The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

I ee *-12 At these words the girl and boy stared wildly for. a moment, and then streams of silent tears flowed from their eyes. “Thank Heaven !” chey sighed. While Giles was meditating what to do Frank’s heart leaped into his mouth with excitement. The sight of the pale, pretty girl filled him with joy and enthusiasm, He knelt down, and clothing the girl in an old ragged blanket, took her up in bis arms like a child, and kissed her affectionately often and often, as he said in a whisper, “‘T will save her, if I die for it |” Dick Fellows instantly did likewise with the boy. Old Giles was thunderstruck at the strength Frank and Dick thus unexpectedly displayed. He could not have believed it possible, But all they did was done so quietly that old Jonathan, in the next room, could not hear them, not even a footstep. In a few seconds they had passed through the cupboard before described, and were free from the dingy, dreary prison. “This way, this way, lads,’ cried old Giles. “Take them out by the back door. My cottage is not far off ; no one will suspect them there.” Frank and Dick descended the back staircase, each with his precious burden, and, unobserved even by the riotous students, who were merrily and noisily carousing below, staggered away through the orchard, and reached the old gardener’s cottage in safety. Old Giles’s wife was amazed. She held up her aged hands in wonder and astonishment, “There is no time for words or explanations now, good wife,” said Frank, ‘Clothe this girl and boy as best you can; they must fly from this place at once.” “Night would be safest,” said Giles, “ At nightfall, then, let it be,” said Dick. Not stopping to speak more at that moment, Frank” and Dick returned to their friends, but said not a word of their strange discovery of the imprisoned and half-starved boy and girl, ‘* Now’s the time for our pocket-money, lads,” said Frank, ‘I’ve found out all aboutit. Follow me; J know where the master’s safe is. He has been robbing all of us this many a day. Whoever wants his money, let him follow me.” The word ‘‘money ” acted like a charm upon the young insurgents, and with a loud shoutthey fol- lowed Frank anf Dick to the private room of old Jonathan, Foremost among them all was the red, excited Fat Boy, who was puffing and blowing like a grampus, As soon as they reached the door of the master’s private room they burst it open. Inside were discovered Mrs, Gravestones and her daughters. Madam and her two scraggy daughters rushed from the room screaming with alarm, The desks were soon broken, and in one of them was found a memorandum-book ‘which contained every item of money received for the students, but none of which had ever been given to them, “ Here it is, lads, here itis!” said Frank, “Here's the little book which ptoves what a scoundrel old Jonathan is! Listen !” And in great excitement Frank Ford read as follows :-— ‘¢ Received for Dik Fellows, £200; ditto for Hugh Tracy, £300; ditto for the young scamps, Frank and Tom Tord, £500 each, a penny of which they shall never receive !’ THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. > ———— ~~ ———$—— ® “Do you hear that, lads? You now see how great a villain the old wretch is. But listen :— <¢ ‘Received for the *‘ two brats,’’ £400.’” ; “ Who are the two brats?” asked many. « Ab, that is a great mystery as yet,” said Frank, with a knowing wink. “Jt will all come out ina short time ; won’t it Dick?” “T believe you, my boy,” answered Dick. “ Here’s some more items,’ said Hal; ‘‘the old devil seems to have his knife in all the young Garibaldians, Listen :— ©‘ Received from Steve Gray’s parents, £300 in all, a penny of which he shall never have.’ “ There are twenty other items here, lads, shall I read ’em ?” ‘No, no!” ‘““ Where’s the money ?” ‘“ Let’s find it, and divide as the book says.” _ “Agreed! agreed! Hurrah, for gallant Frank! It’s no theft to take our own !” said many. “ Three cheers for Garibaldi’s young captain |” ‘‘ Here’s the safe, lads,” said Frank, opening a cup- board. “Pull it out, and burst it open.” ‘No need of that,” said Hugh Tracy, “here’s the key; I took it out of the old woman’s pocket.” In less than a minute the safe was lugged out of the lower compartment. of a cupboard and opened, The money was found! With the book in hand Frank Ford called off the amounts due to each youth, and which Hugh Tracy and Dick Fellows handed over to the rightful owner. _ “Now what shall we do?” asked a dozen voices, “Pack up your trunks, lads, as quick as possible, and let’s away,” said Frank Ford. “I shan’t stop within these walls two hours longer.” : ‘““Nor I! nor I!” shouted a score of voices. ‘‘T’m off to join Garibaldi !” shouted Frank, “ Bravo! bravo! SowillI! AndI! And I!” roared more than a score, right lustily. - “A steamer starts for Italy to-morrow, lads,” said Hugh Tracy; “it leaves Southampton with several bands of volunteers. Who will go?” ‘“ All of us! Every one !” resounded on all sides. “‘Then, let us pack up, and get off as soon as possible,” “Agreed! Who shall lead us?” ‘“‘ Frank Ford ! ”’ ** Garibaldi’s young captain !” “Bravo ! bravo! so he shall !” “Phen, let each one go his own way, and meet to-morrow evening at Southampton,” said Frank, “T will lead you |” . “‘ Agreed | agreed |” Within a short time nearly all the students were prepared to depart. It was arranged among the young Garibaldians that all were to meet at Southampten on the following evening, so that by going different ways and by different conveyances their flight from Bromley Hall Academy might not be so much noticed. - Ere long, then, a goodly number of students had departed, some by railroad and others by the river steamers which were not far away from the academy, Frank and Tom Ford made up their minds to visit London that nicht, but might be they told to no one, ’ Vrank and Tom, together with Dick Fellows and Hugh Tracy, stayed behind for some time until they could procure a conveyance in which to bear away Annie Morton and her brother Joe, the two youthful prisoners they had rescued that day, what their object there ee Eomicboo (© FA) — = | * oa