The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. It must be confessed, however, that his red face owed a great deal of its colour to a small bottle of wine he had “‘ hooked,” “ Three cheers for the gallant Tom !” said Mark, “‘ He’s as modest as he’s brave.” ‘‘ For all the world like me,” said Fatty. “Silence, Paunchey,” Buttons remarked. wouldn’t do for a sea-captain.” “Why not, eh, Master Impudence? why not ?” “Tt would take at least two ships to carry you anywhere,” Buttons said. Fatty made aslap at his young tormentor, but missed his mark as usual, and hit some one else instead, A fight might have been the consequence, but Mark soon restored order by saying, “Bring out a bottle of brandy, some one; we must drink Tom’s health.” ‘“‘ Hear | hear !”’ was the unanimous response. “ Fill up, lads ; fill uptothe brim! MHere’s three times three, and a bumper to your noble companion and schoolmate, the gallant Captain Tom !” ““Ho-o-ray ! ho-o-ray ! hooray !’’ was the noisy response of all, They had just done cheering, and were quiet once more, when one of their guards, placed some dis- tance away from the camps, was heard to shout out, “Halt! halt! Who goes there?” “A friend,” was the faint answer of some stranger approaching, muffled in a cloak. ““ Advance, friend, and give the countersign,” was the sentinel’s response, All was silent again. “Who can that be?” asked one of another in surprise. A moment of silence elapsed. A stranger, escorted by two sentinels, slowly approached through the darkness. All eyes were turned towards the stranger, No one recognized him. He threw off his cloak, more by accident than design. All rose and raised an exclamation of surprise and astonishment. The stranger’s leg was bandaged, and his arm was in a sling. His face was haggard and bloody. It was Dick ! “What! Dick Fellows?” gasped each one in return, ’ Yes; it was the same brave lad, but so changed that his own comrades could scarcely recognize him! “Where is Captain Frank? Where is Hugh?” asked one and another. There was no response, Poor Dick sank upon the ground, and had not strength enough to answer the questions, and could scarcely look any of his comrades in the face. “Where is Captain Frank ?” “What has become of Hugh?” were questions still repeated. “Give me a cup of wine,” said Dick, faintly. “TI am more dead than alive, and severely wounded, A “Vou cup of wine! quick, a cup of wine !” CHAPTER XXXI. THE BOY SOLDIERS, LED ON BY MARK, CHARGE THE BATTERIES IN THE MOUNTAIN GORGE. AS well as he was able Dick told the story of his strange adventure, of Hugh Tracy’s fall from the precipice, and of the false guide's death. 85 All the Boy Soldiers listened with distended eyes to Dick’s sorrowful tale. The cheek of each one was flushed with anger, and they turned to rush to the rescue of their gallant young leaders, and avenge them, “ What, brother Frank and Hugh Tracy both gone!’ said Mark, rising up. ‘Shall we sleep, lads, and not make any effort to save them 2?” “No! no! no!” was the response of all, ** Let us away at once,” said they. ** Lead us on, Mark.” “We will follow you anywhere.” “Then so be it. Prepare all of you for instant departure.” In a moment every one of the Boy Band jumped to his feet, and buckled on his knapsack and belts. as Take plenty of ammunition, you will need it all.” This order was not necessary, for each one pro- _vided Himself with at least two hundred rounds of ball cartridge, and in less than an hour the whole company were ready drawn up, and in marching order. Mark tried to prevail upon Dick to remain behind in the camps. But he would not. Although weak and feeble he resolved to go out with the expedition in order to “ pilot” them to the right spot. The camp was left in charge of two youths, who pleaded sickness ; the same two, it will be remem- bered, who remained on board the ‘‘ Kaiser ”’ when the Boy Band attacked the lighthouse fort, and fought their first battle with the Austrians in the ravine. ‘ The two youths, who in reality were spies in the pay and in regular correspondence with Joel, were named Moss and Levi, and both of Hebrew ex- traction, * * a * Directly Mark and Dick left the camp with their brave followers, Moss whispered, “Tsay, Levi, what a capital chance we’ve got now.” “ How do you mean?” “Why, there is no one left behind but us, except half-a-dozen wounded young whelps, and that Austrian officer.” ‘““Well, what of that? Speak softly. I don’t understand you.” “Frank is wounded and done for ; no doubt he is in a dungeon long before this; and as to Hugh Tracy, why, his neck is broken and his skull crushed to pieces by his fall down the precipice.” “Well, go on ; but speak softly.” ‘Suppose we liberate the Austrian officer? He knows all about the strength of his comrades at the mouth of the gorgeat Val Verde. If he were to get * SSS ee ore wo ee me ———e ee ee ee EE Se ——— there before Mark and his boats, they would be prepared for these young Garibaldians, and perhaps extinguish the whole lot at one swoop.” “Not a bad idea, What say you, shall we sail?” “ Why not? I fear we are already suspected, and may be detected one of these fine mornings and shot.” ‘‘Rather an uncomfortable idea that,’ said Master Moss, rolling his small, dark eyes. ‘Have you heard anything of Joel to-day?” ‘Yes; he’s in the next village.” “How do you know?” “Mark sent me out this morning to buy eggs at the village. There wasone among them marked with red chalk, It was empty.” a Ccomicooolk nn ©