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Lea cartae. planchaa. tablaeux. etc.. peuvent «tre film4e A dee taux de rMuction diff«rents. lAraqua le <(ocument eat trop grand pour «tre reproduit en un saui clieh4. ii est film* i partir da I'angia sup4rieur gauche, de gauche k droite. et de haut en baa. an pranant la nombre d'Imagea n^caasaira. Lea diagrammes suivanta illuatrant la mithode. ■ .\ efilmed to ensure • - 3 * • 1 2' 3 • . 32X ^1 • 4 S 6 t - -^ .,■'■■ .4 1 -. , ■- ■■ ... ■. .,.; %':,". •" ■ ■':. .„■ ,■''. -^^.^ <^y^/: vfe^.>--7 i?-" Jv'i-^. \J ^-'i»«B^--y;-. ■ :..*:i':=^ "; ^<'^, -.-^ 14/ V .^ 1«'*l%^?f^''n--'-' ■^w*. -f -^ , ^ -- J^ M ^ '% rv > ^^1P-trtV*J^l ( _^>-W/iV3!-^Wi£ *■- -B^wV -/- -■' .*t * ' ' '-Jr- «tt *''^ V.fl ■!:-■ % V ■ 1 f'v -"^ 'ai^l&fd^^lf^ 1^^« HIV ^^ The YbuNG Dodge Clur AMONG THE BRIGANDS. fir PROP. JAMES DE MILLE, AOTHOB or " THE B. O. W. C. « " THE »OT8 OF OBAHO »> •CHOOL,» "LOST » THE W)0,.» .. raw uT THE WOODS,** KTO. *t^'^ * XX£r«Til^2>^jD, A BOSTON:- IBB AWD R HE PAB D, PtTBUBHiliaB. i ^ . NBW YOMtt * ^ UEB, SHBPABD AND DlLLmGHAM. " 1876-. \ .. .> -^v *!*^. t'> " E&tawd, i|KSOordlng to the Act of Congre»». >n the year 1871, bt lee ANL SHEPAKD, - In the Offlc^ of the UbrarUn of Congreas, at Wa»hlngton. 4 O "^^ ^^ ,-'\ '\ m m''''\ . . f- ■ K 1 -- ■ • .- ' i =-■■ •,. Electrotypedl at the Bocton Stereotype Fonndiy, 1 Na 19 Spring Laner t » 1 " X km 1^ 'S.^Ht"- w\ > (A. , ^i^ J.\ . ^j^'i>«^*(-."S»J;&^SS1>i:^*.. L.A-iS^^iiMf-rM ^m^: // CONT^^ISTTj^ 'AQS CHAPTER I. xieip ! ■— The Voice of David » — Ti,« d i . 1^' ■■ CHAPTs||fri. [How in the World did It get the4? a • k " toT ^ ^ ^he Dogs do baric I Beggars comi. ^""'•"^ '■«!«»»• .rf^^Da^id and CU«. "^'^J"- -^ : \i -€«AyTER:i n. =^^ )ut fnto fhe Cotintrv— TiiA t^-i I^ CHAPTER V. , They discuss the Situation. — They prepare to foot it « — A toibpme Walk, and a^ppy Discovery.- The- Language of Signs 6nce more. — The Mountain Cav- alcade.— Bob's Ambition. — Its results. -r Bob van-. • ishes. — Consternation of the Donkfey Boy. — Con- . stemation of the Cavalcade. *- " E Perduto ! " . 65' CHAPTER VL Flight of Bob. — Difference beti«^en a tame Donkey and a wild Ass. — Carried off to Oie Mountains.— ^^Th^ headlong bourse.- The Mountain Pass.— Tj^e "^""~ "loi^Tiey's End.— m-omened Place. — CdnfoanfledDj a new Terror.— The Brigands. ., . . -73, » *A-^, :1, -,..., ' -jjw-^ ■^ f ,■?■; r* ^• CONJENTB./ CHAPTEl^VII. -The hideou. HouseMd. - Tl,. hombfe oW hJ CHAPTER VIII. '^pe^om^^t Captlve^Xight Slumbers. - Fearful ^aKen.ng.-The stealthy- step. - The ovenn^te^ IngHo.or.-TheloneBoyconf^^tedbyhisZ«^ . ~T^e hungry Eyes.-Is i.«al, o.a NightmaTeTi* The supreme Momtfnt . . ^ tuwcr— 8i CHAPTER IX 94 theavalcadeinPursuitl-Hopesand Fear8.-The. ones about the lost Boy.^ A new Tuni to AfeuTI ExpIanat.ons.^On to Sale^^o. - l„q„iri;3^^^. «ed.--FreshConsternationandDespoLncy.^ - *^* ' • ' • loa • , \ ■ • ^. ^ . :; ' r- ^^AP;^ER X '■'. -^ ""z;^. S7;~" ' °°"" ° "" - ^ "ra'BHga a family -Tie .H^Q«,^_The Robber Wife.5The Bri^ «oaa.wThe Carriafire.»-In s#.ar^i, ^r-n.v - %.: ■M Road.f-.TbeCarriage.-ia Sea^ J no CONTENTS, '•/ CHAPTER XI. The Return. ■— The tender Adieus. — Back to Salerno. -—On to Castellamare. — A pleasant Scepe.-r-Ah unpleasant Piscovery. — David among the Missing. — Woes ^f Uncle Moses. — Deliberations over ih& Situation. — Various I'heories. — The Vengeance of the Enemy. — Back to Sorrento in Search of the Igst One . . ii8 ,1^ CHAPTER Xn. ^ - The Waking of David. — A glorious Scene. — A^^i^p- '1^ tation. — David embarks upon the wide, wide Se^^^^ Youlh at the Prow and Pleasure at the Helm.4-~A daring Navigator. — A baffled and confounded Navi- gator. — Lost ! Lost ! Lost ! — Despair of David. j — At the Mercy of Wind and Sea. ^^ The Isle of the Brigand^, — The Brigand Chief. . . . .131 CHAPTER Xin. David captured. — Tl^ big, bluff, burly, brusque, beard- - ed, broad-shouldered, beetle-browed Bully of a Brig- ; and. — A terrific Inquisition. — David's Plea for Mercy.— The hard-hearted Captor and the trembling* Captive."— A direful Threat — David carried oflf help- ^ less and despairing. — The Robber's Hold. HS C?iAPTERr X I VH- Op th? Way to Sorrento again. — A mournful Ride.— A4e8pa>ring Search — A fearful Discovery. — The m; CONTENTS. * 7 Old Virago again.^ In a Trap. - Sorrento aroused. ^ " -- Besieged. -AU lost - A raging Crowd. -^ The howling Hag. -Hurried Consul^tion. - The last forlorn Hope. -Disguise, Flight, and Concealment . 158 - ^ \, GHAPTER0. ■ ^. ^ In the Royier^s Hold. -. The Brigand's Bride. - Sud- den, amadng, overwhelming, bewildering, tremendous, . astounding, overpowering, and crashing Discovery. -T The Situation. -Everybody confounded.-- The ^ Crowd at Sorrento, ^ The Landlord's Prayers. - The Virago calls for Vengeance. . . . , . 168 " CHAPTER XVI. More Troubles for poor David. - Onset of four Women. -Seized by an old Crone and three Peasant Girls - Fresh Horror of David. -A new Uproar in the Yard " of the Inn. -Uncle Moses bent double. . ,83 ' CHAPTER XVII. Vesuvius. -Ponies and Sticks. -Sand and Lava.-*^ The rocky Steps. -The rolling, wrathfiil Smoke- clouds—pie Volcano warns them off.- The lost Boy. .-A fearful Search. -A desperate Effort - The sulphurous Vapors. - o(rer the sliding Sands. . 19, '«^: i: CHAPTER XVIII. Pompeii, the City of the Dead.-The Monuments of the Past -Temples, Towers, and Palaces. -Tomb. L^5|^-V.i!l*;C!,?tiv»Vl .,^^ lii» 8 ■Jt^^lf-il •Ttf^T'*' IfiTt^t-^ CONTENTS. and Monuments. — Theatres^ and Amphitheatres.— Streets and Squares.,.^ . . . . . . ^03 ' i^. CHAPTER XIX. V. Lofty classical Enthusiasnr of David, and painful Lack of Feeling on the Part^of Frank. — David, red hot with the FloW of tW Past, is suddenly confronted witlj the Present — Tlie Present dashes cold Water upon his glowing Enthusiasm. — The Gates. — Minos, ^cus, and Rhadamanthus. - The Culprits. . . 214 CHAPTER XX.* The Glories of Naples. — The Museum. — The Curios- ities.— How they unroU the charred Manuscripts exhumed from Herculaneum and Pompeii. — On to Rome. — Capua. — The Tomb of Cicero. — Terracina. — The Pontine Marshes. — The Appii Forum. . 226 ( ' A* CHAPTER XXI. The Pontine Marshes. -A Change comes over the Party. - The foul Exhalations. - The Sleep of Death. ~ Dreadful Accident. — Despair of Frank. — A Bi'eak- down. - Ingenuity of the Driver. - Resumption of the Journey. ..... CHAPTER XXII. -The March ended. —A tenely Inn. — lEvfriilicesT-^ Beetling Brows. - Sinister Glances. - Suspicions of *^«Pa^— They put their Head* together. — Con- 233 ' ^'^'^^'^''•' '^■' - '-' -" ^y' V CONTENTS. < r ^~ , s ■ ^f ferences of the Party. -A threatening Prosptct- Bamcades. ~ In Time of Peace prepare for War. ~ The Garrison arm themselves . 241 CHAPTER XXIII. The sleepless Watch. - The mysterious Steps. -Tiie low Whispers. -They co^e! They come ! -The Garrison roused. - To Arms ! To Arms ! - The be- leaguered Party.- At Bay.-The decisive Moment -The Scaling Ladders. -. Onset of the Brigands - End of Troubles. . «» ' ^ • • • r • . 254 CHAPTER XXIV. •'. A beautiful Country. -Magnificent Scenery. -The '' Approach to Albano. - Enthusiasm of the Boys - i Archaeology versus Appetite. - The Separation of the ^ •Boys. - The Story of the Alban Lake and |he ancient subterranean ChanneL . . ^„ io& ■i^:. •4' ;'* CHAPTER XXV. Thp lonely Path—The sequestered Vale.^The old House. - Ai^eudal Castle. - A baronial Windmill. - A mysterious Sound. -A terrible Discoverj-.-At Bay.-The ^Id Beast's Lairl-What is it?-A great Bore. . \ . ■"I 16 CHAPTER XXVJ. "^1 r "W »•»«»- F™;k »d Bob .n*.™. N vi m. IQ CONTENTS. at the Convent — The Guide. — The old House.— The Captives. - The Alarm giveil. - Flight of Uncle Moses and his Party. -Albans! to the Rescue!- The delivering Host I CHAPTER XXVn. 294 Arma Virumque cano ! — The Chase of the wild Boar I — The Prisoners at the Window. — The Alban Ar- my.— Wild Uproar.— Three hundred and sixty-five Pocket Handkerchiefs. - Flame. - Smoking out the : Motaster. — A Salamander. ,0- CHAPTER XXVIII. The Salamander inaccessible to Fire. — The last Ap- ., peal.— Frank takes Action.-He fires. - Casualty to Frank and Bob. — Onset of the Monster. — Flight — Tremendous Sensation. — The Guide's Story.— Another Legend of Albano. — On to Rome. . . 319 1 ■f K^ »' ' ' . W* ' * a - , ■ w ' '>, '^, ^^ " t k f 'f r ' ,^ fl . ^' ' • '-•'^, 1^' ' . , "t. ■■'.'" '\ — ."'-'- ' ." "' 1 », - — -.; -Cv^' . '^, V,' i^m^ , m • r ikiStiJfc a^ ^ ^'' ' I v'^Hr.?t^m**^'!rii!?n.,:eift"ti:$.?">i5i'' V-'^*v,yT-^--'^ 1 ■■ V se. — 1 THE YOUNC DOOiCE CLUB. -^--«w»- /'"•" Uncle ue! — ' . 294 Boar! n Ar- ty-five It the 307 t Ap- lualty light ry.— 319 -v-T I. AMO^G THE BRIGAKB CHAPTER I. Stranger tn a strange Land. - A Citadel of Trunks - Be- ste^d- Retreat in good 6rder.-A Lst ^„eniZ uproar. -Kicks; Thumps !- Smash of ChairsTl HlV^T^'i'--"" ''"''''' ^ov^^-The Cry for ^It r ^r '^ ""-^i^'- The Revelation of the Darkness !- The Jiery Eyes !- The IBtseenllTh. Revelation of the Mystery. -A general Fight. •^ «^ ^;K. MOSES V. SPROLB had passed the ' greater part of his life in hi^ native . village, and being anxious to see the world resolved upon a tour in' Europe. As he did not care to go alone, he offered to take with him his four nephews, who ^yere great favor. |?tes with their l,achelor uncle, and his chief as- ifom he boys, and a willing assent from Oieir [parents who fully believed that a tnn. .,\, ue«cnpnon wouldlje of immense benefit to-^the^ Ihis brief explanation will serve to dctount foij. ie appe.arance of Uncle Moses in Naples, where 11 -A, I -~-T'- m > . J*X 12 XiMONG THE BRIGANDS. Ije- landed on a\ mellow day in February, jCn row^e for Switzerland, bowed down with the respblasibiji- ty of several heavy trunks, and the still heavier responsibility of ibur fine lumps of boys, of whoso troubles, trials, ti^ibulations, and manifold adven- tures, he seemed, on the present ooqasion, to have a mournfulpresentiment. i V These troubles .began at once; for scarcely had they landed when they found thepiselves sur- rounded by the lazisaroni, and the air was filled with a babel of exclainations; » "^ "Signoril" "Signd!'^ "Moosooh' " Meestaire 1 " " Sare I " " Carra ze baggage ! " " Tek ze loggo/ge! " " SJiow ze hold 1. " « Bold ddla Ew opal" « Hold ddV Inghelterra 1 " " )^otd deW America 1 " " Eo- tdlenza, you wania good, naisp, rosbif, you comma ]ongsida me!" ^* Coine long!" "Hurrah!" ^** Bravo !" " O, yais." \ " Ver nais." " 0, yaia. You know we. American Meestaire!" All this, and ever so npuch more, together with scraps of French, German, Bohemian, Hungarian, tussian, and several other languages which the kzzaroni had picked up foi" the purpose of miaking themselves agreeable to foreigners. They sur- raunded Uncle Moy^r'and ^is four i)oys in a dense CrWd. — grinning, (^hatterihgi gesticulating, dan-^ cinisri pushing, jumping, ai^d grimacing, as only titan laKzarom <^ i and ihey ttiech io-get= hold of the luggage that lay \upon the wharf ^gged, hatless, E^rtless, blessed with but one m4;-.aiw!«5teaP5S*fc f \/l LAZZABONI. r 13 .1 ■ ■ " * pair of trousers per man; bearded, dirty, noisy c yet fat and good-natured withal ; the lazzaroni pro- duced a starOing effect upon the newly arrived travellers. > -^ Uncle Moses soon grew utterly bewildered by the noise and disorder. One idea, however, W prominent in his mind, and that was his luggage. He had heard of Italian brigands. At the sight oi; this crowd all that he had heard on that subiec? came back before him. "Rinaldo Rinaldini," -^ '^r'°5,^u ^'?^ ^»o«k, which had been th^' delights of his childhood, now stood out clear in his reeol- ^^ A^' ^?! ^^.^^"^"^ '^"^^^ *« ^« a crowd of bandits, fined with but one purpose, and that was to seizo^the lupge. The efforts of the lazE^roni to get the trunks roused him to action. Springing forward, he struck their hands away with a formidf ble .cotton umbrella, and drew the trunks together top of thes. The i^ile was a small pyramid. Don t let Jhese varmints get the trunks. Sit dowi. on 'em, and keep ^em off." • Saying this. Uncle Moses put the two Clark bovs on a trunk on one side, atid the two Wilmot boy8 \ on a trunk on the other; and mounting himeelf .V IV"'^ i''^ 14 AMONG Ti^B BRIGANDS. i( *' Br-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-ra-vo ! " To which Uncle Moses and the boys made no reply. In fact, it would have been a little difficult for them to do so, as not one of them understood a word of any language spoken among men except their own. So they said nothing ; but constituting themselves into a beleaguered garrison, they in- tre^hed themselves within their citadel, and bade defiance to the foe. 1 The foe, on the otber hand, pressed round them, bombarding the garrison • with broken English, broken French, and broken German, and .> some- times made an -assault upon-^the trunks. Time passed on, and the garrison sat^here, holll- ing their own. At length they all became awart of the fact that they were excessively hungry. It was very evident that this kind of thing could not last much longer. Meanwhile Uncle Moses had recovejed his presence of mind. He was naturally cool and self* possessed, and after mounting the trunks, and gathering the boys about him, he quickly rallied from his confusiOQ, an^ looked eagerly around to find some way by which he might be extricated from his (Jifficulty. j \ At last a way appeared. \ Around him, in iia immediate neighborhood, age, Iazzaroni,^s urgent, as piti And there was Jlobert, or, as he was always called. Fob Clark — an odd-looking boy, with a ^^j^^^faQftd, pug nose, comical face, -brown eyea^ and shorl shingled hair. - - ---r-- "^ ''— Uncle Moses was not gone long. By soi^oi ijronderful means or other Whad succeeded in ■■•■■■■ . • . . ♦ \ /& >< \ W^ "^' V' I » .i v&v^a,s^ttij.