The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

ee THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 167 em ee eee “Never mind, Job, there is two hundred pounds reward if I catch the rascal.” “Oh, Moses and Son!” exclaimed Job, “jest think on it—two hundred pounds !” He cracked his whip, and drove away towards London, Gardner, the detective, stood against a tree by the roadside, muffled up and deep in thought. All this time, Jonathan, the fugitive, was not more than twenty yards off. He had heard every word of the conversation, and was concealed in an old tree. Thus, then, were standing, near each other, two deadly enemies. - AEB ANgE had sworn to capture him, dead or alive, Jonathan had resolved to kill the officer ! “He could not have gone far,” thought Gardner, “ for, after all, his cab didn’t haye such a long start of mine, but Job says he was ordered to drive like lightning itself, “But what on earth could have prompted the re to come to such an out-of-the-way place as is “He would have been much safer in London. “Tf I could only track him by his footprints, how easily would the reward drop into my ready hand.” While hethus stood behind a tree thinking what he - had better do and what course to pursue, Jonathan crawled ont of the large, old, hollow trunk of a giant oalk tree, and cautiously peered about. He could not see Gardner, but he knew- in- stinctively that the officer was very near. He retreated to his hiding-place again, and examined his revolver very carefully. It was all right. “T have got six shots for him if he comes within reach,” thought Jonathan, with a fiendish smile. Now, as chance would have it, Gardner was doivg exactly the same thing, “It will not do for me to enter the forest, un- prepared,” he said, and so minutely examined every chamber of his ‘‘ six shooter.” “ Now for it,” thought Gardner, as he left the road. “If this long-legged rascal is anywhere concealed, and sees me, it is all up with me ; he may shoot before me.”’ With a stealthy step Gardner crept rather than walked along. His eyes were like those of a ferret, and he peered in every direction in hopes of discovering some traces of the fugitive. ** He may have hidden in some old tree ; there are lots of rotten hollow trunks hereabouts, I must give them a wide berth. “What was that?” he thought, as he heard a sudden rustling noise as of some one stirring. He stopped and listened. His quick bright eye looked in every direction. “ That’s a very large old trunk,” he thought, as he approached the tree wherin Jonathan was con- cealed. “JT must not approach too near,” he mused; “who knows, he might be hidden in it, Good thought,” said Gardner, “I'll hide in that old tree myself. The fugitive may retrace his steps, and then I can suddenly pounce upon him.” Again he heard the rustling sound. ‘€T wisli I could get on the other side of that old trunk,” he said, “ for I’m sure it is hollow; and yet I don’t see any opening.” . Prompted by some instinct, he levelled his re- volver full at the old trunk and fired. The bullet passed through the trunk and grazed Jonathan’s cheek, ae ES — Cr - ee OC As may be supposed, he was greatly surprised. He did not stir out, however. “He couldn’t haye seen me, neither could any one have told him that I intended to stay on the borders of the forest for the night. It is only his suspicions. He won’t fire again.” Jonathan wiped the blood from his cheek, and crouched down to the bottom of the trunk. “He surely will not fire again,’ thought the fugitive. “I did not make any noise. This silence will disarm the officer’s suspicions. I do not hear his stealthy footsteps in the dry leaves. Had I made the slightest noise it would have proved my ruin.” But Jonathan had made a noise, but unknown to himself, When the officer’s bullet grazed his cheek he started suddenly, “ Hullo!” said Gardner, as he heard the slight noise. “ What could that have been? Some squirrel, perhaps, It wasn’t a man, I'll wager for £100, or else he would have bawled out; mortal men can’t stand a bullet through ’em without wincing with pain.” In order to satisfy himself of the truth of his suspicion, Gardner fired again at the old trunk. Twice, in quick succession, he fired. The bullets on this occasion did not merely graze the hidden fugitive, but, as low as he crouched, one of them almost sca'ped him ; and the other striking lower, hit Jonathan in the ankle. For a moment or two persons who are wounded do not feel any pain, but a certain sort of numb- ness. When they do feel the pain, however, it is thrice more excruciating than anythiog the imagination can fancy. And so if was with Jonathan. The scratch on his head, which, bad it been but an inch lower, would have killed him, and the bleeding ankle, caused Jonathan to writhe again in agony. Yet he made not the slightest noise. “Tt is a case of life or death,” he thought. “ He has fired off three of his charges, and has but three remaining, Iam three charges the better of him, therefore. If it comes to a hand-to-hand combat, I am more prepared.” He bit his tongue in agony, and listened for the officer’s footsteps. He heard nothing. But through the bullet-holes he could see Gardner standing about ten yards away, peering about. He did not advance or retreat. From some unknown cause he paused, and seemed fastened to the spot, “There cannot be anything or anybody eoncealed in that tree,” he thought, “or if there was I should have heard some moan or groan, for I must have hit him in some part.” So thinking, he cautiously advanced to examine if. “ Now is my time,’ thought Jonathan, He peeped through the bullet-holes, and saw Gardner advancing. He cautiously turned, and crept out of his hiding- place, yet concealed by its bulk. A fiendish smile of triumph was upon his features. “ He is a dead man, and I am free,” thought he. In a trice he stepped out of his hiding-place. “ Ha!” exclaimed Gardner, as he saw the figure of Jonathan.’ The exclamation had scarcely passed his lips, when Jonathan discharged the charges. of his revolver at the officer. Con) CLOOOkKS 1G)