The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 372: what you’re looking at

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366 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. oo a IE I “He will not come to-night,’ sighed Carlos, and left his apartment thoughtfully and slowly. “ He had resolved to proceed along the long stone corridors, and ascend the loftiest battlements in order to have a still more extended view of the surrounding country. , “ When young Spinola, with a loud shout, awoke from his sleep, looking startled and deadly pale. “ With clamimy brow and flashing eyes he darted from the chamber, and sought his friend, companion, and lord, and Don Carlos. Carlos, however, unknown to him, had ascended the watch-tower stairs, and at that ‘moment stood on the loftiest pinnacle of the castle ! ‘““* What of the night, guard ?’ asked Don Carlos, with a troubled brow, pacing tp and down. ** All is quict without, my lord,’ said the sentinel, in tones of genuine reverence and respect. ‘+ You have well scanned the high roads that run through the forest aeross the Rio?’ “¢Yes, in truth, most noble Carlos ; such were the orders of the captain of the watch,’ “¢ And have seen nothing ?’ ‘© Nothing, good my lord.’ ‘Strange ! ’tis very strange,’ mused Carlos, with a heavy heart. “Are you sure that while on guard you have neither seen nor heard ought?’ ‘© * No, in truth, my good lord.” «¢ Nor your comrades of the night-watch either ? I expected a trusty yeoman messenger to-night, one who was ever faithful and true; he tarries long, and comes not far from the border,’ “Even while thus he spoke, and peered over the moonlit battlements, he saw that which at first seemed to please and afterwards to startle him. ‘Tis he! it is! it must be Hubert!’ he said. ‘See yonder, or do my eyes deceive me, guard?’ said Carlos. ““In the distance, far, very far away, a small black speck was seen crossing the moonlit landseape, and speeding hastily to the covert of the forest. “Presently this unknown object was observed to be closely followed by four others |! “Onwards they come! it is an exciting seene; it seems to be a race for life or death. “The five small black objects become larger and more distinct each moment, ‘The first one seems almost overtaken by the others. “* Poor Hubert! brave, gallant Hubert! it must be he! it must be he! the border ruffians give him chase.’ “My good lord, did you see their rude weapons flash in the moonlight ? *«« See! there it is again,’ said one, “<« He falls !’ “No; he cuts his way through, and dashes away from them I ‘‘* He seeks the forest shelter.’ ‘“« They are now lost to view, Don Carlos,’ ‘**T saw one fall,’ “Yea two, good, my lord,’ «They must be robbers assailing some laggard traveller, for he had a white horse under him.’ “Such were the several exvlamations of the guard and officers of the night-watch who had wit- nessed the exciting chase in the moonlit plain below. “A white horse, say you?’ Carlos asked, in doubt. “« Yes, my good lord.’ “<Then it was not Hubert,’ said Carlos; ‘he will come to-morrow with the dawn, What we have now seen must have been an affair with forest cut- throats,’ ‘‘As thus he spoke, and turned away from the group of guards, young Spinola walked up to him hastily on the castle walls, looking pale and traubled: S * * * 6 Why, my faithful Spinola, what would ye with me ?’ said Carlos, in a jocose tone, as he shook his young companion by the hand. ‘Thou look’st as if some frightful ghost or goblin had disturbed thy wits and slumber,’ **« So there has, Don Coxlosy: young Spinola coolly replied, “«Why, man, what mean ye?’ said Carlos, laughing. ‘Surely my friend, Spinola, has not turned old dame, that he believes in dreams and witchery? What ails thee? Could’st not sleep without me, then? Come, come, look pleased again; don’t be angry with me. I love thee too well to see thy comely face so sorrow-laden, Come, I'll watch no more to-night, Let us to bea; thou shalt pour into my ear the dreadful dream which hath paled thy rosy cheek, and, when Hubert arrives in the morning, we will-——’ ‘“¢What of the morning, Don Carlos?’ Spinola thoughtfully asked. aes Why, off we are to the hills, and merrily slay the deer.’ “¢ Methinks good Hubert will never more re- turn,’ ‘““¢ What say you?’ said Don Carlos, the colour mounting to his face, you?’ ““¢ Indeed methinks he will not. he will not,’ ‘“* Suppose you, then, that fhe has turmed a das- tardly traitor, and revealed all my secrets across the Border? It cannot be, You know not Hubert so well as I. He would serve me with his heart's blood,’ ‘““* He never will more.’ “* What mean ye?’ young Carlos asked, striking his foot impatiently on the ground. ‘You were not wont to speak in riddles thus. What reason have you to doubt good Hubert ?’ “*T do not doubt him ; he is, and has ever been, the very pink of honour itself—never a truer or more faithful yeoman hired to serve Don Toros or his son.’ “* Right glad am I thus to hear my bosom friend 80 speak of him.’ ** But still for all he will never return, Don Carlos.’ “*What prompts you to think so? He is the best forester on the whole Border ; none can track or catch him. He it was who taught me how and where to hunt, and now I know all the range from these walls far across the Rio, aye, up to the battle- ments of Bexar; a stouter heart or braver mah ne’er pulled bow or threw a spear. I would trust my soul’s fortune in his hands. He it is, as you kuow,’ continued young Carlos, ‘ who is my mes- senger to Elvina, our old enemy’s fair daughter.’ ““ And Elvina has caused his death,’ said Spinola, in a half whisper. ‘Don Carlos started back at the words which Spinola had so solemnly uttered, and gazed on his friend's pale face like one just starting from a dream. ‘‘At that moment, however, and while they yet stood on the battlements, the thoughtful mood of Carlos was broken by the clanking footsteps of a man in mail who approached him with a slip of ee in hand. I feel certain Pe — Cc omicbooks.cor (0) <SriGO) ‘Not return! what mean -