The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

192 we will be off to the. railway station. . All hope is not yet lost.” So saying, the sergeant, and, his six comrades mounted their strong horses, and galloped AWBYs to the nearest railway station. | CHAPTER LXXVI. THE RIDE ‘FOR LIFE—THE “VULCAN,” AND ITS DRIVER—THE SERGEANT’S FEARS, THEY were not « very long ere they reached the station. They galloped so fast ae furious, that when they arrived there, their steeds fairly beac again} and were covered with foam. They made all,sorts of inquiries of the porters; ticket-takers, and the like, and were much’ pleased to find that the two strangers described: had been there, and had taken tickets for the express train to Southampton, “How are the telegraph ‘lines?’ asked - the sergeant. ; “All right, I believe, sir,” said the operator. ; “but I will,try them. I shouldn’ t wonder, though; if some of them have not been blown down by the storm,” The operator, went to the instrument, and ‘worked at it for several, seconds without any reply. At last, the signal, bell rang, and’an answer came. “Express train passed' here half an hour ago— the line is broken down beyon:! this.” ‘‘ Hang the luck,” said the sergeant. “What had you better do 3 ” asked the station- master, . “Ts it possible to overtake the express train ?”’ ‘ wai an engine and tender; you mean ?”’ ) ‘Yes, it is possible, but only possible ; but’ it will be a tight race if you do overtake, the express; for it has got a long start.’ - Saas ‘“No matter, Can we have an enpine and tender,???.. | i Certainly, if you demand it. There . is thie ‘Vulcan,’ a splendid locomotive, just eS out of the shed, and the line is all clear.” “Then let us have it—no expense is to be spared. These two villains must be captured at all cost,” In a moment or two, the sergeant and: his men gave their horses into the charge of a stableman’at the station, The officers jumped on; to the tender of the ‘Vulcan,’ and the -engine-driver received his orders from the station-master, ‘All right, sir; leave it to. me,” said the driver, with a smiling look, ‘it will be quick and dangerous work to overtake the express, but as it stops several times before reaching Southampton, I have little doubt-I shall overtake it, or, at AE events, be in as quick as they. will,” | He gave a shrill whistle. , * Hold on tight, gentlemen, ” said he, sind keep your backs to the wind, for it blows: bie enough to take one’s head off,” In less than one minute after leaving the’ station the ‘ Vulcan,’”’ like a high mettled. steed, bad got into its “full stride,”’ Away they went, at almost. lightning en eaci ; Through meadows. they glided like.a thing of air, Deep ‘“‘cuttings’’ in the ‘hills were: run through with a scream and a yell, Steam streamed forth, and. the fires plowede | THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. oOo The. machinery worked ‘with ‘almost’ countless velocity. The piston was Elndost noiseless, and feral sal | woods and streams and . GES darted: by like | specks in a dream.) . . Past one station and theonigh another they flew. | — - The' porters and others had scarcely time to turn | their heads. to’ watch its approach, when the | “Vulcan,” witha ‘scream of triumph, tore by ata giddy speed, and .was quickly ‘lost: in the far distance like a small black. object i in the fog; pie * sleet, and rain. : a Bravely did the ‘‘ Vulean ” try its highest sfeaiall 4 It seemed to bid defiance to wind and-rainj and,| _ laughed at mile posts) as they. vanished! by: like . white spectres in the hazy morning, °: “Twenty miles,”.said the|‘driver,. smiling, as he rattled through a small,.country station/atihis top — speed, ‘twenty miles, What time have I made?” ‘“‘ Fifteen minutes,” shouted the :sergeant, as’ he - held on with both hands tightly -to the tender. ray “Good work,” said the oily, black-faced stoker; ath in a,loud voice; (for ,the- rattle and: noise! of he > engine was very great). “ Good work, that,” he : repeated, as he;shovelled; in . more; coke ; “but the ee old ‘ Vulcan’ can do»better still if it likes ; -can’t it Joe (addressing the driver)?” nh ond omnt “All right, Bill; so it can,’’ said the driver, ‘ shouting, with one hand to his month, in the fashion | of. costermongers. ‘‘ Shake her up, Bill,’ 4 “a ' Bill, ‘the black- faced stoker, did give her ashake | up in earnest. ; doh lees He piled up the fire afresh, examined the stateof | the water, and, THEE that that was all an = shouted,. ~s _ “ All square, ‘Joe ; let her have it 1» | , “ Hold on, gentlemen,” ” said ‘the. driver, smiling. “ We're coming to a’ long and level bit of running ground—a clear fifteen or twenty mile spin, Look at your watch ‘and time us.” With increased speed, and like a race- horse’ who is winning, and’is let: loose towards the finish, the wu pieces ” dashed forward. rf Abe i¢ 4 fed | cA +4 t Hor ¢ ‘The speed was now: frightful. ” ' The officers, though brave men <Syddete were tae prepared for this dangerous exhibition. Wt wy Dae They literally flew through the air, _.. ..,, - Hats were' blown off, "ie : Coat tails for'a moment flapped i in the grand and % next moment were in rags. 7 ‘The sergeant and his men’ looked’! like birds “y whose wings had been clipped too short. of _ They pulled out their brandy flask, and tried t6 . hold/it to their mouths, but could not; for the jolting a made their teeth chatter again, — “Joe” the driver and his ‘demon-looking™ com; panion, “Bill,” grinned with delight at the anxious, serlous- looking features of the ‘‘ bobbies,” ” and Mes: off a) brandy without even winking. _ rif * Look OUT FORTHE... sige BOY SAILOR; OBy riz LIFE ‘on ‘ROARD WN -MAN-OF- WAR : A mhost interesting, and | powerfully. written ‘Tale; | | to be. complete in, about 30, Numbers... 5» “Noe Wwith "Nov 2, anid ‘a oie EN, | ‘GRA VING, GRA TIS:. da Be ") eR wi / ‘Reap: pinkie ia: TANUARY 29, ° f (eee boo