-ifiK;.ii :,:4^' Y^^H ie •> AlIOK^ THE &RIQANO|S. procuring a vehicle of that kind w^ich is universal in this city, and he now reappesired to the de- lighted boys, Tjoming at a tearing! pace towards them, seated in a Neapolitan calec^e. The Neapolitan caleche is a wonderful machine, and quite unequalled amorig wheeled vehicles. The wheels are far ba^k, the shafts are long, and one horse draws it. But in the caleche it is aveijr common thing for any quantity of people tp pile themaplves. There is a seat for two, which^is generally occupie"^ by the most worthy, perhaps ; but all around them cluster others, — behind them, before them, and on each side of them,— clinging to the shafts, standing on the axle, hanging on the sprmgs. Indeed, I have heard of baibies being elun^ underneath, in baskets ; biit I don't believe that. r ' \ At any rate, Uncle Moses and his party all tumbled in triumphantly. Two trunks were, put in front, one behind^^jji^ one suspended under- neath. David Mid Clive sat behind, Frank arid Uncle Moses on the se^t, while Bob sat on the trunk in front, with the driver. The lazzaroni looked on with mournful faces, but still Jiroffered thjeir services. In patient pe^everance few peo- ple can equal tbehi. i The driver saw at once the purpose of thit "Americaiis, though ifey r could fiHt^IThim what" they wanted. So he drove them to a hotel in the Strada Toledo, where he left *hem, after having i^^'^o^ ' i'ifi TBEMEND0U8 UPBOAB. 17 >' ■ -"V been pa,d by 0nc)e Moaea thelatgest fere he had : ever reoe.ved m his life, for Uncle Mpses gate tlTides "''"'"■'''"'* '«" ^»'«'""' »<"^ «xth story The hotel was a quadrangul* ejjiflce w^h a spac,o„s court.yard. Around this courZrd ran gallenes opening i„,o each story, and C mun,oatWw.th one another by stairways, wh^oh were used by all the occupants of the fioLe Prom the gallery in the sixth story a door " opened mto their parlor. On the left side o/C was a enug bedrpom, of which Uncle Moses took possession ; on. the right side was aiTotlier, wU°^ H-PPropriated by David andCliye; whill he bhird wh.ch was on the other side, and looked Jut I aims the four boys paired off, and made the-B.. selves very comfortable. ^"^ I„!ef "'>'" 'J'^-"'! '^"-t «° bed early. tT„'c,e loses retired last. All slept soatfdly, for thev fere very much fatigued. ' But just before daybreak, and in the dim n.'„™i py a most tremendous uproar in the parlor- kicks fe '*•"«^"P^""'g. Chairs bLking, a^d a SSt^r uLSef" -^ '-""^'^ r- This was certainly en4gh to rouse Miybodyl A/ S-arflv \ ' te^^Tiirfe^- fv J,^ -miZ.'^e- ■y^i '"T' '"' ''mvm-' V"'™»RV3 JTl^ti'*!*^- T k^ ^ I . 1 V % 18 a»6no the brigands. Up jumped Frank, and rushed to%he 'door. Up junoped Bob, and sprang aftet^iiiK The noiae outside was outrageoi|. What was it? Could it be robbers ? No. Robbers Vfould prefer to do their wort in silence. What was'il? Slowly and cautiously Frank opened the dooi^ and looked forth into the parlor. It was as yet quite dark, a^nd the room into Which he peered was wrapped ia the shades of night. What little he could see he saw but indistinctly. Tet he saw something. ° He'saw a. dark, shadowy figure in rapid motion backward and foripird, and at every movement some article of ^jjirmture would go with a crash to the floor. Sometimes the figure seemed to be on the table, lat other times it was leaping in' the air. .Suddenly, as he looked, the door^ which opened out into the parlor, was banged ba■ ■~>. •urse," said Bob. eag&rly into the room. , .. ■''^®^^°<**ed Suddenly Frank touchbd Bob view'^lVr''"^/. T^"'" "'e'" fat met their TOO Balls pf light that seemed like eyes, though there was no form visible to which these eS , ' °°"'' ""' tnt^very stillness cave tlA ditional horror to that unseen beinff who!^ dr^ g-e seemed to be fastened u^^n Sem * """^ |ne'tro:mf?''"''V'*«-'»''-'»fromtho _ 'rank I Bob I " __^___ ^^— *r> "HalIoI".criadbo«ibo78r^ ^ Ihavent any matches," said Bob! ^ ^ What a p,ty f " said David. "« Can't vn„ « i, a7*k Tt '^"'' ^''''°* ^« »e^t to his." • that of Uacle Moses^and b^an to pound wit^ ' •- • . *■ 'i 1--' ^* •I- ,*> ,^^^' ' f ! 20 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. w afl his might Uncle Moses did not respond, but there came a response from another quarter. It was from the thing in the parlor. Once more the fearful uproar be^an. Crash! went the chairs. Bang 1 went the tables. A rapid racket 6f hard footfafls succeeded, mingled with the smash of the wniture. J ^prank closed the door. ,,.t. « If I only had a light," said he, « I should know what to do. But what can a fellow do in the dark ? " "I Under what's the matter with Uncle Moses." " He ? 0, he would sleep through anything » ^ . « I wonder if it w a brigand, after all," said Bob ^ «I don't know. I still think it may be ,a madman." / ." I doiv't like those glaring eyes." ; "If I only had a fair chance, and could see," said Frank, fiercely, " I'd fioon find out what is pebmd those glaring eyes." Louder grew the din while they were speaking — the rattle, the bang, the smash, the general con- fusion of deafening sounds. */ . "I should like to know," said Frank, coolly. « hcjw much longer this sort of thing is going wO 1o8l« For jome tmifl longx^r^ tb» bey^ k e pt the- Shut, and the noise at length ceased as suddenly as It had begun. It h&d noW grown much lighter, fc%»SX. -^ -' K •■ Wit's »ij>i»J.'.k-i<»A..5s4 . w TBE EEVBLATIOH. 2I for in these southern conntries twilight, whether m the morn«g or the evening, is but o^f shorrd„.l t^on^andhgh advances or retires with a rapidity vI^tlT"""" "^ ''■S^S■'^« fre^h courage to Frank, who, even m the Sark, and in the faL of the mystery, had behaved very well ; and he beg^ to arrange a p an of action. His arrangemeC Z hT Tt'*^^- ^««™P'y drewajackknife trom his pocket, and opened it " Now, Bob," said he, « yon tbllow me." All right,'; said Bob, cheerily Frank quietly opened the door, and looked forth instant. There was now sufficient light for them to^see eveiy „b ect in the room. A scene of ^M disorder revealed itself. All the furniture w« taraed topsy-turvy. The door leading t! Te gallery was open, and ther^ before thlir eye, standing on the sofa, was th{ being that 2 created enoh excitement. * ^ One look was enough. ' • \ ■ One cry escaped both the boys • — thly^ "% goat 1 A miserable billy goat I •' cried . 4|d. the ne^t mome n t both ofi fa eui m^g fo^ ward, and seized the animal by the h^nT^ He w» T° * ''""K*'*- The goat was strong He was also «oited by the singularity of hS ^ ~ia^- ■■'"^Sfe'J ... ~.j»5.^,,wp^> he was undqubtedly the patriarch of some flocfc, who had wandered up stairs himself, perhaps in « fit of idle curiosity. "If it hadn't been dark," said Frank, «If it ' hadn't been so abominably dark I " "We were like Ajax," said David, - who was a bit of a pedant, and dealt largely in classical allu- sions, — « we were like Ajax, you know : -*- • Give us but light, and let us see our foes, . ^ We'U bravely fall, though Jove himself oppose.' » \ «0, that's aU very well," said Uncle Moses; but who's goin to pay for aU that thar fumito^r? The goat can't." , "Uncle Moses," said Bob, gravely, « therp!*' a great deal in what you s ay.'V ■ IHili^ Moses turned away with a lookdfion- cero in his mild face, and retreated into his room. *'■ (It may as well pe stated here, that Uncle Moses ,lifL. ,. ^'Iwi, 7 i 26 0-' .A»b»GTHE BBIOAKDS. had to pay for thatyurnitnre " Th. i \„ . ' np ah interpreter \ «„^ *?' , * 'an^Iord called "fufliciant to ftrnish^^rie suTT;^'"'"'^'" >n anpther part of the honae ) ^P»'toei>ts theifi in any wav si!, flT \?^ ® "'"'"e to gratify « guide, Z>7Mioha ^i^r ''r"''«'''«'™^' English) and thU. ?"'''' ''''° '^"" »P««k for Bate, ' * """PP"'^* t*«y «et out first Pa«t the fewer,, 0^0^'^^'^™'''' ^"^<"'': sffipo: Th,..gh :k* re?dr";te^"° "' *•- whment at its vast .limll • ' ^^°8 """ton- crowdaof people who rrn"™'- '^1'^"' "* *'" foot, on hLebLrLT™'^.°"'?"'"''Shit,oa party. Cnole Moses X/^'-v "P"" W «*"« " ^uponthg^s-gfo;;^ »-^'- *^' •i atth« spZtile p;;S'r "««"« «M^ f ''^^'"edtospeakafewyord. cea Mi" >r _ BKGGABS. of Ifelian to them, which he had caught from Mi- chael Angelo. David muttered something aboul, the ancient Romans, while Bob kept humming to himself these elegant verses : — "Hark! hark! The dogs do bark ! Beggars come to town, Some in rags, some in tags, , — ^ Some in a tattered gown ! ^ The beggars followed them as far as they could, and when they left thqm, reenforcements always arrived. # - Thus they were beset by them at the crater of the extinct volcano of Splfatura. They encountered them at the gateway of Cumad, y ^t the Grotto of the Cumwan Sibyl, At Nero's Baths, At the Lucrine Lake, AtBaire, '^ • At Misenum, In feet every\^|iere. ^ Still; they enjoyed themselves very weU, aid kept up their pursuit of sights until lateinte day. They were then at Baiae; and here the party stopped at a littl^ inn, where they pro^sed to ome.^ ^ere the beggars beset them in frbh crOwmlSl Uncle Moaes was^ compel '■r:i -m his puree, and tear himself away from lis clamor- ous visitants. Prank and Bob went off to see if they pould find some donkeys, ponies, or horses, so \ \ B^f^Ti'^'S^i'w 7 : f^:': AMONG THE BRIGANDS. as to fiave a ride after dinner; while David and tlive strolled off towards the country. \ « « Come, dive," said David, « let Frank and %h enjoy their jackasses. For my part. I want to gl to some place where I can sit down, and «ee th?a glorious land. It's the most classic spot in all the^ world." " It's the most beautiful knd poetic," said Clive who was given to sentiment. ' ^ WalWng on, they came to a place which pro- jected ifato the sea, and here they sat down. «0, what a glorious sight I" exclaimed CUve. Look at this wonderful Bay of Naples I How in- tensely blue the water is ! How intensely blue the sky IS 1 And look at Vesuvius opposite. What an immense amount of smoke is coming from the tjraterl" > ° . ^« Yes," said David, clearing his throat, « this is the place that the elder Pliny sailed from at the time of the destruction of Herculaneum and Pom- pen. And look all around. I'hat little town was onoe the luxurious Baiae. Oyer yonder is I^ke Lu- crme, which Virgil sings about. On that side is Misenum, where the Roman navy lay. There is ^Cahgula's Bridge. What a glorious place I Every, thing that we have ever read of in classic story ^^^^rs ab out n^Jerg^Q Hor^- Virgil, Tiberius, and Juvenal, seem to live here yet Nero and Agrippina,. Caligula and Claudius,^ evety oW Eoman, good or had. And look, CHve ' BEGGABS. that is land out there. As I live, that is Capraea! And see, — 0, see, Clfve, -^ that musi^be the — '^ ' " Daiemi un carliho, signori, per V aitu)r di Dio, Bono jpovero — moUo povero 1" . It was in the middle of David's rather incohe- rent rhapsody that these words burst upon his ears. He and Clive started to their feet, and foutid close, behind them a half dozen of those miserable beg* gars. Two of them were old men, whose bleary- eyes and stooping irames indicated extreme age. One was a woman on crutches. Number Four was a thin, consumptive-looking man. Number Five and Number Six were strong-limbed fellows, .with very villanous faces. It \^«,s with one universal whine that these unwelcome visitors addressed the boys. " Datemi un carlinO) signori, per V amor di DioJ* ^^David shook his hi^d. hno miserahUe,^* 8m4^jNumber Five.- don't understand," said David. -y >i (Mian(t fame" said Number Six. % '' f*Nan capiaco," said Clive, who had learned that much Imlian from Michael Angelo. ^*0, signori nobilisaime ! " «I tell ydu,l don't understand," cried David. *f Non capisco," repeated Clive. *f Siamo d es peraU," aa\A ytimber Six^ with a sjfl-' ^# ister gleam in his ey6s, which neitHer dflhe boys liked. " ' \ • / ' MCome,Clil^,»^8aidl)avia, "le1?s gd^^b^ Din* jMr must be ready b^ ihis time." ^ H "■y-^ "yjptv AMONG THE BSIOANDa t* And they turned to BQ. -, Swt ""'^fy *""«d, lumber Five tod Number S« placed themselves in the way. . ■ " r ." J»:^ their arms a^a^t:oT,dJ^'"^^'|^*» b4n TsLout fothe'r TtTt '^r^' ""<> ^ rs-^rr4S^«:t:r^ »..e.handjve-l-^^^^^^^^^^ nor uive could now uttpr » ,,,.*, m. ^'*^'? -^Whe.ney:ra:Zm.l^-f Ba^id':ii?„ridt'h:^s:?vert'^^^ rappals, the beggars xyJ^lT ^'^ '^^^^^ "*v. t.-^;r fisM' ■'*"#^A''' i'-'\i4^i BE0GAB8. ( r 31 / ' " Scelerate I " cried Ntinftber Six ; and he threw Pavid to the grpund, and held him down, while ho caught him by the throat. But though thus Over- powered, David Btill struggled, and it was with< some difficulty that the big brute who held him, was aMe to keep him under. Suddenly, at this moment, when all hope ^eemed ^ lost, a lodd cry was ffeard. There was a rush of two figures upon the scene ; and the next instajit Number Six was torn away, and rolled over on his back. " A firm grasp was fixed on his tliroat, and a' tremendous bilow descended on his head from a stout stick, Which was wielded by the youthful but sinewy arm of Frank Wilmot. At the same instant, also, Bob Clark had bounded at Number Five, leaped on his back, and began beating him about the heajd. ' The attack had been so sudden, and so utterly unexpected, that it carried all before it. Away, with a wild cry of terror, fled the four decrepit beggars, leaving Number Five and Number Six on the field to themselves and the four boys. Number Six groaned with pain, and struggled furiously. He wrenched hin^self from beneath his assailants, but they again ght the upper hand, and held *-'b'^ "- ■ "rTTf^^SK?" 32 • .1 AHONO THE BRIGANDS. '' ftll Jn the face of Number Five Tfc« > gefed back and fell and Lh '^''f T" "teg- ailing «nde,_f,|; b^nIh °T"'^ ^-^P^-^ ■ instantly, and feforf Lj 1 V^o "T", "^ - with him again darte,} nff °.' ^'»^» <=ould close , by nature, the beggars did L, .i i' ?»«'"<"^ ■ of their assailants -fK- <• • """'' "'^ ">« 8'™ ton.en,.anTh:;VnlXXT^";^^^ fliglit But Number ^•^, "'^'"'^'^ "' « P'nio . WUu,„t.s sinew?!.! 