The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 209: what you’re looking at

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

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'8 YOUNG CAPTAIN. made their way to the chimney whence Warner had just escaped. — ‘“T told you so,” said the detective ; ‘‘he has escaped! Don’t you see the marks in ‘the chim- ney ?”’ “He has not escaped very long,” said _Giles, “The marks are quite fresh.”’ “True,” said Gale; ‘‘ but, if he has got clear of ne building, there is very little chance of capturing Ttrtpr While Gale and the others were on the roof, Warner emerged from the cupboard, and very care- fully brushed way the marks of his foot-prints from the floor, and returned to his place of concealment once more. In a short time, Gale and the others returned through the window. “Well, it’s no use of me staying any longer at Bromley,” said Gale. ‘*‘ We have caught one of the birds, but the other has flown,” “Tm sorry for that,” ‘**So am I.” ‘Neither of you are more sorry than I am,” said Gale; .“for, independent of my duty, ‘there is a very large reward offered.” “When shall you leave, then, Mr. Gale ?” “Well, now that Iam certain of how things are, I shall pay my respects to the young ladies, and leave by the four o’clock train.” ‘Ts he not concealed somewhere in the house, sir ?”’ the blacksmith asked. “No, my man, not he; Warner is too desperate and quick a rascal to remain about here longer than he can help.” So saying, the three men left the attic and went down stairs. “Saved | saved !” gasped Warner, and, bursting open the door, fell exhausted on the floor He was as weak as a clrild, and could not move. For two hours or more he lay upon the floor and slept. He tried to keep his eyes open as long as possi- ble. But nature was more than exhausted, and he slept soundly. He jerked, and twisted, and groaned fearfully, and all at once he suddenly awoke with a violent start. He looked about him like a wild man, “Tt is not a dream,” he said. “ITamfree! Bunt let me see, Gale leaves the hall at four o'clock. What time is it. now—it must be later? The eyening is very dark.” At that moment the hall clock chimed the hour, With staring eyes, Warner listened, and counted each stroke. One—two—three—four ! Oh, what a relief it was ! “If Gale only leaves, I shall escape easily ; but, should he remain, I am too weak to resist him, for he is a powerful and determined man.” Though weak, he crawled to his feet, and even went so far as to get on to the roof again. He looked over the lofty coping, and to his great joy saw a horseman at the main door, shaking hands with Giles and the blacksmith, “That is Gale—he is off, Thank heaven for this last chance for my life!” He hastily retraced his steps into the garret again, He waited until his courage returned, when he boldly went downstairs, He reached the ground floor without being per- ceived, 203 The parlour door was open, He entered. Thetea-things had been prepared for two persons, but there was no one there. He shut and locked the door, and seated himself down to steal a hasty meal, His appetite was great, but he could not eat much, He was too far gone to do justice to the good things before him. A cup of tea and the leg of a cold fowl were hastily consumed, yet before he had finished some one was heatd knocking at the door. No time was to be lost ! He opened a window, and was about to jump out upon the lawn, when Giles perceived him, and shouted out— “He is here—he is here !” With renewed desperation, and bent on mischief, Warner seized the poker, opened the door, and sallied forth into the hall. Here he met the two daughters of old Jonathan. They screamed, and ran away in great fright. Warner did not pursue them, but made his way to the empty stables unperceived, and there hid himself, “Go after Mr. Gale!” shouted the blacksmith to Giles. “Yes, yes! Giles, call back the detective; the villain is still about the premises. We shall all be murdered,” But neither Giles nor the villaze blacksmith thought for a moment of deserting the young ladies, but remained in the house, Time flew by, and soon dark night set in. When he thought the proper time had come, Warner sneaked from the stables, and went forth over hedge and ditch towards the village without being detected. He washed his hands and face in a brook, and thus refreshed he continued his journey on foot. But still he retained possession of the poker, the only weapon he had, and felt confident of making good his escape. While in a field resting for a time, he heard the distant baying of dogs at the hall. ‘“They are after me,” he sighed ; ‘‘they have put the watch-dogs upon my track. I must fly with all speed.” This Warner attempted to do, But how was he to escape? His ankle was bleeding and painful, and he was too feeble to run fast or far. A thought occurred to him. ‘TI will put the hounds off the scent,’’-he said, and ran towards the canal. With the poker between his teeth, he plunged into the canal, and swam across. ageens and exhausted, he crawlec up the bank side As he did so, the hounds arrived at the opposite side, and were barking and howling most fiercely, ““T have thrown them off the scent,’ he sighed. “Tam safe at last. Now vengeance is mine. Let all tremble who encounter me, I am changed from man into a fiend ! ”’ CHAPTER LXXXI. THE COUNT'S STORY OF THE MANIAC MINDIAN WOMAN—HIS NARROW ESCAPE. ALL on board Captain Tom’s ship, on their way to Mexico, were as.merry as crickets, and full of ex- pectation of sharing in strange and wild advyen- CoOMmicbooks.€c© _—-_