The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 321: what you’re looking at

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

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR; GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 315 © I a eatin “Hels, or ought to be,” said, Matty; “for I’ve heard Barney say he’s been up to his capers for the ° last ten years.” “The devil |” “I’m certain he is rich,” said Matty, ‘for Iheard Alf Green say,as how the old man thought. of re- tiring from business.” “From business, eh 1” said Gale, smiling. A pretty business itis, surely ; perhaps he’ll. have. to ‘xetire’ somewhere) else if he’s» not very. clever,” said Gale. 3 After a pause, Gale asked, J “And Barney used to travel with him, eh?” “ Yes ; Hautwig, and some one else had shares in a sparring booth,” “And Barney, of course, was one of the principal boxers ?”? Lok . _“Ohyyes, he thought himself very clever with the gloves.” more | » “And what part did Bandy Bob take?” ‘“He was in thei ‘swim’ with old: Haulwig in the thimble-rigging dodge.’ ‘And of Green?” | “ He did anything that was) wanted,” ‘A very pretty rogue, indeed,” osaid Gale, laughing ; * but it strikes me very forcibly that I must put a stop to this nice little game of theirs; they little think that at» this» moment they are ‘wanted’ at Bow Street,’ | _ “But you won’t split on me-will you, Mr, Gale?” asked Matty. “No, my girl, I have no such intentions I can'as- © sure you. On the contrary, you will receive £100 reward if Iam only successful in capturing these — vagabonds,”’ “I didn’t tell yowall this for money, sir.’ “No, I know you did not, my good girl; but — these Yascals: are all more or ‘less concerned in the affair of old Ford, and:a large reward is offered for each and every one.’’ “TI should like to see Barney transported,” said Matty, ‘‘for he has been a great. villain towards me.’? ‘** And to many others besides you, Matty.” » - _ “IT will go in search of this old Hautwig,” said the officer. “T don’t think you'll find him ‘at home, sir.” ““Why not?” ‘“‘ Because it is summer time now,%nd there are lots of fairs on.” “So there are, Matty.” “Greenwich Fair used to be a rare:place for old Hautwig,” ‘Perhaps he and bis pals are there, then ?”’ “‘ More than likely.” Ld “Then, keep your own council) Matty, until my return,” fax bid “Where are ‘you going, sir? When shall I see you again ?” “esd 1 ‘Perhaps to-morrow or the next day. I am now going off to Greenwich Fair.” So saying, Gale placed’ a’ sovereign in Matty’s hands, and left her, CHAPTER CVII, My Lt y- : ‘ , ’ : * " ‘ . DETECTIVE GALE GOES TO GREENWICH FAIR, AND KEEPS A SHARP LOOK OUT. FOR OLD HAUTWIG AND OTHERS, ON passing down Cannon Street, dressed in an ex- cellent disguise, the first person that met Gale was ‘an athletic, surly, hodman-lookmg fellow, walking up and down with a large placard on his ‘back, on which was displayed im. large letters, the words ‘Greenwich Fair,” | ‘‘ Greenwich Fair, ma’am ; Greenwich Fair, sir,” grow! _ che placard bearer, as he stared in the face of every one passing by. ‘‘ Has the steam-boat started yet ?” asked Gale, in the tone and with the manner of a countryman, Not yet, sir, not. yet;. but it’s just on the point of starting ; you'd better make haste and get your ticket. Down, that narrow lane, sir; you'll find the boat at, the bottom,” ; “ That ain’t the right boat, sir,” said an opposi- tion agent ;-‘¢/is.is the right, way.” ‘No, it ain’t,” said the first. “You do as J tells you, sir, and you’ll.be all right,” ‘‘ Don’t go on their boat, sir,” repeated the oppo- ee agent, ‘they. are overcrowded, and will sink,” “Don’t mind him, sir ; he’s telling you all lies; our boats are the-best and safest on the river.” Gale seemed to enjoy the joke. He was shoved and hustled about first by one and then by another of the opposition agents, and laughed right heartily.as they swore all manner of things at one another, “This way, sir’? ‘No, that way, sir!” ‘We only charge sixpence |’’ ‘Qurs is a gentleman’s boat, and we charge nine- pence !” said the other. After a greatscramble between two agents, who, at last, from very high words got to downright fighting, Gale went. down the narrow lane towards the sixpenny boat, thinking, as it was cheaper, he | would have more fun than on the other. Rare fellows aré these clever detectives for fun or frolic, and well they may be. All the money they spend is paid back to them, and with interest; therefore, when they are out on | “business,” which also means “‘pleasure”’ as well, — they are very free-handed, and delight in nothing © better than to have a jollification on the quiet, and | mix with noisy holiday-making crowds, The sixpenny boat had its steam up, anf was ready to start that moment, | It was crowded with persons. There was: scarcely standing room, so dense was the mass on board, Some were laughing, smoking, singing, and shout- ing. | Girls tittered, and seemed very happy in the com- pany of their sweethearts. Servant girls, apprentices, and errand boys ; fathers and mothers, with their children, all were huddled together above and below, so much ‘so ‘that the hands cn board could scarcely move about to man and work the vessel. Some had bottles and ‘glasses, others baskets filled with eatables, | All were calmly drinking, or doing something to amuse themselves ; nor must it be forgotten that the everlasting fiddle and harp were there also, which were performed upon by two red-nosed individuals, with shining hats, who appeared to baye lived for the past half century on pennyworth’s of fried fish and half-pints of ‘gin. What these two musicians played no one cared to know. The only thing remarkable was that at the end of every tune the fiddler would go round ‘among the passengers, and shove his hat under the nose of every One present, and, as one fellow said, “couldn’t be choked off,” under any consideration, Nothing in particular occurred on ‘the ‘voyage down the river, except that a young, foppish-look- large Tee ee tne “i a GOMMiiGio oo HoCO) inn