The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

96 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. rushed towards the trees, which on every side en- closed the mouth of the cave. Once there he cared not for any who pursued him, “T will seek out this black-hearted villain in the dell,”’ said he, “‘and, ere sunset, his body or mine shall be food for vultures.” Frank had not gone far into the dense forest on the mountain side ere he heard the faint echoes of a horn | He stopped to listen, “T should know that sound,” said he. “ There itis again! Itis not the bandits’ call; nor is it any Austrian signal.’’ His face was flushed, and his eyes shot forth fire as he thought— “It must be some of my boy band in search of me, I cannot be mistaken. They are searching the mountains for-me. Oh, if they only knew where I am, how they would fly to my rescue. There it is again! Why, the sounds get nearer and nearer !”’ Onward he went in search of Cavolti in the dell. At this instant Frank was startled by hearing several horns of the Bandit Band now sounding all around him, ‘It is an alarm,” said he; “a general one, too !” He had not long to wait in suspense. He could hear the hasty tread of armed men in the forest. “‘ Haste—haste, comrade !’’ said: one, ‘What is the matter?” his companion asked, “Ts it the Austrians ?”” ** No, worse than that,” “The Pope’s soldiers 2” ‘No, no. They are of no account. devil !” ‘‘ The devil, what do you mean?” “Mean ? why, two of our scouts have run in from their posts, all haste, to tell us that the English Boy Soldiers are prowling about the gorges in search of their missing comrades, particularly their young captain, Basil’s prisoner,” “How many of them are there? This alarm isa general one; they must be numerous, or our horns wouldn’t be sounding so loudly,” “They are numerous,” was the reply ; ‘three hundred or more, I hear, They have defeated the Austrians several times, and are so fierce a band of English boys that the best soldiers cannot stand before them, But we meet onthe east ridge, just overlooking the small dell,” This was all that Frank could hear, for the men hurried away towards their rendezvous, In a short time, however, he heard the distant rattle of muskets, ‘“That’s Hugh Tracy or Dick Fellows,” said Frank, “T wonder if it was Fatty who blew his horn just now ; it sounded much like his blast 0” Again the reports of fire-arms could be heard, but not in a very great number, “If it were the whole band,” thought Frank, ‘‘they’d make more noise than that ; and yet, if there are but few, these dark villains in the moun- tains will massacre them, But how did they find their way hither? and who could have told them of my rescue from the Austrians by Cavolti ?” “Who calls Cavolti?” said a distant voice, Frank started, It was Cavolti himself, ‘< You have escaped my messengers, I see,” said It is the hoot the villain, with a grin of hate upon his dusky features ; ‘‘ but you shall not escape me.” “Nay, villain ! you need not boast so early,” said Frank ; ‘I have come to meet you. A thing like you, who could waylay and stab a defenceless girl, has little cause to brag.” “T killed her! She is dead! Rather that a thousand times than see her in your embrace |” “She lives, vile coward!” said Frank, “and I come to avenge her, Lead on towards the little dell ; there, in sight of the whole brigand band, will I stuff thy loathsome lies down thy craven throat |” ‘Vain idiot,” said Cavolti, ‘‘follow me.” Frank did so. j Cavolti whistled as he approached the little dell. The signa] was repeated by some one. “Tis well,” said Cavolti to himself; “I have two men in waiting at the dell, who shall seize and strangle this brat. They are concealed, and he knows it not,” They were now nearly out of the thick wood, and in view of the dell. Frank cautiously followed his gigantic antago- nist, They were now on the edge of the wood, when Cavolti whistled again, = His signal was repeated. “‘They are near at hand,” said he, with a grim smile, On the instant, however, and greatly to Frank’s surprise, two youths dashed from their hiding- places, and pounced upon Cayolti. They were two of the English Boys ; one was Dick Fellows, In an instant Cavolti was thrown to the ground, and with swords at his throat, ———_—_——————— THE SEELETON CREW. _— HIP, HURRAH! BOYS, HURRAH!! HURRAH!!! THREE CHEERS FOR WILDFIRE NED! READ! READ!! READ!!! This great sensation Work of the day, how young WILDFIRE NED, ON SEA AND LAND, TRACKED THE SKELETON CREW OF PIRATES! EXTRACT i— * My footsteps shall follow you, Phillip Redgill, for ever!” sighed a voice, in sepulchral tones. “Phillip Redgill!” gasped the money-searching murderer, “that is my realmame, Oh, God! itis the voice of the mur- dered man, And yet he is here, lifeless, and legless. Hark! Whee footsteps are those I hear? Who could have limbed him us a) While Bolton, or Phillip Redgill, as the spirit voice now rightly called him, stood trembling thus, the ghostly voice said loudly again— rf s Beware, Phillip Redgill! my footsteps shall follow you for ever |"” Dropping the blood-stained bludgeon beside the body, Phillip Redgill rushed from the room, dashed down stairs, opened the back door, and ran towards the orchard, He mounted his horse, and was about to start off at a furious gallop, when he gave a sharp, horror-stricken shout at some- thing he saw! The gory, phantom legs of the Squire stood bolt upright in the snow beside him! : ** Phillip Redgill, I follow you!” The murderer plunged spurs into his steed, and dashed from the spot! NOW READY, WITH A GRAND PRESENT, GRATIS, THE SKELETON OREW. F gt en, <SriGO) GComicboo