The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

142 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDIS YOUNG CAPTAIN. he ne burst from the ramparts, and shot upwards towards | into the deep ditch and began to clamber up the the sky ! i For an instant the whole scene was as bright as noon-day. } Before them, on the fortress walls, and in every imaginable place, stood solid bodies of the Austrians, Around the base of that towering pile were creeping the Italian volunteers with glistening bayonets ! A crashing discharge of musketry from Frank’s party was the signal for the action to commence, while, with a loud shout of defiance, Frank and Caspar leaped into the deep ditch, sword in hand, followed by their men ! ° Suddenly a loud rumbling thunder crept along the earth ! A hissing, crackling noise followed, and from the dark ditch a forked, and livid lightning burst like the flame from a volcano |! A mine had exploded |! While this dreadful scene was going on on one side, Hugh Tracy’s voice on the one hand, and Mark’s on the other, could be heard cheering on their several detachments, and were foremost in the fight, Frank knew their voices, and his heart leaped with joy as in the distance he perceived his two comrades, flag in hand, leading on the Volunteers, The old fortress seemed girt about with fire. Irom every part arose the shouts and yells of Italians and Austrians, The rush on all sides was tremendous and awful. For scarcely had Frank, at the larger breach, led on his men to the crumbling rampart, fighting and climbing up as best he could, when a large force, nnder Caspar, came after them, forcing the first ones right into the jaws of the enemy, Then commenced a scene which it is almost im- possible to describe. The whole ground, covered as it was with com- bustibles of every deadly nature, was rent open with a crash, Huge fragments of masonry flew into the air like feathers. The deafening roar of cannon from the fortress— the shouts, yells, screams, and groans on evycry side—the bursting of powder magazines, the ser- pent-like hissing of shells—all was horrifying and hellish-like uproar, . Yet onward the gallant Frank, Hugh Tracy, and Mark, led their thinning ranks, at different points, and foremost in the deadly strife were they. Kach moment some well-known leader among the Italian Volunteers fell dead or mortally wounded ; and his place was supplied by some brave officer, who, springing to the front, had scarcely shouted out words of encouragement to his men ere he also fell dead upon the spot. For more than an hour the frightful carnage continued, and still but little was accomplished. Frank, and a small party of brave fellows, clambered up the ramparts, and defended them- selves there bravely, while fresk troops continually poured through the breach upon the Austvians, firing and bayoneting on every side, The slaughter was most awful. sut above the dim, and while Frank and his brave fellows were battling against fearful odds on the ramparts, could be heard Caspar's voice as he rushed to Frank’s assistance with a chosen body of clesperate men, ‘* Officers to the front |’? he shouted, as he leaped broken masonry of the walls. His men bravely followed him, ‘See there, lads, see there !” said Caspar, shout- ing in triumph, as he pointed to Frank Ford, who, with the Italian colors in one hand, and his sword in the other, stood upon the highest part of the eranite rampart. ‘' See there, Jads, see there!” said he again, waving his cap in triumph. A loud shout answered Caspar, and they fought their way up the breach with the ithpetuosity of bloodhounds, The Austrian garrison, however, fought like heroes. Man to man was now the combat, No cry for quarter was heard. No supplicating look for mercy, It was the death-struggle for vengeance and despair. At this instant an explosion, louder than the loudest thunder, shook the air. ; Italians and Austrians were alike the victims. The great magazine of the fortress had been ignited by a scoundrel in bandit uniform, whom Frank recognised as one of Basil’s band. The walls and forts tottered and fell. Black smoke, with a lurid flame, hung above the dead and dying, The artillery and murderous musketry were for a moment stilled, as if paralyzed by the ruin and devastation. all around. Both friend and foe for a moment paused in thé dreadful work of slaughter, But the pause was for a moment only, Loud shouts from Frank, Caspar, Hugh and Mark were heard cheering on their men, and the cries of the dying steeled every Italian’s heart, A fierce burst of vengeance rent the air. The fiery volunteers closed on the Austrian ranks, For an instant the shock was dreadful. The next moment a host of Italian bayonets gleamed on the walls and ramparts. Their colours, in Frank Ford’s hand, were thrown out to the night breeze in triumph. The battle was over—the fort was captured ! V—— ee “CHAPTER LI, THE DESPERATE PERIL OF FRANK—THE TRAITOR’S DOOM—REPRIMANDS AND PRAISE, WHEN the long, loud shouts of victory reached his ears, Frank suddenly felt like one in a trance, He leaned against an angle of the parapet, over- powered and exhausted. His o!d wounds pained him much, His uniform was torn into shreds. His head was bare, and of his sword blade there remained but four inches to the hilt, while in his left band he firmly grasped an Austrian’s flag-staff he had captured on the ramparts, but with only a few yards of tuttered silk attached to it, As thus he stood, fresh troops came pouring through the trenches into the fortress and town, tenons alike on the dead and wounded in their path. Weak, exhausted, and overcome, he sank among the crumbling ruin. Loud shouts and screams from the fortress and town told that the work of slaughter and robbery was going on, and still, in the far distance could be heard the pattering of musketry, as the Austrians were still fighting kard to protect their retreat.