The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 193: what you’re looking at

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THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 187. Sa 2 o. ea ee Judge of their astonishment, then, when they were within three quarters of a mile from her, she changed her course, and bore away at a clipping rate, as if afraid “to speak,” or encounter Tom Ford's vessel, Away she went like a bird upon the wing. “ Hillo ! What’s the meaning of all that ?” asked the count, in astonishment. “Tt means this, count,’’ said Tom; “‘I take her for some Austrian privateer. She came close enough to see that we were too much for her, and is now going before the wind to get out of the way.” “ But you will not permit her to do so?” ‘No; trust me,” said Tom, laughing ; “she must pay for peeping. Set every stitch of sail, my merry men ; we’ll soon overhaul the rascais, and if they don’t heave to, and show colours, we’ll send her to Dayy Jones’s locker.” The sudden movement of the stranger in chang- ing her course was very suspicious, to say the least. But this only heightened the curiosity of Tom’s English crew, who cheered lustily, fired a gun after the stranger, and danced among the rigging as nimbly as monkeys, and spread out every inch of canvas the ship could carry. The more Captain Tom’s gallant fellows strained every nerve to increase the speed of jthe chase the more the stranger did likewise. Z For more than an hour the two vessels kept on their course full sail. The breeze was equally fair for both. Yet neither gained a single cable’s length on each other. “ She’s, a regular clipper,” said Tom, ‘‘and no mistake ; see how she sails—how beautifully she is handled.” ~ ; “She’s no Austrian vessel, sir,” said several to Tom. ‘‘ That’s what I’ve been thinking.” “ She’s beautifully handled,” said Frank. “Yes” said the count; “but we are going off our course at a devil of arate. Instead of steering for the Italian coast, we are going towards the Atlantic ” nT ONS “Never mind, count, we'll keep the chase up all night ; at all events, we mustn’t let them beat us.” “ What flag are you flying?” asked Frank. “The Italian flag, as usual.” 2 “Then change it. Hoist the English flag, and Kee if she'll acknowledge it.” * . “A good thought,” said Tom. In afew minutes the English flag was raised above that of Italy. On the instant the stranger ahead eased all sail, and boldly hoisted the English colours also. “Phis looks strange,’ said Tom; ‘‘they hoist colours and ease sail quickly enough ; but I can’t make out a single soul on board.” “Nor I, sir,” said several. “Tt must be the ‘ Phantom Ship,’ ”’ said one, who was an old sailor; “I’ve often heard that, like the Wandering Jew on shore, there is a Phantom Ship roaming over the whole world in full'sail. No one ean catch her; she’s a Will-o’-the-wisp, like, ~and is sure to lead us on to rocks or reefs.” Tom laughed ; but as the stranger eased her sails his vessel was quickly gaining on her. | In half-an-hour they were abeam, or, as might be said, breast to breast, but yet some quarter of a mile north and south. “Take every precaution, brother Tom,” said Frank; “we must not be led into any snare,” Tom was not one of those who was at all likely to be led into any snare, for he had prepared his ship for instant action. His men stood to their guns, and were ready for the word of command, , Nearer and nearer the two ships approached each other, like two wary giants. “ Stand by, my men,” said Tom, quietly, glass in hand, as he mounted on the poop. “Aye; aye, sir.” “Ship ahoy !” he shouted, through his speaking trumpet ; “ship ahoy !” “ Ship ahoy !”” was'the anwser. ‘Your name, and whither bound ?” “Are you English?” “Yes; from Leghorn.” Tom’s answer was scarcely given when the stranger’s decks were suddenly crowded with sol- diers, as the captain asked— : ‘‘Have you heard anything of Captain Frank Ford, of the Boy Volunteers?” “Yes; he is on board here, now. brother, and command this craft.” = On the instant the stranger's rattlings were swarmed by a great number of nimble youths. With three cheers they hailed and saluted Tom’s vessel, | ‘It is Hugh Tracy and the Boy Volunteers for a I am fais thousand pounds!” said Captain Frank, greatly excited. “I cannot be mistaken !” | It was Hugh Tracy and the Boy: Soldiers; and foremost among them all was the gallant Caspar ! In a short time the two vessels came’ to, side by side, and the meeting between the captain ‘and his brave young companions in arms baffles all description, for on’ all sides reigned merriment, | noise, and confusion. ‘‘Sail away for Mexico, Captain Tom,” ‘said Frank, ‘We have done with Italy, and will go to the land of the Montezumas—the land of love, war, and adventure !” This announcement was received with loud applause by all. Fatty and Buttons were in ecstacies. They danced and capered about like two lunatics ; Fatty with a huge piece of bread and meat in one hand, Buttons with a bottle of wine in the other, ‘““To Mexico! To Mexico!” resounded ‘on all sides, and ere long the two ships set sail again in company along the Mediterranean, gambolling over the bright blue water like things of air, CHAPTER LXXIII. JOEL FLINT IS “DONE” ON BOTH SIDES—TOMASSO, THE ITALIAN DETECTIVE, PROFESSES TO BE ASTONISHED AT THE COURSE OF EVENTS, TomASso, the Italian detective, had ‘not left the court more than an hour, when he well knew that the prefect of police was making preparations to capture both Tom, Frank, and Buttons that very night, | For your Continental’ police seldom make a descent upon any place in the daytime, but always manage to make their captures at night, when the unsuspecting victims are in bed and sound asleep. This Tomasso well knew. © When night-time came Frank’s hotel was sur- rounded by police; but, greatly to their chagrin and disappointment, they found that, with all their cunning, the English bird could not be caught with chaff, and had taken wing ! The prefect was in a frightful rage. He walked up and down his office stamping and swearing and could not make it out. oe EDDIE EST De eS oO MICLOO© (S©) SoCO