7' "''™ yet, with Frank • Clive nowTusIedT, f ""' ""■■"' """^ »<"> '"'4 .This addition ttIL^Ltk?r r """ '*™^«'' scale completely ^ "^ '^"" *"™«d the nacity iHighZni coXranI """■'"^ *^ ously assisted by thf :tl erThVe ° r'thlf tT union of a I their fnrr>^« f •. ' ^ **^** *he one man wir^a^^^^^^^^ «o«ethmg to wHich jn.« /- scarcely equal. In aV«rv shorf *,'»;»« lltherefore, after the arrival of Rn^ /^?. ""^' >' •'^f -s, a.- refer"- w a-J"£-«^5^ .^^i-r. '. 1J«?* w. ' BEOOABS. ' M- r held hm, dowia by ^Wing^n his leg,, while David »t on h„ neck. Franfcjpow asked fo/their hani then directed Bob to fasten thrman's feet. This I rhfr? '^k' ""li "' *•* " -^ »«»"? «» though iL't^oWveJ;:""''' "" *" that particular bufi. : The man^was no«r bound hard and fast, and lay I struggle. The weight of the boys was so disposed Ithat ,t was not possible for hip, to get«d «f th^m and P.unk watched all his ml%^l£^Z so v,g,lanay that every effort Waa baffiUrth^ out'et Frank also watched Bob as he tied the knots and then, seeing that the work was weU done, he started up. ' ? »» "ou V *^'"»/'>^V' Mid he, "let's give the rased a [chance to breathe." - \ , At this the boys all got „p, and the Kalian re- Bieved from their weighj, rolled over on h s bick knd then, on, hi, side, storing all around, and rtafc K desperate efforts to free himself. H^ was "t hhe immortal Gulliver when bound by the MhW t;- '"^^P' *•"" -« »f '■.•3 assailants, St' jas no Lihpntian, for in brawn, and stoewk^d Hd muscle, Pjank, boy though he might bT' Was fee^. n nchifat , :;Vhis;nfe r it>r.-^lJ^ feled, and^stared, and rolled about, the boys looked |on; and Frank watched him carefully ^aIt^ ^pnng athim^t the «r« sign rf tjJI^rS^J 7 „j» i V ^ A ♦ ^^ ;'"' ' -rt %ff 34 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. !*■■ way.. But the knots ha^ been too carefully tied, and this the Italian soon f^und out. He therefore ' ceased his useless efforts, \nd' sat up; then, draw- ing up his feet, he leaned his chin on his knees, and stared sulkily at the grou'nd. " Ahd now," said David, " w\at are we to do? " "I don't know," said Frank. ^ "Let's go for Uncle Moses," said Bob, "or Mi- chael Angelo." « We'd better hunt up a policeman," said Clive. "No," said Frank, "let's get Uncle Moses here first. You go, Bob ; and be quick, or else tho^e ' other bbggars'll be back here and release him." 1 Upon this Bob set out, and the others guarded the prisbner. Bob was not gone long, however, but^soon returned in company with Uncle Moses! Bob had found him at the inn, and in a breathless way had told him all, but he had scarcely under- stpod it ; and as he now came upon the scene, he boked around in wonder, and seemed utterly be- wildet'ed. Had he found his beloved boys cap- tured by .bandits, he would have been shocked, but not very much surprised ~ for that was the one terror of his life ; but to find the tables turned, and a bandit captured by his boys, was a thing which was so completely opposed to all hie ordinary thoughts, that he stood for a moment HfWrHy trfnpefred^. -Isfop was iT^un the whole story, and thus given him a second and Davidiau edition of it, that he began to master the situation. J^^ \ <-^KJti^t-L' i>4^.\ \k ^ -Slki* « 4ii^JA^ *p ■' . .('1. we to do?-" THE CAPTira KOBBEK. ^ 35 "Deaf I dear! dear I "'he cried, looking dowlv at eachjof tl>e bo,^ i„ euccession, and^tl^eH the,r s- ant and sulky captive, « and so yon rail^i and truly were attacked and made prisoners by bandits. , Dear! dear I dearP' ^ tim?i°n^!i'^ inexpressibly shocked, and for some t.me^ stc^ m sUence amid the loud clatter of the " ^"^j- Y^"'" Mo«e8>" said Frank, at last, « whi are we to do with him? " ■ To this Uncle Moses made no reply. It was own hfe had been so peaceful and nneventful, that Tlll^T, ""' ^-"^ ■"""™"y. » -n-ewhat pe^ p exmg oae to answer. He stood, therefore, with his left elbow, and his left hand anpportL h"! robber ' T" •■" ■"""* ''^•''' '«ea'ded the captive and hTs mfd " """'/."' """■«' P^'o™"' S'»ce! «"e,derny. -"'•"'' '*"'' '" ''<"«"»« «>»' -P" "Well Uncle Moses, said Fra„k ^ ^^ ^ about itl„ ^ 1 r"""""'"*'- »'' b« q-iok tt:^!°'^;^,7_'_->heo^ ';erbeggars-llbel^^ So.- 1 f ''^'^ '^«°*»'^*^ pint that I'm j^ .«»« im .b^j&min to think, .that the Very best ^:7 /- * 36 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. thing yon can do is to take your handkerchees back, and come back with me to the inn, and get some dinner. For Pye every reason to- believe that dinner's ready about this time, bein as I re- member hearin a bell a ringin jest before Bob ' came for me." At this the boys stared in amazement at Uncle Moses, not knowing what in the world to make of this. "What do you mean," said Frank, "about our handkerchiefs, when we've tied up the bandit with them ? " ' " Why," said Uncle Moses, « I think if you come you may as well bring yer handkerchees with you — as I s'pose you prefer havin em." " But ute'd have to untie them," said Bob. " Wal, yes," said Uncle Moses, dryly; « that fol- lers as a nat'ral consequence." "What I" cried Frank, in an indignant voice, "untie him? Let him go? And after he has nearly killed David and Clive ? " "Wal, he didn't quite kill em," said Uncle Moses, turnmg his eyes benignantly upon the two boys. They seem to me jest now to be oncommon spry - arter it all. They don't look very nigh death, as fer as appearances go. No harm's done, I guess: an eip, I dare -say, we'd best jest let em go." ' — At this-Erank lo o ked i oegafatydrs gustgd; "You see, boys," said Uncle Moses, "here we ^» B^ v®'7 peculiar situation. What air we? / ■ .«. v*.i>,i«A->iS ^^S^^^&f p' M tnrCLE MOSES* ARGUMENT. 37 Strangei:^"ftnd sojourners in a strange land: don't know a word of the outlandish lingo ; surrounded by beggars and Philistines. Air there any law courts here ? Air there any lawyers ? Air there' any judges ? I pause hr a reply. There ain't one. No. An if we keep this man tied up, what can we do with him ? We can't take him back-t^rith us in the coach. We can't keep him and feed him at the hotel -like a pet animule, I don't know whar^ the lock-up is, an hain't seen a policeman in the whole place. Besides, if we do hand this bandit over to the ^lice, do you think it's goin to end there? No, sir. Not it. If this man's arrested, we 11 be arrested too. We'll have to be witnesses agin him. An that's jvhat I don't want to do if I can help it. My idee an aim alius is to keep dear of the lawyers. I'd rather be imposed on; I'd rather pay out money unjusth., be cheated, hum- nnf Vri^' '°r^''"' *^^^ P«* myself in the power of lasers. Depend upon it, they're as ba^ here as they air home. They'd have us all t jail^ as witnesses. Now, I don't want to go to jail " The words of Uncle Moses produced a strong impression upon the boys. Even Frank saw that handing the man over to the authorities would in. vo ve some trouble, at least, on their part. He j^^^hy he cajl e d ^^ both er" B onidoT, he had - no vengeful feelings against the Italian, nor had !l f f.^r*^ *°^ ^^^^^' '^^y ^«^« the only ones who had been really wronged by the fellow; but they were the last in the world to harbor re^ I 't ^ /■' 38 AMONG THE BBIGAND8. Bentment or think of revenge. Their vicVj W ■ fW Tk %*';'"' '"'''^■^"'- ^° *^^« ^'^d k it was, that they did according to Uncle Moses' Vuffffes- tion, and untied the bonds. \ Number Six was evidently amazed. He r^se to' t his feet, looked warily at the party, as though ex- pecting some new a;ttack, then looked all around and then, with a bound, he sprang away, and run; nmg towards the ro^d, soon disappeared. The rest did not delay ^fouch longer, but returned as soon as possible, to the inn, whefe they found their dinner ready. This they ate, and then drove back ^ Naples. The opportune arrival of Frank and fiob was ^soon^explained. They had been riding on donkeys,- and had seen the crowd around David and Clive and the struggle. Fearing some danger for thair companions, they had hastened to the spot, and reached it in time to 6e of service. The adven- ture might have been mpst serious to David and Clive ; but as it happened, the results were of no very grave character.. They felt a little sore ; that 18 all. Bob also had a Ijad bruise on his left arm - but on the whole, very little hamrhad been done n^r did the bojs regret afterwards that they liad let the scoundrel go free. >-"^' As for their guide, Michael Angelo, he had been Jmy m another direction, thtfiflg^tfamarfvefi Mrr and wheti he heard of it, he was very anxious tj have them arrested ; but Uncle Moses, for reaeon* already stated, declined to do anything. ♦ * IN THE COUNTET. 39 J ' .^ CHAPTER III. Out into the Country. — The Drive. — The glorious Land. — Sorrento and eternal Summer. — The Cave of Poly- phemus.-^ The Cathedral. — The mysterious Image.— What is itt— David Relic-hunting.— A Catastrophe, — Chased by a Virago.— The Town roused — Besieged. —A desperate Onset. — Flight.— Last of the Virago. FEW days after the affair related in the lasl; chat)ter, our party set out from Naples on an excursion round the environs. With the assistance of their landlord they were able to g6t a carriage, which they hired for the excursion, the driver of which went with them, and was to pay all their expenses for a certain given sum. . They expected to be gone several days,.and to visit many places of surpassing interest ; for Naples is a city whose charms, great as they are, do not surpass the manifold loveliness with which it is environed, and the whole party would have been sorry indeed if they had missed any one of thoaa acftneg of p n- chanteaent that lay so invitingly near them. ^-Jt^they drov« along the. shore they were all in Se highest spirits.. The ak^ ^m cloudless, and of f 'V At 'pn*A,^ I: 40 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ^ %t deep blue color which . is common to this 1 climate; and the sun shone with dazzlibg bright, ness, being only warm enough to b^ .pleasant, and ^ . not m aoy way oppressive.- For many miles the way seeikied nothing else than a street. Houses arose ori each ^ide; crowds of people, and^multi- .tudes of wagons, and droves of cattle, constantly met their eyes. ; Caleches dashed about in all direc- ' tions. The street itself was paved with the large lava blocks which prevail throughout the city : and in fact It seemed as though Naples was prolonging Itself indefinitely. ^/ ^ At length they emerged from the close-built city, and entered *the country. AH thp way th^ scenery was exquisite. On the le'ft extended green fields, and orchards, and-vineyards ; spread- ing away for miles, they rose up the sides of high ^^ountams. Upon these were small^las and hainTets, while occasionally a castle p^ched upon BOine inaccessible height threw an air of romantic attraction about the scene. They passed several villages, and at length reached Castellamare. a town on the shore of the bay. Passing beyond this, they found a change, in the scenery. The road wound along clifi-s which overhung the sea and was ornamented by trees. . The road itself was a magnificent one, as smooth as a floor, and ?uTa .T ! ^? "^^'^^ ^°"'^' of Naples, the towers Wt dotted the shore on, everyiside, the islands *' A *^.' '•W^ i»--!«^- iv^§^.,^4^y * •tl, THE OLOBIOUS LAND. 41 f that irose from otit the waters, the glorious bay^ the g^ootoy form of Tesuvius, with its smoke clouds ^ver)|angiiig, all united to form a scene whiqh called forth the most unbounded admiration.* Besides all these general features there were others of a more special characte^, as from time to time they came to some reCess-in the shore; and the road running in brought them to some little • hamjet, which, nestling here, -seemed the^ode of leace, and innocence, and happiness. Through luch variations of scenery they passed, and at [li^ngth arrived at Sorrento. : This little town is most beautifully situated near ;h^ mouth of the Bay of Naples, and around it n^ high, encircling hills which protect it from ;he ^old blasts j of winter and the hot winds of lumiiier. Sorrento has a perfect climate. All the leeasoAs are blended togethier here, and in the' •range\ groves, that surround the town, there may/ le seenVat the same timp the strange spectacle of rees in\blo8som side by* side with trees that are loaded with fruit fully ripe. ' /, ' It was evening when they arrived, and th^y had lot muc^ time to spare ; so they at once procured guide from the hotel, and set forth to see what hey could t)©fore dark. . First, the guide took ihe mtQ^ft Jeep chasm, wb^ ibrupt, so deet) and gloomy, that it looked like the bork of a rec^t earthquake. Ndt for from this are some andient reservoirs, th^ Work of the u '^"M- /•♦ I \^ 42 AMONG THE BBIQANDS. ^ r 't ft- 'times of imperial Rome. The arche* were yet perfect, a^d over the reservoir was a garden of orange tre^s. Not far distant was a ruined temple, in the enclosure of which was a myrtle plant, five huridred years old, and so large that it formed a respectable tree. After showing them these things and several - others, the guide took them to the sea-shore, to a place which goes by the name of the Cave of Poly- phemus. This is a large cavern in the cliff, in* front of which is a huge fragment of rock. Here the boys recalled the story of Ulysses ; and David volunteered to give it in full to TJncle Moses. So David told how Ulysses ventured to this place with his companions ; how the one-eyed Cyclops caught them; how he imprisoned them in the cabin, shutting up its mouth by means of a huge rock, which David thought might have been that * very fragment that now lay on the shore before their eyes ; how the monster began to devour . them ; how Ulysses devised a plan of escape, and succeeded in putting out the eye of the monster; how he then effected his escape from the cave, and regaining his vessel, put forth to sea. Then they went to visit the house ih which Tasso was born. They were not able to enter it, and as it was now dark, they retreated. to their iiotet.-"' — — ^ ; On the following morning they all set out with- out the guide, to see the town for themselves.. A 1 m THE CATHEDRAL. 