The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 377: 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. 371 ———$—$—— as far up the ravine as he pleased, knowing full well that there was no outlet. ‘In the meantime, however, all of his available forces were busily engaged in chopping down the heavy trees which grew on each side of the ravine. “In this manner they prevented the retreat of Don Toros, ‘Dozens of immense trees fell with a loud crash across the ravine bed, ‘This was the cause of those loud sounds which the Spaniards had heard, ‘‘ When, therefore, they approached the place of exit, old Toros found himself helpless and unable to proceed, “Nor could his men get at Catalka’s forces on account of the obstructions, ‘Tn addition to this the native prince had posted scores of his Indian allies on projecting rocks, whence, at a given signal, they hurled down showers of stones and arrows upon the heads of the devoted Spaniards, “For one or two hours this sort of fight was carried on, until at last Catalka thought it time for himself to personally engage in the conflict, “Te feared death, it is true; and he knew beyond a doubt that if old Toros could get near him, the desperate and despairing Spanish chief wane hew his way through scores of men to get at im. “ Cunning-like, he ordered some of his men to mount an adjacent rock, and there, in the morning light just dawning, to exhibit the captive son before his own father’s eyes. “This was done. , “The sight was unexpected by any of the Spaniards, and least of all by Don Toros. ‘The old chief gazed on his son as if he was an apparition. “It struck more terrors to his soul than all the weapons of Catalka’s army, ““* Surrender!’ shouted Catalka, in_a voice of thunder. “ And as he spoke, an arm was upraised to slay the youth before his father’s eyes. * The old Spaniard’s heart sank within him, * Carlos was his only child, and he loved him to distraction, ‘Paternal love, and soldierly pride were waging in his battle-scarred breast, “He would save his son, but yet would rather die than sully his honour, particularly at such a moment as that, when death was staring him in the face. ‘ Catalka was triumphant. “ He and his followers made the ravine ring again with their shouts, “But suddenly Catalka’s cheek turns pale, “He is about to sacrifice Carlos before the father's eyes, when at an unexpected moment, his daughter Elvina, who, unknown to her father, had followed the expedition, crept through the dense brushwood, and frantically running towards Don Toros, threw herself at his feet, : “¢T am Catalka’s only daughter,’ she said, aloud, and in a wild proud manner, ‘and have been the innocent cause of all this bloody strife. Don Toros, I love your son and he loves me! If my father is intent upon murder, here is my bare neck ; raise your sword and despatch me also |’ ‘For a moment an awful pause ensued in the ranks of all. ; ‘‘ Both fathers were subdued. “What strife could not attain love achieved. “The combat ended. ‘‘ The lovers were united, _“ Catalka and Don Toros shook hands, and never since that time has there existed strife of any im- portant character between the Spaniards or their descendants and the natives of this part of the Rio Grande.”’ Thus ended the strange story of old Roberto, concerning one of the fiercest feuds which ever existed in Mexico, CHAPTER CXVIII. CAPTAIN FORD’S LAST LETTER FROM MEXICO— BLOODY BATTLES AND DEEDS OF DARING— THE LAST FIGHT—THE OVERTHROW AND CAP- TURE OFj MAXIMILIAN — THE FALL OF QUERETERO—GREAT REJOICINGS AMONG THE LIBERATED PEOPLE, “ DEAR BROTHER, —In my last last letter I described to you all that had happened to myself and the gallant band of Boy Soldiers, which I have the honor and pleasure to command. “I now proceed to relate the last and most desperate battles in which we have been lately en- gaged, which sanguinary conflicts, I am happy tosay, have at last resuited in the capture of the Emperor Maximilian himself, and the overthrow of the throne which he wished to raise up in a foreign land against the wishes of the Mexican people, * My last letter informed you that, after the action, we were On our way near to Potosi to recruit and organize, ‘We had not remained in this wilderness of a place many days when information was brought that Maximilian had suddenly stopped, and was somewhat bewildered by the unexpected discom- fiture of his generals, “‘ Instead, therefore, of following up the advance they halted, and formed a junction at Potosi, having a total of some twelve or fifteen thousand men, well armed, disciplined, and counting among them a heavy force of German and Belgian regulars of arms’ ** Escobedo, however, was daily receiving re-in- forcements, and 1n a few days could count upwards of nine thousand in his command, ** But thousands had no arms whatever, and had to depend upon chance or fortune for them. “lt seemed to be defermined by our generals to advance upon the enemy, ** But there soon arose much bickering among the officers regarding precedence in command, Esco- bedo and Lopez did not muster more than 4,000 men ; but because the former had been appointed brigadier-general by the authorities, and Lopez had not yet been recognized at all by them, he claimed that precedence of command belonged to him, although Lopez’s troops mustered 10,000, had been successful, their general had distinguished himself in former wars, as in this ; whereas, it was said, Escobedo had not yet shown any signs of genius or capacity. c ‘ Lopez waived every distinction, and was willing to take any command, or do anything which might tend to overthrow the power of the enemy, and rid the country of its oppressors, “ Many generals, however, were averse to ad- vancing on the enemy at all, but desired to fall back, so as to draw the enemy away from their base of operations. : ‘*But Hscobedo argued that the enemy were comparatively weak to what they would be in a Conn CLIOOKS.GO) —