The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

186 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. eee Se eee ground, should any fresh body of the enemy assail us. “ Indications were not wanting to prove the enemy’s activity, and the signal corps soon gave warning that fresh and heavy masses of Austrians were concentrating and forming, to make a final effort to dislodge us from our advanced position. ‘Soon the enemy appeared to our front again, and advanced with a steadiness which plainly indicated they had never yet pulled trigger during the day. ‘‘ The meeting was fierce, vindictive, and bitter. ‘Volleys were given, and returned incessantly. “Their artillery slowly moved up to the front, and one line began to fall-back, with regularity and coolness, © eI “We would again retrace our steps, we thought, and invite them into the woods where their first attacking ¢orps had so suddenly melted away. ‘“‘ Slowly, we fell back, and still more cautiously did the enemy pursue. ‘ For some time the fight was maintained by us in opemergund/aed our supe: fire er cal and sullenly retreated, nor did the Austrians dire loss among them. “ Through the corn-fields once more we enticed the enemy Onwards, and boldly they advanced: to try there again the fortune of war. yan bE “Once within the forest, our generals quickly |prepared for their coming, and fell back some dis- tance. BS Fi “ Forward still the enemy came over the nume- rous dead of their own army ; but ere they entered the woods they opened a long and fierce cannonade, throwing hundreds of shells and round shot on those spots which we were supposed to occupy. “Our men, however, having re-formed much further back than at first, these missiles fell short, “Not a man of our lines was touched, but all lay quietly on their faces until daylight was shut out from our front by the dark, massive lines of the enemy, who, slowly approaching, made the woods echo with their cheers. “Cautiously they advanced, and single shots of sharpshooters resounded through the forest, as of solitary hunters in search of game, ‘‘ Moving forward up a gentle rise, their long lines came full in view, and instantly our artillery and infantry opened upon them with a deafening roar. “ Branches of trees showered down upon friend and foe alike. “‘ Trees cracked, and bowed, or toppled over, and fell with a crash among the enemy in the ground, and still volleys upon volleys whistled through the cover, until it seemed as if the clouds had opened, and rained down showers of bullets, “The smoke, confusion, dust, and noise was in- describable, and how long the fierce conflict lasted I know not, but it seemed an age. ‘“ Bravely had the enemy assailed us, and gallantly were they repulsed; King Charles Albert could not be moved, but held his ground, and, taking advantage of apparent indecision and mystification, gave the word to advance, and this, the fifth corps sent against him, was hurled bleeding, staggering and defeated from his front, and retreated from the forest, with great loss ; but Charles Albert was too weak to attempt another advance, and was content to hold the’enemy in check until positive informa- tion could be ascertained of their operations on other parts of our lines, | “Thus the battle continued all day long, ‘It wasaterrible conflict, for in the balance hung | the great question of Italian independence, and, ad might be expected, our men fought with the ferocity of demons. ‘‘ Austrian cuirassiers charged our squares in vain. ‘Our batteries belched forth upon them showers of deadly missiles, and the cries of the wounded and dying rent the air. ‘Thus it continued all the live long day. ‘But as night set in we all found, that though we were not beaten and driven off the field, the Austrians were too strong for us. ‘‘To add to the horrors and dangers of the situa- tion, we learned that the cunning Austrian commander, Marshal Radetski, was endeavouring to get a large force in our rear, and thus cut off our retreat from Alexandra. * What must be done? “Mortal men could not have done more than we had done. “The king, Charles Albert, and his brave son, the present king, Victor Emmanuel, galloped into the uhickest of the fight during the day, and we all thought that they sought death. ‘© At midnight, and when all was still, we silently to pursue, for our misfortunes and disasters had wrought us up to the pitch of madness. ‘‘ The carnage of that day I shall never forget,” said the old count, with a heavy sigh. _ © “JT was wounded twice; once in the head witha _ sabre cut, and the second was a bullet in the thigh, “Three horses were killed under me, yet I so distinguished myself that one of the first things the old king did was to promote me, and raised me to the dignity of count, a title which my forefathers had won centuries before. “This was the severest and bloodiest engagement I was ever in,” said the old soldier; “and I never hope to witness such a sight again.” Just as the old count had finished his story, one of the sailors came down into the cabin, and, doffing his cap respectfully, said, “A sail in sight, Captain Tom. Bearing right down upon us.” “ What does she look like? an Austrian ?” “ Can’t tell, captain ; we have signalled her, but she shows no colours.”’ “ Then prepare for action ; it may be an Austrian cruiser, and, if so, we must be ready to give her a warm reception.” ; In a few minutes after Captain Tom had given this order all was bustle and excitement on board, Every one was busy in making the ship ready for action, and each moment the strange, suspicious craft approached nearer and nearer, but did not show her colours. CHAPTER LXXII. THE CHASE—THE UNEXPEOTED MEETING. — THE excitement of the moment was very great. The strange sail was now not further than a mile away. : Yet not a man could be seen upon her decks, . Captain Tom and Frank went aloft with their glasses to ‘look into her,’ but it was all to no purpose. | ea Not a soul could be seen on board. It looked like a well-rigged craft which had been abandoned, and was now drifting about on the lone ocean without officers or men, ' ne aad Tom and Frank were ‘puzzled; they knew not oa to think or make of the suspicious-looking craft. | a a Eomicsoo <SEiGO