The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 203: what you’re looking at

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

a a Oe SO aaa eee THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 197 “ And Fatty, how has he been?” asked Buttons, with a grin, ‘ Has he got into any scrapes?” ‘“ A few, I’ll warrant,” said Frank, “for the fat old rascal is always up to some nonsense or other, But here he comes. Don’t sayaword. I'll question him, and pump out of him all that has happened.” “Why Fatty,” said Frank, “you don’t seem as stout as usual, What has happened?” ‘Oh, he swears that one night he saw a ghost,” ‘A what?” asked the count, laughing. “A ghost, count,” said Hugh, laughing. This announcement was received with roars of laughter by all present in the cabin. The loudest of all in their merriment was Master Buttons, who laughed till the tears ran out of his eyes again. “What are you laughing at, eh?” growled Tony at Buttons. ‘You are always laughing atme. I won’t stand it any longer.” ‘“No, I wouldn't,” said Frank, tittering, ‘but you see, Fatty, it is very hard to believe in ghosts.” “I don’t think so,” Fatty replied, moodily, ‘for I have seen one, and more than that, I have played cards with a ghost. What do you think of that?” “‘ Played cards with a ghost,” said the count, in surprise, “why, what next, I wonder,” “But it’s true, though,” said Fatty, “and no _ Mistake,” “Tell us all about it, Fatty,” said the general voice. “Well, I don’t mind, but you must keep all your laughing to yourself, for to me it was anything but a laughing matter.” “Well go on—we are all attention.” “ Fill up the glasses, first,”’ said Tony, ‘‘ and pass a cigar this way.” This was done, and after a moment or two of Prorouud silence and expectation, Tony began thus :— “T see Master Buttons grinning already, but before I’m done I have no doubt he will shiver in his shoes. “You see,” said Fatty, “that the chaplain of the 12th Garibaldian Volunteers, who were encamped next to us, died rather suddenly, and as he requested to be buried in the churchyard of his own native village his last wishes were complied with. “The old man was much beloved by all the volunteers, and as a mark of respect, one man was detailed from each company around us to do him honour. “Hugh Tracy detailed me to represent the Boy Volunteers, and as I much wanted a little spree of some kind, I felt very glad of the opportunity thus afforded me, “‘There were twenty-four volunteers attending the funeral, and as I was fond of driving, and knew more about horses than the Italian fellows, they appointed me to drive the four-horsed hearse. ““Now the village we had to go to was just in front of our ‘lines,’ and very near the Austrians, altogether about ten miles from our camp. “We did not, from one cause or another, stir on our journey until about four o’clock in the afternoon. “Now the men of the village we were going to had heard of the old clergyman’s death, so that when we marched slowly along towards our destination, we were met by crowds of men, women and children, who had come forth to do honour to the worthy old man, “Such crying, howling, and lamentation you could never conceive; for among those then present, some had lost sons, and fathers, and hus- bands in the war, and they cried out vengefully enn against the Austrians, and their iron rule over the Italians, “We had not gone far, however, and were mounting the side of a lofty and steep hill, in slow, solemn procession, when it came on to rain. “The clouds lowered, and all soon became inky darkness around us. “ We toiled along until we came to the top of the hill, when it was decided to halt the procession until next morning, “This was agreed to willingly by me, for I was almost soaked to the very marrow with rain. “ At the top of the hill stood the ruins of an old church, which had been destroyed by cannon shot during a recent battle, and as it afforded a good place of shelter for the night, I unhitched my four horses, and tied them up out of the rain in a good shed. “The next thing to do was to place the coffin in a place of safety. ‘‘The vestry of the old church was in good order, and our men placed the body there upon tressels for the night. ‘‘Some of the volunteers went into the village, snd some to farm houses. “Before I was aware of it I found myself alone, deserted, and miserable in that old ruin, with no one to talk to but the dead body of the old chaplain. “ More than that, the country folk said the place was haunted, ‘‘T didn’t like to make a noise about it, so tried to arrange things as comfortably as I could for the night, ““T collected a large heap of wood, and soon had @ fire crackling and roaring up the chimney. “T next took several of the mourners’ cloaks, and hung them up before the window to keep out the wind, ““T closed the door, and drew an old stool up to the fire, and leaned my head on the ruins of a three- legged table I found there, and made myself as cosy as possible. “When on the road, I appeared to be in such grief about the old chaplain, that the good couotry folk, to comfort me, made me presents of bottles of wine, pork pies, and such like, until at last I had a basketful before we had reached the ruin, “With this basket and its contents I soon made acquaintance, for I was terribly hungry.” “As you always are,”’ whispered Buttons. ‘‘ Silence!” said Frank. ‘Go on, Fatty.” ‘“When I had demolished three large pork pies, and washed them down with a bottle of wine, I began to feel dozy. “But to keep myself awake, I drank more and more of the wine, and pulling out a pack of cards, tried to amuse myself, until at last I tumbled off the stool, and fell fast asleep before the roaring fire, ‘““How long I remained there I can’t tell. “Tt could not have been very long, perhaps, but when I awoke the fire was burning dim and low, the candle was almost out, and what should I see sitting on his haunches opposite to me but a thin, long-legged stranger, dressed in black from head to foot. “My blood curdled in my veins, for, thought I, this is the ghost they spoke of. “T slowly raised myself up, and sat on the stool, eyeing the mysterious stranger. ‘‘But he moved not, no, not a muscle; not a wink was visible ; and his coal-black eyes stared at me, and glowed fiercely in the fire-light. ‘“T am a soldier,” said Fatty, ‘‘and don’t fear any man ; but when a fellow falls in with a ghost, no wonder his legs tremble, as mine did. Ghiook Con CO