43 I festival ,of some kind was goipg on, which attracted Im^}^ people, and the cathedral was filled. The Ibojs, having nothing else to d<>, wandered away Itbwards the common centre of attraction. Thej. poon lost one another in the crowd, and one by one they worked their wayt into the interior of the jplace. The organ was sounding forth, the priests irere intoning service, on the altar ciindles were JuriMng, and far on tigh, through the lofty^aulted iay^,4here rolled "the smoke of incensei and the (rail of sbng 1 'j David found himself a little distance away from side chapel, which was evidently the chief at- traction to the worshippers within the sacred jdifice. A dense crowd assembled about it, and in front of it. Through these David managed to lake his way, full of curiosity about the cause of ^heir interest. He at length forced himself far enough forward to see inside the chapel. He saw structure, in the centre Of the chapel, covered rith drapery, upon which was a .cushion. Lyhig |)n this cushion was the image of a child, clothed rich attire, and spangled with jewels, and lorned with gold and silver. Whether it was aad© of wood or wax he could riot tell, but thought was the former. The sight of it only tempted ligLCJ l dQsJty the more^ and- heJbngod to Jook at -it )re closely. It was evidently considered by the burroundirig crowd to be an object* of great ictity, tor they regarded it with theutrnpflt *i "J M >,..* ^ ■ / i 44 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ^reverence, and those nearest were on their knees. Upon the altar, at the end of this chapel,. lights were burning, and a priest was engaged in re- ligious ceremonies. David's desire to go closer was so strong, that he waited patiently in this one spot for the opportuni- ty of gratifying his curiosity. He had to wait for a long time ; but at length he had the satisfaction of seaing a movement among the people, which showed that they were on the point of dfepersing. After this the crowd lessened, and the people began to take their departure. At length but a feW remained, some of whom were still on their knees around the image. - David now, in ja. slow and unassuming manner, advanced towards the image. He could go close to it, and was able to see it perfectly. An iron rail surrounded the structure on which it. was : laid, preventing too close an approach ; but stand- ing here, outside of the rail, David saw that the image wap very rudely carved out of wood, and was intended to represent a child. Why such an image should be the object of bv^ interest and devotion he could not for the life of him imagine. He could only postpone any investigation into this , l^til he could find out from some one. I And now there came oyer him an overwhelming 4fisiret<>abtatn a fragment fromTlSfeprTib^^ this image, or its dress, or its surroundings, to serve as a relic. His relic-hunting J^opensifciep DAVID BELIC-HUNTINQ. 46 iad never been stronger than they we-re at this loraent, and no sooneT did the idea suggest itself than he looked all around to see what were the bhauces. As he looked ^around he saw that the cathedral iras nearly empty : a priest was near the hi^li altar, Iwo boys were in the middle of the nave, by th© bhief entrance was a little group just preparing to save. Nearer him, and close by thp imag^, were |wo womep. They .were on their knees, and ap- i)eared to be absorbed in )their devotions. It leemed ro David that it would be quite easy to bossess himself of some small and unimportant' por- lion of the drapery. He was quite unobserve'd, for lie two women who were nearest were not regard- ig him, the drapery was within easy reach, and a tow of tassels, upon which he could lay his hand, Iffered an irresistible temptation. If he could but tet one of those tassels, what an addition it would ^e to his little stock of treasures 1 David once more looked all around. The priests rere still at the altar ; but the boys had gone from ^e nave, and those who had been near the door, lad departed. The women seemed as intent as fverupon their devotions. David looked at the Irapery once more, and upon one of the tassels ' uch was nearest him. ' ■ t )nce more he looked all around, and then, kretching forward his hand, he touched the BQveted tassel. . ^ ' I ^; / " 'rT%:>: • ■^w 46 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. \ I (■■■ . , Then he drew back his hand, and putting it in his pocket, he drew forth his knife, which he opened. \^ ' Tijen he looked around once more. Then, for the last time, he put his hand forward, holding the knifenBo as to cut the tassel. But flie cord which bound the tassel to the drapery wds strong, and the knife was very dull, and David found that it was not so easy as he had supposed. But he was determined to get it, and so h^ sawed away, with fcis dull old knife, at the cord, severing one by one the filaments that composed it, but doing this so slowly that he began to grow im- patient. The women were not looking, ^here was no danger. To work with one hand was use, less, and so he reached forth both hands, ana began sawing away more vigorously than iver. But his impatience, and his vehement pulls land tugs, produced an eifect which he had nbt expected. The heavy drapery, which had been loosely thriVn over, began to slide off towards him ^ he pullid. David did not notice thisf^ but continued his workj looking around to see whether the yomen were noticing him or not. At length he had sawed the «>rd almost thi:ough, and gave a quick pull at it to bi-eak it. - it. „■' ■ ~ The next moment the heavy d rapery onn^A riidmg down towards him, and, to his horror, the wooden image came with it, Ming with a crash ©n the marble pavement. >*iW;", gjr ■. f OHASEP BT A VIBAGO. 47 In an instant the two women started to their set, staring^ with wild eyes at^ the image and the rapery. Then their Neild eyes caught sight of * ►avid, whose frightened face would have revealed/; im as the guilty cause of this catastrophe, even :>• "it had noti been shown by the tassel and the ' life, which were in his hands. ,> With a sharp, shrill scream, one of the women )rang £owa,rds him. David instinctively ^aped [ack, and eluded her. The woman chafed. David lodged her around a pillar. The woman followed. David dodged behind another pillar. T^ie woman cried out, "0 Sodleratol Birhonet ^urbo! Ladronet" And though David's knowl- Ige of the Italian ^guage was but slight, yet it ifficed to show him that these names which slie [elled after hitik had a very direful signification. Thu« David fled, dodging the woman behind [illar after piUar, until at length he came near to le door. Had the other woman taken part in the lasp, David would certainly have been captured. lut the other woman did not. She stood as if )trified — motionless and mute, staring at the ULen sanctuary, and overwhelmed with horror.^ |o the flight went on,;nntil at length, reaching the )or. David made a ru sh fo r i tj dashed through,^ id ran as fast as his legs could carry him. The roman followed, but af i; slower rate oC speed, arid iw him go into tih& hotel. Then she returned to ""♦^.y^..^ :iv 2 48 AMONG THE BBIGAND8. On reaching the hotel, David found the rest of , the part^>ere, at dinner. He said nothing of hi recent adventure, bnt took hi, seat at the tfl^e ^^efore long, the party became conscious of a p-eat tumult and uproar in the street in front of the house Prank and Bob went to the windows and looked out. A sudden excWation of surprise brought Olive and Pncle Moses to their sMe Dav,^ followed slowly, with a strange feeUng of apprehension, and with the recoUection of his late flight still strong in his mind. He looked out. | A great crowd presented itself to his horrified 1 ,7 "'.™T-WP''?'«"''°e a" Sorrento; the old, the mid0lr*"^;i'f,\ , ^-^f^^^ < THE TOWN BOUSED. ^ ' h lomething that had reference to his own humble ^nwprthy, and very much terrified self. ' ' Beford they had fairly grasped the whole of the Icene that was thus so suddenly presented, they krere accosted by the landlord and the drivel, who Entered the room hurriedly, and in some excite- »aent, m search of them. "One -grand meesfortune haf arrive," sairthe .ndlord. «De people declare you haf insJit de Sambmo. Dey cry for vengeance. Howisdis?" I « What ? " asked Prank j « insult what ? » ' " De Bambino." ... "Bambino?" "Yes. It is de consecrate image — de Bam- pno-does miracles, makes cufes; wonderful inage de pride of Sorrento; an dis is de day icred to him. What is dis meesfortune dat I hear 3 not take care." ^ Multed anything whatever. They're crazy " [Here David finding concealment useless, cou- t:t ?,-7t' ^^^ "«'^°«^ '- astonishme^ • ^e landlord shook his head with an expression of pncem and perplexity. "^ , (Then he had a long cbnversation with the [Then they both left the room. The landlord fch, -S "u"* "^^ '^ "?!«""« ^he crowA He Mght possibly have enooeeded, had it not beenfcr 4 V.J *» ■TK* 60 AHONO THE BRIGANDS. f ■ i( David's old woman, who shpok her fists in his face, stamped, appealed to Heaven, raved, and howled, all the time he was speaking. The consequence was, that the landlord's words had no effect. He then entered the hotel once more, an^ after seeing the driver, and speaking a few words, he hurried up to our party, who by this time were ,in a state of general alarm. " You must run — fly — leaf Sorrento '— new — • widout delay," he cried, breatSlessIy. " I haf order de carriage. I sail tell de people dat you sain be arrest, an pacify dem for a few moments, till you get start." The landlord once more left them, and going out to the crowd, he made a few remarks, to the effect that the hotel was being searched now for the offender against the Bambino, and when he was found he would at once be handed, over to the authorities. He urged them to wait patiently, and they should see that justice would be done. The crowd now grew calmer, and waited. The landlord then went back, and led the party down to the court-yard. Here the carriage was all in readiness, and the driver was waiting. They all got in at once, unseen by the crowd in the street; and then, cracking his whip, the driver urged the h0r8eB off at Jull s peed through the gates. The crowd fell back'on either side, so as to make away, and were not in a position to offer any obstacles to 10 sadden an onset. They also had the idea that j«.i ,>£4& TSWl-'*>^-'^>*i*'P'-3^?!*''''^"'.- -■"*''"'' '^■*" -*■{? FLIGHT. ri'\ St ihe culprit was inside tlie hotel, in the hands of [the authorities. But the old woman was not to be deceived : she .aw It all m a moment, and in a moment she raised he alarm. Raving, howling, gesticulating wildly, lanomg, and jumping, she sprang after the cwr- lage The^rowd followed. But the carriage lad already got a good start j it had burst tbrtiiffh ;he peo^e^ th^se who stood in the way were T^ *?ai *° g*'* o«t of it, and thus, with thb brsesipp speed they dashed up the street ; md kfore long they h^d left Sorrento, and the holel, nd the msulted Bumbino, and the excited crowd ^nd the raving old beldam far b6hind. ' David's a(^.enture in Sorrento had been a pecu^ LL"""";? r?"'.*^"' ^^^ ^*« »«* without ianger; but ,f ther^ was any satis&ction to be got jut of It, It was m the feet .that the tassel which he ^d acquired remaiU still in his possession, to b« Wded to his httle s »ck of relics. 4- 63 f AHONQ THE BRIGANDS. CHAPTER IV. ^4'.; Salerno and the sulky l^river. — PastutH and its Temples. — A great Sensation. — An unpleasant Predicament. — r Is the Driver a Traitor? — Is he in League with Ban- dits ? — Argtiments about the Situation, and vjhdt each thought about it. , I FT]|R a very pleasant drive through a coHfttrjc ae beautiful as it had been ever since they left Naples, the party reached Sal;©r6o, "wl^ere they passed the night. Salerno is a lovely pljice, situated jat the extremity of a bay, like Naplesj, of which it may bei called a mimaiure. It is protected from the wind by the high hills that encircjle it, and its delicious climate makes it a great resort for invalide. Btat formerly .Salerno had a diffejrent character, and bne fai* more promi- nent in th6 eyes of the world. Salerno has*^ his- tory full of events of the mosti varied and stirrinjg character. Fought for by Grejek, and Baman, and Giermai^, and Saracen, and Norman, its streets have witnessed the march of hundreds of .warlike ar- rays, and it has known every extreme of good or evil fortune. Two'things mal^e Salerno full of in- terest to Jhe traveller who lov4s the past. One is, ,ati... mi # — -- -r— '^^'V /^ ' '-^ BAIEBNO KSa THB SULKY DBI^. 63 dll rifV ' " '"" "^ J«-™i''g during the mid. l^r^ • r """^ ""'« *''« g'-eatest school 6f moAcme m the world, the chairs of which were thrown open to. Jewish ind Arabian L117 who nt tLo* *•„ r -araoian protessors, tTeCh2- ^M ' °°*^*"PP<"1 the students of the Chnstian world m scientific attainments. The other thing is, that here the ereat nnJ T -^ Va, found refuge, after his'lTj 7ug ^S? flymg from Rome, obtained restliere S/^^e Inendly Normans, for it was in SalernrS he '^ uttered those memomble dying words of 'his'' 'I have loved righteousness, and hated mJ^u and therefore I die in exile." .. "*" ""I""?! Here at Salerno thev had n Iun.1.. ' • ■ •landing with their ,1^'^^^ t^^lTr^ fng more pay. A, they h^d'itready mad^i fon contn.ct with him, this demand seemed"te a^! 1 • fos.t»n and was rejected hy the.whole o^lm ^ '" «»tf.4ther, J'Xr', ? X' which sounded like Italian oaths, tbongh^T RdSto ht d' ""yt"— v-d was inclld jtired, Frank at length started to his feet and iYl pe^mptoiy tone ordered him out If 'he C. " Pj ^^ » t,nprep.red for this leS * -N wr s fc' (-.V-»^.,^j.-.^.