The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

90 ‘‘ Basil the chief,” said several, in half whispers, “We are betrayed.” ‘The captain! the captain !” ‘© Secure the lad, and let us defend him like men, or we loose all reward.” With general accord they lowered their weapons, and hastened to the spot where they had laid the senseless form of young Frank Ford. He was nowhere to be found ! “We have been tracked by Basil, the Bandit,” said one. ‘Curses on them |” “We dare not follow.” “Tet us hasten away. To pursue them is certain death.” Frank was again in the power of Basil, the fierce bandit. How this came to pass the next chapter will show. — CHAPTER XXXIII. FRANK IN THE HANDS OF HIS FIERCEST FOE— HE IS CONDEMNED TO BE SHOT—DEVOTION OF LITTLE ANNETTE, WHEN Cavolti had seized Bazil by the throat in the fierce hand to hand conflict, which we have described in a previous number, the bandit chief was hurled to the ground with great violence, so much so, indeed, that his head resounded again on the stone pavement of the cave. Just as Cayolti was in the act of piercing Basil to the heart, a pistol shot was fired by some one unseen behind the dark drapery that separated one vault from another. This shot struck Cavolti in the right arm, and his dagger fell by his side. This chance but fortunate shot saved Basil’s life, who thereupon struggled hard with his mutinous follower, and would have killed him, but that Agnese, his beautiful daughter, rushed forward and stayed her father’s murderous design. But, like all bandit brawls and quarrels, they were soon forgotten, for exciting adventures that followed thick and fast upon one another, drove the memory of this, like many former incidents of the kind, out of their minds. Nor did it much matter, in such a numerous band as Basil’s was, if one or two men had fallen in mutual encounters, so that when it came to the chief’s knowledge afterwards that Cavolti had slain | four of his band in the long stone passage, as they were leading him to prison, he did not heed it at the moment, but waited for future events to give him opportunities for revenge. “When Cavolti has served my purpose,” mused Basil often to himself, ‘‘he shall be quietly dis- patched, but not now; the band are divided. More than half, I find, would have revolted against me had I not spared his life. ’Tis well, I shall not wait long for some chance to kill him.” But the escape of the Boy Band from Basil’s clutches filled that chieftain with great annoyance and vexation, He raved and.swore like a madman whenever he > thought of it. ‘To be outwitted by mere boys,” he said often, with a bitter smile, “there. must have been some treachery. But where 2?” Aye! that was the question, He little dreamed that Annette, atid Apnese, his fair and only daughter, were the young culprits, or there cannot be a doubt he would have sacrificed THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDIS YOUNG CAPTAIN. them both in one of his drunken and half-crazy ts. ee hss : As it was he gave strict instructions to his band to be more vigilant than ever, and even promised the hand of fair Agnese, his daughter, to the one who should recapture Frank Ford. : Now Cavolti deemed this offer a slight upon him- lf. i He was the recognized second chief of the band, and had for a long time cast his eyes upon Agnese, but had never met with any mutual glance or friendly return. Bak ee, This coldness of Agnese, and her positive dislike for him, as shown on all occasions, steeled the heart of Cavolti, who, though he smiled, had dark designs, | and rejoiced in secret like a demon when thinking of their possible accomplishment. ' “ Basil has slighted me,” he thought, ‘© and in- sulted me, or why would he offer his daughter to any any one when he knows how much TI love her? Well, no matter ; time will work wonders. I know she hates me, and yet she saved my life when her ~ father’s dagger was at my throat ; perhaps it was her bullet that wounded me. Who knows? “Tis all past and gone; never mind. 1 have rude sus- picions that Agnese planned the escape of our prisoners ; and, if it be so, I'll wring her young heart until it bleeds again.” “What if I recapture this youth ?” he thought at times, as he walked to and fre in the darkness of night, musing, and planning fresh villanies. “Tf fortune only so favours me, then will I triumph over her proud spirit ; she shall—then she must be my wife.” Fortune favoured Cavolti. . He and a small party of brigands were prowling about, and on their way to the battle-field by night, to see what they could discover or secure, for in- telligence had reached them in their mountain fastness of a recent fight between the Austrians and Boy Soldiers, and it was thought possible that they — might fall across one or two of the wounded youths, and make them prisoners. On their way they espied the four Austrian sol- diers bearing the body of a wounded young Gari- baldian. : They hid themselves in a roadside:wood, in hopes that they might suddenly rush out and attack the - four soldiers. But, when the Austrians placed Frank beneath a tree, as we have seen, and began to gamble some few yards off, Cavolti perceived his opportunity, and crept through the high grass towards the wounded boy. Judge of his astonishment to find it was mone other than Frank Ford ! His small black eyes danced again with de- moniacal joy, and every limb trembled with excite- ment. Cavolti’s companions were a short distance off awaiting his commands, therefore they were un- aware of the great prize their leader had discovered. With a sudden bound, like that of a fierce tiger in pouncing upon its sleeping prey, Cavolti seized the body of the half conscious and feeble youth, raised it on his stalwart shoulder, and hurried from the spot | “The prize is mine!” he chuckled, in fierce triumph. ‘ Agnese now belongs to me |” He whistled thrice in a low bird-like manner. In an instant he was surrounded by his followers, who, in wild joy, hurried through the dense wood towards a goat path which led to and up the mountains, It was at this precise moment, when giving way Eomicboo Gom