The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

| | 86 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. — ee “Empty?” “Yes; that’ is to say, the contents had been sucked out till quite dry, and a small bullet wrapped up in this slip of paper, put i instead,” said Levi, producing a thin slip of tissue paper on which was writing. “But why didn’t he talk to you instead ?” “The truth is that the villagers like the young Garibaldians so well that Joe] had to be very careful how he acted. I have called at the same house before for eggs and the like; but to day when I went I found Joel lodging there in disguise. He did not speak or even pretend to know me; but directly he had a chance he slipped an extra egg into my basket unobserved. I thought it meant something, and soon discovered that it was hollow. “And what does the note say?” “He says that he has found out that Frank has been captured by thé Austrians, and was wounded. On their way ‘to Vienna with him the Austrians were surprised in the mountains, many of them killed by a noted band of banditti, and Frank taken prisoner by them.” “Then he is not at Val Verde?” said Moss, ‘No ; no‘more than you or I.” “What a jolly lark! What a warm reception Mark and the boys will receive when they get there, and how awfully taken in, too! It’sa miracle if a single one of them escapes.” “Not much odds to us, I think. We have our own game to play, and we must do it quickly,’’ “Then what do you propose?” “Why, give the Austrian officer his liberty, mount him upon a horse, and let him delivera message to Jocl at the village for us,” “Capital ! let’s be quick.” No sooner said than done. The officer was set at large, and mounted upon a horse. “You say that no company of boys on foot could ever force their way through the gorge?” asked Moss of him. ce 1 do.’”? ‘‘ Well, then, as we are masters here, we will set’ you frée—on one condition.” ‘Name it,” said the officer, delighted, _ ‘‘Take this note to the principal inn in the village yonder, and bring back an answer to us. We will wait your return with all impatience. You will find us seated at the spring at the side of the road,” , “ Will you do this 2”. “7 will.” “ And swear on your oath to fulfil it ?” L dove “Then depart, and good luck attend you.” The Austrian prisoner did as he was bidden, and galloped away, » # % x * Mark's party had not gone more than a mile from their camps when it halted in a amall wood. A council of war was held there and then, at Which it was decided between Dick and Mark that, in order to €nsure success, all the boys should be monnted, whereas, aS the case was, but few of them were provided with steeds, for many animals had died within the last few days from wounds and like casualties, The innkeepers of the village, it was known, had many horses in their keeping, These Mark and Dick resolved to possess without a moment’s delay. ’ Several of the Boy Band went forth for this pur- pose, and what the villagers would not sell were stolen from them. Some dozen or more had been thus secured and driven towards the wood where the company were staying under cover. . Mo t of the party; now well mounted and pro- vided with saddles, were waiting for some stragglers to return ere setting out on their nigat expedition. Fatty and Buttons were on guard 4 distatice in advance of their comrades when they espied & horseman advanciiig from the village towards them. The stranger looked about him from time to time, as if suspicious of being watched. _ He came nearer and nearer to the wood without dreaming of danger. Fatty and Buttons, on their hands and knees, watched him like a cat does a mouse. ‘He looks very much like that Austrian officer we've got in camp,” said Tony, 1n 4 whisper. “’Pon my word I do believe it 4s him, or else it’s his — ghost.” “Bosh!” said Buttons, ‘‘how can that be? Haven’t we left Levi and Moss to mind the camp? It can’t be him,” “‘ Levi and Moss be hanged!” said Fatty, softly, “ T don’t think much of them; they’ve never been in any fiyht at all with us yet, and I’ve oftén thought they wouldn’t mind betraying us, All they wish to do is to be cooks, and mind the camps when all of us are away.” - “Qh, they’re all right,” said Buttons, “TI dare say you only envy them for having the tit-bit out of every dish.” The single horseman approached still closer. He entered the woods. On his arm he carried a basket. In an instant Fatty and Buttons rosé up, one on each side of him, and seized his reins, “Tt is the Austrian prisoner!” gasped Fatty, in surprise. ‘“‘ What have you got there?” said Buttons, “and - how came you here?” ““T was sent by the two youths in charge of the Garibaldian camps, and promised on my honour té return to them with a message they sent me with to yonder village.” “ And where is the answer ?” “The only oneI received at the principal inn was these eggs which a young English gentleman charged me to deliver in the camp of the Boy Soldiers.” “Eggs, eh?” said Fatty ; “let's have one; I’m fond of sucking eggs, It clears the voice, you know, for singing.” He took one and shook it, Something hard rattled inside, He pressed it with his fingers, and it broke, A bullet, wrapped up in tissue paper, rolled out. *“‘ Hillo! what means this?” he said. ‘“ There’s some strange affair in all this. Come, my brave and honourable man, for such you really are, dis- mount,” The Austrian, surprised at this unlooked-for adventure, did so. Mark and Dick hurried to the spot and examined the words wrilten on the tissue paper, which ran:— | | a (EO MMKElLNOO KS (E©)