The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

. are eee st e ‘ OEE ee eee v4 66 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. UNIO sci ic Se ME iw Da he said very confidentially, butin a sorrowful voice, “in fact I rather like a little of it, but them beastly cannon balls and screaming shells, Buttons, make my hair stand on end _ “ With fear?” asked the page. “Tear? no, with astonishment,” said Fatty, ‘that’s all. Who told yer I was afraid, I should like to know 2” he said, very valiantly. “We shall get used to them things after a time,” said Buttons, “ when we reach Garibaldi; there’s plenty of ’em there. They say the general don’t care no more about ’em than so many pills !” “Pills, eh?” sighed Fatty, ‘rather hard ’uns, I should fancy! I should never be able to digest one; I’d rather swallow a good sized apple-dump- ling.” “ Hillo, there!’ said Frank, perceiving Fatty en- sconced safely under the bulwarks, and with a smile upon his handsome face ! “ Hillo, there, what’s ‘Oh, we’re only having a quiet snooze, Captain Frank,” said Fatty, with an air of great innocence and simplicity. ; “ Having a sncoze, eh?” said he, laughing. “ Can you sleep while all the shots and shell are flying about 2?” “Sleep! lor’ bless yer, yes, do we, Buttons, eh !” “Don’t you?” “ No.” ‘*Then you must be a brace of very brave boys,” said Frank, “So we are,” said Fatty ; “we don’t care about the shots and shells, do we, Buttons ?” Buttons did not answer, for he felt very much ashamed at being thus discovered hiding. K “Well, then, if you don’t fear the shot and shell so much the better,” said Frank, “ for I expect the next one that comes will knock both you into ” Ve don’t mind it, a-7-—-—- Fatty didn’t wait to hear a single word more. “Th? Ob, lor!” said he, with staring eyes. ‘you don’t mean that, Frank ?” **T do, though.” In an instant Fatty jumped from his hiding- place with the agility of a cat, and disappeared out of view. He rushed down into the cabin, and locked him- eel im the pantry, among the plates, dishes, and jam ots P ad * * * * Frank’s position on board the yacht was a very dangerous one, They were now sailing out to sea at a “clipping” pace, and the little vessel seemed almost to fly across the dark blue watcrs, Tbe two vessels pursuing them were losing ground each moment, but from the number of signals exchanged between them it seemed certain that they were determincd to recapture the “ Kaiser ” if possible. Mark, his foster-brother, had been born at Dover, and passed all his life near the sea. Iie well knew how to manage a. vessel, and it was under his direction that all the sailing arrange- ments were carried out. | He stood at the helm and steered her bravely, nor did he flinch when more than one shot rushed over head near him, and rent great holes in the mainsail, Under his orders the yacht carried every yard of canvas she possibly dare do in safety, and as the gallant pretty little vessel dashed along it seemed like some snow-white bird upon the wing. ‘J wish I could understand their signals,” said t ree gunn i - ; "Ss —~ Frank, to his foster-brother, “then we might know what was best to be done.” ‘Tt is easy enough, Frank,” “ How 2” : ‘J dare say if you search the cabin you will find an Austrian signal-book, which will explain all. “A good thought ; but what are we going to do with the number of prisoners we have safely secured under the hatches ?” ‘Leave that tome, Frank, Leta dozen or two of your boys stand guard over the hatches ; if any of ’em dare show a head, or attempt to rush up, blow their brains out, that’s all; if they are civil and peaceable, promise to land ’em at some spot on the coast of Dalmatia, looming up yonder leeward of Sie, ‘But can it be done with safcty ?” “Tf we make out their signals we shall soon know, Search for the signal-book ; this is the admiral's yacht, remember, so there must be one somewhere on board.” Frank always had great respect for his foster- brother’s advice and sound sense, and his behaviour ever since he had joined the young Garibaldians showed to all that he was a great acquisition to the whole party, for the greater the danger the cooler was Mark. Giving orders to his men to guard-well the hatches and kcepa sharp look-out for any stray shot that came from the two pursuing vessels, Frank and Hugh Tracy descended into the cabin. They went to work cautiously in their search, for they knew not as yet the ins and outs of the - admiral’s cabin, and thought perhaps tha sone of the erew from hidden places might rush out and murder them, As they walked into the cabin both were struck. with amazement at the beauty of all around them, Pictures of great price, mirrors, chandeliers, car- pets, gold and silver ornaments, massive clocks, chronometers, telescopes, books, and splendid glass were in profusion. For a moment Frank and Hugh held their breath in wonder ! At that moment a tremendous crash of crockery- ware wes heard in the pantry. : At the same moment a cannon shot whizzed right through the cabin, It came in at one side and passed out the other, | ear huge holes and a mass of splinters on every | and, In an instant afterwards Fatty rushed forth from his hiding-place, looking as pale as death, and with hair on end. His face and hands were all smeared over with raspberry jam with which he had been quietly re- gailing himself, With a loud groan he ran on deck, shouting he was shot, his companions mistaking the jam on his face for blood. “A close shave that, Hugh,” Frank said. ‘Yes, and no mistake; if we intend to remain here long, we must grope about on our hands and knees.” Nothing daunted they began their search, and discovered a copy of the latest edition of the Austrian navy's signal-book, This was a great prize. . ‘‘Do you continue your search,” Hugh said ; Frank and I will go and endeavour to make out What those two vessels are saying to each other,” This he easily managed to do. With a pair of splendid double-eyed sca-classes, found in the cabin, Frank distinctly saw the number Comicbookszeom