The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

EEE iS \ THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI8 YOUNG CAPTAIN. aE SS SEE SNS midnight we all pulled off towards the harbour with muffled oars. ‘< During this time, however, the lieutenant com- manding discovered two of the enemy’s spy-boats, and gave chase to them. “ We waited some time for his return. I got impatient, and ordered all the boats to follow me. _.“ They did so without a murmur. We pulled in towards the harbour ; and, to our surprise, saw the enemy exchanging signals from ship and shore. Delay now was dangerous. ‘¢ At this moment the wind, which had been be- hind us, suddenly changed, and blew right into our faces. This inspired me witb a new idea. I gave orders to all my men that when we succeeded in getting on to the enemy’s decks, the smartest of them should fly a!oft and loosen the sails. ‘“One of the best men was to seize the rudder, while a second was to cut the cable. Having made these arrangements to cut the hip adrift, we pulled away at neck or nothing speed. “ At this instant the ‘ Radetzki’ opened a heavy fire of musketry from every part of the ship, and showers of grape shot from the great guns. “The effect of this hellish storm, let loose so suddenly upon us from both ship and shore, tore our men about in the most awful manner. . “ Heads, and legs, and arms, were torn off, “A boat or two was capsized, and a bullet whistled so close to my cheek as to wound it, and leave a scar behind. “Still onward we pulled, and got under the enemy’s bows. ‘‘The attempt to board was gallantly and stoutly resisted by the Austrians, armed as they were at all points, aud ready for us, with guns, pistols, sabres, pikes, and the like. “But we fought our way up the ship’s sides, and gained the enemy’s decks. “Those men who had been ordered to go aloft cut their way stoutly, and succeeded ; but several of the poor fellows were killed on the spot, and others, desperately wounded, fell with an awful crash on deck again. ““Many of the brave English lads, bleeding from their wounds, scrambled out upon the yards, holding their cutlass between their teeth, and with wonder- ful quickness did their duty. “Tn less than three minutes after the boats came alongside, down came the three top-sails. ‘‘The prompt execution of these operations proved decisive, ‘‘The moment the Austrians saw their sails fall, and found themselves under weigh and drifting out of harbour towards the open sea, they were greatly astonished, “Some jumped overboard; others threw down their arms. . “My lads now soon got possession of the quar- ter-deck and forecastle ; which, in five minutes after boarding, were nearly covered with dead bodies. “The rest of the enemy having retreated below, kept up a heavy fire of musketry from the main- deck and up the hatchways. “This obliged me to divide my men into two gangr. “One party guarded the hatchways and gang- ways, and returned the fire of the enemy, A une other party made sail, in order to clear the eck. “To do this it was necessary for them to throw overboard two or three dozen of the poor devils who had fallen in the conflict, among whom were some of our own gallant companions, “ Scarcely was the ‘ Radetzki’ clear of the point from which showers of musketry and grape were being played upon her, when the wind fell a dead calm. “ This calm left us exposed to the terrible fire of the batteries. “The state of all our boats prevented us towing the captured vessel out to sea, for some of them were sunk, others were adrift with killed and wounded men. “‘ However, 2 light breeze soon springing up from the north-east, at length blew her out of further danger. “The engagement had now lasted upwards of two hours, though during this time the enemy had kept’ up a constant fire from the main decks and shore, yet our lads managed to set every sail in the ship, and even got topgallant yards across. “The ship being now quite clear of the batteries, and our men haying twice threatened that they would give the enemy ‘no quarter’ if they con- tinued their fire from below, they at last surren- dered themselves prisoners of war. “About this time some boats were perceived coming from the direction of the shore, which I suspected to be enemies ; therefore, I immediately prepared for a new conflict, and had the sides of the ship manned with pikes and arms to defend her. “But on nearer approach we found them to be the crew of Lieut, Capelli, to whom, of course, I then resigned the chief command. ‘“‘The morning’s dawn displayed a dreadful scene of carnage on board the frigate. “Thus terminated an enterprise which, in this species of warfare, you will confess may safely be pronounced to be without parallel, and which, by mere accident, I had the honour to superintend, and successfully bring to a brilliant finish. “The enemy were not taken by surprise. “Not only the vessel but the batteries on shore which protected the ‘ Radetzki’ were in readiness, and on their guard. ‘““The brave English boys under my command were exposed to a severe fire, both from the ship and from the shore, before they came alongside ; we then fought our way up the sides of a vessel full of men, armed with every kind of weapon calculated to resist our gallant attempt, ‘All this was done in the presence of the Austrian fleet not more than two miles away up the harbour, and by six boats, “It was, moreover, accomplished under the order of your brother Tom, in the absence of Lieutenant: Capelli. “For this deed I am raised to the dignity of captain in the fleet of Victor Emmanuel, to the great pleasure and exaltation of my Boy Band in the ‘Kaiser,’ but to the annoyance of several others, particularly of Lieutenant Capelli. “T'may add that this officer and I have had a quarrel ; we fight a duel to-morrow. “But of this more another time. Capelli’s bullets I’ll write soon again, “With love from my band of Boy Sailors to all the band of Boy Soldiers, believe me, Brother Frank, to be, If I escape ‘¢ Affectionately, ‘Tom FORD.” The reading of this letter was interrupted now and then with repeated sounds of applause, ‘' Ho-o-ray !” roared Fatty, throwing up his cap. “British boys for ever! They can whop all the Poe tal said he, getting excited and red in the ace, Eomichboo (©) ee ne . cl ¥ .