The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

4 342 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR; GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. icin Se RG Ji Nic Wb iF ei ST al a “Fyrom the information of ‘a trusty friend, it was deemed advisable to be extremely cautious, as everything on the Rio Grande indicated movements of importance, and the different forts were sony guarded, “ General Mezia, Maximilian’s right-hand man, bad been in secret conference with the authorities for several days, and in private circl es brageed of what he was going to do, - “ He was not going into winter, ganas until the vile ‘rebels’ were driven from his front, and they did £0 ‘at rebel expense, &c, “As General Mezia acted in conjunction with General Lopez, at Matamoras, across the river a piece, it was not a matter of much doubt whence the blow was likely to come, so ‘we hastened back again as speedily as possible. ‘‘ The nearer, we approached the river, the more difficult it was to proceed... ‘‘The French had so many, men lying along the main roads, that, it, was. almost impossible to travel, “ We picketed. our horses im) the woods, when near Matamoras, and held.a council.of war. »\/\) “JT proposed to procure ‘the countersign® by stratagem, if possible, and go into Matamoras,""""" | “ The rest of the party vehemently: dissented from such an adventure, but' promised to stay os ra house of a friend till my return. “JT had resumed my half-French uniform, nate proceeded cautiously along the road, according to the diréctions of ‘friends, andas it was just sunset saw innumérable ‘camp+fires in every direction, ‘From a distance I perceived picket guards round 'a fire, at the forks of the road, and was. com- pelled to halt, os Hitching the grey mare in the mabe, I pro- ceeded on foot, and crept among the brushwood until within thirty ‘paces of the nearest guard. “Having lain there for an hour or more, some one approached, and I faintly heard the countersign of ‘Puebla,’ given, and, being satisfied, cautiously returned, mounted the mare, and. galloped along the road, roaring the Marsellaise, “Halt |’ shouted the prpket as I uneeremonionsly approached. “ «Who comes there? “A friend with the countersign,’ J sthee APEC! hiccuping, and pretended to:reel in the saddle. “* Advance, friend, and give ‘the ‘countersign,’ replied the sentry,’ with [a laugh, for, thinking me an officer returning froma call et he Scarcely noticed the countersign, | “ Passing along I could not ‘help lingering near my old estates, “ Regiments of Frenchmen weré camped upon them ; my woods, fences, and barns were all de- stroyed, and they had converted the divellings into guard-houses, where dozens were howling in in- toxication, trl) “ Possessed of the apudtei om I found no difl- culty in passing from place to place, and enjoyed myself until midnight with | lotof officers; who were bent on a drinking bout; | if “ One of them had brought important dénpdddtien from General Bazaine, and was to return before sunrise, “* But,’ said he, ‘if they think I am oing’ to travel thirty miles again to-night, the ms eral is much mistaken, I shall just go Out of ‘town, and put up at Paulo’s for the night; what say you, Smidt ?’ said he to another aide, a Belgian, . “© You are not going on with your papers to- night,’ eh ?. They’ll keep,man, they -ain’t important, so let’s make a night of it, and put in an-exeuse of lame horses !’ “ Both agreed to the plan, and. about. an hour afterwards proceeded on their way together, . ‘I knew P——’s plantation very well, and re- solved that both their persons and papers should visit this side of the river, and immediately started for my party, awaiting me. ‘‘ Having watched in which room these worthies were domiciled, we lay in wait, and I hit upon the. idea, of separating them. ‘‘ Accordingly, I rode up to the house and inquired if Captain Smidt was there. I had been told was, and had been sent by General Mejia to call him immediately. ‘““Smidt'soon made his appearance, cursing and swearing in every dialect of Dutch and English, — “ «Some cot dem tyful hat watched him, sure unt he was a gone schicken,’ Pe how old Mejia know him not gone ?’ “JT condoled with Smidt, and ere ‘we ehad gone many paces) he was seized and secured without a show of resistance. ‘‘ When Paulo was about to alow out the: paiales I knocked again.\((. & “ He was ina beesitsle temper; and when he shoved the candlestick close in my face to see who it! was; msec iaeeenes with astonishment, | ee cutiin this:Nuimber,)))) Mi “ He fully weodérindd me, bat presenting a re- volver at his head, and placing a finger on my lip, I passed in, and a companion stood guard over him, while I went upstairs, ‘* Knocking at the door, Smidt’s companion an- swered, and I entered, ‘““ He was surprised, but glad to see me. I had heard him state his intention to stay at Paulo’s all night, when in the tavern, and thought Td follow suit, intending to go.on and join my regiment in the morning, ‘‘ After smoking and Senay of some brandy I had with me, we talked for a long time on the sub- ject of arms and accoutrements. “He had a magnificent pair of revolvers, and it was my” ambition to effect his capture. withont bloodshed. I handed over for inspection my self- | cocker, empty, and he pushed across’ the table’his loaded weapons. ° “T fingered them coolly for several minutes, and with apparent thoughtlessness, cocked’ them both. “ Presenting them! at ‘his head suddenly, I in- formed him! who: I’ was, and commanded bim to dress immediately and follow me. “ Resistance is) useless,’ I remarked) ‘thie teicis is surrounded,’ ** Deadly pale and almost paralyzed, the courier dressed and was conducted to his horse. “We started off without a whisper, and soon arrived at the spot where Smidt was cuarded. “In my absence the boys had gagged him, to stop his eternal prattle, and when he recognized his companion, handeuffed, I thought: his hair would stand on end with astonishment. “With our prisoners in the centre, we briskly trotted along the bright moonlit road, and ere long caught a distant view of our camp fires. “phe river, we knew, was well guarded at nearly all points ; hence, for the ‘sake of caution, we stole through the woods and made up a’plan. “Two of our party were to advance boldly to the river, give the’ countersign, and say that they"had volunteered to cross to reconnoitre the Republican army. 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