The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

36 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN, _ EEE RES UTE Oe ee page, shook him by the hand, and cheered loudly for his safety, while Fatty, like a rough bear, nearly hugged him to death. “But how is this, Buttons? There is some mystery here. How did you escape ?” “What of Teresa? Did you discover her?” _ “ Not only discovered her ; butrescued her,” said Buttons. ‘She is now sleeping in the cabin,” “ And neither of you got hurt?” “ Not the scratch of a pin,” Loud shouts rent the air on hearing this good news. | ‘But how did it all happen? how could you escape the explosion ?” “That remains to be told, Captain Frank,” said Buttons, laughing. ‘‘ When we are well rested, if you don’t mind, I'll spin that.yarn to all assembled.” “ Aoreed |! agreed !’ shouted the young Garibal- dians, in high glee, : At that moment Mark pointed towards the south. A steamer was approaching ‘at full speed ; but was yet some distance off. They began to fire at the yacht; but their shot and shells fell wide of the mark and spurted up the water in heavy columns full half a mile wide from the “ Kaiser.” ‘‘We are discovered,” said Mark, “ and chased, Tell the lads to hoist every stitch of canvas. We must fight our way out of this,” Bang! bang! went the enemy’s guns : but the shots fell short. “Hugh, load the two brass rifled guns,” said Frank. “ We’ll just give the Austriana taste o our quality when he comes near enough,” The guns were loaded, and Frank pointed them. “Don’t fire yet,’ he said, from me.” Aye, aye, sir,” said the Italian gunners and young Garipaldians, full of enthusiasm, Frank stood beside the guns, telescope in hand, ready to give the word of command, CHAPTER XVIII, THE OLD IRON SAFE AND ITS TREASURES—PRE- PARATIONS FOR LEAVING ENGLAND—THE TELE- GRAPH AND DETECTIVES WORK TOGETHER— “IS THAT THE MAN?’?’—THE MYSTERY NOT CLEARED UP—-SUSPICION ON FRANK, INSIDE the office sat a spruce, well-shaven inspector, pen in hand, while inside and outside of the little square room sat several policemen, most of them in pen clothes, wet, muddy, and tired with their Drunkards, thieves, and riotous persons of both sexes came in, conducted by various officers; the charges against them were taken in a short, busi- ness-like manner, and the luckless individuals quickly confined in various cells of very small and uncomfortable dimevsions, This was nothing. The telegraph from Scotland Yard was working rapidly, and the inspector knew very well that something more than common had taken place, He read the message and seemed shocked, “ Wait for the word - It was about old Ford’s murder at the Haunted House, The “case”? seemed a difficult one, but the in- sector, after a moment’s thought, called in Sergeant Gale, and police-constable Stiff. Both these officers were in plain clothes, Quiet, fatherly, innocent-looking fellows they were, with no flurry about them, and always took things very coolly. ' : Innocent as they looked, however, they were as sharp as needles, and it might be truthfully said, as it often had been said, that a thief or desperado might as well have the devil after him as either Gale or Stiff, They received their instructions, and quietly left the inspector’s little office, as if they were going to bed, instead, perhaps, of never seeing one for a week to come, “Tt wasa very difficult job,” the inspector said ; but then he knew that both Ga'e and Stiff were used to “ difficult jobs”? all their lives, and rather liked them, than otherwise, as all good officers do, . They went their way, plunged into the dark streets around the police station, and vanished none knew whither. * “ _ ” * Of all this Old Flint knew nothing. He hurried homewards to his “ office” so called, a two-roomed den, situated not far from Lincoln’s Inn, which boasted of little more than an iron safe, piles of parchmert, books, and cart-loads of legal rubbish ; while in the front apartment stood a Led and wash-stand. When he entered this office he sank back per- fectly exhausted into an old arm-chair, The shutters were up, but the grey lght of morning stole through the cracks, and shed a dim e uncertain light on all round. ? All was quiet ; nought brt a mouse gnawing in the deserted cupboard, or rustling among books and papers on the floor and tables, broke the stillness of the scene. With candle in hand he walked towards his iron safe, snd opencd it. He drew a small stool towards him, and sat down to pore over his deeds and treasures, His old eyes sparkled with delight as he conned the will and a number of valuable title deeds of his murdered client—Mr, Ford. Bags there were also, filled with gold almost to bursting. A small drawer was packed with diamonds of great price, ‘‘ All these are mine,” he said, as he surveyed his treasures. He took upa large bundle of bank notes, a very large bundle it was indeed, “ This is the result of the many sales of old Ford’s property,” he mused. ‘‘ What a silly old fool he was to trust any lawyer with so ata wealth. Well, I am no worse than the majority of my calling ; they are very much like pawnbrokers ; it’s two to one if the client ever gets back what he entrusts to them, and then not till they’ve been well bled first—ha, ha ! lawyers for ever. They call us spiders waiting for a fly ; so we are, but the fly doesn’t get off easier than a lawyer's patron,” These thoughts made the old man chuckle again, He paid a visit to his mouldy cupboard, drank Gomichbookssco » ao