The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 133: 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. 127 [eee EEE EE a a ee ee ee eee The bier was borne on the shoulders of six:strong youths. Chief of these was Tony, who wept ‘like a’ child all the way ; but tried to hide his tears as best he could with the flowing pall. When arrived at the grave, which had been dug beneath a cluster of old oak trees, one of the Boy Soldiers, habited like a clergyman, read the funeral service in a calm, solemn, and impressive manner (see Illustration in No, 14), while many shaded their eyes, which were moistened by tears. The coffin was lowered into its last resting- place. A parting volley was fired over the body: All was over. When all were about to depart Captain Frank stepped forward, and placed on the coffin a crown of flowers, and, in a stirring speech, recounted to all there assembled the daring deeds and many virtues of the deceased. | His oration was short, but feelingly delivered, and much pleased all who heard him. He did not speak like a superior officer, but more like one who had lost a valued friend—in truth, a brother. The grave was closed. Each one of the Boy Band felt ambitious to throw a shovelful of earth, as a mark of respect, upon the dear departed, and, when all was over, a small wooden tablet of graceful design was placed at the head of the grave, on which was painted— To the Memory of Our brave companion in arms, RICHARD FELLOWS, Lieutenant in the Boy Band of English Garibaldians, Who was mortally wounded in a skirmish with Basil’s Bandit Band, while gallantly protecting his Captain. All honour to the young and brave. May he rest in peace. * * * * % Captain’ Frank and his band had not long returned to the camps again, when their melancholy musings over poor Dick’s fate were suddenly broken by intelligence which then reached them. Teresa, the female spy, galloped up in all haste. “The captain! the captain?” she cried, “ Where is he? Let me see him instantly !” She was soon ushered into Frank’s tent. ‘‘T have great news for you,” she said, with an air of great reserve, and sitting in the deep. shade. ‘‘Of what?” said Frank, | “T will tell you presently ; but first of all I have found out that there is going to be a great battle about here in a day or two—a bloody battle, as you will find.” ‘6 Indeed. ! how know you this?” “T penetrated into the Austrian camp, and saw | their preparations. The Archduke Albrecht is: arranging his forces, and intends to fall upon the Italian lines when least expected.” - “And does General Garibaldi know this?” “Not yet ; Iam on my way to his head-quarters, now; but I stopped here to tell you that your missing comrade is alive.” | ‘What, the one that was so cruelly tossed down the precipice—Hugh Tracy?” » ** The same,” _ But how could he have escaped death ?” ‘“ Basily enough, when all is explained.” “How do you mean?” “ When the brigand villain (who was afterwards killed by Dick Fellows) descended the rope after’ |- your young comrade, he fired at the lad.” “ And killed him, a8 we’ thought.” ’ aS | i “‘ Nothing of the sort. | He was. wounded, let go ~his hold'on the rope, and fell among.a, dense growth of shrubbery that grew on the surface of the rocks.” : “ That accident saved him); it broke his fall,’ “© Well?” “Thence he fell into a large pool. The shock as he plunged into the ice-cool water instantly revived him. He struggled manfully, and reached the bank and was saved,” “You astonish me |” “Perhaps so; but truth is stranger than fiction, Captain Ford. He is now safe and well ; but——” Here Teresa paused. ‘But what?” Frank asked, eagerly... ‘‘ Speak, I beseech you !” “He is now in the hands of some mountain robbers. They discovered him, and bore him away to their rock-bound caves, and there he is at this present moment,”’ “In the hands of a bandit band?” “JT am‘sorry to say so; in Captain Basil’s power. If he had not been recognized as one of the: Boy Soldiers’ he might have escaped; but as you ran away with his daughter Agnese he and the band swear most solemnly to have Hugh’s life, and to torture him as no one was ever tortured before.”’ “Poor Hugh,” Frank sighed; “but this must not be, Teresa; I cannot sit here in ease at peace and know this. He must be, he shall be rescued !’’ ‘‘ Take care,’’ said Teresa, solemnly, “take care ; once you get within their power again I fear all is lost |” “T fear them not,” Frank said, fiercely. “But you have greater reason to fear Basil and his band now than ever ; he has powerful friends,”’ “T do not understand you, Teresa.” ‘Then listen,” said the spy. ‘‘ You know Joel Flint ?” “Tdo. We have his servant-among our band at this very moment.” “Tam aware of it. If you had killed the im- poster. Joel when you had a fair chance in the duel you fought in the cave——” ‘Teresa, I could not find it in my heart to kill such a miserable cur, such a worm.as he proved to be. Had he been a braye man I might have been different.” “ Moolish youth,” said Teresa, with a curling lip, ‘he would have killed you as he killed——” Teresa stopped. Her eyes flashed fire, and her colour rose. “ Killed !” said Frank, in surprise, ‘ Who could such a craven as he kill in fair combat?” “‘ Not in fair’ combat, perhaps,” said Teresa, look- ing straight into Frank’s eyes, ‘Not kill any one in fair honest fight truly, but he might murder a man if he had a chance.” ‘Murder ?” ‘Yes, murder |” ‘‘ Gracious heaven |! you don’t mean to insinuate that the scoundrel has murdered any one?” ** Ten chances to one that he has,” “Whom?” ‘‘ Your uncle, Frank Ford.” * Tmpossible !” ‘Nay, it is very possible’; he has an immense — amount of money with him in notes and gold, that T know, and has all of Basil’s band in his pay,” ‘Tf the wretch has done this, and I do but prove | it,” gasped Frank, oh | Iwill drag him limb from limb |” | “Tf you can,” (Or “TFT can, What mean you?’ Think you I dare not do it ?# ; CoMmicbooks «e©