The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 139: 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, a for miles around was peopled with doctors and patients, “ One could scarcely conceive such a sight. “* Outside of these tents, barns, houses, and cabins, lay huddled together hundreds of moaning, bleed- ing subjects, with nought to cover them but half a blanket. . “ The ground was wet, and rain still fell like a heavy mist ; few fires were to be seen; and, by the light of lanterns, doctors in shirt-sleeves, all blood- stained and busy, were vigorously cutting and probing and bandaging, with as much apparent unconcern as if practising upon inanimate subjects. “Long lines of carriages, omnibuses, carts, waggons, and every imaginable description ot vehicle, were slowly toiling through mud and mire towards Crema; while the buzz of voices, moye- ments of troops, and passage of artillery trains did not cease until long after midnight,” CHAPTER XLVII, IN WHICH AN OLD FRIEND IN DISTRESS RECEIVES THE REWARD OF VALOUR—AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR TO THE BOYS’ CAMP, ALL the young Garibaldians listened attentively to Captain Frank’s account of the sharp battle before the beautiful town of Crema, As he concluded Frank relapsed into a profound silence, and looked very sorrowful. “You have told us all about the battle in a general way,” said Hugh, trying to rouse his young chief, ‘but you have not said what vow have done.” “No,” said Frank, with a smile, ‘I have not said anything yet of what Z personally performed in the action, for I scarcely recollect what I did or what I did not, for, during the week I have been away from you, I have been through such striking ad- ventures and chances of death that I can scarce recall them all,” ‘‘ But tell us some of them, captain.” ‘“Come, don’t be so bashful,” said Mark, ‘Wait a day or two,” said Frank, smiling, ‘you will see the whole account in the ‘Crema Daily Post,’ for General Garibaldi has ordered that not only a full account of the action should be printed, but that every deed of daring done by his followers should also be recorded. If I have been fortunate, therefore, in doing aught worthy of notice you may rely on it I shall not be forgotten.” { 4‘ But what makes you look so thoughtful and sorrowful?” said several. “What has happened? Does your wound pain you ?” “There is some story connected with that cut arm of yours, Z know,” said Hugh, smiling ; “the chap who gave you that slash didn’t get off scot- free, did he, boys ?” * No, you may depend upon it the captain gave him some nasty stroke in return,” ‘Hor the present, lads,” said Frank, “I must not speak of what JZ did, for there was another young Englishman in the battle who did much more than I.” ‘ Another young Englishman?” said several, th Yes.” ; ‘And did you learn his name ?” ‘SLdids: “What was it |” Listen, and I will tell you. well.” “ Who was it ?” *“ Guess.” You all know him 133 A dozen names were mentioned, but no one could guess the right one, Frank smiled, as he said, ‘You would never guess who it was, so there- fore you must listen till I have done, and, when _the end comes, I know the name will astonish you.” After drinking a glass of wine, Frank went on. ‘All through the bloody and desperate battle before Crema I was acting as a special aide-de- camp to General Garibaldi, and, in the thickest of the fight, I noticed a young Englishman who was madly galloping about in all places where the danger was greatest. ‘“He would now direct a havoc among the Austrians. ‘“‘ Again he would draw his sword, and lead on a regiment to the charge. “‘ In truth he seemed to possess a charmed life. “ His actions and daring were so reckless, that, though they excited the admiration of all who saw him, made me think that he actually cowrted death, “JT did not get a good look at him, but from a hasty side-face glance, I at first thought he was a friend I had known once at old Bromley Hall, “ But my college friend did not have whiskers and moustache, neither was his face so white and haggard, nor his hair so long as this siranger’s, “‘T approached closer to find out who he was. “In fact Garibaldi and all his officers were dying to find ont the name of the stranger, but could not, “ As I approached him he cast a side-long glance at me, and then put spurs to his horse and galloped right into the midst of the battle-smoke, sword in hand. ‘* 4 loud shout rose from our ranks. “T enquired the cause, and learned that the stranger had ridden straight at an Austrian standard, and had captured it. “On trying to retreat with the precious trophy he was seen to fall, horse and all, among the heaps of killed and wounded. ‘Thinking it was some brave, rash, hair-brained young Englishman who, for fun and frolic, had thus lost his life, I gave no more heed to him, and, of course, never saw him again during the battle. “When evening came most of the troops occupied the ground they had gallantly won from the Aus- trians, and camped upon the blood-stained field. “T returned to Crema, and reported myself to Garibaldi, who praised me much for all I had done that day. “ He particularly inquired if I had found out the name of my countryman who had fought so well, “When I told the General he was killed, he seemed very sorrowful, and said— ““* Tf IT only had three thousand men such as you, Captain Ford, and that unfortunate young English- man, I would march straight on to Vienna, and be there, too, in less than a week.’ “JT drank a bottle of wine with the old general, and was afterwards taking a quiet walk in the moonlit Plazza, when I got down under the shadow of the colonnade, and smoked a quiet cigar. ‘Not far from me stood a young man, cloaked and so disguised I could not recognise him. “He was gazing at the sky, and I was much sur- prised to hear him say, in English— “<¢Ttaly | fair and classic Italy! the cradle of liberty, civilization, and religion! Mother of all arts and sciences! Yes, with lovely vales and grape-clad hills, with goat and mountain, and fire- yomiting volcanoes; with smiling lands, and fair cities in the plains, girt around with the dark blue waters of the Mediterranean sea! Yes, Italy, fair gun and cause great cere tt St QO MICLOO© CO SoCO