The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

door-posts of stinking beer-shops, the Pug had a woman, > This unfortunate creature had fallen.into some trifling fault, and the suspicion of theft hung over her. As she was friendless, the Pug, like a coward as he was, took advantage of her lonely position, and threatened all manner of horrible things, if she did not consent to live with him. He beat her about, and so ill-used her, that at last she became his abject, though not willing, slave, and was forced to, go forth nightly, if not daily, for the purposes of public prostitution, so that the rascal Barney might have money where- with to spend in pot-houses and sparring-rooms. To eyery one, except aman. of his own size, the Pug was a perfect brute, and scarcely two words could escape his. thick, swollen lips, without.one of them was a filthy oath. The day-time seldom saw Puggy out; but when night came on, he issued from Cauliflower Alley, pipe in mouth, and would lounge about the corners, looking for his “ woman,” and if she, poor thing ! did not haye any money about her, he did not care how it came—a blow in the face was sure to be her lot. a “Unfortunate,” as she was, this poor thing was yery. pretty, and girl-like, and often attracted the attention of many a benevolent gentleman, who felt compassion for her fallen state. One night—indeed but three nights after Warner, Jonathan, and Flint had safely arrived in London, and had managed to escape the vigilance of Detec- tive Gale upon the road—Barney had gone forth to see poor “ Matty,’ his woman, upon her “ walks ”’ in Oxford Street, and as the poor thing had no money, he lifted his huge fist, and was about to strike her, when a young, gentlemanly-looking person stepped forward, and arrested the blow. , ‘Coward |’ said the brave youth. ‘* Would you dare strike a woman ?” ; e stepped between the Pug and Matty, ready to bear all the consequences of his interference, when Matty slunk away from the crowd ‘now gathering around, , - , Oe A policeman came forward and put a stop to the angry altercation between the young gentleman and Barney ; but he quickly recognized the Pug to be one of his own “touts,” and without more ado, he ordered off the the young gentleman, saying, ‘Move on, sir, move on. You haye no right to interfere between husband and wife.” “Tam not his wife,” said Matty, who had hidden among the crowd. “ He is a cowardly villain, that’s what he is, and I only wish I were a man for his sake, I'd give him such a sound thrashing as he never had in his life,” . At these words, and just when the policeman had one about a dozen yards away, the Pug rushed at atty, and would have knocked her down, But again the protecting arm of the young gentle- man gayved her, _ Barney turned upon the young stranger with a bitter oath, and made a fierce lunge at him, In return, however, he got “one for himself” witha straight right-hander” right between the eyes, and another quickly followed upon the nose, which instantly began to swell almost to the sizé of an ordinary cucumber. : The crowd, interfered, particularly as the young stranger was less bulky than the Pug, for they feared the ‘‘rough”. would prove more than a match for the gentlemanly and youthful stranger, | The youth, however, seemed to like the’ aport, and squared off at the Pug in tru ¥ Scientific style, when Ss —— two policemen came forward and took them both in charge. ; They were on their way to the station-house, the young stranger in advance, when a loud shout from behind told him that his late opponent had slipped from his captor’s clutches, and had got safely AWAY. | | Whether this was accidental or not remains to be seen, : True it is, however, the. policemen did not run very fast, sv that Barney dived down a dark court, and was soon safe and snug in Cauliflower Alley, The policemen, however, were determined to have “some one” that night, particularly as it was raining, on, which occasions, in case of their bring- ing. in “a charge,” they have one, or two hours’ rest by the roaring fire in the station ; so, there- fore, both of them collared the young gentleman, and took him to the lock-up. “Drunk, disorderly, and fighting,” said the policeman. “ Drunk, disorderly, and fighting,” therefore, was entered upon the charge-sheet by the civil, smiling, acting inspector, ‘s Your name, sir?” “T do not wish to’give it,” was the reply, “Can't I be bailed ?” “Yes, if you give your name and address,’ ‘JT will be his bail,’’ said. several, gentlemen at once, who had seen the whole transaction. | “Are you. a stranger. in London?” asked th inspector, || “Tam; I arrived;from.Mexico to-day.” “ And why not give your name ?”’ “T am come on-a very important lawsuit; and don't. want My name) to be made known yet.” “Then why interfere in a street brawl?” ... “No Englishman, whether he be youth or man, can allow a blackguard to strike and. beat about a poor unoffending girl, if.eyen she is an ‘ unfor- tunate,’”’ was the brave reply ; ‘“‘at least I couldn't stand by and witness it.” | “ T will go his bail,’ “So will I.” “And I also,” said several, ‘‘ He’s a brave youth, whoever he is, or wherever he comes from,” “‘T can’t take bail without. he gives his name and residence.” : ‘‘Tf I must, then, I must,” was the youth’s reply. He unbuttoned his overcoat, and, at a glance, all — could see that, as young as he was, the youth was | a naval officer belong to some foreign government. “ You are a sailor, sir ?” said the inspector. “Yes; but neither drunk nor disorderly, as I | have been charged by this policeman here,” Taking out of his pocket a very handsome ecard- case, the noble-looking, bronze-faced youth wrote on a card his name and-address, and handed it to the | inspector, saying, “You need not read it aloud, and if you like I will deposit £1,000 in notes for my appearance to- morrow morning,” | | “ That sum is not, necessary,” said the inspector, as he copied into his hook the name and address given to him by the handsome and elegant young Stranger, which was— : | ; “ CAPTAIN ToM ForD . ‘‘(Mexican Republican Navy), ) . “ Grosvenor Hotel.” “Are you really Captain Tom’ Ford, of whem. we have heard so much in the newspapers?” Bese smiling, Pp! BEES 6 asked the ee am,” . 7 “Allow me, then, to shake you by the hand,” | GComicboo