^»rT* i' 54 w- AMONG THE BRIGANDS. I >■' -^V p^ conduct on the part of one who appeared to be bu^ a boy, that he stopped short in the midst pf a most eloquent tifade against them, in which he vTas threatening to denounce tfeem to tjie authoyV ities for sacrilege ; and having stopped, he stared at Frank, and seemed unable to go on once more. Frank now repeated his orders, accompanying them with a threat that he would call in the police. At this the driver's brow lowered into a sullen scowl, and muttfering some expressions of rage and vengeance, he lefl the room. . Th^boys chatted a little about the mutiny of the driver, as they called it, but soon dismissed the thought from their minds. \ ' After ^passing the night at Salerno, they pre- pared, on the following morning, to continue their journey. Early in the day, the driver made his appearance. He was quiet, and not communica- tive, and much changed from his former self. Frank addressed a few remarks to him, but perceiv- ing that he was sulky, he gave np all attempts to appease his wrath. In fact, he began to think that it might, perhaps, have been as well to comply with his request, for the request for more money had been based upon.his recent rescue of them from the. hands of the mob at Sorrento. Had the driver made his request a little more meekly, arid -aab preseutsxt it with ilich an assertion of right, there is no doubt that they would have cheerfully given what he asked. But his tone ©xcited their 0, '- f. ' *V%*-^ ^y 'A?!. * ' *Jfif ^ . -^- ^ ^^'^ ■ fJBStJSU. fH^ 55 resentment; and afterwards, when the\ driver chose to lose his tenaperand scold them, theV were more determined than ever to • refuse, md he appeared at this time with his former good-nakred expression, and h4d h& shown any signs of Tom- punctiou for his insolent behavior, there isAno doubt that they would have brought up the StTb- ject of the'ir own accord, and promise^ hiib^ handsome; a sum as hia.egploit deserved. But hia continued sulks prevented them^from ihtroducinA the subject, and so they concluded to defer it to some other time, when he might be restored to himself: .y , , ; > \\ They now drove along the road m route foj- P»s. [tum. At first they drove along the sea-short, but -alter a few miles the road turned off into the country. All around them were fields, which^were Wered with flocks and herds, jvhile in the dig- ^nce were hills that were clothed with vineyards Id ohve groves, that adorned their sloping de- hvities with mantles of d^rk green and lighf H • he country, on eithersid^ they also saw some in. lications of Italian life, whVch excitod strong feefc' jngs of repugnance within them; for here and .here, in m^ny places, women Were toilintf in the »elds aust as the men, with heavy hoes, ^or with 'lo^ ghB; or w ith ^- ' -' ; harrows. .:i&Bome :i^ eefr it war- ^T' t''^'^ Baw women laboring iu the 5elds,while^the men lolled bn the fences, or sat mokmg under the shade of some tree. The im. ■m -> (^iftpT^sjf^i^l 56 AMONG THE B^Ain)S. J)lements of labor used excited their surprise. The hoes were as ponderous, as clumsy, and as heaVy asjjiekaxes; the ploughs were miserably awkward things -a straight pole with a straight wood- en share, which was tometimes, though by ^o means always, pointed with iron. These ploughs were worked in various ways, being sometimes puUed by donkeys, sometimes by oxen, and pn one memorable occasion a donkey and a woman pulled the plough, while a man, who may have been the woman's husbandj^ guided it through the furrow. The i*oad wfea good one, and was at first well travelled. ;^hey met soldiers, and priests, and peas- ants. The^ met droves of oxen, and wine carts and large herds of those peculiar hairless pigs which are common to this country. As they drove on farther, the travel diminished, and at length the country seemed more lonely. It was still fer- tile, and covered with luxuriant vegetation on «very side ; but the signs of human habitation de- Pleased, until at length they ceased. The reason of this lies in the unhealthy character of the coun- try, which, like many places in Italy, is subject to malaria, and is shunned by the people. This is the nature of the country which lies around ancient Paestumj and though the fields are cultivated yet the cultivators live at a distance upon the Blopes of the mountains. "aS" aboiriSdd^^Tffi^y an-ived at' PfiBStum. Here they descended^om th« carriage/and giv. ' f^-'' '■' ' 5 ^3f?-«'S,Sfi»-'* '''P"^? /Vt- . ,*-- .^s",- ^'si"^ -,- PiESTOH AND ITS BUISS. '-Ut ,:-(' 67 ing instructions to the driver to remain It tins place „nt.l they should return, they startedloff to explore the ruined city. It had been theirPe^: t.on to make use of the driver as guide, to sh2 hem the objects of interest in-theUn bE Iongco„ta„ed ,k3 drove this from the r Id tad they concluded to .trust to themselveLna the guide-books. The carriage ,vas draK on the side of the road, not far from where the"e stood an archway, still entire, which once foled one of the gates of Piestum. Towards this they directed their steps; Ue ^gateway was formed of large blocks of stone K upon each other without cement, and by tC n either s,de of this could .be seen the foX ta stones of the city walls, which have fallX have been removed in the course of ages. lut ►he o,r6u,^onhejsaU^^ be traced byZ fal ents that yet remain, and from this circuit t£ b of the cty may be judged. Beyond the 1 « fcd wo'rld";'"^" *?' '"' ^^'' «- «"»« "^t 1^ and world-famed rums, some of which are liHfe Hsa than masses of rubbish, while others are L r" f'"'^""^. that they might now be used itr tren^''''''''''.'''*^--<'"einaii;de:ot$ niieatre, whfoh, however, are confused hears fnd some public edificea in *i,« "oaps, be foundatinn. „, "®' '". *« »«■»« conditio!., ^ne loundations of some private houses maj- '>r 68 AMONG THE BBIOAKDS. be seen. But the mo8t noted and most inter- esting of the remains of Paestum are its two Tem- ples and Basilica— edifices whose origin reaches ■f back to the depths of an immemorial antiquity, but which still remain in a state of preservation so perfect as to be almost incredible. For these edifices are as old, at least, as Homer, and were probably in existence before his day. Phcenician sailers or raerchaints may have set eyes on these temples, who also saw the Temple of Solomon at its copipletion. Th«y existed in the age of the Pharaohs, and rival in antiquity, in massive gran- deur, and in perfect preservation, the Pyramids of Egypt. In t|e age of imperial Rome, and even of republican Rome, these temples were ancient, and the Emperor Augustus visited them, and jfe- ^rded them as remains of venerable antiquity. -Of these three edifices, the most majestic, and probably the most ancient, is the one which is caUed the Temple of Neptune. The stone of which it is built, is found in the neighborhood still, and presents a most singular appearance. At a dis-' tance it appears very rough andfull of holes, like cork. A closer examination shows that it is really composed of innumerable fragments of wood, com- pressed together in a vast, solid mass, and petri- . fi[ed. The stone is exceedingly hard and durable. The "-"^ — ^ "' • ' -' ' b l Qck g of this Btono-Wof^wbieh^iiiy temple, and the others also, are built, are of such enormous size, that they can only beVompared to those im- ',^> ■J-'^^-S^jJ^^li!*^ ■*- '' » J fee •'i iV' «"."%?*. Tian»LE8 OP P^ESTUlf. i 59 m«inse masses that were heaped np to form the Pyramids of Egypt and the Temples of Karnafc Piled up hero upon one another without cement, ^hgjr have deaed the ravages of time "TThe Temple of Neptune is appn«i,ed by three unmense steps, whioh e.tend around eve^ side of It It ,8 about two hundred feet ik lengtMnd .eighty ,„ breadth, while on every eide th^ereta row ofe„on„„„3 columns of the-Dorfc order th,rty.,x ,n number. They are airfl„^d?td have an aspect of severe and massive -gra;d^^ Ithat is unequalled in any other temple.^bove hhese columns rise an enormous Doric frieze ^I Height of the columns ; and these proportions give ' uch vas „ess to the mass above,. that it heighSIs ^und the Temple, are thirty feet high, a„d seven feet m diameter at the base. Inside, fb^ piemen? L "'"T"'^ • '^' *'»'6'' *e alter isCne :°t Ihe place where it stood can easily beseea K tne sky -a circumstance which made the Lk-. C j! •'<*"«<" ""'Oh Easier, since it relie^^"^ hitheatree, the blue sky could be seen overhead; i^ r * ^®w AMONG THE BBIOANDg. * '^^ ' \ l while the too fervid rays of a mi^ummer Bun, or the storms of winter, could be warded oflf from ^se within by means of an awning thrown over r thlS^ open roof, and stretched on cables. ^ Near the Temple of Neptune is another, W'hich IS called the Temple of Ceres. It is neither so large nor so grand as the former, but it possesses mor^ elegance and beauty. It is about a hundred feet long and fifty feet wide. Like its companion. It 18 surrounded on all sides by a cJolopnade, six piUarf being in the front, six in the re^, and twelve on either side. The altar here is gone, but ;its foundations remain. Various signs show a greater degree of splendor in the interior adorn- ment of this temple, especially the fact that the pavement was mosaic work. There is reason I to suppose that this temple was turned into / Christian church some time in the fourth century, buch a transformation as this was common enough throughout the Roman empire during that great triumph of Christianity which took place under Constantine, and after him, so that in this case there need be little room for doubt as to the truth oi the statement. .' Not far from this -is the third of the. great ed- ifices of P^stum. It is about ^s large as the Tem-^ pie of Neptune, being nearly two hundred feet It IS surrounded by a coloniiade,'but the architoc' ture 18 les8 massive thag that of J^jrst temple. m ,W 5b IN tTNPLBASANT PREDICAMENT. ei these columns, nine are ft, front- ^n4 in the rear and sixteen are on either side, makin«r fiftr ee has led to th© ^11, but a coui^ the Basilica^ 18 to indicate a ^sTde, the pavement •f an altar ; and this circj •elifef that it was not at 'f W. AccoJ^dingly, itL I'hich term was used by t;h5 Jaoe used for public triate ,„..„„, ,„„ ^^^^^^ et remain,, and there are the remain,, of a rol ,V*'ri°ru'' i" """^ P"^'"'' »'™e *h« middle Jo parts"^'"^ '""" *° ™"' "'^"'"S i' »to ' rf/ZVIl^ «»-ee, the Temple of Neptune is th? nmdest, he best preserved, and tULstfamou^ «tthe_ others are fit companions, end the gian ™s of these mighty relics of hoary antiquity Bsurpassed by any other edifice, rise bSe tU The party visited all these Carious objecfe S re«t, and at length returned to the g^te. They .d spent al,out two hours in their surTey of P»r Id now nothmg more remained but to returt :XS^£^-.ta« Of the\iver u "::''':-^jjg;'HW»f> J. a ccounted for 41tiR tw frgronnd that he was still maintainirJSfT^ fd they thought that if he chose to n«Ae Xl .w^' "»*■'■'•' -!!»,,,V*" :%■-:■ ■#^ 62 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ^jr \0f himself, they would allow him to do so as long aS it was agreeable to him. With these thoughts they approached the. gate- way. As they drew near, they were surprised to find that there w^re no signs of the carriage. The yiew was open and tinobstructed. Here and there mounds or fragments of stone arose in the place where once had been the wall of the city of Pses- tuni, and before tl^m was the simple arch of the massive gateway, but no carriage or horses were visible. » This excited their surprise, and also their alarm. They remembered that the sullen mood of the dri- V0r made him quite capable of playing off some DiiMicious trick upon them, and they recalled, also, hps threats of the evening before. Could he have cbpsen this way to put his threats into execution? It seemed, indeed, very much like it. * Still, there ,wji8 one hope left. It was just pos- sible that the carriage had been drawn up mq^e tinder the arch, so that^t was"' hidden from view. As this was the last Jiope that was left them, i\iey hurried forth to put fn end to their suspensenas soon as possible. Nearer and nearer they came. At last they reached the arch. '^ They ruJIed through it, and beyond it. There was nothing there 1 JiQ^hofsesI Wo driver! , At this they ^] stopped, and stared at one an- other in sileat cdftisternation. ^ f .1^' ,.S- 1 X ;■' i i orses were ^ IS THE DRIT|;a«l[|^ TRAITOR? 63 f' " He's gone,"'cried Clive. "He's left us here— ^ to get back the best way we can." " He swore last ni^ght," said David, " that he'd pay us up ; and this is the way he's done it." " Yes," said Bob ; *' he's been sulky all day. He's been concocting some plan." " I don't see what good it'll do him," said Frank. . "He'll lose his fare. We won't pay him." r "0, he'll give up that for the pleasure ofj-e- vpnge," said Clive. " Wal, wal, wal," cried Uncle Moses, looking all around with a lace of dark and doleful perplexity. " This here does beat all I ever seen in all my life. An now, ^hafr upon airth we^ioan do — I'm sure I can't tell." " Whatever we do," said Fra©k, " it won't do to wait here. It's too late now." « Perhaps he hasn't run off at all," said David, who always was inclined to believe the best of people. " Perhaps he has driven up the road, and intends to return." Frank shook his head. " No," cried Jie. ' " I believe the scoundrel has left us. We paid him half of his fare at Sorrento; . the rest was. to be paid at Naples; but he has thrown that up, in order to have the* pleasure of being, revenged on us. And where he's^gone to ' ^HJ^w 18 a mysteryTome.'' . ' " 0, 1 dare say he's driven off to Naples." " Perhaps so. But h« may intend something ' /'■ ■j '^.fS R^ 'J^mJ^m 1 1 1- < >T^* f %■ " ^'M^^^MS^i^^'M^S^ w^f^*'-'"^' \* -ft »'J. n 64 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. Z:}' ''■" '"'' "'^' *''«™ "- brigands, abont " Brigands ! " l\ « K '1 f " S"'"' '^^»' "f mischief." ^ ' f ' hnr "^ ' ' " ""'"^ ^"'''^ M°«e», in a voice of ^ZZ w "r -^ ^"^'y ''™-"«^. "no then koked wi h mcstened eyes, upon the boys. ^' O, boys," he sighed, "why did we ever v.. toor out so far in .his here lllianZd, o ^ «n a leeim it m my bones all day T f^u u wtSv:;t-^:;^n:;ru'^™f '•■•"« ,i I '^ ffiiwi. rigands- about SITUATION DISCUSSED. 