The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 177: 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.) 171 Frank opened the note, which read :— “ Capt. FRANK FORD, ** DEAR StR,—I received your acceptance of the Marquis de Sangri’s challenge, and although most happy to do all I can in an amicable manner, I must, as his second, decline the presence of your brother as second on your part. “There is no objection to his presence on the ground, but we would much prefer your selection of some Italian gentleman who would perform the office as second.) IfJyou would send an immediate answer, naming place, time, and weapon, it would much oblige.” Frank threw down the note in great annoyance. He knew not what to do. Among all his acquaintance he knew no one who could, or perhaps would, perform the dangerous office of second. | “You look put out, my boy, about something,” gaid the Count, in a good-humoured manner. \“ Are you ordered off to your company ?” “No, Count, something worse ‘than that. I paid my final visit to the King this afternoon, but my own and my brother’s ‘suecess in war’ has’ created many enemies. This is the consequence,” said he, shoving over the note for tlie Count to read. : Oh, that’s it, eh ? my young fighting cock, eh ? —begin to duel already, eh ? _ “Yes, but whatamItodo? I have nosecond; ‘tis now past midnight, and I have nearly all the preliminaries to settle.” Tis a great pity,” said the Count,“ that any Italian soldier should try ‘to pick any quarrel with one who has done so much good in the cause ‘of Italian liberty ; but although I don’t like the office, and as'you are young in the business, why, if you don’t object, Z will be your second. I have been ‘called out’ very often myself.” “Thank you—many thanks, Count,” said Frank, in high glee. ‘ Will you ‘settle this little affair for me at once ?” “Certainly, my boy,’ ‘said the’ Count, with as much coolness and good*humour as if he were about to write out a check for £1,000 or more for Frank. “Give me pen, ink, and paper. I’ll soon write the Major a line—he’s a regular fire-eater, I know him well.’ | Within a few minutes the Count wrote a letter, stating that the Marquis de Sangri would be accom- modated either with pistols or swords on the mor- row, and to come to the ground provided with both weapons. ‘The place selected was a small island in the narrow river, not more than a mile from the Marquis’s estate. All the necessary writing having been done, the letter was despatched, and Frank telt very easy in his mind. “But in case anything in our little arrangement should miscarry, Frank, my boy,” said the Count, good-humouredly, *I’ll go over and settle this little affair personally for you with the Major. You must stay quiet in your hotel until I come back, and not go out of your apartments on any account. got a case of broad-barrelled pistols that will answer your purpose beautifully. If you were anything ofa shot,” said he, smiling, “I’d lend you my own pair of little favourites, with the ivory cross on them; they are beauties,” “T can hit the stem of a wine glass, at fifteen paces,” said Frank, rather nettled at the ‘tone in which the Count spoke. “T don’t care about that, Frank, my boy, you are too young to understand this barbarous practice of duelling which is forced upon us. You, and a great many more, can do fine things with the target in a pistol gallery, but, then you see, my boy, as neither the target nor the wine glass can hold a pistol levelled at you, you see that makes all the difference. Pye’ Take your own 'pistols, them y look at me, hold your pistols, thus ; no finger on the guard, ‘these two'‘on the trigger, they are not hair triggers,»drop the muzzle a bit, bend your elbow a trifle more, sight your man outside your arm} outside mind, and pop the bullet right into his hip, ifany higher so much the better.” Tt Ae YO The Count went forth, and soon /returned// ‘He threw himself on’ a‘vofaj and had a gentle ‘doze for a couple of hours. SORT RO, R987 Sodid Frank and Tom...’ ©’ Ledauy, & At five o’clock they were calledjand soon com- pleted their toilet for the eventful meeting: | The old Count’ placed ‘under’ his ‘arm’ ‘a’ small: mahovany box which'contained what ‘he ‘called ‘his “peace makers,” and‘led the way “towards the hotel stables, | : When the Count, Frank, and Tom reached the stable yard, no one'was visible but Buttons) He sat upon a stone step in a half-dreamy ‘state, and seemed the’ very picture of misery)! 19‘! ° As they approached, he. suddenly rose, and giving them ‘alla quick, searching: look, seemed staggered at the small mahogany box the Count so afféction- ately handled. VION WRISTS” IB WONCE | **T seerit all,” gasped poor Buttons, “I heard of it before; but would ‘not’ believe ‘it ; 'théy ‘are bent on murdering’ Captain’ Frank in a duel.’ Pil run off and inform the gendarmes,”™ ‘ BOOL Qi But ere he had gone''a few’ yards, Tom'seized him bytheediidr., 908 enol OF BnIsT oft garwor “Tt won’t do, Master Buttons.("I know what you intend to dol;)' but’ you ‘shan’t" spoil’ “sport,* my brother must fight, his honour is staked.” ")" ~~ “ Oh, don’t, don’t go out to fight this dvel, Master Frank ; I am certain those black-looking- villains want to kill you.” A919) heat agape “Hold your tongue, or I'll eut’ off your ‘head, Buttons,” said Tom. “Do you want to alarm all'the hotel and have us arrested’ for 4 ‘breach Of’ the peace ?” oi G4 | co “So I will, so I will, but ‘dow’t, don’t do it.” “Do what, you whimpering donkey ?” said Frank, vexed with Buttons. OEE ayer, a “Tll soon stop his blubbering,”* said ‘the’ Count, opening the mahogany box. Taking out one of “the beauties,” he cocked it leisurely, and pointed it at the head of poor’ Buttons. “Speak another word, shed another tear, my lad, and I'll blow your brains out.” “Do it if you like,” blubbered out poor Buttons. “Do itif you like, I’d rather have my brains blow nout than his.” | » Jom He had scarcely spoken’ these words, when ‘Tom and Frank, both laughing, took hold of Buttons‘and! shoved him into a stable. 119) | The Count, Frank, and Tom, soon got out a’ two- horse trap, and harnessed the horses. | “t's about an hour’s smart drive where we have to go to,” said the count, as he jumped into the trap and seized the reins, “but if we leave that young follower of yours—Buttons I mean—in the stable, he is sure to get out somehow, and spread the news all over the town.” ; oe} “So he will,” said Frank, “and instead of us meet- ing with De Sangri and his friends, we may fall into the arms of a company of soldiers.” = Cm» So saying, he opened the stable ‘door, let. Buttons out, and gave him a seat in the trap. i They had travelled on some time in silence, when the old Count remarked, piney <y “We are to cross the river on to theisland. The won the choice of ground, and the marquis, seem to like the spot very much. He shot a friend of Viivo ld