The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

' ee ret 170. _ with his right ; WHE! BOY |SORDIER;(OR; GARIBALD’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. “The big ’un’s caught a reg'lar Tartar,” said several in high glee. “ Goit, hittle 7un”’ “ Give it him, big ’an !”’ Puggy now, rushed to closé with Joey. A fearful’! struggle ensued for the first fall. For a moment it was any odds against the Coster, | for Pagey was so big and strong that he caught up Joey in his arms, and seemed bent on splitting his | head against one of the stakes of the’ But, as Joey termed it, “it wae alba bit of kid” on the Coster’s part, He wished Puggy to waste all his strenatt, which he did do. And then Joey wriggled like an eel, and, when least expected, gave his” ouvert ri! the leg, ” and Puggy came to orig. pe with a “buster? on the floor. “The three evelita oe mid Jor, grinning. “Bravo !” eried ig assembh se “ Capitally do done Aig: : the wing "on for a ven,” said a. sport: man present. you'd better chuck: it up,” paid the pub- lican who was a fighting-mam himself. “J think you'd better chuek it up Puggy, or else the Coster “ull eat yer afore;he’s done,” But this was only said to'rile Pugey. The “sport”, had pow me yeed: a very serious aspect. But the doors } wine: Mockedy aad ercral hangers- on of the establi nt were round about the corners ready to give bi alarm if any of the “slops ” were near. More than a score of gentlemen from Regent street, and the Haymarket, hearing of the fight, “going on On the extreme quiet,” at the Clippers, } hastened to witness it. And when they got into the room, and saw a round or ‘two, bets ran high. “ Makeup a purse of ten pounds, gentlemen,’ 9 gaid the lan d, “and the sport, ghalt go, om) “ Done,” said several, “Tiga "capital mill,”’ ~~ “Vil back the Coster.” ; “The big ’un must win,” said the mite who wished to get all the bets he could on the other side. The fight sotantee Four fighting-men were found among those assembled, who, for a dollar each, were willing to i - second the men, When Puggy next came up for the third round _ his face had been wiped, and he looked fresh and confident. , He advanced boldly, and hit Joey in the ribs the Coster repaid it with a smack ou Puggy’s right eye, which made. it blink, again, _ and grow black almost instantly, Blow now-followed blow in quick succession. Puggy began to look very, serious, Joey was as lively,as a cricket... The Coster received all Puggy’ 8 blows on the chest and ribs. But Joey,invariably “landed” with the left, and right on Puggy’s face, nose, and eyes, until his countenance was cut and, bruised and bumpéd i in a shocking manner, Puggy’s heart, began to; fail him, He, had, always looked upon Jogy as an easy conquest. But he had reckoned without his host. Because Joey had always been 9 very quiet and civil fellow, and averge to, fighting, Puggy looked upon him as a bit of a coward, i { ‘and a liar. Now, however, the talile; were turned. Puggy looked more serious than ever. THis heart bezan to fail him. He was also weak in the knees; but Joey was. as strong as ever, and, except a few bruises on the eaey was untouched. Puggy began to think of crying “a go.” But he knew not in what way to do it without appearing to lose the battle and the purse, He resorted to the old game. First he complained of his knee being hurt, then of his thumbs being swollen; his boots hurt him, _ he was not “in condition,” but had been very sick, — &e. But if was of no use. The publican knew Puggy of-old, and was well aware that he was a great coward at heart, though one of the greatest bullies that ever lived. “Wight on ! fight on !” “ There’s nothing the matter.” “ Finish him, little one.” “Use both your hands, my lad,” said the publican to Joey, on the sly, “and you can sew him up in ten minutes. A pound a minute for you, recollect, | if you win.” “Win! I mean to win!” said Joey, as he sat on _ his second’s knee. “T don’t care a straw about the money, although I’m poor ; but I do care about giving that sneaking rascal a good hiding. He’s nothing else but a thief, And now I’ve got him, I'll pay him off for getting three of my old pals lagged. So saying Joey advanced to the scratch for the last round: Seeiug that Puggy began to show the. “ white _ feather,” Joey made up his mind “to go in and win.” - Amid great confusion and applause, he advanced ~and met Puggy in the middle of the ring. A regular “ slogging” match ensued. Joey was all life and bustle. He smashed Puggy’s nose, and made it almost level with his face. He knocked out several of his teeth, blackened both his eyes, and almostisplit © his jaw, and finished the battle, amid great applause, by knock- ing Master Puggy all of a heap upon the floor, where he lay senseless and immovable. Amid great enthusiasm, Joey was carried out into an adjoining room in the arms of his admirers. That was how Joey “served Puggy out.” CHAPTER LXV. FRANK AND TOM MEET A VERY OBLIGING FRIEND IN THE HOUR OF NEED—-WHAT HE DID.- WHILE Frank and Tom were at the opera enjoying themselves, and thinking but little of the duel that was to take place on the morrow, they made the. acquaintance of a fine old military officer, named Count Cellini, who had served in all the previous battles of Italy, from 1848, when the brave, Pied- montese were so gallantly led by Carlo Alberto., The Count had heard much of the boy soldiers; and seemed delighted to make the’acquaintance of two such gallant youths as Tom and Frank Ford. After the performance at the opera, the Count accepted an¥invitation to sup with the two young ere Paar at their hotel. Supper passed off with great good spirit, but as Frank sat at table over his wine, a servant handed him a letter. An answer is required immediately. Eomicboo