The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

Lee Ae Sues es OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN, 223 “Oh, horrible !” 6 It might be so, you know, my lads.’’ “No telling, master—we live in awful cut-throat timies ; but let if contain what it may, there is no chance of young Flint coming to claim it, for each of us have got his photograph, and would know him in a minute,” “Just as, 1 supposed,” thought Tomasso to him- sels, ‘It was a wise plan of mine to disguise Joel beforehand,” “‘T suppose you know the prefect’s chief messen- | ger aaau you see him, don’t you?” 9) “Well, here is his likeness,””said Tomasso, giving the watchers a description. ‘“ He is about five feet six inches high, wears black whiskers and mous- tache, dressed in police uniform, but without side arms. Ifthe should call and bring an order, you will not fail to obey all he tells you,” “The document will, of course, have the oes seal upen it?” “Certainly ; such an amount of treasure could not be removed from the customs’ yard without it. a” 6 All right, sir ; you say.’ “Tf he comes at all, it will be by boat ; he will land at the custom-house stairs.” “Not to-night, I hope,” said one, “for I want to have a good sleep while my mate is keeping watch,” Tomasso went away from the men, and, as he was known tovall the officials in the custom-house yard, his prying about was not noticed,’ ‘Where the devil can that young wretch have got to?” he thought, “I gave him a first-rate dis- guise—a bran new police uniform, false hair, whis- kers, and moustache. Surely he has not fallen into any mischief! Where can he be? I gave him the order—one I counterfeited—with the prefect’s seal; it ought to have been arranged long ago. What if he plays me false!” This thought made Tomaséo bite his lips in anger, but he made his way to the café where he had promised {to meet Joel and hear how he had succeeded, ~ Joel, of course, was rot there. Tomasso waited hour after hour, but Flint did if he comes we will attend to all not keep his appointment, In a hurry Tomasso went back again to the gate of the custom-house. ~ It was locked for the night. The Italian cursed and swore right roundly at his ill-Inck, and slowly walked back to the cate once more in hopes of meeting: Joel. But young Flint was still in his hiding- place, and intently watching the manceuyres of the two men who were guarding the safe. Yet he was not aware that. the doors had been locked upon him, And there he was, hidden among. boxes, and bales, and sacks, peeping out of the first-floor window, and with his ear cocked for whatever he might ‘hear from those below. — “T say, Jimmy,” said one of the men, “ aré you going to have that snooze you spoke of, or what 2” o, mate,” was the reply, “ sleep won’t know me for the next twenty-four hours,” | “ Why not 2” “ye got an idea,” “So have I.” ‘I should yery much like to see what Hgts réally is in this immense packing-case, for, hang me! if I don’t begin to think as how there’s some mystery going on here, or they wouldn’t.be so very particn- lar about giving orders, and so on,’ “That’s just what I were a thinking on,” the other replied, ~“Well, what say you? There ain’t many guards about here during the night, We could easily open it and help ourselves. without any one being the Wiser.’ “That’s what I were a thinking ; and, if you like to go shares and shares, why I’m your, man,” “Done!” said the other; ‘‘ but. where can we get tools from ?” “T know,” said the other, and without another word he went his way, and’ got. the, necessary tools. . “ You keep watch while I am at work; and when I'm tired, do you take a turn.” S Agreed, ? In a momert, one of the men sauntered away. to keep a good look-out for the sentries..which patrolled the custom-house yard, so as. to, give his companion warning, The other with hammer, chisels, and .a small crow-bar, commenced to work vigorously. at the packing-case, and asit stood under a shed,in the shade, he was unperceived by any one save Joel Flint, With afew vigorous and silent. efforts with the chisel and crowbar, he soon cut open the thick planking of the packing-case, and. commenced to work at the door of the safe, While so engaged, his companion whistled in a warning manner, and the work ceased. Presently a patrol passed the spot ; but seeing nothing that attracted particular attention, the man passed on, and the robber began to work in dark- ness again, * This won’t do,” thought Joel, from his hiding- place, “they are bent on breaking open the safe. If | they succeed all will be lost,” He, therefore, climbed out.of window, and at the risk of breaking his neck, slipped down the water- pipe, and reached the ground. He crept close to the warehouse wall ont of the moonlight, and in a few minutes reached -the street. His step was so cat-like that the dishohest watch- | man ‘operating’? on. the chest did not hear him approach, In fact, Joel actually tapped the man upon rile shoulder ere he was’ aware of any one ae present. He started ‘to his feet, and would nave fled, but Joel presented a revolver at his head. oe Stir, ” said Joel, with the air of ‘a’ very Grave man, ‘ ‘ stir, and Iwill not only kill you. but ‘raise an alarm,and have you and your Companion hung,’’ “You know all, then ?”” CA dO T have heard every word you said, ‘and have’ been watching you’ both for more than an hour.” “You.are one of the police, from your dress,” ~ “JT am not, but your friend, if you like.” ~~ “My friend ?” gasped the astonished thief, ° in much surprise. “Yes, your friend. I have had my eye upon this safe for the past month, and intended to do exactly what you have begun’! ' what say you, shall we be) friends and share the prize ?” “With all my heart.” ‘Then let me tell you that there is a’ -Bdat waiting for me just off the ciistom-housé stairs.’ I ‘have simply to hail it, and we are Safe, then, with our prize.” “ Then you intended to prize it open to-night, eh?” —< - ss —_ -- GC DOOKS CO) CO nn