Five Cent Wide Awake Library (vol. 1) (1879 03 19)
The text was read from the page scans by machine (OCR), so it has mistakes and its columns may run together. See the pages · About this title · At the Internet Archive
Page 1
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 2
/ HARKAWAY AND THE ITALIANS. Diy, gnd were so fortunate as to hit two out of the six retreating brigands. These unfortunates bit the dust, but the others age and, joining Toro by running at the top of their speed, formed a small rearguard in the case ef pursuit. > r The soldiers followed up the road at the double. Toro, being well acquainted with the country, quitted the high road after going about, a mile, turned down a narrow lane, and made for Possil- ppo. ; : : The soldiers were completely baffled, and furious with rage and vexation, returned to barracks, bearing their dead with them. The rescue of Barboni created the utmost ex- ecitement in Naples, and the officer in char-> was . tried by court-martial, and dismissed the service cy. “be soon to.” “ee ‘@lrcumstances:-alter cases.” dor his negligence. The authorities had paid the traitor his price fer the betrayal of his. master, and after once more having the redoubtable Barboni in their pow- er, they had let him slip through their, fingers. Toro knew that a strict search would be made all along the countryside, and with a tact very ereditable to him, determined to seek an entirely new shelter. With this end in view, he sought the sea shore. He had been a boatman before he had ki)led his man in a drunken quarrel, and, to avoid the gal- leys, became a brigand with a small following. The tie that existed between master ar! men was that they had also dyed their hands in the blood of a fellow -creature. Toro’s knowledge of the coast enabled him to re- member that in a wild, wave-washed, rocky part, some distance from Naples, was a cave, only ac- céssible at low’ water. At low water you could scramble over huge boulders of rock, and reach the entrance without wading through the sea. But at high tide there was a considerable depth of water, up to the very edge of the hole which geve admittance to this hollow refuge for evil doszs. : Jn this place Toro took refuge, nor did he rest until Barboni- was placed in safety. The cart was then allowed to be carried wher- ever the unguided horses chose to carry it, A brigand was sent out with money to purchase from the gers 2! some food, wine and tobacco, Jaden with which he returned in a couple of hours’ time. , Barboni was deeply grateful to Toro for his brave rescue. . “ Wait,” he said, “until my sight comes back to ime, and you will see that I know how to reward my friends.” “Whether you ever become yourself again or not,” replied Toro, “you can be safe and cared ‘for with me” i 41 am rejoiced to think,” continued Barboni, “that the cursed Inglesi will not bave the proud satisfaction of seeing me perish on the scaffold. It was that which made me tremble.” “Captain! Captain!” exclaimed the man on at the mouth of the cave. “Qospetto !” said Toro, “What Is it, my lad? Axe the hawks bearing down upon us ?” “Not so bad as that.” . “Corpo di Baccho! What do you disturb me for »bout a trifle when I am talking to a greater brigand than ever you will be?” ari Holy Virgin, signor, you speak the trath there, and I am as proud as you can be te have his ex- eellency, Barboni, with us, He does us too much honor.” . “Tush! how you waste your time in jabbering. oe in the wind apt ii da -“T was scanning the bay with be gain », when View eee het rowed with two men In the atern sits a third, who steers her.” * “Well, my beard,” laughed Toro, * there’s a lot a that to wonder at.” “But that isn’t all.” “ Ah, that makes it a horse of another color; “Behind the little boat comes a fg one rowed by six men, and it seems te be im parsuit of the le one.” “Diavolo,” exclaimed Toro, fiercerp, “that’s not fair. What, six against two! No, no, this must “The pursued is trying to make the shore be-| last night, I heard that Il Signor Barboni had ex fore the big boat can overhaul it, which is doubt- | iaped. ful if it will be able to do,” continued the brigand. “T'll come out; how’s the tide?” “Coming in fast, signor, but you can reach the sands without trouble yet.” “ Give me the glass,” exclaimed Toro. He took it, and advancing to the cave’s entrance, seanned the horizon, and carefully examined the boats = There could be no doubt that one boat was fol- lowed by the other, and the rowert in each were straining every nerve, Suddenly Toro uttered « ery. “ Por Baccho!” he cried, “this is singular. The man who steers the little boas has but one arm. Can it be Lieutenant Hunstoni ?” At the mention of Hunston’s name, Barboni pricked uj his ears, “Did-you say that Hunstoni was in danger?” he asked. : ‘ “Tt appears to me.” “Tet him take his fate, then,” replied sarponi, savagely. “He has 1 bbed and insulted me, aban- doning me tochanec. May his carcass rot on a dunghill.” “Nay,” said Toro, “I don’t like to see a bandit in difficulty ; if he left.jou, he doubtless had his own little game ‘to play. I'll go and see further into thi: matter.” Barkon’ sat down again. He wa= unable to move about in a strange piace without assistance, He muttered t> himself and cursed» Hunston, employing the bitterest invectives against him and Bigamini, His chief hope was that he would one day re- cover his sight, dig -p his buried treasure, and travel in search of his late spy and lieutenant, so that he might shoot them down like dogs, and have his revenge upcn fhem for their ill-treatment of him when kelpless and friendless, Meanwhile Tore slung his rifle over his back and descended to the sands, where he placed himself behind a rock and carefully scrutinized the two boats, Both boats were nearing the shore, and not more than a hundred and fifty yards divided the two. Those in the little boat were skilled waterman, and bent over their oars like galley-slaves, casting the spray high into the morning air, } At length Toro thought the time had come, and raised his rifle. He fired, and one of the rowers in the big boat fell