The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 109: 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. 103 lL eee ee EE eee eee ee ** Shall, Basil 2”? “Aye. T'll make you. You must either fight the prisoner or me, What says the council ?” ‘‘ Agreed |” was the response. _“ Icare not if both get killed,” laughed Basil, to himself. “I have got the money, and as I am a little flushed with wine, I think an exciting combat would wake me up a bit. The sight of blood refreshes me at times, Ambrose! the swords !” Frank smiled with confidence, as he seized the long weapon handed to him, and flourished it. The stranger, however, trembled in every limb. He turned ghastly pale, and his eyes rolled in horror, “Come, prepare,” said Basil, with a cruel laugh. “ Put yourself into attitude, Mr. Schmidt. You told me you were an excellent swordsman. You've now got a chance of displaying your skill.” “T refuse to fight, Basil. This is all a cruel trick played upon me to dupe me out of my money.” “Fool!” said Basil, rising in anger, ‘mention money to me again, and I'll cleave your skull. Fight, I say ; prove your accusation to be true at the sword’s point, and then both I and the council will believe you ; if you do not, then, by my wrath, you do not leave this place alive.” “Captain Basil, I thank you for this change in the order of your proceedings, for in the sight of heaven I am innocent of the cruel charges brought against me by this lying scoundrel, and as you will quickly see, I'll bring the rascal to his knees, and if he does not confess his villany before you all, then despatch me.” The stranger was now compelled to fight. There was no hole through which to retreat, and his teeth shook and chattered in his jaws with fear. ie Here goes for a whisker,” said Frank, in high glee. _After one or two passes, he cut off one of the stranger’s false whiskers, which had been gummed to his cheeks for the purpose of disguising himself. “ Hillo!” said Basil, in surprise, as the whisker fell. ‘‘Hillo, that was pretty close shaving, and no mistake,” ‘A part of his moustache this time,” said Frank, and, quick as thought, one of the stranger’s false moustaches was knocked from his upper lip by the point of Frank’s sword ! The accuser was now furious, and cut and slashed most viciously and wildly. . Had Frank desired it, there were many oppor- tunities of killing his antagonist on the spot; but _ he only smiled, and warded off the stranger’s cuts with extraordinary skill. The remaining whisker and moustache soon fol- lowed suit with the others. ‘‘Now that he is barefaced,” said Frank, “little more remains to prove who and what the rascal is.”’ With a quick and clever cut, Frank took off the 'stranger’s wig. Basil, and the rest were thunderstruck at the sud- den change in the accuser’s appearance, and looked on with amazement. ‘Now that we have got rid of the false hair, whisker, and moustaches, which made up the ‘ Mr. Schmidt,’ ” said Frank, gaily, “you shall see what stuff Joel Flint is really made of.” With the rapidity of lightning, Frank’s sword flashed before the eyes of Joel. -- The coward’s sword fell from his hand, and he sprawled upon the floor, In a second Frank’s sword was at the villain’s throat. ‘Spare me! spare me!” he gasped, ‘‘ Have mercy; pardon me; do what you will; but: spare- my life,’ : ‘“‘Craven-hearted villain! I had my heel upon your throat once before at'Bromley Hall, and after 1 spared you, you cursed me; you would follow me through the world like an eyil genins, you said, and would never rest contented until I graced a gibbet, Do you remember ?” “TI do, I do ; but spare me.” All this was hurriedly spoken in English, “What does he say? That he gave me money ?” “No, Basil, but you shall hear him, Now answer me. What is your name?’’ “T have passed under that of Schmidt, lately.” “Was it your school name?” “No, I was then called Joel Flint.’’ “Did I murder my poor old uncle?” 7 know not,” gasped Joel,” *« Swear, on your life,” ‘No, you did not,” “Was not all you have said regarding me false 2?” “Tt was.” . “Did you not pay two of my followers to ac as spies on the movements of myself and the Boy Band ?” cE did.” ** Where are they ?” “Tn a neighbouring village.” ‘With an English detective?” Yes. ‘Captain Basil, do you hear all this?” — “JT do. The impostor is worthy of death—kill him. What says the council?” “Kill him. He is not fit to live.” “Spare me! oh, spare me!” gasped Joel, as he glanced with an agonized look at Frank’s upraised sword. ‘‘ Spare me, and I will be your slave |” * Viper !” said Frank, “I could crush you under my heel; you rvile blood is worthless. Take your life, knave,” continued he, spurning him with his foot, “take your wretched life. I give it you.” Joel’s eyes danced wildly in his head, but when released from Frank’s foot he crawled toa corner like a four-legged cur, “If you think proper, Captain Frank Ford, to be so merciful towards this hypocrite Z don’t,” said Basil, ‘‘ Ambrose, seize the caitiff, and cast him into a dungeon.” Ambrose seized Joel very roughly by the collar, and, as he left the council chamber, Basil admin- istered to his seat of honour. such a vigorous kick that he sent “ Mr. Schmidt” flying into the dark stone corridor. “Now,” said he, “‘we will proceed with the sen- tence. This youth has killed Cayolti, and, as you say, is worthy of death.” “We do,” was the answer of the council. “Then, as is customary, I deliver the blow,’’ said Basil, rising and approaching the prisoner, who-now was armless. Frank folded his arms and looked Basil fairly in the face. “Would you kill me?” he said, with a curling lip. ‘Know you where you are?” ‘‘Where I am, rash youth?. Ido, . Tremble, for your last hour is come |” “Not yet. Behold!” said Frank, stamping his foot. On the instant the masks, hoods, and cloaks fell from the persons of the grim councillors as if by magic. Basil was surrounded by eleven of the Boy Soldiers ! ) As they had sat on chairs with big cushions 2 Ee QO MICLOO© © SxCO