The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

“ee, THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 29 behind to guard the yacht, and these two, unknown to Frank, were spies | _ When the red rocket was fired by Frank he marched his men towards the fort through a small dry ravine which ran at the back of it, He gave particular orders that every one should arm themselves with two six-barrelled revolvers and a cutlass; which they did, for every one of the youths, sailors included, knew very well that some hard fighting would be required ere they over- came the Austrian guard, Tony, the Fat Boy, was among Frank’s party, but, instead of arming himself with two revolvers, he had at least a dozen in his belt, all double- shotted, besides an immense sabre he had picked up in the cabin. In truth, as he trudged along, puffing and blow- ing, and munching a piece of bread, he looked like a walking magazine of fire-arms, and, to add tovhis load, he filled a large havresack with bread and meat, and had over a pint of wine in his canteen ! He tried a cigar on the march, but it was too much for him, and made him groggy. He drank of the wine freely to quench his thirst after eating an enormous quantity of salt beef, and, long ere a shot was fired on either side, the Fat Boy was pretty well “tight,” and, as he said, “‘dying for a fight.” Young Buttons was made head of the commis- sariat department for the occasion, and was accom- panied by several of the youngest of the Garibaldians whom Frank did not think it prudent to expose to the chances of the battle. They were well laden with refreshments, which, with young Button’s as- sistance, they lightened at almost every step. However, all things seemed to prosper this the first land exploit of the young Garibaldians, and they crept close up to the fort through the ravine without being observed. They lay close to the ground waiting for Hugh Tracy’s band to arrive and ‘open the ball” on the other side, and could plainly hear the Austrian sentinels challenging each other in their rounds. Frank, in a whisper, explained everything to his followers, and all was in readiness for the surprise and attack, when Tony whispered to Frank, in a hurried manner, “Do you see him 2?” “Who?” “Why, don’t you see yonder one of our band talking to that Austrian soldier Just above us on the hillock ?” Frank turned his eyes, and perceived a person dressed like one of the young Garibaldians, but who it was he knew-not, conversing with an Austrian sentinel. “Who can it be?” thought Frank, “Surely none of my patty have been taken prisoners ?” He counted his men, and found them all right. But while he turned deadly pale, and whispered “ treason” to himself, he knew not what to do, To fire, and shoot down the villain, whoever he was, would have been easy enough, but it might ruin his plans, He sat considering what to do for some moments, when the sentinel and the stranger suddenly dis- appeared from view, In less than two minutes drums were heard beating wildly in the coast- guard fort ! A discordant jar of voices was heard—a loud, angry murmuring sound it was—which betokened that the enemy had been secretly informed of the expedition, and’ were hurriedly assembling to thwart it | A few moments passed—awful moments of sus- pense they were to Frank—still not a shot was fired to indicate to him that Hugh Tracy and his band had commenced the fight, “ Hide yourselves in the darkness of the ravine,” said Frank, in a whisper; “*we mustn’t begin till our comrades have arrived on the other side. Hide, I tell you, Fatty ! Creep low behind the rocks and cle'ts ; let no one breathe aloud |” He had just said these words when a company of Austrian marines appeared at the- head of the ravine. The form of each man of them was clearly visible against the bright blue sky. The officer at the head was sword in hand, “Tf the young Garibaldians are down here,” he said, with a loud laugh, ‘we can’t very well miss them, comrades, The spy said they were here, but IT don’t see anything of them, Do you, my lads ?” : ‘No, captain,” said the soldiers. “Well, no matter; in case there be any one lurking and prying about, we might as well give them a good volley.” “Oh, the villain!” Fatty sighed. “He's going to give us a ‘good volley!’ It’s all up with us now, Buttons, Give us a swig at the wine afore we ies |” “ Hus-s-s-h !” said Frank. ‘‘Hold your tongue, you big donkey. Keep quiet and crouch low ; they can’t hit you.” Oh, can’t they, though? Iknow better than that. In a moment or two they’ll make cat’s meat of us all! Ob, lor! I feel the bullets drilling holes into me even now! Ugh! this is soldiering, is it?—to be made a target of, and mustn’t fire a pouch in return! Well, I suppose it’s all right; give us another drink of wine, Buttons ; it’s all up with us, and no mistake! Good-bye; take care of yourself, Remember Tony to all his old friends.” “ Who goes there?”’ asked the Austrian officer of marines, interrupting Tony’s whispered words. “Who goes there?” he repeated, ‘Friends or foes ?” ‘‘Hriends or foes, eh? It’s coming now, Buttons, look-out !’? gasped Tony, coiling himself up behind a huge stone like an eel.” ‘“‘ Ready !”’ said the officer to his men, On the command forty bright barrels were levelled at the ravine. Fatty, in trying to creep closer under the rock, lost hig balance, and fell into a hole hard by some fifteen feet deep. “ Wire |” was the next command, On the instant a sharp report broke upon the night air, and forty bullets went whistling and pattering through the ravine. Directly they had fired Frank listened, for he thought some of his men were hit, But not a sound was heard, save a deep sigh from Fatty in the mud-hole. ‘“ Bravo!” said Frank, half alond, hurt. They stand it like fire-eaters,”’ ‘‘They can’t be there,” said the Austrian officer. “ T think not,” said another, ‘or we must havo hit them.” ‘“So much the better, then. rejoin our companions.” They moved off with measured tread, but had not gone far when a loud noise of fire-arms was heard in the opposite direction, “That’s Hugh and Dick, for a thousand pounds !”’ said Frank. “Now’s our time, my lads. Let’s rush forth and help them ; no cheering or shouting “Not one Let us return, and > CONNIC IOOKS «CO