back mortally wounded. This unexpected attack caused the greatest sur- prise and consternation among the rowers, who, panic-stricken, ceased their labors, Rising in'the stern, the coxswain of the police galley uged his men to persist in their work, which they did with evident reluctance. Again Toro fired, anda second man fell, consider- ably slackening the speed of the craft. Not liking the hidden fire, the men openly mutinied and refused to go any nearer the am- buseade, ‘ : : In vain their leader exhorted them to continue to do their duty; they turned the boat round and stood out to sea again. A loud hurrah hurled defiance at them; the boat shot through the water; it’s nose grated against the sand, anda man stepped on shore, It was Hunston, wl.» looked round for his deliverer, and saw Toro eme: from his place of concealment behind the fick, ; . ; “Ts it you, my fine fellow ?” exclaimed Hun- ston. “Cospetto! I owe my life to your friendly shots.” : “You are welcome,” replied Toro, “How did you happen to get into such a mess?” “That is easily told, I-had arranged to eseape | oh, ' i ie “You remember m>;I have nursed you in the and those brave fellows agreed to: row me to her | pantry. in a bark which is riding at anchor round the point, at daybreak,” “T see,” said Toro; “the police were down on you before you could get out of the harbor.” “You're right, and a precious hard row we had for it. I must have been taken had it not been for you; and now, my gay and gentle Toro, tell me the news, While I was skulking in a Tratoria| “Call off the wolf.” Desperate indeed were the efforts of the rowers.” “Thanks to a little stratagem of mine he ia safe,” ae “Where ?” Toro shrugged his shoulders, and looked doubt- fully at Hunston. : “Per Dios,” he replied. “I don’t know how te treat you. The chief says you deserted him after using him badly, and what with the treachery of that infernal raseal Bigamini—may he burn eter- nally! and what with the danger about, I don’s know who can be trusted,’ Hunston lai ghed, i “You can pat confidence in me, mito caro ; if I am no longer a brigand, I am not a traitor. No, I never sold a pal in my life, and have lived too long to begin now,” he answered, “The chief is full against you, and if I take you to my cave theré will be a tragedy if he knows you are there, and can pistol you.” “The old bat is too blind to be dangerous,” re- plied Hunston, “Let me remain with you tif night. Iwill make another try for the brig be fore the moon is up.” “Well, I'll trust you,” answered Toro. me, I’ve no malice against you.” Hunston spoke to the boatmen, telling them to | hide the boat in some cove, go to an inn, and rest themselves till evening, and then await atthe same spot after the night fell. “As for CHAPTER II. THE WOLF AND THE CHILD, Briaamrnt Was afraid, after the murder of his wife, to return to Naples, and his idea was to tramp along the coast, until he came to some port where he was not known, hoping to get away in a sh. te Genoa or Marseilles. , He took a little money out of his belt, and pur itin his pocket to pay the expenses of the journey One of his accomplishments was playing on tha flute, which he could do tolerably well, and seeing a beggar with one of those instruments, a ittla way out of Naples, he knocked him down and stoi¢” it, : Armeé@ with the flute, he tore his clothes to make himself look as poor as possible, and slouching his broad-brimmed hat over his eyes, he thought he would pass as a strolling musician, The fatigues and anxieties he had gone through © of late made him long for a good nights rest, ang reaching the cave which the cybil had inhabited, he resolved to indulge in as sound a slumber as his conscience would allow him, | Searcely had ‘he set foot inside the eave when a snapping and snarling noise warned him that it would be dangerous to intrude further, without mak. ing an examination into the cause of the strange sounds, ‘ A steady look enabled him to see a wolf, who bared his gums and showed his teethina threatem | ing manner, 4 é “Hullo, my boy, I think I have seen you before, said Bigamini, z It was the witch’s wolf, who had eome bae the old place, but why he should prevent from entering it was difficult fo understand. Achildish voice suddenly exclaimed fro depth of ‘the cave: “Be quiet, you wolf, or I shall have to beat How cross you are to-night.” Bigamini’s eyes twinkle. “Here’s a go,” he said. “Blest if I ain’t luckiest cove out. It’s Mr. Harkaway’s ki Here’s a find.” Raising his voice aloud, he added: “Master Jack.” y “Who’s that ? asked the child. ; on “T’m Mr. Monday’s friend,” called Bigambnl, ” antry. : noms “Oh, yes; I remember Bigamini, Have you — come to fetch me home ?” eds ue on course I ee au en “Come inside, It’s very dark, but you'll soom — get used to it, I have, and the so Sg out when he’s here.” ms
Page 3
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 4
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 5
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 6
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 7
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 8
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 9
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 10
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 11
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 12
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 13
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 14
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 15
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 16
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 17
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 18
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 19
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 20
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 21
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 22
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 23
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.
Page 24
This page's text is still being fetched. See the page, or reload in a moment.