The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

312 This valuable prize; which amounted to nearly a million and a half of dollars, was called the ‘‘ Maxi- milian,”’ and was commanded by Don Blasos, a seaman who was an officer distinguished by his skill and courage. The stranger was considerably larger than, the “‘ Spitfire,” and had 650 men and 36 guns mounted for action, besides 28 pedreéroes in her gunwale quarters and tops, each of which carried=a four- pound ball. She had 67 men killed i in eater and S84 wounded. LAAN The “ Spitfire” had only 2 killed, and a lieutenant and 16 wounded, all of ewig: recovered except: one. It is impossible to describe the transport on board gallant Tom’s ship, when, after their numerous dis- appointments, they at last Saw their wishes accom- plished. But this sudden joy was’ on ‘the point-of being suddenly damped by a. most-dreadful accident, For the ‘“ Maximilian”? had no, sooner struck than one of Tom’s: lieutenants, coming to con- gratulate the brave -young captain on ‘his prize, whispered to him that the “ Spitfire’? was danger- ously on fire near the powder room ! Tom received this awful intelligence withoat any apparent emotion. Taking care not to alaria, his people "he waive the |, necessary orders for extinguishing the fire, which was happily done in a short time, though its abet ance at first was extremely, terrible. ay’ Some cartridges had been blown up by. bicldent between decks, and the blast had communicated its flame to a quantity of oakum in the after’ hatchway near the powder room, where the- smoke. of the oakum occasioned the apprehension of a more extended conflagration, and even the hope, of avoiding its fury by escaping, on board the prize: had vanished, for at the same instant ‘she fell, on the starboard quarter of the-“Spitfire,” though. she was happily cleared without doing or bacelinss. : any considerable damage. = But, before nae Ford left England i in search of the treasure ship mentioned in the last chapter, he. did not forget to do justice to one who had very much befriended him, This person was poor Matty. Now that she was thrown out of place, she knew not what to do. She was in deadly fear of meeting Barney again, Death to her would ‘have been preferable now to the miserable life she had‘ formerly’ been compelled to live with him, When, therefore, the landlord of'the house found that Jonathan Flint and Warner were’ none other than arrant swindlers, he abused poor Matty'in the most vulgar and outrageous manner. He swore that she was one of the pang of'rocues who had imposed upon him, and threatened her with all manner of punishnients: I | Gale, however, came to the rescue, aiid delivered - her out of the hands of the violent landlord: Moreover, greatly to Matty’s: surprise, he pave her a note which contained fous five pound notes, It came from’ Captain Tom) who’ thanked Her heartily for the interest she had ‘shown in his calise, This present was quite a little fortune to the poor girl, who wept/and thanked Mr, Gale over and over again for his great kindness. ‘Don't thank me,” said Gale, “but thank Captain Tom Ford; he is the party who has proved, your friend,” “Heaven bless him !’ said the poor girl, unable in any other way, to.expregs her heartfelt gabtifude, delight, “could do. to this: one-and (that one; but he came - two teeth were almost. THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. “But don’t you 26 NAST aqhat tor the: ‘money, Matty,” said Gale, “nor go go to live in the same den where you used to do,” “No fear of that, Mr. Gale,’’ said the thankful irl, “no fear of that, gir; I-didn’t live there with own wishes you may ‘depend upon it, Mr. Gale; as forced to do so.” ~~) > “ By Barney a uy’ cm TH Yes, pir.?? ji! “ Ah, ‘well, never. Sinin that “Matty ; ; I don’t think he'll trouble you again in a; very great hurry. 2 - How do you mean, sir?) Have you ‘got him’ tor anything 1b47/ “Well,' no,” ‘said, Gale, not exactly, Matty ; Barney | has “ae too: camntpe for us as yet, 39 ~~ but——”’ “T hope ‘you may hang dim; Mr. Gale,” said “Matty, bitterly, “ for, he has fisen my ruin, and no mistake,” 5 “ And the ruin of a ‘great many more, I fancy,” said Gale ; ‘but he won’t always escape us.” “So hé) has been a great villain, Mr, Gale,” con- tinued Matty, ‘‘and-1 know-it well; but I daren’t speak to any one about his Boee8. ? “Why not?” “Because he more than once threatened to mur- der me if I did.” ) ae ‘Ah, Barney is always ver y brave with & woman, but when he is tackled by a man——”’ - “Tikes he was by Joe the Coster, ” said Matty, “(then he could be very humble:” _ “Did Joe ne Oost then, give Barney ‘a doing?" ? © h)! “ Yes, and a raré- ‘one’ a said Matty, in great “He went out) bouneing about what he home with both eyes blackened,: his cheek was cut, nocked out.” “And what did neal zak of that?’ asked Gale, lau ghing, Why, he turned. ‘on? ha ‘instantly, and swore I ‘had put Joe on: to him, and ‘he beat me till I was -black and blue. both night and day.” He was the terror of my life, yes, “Well, said Gale, “now I want to speak to you about a matter of great petal % “ What is it?” ¢ ; © Captain Tom Ford has been ver Ain to you,” “T knolv he has,” y. e si ) “And I dare say you would like * to ‘have it in your power to return that kindness in, some way %” ‘Of course I should, Mr, Gale. Nothing ‘in. the world would please me better,:but & have'nt. got it in my power, that’s the worst,of it.” ~~.) ‘Yes, you have, Matty.” “How, Mr, Gale?” ef M .and sd'de? “ By giving me some information,” nowradar> ‘What information?” , fobih cart ‘About Barney,”’ J “You don’t want to put, me. in ‘the: mntnedeatise do you, Mr. Gale? His pals would murder me, Mr, Gale, I)should never|get home alive,” fy “No, I don’t want to put yous the Wwitnenf, box, Matty... Nothing of the kind,’’. .. “Then what is it you do want, Mr. Gale ay “JT want to know if you,ever. sai Basney! talking to an oldish-looking cabman.?”’ “What an old-looking fellow, with a brown great- : coat, and grey whiskers ?” i fies is what they call A ong nightman?” 4 ‘ es, ” ’ “Well, have you often, seen | éham together f? as have’; but what of that? Isawthe old cab- man round this neighbourhood last night,” | “ Did you though, really,” said Gale, pect Gomichboo S (E@)