The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

Seen ee SS 214 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. i $e turbed, foxes or wolves stealthily approached to | reconnoitre. “The solemn crane and stately turkey took sudden wing, and again silence reigned over all. “The hard-breathing, ungainly bear was heard in the distant cane-break, trampling down the cane, which cracked like the explosion of number- less crackers. “The king-fisher and fish-hawk would suddenly | dive, and emerge from the surface with one of the finny tribe hopelessly gyrating in their bills or talons, and fly off into the darkness, “And even as I turned and ‘stirred the dying embers of the fire, its light disclosed a splendid buck, who ‘had quietly approached, and, with head ptoudly ‘erect, was looking at the intruders of his | domain stretched in sleep. . * * * * 2k “The camp was astir early in the morning. ‘But the sun had arisen, and the forest was alive with the song of birds. ‘‘The water and pasture being of excellent character, and as the animals required jrest after — toiling through heavy sands, Pedro resolved to camp there for one or two days, 4 “This determination of our head man was re- ceived with acclamation, and each began to prepare for the chase. “Guns were plentiful, and ‘all had revolvers and hunting knives, and when Antonio (second in — command) returned before breakfast with a string of squirrels {thrown over his shoulder, and threw them to the cook, with ordersto fry immediately for our meal, our swarthy, large-eyed attendants were in surprise, and anxious to go forth immedi- ately in search of ‘ potstuff.’ ‘After appointing camp guards, Pedro, Antonio, and myself, with many others, went forth with shot guns and rifles in search of game. “But others of our train were already blazing away in all directions, and, from their shouts, there could be no doubt of their success, ‘“My companions were excellent hunters, and, although having but few dogs, and those untrained, made good use of their time, and reported success. “T did not relish being incommoded by any ex- citements ;of the chase, but rather enjoyed my solitary walk through the forest, for at every step there was novelty. “The strange herbage, birds unknown, of varied plumage, and wild flowers never seen before, at- tracted me more than hunting, and I strolled through tangled under-brush in pleasant reverie, - the sunlight pouring in golden columns through leafy apertures—the ‘sudden glance of variously- plumed birds through these streams of light into the deep, densely-wooded shade, ‘‘The rapping of red-topped wood-peckers on blasted trees—the shiver and rustle of the tender ivy, and the gay festoons of wild vines and honey- suckles arching from the trees and forming picturesque colonnades of shade. ‘The song of the matchless mocking-bird—the flitting of squirrels, and flight of wild canaries, made this ramble in. an untrodden forest a joy and pleasure never experienced or dreamed of before. ‘I trod, perhaps, where mortal never trod before, and everything told of a wild, primeval beauty in which nature revels, and the slowly moying, gentle shaking of gigantic oaks and elms—the mammoth trunks of cypress and chestnuts, spoke of their existence in centuries wrapt in the history and mystery of the past. ‘But though the density of the undergrowth pre- vented easy progress, there were here and there ee ——— = eS a ah eee een ee well-defined paths running through it, and so devoid of every vestige of vegetation as to look more like ordinary footpaths than cattle tracks, and I could not divine their origin or use. “Tt seemed impossible that man could penetrate such dense shade, and by constant traffic thus form such roads. “ And I might have long remained in total igno- rance of their meaning but from an accident. “Observing, at intervals, on these footpaths, tumuli from two to four feet high, I sat upon one, and, lolling upon another, went fast asleep, ‘But I had not long been thus, when I was stung on all parts of my person by a swarm of large-sized ants, both black and red. ‘‘ Suffering intolerable torture, I hurried away as fast as possible. “For it was not only the needle-like sting that pained, but the hot and venomous nature of it that tingled the flesh long after. ‘‘ Beating my person violently in all directions, I must have destroyed hundreds, but I was literally covered with them, and the attraction of a few crumbs in my pockets had filled them. ‘Such torment I never experienced before, and would have. divested myself of everything im- mediately, only that the path on every side was beset with thorns. ‘‘ Hurrying to the river, I laid my rifle down and plunged in, clothes and all, “For the first minute I suffered indescribable torture, for in their dying agonies they stung me with tenfold fury ; but ere long they were killed, and the relief was indescribable: ‘‘T remained submerged to my neck in water for many minutes, for it soothed me unspeakably, and I returned to camp a wetter and wiser man. ‘These ‘well-defined paths,’ which attracted me so much, were naught else than grand highways of ants, occasionally extending for miles and with junc- tions here and there, leading to their various colo- nies. There is not a particle of anything growing on them, and, for a foot wide, are as well beaten as a garden walk or footpath through the meadows. ‘They are used indiscriminately by ants of any size or colour; but there are frequent fierce battles between various tribesfor pride of place; but I have often taken notice that the very small blacks ants always proved victorious, for they usually go forth in greater numbers, and attack the large red ones with much skill and success, not forgeting to carry off the carcase in triumph to their own colony. ‘Unless there had been ocular proof, I could never have imagined that their numbers were so vast in these deserts. ‘Yet, after rain, there is not two square inches of earth but what is literally moving with them. “What office they may perform in the order of nature it is difficult to conceive ; but they till the earth most indefatigably, and, doubtless, add to its fecundity, even as infinitesimal coral lay the foun- dation of islands in the south seas. “My compulsory bath much relieved and re- freshed me, but, on returning to camp, to change clothing and hang my leathern suit to dry, I found the place deserted by all but two lazy teamsters, who, under the shade of the waggons, were fast asleep, and perfectly oblivious of the depredations done by wild hogs or wolves, which, from the sud- den rush through the bush and an occasional grunt, I knew had been there, feeding luxuriously on our various stores, “As best I could, I made my way to Pedro and Antonio, and met two of the party returning with venison, hams, and skins. | GEomicboo