tongue.” Hours upon hours passed away. He could hear the footfalls of men passing and ‘re-passing his cell door with heavy tread. Some doors were opened and others closed, with a harsh grating sound that ivii upon his attentive ear like a death-knell. Then all was profoundly quiet again, Not a breath of air seemed to stir around him, and the close damp, fetid atmosphere was almost suffocating. ‘‘ What a tale these dungeons could tell,” mused Frank, “if they could only speak. Doubtless there is more than one poor wretch confined hereabouts, if the truth was only known. Poor little Annette, too, is confined somewhere near me—and all because she saved my life! Would that I could discover her prison house! or that she could hear me speak her name,” Ccomicboolk CO