The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 88: what you’re looking at

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mm ne ee Fellows, sword in hand. “I knew that your inten- tions were treacherous, but never dreamed you could have behaved so cruelly. I followed at a distance, and watched you. Oh! would to heaven I had been nearer to have saved poor Hugh's life |” “Foolish boy !” said the ruffian, with a smile of scorn, ‘why throw yourself in the path of your direst foe? As your captain slew one of Basil’s men, s0 haye I one of young Ford’s followers. “Tis nought but life for life. Begone, I say! or ] may dye my hands in your blood.” “Tnsolent knave !” said Dick Fellows, bravely, “ Cowardly scoundrel ! think you that an English boy heeds your poisoned words? Stand on guard, I say ! I would not murder an unresisting man.” — “You? A boy slay one of Basil's men? Hal ha! Fool that you are, I haye been well tried in battle ere now ; but never, until this moment, have I ever allowed a youth to prate to me thus, Have at you, English whelp |” “Thank heaven for this,” said Dick, dashing at hig tall opponent. : The bandit rushed at Dick, and had not the stroke been warded off, he would have been cut in twain. With the nimbleness of a dancing master, how- ever, young Dick gtepped aside, ayoided the blow, and next instant drew blood from the bandit’s left arm, With an awful oath, which hissed between his clenched teeth, the black-looking villain, with eyes flashing deadly fire, stood grinning like a hyena at his ealm and handsome opponent. } Dick, with all the composure of an excellent swordsman, and without uttering a word, waited for the villain’s rush. It soon came, With a mad bound like the sudden rush of an infuriated bull, the disguised bandit leaped upon his antagonist, : Again did he miss his aim, _ Once more was his blow warded off by Dick with a smile of triumph, It was an affair of life or death, Each one felt this, and made up their minds for the worst. Again their swords clashed, and sparks flew from their highly-tempered weapons, ' The bandit tried to close, time after time, but as often as he attempted it, as often did young Fellows, with unerring aim, wound his black, vil- lanous enemy, The bandit’s face was Row asorry sight to behold. _ It wag all covered with blood, and scarred in a Greadful manner. . He wag hurt in the thigh, in the left arm, and upon the head and shoulders, His hair was all wild about his furrowed brow, put all the while his dark eyes flashed a ferocious re. Dick, however, was also hurt, His sword arm was bleeding dreadfully. He was getting weaker and weaker. His legs began to tremble under him. The villain, however, seemed to be as strong upon his limbs as ever. Dick felt that the struggle could not last much lon ger. Again did their swords clash in deadly strife, The bandit perceived Dick’s increasing weakness, and Jaughed with bitter deadly hate and scorn. On your knees,” the villain cried, ‘and sue for mercy.” “ Never,” was Dick’s faint response. 9 — ° ~~ . Ln a a THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. At that moment his sword hilt broke from the blade | He had dropped the blade upon the ground. « All ig over now with you,” shouted the villain, as, with a hoarse laugh of triumph, he rushed upon Dick, Young Fellows fell flat to the ground. The bandit aimed his last stroke. He stumbled and fell flat upon his face. In a second Dick seized his sword blade from the ground, quickly wrapped his handkerchief round it for a firm hold, and resumed the fight. Each moment was now fraught with life or death to one or both. The crisis was at hand. The bandit seized Dick by his collar with the left hand. Die! die!” he shrieked, in fiendish triumph. A deadly haze came over his eyes. He reeled, and made one feeble strake for the last. With a deep groan the villain dropped hig sword. He fell heayily to the ground. ? The purple tide gushed from his side. - Dick Fellows had stabbed him with his last feeble and expiring strength. The villain’s eyesrolled in ageny, awful to beheld, He gnashed his teeth, and writhed in pain, With a last long-sounding sigh, he stretehed himself out to hig full len oth” 5 Some His head fell on one side, He was dead ! CHAPTER XXX. HEROIC CONDUCT OF CAPT. TOM FORD IN THE ‘‘KAISER”— INTERCEPTED PISPATOHES — THE NIGHT SEA-FIGHT OFF TRIBSTE HARBOUR— THE CUTTING-OUT EXPEDITION—TOM’S LETTER, THE consternation among the young yolunteers when they discovered that Pheir captain was missing may be more easily imagined than deseribed, They travelled iully fifteen miles ere they halted, and then it was that their faces besame blanched at hearing that, in the hurry and confusion, their wounded chief was not among them, Every one of the brave Jads who were able volun- teered to go back and search for him upon the battle-field, but this was not allowed by Hugh Tracy, who was then chief in command, He and Dick Fellows, as we have seep, resolved to return, leaving the volunteers under the com- mand of Mark Tilton, Frank’s foster brother. Every one was much pleased with Mark, and | glad that he had been selected to govern them until Frank’s return. When Hugh and Dick had left the camp, Mark resolved to open the mail bags, and see what they contained, — This resolution was heartily seconded by Fatty and Buttons, who * were dying,’ as the saying is, to satisfy their curiosity. When, therefore, the camps were all snugly arranged, and their fires brightly burning, Mark ordered the mail bags to be brought forth fiom the coach and opened, Fatty and Buttons, staggering under the weight of a large bag each, threw their burden down among the anxious grouns assembled, | Mr. Tony Wacddleduck was very neryous, an desirous of opening one himself, and so was But- : tens. GComicboo S ' en LL LL LL i fl)