The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 60: what you’re looking at

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. were 4 cde of Hired Assassins in thé service of some Hnglishman, who has a déddlylgrtidge against young Captain Ford ; but his natie I have not yet ascertained.” seo “T hopé he Has riot. estaped,’” said thé old Seneral, with 4 bitter sHiilé, gi “Fam sorty to say that Hé has, @énefal: When he found that the young Englishmen weté beating all opposed to thet; he, ikea cowardly knave, left his hired villains in the lurch, and decamped ; hé even fired at some of thé brave boys who wére rescuing one of his own followers from & Watery gravé.” | “ Dastatd’ that he was; Would that thé brave young English boys had captured him, then. we might have known the secret plot which is afoot against young Captain Ford.” . “T fear, general,” Teresa replied, "that thete is” more than we can see on the face of it ; but leaye it to me, and I swéar to unravel this plot and mystery ere long. There is one thing we can say, and fio one daré dispute it; that this epiraeeg' band of English boy Volunteers are the bravest of thé bravé.” “T know that,” said the old general, with.a smile, “T know what English boys are. too, well .to dispute your words, Teresa. I have had. English boys under my command in eyery—yea,in all my engagements on land and sea, both in Hurope and South America, and more heroic youths never were than they are. English boys are. equal to men of other nations, . There is nothing that they will not attempt, and; I believe, nothing. but what they can do. If we do not find some hazardous enterprise for them to undertake they will be sure to find out one for themselves,” said Garibaldi, laughing. “ Let us_hope, however, that, they will curb their fiery tempers, and be cooler than they generally are.” Teresa was delighted to find that General Gari- baldi had formed such a high opinion of her young and gallant friends. She did not tell him, however, what she had heard in the English camp, namely; that the Boy Band were getting tired of doing nothing, and _ that they had made up their mind 6n a series of dating ad- ventures on Austrian territory, and that all atrange- ments were perfected for carrying them out. This was true; however, as, we shall shortly see. When Teresa returned to the camp of the young English boys; she found that the general conimand- ing had summoned a court martial to enquire into the late duel and subsequent encounter, , . Frank was very weak from loss of blood} but yet able to walk.; .. , © | bg Had it not been for Teresa's timely aid, he must have been slain, ase All the. young Garibaldians were safe; none of them were dangerously hurt, Despite the labours of the court marshal, it was unable to fathom the cause of the late strange pro- ceedings, ; Pedro the: guard. was. arrested; but he; like the rest, was sullen, and refused to reveal ought he knew of the unexpected and bloody. encounter.» The two men disguised as Italian officers, thotigh suffering from wounds received im the aduél) were heavily ironed; as was also Pedro the soldier, who, without doubt, kiew more about the plot than he cared, or perhaps dared, to reveal, Next day, and greatly'to the surprise an@ pleasure of the youtg English boys, Garibaldi sént an order for them to march to the Austrian frontier, where they would have ample opportunities for action, They were ordered to the extreme front of the Italian line of frontiet in Lombardy, This news was hailed with joy. THE BOY SOLDIER; OR; GARIBALDIS mb og psf Ca Ces BE Ee ae pecelved iis orders under seal from — Gefiéfal Garibaldi himself. ge ad A gpetial trdin was got ready for them, and~oft | théy started with wild “Boorays”” At thitty miles per hoir they rattléd Aléng to. | wards Lomardy: — He aes Sits | THE people Of tdivfis and villages Wad heard ot thei, and thet them af varions stations with friiits, | wine, cigats, ad All things that thohey could buy, | This sort of thing greatly delighted Master 1 oie and the comical Buttons, who danced and sang all the way in great glee. i eed ros: een Sometimes Fatty indulged in very wild capers. — He and Buttons and several other harum- catem | young devils climbed on to the roof of t ge : q and amused themselves with singing and shouting, | and dancing to the tune of a fiddle which one of - the party could very well play. ae | The engineer and guard protested against such — mad freaks; and appealed to Frank, but he only — laughed and said, ‘ } } ‘i , : -t t | | _ “Never fear, they won’t, hurt themselves belle "em have their way. They are brave as steel, ant have more lives than a cat.” -» 9. s. houaston | The spot which General Garibaldi had “sélected : for them to watch and guard was a most dangerous | : They were placed far in the front, and any miles from the general army, right in the. teth ot the Austrians, who were strongly posted with a large army on the opposite bank of a small river. =| _ To, keep their novements as secret as poss pdf Frank would not let any of his sek put. a | tents Or make any fires, lest the white canyas and | sioke should be observed across the river. ' Twelve youths were picked from the company) and posted under cover of night close by the river Fatty and Buttons were among them. «14 55. Fatty, for his bravery in the late fight, was made | & sergeant by the unanimous wish of his comrades, — and Buttons was likewise henceforth to be atyled 5) ‘‘ corporal.” | roi & at sit Bewool y _ Frank, Hugh, Dick and Mark, asthe chief officers, | held.a council of war the first night of thei ar- — rival. bs 1 od4 Quliet Teas Fatty and Buttons were bent on mischief... off | As they lay beside the river wrapped up 4n theix Alt blankets side by side these two young devils made | plans of their own. : 2iob eit They could hear boats passing and ees thé river, heavily armed by Austrian guards; and, from a good knowledge of Italiam and German, 4 ‘which both had more or less achieved at Bromley | Hall; or during their recent travels, they were able — to make out and understand the conversation they — Ovérheard, 4 Sf ‘By Jingo, though, wouldn’t it be @ lark if we (i Were to cross the river, and surprise some on *ém?” said Fatty. ‘ What say you ?” | mth ‘Captain’ Frank, perhaps; wouldn’t like it.” “ But how is he to know? I'm ganie.” “So am 1 ! . “What say you, then, suppose we @0 have & jolly spree when the other guard reliéves us, Buttons ?” 2” | “ How many will form the party ?” i “Oh, about a dozen.” a “But we shall want horses.” : ANOS) “ That’s easily managed, Let vs all swith’ across — the river and ‘ nail’ a dozen fronr yonder cavalry | camp in the valley just before us,” bote] _“T don’t mind; When will the mext guard re- | lieve us?” ix ats i ‘Tn about an hour,” 4 aus nat ge = 4 oe ie ey F : : mm 6 at 74) | fe k Eomichbooks com