The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

178 Le 2 Pemmedtet. LSafite nnn sana | THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 7 oN DA LU ae CHAPTER LXIX. TOM'’S GALLANT TARS GO ON A SPREE—WHAT THEY DID AT THE PLAY. Bur while Tom Ford is away duelling with his brother Frank, let us take a glance at what his crew did. | Tom’s fame upon the waters had spread far and wide. Among the first to hear of his exploits were numerous English sailors. Now as Tom had lost nearly all his original crew of Italian seamen, he determined, if possible, to make up the required number by enlisting Englishmen at the different ports he called at. The prospects of “ plenty of fun and lots of prize money,” acted like a charm upon numbers of English seamen, who ran away from their ships, and joined the Italian cause, under the leadership of gallant Tom. | With a first-class crew of hardy English volun- teers, Tom was able todo much more against the Austrians than he had been able to do with his former Italian crew. “For brave as they might be,’ Tom said, “ they can’t come up in anything fo our own gallant British tars.” In a short time many prizes were sent into port, and lots of money was the consequence. The number of Austrian merchant ships that Tom captured and sold was considerable. When, therefore, Tom returned to Leghorn with his gallant craft, each man had a large amount of money to receive. Wherever they went they were well received, and soon picked up sufficient knowledge of the Italian language not only to speak on ordinary topics ; but could enjoy themselves at theatres and the like. But the British tar doesn’t like operas. He rather rejoices in a bloody five-act play, wherein there is any amount of fighting. In order to please the gallant British tars who had rendered such good service in the cause of Italian liberty, the good-natured people of Leghorn puzzled their brains in all manner of ways to get up various amusements for them. Among other things, and that which pleased Tom’s HWnglish crew most was, that the mayor had promised that a large portion of a small theatre should be given up to them free on a certain night, and the performance selected for their amuse- ment was the tragedy of “ Othello.” The gallant tars were delighted at the prospect of seeing an English tragedy, and when the theatre opened, the sailors were not slow to seize good places. In fact, the emall theatre was!crammed with people. Some came to see for the first time an English tragedy, and others more especially to have a good look at Tom Ford’s brave blue-jackets. The tragedy progressed, but brandy, wine, and other drinks had got into the sailor’s heads, and they were very noisy, and made great fun of the chief character, Othello, because he was, they said, ‘A big, ugly, black nigger, and nothing shorter.” When Othello came to the passage where he says, “And this—and this—the greatest discords be’’ (kissing the fair Desdemona) “that e’er our hearts shall make—” “T’ll bet a week’s grog,’ roars out one of the tars, “that their first young ’un ‘Il be a creole!” “ Aye, sink ’em!” said another “there’s the luck o’ them black devils. Why, ’twas only t’other day I twigs the young captain’s steward in tow with one o’ the freshest, rosy-cheeked little craft as you'd see in a day’s sail through Leghorn !” Cassio’s silly speech, where he reels about, and sings, “ Do not think I am drunk, &e. ‘No, not you,” roared out another at the top of his voice. “Why not walk the plank, and prove yourself sober, mate ? That’s what we do.” These interruptions caused much laughter on the part of all present, for any one could see that the sailors took the tragedy in too serious a light. But whatever excitement the sailors had shown during the first part of the play was nothing com- pared to the noise, tumult, and din that existed on all sides when the jealous Moor of Venice approaches Desdemona’s bed to murder her. The shouts at this ‘particular part became alarming. Volleys of oaths were hurled at Othello’s head ; “his eyes and limbs” “were cursed until they couldn’t swear any more. “ What!’ shouted ont one of the loudest of the crew, “can the black brute cut her life-lines, eh, Bill? She’s a reg’iar-built angel, and as like my Bet as two peas in a pod !” “‘ Aye,” said another, striking the box front vigorously ; “it all comes of being jealous, mess- mates, and that’s all as one as being mad. But if he does kill her, why in {course he'll get scragged, Harry, my boy.” When Othello 'seizes Desdemona by the throat in bed, she shrieks for permission to say but one short prayer, and he will not grant it. The gallant blue-jackets were worked up to a fearful pitch ef excitement. They could endure it no longer, and gave the most alarming indication of their determination to mix in the murderous scene below. “T’m hanged, Dick, if I can stand it any longer,” shouts out one in the boxes. | | “ You are no men if you sit quietly there, and see the poor gal murdered,” said several, in reply. — “ands off, you bloodthirsty black villain!” roared out another. In the twinkling of an eye, a lot of sailors clam- bered out of the boxes, the pit and the gallery, and scrambled over every one in their way till they reached the noisy boatswain’s mate, who was struggling to get on the stage. Many.persons now became seriously alarmed, and rushed from the house in terror. The musicians had their instruments broken, and fought like mad-men to beat back the English ‘tars. Fiddles, drums, trombones and the like were smashed on every side. The fight became general. “ Now’s our time, lads,” roared the sailors. “Pipe the boarders away, all hands, if you’rea man as Joves a woman.” “Now for it! Go it, you cripples, wooden legs are cheap |” The sailors, hearing their boatswain’s pipe, dashed furiously over all obstacles. Smash went the footlights. The feeling became general, and the sailors, led on by the boatswain, swept all before them. Out poured all the actors from the side scenes to assist Othello. } It was all to no purpose. i The sailors fought right and left like young ears, Desdemona was carried away in triumph by the ars. Othello slipped behind the scenes out of the way ” Comichbookssco