65 # CHAPTER V. 9 They discuss the Situation. — They i>r^.... . ^ icilso^ Walk anaa ^'-PpMc^tl'Tl^'r^ . 0/ Signs once more. — The Mnu^t^ • V- . ^^Hguage '•onof the Donkey Bm — r^ .. ."— (-""tmui- ~ " E Perdutol" '^""'^'"Vf 'fk. Cavalcade. fm mention of brigands prodnced a stortlini. . and powerful effect upon the who e f"/ and after Uncle Moses' wail nf Lv • ". wl"' tt' '"o™ *- "'"» & a tZ"' VVell," said David " I rlnn'f i ' «* "me. bei^^e in brigands altogether " Ml ITs of A "f come to Italv wi'fhon^ cJ • <*«"iion8 of|feopIe tod why sh uld we f P„T*' ''°^'""/ "^ *''« •"■'<'. ver. lively Z^t d' eThL^'drir b ''^•' «ome place on the road where he cI ^t *° entertainment for n,.„ aT *" «** "'etle'' P»«tum.'' "" """^ ''"'«' *«» « offere-fat iWt^^™ ""^''^ ""^ «*■'>" »»id Prank.' «n.e» lan t any m n f or in il e a." ^^^ - ^om^'b^rofd":'! "Z:" If "?^''''- '"^-o -' I T* ""y kern soon be back. Prom', t» > S'^S? "- «^' , . 66 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. , \ what I've seen of the Italians, I think they'd stand a great deal before losing aiiy money. The driver would wait till he got his pay, and tl^n try to take his revenge*" , , \/ -. " Well, it may ^e so," said Frank ; " but in any .case, it will be best for us to start off at once. 1]]iere's no use waiting here any longer. We can foot itj after all. And we may como to houses, or we may pick up a wagon, and get a lift." m This was evidently the best thing thatt could bo done, and so they all at once set off on foot, on their way back to Salerno. Fortunately for them, they were quite fr^sli. | They had been driving all the morning; and for • /two hours they had been strolling up and down' within a small circuit, looking at temples, or sprawl- - ing on the grass. They had eaten a good lunch before leaving th.e carriage, and had not had time yet to feel hungry. The weather was mild and pleasant. The sun shone brightly, without being too hot, and everything was favorable to a Avalk. More than all, the road was very good, and nut being much travelled, it was grass-groAvn to a great extent, and this grass afforded an easy and agreeable path for their feet. They set out in high spirits, walking pretty Vigorously, yet not too rapidly, for they wished to ^ant^tTrmrsffmfffin^mvfmfg^^ debating the point as. to the driver's intentions. Frank maintained that ho had deserted them out ht- ^^-'^^ISSS )MiiMMMm^&' a-r^ '"""ife '" ""■"^1^^^" _. i WAIK TOWARDS SALEBSO. g^ «f WiSe and Bob coincided with tbV ^few ' Dav.d, on the other hand, believed that !,„ V ^' return and Chve sided with him. Bnt, as niile after m,le wa, traversed, and still no signs of le driver appeared, David's theory grew weak and Frank's grew strong. As for Uncif-Mles he ^ Cd, T ""'.'IT-'"""' ''"^'"^'^ "^^ti-g with. V S, F -l ''"^"' """«^"' »''I«»"a" banditti ■ vhich Frank's words had called up in his m nrf h'T ""' "> *>« «^«ily got rid of. ^ """''' pSd^-ed^dtt.:-™'- i..;t miles bet^utl: .vt'f rrrr oa "ow beoaipe wider, and <,,nt:ieX:JJ:: living every indication of feeing a w»ll r-iT ' I'orougWare, and exciting the hone twi," huld find some wine cart at l„ , , ' "'^^ ,• conveyance, By ni^LTofSX -.7°''' fete their journey to dalerF ' '"'"'' ~"'- Noh ehcited a shout of Jo^f^Bo?"^ ^'^"' °^ ^^Oonkeys, Doukeys,» he «ried. "Hurrah, eS^ ,reh:'„!:''^'"7'^«"<"""«--rld. leino." • ' """' ">«">. a»d ■ido -back to ;Jft;-:i , • • . / / \«.J' '% '•i-i 68 ' "Aat's a lMOng the brig 1 f^ . ic^m cne ^ , ., FraiBlf^ii gteut delight. " I h(^ to fiii^ne caS^, ^or ox carts j but donkey^ ftrj^liifiniiel^^tt^-'' '^ ** %rrymg 'iWi^^j^, thej^sl .^u^.-, hdl-e were six or ei| an ai^^.a bo^. •Filing' itog^ly a^ pourse he could not speak Itfilian, wigns he succeeded. in conveying ^y's mind the requisit6.''idea, - On this .^^ _, ^ i^^lelt most strongly the^^^nefit which ' '*'^^^* hpd received from his intercou^ with Paolo. *^ fT- Fratiic Urns pointed to his feet, and th|a backward, apd then forward, and then pointing t^the donkey •hearesst, he' made k motion to mountjaftfet which he 'showed the old man some money, *ind gapping it, and poibtin^ to the donkey, he looked inquiringly at him, as if to ask, " How-much ?" . Tiie old man piade ^ome signs which Beemed to Frank to be ^ question, " How far?" so he roared out, in stentorian tones, ."Salerno." Upon this the old man stood for a littlfe while in silent thought. Then he looked at Frank, and then, pointing with one hand at Frtihk's money, with the other he touched the donkey, which seemed to say that he would let the d^ey go for that price.. As there was not quite a dpi hand, in loose change, the charge s( ~ton5©"'v^lrea8onable, and ev< it, " ^^^wBmV" ,So thought alii ap proqSS^d to^Jbring forth t^ L Frank's to him tpressed, fe,' and they 96 chdnge, .> / THE LA1?GUAGB OP SIGNS. ^"t"" ,'O'J. ■ ( f e& and pass It oveJ' to the old'maa. The hands of the latter closed over the. silver, with a nervou« and almost convulsive clutch, and after one long, hun- gry look at each lot that was given him, he would insert each very carefully in the remote corner of an old sh^skin pouch that hung in front of him. suspended around his waist. ' But now arose a difficulty. The donkeys had no saddles. That was ai small matter, ho^vever. and was' not the real didiculty. The real difficulty ^Jay m he factjhat they had no bridles. ^ icould they guide them ? • ^^ Frank tried by signs Jo express this difficulty to [the old man and the latter understt.^ him, for he Smiled; nodded, shrugged his ahouldert, and then omted to his bpy, and waved his hand in the ^recfon they wished to go. The boy also snliled .nd nodded, and made signs of his own, by Mrhich >e plamly showed tl^ thnt he intended to a(> Jtllh ''°^ understood, the boys felt satisfied, Pd each one now proceeded to select the donkey mich was most ta hi» fjwUi*»t n u x. / """^®/ iade his se^y^^^^^- ""^ ^^^ ^"^^^3^ aae nis seMi^^nd^wi^ mmxted on the l?ack M the bi^gf^nkey of th^lol Me, bre#h. of chfi«* an animal whose Job h,s moant, but ine of them compS Ink seared a «didanifflj,ti«i.ted a itS '^W^ ■ 'I'M. .^^^r 70 ^ AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ( -fact e?cpres8ioii, and looked as though he had \io nona^nse in him. Clive choso one that had a %ht sliade^of melancholy in his iace, as tiiough he I^ad -knoivn sorro^w. David's donkey was a shaggy, hard-headed, doWd-looking animal, that seemed bent on havinf his own way. U„cle Moses mount was rather eccentric. iTe chose the . smallest an.mal of the lot, -a donkey, in fact,- which was so small that its rider's feet could onfy be kept, from 'the ground with difficulty. Uncle Moses, indeed, if "he had chosen, might have taken ' ^FM T A ^'"""'^' ""^ accelerated the motion .- Pl h,s beast by propelling him with his own feet .Great wa. the laughter that arose among the . party as eadi one mounted his gallant steed, and turned to bok upon his companion. Jeers, and jokes, and light chaff arose, and the boys fouid no end of fun m this new adventure. But Eode 3^08e8 wasn't ableHo see any fun in it at all5lle 6^t with an expression on his face that would have done- honor to a martyr at the stake, and the boys renpected him too mut^h to include him in their good-natured raillery. The Italian boy took David's donkey by the ear and started. Davfd's donkey, in spit J of his ap' pearance of obstinacy, fbllowed without resistance, and trotted nimbly off, the Italian boy running easi^byhHside.^ T ^ ^^^^^ As tBey had no bridres a„rnoTddi;; s^rof. the party had a iittle^difficulty in preserring.their J .- .... h\ vf/^ '* ■'i ^T bob's ride. . 4 , 71 balance, but managed to do so by gral^bing the coarse hair of the donkey's mane. The pace was a rapid one, and it was wonderful to see how well the Italian boy kept up with them Without losing breath, or slackening it. This he c&fbr a long- [^time. , , - Among those who cared nothing for saddle Or ■ bridle was Bob. On the bacjf'of a donkey he felt as comfortably as though he was sitting in an easf chair. As they trotted along the road, Bob sat with his arms folded, and his legs now hanging loosely, now drawn up in front of him, and at other times pretending that he had a side-saddle. At length he became discontented with thf sub- ordinate position that he was occupying, in merely following in the rear of t leader like David. He was a far better rider than David, aYid his donkey a far better donkey than the leading one. With the ambitious desire to obtain the post of honor for himself, he beat, pounded, and kicked at his don- key. For a long time this had no effect whatever ; the donkey not only was not stimulated by it, but he did not even seem to be conscious of it. At ^st Bob determined to resort to other methods. Drawing a piarfrom his shirt collar, Where it was filling the place of a lost button, he stuck it two or three times in the donkey's flanks -Thitf^Ws^rr^oft; The^patience of Bob>8 Thi*%ar=too= donkey hadr endure it no mor its farthest limit. It could ; ifiS^i ■ifc/fcl' i*m, and admiring him. He had not made any oalculation as to the great rate of speed at i^hicl^ his donkey was carrying him, and had ^ V. ' 74 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. prank, for the aZll'^^ fT """"'^'"e '"'' ''^ r^fy be,ond the re:!,,':;;^':;:::;" ^^^"'^' "'■ was an ass - s„wL r T ""' ^ <'<"'''«3' - l-e a3 a race-horse '^Te'-'"'' "^'"y' ^^^ "^et ' It seemed to h m tf f ^^'""'''^^^^ rider. - "-eality this easy Bace w! T f- " ™"*'"'- '" before long Bob Ts o^ of'' •l^"'^'^ "■'•"'""" This disco,^ry burst ."nl h"^^^f '' ''" ^""•^'i'- the intention of sCuZ , ? -'" '"™<"'. with them, when to his T* ^ "'' ''*"' """^ense to «". - r' no':;nT:f\rerrer -■"^'-- He lookfd'In a „fd in aU '"^ P"""'"' o" « theendeavortocomnrehendf ""! ™"°''"'y' '^»'' r thought was; that eomr»'^'"'™"""- »''«fi"«' to the party which waTd T"''™' '"*^ '""PP^-ed he became aware 'f^ottr^ ''T ' •"" «"'» "^d understood the tr^e state of^h""" P'"^™^'' now in a place where tb^rf^"""*- ^I^was " • »«e. it the en" 'of h s Tt ''"'f''°^ o^- '• '""■had thi s turnl ng.ptee L I '^' T l ^* "" I* faraway iust»f tif !.' °°^^^ hack again, ^.justat the entmnce upon th^h" BOB'8 flight. 75 piece of read, he saw the party coming. A few Beconda and he was once more carried out of sight. And now Bob began to feel that his situation was a serious one. It was not pleasant to be carried away in this manner, in a strange country on the back of an animal like this. Had it been a runaway horse, he would have felt less troubled. He would, m fact, have felt quite at home, for he had been frequently run away with on horseback. He understood horses, but of asses he knew nothing. A horse was to some extent a sensible animal. He would run away, and in due timi would come to a pause. But an ass I Was an a^ possessed of any sense of decency — any Con. • science? Would the Well-known obstinacy of the ass be shown on an occasion like this ? and wouia this ass, merely out of that obstinacy, keep on running for all the rest of the day? It was ^ startling, thought. - • ■' 1 A Bob all this time had been making desperate ef- forts to stop the ass. He was considerably em^ barrassed by the fact that there was no bridle, and no way of getting at the m^scf^f^o exert his strength upon him. He tried ^l^^pvays. . First "^ he pulled at his long ears. For M the ass qared' / -l^enT^ wounriiis hands about his neck, and tried to pull his head back.. The effect was use- tesfc Bob'a stren|th wfts unavailiDig. *H© could :' / •fA^ ^f ■ T6 AMONO THE BMOANDS. kl ^ no more move that bent and stubborn neck than - he could straighten the crooked fluke of an anchoT .Then he pounded wildly upon the neck, «hou"SerI' a«d flanks of the ass, and kicked again t his Mes' to affect the animal bo more than so many pufls of right, and suddenly called, in a short, sharp pe^ ■" emptory voice, "Whoa!" This he repeat^'over ' - .apd over but without any su.eess, and atfeng h he refleetea that «Aoa was English, 'a langu^ie -h.h, of courae, an Italian ass could not ^del tJ^^'^f^^^^ '""'" P"«'"g forth these efl-orts " eatlier side. He passed long lines of trees by the roadside he saw field after field.flit by and the -distant hills went el„wly;%long ^t of t eTine of ^ Vision. Hitherto he dad metlith no one at all •k 7 ^^ T:''^ "^ ^^- -y Cttle of n" Hie ffears, how^e ver, were nnfounddd jK^r iow' ev,nt occurred which mad« h^TuiTK" > n V ik .* "■ f.i/iiWi "v'-i>J^S:*m4*<^fcwlj ,'v (««'i;-' ■^i "^ a* "^ . • ;*,' > > BOB*S PLIGHT. 77 V thoughts. It was a sudden change in the course of hia flight. Tims far tWky had been going along the main road. Now, how#ver, they came ■ to a placd where a road led away on the. right,, ap- parently to the piou^tains, Without the slightest p^use or hesitation, but with undiminished spefed, and ^e hea^ong flight of one familiar with the" way, the ass turned from the main road, and ran" into this side road. The anjuety apd fear which Bob had thus far felt were trifling;^ indeed, compared with the emotions 'that now sieized upon him. Thus far he had not ' ^/elt altogether 9Ut ofi" from his fripnds. He knew / *''4*^® ^'^'^ *M tbey were behind "hinvand that at ■ th^. worst he-S^tild not be carried farther thaii [1^.§aJerno, and th^t they wofeld come up with him; Skir^"^ thuB'they would all bo reunited before ?WlbP«t topw'he was suddenly carried ofi" help- lesvsjyfrom the piain road, and in a moment seemed sefvered from his frietods. Where was j^ going? When would the aSs stop? -W^' BeT(5re him arose thie mountainous coijntcy, not • many mil©8 away, the declivities in some places ■ slight aivfj gradual^ in other places abrupt. Cul- tiwat|(i'%poSt appeared her^and there, and iWhite yjjJi^jS^8> and 6ld: castles. It was not, however, an JEnnting, fiw i ^tyy, and tho n»ar^r ho drew lo it th o le^lieOiked/k. "" ' ^"^^^ •■ai. V m -, ^e road hero was n?)