The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

104 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. EEE eal cece a their size was not so noticeable before, but now that they jumped to their feet the trick was dis- covered. ‘Ambrose the Trusty had been as good as his word. For a moment Basil’s eyes rolled like balls of fire Frank said, ' “Captain Basil, listen to me. If you make any noise, or raise an alarm, I'll cut your throat, all our lives depend upon silence. Hark ye, when I entered this council chamber I knew nothing of this strange stratagem. It was not until you rose, dagger in hand, that I heard the councillors repeat the password of us Boy Soldiers. I then under- stood all, Blame not any of your band for this, for they are innocent. Teresa, Garibaldi’s female spy, is my friend,” Turning to one of the boys he whispered a word or two in English, Before Basil could utter a word, he was bound hand and foot, and gagged. “Put out the lights, put on your cloaks again, and follow me,” said Frank. ‘‘Make no noise; move about like mice. Hus-s-h! I hear some one coming |” ; CHAPTER XXXVII, THE RESCUE—THE PURSUIT—DREADFUL POSI- TION OF AGNESE AND FRANK, For a moment Frank and his followers remained where they were in darkness and silence. The person approaching walked on tiptoe, and groped his way through the darkness, Each boy drew his sword, and waited with suspense for what might follow. Frank took one step forward. ‘Schmidt ! Schmidt! where are you?” said a voice, in a whisper, “Here I am,” said Frank, imitating Joel’s voice. * What do you want?” “‘ Ambrose sent me in, ‘’Yes;” “Well, where is the young scoundrel, Frank Ford? You are all in darkness, I can’t see you.” “No, but you can feel me,” said Frank, ina rough, determined tone, seizing the intruder roughly by the collar, “Oh, lors, mercy! spare me! Where the deuce am I? Ialways feared treachery all along. Oh! whoever you are, don’t hurt me,” “What's your name ?”’ “ Jenkins, servant to Mr, Schmidt,” “What brought you here?” ‘* My legs, sir.”’ “ Sirrah,” said Frank, shaking the Stranger vigor- a “no joking with me. What brought you ere?” “I was hired by an English detective to come here with Mr. Schmidt to help him in securing a noted young prisoner,” “Oh, indeed. Why didn’t the English detective come here himself ?” ‘““He said it wasn’t his business; he didn’t like to poke his nose among brigands.” ‘But you did, I suppose ? Well, my fine fellow, whoever you. are, don’t shake so much, and I'll in- troduce you to this Frank Ford,” “Will you, though? How kind! rough and violent ?” ’ “Oh, no,” said Frank, tittering in the darkness ; not much so, He has just finished killing one Is it all over?” Is he very a a EL I ——— —— — — man, and, I dare say, would be happy to make your acquaintance, The brigand’s watch-dogs are much in want of food; they relish and get fat on human flesh.” “Oh, lor!” groaned Jenkins. “ What was the victim’s name ?” i Alea “ Schmidt,’ Frank answered, “your amiable master,”’ “Oh, horrible!” groaned Jenkins. “Just to think on it, to come so far away from merry old England to be made dog’s meat of! What a hor- rible tale !” ; “Yes; but it isn’t all told yet, there is more to come !” 74 Is gasped, “Yes; put your hand down there. Don’t you feel something ?” | “In course I does; I heard it snarl or growl, or summat, It’s a man!” ‘‘ Just so, bound hand and foot. We are going to spit him in half an hour, and roast him before the fire !’ | This was more than the heroic Jenkins could bear, His teeth chattered so loudly that they sounded like dice rattling in a box. | there, though, more horrors?” Jenkins “What must I do?—what must I do?” he groaned. “Tl tell you, You must speak softer, or we'll kill you !” bf * Consider me dumb, then,” said Jenkins, ‘““ Would you purchase your life?” “Yes,” sighed Jenkins, ** Will you serve me ?”’ “As faithful as a dog,” sighed Jenkins, ‘If I don’t, hang me!” etd “Then follow me !” said Frank. CLEAR OFF, THERE! | AND MAKE ROOM FOR THE “SKELETON CREW!” Boys! read the startling History of WIL D=-FiREeE NED, In the “‘ Skeleton Crew.” Now ready, with a splendid Picture, and No. 2, GRATIS. _— EXTRACT : ** Spoke to you ?” ‘© Yes, sir.” *“ What did it say ?” “** Halt!’ it shouted, and on thé instant my horse stopped, and would not budge an inch. ‘ Halt!’ it said, in awful tones, glaring down on me with its fiery eyes. ‘I am one of the Skeleton Crew ; go, tell your mastér that Farmer Bertram is murdered!’ ”’ ‘‘ Murdered ?”’ said one and another of the company, in pale surprise. ** When did this foul deed take place ?”” ; “** Murdered last night,’ said the Red Man from the gibbet, as the Darlington village clock tolled the hour of one. ‘Ha! ha! the Skeleton Crew still lives, and rules the seas, and will long defy the power of man. Fly from this spot, rash boy, before you are numbered with the dead.’” *“ This is a most horrible revelation,’ said Sir Richard. “I did not stop to hear more, for I shouted with fright, and galloped madly away, feeling as if frozen to the very marrow, for I HAD SPOKEN WITH THE DBAD!”’ Tim looked exhausted, and shivered in every limb. ” Now Publishing, One Penny Weekly. GEomicboo <SriGO)