The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 179: what you’re looking at

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THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 17 3 nnn ee | They did not stand, for the. shock was too great’ and they hurriedly dispersed in all directions, their officers being the last to leave the grouod where their men had so disgraced themselves. Pistols, swords, and other trophies were here picked up, and onward went the volunteers again They had not progressed more than two miles, when another body of Austrians were discovered. One company was sent on, to entice the enemy forward. This had the desired effect. The Austrians did not know that Caspar’s main force was over the hill. | On came the Austrians full tilt up the hill. But they had not got more than half way up, when Caspar and Hugh Tracy’s meucame over the hill, and rushed upon them with loud shouts. The Austrians were unable to withstand the shock, and were broken up in a few minutes, and scattered like chaff before the wind. Thus progressed Major Caspar’s expedition through the enemy’s country; wherever they met the foe, the brave lads soundly thrashed them, even when three to one against them. But now Major Caspar played a clever trick upon the enemy. As night was coming on, he halted his command in a forest, and called for Hugh Tracy. “Hugh,” said he, ‘‘I have over a hundred Aus- trian uniforms, perfect in all particulars, what shall I do with them ?” Hugh laughed. ‘“‘T see, your idea is like mine.” “ Suppose I dress all my lads up in them, and let us go into the nearest village, and levy contri- butions from all who will not swear to be loyal to the Italian cause.”’ “That was just my idea,’ said Caspar. “ Bring up the lads, let us transform them into Austrians at once.” Hugh Tracy told his brave lads of the intended trick, and his proposition was received with great Oy: Fatty rubbed his hands in great glee in anticipa- tion of all the good things he and the rest were to enjoy. Towards midnight they sallied forth to the nearest village, and from information furnished by an Italian sympathiser they found out the names of all who were true to the cause. But while they were levying contributions right and left alarming news reached them. They heard the sounds of distant firing. Caspar’s camp had been surrounded by a strong Austrian force. Hugh Tracy collected his men on the instant, and prepared to returned to camp and to Caspar’s assistance. While on their way thither a messenger dashed forward to meet them. “Quick ! quick, Hugh! or we shall all be lost! Quick! quick! I. say, or we shall all be butchered !”’ With a loud hurrah ! Hugh Tracy and his gallant lads galloped back to the rescue. How they succeeded and what they did will quickly appear. —_—_ --—— CHAPTER LXVII. A COLD-BLOODED VILLAIN—FRANK’S DUEL. As the boatmen pulled in towards the island all perceived, a few hundred yards off, a group of per- sons standing, whom they soon recognised as their opponents. “ Frank,” said the count, grasping his arm tightly, as he stood up to spring on land, “Frank, although you are only a boy, I may say I have no fear for your courage; but, still, more than that is needful here, “ This De Sangri is a noted duellist, and will try to shake your nerve. “Now, mind that you take everything that happens quite with an air of indifference. “Don’t let him think that he has any advantage over you, and you will see how the tables will be turned in your favour.” “Trust to me, count,” said Frank ; “I'll not dis- grace my name or country.” He pressed Frank’s hand tightly, and Frank thought that he discerned something like a slight twitch about the corners of the count’s grim mouth, as if some sudden and painful thought had shot across his mind; but in a moment he was calm and stern-looking as ever. “Twenty minutes late, count,” said the short, red-faced little major, with a military frock, and foraging cap, as he held out his watch in evidence. “T can only say, major, that we lost no time since we started ; we had some difficulty in finding a boat; but in any case we are here now, and that I opine is the important part of the matter.” “ Quite right; very just indeed. Will you pre- sent me to your young friend? Very proud to make your acquaintance, sir; a countryman of yours and I myself met more than once in this kind of way. His name was Beresford; I was out with him when he shot old De Sangri, who, by-the- bye, was called the crack shot of our city ; but, begad, your countryman knocked his pistol hand to shivers, saying, in a dry way, ‘he must try the left hand this morning.’ Go out a little this side, please.” While the count and the major walked a few paces apart from where Frank stood, he had leisure to observe his antagonist, who stood among a group of his friends, talking and laughirg away in great spirits. As the tone they spoke in was not of the lowest, Frank could catch much of their conversation. They were discussing the last occasion that the Marquis de Sangri had visited this spot, and talk- ing of the fatal event that happened there. “Poor devil,” said De Sangri, ‘it wasn’t his fault ; but you see some officers of his regiment, it had been said, had been showing the white feather before that, and he was obliged to go out and fight.’ “ In fact, the colonel said, ‘fight or leave the corps.’ «“ When called out he came. «It was a cold morning in February, with a frost the night before going off, with a thin rain. “Well, it seems he had consumption or some- thing of that sort, with a great cough and spitting of blood, and this weather made him worse, and he was very weak when he came to the duelling round. : “Now,” said the vain marquis, laughiog, “ the moment I caught a glimpse of him, I said to myself, ‘he’s got pluck enough, but is as nervous as a lady,’ for his eye wandered all about, and his mouth was always twitching. “éTake off your great coat,’ friends, when they were going to put him up, it off, map.’ “ He seemed to hesitate for an instant, when one of my friends remarked, laughing, * ah, let bim said one of his ‘take ComuicoookSsS.co©