|.86^broad, h.,W moo^, and eSly as tfte one l^e had^ just^e^, t j%t ^as Mkfrow ifcd ipugh. At Jeligth h^. reached ' f::: "^/ t'CT^'**' M. / 78 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. began tTJJt 'IZ^'^Cl ""' ^^ "- f eeper, and decided ^ r™teV ^ J'"'"""'"'' ™««.-e he could jump "'" '^'^ " '^''ft P'ace, «.ke : pi'tr/tir rnt™"^^^'^* '-^^^ tlie hill rose, wooded i,rr'T ^^ '^"« ««« -ok,, „a„e'on tic S it^trd" "''^^' for about thirty feet- „!,» '''"" ^'^ep . b-wled, and dashed 'olr^ "r "Tf "" '<'^'-^»' about. here that the ass si. k V',"^"^' ^' ""^ here it was i,„p„,"r- P f'"" '"« ^ffok ; but just . I'.'-kiug .„„/:r! " b , r 'nir ""' "'^■"^- °'- 1'"te desperate enough to l,, """ ""' y"' As the road went t„ b, , "f ' " "^^ "' *"at. .Narrower and steeper o'r*^' "" P"^"' ■■' S^ew ™ges,and only mfor\r'v 'I, ""''""'''"' '"' ^"'- Tbe farther on [t wet I "f "" '""'"'''"■ ^o'- beean,e,and.it weiro'^ tSr:^ ^ ^^ *^ bouses appeared/except at * '^""''ng. -No those which ,Jid tfas -annear If !"^ •^'"''"'««' "'"' de e p ^o p ttr a t od "^ , . ""' bave easdy d.stnounteU froa, the iievfp,f*'^'X'>^' if," AMONG THE MOUXTAINS. ; 79 donkey now; but he hesitated. He thought with 8ome i;«t'- wi vt g^Vuu)yy,^,^.,, -« bridge. , trottiiiff over thp ht.?rf , ^® *^^ *^^e ass ; :*«ey Sliced a^ots-^au'r^ o" '"™' ^"^ . then heldhim and th, ,1.^ ^ One of them ■:^.Asthe,at.";a^t:^:b::^^^^^^^^^^ 8hi.t,„Mcrwasnn '"■''^L''»"on8, a red flannel « felt hat was onXl:; oT l 'S^'Th^ Jar he was simnJv ^h^ ^ x neaa. iijug other peasai'^n'. fil;™"t7:f °^ hundreds «f •herds, drover? .W^^C, 1 T'''-'''"'^- encountered d^rin^ h d Ivt 'Z '" '" ""^ ; Portant rcpect h. las diffeL^t. "' '" °"^ *"■ "e had a gunjK, his hand. fpon Bob. And as t^tfl,..'^ °""^ '""f*'*'"" ver, ^tnrai suspicion Z Z^,' ^ s^^^.Z' Itsabngandi;hethou,ht, -g-mMrf ■/ -,. ,<..*;C ; N ^,SA V '^ ' ''Jw* r->K frx^i ^-A-^-^-^ 1 .^\ THE LURKING-PLACE OP THE BRIGANDS. 81 ^• CHAPTER m TheLurkmg^lace of the Brigands. - The captive bJL The htdeous Household.^ The horrible old Ha J^^ The slattern Woman. - The dirty Children. - The% cjol and the evil Eye, - I^spondency i,/ Bob -IseZZ X;'^~^^^-~fn.prisonedL^l^tdJst^ Outlook into the.Night from the Prison Windowl^ ^ BRIGAND I . ) ■Such waMhe appalling thought that ^ ^ ^c|me to thf mind of Bob, as the Miau advanced towards him. As he c^e closeifhis face beqamiB more-distinctly revealed. It was not a face which reassured him. Heavy, shaggy black eyebrows, from beneaUi which gleamed black and fiery eyes, a ^kin frowned by tl»e hot, Italian sun ' ana white teeth, that glikened from behind a vLt ■ maUed mass of tengled, beard ^nd moustaohe.-S.' - ^- sud, w^ th^ face that appeared. ^It. seemedO^^^^^ evrf and sihister face >-a f^ce that revealed^ ^ crue and treachei^us soul. . No wonder that Bob^s . " ' W sank w thin him ashe saw \.lrr...^.-..^,^^^. > by one like this. "■ - — "^"Jnon r nniromoa • ^ The Itelian stood looking at him with sharp and ' close scmtmy^ Then he„ said sometlimg. ^ •V . ' ' i \ '■ ' * ' ^ . ■-' t ''f4- *r,' 82 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ■'^ •■ ' ,J,i- ., ""t """Jofstond him, and tried to ex, P^a« by s,g„s thai he had lost hi, way, and that the donkey had run away with hiai. He also poimed a himseit; and said, " Amerienno,'- and Zr^u'^. ^J""^ '" *•>« direction of the riit up which he had come, and said, " Salerno." ThS was very weU for Boo, especially when his anxiety of •nindie taken into account, and his iigns seemed fu Iv 'f Hr,,*' "^"»"- ^« '"<""='' »* Bol- -'e lZh\ ''PP^'-f ' '"'"'='' ^'*'''fi'"' l"-™, after which he motioned to him to follow, ^a„d walked back towards the bridge. Bob's first' impuL was to rush away, and run as fast as his legs could carry him; but the thought of the Italifn's gun • ' "kecked the impulse, and he followed. ^ ^ Meanwhile the _other brigand, who had caught the ass, stood stroking it and examining it. The ammal seemed perfectly quiet and docile, alto- gather a changed animal, different far from tha^ ■^L^^'^y ^ '»™ «°'' «way from all h^ .friends, and thrown him here among these dread .^sociates. This other man h^ ve'ry Jch " e same general appearance as the first one. His bearf was reddish, and »is eyes'were smaller, the Bob thought, and though he had no gun, yet he PODe tb e Jcsg foi - HHikt ^ «!'"• o™ fl """'' **^'?S together for. some .too. One of thj,m seemed to be narrating to the ,, --,-s #'.' CftW< -M^ji THE CAPTIVE BOY. 83 ncano," and. other Bob's accouS of himself, as he -had under, stood .t from tl» signs that had been made., AftTr th,s they seemed to be discussing the subject of Bob a^d the ass, for they looked at him and at thi ammal from fme to time. during their converst ■toon. At te„gth-41,ey seemed to have made Z the.r mmds about the. subject, for' they sttoned talkmg, and moUoning Bobto folio*, twtdkel away, leading th9 ass with them «7 "»"=«<« llv'^fnT.'' '*T^ ™P"'™ ™«« in Bob's mind t\ Mm HeT" / '^T'* °^ """"S «•'«* at prfeveated^ i"- build. , re,^; 7^ ^™''y '^^''""'y ^Pi-ead ajB^-till it fist V f '"P'' """"''' ""d here 84 AMONG THE ' BRIGANDS. hair was a matted gray mass, her teethywere gcjne, and her face was pinched, and so seamed With wrinkles, that she looked as though she might be over a hundred years old. The other woman was very dirty and slatternlv. She had a dirty baby, in her arms ; her hair was in disorder, her face was greasy and smouched^ and a filthy cloth, which might oncerhave been white, was on ber head. The women and children were all bare- foot. As. Boh approached, they all stared at him with the most intense curiosity ; the two. women stood still and stared ; tl^p children stopped their play and stared; and. there wftTsomethint in the glow and glitter of all these fiery, black, Italian' eyes which seemed horrible to poor Bob, and made his flesh fairly creep. > The men then began to tiJk to the women, evi- dently explaining about Bpb and the as^; and as they talked the eyes of all of them wer^ mQ*t-# the time fixed upon these two. As for I the chil- dren, they glared for a time with very evil looking feces at Bob; but at length the ass seemed to ^er superior attraction^ to them, for they made a rksh at it, climbed on its back, pulled at its ears and t^il, and tormented it in various ways. Strange to say, this animal, that had punished poor Bob's little trick so^feal-fully, sh^ed 1»o resentment whatever atiu s present tr o at'mcnt,^4rt-fc >f wd theie no longer the fiery .wild ass, but the very living ' ima^ of a patieni donkey. ujii .^i -il» i ■ bob's despondency.. -«>■ «'°«W treat, him well tiirhe shoUId be freed. As he felt oo.v ■ tain abou« obtaining hi, VanSom, he begiffijfijl ' less^nxious, and his bold and enterprisKrrt brtrbSr'^°-'^^^^'^-'^"^'''S .un J? '?>.. ° °° "'' .^" """"A' '^^ft t Jli?. and tte younger of the wxjnien wetit into t.i brigand with the gun remained, ^n UUle whUe with the old'wbman. II \ e. The;. /.Evident ■•■..> r. '' 'I 86 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. to Bob, by the ^nces which they threw af ^•'^ that he, was the subject nf *h.- *'"^' him the old woman wat by fa tV?t"°' '^^ of the whole crowd T^ 1. ^^^ «bnoxipus fty,impishchi,dVe„;thItS ■Dad enoue-h- hut fi/ u ^ "^®' *" "lese were his .-ma^iStio'"' T :"'„::"::■ r '" -""^ *° ^ in the i„„u„,erab.e wri^^ of ht^eXXr'' m b.r toothless jaws, something so u^cajvfh''; he almost shuddemil <5i,„ • ■ . """"""y 'hat ^uaaered. She reminded him of some itches of whom he had read, who Z Ijore superstitious ages, were supposed Ny sustamed sueh a supposition. To " and if she hi?:. 17^'"' "^''«^ »^ " ™tch; straddled a broomt.^tVnTfl '"' 1" r""^^" '"'*■ ai. it would seare:t1rsutr±t°"^'' '"« n.at^XrBr^Th'^"'^'-^'^-'''- voluntarily shrank h..^ . *''P''°*"'' ^'''' '"■ hagfl^ced her small tl " '*'P "" *""- "fhe old With' Lr toothr '^ '^'" "■' •"■'"' ""■"hied i-oii\|ey a general assurance of gafetV >n. *u- u ^aa, Drenarftr? q,-«^^ l- '^ "^ »«*iecy. for this he as, prepared, emce his mind was now fixed upon jtikHtiii-^, -fr^^* Xit /''^^ -4*. THE OLD' HAG/ 87 the ideaUhat he would be kept for a ransom. Then the old woman came nearer,- and piltip ol her thin, bony, shrivelled hands on his skoul^er The touch was. like the touch of a skeleton, and suggested horrible thoughts to poor Bob: A thrill- of disgust and terror shot through him; but >» stood'it, for he did not like to show his disgust, for fear of offending his hideous' companion. The old woman, then standing b^bre hini with her hand on his -shoulder, looked at him for a long time in silence. Bob looked back at her, and it seemed to him that he had never seen, in all his life, s^ch a hideous face. The wrinkles were now more plain- ly visible, the jaws seemed to be more retreating the cheeks were sunken, ibe cheek-bones project- ' mg, the eyes, small and weak, showed tears that slowly trickled down. Suddenly the old hag gave a 'low groan, which Bob attributed to some pain or cpth^, and turned away. He noticed that she wab trembling, and thQ^ght it was the weakness of het extreme old age. He was puzzled by these movemei^ of hers, and felt sure that the/ meant no good. After a fe.w mmuted she turned agaioj and beckoned to him to follow. She led the^way into the house. On reaching the door Bob hesitated, and stood without lool^iDg in. He saw a l^r^^ »pnr.f^p„t occupying aU the lower story of the old mill, with/^ some rude seats androu^h beds. A long ladda^ led up to the upper story. The old woman b^ck- >'■ .>..t»Um ,»i^lik. ."Sr.^J ¥'y '} ,1 : ^(. t ' «H ■ • '■ * .' \ i ' > / ; - ' ' * ... ' ^^ ■m 1 , ^ 7'^ • V ■■'■ \ ■ ;: \ \ ■ y. • ^ <^. ■ c . '. ^ ■If. ■'■" '-t*-^, . ^ .% ■ \ :m M \ ■■- \ ■■ V - 1» fi ■ 1 V \ \ \ ■ \ '' f' 1 «■ .--^ ■ i- ^_. ■1 • '•«■-. ' ■'■- '-***> . i ft. - r. ■' ' ' •■'■•» V ' ■ '■ , \ ■ ■. . ■■"^x 1 ■*^ \ ■ II r V! * ,/ . , /: ■ • '/ ■' - 1 ■^ > ■ M " • t ' f ' - - » - 1 i..Tf,\ 1 i ^ 1 ' t 1 L «, i li^.... - i % IMAOE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) *> > °**^ ^~ 1.0 1.1 12.5 U 1*0' 11:25 m 1.4 !!& 1.6 ■""> -^*^ :S . ..*5*vf - iparatton .t*.w/^W|t ^\ At-yJ** S ^. ■■£> ^. A « V ^^% 23 WIST MAIN STRHT VVII$TIR,N.Y. 145M (71«)ya-4S03 4^ ;\ ^;4*^^^:&^S;«J^:i^^"A'i^W4«wi^^^^l4^y#i.**M^iJ^^ .< ' ^— r / ^ - > M ^ i 1 . . ' 5 > ■V' if ' / / V - V ■ • " J ( " ' r ^ ■ • » * V ^ - * ■ H ' L^-)^<. <^fe^... . ...1 'i^/.-% *^f '■.f,' 88 AMONG THE BRIOINDS^ reiuee. So ie went «. She then brouirht fcrth tmered hun. Bob was ravenously hungry: bnt at that moment an idea came to him-f s^p.cion ve.y singular behavior of the old crone. The th« M KT".T '"'* »* »» ■"■» »ccordroe with tte dea that thej^were keeping him for a ^2 Wrth 7d harLlf "th'\:^°" '''^• Bob went out again ^ ""^ '^"'^' ""*'• ""<> -tone in front of Z-ho^V^c: Tde 7^' doorway and looked aU a^^ni ^e m „!' »™.6 ttere, nsmg first gently in an easy ^oh>%/ and then sweepmg up with a greater incli^ ZTtJ f^ *"«<• OTfte left he could „« the bndgedver which th. ro«l passed - t^rZ ' ,t Wi%L.« ,V %. ! ^4-:.' 'I- "Y, / ■N ^''I'St?'"*' ESCAPE CONTEMPLATED. 89^ ^ that led to safety. Could he but escape foj a fei^ I" moments from the eyes of his jailers, jMPinight be saved. Aud why not? Two women, and eoto© dirty children— why should he care for such gnards^aft^ these ? One rush, one leap, and he wouia^free. Willingly would he* walk all the way to Salerno. Anything would be welcome after such a captivity as this. But 'Bob was doomed to disappointment; for just as he had made up his mind to fly, just as he was looking allaround to see if the coast was dear, he saw, to his deep distress, the two brigands ap- proaching from the outhouse. They were carrying something which, on nearer approach, turned out to be a sheep, which they had just killed. Of course all thoughts of flight now departed, and Pob could only deplore his own stupidity in allow- ing that one chance of escape to pass away. -^, ^,* , After this they began to boil portions of'& sheep in a pot ; and soon the savory odor of a stew filled the room, and came to Bob's nostrils. As he was half starving, the delicious odor excited the utmost longing to taste it, and he at once began to feel rather satisfied that he had not fled. He felt that a flight alter dinner would be far better. In due time«.thy dinner was ready. It was a stew,— mutton, wi^ vegetables, cooked deliciously, — and Bob's hunger ^ w a»-w great tfaat"if Hriiad beeu worse Qooked it would have been a banquet. He had no fears of poi8<;ai, no suspicions of drugging, ■:''>^^'J^r^fii^>!ik y-f^ M. ^■■1 w 90 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ternly wo„,a;,,and .fdl 7-,f '"■«' 'M slat «as poured out into a l,^"f '!^''^"- '^'""^^^^ «-<. no plates, but dipieXr.t" f «-' «-r sight awakened a litn. h; ■ ""' ^"S""^- The too Uungry ,o be 1 o,* 5," '." f"'^ ' ""'' '- -as picking, out variouri"!- 'I, rr^^'^"''''' '" touehodbythedirtywLnf ''"'' ■""• ''«'^'' During the ronL P ' oompanion.,. furtive glanees met his JtT ,' ""' ""'' "'C''"- tl'om. The old voman^C'"""^<'--''«t>"„ed devour hi,„ ,vith alreedvL ''""""' '» tbat wa, very horrible i "^ ""■f ^'"^' and Bob's appetite was sorae-wf Jfc Tf ^""^"^ horror that he found inT '"""''"^ '^>' "'« "nable.to have that free t°' '^'''', """^ ''« "'»'' -wehh i^htoth:r:i::,!l7e;:^■"■^--' ^opiltn':t^c;;:fo;::t.r'^r'-*^••''«'- >>'issed before. The dlrtv n M ^ ^ "'""'' ''« '""1 ' too. The two brtend \ "'^T "'^''t °"t»'<'o themselves with vS", "T'^' ""'' occupied from such surn^undinrVH'^^"''"'™'" ^-«Pc At length one of thl f ^^ "■''' ™P"ssible. and ro°de aZ/so^ hf ""^ T""*^" *"« "-'■ come. This cLumsU ::l'i' :"'"!' '" "'"'. _B<^^first, but aftcrw^,.i. I. I suspicious to /f IMPRISONMENT. 