The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 316: what you’re looking at

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310 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. OA PA POO SOWA UES 6 Lee eee ravin and began to throw showers of stones at his supposed den, ee “This harmless sport continued for some time, when Fatty, contrary to my orders, and stupid as ever, wént. several yards in advance, and began to throw stones on his own account, ‘‘T and others shouted out, andwarned the young donkey of his danger, wd ‘But he did not seem to care, and began to_jeer _the rest who would not follow his lead. ® “But just as Buttons was about to follow Fatty, the lion sprang out of his lair in great fury to give battle to us all. “Tn an instant he struck down poor Fatty as) if Tony had beena feather in weight, and the huge monster placed a heavy paw on Tony’s back. ‘“The beast then looked round at us majestically for a few seconds, as if considering whether he should tear a few of us in pieces or not. “ Perceiving our number, and thinking, perhaps, that we were too many for him, he suddenly lifted his paw from Tony’s back, leaving a deep indentation of his firm claws therein, and bounded up the sides of the ravine, and retreated to the mountains. “We pursued him hotly up the glen, and our bounds held him at bay till we intercepted his path, seized the high grounds and shot him dead, without permitting any one to approach so near as before. “He was a fine, full-grown animal, of a dark brown, with an immense mane. and tail; and in memorial of his narrow escape from death, and in order that he should be on equal terms with Buttons, the hunting party voted that the skin shoujd be given to Tony, and the ravine named Waddleduck’s Gorge. “This was the first exploit of the day; but we had many exciting hunts during the week, which I will tell you of, with all particulars, in my next, ‘“The chief reason’ why I have written to you row, however, is this :— : “One of our scouts has just returned from across the river. “He has been among the French, and learns that Maximilian’s tro6ps are much discontented because their money is not paid regularly. ‘‘ He also learns that the Emperor expects a very rich ship to call at Acapulco in less than two months, laden with treasure. “Could you not cruise after her, and make the vessel a prize? “TI don’t know tke ship’s name, but. I hear it is now lying in one of the South American ports for repairs, and if so, you have a brilliant opportunity of distinguishing yourself and enriching all of us, ‘“T am told that this galleon with the treasure on board is not very dangerously armed, but if even she was, I doubt not but that you and your brave tars would like it all the better. ‘Let us hear all details of your capturing the prize as soon as ‘possible, and don’t waste much more of your time in London, for I fear we shall never recover our lost fortune or punish those rascals who have defrauded us out Of our rights. “All the lads are well and hearty, and as jolly as sandboys out here, living in the dense and lonely forest, guarding the tord of Aguas Callientes. “They all send kind love, and hopes of success, as does * Your brother, “ PRANK,” That Captain Tom Ford acted’on the advice of his brother Frank directly his letter was received will be seen in the next chapter. OHAPTER CVI. CAPTAIN TOM FORD SAILS IN SEARCH OF MAXI- MILIAN’S. TREASURE SHIP—A FIERCE ENGAGE- MENT—BRITISH PLUCK TRIUMPHANT, ' A VESSEL of about 2,000 tons burthen is annually despatched: with merchandise from) Manilla to Mexico, as-an ancient tribute. 5 fot We find that, according to law, this ship ought not to carry more than 4,000, bales of goods. Yet she is generally laden' with at least double that quantity, tat The expenses of building, of fitting ont, and of the voyage, are: supported by the government, which receives for indemnification 405,000 livres, or £16,875 sterling, per vessel. This ship has been intercepted three times by the English. It was taken in 1587 by Cavendish, in 1709 by, Rogers, and, lastly, by Captain Tom Ford, of which last capture we give’ the following’ inte- resting account, IS SO SR wy As soon as he could after receiving Captain Frank’s Jetter his brother Tom, with a small squadron, set sai! from England, and continued cruising on the coast of Mexico, in hourly expecta- tion of falling in with the rich sbip, in her annual passage from Manilla to Acapulco. | In this the captain was disappointed, for he was informed by three negroes, whom he surprised in a canoe off the harbour of Acapulco, that the shi arrived about twenty days before the squadron fell in with the coast. ae at : However, he had the, satisfaction to learn that her return was fixed for the next week. This was very agreeable information, as the specie for which she had sold her. cargo would render her 2 much mote valuable prize than’she would have been before her arrival at Acapulco. All hands were now employed in preparing for the reception of the vessel, not’ doubting she would soon be in their possession, For though the crews. of Captain Tom’s little squadron amounted in all to no more than three hundred and thirty, boys included, and the hands on board the galleon were generally double that number, yet there was not a person on board Captain Tom’s ships who had any other fear than that of her not sailing at the time appointed, Tom’s vessels consisted of three small craft and two cutters, © Sean ae With the ships he formed a chain, commanding an extent of about twenty leagues, at such a dis- tance from the harbour of Acapuleo as not to be seen from the shore. ‘ He sent the two eutters every night nearer the shore, with orders to stand off again at the ap- proach of day. | ; t The wished-for day dawned. at last, and every eye in the small vessels gazed anxiously towards the land. $t The sun sank beneath the horizon, and no ship appeared, Another day passed, and then a third, in fruitless expectation, ; In short, after waiting, to no purpose, till the 23rd of the month, Captain Tom concluded that the ship was detained till fhe: following year, which might have really been the case, in conse- quence of Tom’s barge having been seen by the enemy when she was sent to discover the harbour of Acapulco. , After remaining on this station as long as his supplies of wood and water would allow, Captain Tom determined on a voyage to the southward ; and having arranged to recruit his stores at a Comicboo <SriGO) —> = Sunn ee |