The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

32 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN, Warner and Bill instantly left the shop, and, as the latter said, “ hooked it,” Old Flint had been perspiring with fear, but also decamped very hastily, greatly to the surprise of the officers when they returned afew minutes after- wards, They had not found the person they particularly “wanted,” but they did not go away empty-handed, for they had discovered four thieves in the honse— two professional pickpockets and their “ gals,” notorious prostitutes of the Haymarket, who drugged gentlemen and robbed them, as a genteel and lucrative mode of living. These were lugged off to the station-house, kind reader, whither let us go, and see what was doing there regarding Old Ford's murder at the Haunted House, ; CHAPTER XVI, SANGUINARY COMBAT IN THE DARK RAVINE— FIGHT FOR THE STANDARD—FATTY ‘“ THE FIRE- DEVIL ”’—EXPLOITS OF THE YOUNG LEADERS— MARK, THE FOSTER BROTHER'S DEED OF BRAVERY—THE VICTORY—THE CAPTURED FLAG —THE SURRENDER—THE AWFUL EXPLOSION. FRANK had not gone far with his men when he perceived the dangerous position in which Hugh Tracy and his party were. They, like himself, had journeyed up the ravine, and hid themselves for a time until the proper moment. Shortly a company of Austrians appeared at the head of the ravine, which stopped Hugh’s pro- gress, . When he heard the firing, however, he made sure that Frank had been attacked, and therefore ordered his men to begin firing. Nothing could have been better for the Austrians, who were very numerous, | They returned the fire, and for some time the young Garibaldians maintained their ground. But they had to give way before superior numbers, and were slowly retiring down the ravine again, knocking over Austrians at every step. The enemy, with loud shouts, and notwithstand- ing their number of killed and wounded, bravely followed, and were then fighting there at the moment when Frank’s party arrived, and screened them- selves from view in the edge of the rayine, right behind the Austrians, He saw at a glance how matters stood, and in order to encourage his friends fighting below he and a Pauly raised loud shouts and cheers for Gari- aldi These shouts were recognised by Hugh Tracy’s party, who answered them, and made the ravine echo again with their lusty cheers. The Austrians wére much surprised, but did not prove cowards. They were now taken in front ah were by the young Garibaldians, who, on all si es, showered vollies of shot upon them without mercy. The fight was now becoming hotter and more desperate each moment, The Italian seaman who had joined Frank per- formed prodigies of valour. Amid cheers, shouts, groans, combat continued, The Austrians could not escape, they were assailed with such fury on either side that they knew not what to do, Surrender !” shouted Frank on one side, “Never |’? was the response. and oaths, the ‘Then let them have it, lads,”’ said Frank, and his followers fired faster than ever. The poor Austrians did not know what to make of it, They were far more numerous than the young Garibaldians ; but the latter seemed to fire six shots to their one ; and no wonder, for most of them had breech-loadera, and rifles which could fire twenty times per minute, so that they literally poured balls into them like showers of hail stones. Frank, though brave, was also wise. He did not madly rush into the thick of the fight, and thus leave his comrades without a commander. He did much better than this. The Austrian officer in command rode a horse which Frank made up his mind to have atall costs, But how to get it he did not know. Chance soon gaye him an opportunity. The Austrian ordered a part of his men to wheel about and charge Frank’s party with the bayonet. This they attempted to do, But Jack was as good as his master, for Frank, nothing loth, cheered on his men, and with sword in hand dashed at the Austrian officer on horseback in front. For an instant the mounted Austrian was as- tonished to see such a youth assail him. But next moment their swords clashed, and it was a hand-to-hand encounter, short and desperate, The officer tried to ride over Frank ; but the youth was too nimble. He jumped aside, and the sword which was aimed at his head, clove the air ! With a loud laugh of triumph, Frank struck the officer on the sword-arm, and not only disabled but unhorsed him | In a second Frank jumped upon the animal, and with a loud shout he galloped towards Hugh Tracy to give directions. The Austrian flag was waving in the breeze amid fire and smoke. On his way to Hugh, Frank made a dash at it. He cut the bearer down, and the force of his blow - severed the flag-staff in twain. He was now surrounded on all sides, The colours were snatched up by some brave Austrian, and Frank, though not disgraced, was obliged to fight his way out of the throng, whose bayonets were all pointed at his breast, Frank at that moment was unhorsed, The young Garibaldians seeing his danger rushed closer and closer on the foe with wild shouts. The meeting was a deadly one. : With pistols, knives, bayonets, cutlasses, and rifles the combatants met breast to breast ! It was a fearful moment. The fight was still terrible, intense and unequal, for the Austrians were far more numerous. But this the young Garibaldians did not seem to care much about, for their foes were falling fast on every hand, For a short time longer the sanguinary combat lasted, but the enemy were beaten at all points. Some clambered up the rocks out of the ravine, ‘and thus escaped certain slaughter, Others hid themselves behind rocks, and in clefts, but the greater part still fought on bravely. How long the fight might have lasted there was no telling, for the young Garibaldians. discovered they had met men who were not cowards, “Fatty,” who, to his credit, it must be confessed, fought like a lion during the whole affair; mauy had fallen before his strong arm. His arms, and sleeves, and face were all dyed with gore, and his hair stood on end as if with fright, ‘The flag ! The flag !” he cried, and rushed into the thickest of the figlit, “We'll teach ’em what Comicboo (©)