The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

-— oes, SS THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. placed inside, and all the spare horses were led by the bridle rein. “ Now,’’ said Frank, “ since we have accomplished the object of our expedition, let us make the best of our way to camp again, for there can’t be a doubt but that the Austrians will soon be out in strong force, and will scour the whole country in search of us. Whip hard, Tony. Come, lads, don’t spare your spurs, we must get to the other side of the tiver before sunrise, or its all up with us.” Fatty did whip hard, and shouted till he frightened his four horses into a mad gallop, But at the same time it must be confessed that a great deal of his wild cuts and great earnestness arose from a very particular cause, which was this; Young Buttons and: he had discovered a small hamper of wine and edibles under the box seat, and, as might be expected, neither he nor his young chum the “corporal” breathed a word of it to any one pat they had: stuffed themselves almost to suffoea- ion. How much of the cold fowl and wine the sergeant and corporal made to disappear will never be known. But little, nay, wey little remained for the rest of the hungry volunteers, although Master Tony, with a knowing wink at the corporal, and his mouth full of ham, swore roundly that he was as innocent a3 a baby, and had never touched it. The river was reached at last. But how were they to cross it? This was a puzzle to all. “Were, Fatty,’ said Frank, laughing, “come down off that box ; you will never sink, you are all blubber and wind ; fat people float the longest, and you can swim like a duck; jump in and swim across, there’s no danger, we aint pursued ; try the depth, and find a ford if there is one,” Tony didn’t much like the job, but he soon stripped and jumped in. He swam about for some time, and going up the stream a little distance, found shallow water. He carefully tried the depth across, and reported only three feet in the deepest part of the ford. All the party turned to the spot, and following Tony, their leader and guide, were soon half-way across up to their middle in water, the coach in front. While they were thus crossing, and congratulat- ing themselves on their successful adventures, a loud clattering of horses’ hoofs was heard approaching. Turning towards the bank they had just left, they saw in the distance a full squadron of Austrian hussars approaching at a gallop. ‘Crikey! we're in for it at last,’ said Tony, getting out of the water, and behind a tree as quickly as possible ; ‘“‘look out for your heads, lads, they will be sure to fire.”’ With the strength and energy of desperation the young volunteers spurred and whipped their horses vigorously, and were just on the point of gaining the bank, when a volley was fired at them. This only roused the little band to greater exer- tions, . No one was hit, but the shots flew all around them, ' whistling very unpleasant tunes in Tony’s big ears, as he hurriedly put on his clothes. CHAPTER XXIX. TO HAND COMBAT—THE PURSUIT— OF THE MOUNTAIN—THE SUR- THE HAND THE OLD MAN PRISE. “T.ooxK out, lads!’ said Frank, laughing, when all the party had safely landed on the other side; a _——— —_— 59 “look out, lads, these hussars will give us a rare peppering if we don’t mind ; lay low, and return their fire.” Crack | whiz! bang! went the rifles, and showers of shot whistled all around the boy band in a very unpleasant manner. Crack ! crack! c-r-r-ack | still went the Austrian guns, but they did no harm to the young yolunteers, who were concealed behind trees or in the deep grass. When they had been firing thus for some time their commandant was seen to leap his horse into the river. “ Follow me!” he shouted. The trumpets brayed out hoarsely. ) “ Keep cool, lads,” said Frank, “and do as I tell you. All of them will not dare to follow their brave leader. Don’t fire at him, let us catch, him alive ; he’s a gallant fellow whoever heis.” While Frank thus spoke a part of the Austrian hussars leaped into the river and followed their leader. The rest remained behind. > “ Ready ?” said Frank, in a hoarse whisper. “ Aim |” he repeated, after a moment of intense excitement. « Pire’!”’ On the instant the boy band “let loose” upon the Austrians with rifles and revolvers in rapid succession. Dozens of the Austrian hussars were knocked over in the course of a few minutes, and all was confusion among them. “Half a dozen of you follow me,’ said Frank. “Fatty, you make the best of your way down the river road with the mail coach; we will soon over- take you.” In afew seconds Frank and a half-dozen brave boys mounted their horses and leaped into the river ! The act was full of daring. The Austrians were amazed. “ In a moment, Frank, followed by Mrrk, Dick, Hugh, and some others, swam their horses right into the middle of the Austrians, and fought them hand to hand ! The Austrians on the bank feared to fire lest they might hit some of their own men. Thinking that no half-dozen boy soldiers could do much with double that number of war-like hussars, they quietly sat on their horses awaiting the issue of the combat going on before their own eyes. Never were men more mistaken than these same Austrians | Frank and his brave boys defeated all opposed to them, and captured the commandant likewise ! This bold, brave deed was accomplished by the gallant Frank in a moment, for the Austrian officer made but one thrust at him, and ina second was disarmed and unhorsed., Seeing their officer captured, the hussars hastened out of the water in dismay, and began to fire rapidly at the bold youths who had defeated them. Frank and his followers were content with doing what they had done, and soon reached their own side of the river in triumph. But now another episode occurred in this hazardous night’s work. The Austrians all along the river front were thoroughly alarmed, and the report of heavy firing brought artillery to the spot. They could not cross it in time, but they opened fire so vigorously with shot and shell that more -—-,* CO Ccomicoooks