The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

the 1st Volunteers. THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. Ne nnn Frank alone, and returned to the market-place, while he walked slowly towards the church en- trance. “Halt there! and give the countersign,” said the sentry, in a gruff voice, at the same time levelling his musket at him. “T am an officer,’ said Frank, endeavouring to ass in, eu Stand back! stand back!” said the sentry, more gruffly than before. ‘Tg Major Uaspar in the church?” ‘“T don’t know.” ‘‘ Who is the officer so badly wounded ?” “ T don’t know,” he answered, while with an oath he muttered, ‘Stand back, I tell you, sir; don’t you see the general and his staff approaching ?” Frank turned round hastily, and at the same instant several officers, who had dismounted at the edge of the street, were seen approaching. _ They came hurriedly forward, but withont speaking. He who was in advance of the party wore a red shirt, and carried a heavy sabre only. The rest were in full regimentals. Frank, dusty, dirty, pale, and in ragged uniform, had scarcely time to get out of the way, when Garibaldi stepped and said, in a stern voice,— ‘Who are you, sir ?”’ Frank startled for a moment at the harsh sound, but at last said feebly,— ‘Captain Ford, of the English Boy Volunteers.” “What brings you here, sir? Your company is far beyond Crema ; and, besides, you have been re- ported unfit for duty a week ago.” “True, general; but [ did not wish to remain idle while so much was doing.” “Tt matters not, sir, you should obey orders. You have done wrong. You have been wounded at Crema, and at the opera-house the other night ; you shonld have remained in your quarters until further * orders.” ‘‘TDam’me, now I come to look at him, that’s the young Englishman who led the storming party of Yes, that’s him, general, the person I spoke to you about. Is it not so, Captain Ford ?” “Yes, sir, I led a party of the 1st Volunteers.” “ And right gallantly you did it, Why, general, ' I saw him spring on to a rock and attack some powerful brigand who was picking off all our officers. The leap was a desperate one, for it was just at the edge of the fortifications, and a dee precipice was yawning beneath them both. It was truly a death struggle. But after a fierce encounter the young captain here, with one blow cleaved the scoundrel’s skull, which broke the captain’s sword blade off to the hilt, but the next moment the yillan- ous brigand was hurled down the precipice (see illustration in No, 17). When this was done, and that dangerous sharp-shooter had been disposed of, the young captain leaped back again right amidst the Austrian ranks, and seized one of their standards, He snatched a sword from an enemy, and fought for the flag like a hero! By Jove!” said the speaker, with a laugh, ‘‘ why, that's the remnant of the flag he has now—there's the flag- staff still tightly clutched in his left hand !” While Colonel de Medicci—for such was the speaker’s name—went on narrating all he had heard or seen of the young captain, those around looked upon Frank with eyes of admiration, Not so General Garibaldi, who smiled calmly, and said, “Orders must be obeyed, young sir. Did you EE obtain the doctor’s leave to quit your apartment ?” “No, general.” “Then report yourself at your own quarters under arrest for disobeying orders.” “But, general,’ Colonel de Medicci began. Garibaldi did not stop to listen ; but entered the church, and the others followed him. “Confound the luck!” thought Frank. “I’m always getting into scrapes of same kind ; instead of having praise for what I’ve doneI only receive blame and a’ sharp reprimand besides. Hang the fortune !” As thus he thought, he heard the sharp click of the sentry’s musket again, and Colonel de Medicci came forth from the church. ‘‘Ha! Captain Ford, still here, I see,’ I didn't expect to hear of you taking any part in this storming after your accident at the opera-house ; but you love the smell of gunpowder, I see.” “Yes, colonel; but who is wounded in the church ?”’ ‘‘ A general, and your friend Caspar, very severely through the arm, and, I fear, the lung also. He has spoken to all of us about you, and your gallant conduct deserves all praise. The major takes all the blame for allowing you to command Count Volto’s men; in fact, if you are able, you are to have the distinguished honour of carrying General Garibaldi’s despatches about this affair to King Victor Emmanuel”, “Could I not sce “my friend Caspar ‘before I go ee ° ‘No ; General Garibaldi supposes you are on the way to your own company half an hour ago.” Not knowing the fate of poor Caspar, Frank returned to the market-place, and there found his tour young companions, who were waiting for him, mounted, and ready to start for his own camps again beyond the town of Crema. GRAND DISTRIBUTION GF PRIZES!! ——_—_—_—— 1,400 VALUABLE PRESENTS GiVE RN AWAY WITH THE BOYS OF ENGLAND, Consistings of Ponie:, Pet Dogs, Pigeons, Ducks, Towls Rabbits, Concertinas. Watches, Cricket Bats, Ralls and Stumps, Bows and Arrows, Fishing Rods, Quoits, Boxes of Colours, Sets of Characters, Scenes, Stage I’ront, etc., etc. ORDER No. 1 OF THE BOYS OF ENGLAND. ONE PENNY WEEKLY. With No. 1 is PRESENTED A LARGE AND MAGNIFI- CENT ENGRAVING OF THE BATTLE OF CHEVY CHASE, AND A SET OF CHARACTERS FOR A NEW PLAY. FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF ANY OTHER BOYS JOURNAL. LOOK OUT FOR THE BOY SAILOR; LIFE ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR. A most interesting and powerfully-written Tale, to be completed in about 30 Numbers. No. 2, with No. 1, and a LARGE EN- GRAVING, GRATTS, . GComicbook ee REERES I AAAS LI eS