The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

a ewe 176 A second squall, more terrible than the first, struck: the little craft. The small mast bent over under it, and snapped asunder with a sharp report like that ofa pistol shot. It tumbled over the stern, and trailed the sail along the milky sea. Meanwhile the water rushed clean over them, and the boat seemed to be settling down in the current. At this dreadful moment the boatmen turned their eyes upon Frank, and in horror muttered, “ This all comes of helping a murderer to escape ! A murderer he is, for he has killed the Marquis.” Had it not been for Frank’s revolver, which he held ready cocked, it is more than likely that the | terrified and superstitious boatmen would have seized both of the brothers and pitched them over- board. There was so much firmness about the two young Englishmen, however, that they dared not move. Tom at the rudder was as calm and cold as ice. He seemed to rollick in the dangers of the deep, as much so as Frank did in those of a soldier’s life. The Count, however, did not know what to make of these repeated squalls, and looked pale and resigned. Meanwhile, the boat flew through the darkness and the hissing waters, and Tom seizing a favour- able moment, he and Frank unshipped what remained of the little mast, and threw it over- board. 2 The storm now began to abate. The black mass of clouds breke up, and in a short time it was sufficiently clear to perceive the pur- suing vessel in the distance. All on board of her seemed to bé engaged in baling the boat out. The ‘Dolphin’ seemed to be sinking! _ The mist which had hidden the two vessels no sooner dispersed than those on board the ‘Dolphin’ ceased baling out the sinking vessel, and looking towards Frank’s coat, burst forth into a yell, so wild savage, and so dreadful in its meaning, that it was enough to make the stoutest heart quail again, as the shouts fell upon Frank’s ear. The boatmen buddled together, and prayed. When they heard the dreadful shout of their pursuers they turned paler than ever. They crossed themselves, and muttered. “ Heaven help us this day, if the ‘Dolphin’ with the dead Marquis’s tenants overtake us, we shall all be murdered in cold blood.” Tom and Frank, however, no sooner heard the yell than they raised a shout of defiance, and waved their hats in triumph. Onwards dashed this gallant little craft through the dangerous channel, “We are safe now,” said Tom, in high glee, just as they had cleared the last group of sunken rocks, over which the waters foamed. “ We are safe now, Count,” said he, “the storm and all peril is over.” “The ‘Dolphin’ can’t follow us through that channel,” said Frank, “she is tco large, and draws too much water.” ‘True, brother,’ Tom repligJ, “ they will have to go right round, and thus we have gained a mile of ground; the river makes a Jong winding sweep just at that point,’ ‘Here we are near the new battery,” said the Count, “and right glad am I that we have escaped these bloodthirsty pursuers, for as sure as life, all Lal Se 00 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. of us would have been butchered, if De Sangri’s people had laid hands on us.” “Yes, but what are we to do,” asked the boatmen, “we must flee as well as yourselves, and whatis to become of the boat.” “ We'll look after all that,” said Frank cheerily, Run the craft ashore, Tom.” “Yes, ground her anywhere,” said the Count, “ so that we get on land again.” “You English are as fond as ducks of water, but IT hate it. Tom laughed, andere many minutes, grounded the vessel. In doing so, the boat struck heavily upon a small rock close in to shore. The bows were stove in with the shock. All on board jumped on shore hurriedly. In a moment after, the little craft which had so gallantly braved all dangers and perils of that exciting trip, split into halves. It was a perfect wreck. “Make haste, make haste,’ said one of the boatmen, “ the ‘ Dolphin’ is flying through the water; they are going to ground her higher up; if they land they may cut off our retreat.” Tom, Frank, and the Count, turned to look, Sure enough, those on board the ‘Dolphin,’ perceiving that ere long she must sink, were running her aground, just ahead of the Oat Rock channel. So intent were all in watching this manceuvre, that they thought not of flying, and of their own danger. “ They have grounded,” said Tom. All looked in the direction indicated, and could perceive those on board the stranded vessel leaping on shore wildly, They could see Frank and the others, lower down on the river bank, and as they did so, raised loud shouts of vengeance, brandished their weapons, and hurried off to gain possession of the road, before Frank and his party could do so. “ There will be a bloody fight, I’m thinking,” said Tom. “Tt is a race for life,’ said the Count ; “if they gain the high road before we do, I fear blood will freely flow,” 7 “Fly ! fly !” said the terrified boatmen. “T scorn to fly before such a rabble as that,” said Frank, | “But, my boy, take advice, be advised hy me, we must fly.” T will not fly for any one,’ said Tom, in a surly tone. ‘Englishmen scorn to do such a thing ; they are only three to one.” “ Only,” said the Count. “ Yes, only,” said Frank; “I have fought against greater odds than that many a time.” “ Come, come,” said the Count, ‘“ Be advised by me, Let us try to gain the high road first ; but if the villains are there before us, and are bent on killing us, why, then, we’ll make short work of them, that’s all.”’ “ Apreed!” said Tom. “They can only kill us.” “ Only kill us, eh ?” growled the boatmen, and looked astonished, They wished to walk behind, and began to mutter among themselves in a very threatening manner. But Frank and Tom soon put a stop to that. The boatmen were forced to walk in front. The Count, Frank, and Tom, followed, each with pistols in their hands. “You don’t know these rascals as well as I do,” said the Count. “They would kill you in a moment if they got half a chance,” JA 6. Gomicbook