The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

cn nn a A I I IS IE 48 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GAR pi ve Pa eS Ee ee r ‘You are punctual, gentlemen,” said one of the Italians. “Yes” said Dick ; ‘“‘ English youths generally are when there’s a fight on hand.” ‘‘ Oh, indeed,” was the sardonic reply ; “ and what do you propose doing? Have three pairs of duel- lists, or one pair at a time?” : ‘‘ Just as you please about that,” said Hugh, care- lessly throwing his cloak on the grass. ‘It’s just as our captain likes.” “ And I do noé like it,” said Frank, stepping for- ward, ‘The insult was intended for me not for Hugh or Dick.” ‘‘Captain Ford is quite right,” said one of the Italians; ‘the insult was intended for him and no one else, As you had two friends we brought two.” “Tt little matters,’ said Frank, “if you had brought a dozen.” “But we have not brought a dozen. an Englishman, you will believe us. only three.” ‘Well, and now that we are altogether and bent on mischief, in what way have Iever offended you?” ‘‘We will fight first, if you please, and make ex- planations afterwards.”’ “T am not an advocate for duelling, gentlemen ; it is a thing very rare among Englishmen ; I would rather shed my blood in some nobler cause than a common brawl.” ~ “Captain Ford has the reputation for bravery.” “I have, and would prove it in any honourable cause ; but to my English notions duelling is un- manly, brutal, and even cowardly ; it does not show the bravery 80 much as the rashness of those who engage in it.” ‘““Then you refuse to fight ?” ~“T do until you show cause.” “Then must I brand you as a coward,” said the Italian, lifting his sword to strike Frank across the shoulder. ‘Enough !” said Frank, whipping out his sword in a trice, and keeping his dark antagonist at bay. “Enough! you are mad, you thirst for blood! Then take your chance—have at you !” So saying, Frank dashed at his unknown foe, and their weapons flashed in the moonlight like light- ning. , With the fury of a tiger the Italian rushed on to Frank, and his eyes flashed fire. Young Ford was so active, however, that he danced about with great nimbleness and a smile of confidence on his handsome face, “You have made a mistake, signor,” said he, sapere ; “Iam not a boy when I take sword in - hand.” The Italian grinned ghastly in reply ; but all he knew he could not even scratch Frank, who several times had punctured his enemy. _ Meanwhile, while Frank was thus bravely fight- ing, Hugh and Dick drew their swords, and stood ready to protect their captain from any unjust in- terference, The fight now became fast and furious, The Italian thought that his superior strength would have soon beat Frank to the ground, But failing in this, he ground his teeth in rage to find he had “caught a Tartar ” in the modest Eng- lish youth. Not a word was spoken by the four seconds all this time, but it was evident that they were all very greatly excited, and little would have been re- quired to draw them into the fight. Frank, finding that his enemy's strokes were getting weaker and weaker, pushed him harder and harder, OD A TA és 7 eo - ow I hope, as There are Oe ee Aer rms re IBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. With a lond laugh of mocking triumph he dashed | at his tall antagonist, and after feinting once or twice, stabbed the Italian for the third time; the blood now gushed in purple streams, This brought him on his knee in a second, “ Apologise, or die!” said Frank, standing over him, with upraised sword. :' ce Ut At that moment a pistol shot was fired by one of | the Italian’s seconds. : ee) | Frank was struck, and staggered back with a ~ sharp cry of pain. | ea ae ‘Treachery !” he cried, and leaned against a | tree. ‘ | In a second the truth was now revealed, Frank’s death had been resolved on by fair means or foul. With a savage oath Hugh and Dick puahed upon the two cowardly seconds, and the fight which then took place was fierce and desperate. | The Italians were excellent swordsmen, and for a long time kept Hugh and Dick at bay, although ~ not without being probed more than once, and ‘‘pinked” in the arm. 3 | Finding that Frank was faint, and almost help- less, the wounded Italian gave a shrill] whistle, A half-dozen ruffians answered his summons, who rushed out of their place of concealment in the grove, But just as they did so they were met with great fury by Mark, Buttons, and the Fat Boy, who, un- known to any one, had climbed up a tree near by to witness the duel, and see “ fair play.” , Pop! pop! pop! went Fatty’s revolver among the dusky villains, who were hit about the legs, and | yelled with pain. This only excited the brown-looking scoundrels” all the more, who fought with the fury of fiends, The grove was now all alive with combatants. The clink of swords was incessant, but not a word or oath scarce passed the lips of any, one of them,so deadly was the combat. AS Frank, however, was faint with loss of blood, and lay under a tree. ne Not far from him crawled his antagonist through the shade, with a long knife between his teeth. Like a tiger-cat he crawled, bent on murdering the brave youth, who, unconscious, looked deadly pale, and fondly murmured from time to time the sweet name of his own beloved Nelly Lancaster. Onward crept the assassin slowly, and his eyes flashed in the moonlight like two burning coals, He foamed at the mouth. His hair was wild and disordered. He gasped with mad passion as now he had ap- proached unseen within three feet of young Ford. He leaned on one hand, and slowly raised the knife for the last fatal stroke ! His eyes danced with made delight. His teeth shone like the fangs of a deadly viper. “‘Now,’’ said he, ‘is the moment of my triumph. “Thus shall the English dog die !” The knife was about to descend with unerring aim into the heart of the unconscious boy, when— The figure of a young girl emerged from behind the tree, pistol in hand ! ryal The Italian saw her, He trembled like a wounded snake, The pistol was presented at his head ? It dazzled his eyes, He gasped. He foamed at the mouth, “ Teresa |’ he gasped. Crack ! went the weapon. He fell, with a loud groan, bleeding on the grass ! o Se tt ett GComicbooksreom