The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 71 —oOOw———— A .:.:.:.0.0.0....Q°Q°° chief men were indulging, Agnese poured out for Frank a fresh glass of wine, and as she did so, whispered— “Be careful; they will be helpless by-and-bye, but when you are free again remember me.” Frank presscd her hand without speaking a word, and slipped off his own finger a diamond ring he wore. “Let that be our pledge, dear Agnese,” said he, in a faint whisper, ‘I shall never forget you, and will soon return.” From sips of wine, the bandit gentlemen got to bumpers, and it appeared very certain that if left to themselves for half an hour they would all be hopelessly and helplessly stupefied. Frank and his companions, perceiving how things were going, kept up the laugh and joke, until the whole company became merrier and noisier, and well-nigh drunk. “ We-ll,” said Basil, hiccupping, “before we part let us take a drop of cordial in our wine all round ; it’s a splendid sleeping draught.” (With an ominous wink to his companions, who laughed boisterously at the great wit of their chief.) “No, not yet, Basil, not yet; we haven't drunk half enough,” said Frank. ‘“ Fill again before we have the cordial. Don’t let it be said that English boys can beat an Italian brigand at wine- drinking.” “As you like. Well, fill glasses all round, and let’s have a song; after that you young English boys shall have a drop of cordial to kill the wine, then we'll all have a sleep, and wake up fresh for the Austrians when they come upon us.” This was just what Frank desired. * A song! a song!” he cried, “Yes ; that’s it !” “ Let’s have a song, Basil.” “Now for it, captain, your old favorite,” said several swarthy brigands, half drunk, clapping their hands, ‘‘ the one you composed on yourself.” With many hems and haws Captain Basil com- menced his song, which was of such a tremendous length that all save himself and the Boy Soldiers were fast asleep, snoring in their chairs or stretched on the floor, before it was finished. Basil had sung ten verses, and his voice got weaker and weaker, until at last he stopped dead still after just finishing the chorus, which was, “They may call us bold villains, but ’tis my firm belief, There’s none half so gay as a brave mountain chief, Then fill up your bumpers, and our toast it shall be, ‘To all gallant craftsmen on land and on sea!’” For a moment Frank and the rest sat uneasily in their chairs knowing not what to do. At that moment Agnese whispered, “JT have drugged them, or they would have poisoned you all. Fear nothing, they are all in- sensible. Follow me.” “ But there are many more outside,” “They are all stupefied with drink but Antony, and him I fear. Quick! quick! brave English youth, or all is lost!” CHAPTER XXIV. THE FLIGHT—DESPERATE HAND TO HAND COM- BAT—A VILLAIN’S SHOT—A SCOUNDREL’S PUN- ISHMENT—SAFETY OF THE BOY SOLDIERS, “ ANTONY, who is he?” asked Frank, passionately, as he followed his fair guide, ‘Think you I fear any one man?” “ Hu-s-s-h !” sighed Agnese, “ you know him not. IT hate him, I refused his hand, ani he hates me. If he had any idea of the trick I have played upon my father and the whole band he would drive a poignard to my heart,” “Then let him only try,” said Fatty, greatly pleased at the prospect of escaping from the “ devil’s den,” as he called it; ‘‘let him try it on, that’s all.” “Silence,” said Frank, fiercely, ‘‘silence, Fatty, you know not with whom we have to deal. Dis- cretion is the better part of valour.” Agnese; with soft steps, conducted Frank out of the cavern used asa banquetting hall, and had to pass through another and a much larger one. She peeped in first, and found, as she had said, that all the band, without exception, were in- toxicated and fast asleep. She beckoned Frank and his followers on with a faint, timid smile. *‘They had to step over the prostrate, helpless forms of several dozen of the band as they lay about fast asleep. “This way,’ she said; ‘‘Annette and I have prepared your horses; everything is ready for your instant departure, but we have done this at the peril of our lives, for our hearts were sad to think so many brave youths should be sacrificed to my father’s deadly passion and hate.” They had reached the outer door or gate of the bandit’s cave when a rifle was fired at Frank’s head by some one unseen, It missed him, but hit Agnese slightly in the shoulder, “Look to yourselves,” she said, ‘I am not badly hurt,,only grazed ; look to yourselves, or all is lost ; it is Antony |” With the fury of a young lion, Frank rushed to the spot whence the shot was fired. He then saw Antony, the solitary guard, sword in hand, and with flashing eyes. The brigand would have raised a shout of alarm, but ere he did so Frank rushed upon him and seized him by the throat with a fiery, deadly grip. This was the only person now visible. “Get you to your horses,” said Frank; “ harness the horses to the carriage; leave this scoundrel to me.” His followers did so, But little did they dream what a terrific struggle it was between Antony and Frank, their brave young captain.” But Frank’s grip on the villain’s throat was like that of a vice, Antony struggled valiantly, but could not relax the hold young Ford had of him, They wrestled and fell over and over again, and yet neither had the mastery. At last, with a tremendous effort, Frank rolled his enemy over. Antony, with the desperation of despair, managed to loose one hand, He seized his pistol, and snapped it right in Frank’s face. The ball passed close to his temple. With the vengeance and anger of a strong man young Frank drew his knife, and it glittered before the villain’s eyes. “Spare me! spare my life !’’ the ruffian groaned. “Die, dog, die !”’ was the bitter response, The long shining knife descended with unerring aim, Ccommicboo SxCO re a