The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

—_——- 76 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. “ SR You can leave me—but stay. In what part of the cavern are the young strangers sleeping ?” “T know not, father.” “Did not Cavolti place them in a safe spot, then ?” ‘“‘T know not, father; but suppose he did, for he always obeys your orders punctually.” ‘‘ Of course.” ‘‘ You and the strangers were singing loudly, and as you all appeared merry, and were all served with wine, I and Annette retired to rest.” “Quite right, quite right. You may go. Well, this has been a pretty bout, surely,” said Basil, as he got up and walked about, ‘* Why, here are all my men fast asleep around me, and snoring like young elephants. Ha! ha! It was lucky the Austrians did not attack us in this state last night.” With his foot he kicked several of his men, who awoke with staring eyes. **Cavolti, come, rouse up! Awake! No more of this drunkenness. We must be up and doing, Cavolti, I say, awake !” Basil's chief officer did awake, and was surprised to find that he, like many others, had rolled off his chair on to the floor, and there had lain huddled up like so many pigs in a pen. ‘* How is this?” said Cavolti, rubbing his eyes. “Aye |’ said Basil, laughing. ‘fI suppose those young Englishmen must have been giving, us a lesson in deep drinking, eh, Cavolti ?” ‘The English youths !”’ said Cavolti, rubbing his eyes, and looking around him wildly. ‘ Oh! now T remember all ; but where——”’ “Hal” said Basil, taking him aside; “ that is the question I was about to ask you; where are they 2” . “Where?” asked Cavolti, looking puzzled and fearful. “Where, aye, where? Surely you must know something about them. If J was drunk and neg- lected them, surely you did not. Are they confined, or did you finish them all off at once with the cordial ?”” “IT know nothing of them,” said Cavolti. ‘I have no more recollection of what took place last night than an idiot.” ‘What ?” said Basil, with an angry oath, “a band of young desperate strangers among us, and you not know what has become of them ?” ‘I do not,” said Cavolti; “but I dare say they are safe somewhere in the cave; they could not escape, for they could never find out the right path.” “That may be; but I very much doubt it,” said Basil. ‘‘Am I to understand you know nothing of them ?” ! “*T do not.” ‘‘Then you are no longer worthv to be"my officer, Cavolti,” said Basil. “ Your life shall be the forfeit if they are not found.’ “ Be it so,” was the calm reply. “You gave me no orders concerning them,” “Liar |” said Basil, fearfully angered, “liar |” “ Basil,” said Cavolti, “you are my chief, and I should not reply ; but, let me tell you, that no other man should call me liar and live.” “Ah! you threaten me, then, eh? What, treason and treachery at work! Men, sieze him!” said Basil. Four men instantly obeyed. ‘Now, Cavolti,” said Basil, “ your life is at stake, remember, if those youths are not found within an hour, Take him away and confine him in the strong room,’ ‘‘ Basil,” said Cavolti, with a grinning lip, “you eS choose, then, to disgrace and degrade me before your own men, and for no cause. When next you wake up from a drunken sleep, you will think differently of me, and may repent.” ‘Take him away. Search for those youths in every hole and corner. Quick! Fly!” said he, waving his hand in angry command. Cavolti was borne along by the four men, who took him along a wide stone passage towards the strong room. - Basil walked up and down the large banqueting hall, striking his forehead. His whole band was now thoroughly aroused, The caverns were searched far and wide, but not » a trace could be found of the missing youths. ‘‘Fled !” gasped Basil, white with rage, as reports were continually brought to him to that effect, “one of my men murdered before the main gate! Now, by heaven, deep, dark treachery is among us and Cavolti shall suffer !”’ . Basil at that instant heard a slight noise in the ~ adjoining passage that he could not understand. In an instant after, the door was burst open right in front of where stood the bandit chief ! Cavolti dashed in, looking wild, haggard, and ferocivus. A blood-red sword was in his hand! For a moment Basil looked stupefied, as if he beheld a ghastly spectre before him. “ What, Cavolti returned, and bloody !” he said, whipping out his sword, ‘‘and confronts me thus in defiance !” “Four lifeless bodies lie in the passage,” said Cavolti, bursting with rage, “and I come to adda jifth one, Your band isin revolt ; Iam King of the Mountains !” “ Fool!” said Basil, dashing at Cavolti; “you may have conquered four, but not me. Have at you, villain %” In a trice Cavolti knocked the sword out of Basil’s hand. They clutched each other’s throats, knives in hand, The struggle was short and desperate. _ They breathed hard, like two tigers in deadly embrace. A dagger was uplifted, and flashed in the light, In a second more all would be over. y Bang | The report of a pistol was heard from behind the curtain, CHAPTER XXVII. NIGHT VULTURES. FRANK, however, was not alone on the battle-field. Young Sam Bennet, who had also been wounded during the fight, was likewise left behind. The Boy Soldiers had put Frank in a safe place during the latter~part of the battle, but he crawled away towards asmall spring to quench his thirst, and there remained. : Hence, when they came to look for him, he was nowhere to be found. Supposing that he had been carried off by some of the party the boys retreated from the field, and did not discover their mistake until it was too late. Thus the gallant young leader of the boy band was left through mistake, and in the darkness that overhung all with his young comrade Sam Bennet. When morning began to break the clouds were thick and dark. Lightning flashed through the murky skies, and thunders rolled, GEomicboo com so / *