The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 337: what you’re looking at

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

smoking, as if danger was thonsands of miles away.’ “*So much the better; then,’ the chiefsaid, ‘We will make preparations to attack them to-night. How many white wigwams (tents) have they ?’ ‘ ** Only: five,’ “<< Five ? fifty.’ ““< Yes, but there is wailing and death among them. From six to a dozen die off every day, from disease, I hear,’ _.““‘This corresponds, with what the deserter told me. He is truthful—’tis well |’ ‘After another pause the chief dismissed th courier, and called a council of war. _ “While they deliberated what to do, and the majority were very distrustful of their own strength to fight with the whites, a second courier came in all haste, and was admitted to the grand council of the braves. 7 : “His face was radiant with joy. “«What news?’ asked the chief, “*The very best,’ answered the courier, “Speak it, and lighten the hearts of all. What Why they had a few days ago.-over of the Pale-faces ?’ ‘They are dying off like sick dogs.’ _ “A smile lit the features of all, “No less than twenty of them haye, been laid in their graves,’ ary “a cannot believe it,’ said one, “*T and Young Buffalo. have seen it,’ was the reply. _ 7 ‘¢ Not heard it ?’ ““* No, chief; we have seen it; we have been in their camps, and are witnesses to the truth of what We say,’ o BOR Po) «we Well.’ _ “¢They have dug holes, and placed therein not less than twenty of their braves with their arms beside them ; I, with my own eyes, have seen it,’ _ “Phen some one must have poisoned them,’ Said the chief, ‘if they die off so fast as that,’ “*The rest are lying about like women and hildren ; half a score of our brothers could scalp all the rest in less time than it takes to explain it.’ “¢ Their wigwams are rich, say you?’ » “They are. Horses and horned cattle abound ; they have barrels of powder, barrels of fire-water Ps ’ (whisky), and everything that. could rejoice ‘the . heart of a brave warrior,’ “< How may squaws are there ?’ **¢ About. one dozen.’ 2 «How is the camp laid out 2’ «Tt is placed just on the edge of a.wood, and they haye many fires burning” | ‘‘* You hear what these messengers say,’ observed the chief ; ‘does the news he brings satisfy you one and all ?’ **¢T for one say: do not attack the Pale-faces,’ observed an old Indian; ‘for I have heard that among these white men there is a band of youths, who have come from a far-off land across the great waters, and that whenever they fight. they come off victorious, Some say they are invincible.’ “*Bnt you have heard the news that they are dying off, and are being buried as fast as they can dig their graves.’ | “Tis true,’ said the objector ; ‘but even now I am not satisfied, for the leader of this gallant band I speak of is as brave as a lion, yet as cunning as a fox,’ THE’ BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S: YOUNG OAPTAIN. - — - — - = ~ - 331 *“<¢ Yet even the fox is no match for the Redman in cunning,’ said, the chief. “<That may be.true,’ said the red Indian.; ‘yet I fear to give my yoice for war against these stran- gers, for | have had fearful, frightful dreams and omens regarding these young braves from the other ends of the earth, and, although I am too old to go on the war trail again, I would adyise and dissuade all from any rash attempts upon these pale-faced boys.’ “The words of the old chief were not heeded. “He was out-voted in the council, which, with the exception of himself, agreed to set out that night and attack the strangers, “ Until night everything was bustle. im the Indian camps, ‘‘ Each of the warriors prepared the best of his weapons, and armed himself to advantage. “The chief gave orders to the squaws, and to those who should remain behind, to prepare every- thing for a grand feast on their return in the early morning, ‘““ Directions ‘were also given that a party of 50 or 60 young Indians.and squaws should start out after them about midnight, in, order to. assist in bringing in and carrying the spoil, ‘‘ When this was done: the chief marshalled his band, to the number of about eighty, and, in the dusk of evening started off towards. our camp, full of hope .and expectation. ‘But what had I been doing, you may ask, “JT willexplain, — Wy “When Red Jacket; the trapper, went to sleep, I consulted with Hugh Tracy, the Count, the Major, and others, and the. result of our conference was that we should strike tents, and move further down the river. : “T gave certain ‘instructions to my, faithful halt- breed, who, as you will perceive, acted the part I required of him. “ When he had gone.I felt. certain that he would quickly . fall, inv< hands .of the Indian scouts, which he did. “TJ felt convinced, also: that. all) our movements in and around the camps were watched. “Tn order, therefore, to deceive the spies, 1 only erected half the usual number of our..tents when we had arrived at our new camping ground, for I wished to deceive the Indians about our numbers. “A great many-of our fellows.[ told to lie about as if they were sick and to moan and groan most pitifully. “This part of the performance was acted up to in an inimitable manner, and the boys moaned and sroaned ag if they were half dead and dying. ‘Tn order to carry out my. plan of deception still more I, had long, pits. dug,.and in solemn pro- cession laid several of our lads therein as if they were dead. ‘But this, as you may imagine, was all a ruse, ‘The graves were nothing else but rifle-pits. “The stiff bodies we placed therein were live lads, fresh and hearty, and ready to fight like Britons, “ Bach one had his rations with him, and plenty of ammunition also. ‘In this manner we buried not less than twenty of our Boy Soldiers in these pits, and left them with orders not to stir until the fighting began. “While we were doing this and burying our Scar crn rc rhe tems CO Cconmlilclooo S