The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 134: what you’re looking at

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128 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. ee Ee “Yes; if you can only get hold of him again,” the female spy answered, with a smile. ‘He'll take good care never to come within sword’s length of you again; he has been living with Basil for several weeks off and on, but I hear that he intends to de- part in a day or two for parts unknown.” ‘Heaven grant that he may not do so ere I cross swords with him once more,” said Frank, fervently. “ But how know you all this ?” “T surmise as much only; I have no positive proof ’tis true; but circumstantial evidence points directly at this wretch, and yet to save his own neck, and to place the guilt upon your shoulders, he has employed numerous secret agents to track you out, and intends to be chief witness against you himself.” “ But, good, kind Teresa, you do not believe me guilty of such an atrocious crime ?”’ ‘‘No, Frank, I do not; you are too brave for that. One who is truly brave can never be a murderer ; but he is, I see it in his eyes.” “ Much of all this must have been told to you, Teresa,”’ “Tt was. I found out where your comrade’s prison-place was, and visited him: yes, and at the peril of my own life. He told me all he heard, and with what I could gather from other sources, have no doubt that Joel Flint is a blood-stained murderer.” ‘“ Hugh Tracy spoke of this, you say?” ‘“Heildid:”, “ How came it to pass?” “You know that Teresa, the spy, as you Gara- baldians call me, can change her disguise and penetrate anywhere.” “T do! we all know it.” ‘‘T found means to get to Hugh in prison.”’ 6c Ah 1)? “Yes, and had conversation with Joel Flint him- self |” 3 ‘Go on, I am all attention, Teresa ; but why sit so far apart? I can scarcely see your face, Your voice, also, has much changed since last I saw you.” ‘Tt has, but I prefer to sit in the deep shadow ; my eye-sight is not so good as it used to be, from long night-watching. But as 1 was about to say; I spoke to Joel Flint, who did not know me. He, in turn, spoke to Hugh, in prison. Whatever passed between them I know not, but next day the pri- soner was allowed to take exercise out on the mountain side. ‘This Z perceived, and quickly took advantage of, as you may well imagi.ie.” “But how could this sudden change have taken place? Surely Hugh Tracy did not enter into Joel’s views against me !” * He did though,” Frank’s face was suddenly flushed in anger, He darted a fierce look at Teresa, but imme- diately smiled and said cooly, ‘Go on, I am all attention,” “ Hugh Tracy must have promised to do some- thing for Joel, or he would never again have seen the light of day, Captain Frank. But to continue, ‘‘T watched Hugh, and resolved that I would use my utmost power to aid his escape. I slipped a note into his hand unobserved, and told him to meet me in the small ravine at the back of Basil’s cave, where the banditti are wont to gather for plea- sure,and to settle their differences in case of quarrel,”’ ‘‘T know the place well,” said Frank, ‘‘Go on, I am all attention,” ‘‘He followed my advice, and went to the spot. I endeavoured to meet, him there but was pre- vented, for I was watched. Hugh did.not return al hol at the proper time, for he was waiting for me, Search was made everywhere for him, but nowhere could he be found. The alarm was raised. Joel accused the two guards of having neglected their prisoner to Captain Basil. The old man was furious, and sent out armed men in all directions after the fugitive. “Hugh waited and waited for me, but I came not. When he saw the commotion on all sides, and fierce men searching the mountain side, he knew that he was the object of their industrious hunting. “He climbed up into a tree, and there waited still longer for me. ‘When about to descend, he perceived half the bandit band approaching the fatal tree. “In their midst were two of the band hand- cuffed. ‘‘ Basil and Joel were present. “Tt had been decided at first to hang the two faulty gaolers, but as they were each accusing the other of having been bribed or remiss in duty, Basil swore that they should decide the question by wager of battle. “Hugh told me it was an exciting sight, and one | that would almost chill the blood to witness the sanguinary battle that then ensued. “Up in the tree Hugh saw everything that passed, and heard every word, and was not dis- covered, for he concealed himself well. ‘Dagger in hand the two bandits approached each other cautiously, like two tigers, and with flashing eyes. “On the left arm of each they slung their short cloaks, to catch if they could any ill-timed blow in the thick folds, while all around were gathered their companions intently watching the deadly duel.* * See Illustration in No. 10. 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