91 ''^ike of tlip ag, tliQ slat 'i'ho j stew 'atter; they ngers. The but he Was cceeded in i not- been in ions. ^ thej all and their lie turned eomed to t of gaze, '■'sh look,., ^d by the ' be was »e repast outside, ^ he had ' outside >Qciipied Escape Jossibie. tbe asa,' he had ious to* f^^ per- orn. After this, darkness came on so suddenly that he was amazed. He had already noticed that the twilight in Italy was vevy much less than that to which he had been accustomed at home, but had never been so impressed by it as now. There' seemed but a minute between day and night. It was quite bright, and then in a wonderfully short time it became dark. Upon this they all entered the house. Bob had to go with the rest. The room was feebly ik luminated by a small oil lamp. Bob noticed tlmt thtey fastened the door with a huge chain. The fastening of that Boor was ominous to him, and the ijlanking of that chain smote him to the heart," and echoed drearily within his soul. It seemed to him now likq real imprisonment, shut in here with chains and bars, within this stone priijon: Soon they all prepared to retire ; and the brigand wh§^^d first met Bob beckoned to him, and jtaki|^the lamp, climbed the ladder to the upper story. Bob followed him. The upper story was about eighteen feet above the lower one. On reaching it. Bob savv that, it was all one apartment. There was no bed here, or bedding, or furniture of any description whatever. Sheep-skins hung ffom the rafters, and dried mutton, and some ^?egetable&. I«^ ©ne^ eorner was a^ptie/of straw.-- To this the brigand pointed, and Bob went over there. He understood that he waa to pass the A -IT" 92 AMONG THE BRIGAiqJs. night on this pile cfafrnxxr n ^ id an arouod as^he' s t*;;."^":^^''^^"'^"'' . saw the liirther end nf ,< ^ ^^ ^'''H He he saw the artis , •°'"" '" '^''''^ ^^^owb; . He noticed, also ttt 7^"^ '""^ ">« 'fft''^^ «- in front and't e t .Tn T '"» ''"^"o-- Windows there were no sas es rr" '"/""^^ -S:edttr;„:^tir '"r '^■"o" ^-"^ «aid the same in eS, T ' k ' ^"'^ *'""'^ and then deseendedt U ! ^T"' ^"■""^'^' with him. ''^'^' 'a'^'og the lamp tia'boofs/r t::; t,':V'^' "' ^^^ "- *^^« -"^ to the front window it ^ '™^ "'""^ «'« wall '■naide and o„ .tj' LV n^?:, -"'^""'^ ''"^'^ ble. Beaching the'wi'tw fp '".^ T/'^'" and looked down R« . m ^ ^ ^®*^ 0"t was the .er, .^^J: o^tCs^Tt .^" ^P to the sky. AH ih^.^ ™iRness. He looked UA 1 iooked down ae-ain if i, weK sheetrh::e ^r'i ^'^^rt"'"^;, '''''' coujj n\ make a rope ou „f « ! *°^'"'"'' ''« enouU t\bear his weiZ "^ ''"""^ 'tronj T -^ougut of, for he knew very well that ^^■ ■J^ DESPAIR OF BOB. 93 ore Bob1;j,olced he Btrawj He lark shadows; a the rifters; two wiijdows, 'ar. In/tlwse ey wer^ open ced to show : which Bob ' very biviUy md grinned, Dg the lamp s to take off ^S the wall tensely dark ? Was visi- is head out thing. AH He looked 38 also and n'n. If he I, he could 'g. There rether; he aw strong down waa well that at least twenty feet separated him from the ' ground. ; He turned away from the window in despair, and groping his way back to his rud» bed, he sat upon the straw, and gave himself up t6 his gloomr^ and despondent thoughts. ' • ^ / A ■ V X. >j' > . A.;-, -.kMi 94 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. CHAPTER VIII. The wom-out Captive. - IJ.kt Slumbers. - Fearful Wa- ror. - The lone Boy confronted by his Enemy.- The \"»SryEyes. ~ Is it real, or a Nightmare ? -The si preme Moment. ^ ^nesur t ■ ^>pHE_ darkness of the night and the impossi- M, hihty of escape filled Bob with tl^e most * gloomy and distressing thoughts, which at hrst quite overotime him. But at length other thoughts came, which were of a less distressing character. His mind once more reverted to the Idea that he was Iield for ransom, and that for the present, at least, he was m safety ; and notoritv BO but well ca^ed for. These people certainly had given him of their best. They had made him Share at the common meal, and though this bed of . straw was not very elegant, it was at least com- ' Portable, and was no worse than they themselves used to sleep upon. He flung himself down upon the straw, and ^undthat it was a soft ^and a refreshing couch. ^tJeWer^ was this fresh straw than apy formal bed could have been, for in such a hou^4 as that a m' THE WORN-OUT CAPTIVE. 95 maitress or a bed would certainly have been some liideotis things as dirty, as greasy, and as squalid as the people of the iiouso. On the whole. Bob was i)leased'^vith his bod of straw, and with its clean, fresh smell. I^scape being thus cut off for the present, Bob's frame of mind groAV more placid. As lonj> as ho entertained the idea of immediate flight, his mind was constantly on the strain; but now, when that idea had been dismissed, he grew calmer, and thought oveAihis circumstances with more deliber- ation. |Ie remembered that one of the brigands had alr^^ady gone away, and, as he supposed, to .Sa- lerno. 'If so, he would, no doubt, either see his friends, or at least hear from them, some time on the following day. The more he considered his situittion, the more* free from all immediate danger did it seem, and the more did his hopes increase. He looked for- ward with eager hope to the following day. ,TJiat would, without doubt, bring him news of his friends, or,^ perhaps, restore him to liberty. Under the pleasant influence of thoughts like these, his mind grew more calm and cheerful every moment, and passed into a state of tranquil contentment. Be- sides, he was tired, and his weariness brought on. drowsiness. As long as his excitement lasted, he could not feel the drowsiness ^. but now, as calm-- ness returned, the weariness and sleephiess be- came stronger, and by degrees overpowered him. 96 AMONG THE BniOANDS. Gradoally the thoughts of his mind becmo in ™,ngled w,th the fancies of dreams, and b !m d evLi: '"c t:: "nf . '^r ^°""' ""»'- asWn Af , '" "^f"'^- ^he famiJj seemed all His 8leep was not heavy Mnn^r ♦!>;« «ven „ that slumber of his, and ho ivas in that cond,t.o„ which is ealled sfeeping with o e ^e open. The fact ,s, the extraordinary exciteraeni onus donkey ride, and specially of hi, tTad venture m thus falling i„,o captivity, had so rotsed hs faculties, so affected his nerves and soZr ' ened Ins senses, that even in his sleep there s.m rktrrs.'''^"'""^'''-"''"-''-^"-"'^^' J" ""««tate he remained for some time, sleenina- ment'b'^: ^tl " """' ,^™'"« ''''' ""^ -S ment but the wary soul on the alert, as though to guard against danger. ^ ntf r U°"^ t"l '^^'P «™f»"ed, whether min- ute or hours Bob could never afterwards remem- ber; but with a sudden shock through all hTs nerv«a, he opened his eyes. Ho was lying, as he I.«d flung h.mself on the straw, on his back, with hif head elevated against a bundle of straw „ juoh^away that le could see the lengthof the - t - V A MYSTERIOUS SOUITO. * 97 Around him all M^as 'd-.i-t Tf ' • i.-*",- tell. AlMvas still, outside and inside -tJi^ black no., of darkness and the strllnoss of death . let now, in the midst of tint i,hr.v ^ i \ and that deathly stilln^.V I darkness Bight and a sou.^/ "^ ■'' '^ '^^^"^^ It was a low, creaking souml, which was re peated at short intervals, accompaned hy a lie in'' shuffl.ng noise. It sounded in thedirection of tlS open ng by which th.. 1^1 , '^ "''ocnon ot the n ss a S ?. ;;"''^^^ """^'» •■" tJ'^^t de^p dark- ncss and as the grating, shufHing sounds sue ceeded one anothor nf ^ 1 • "^Mims sue- ■ a„d brighter! "'"'"'"■'S|l' °' ''Sl't g™w bdghter _ As Bub looked at tliia and took \t Ml • thought can,e to hi.n i„ a,. Z^ "' '"' °«^ . ^■"^dH,d,j incoming up the ladder 1 ' 1 ho thought went through him wi„, a pang. Somebody was coming up the ladder I ^ What for? '• ,. .' to come uno^iervod ^ "^ """^ ^^''" ^'*?f On waking- out of slee^ suddenly,' the mind^ i ■ -*5i»: 98 AMONQ THE SniCANDS. Often confused ; I,„t wl.e^,, after «„cl, a. B„,I,Ien aw„ken,„g,.,t .s confn,„,ed l,y «„no l,o,-ril,le ^e " dnrcd. So_wa8,t will, Bob M this time. His awak.„g had been sudden ^ „„^/t,,„ ,,„„„, ,,J'^ Zf„'" ■ ''° !'''J^'="I"" "'"v presented itself waB, that t ,e Bl,„ffl,„g „„ft,„, ,|,„t „,.„^^ ,.^,,^ ^ ^ . vas the, step of; Doon,, - „„., the n.v.steno,,, vis' tTv'""' '"^ ^"™'''^ '"•'" 'o nuke him its p.ey. There aro.se within lji,„ „„ aufol „,„ici, pation. ir,s eyes fixed themselves npon the place whe™ the light was shining;' all his 'soul aw.td, - in dreadful expectation, the appearance of the mysterious visitor, an,] as the stealthy step drew -..e..rer an,I nearer, the. excitement grew stronger, nn.l more painlul, and- more racking • ' At length the figure began to'emerge jbovetho opening. , ^ ^ ^ Bob's <3jea wyre fixed tipon ti.e place. ' > He saw first the light. It emerged above the openmg-an akl oil-htmp held in a bony, grisl, . skinny hand. Then followed an arm. " "^ ' , Bob's excitement was 'm)w terrible. His heart beat witl. wild throbs. Hi. who^c frame sec^nfed • to v,brate under , that pulsation ^yhich was almost *ike a convulsion. ■Z-- - t The arm rose higher ! Higher ^till I ' ' /^was Qoraing! \ , ^I^ere ams. a i^tted .hqcic of g^^^^,,/^^ llie light shone down upon it as it Va^ upheld in. \t. -\ \ V -I? THE APPARinON. 99 '.»ir wan/red. "lVX;r::^^ ^t»MP«d about a foot abov.tl „' X h'"^ > ^ that it mfh ith?'' ''«;' ^' «'^''' P--U«,«o «"«Rl.t Bob out, fastened tbem^e/ves ™' ' "' and seemed to devour l.im witl. the r L? T ' 'vas.a hideous eagerness in her look ^tL J " a liorribie fascinatiori about it « K V[ ™' -- a" iTower of mm J i r n •'^ ' s^eenas t^ Jose , puwer or HTgiit, and flills a-victim fn flL ^ ' Bt.o,e,so here, at this ti.e, Bob fdt^arl^^V:- ^ s .'."■ ■f 100 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. that basilisk glance, and lost all power of motion. He could not speak. He tried to scream. No cry came He was dumb with horror. He was like one m a nightmare ; 'but this was a' waking n,ght.mare, and not t|ie fanciful terrors of rfream But the horror was too great to be endured. He closed h.s eyes tight, and thus shut out the But though he shut out the sight', he could not Blmt out sound; and soon he became aware of soniethmg which brought a fresh terror over his It was a stealthy step. It was advancing towards him. and'sTn ?""""'' ""■'"!."«' y^' «t'«'dy, and nearer and still nearer, came the awful step I Bob opened . h'3 eyes, to assure himself once more of the' worst Heope„edthembyaresistWip,pu,se. The figure was now half wa^etween the open- .«g and the bed. The old hag stood now full/r^ vealed. Her bleary eyes were fixed on Bob. ole hand upheld the flickering lamp, and in the other was a sharp weapon. . Bob closed his eyes in an anguish of horror He was dumb. He could utter no cry. He eouTd not move. The blow was coming. The destroy r Waid off tliat blow. His brain whirled, his heart seemed to stop beaming. of motion, na. No cry e was like a waking of (fream- endured. it out the could not aware of r over his THE SUPREME MOMENT. IQI There was a terrible moment of dumb, motion- less, breathless expectancy. The old woman knelt by his side. She put the lamp on the' floor. Then she reached out one of her long, lean, * bony skmny shrivelled ^ds, and took Bob by the hair of his head, whXwith the other she raised her sharp weapon. . nd nearer b opened he worst, the open- fully re- ob. One he other ' horror, le could Bstroyer uiion -fcO " is heart 102 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. CHAPTER IX. The Cavalcade in Pursuit.^ Hopes and Fears. — Theories about the lost Boy. — A new Turn to Affairs. — Explana- tions. — On to Salerno. — Inquiries. — Baffled. —Fresh Consternation and Despondency. — The last Hope. MEANWHILE the party on donkeys trotted along the road after Bob. At the ex- clamation from the donkey boy they had all experienced a shock ; but soon they recovered from it, and the shock only served as a stimulus to make them push the donkeys onward more mpid- ly. They rode on for some time without making any remarks, each one looking eagerly forward to see if Bob might reappear ; but he had vanished behind a turn in the road, and as they advanced, *there were other turns to be encountered, and so they were unable to see him. This began to cre- ate uneasiness. At first they all had hoped that Bob would be able to stop the ass, or that the an- imal, after indulging his paces for a short time, would stop of his own accord ; but the farther Wey went, the more tliey became convinced that this affair had something serious in it. At length they reached that long, straight piece THE CAVALCADE IN PURSUIT. 103 of road already mentioned. At one etid of this was a rising ground ; as they ascended this and reached its summit, they looked ahead, and there, far away before them, was a single rider. They recognized Bob at once. He was more than a mile away ; but the sight of him filled them all with joy, and they at once stimulated their donkeys to greater exertions. In spite of the distance that intervened, they all shouted as loud as they could ; but of course the distance was too great, and their cries were lost before they reached nearly as far away as Bob. In a short time he turned in the road, and passed out of sight. They now rode on for a Jong time, and at length came to the road that led to the mountains, up which Bob had gone. This road was not even no- ticed by them. They had passed other roads o^ the same kind, wliicli, like this one, led to the mountains, and attached no more importance to this tlian to those. In the minds of some of them, however, these side-roads suggested a fear, that Bob's ass might have turned off into some one of them ; but of course, as they were all alike, they could not conjecture which one would have been taken by the runaway. As they rode on, they still looked ahead. At every turn in the road they still expected to see the fugitive ; and it was not »fltil4fee donkey s themselves gaveHM gna o f fatigufey- that they were willing to slacken their pace. ' But the nature of these dpnkeya was, after all, but / } "fr AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ' ?jp,; ^gffr^K- ^iheir pace to a t'^ ''""' ""' ^° '"^^ ^<"=«-<' ,f Bob ^i^it ti':f;!o Jr; "^' lived is simply absurd Tf^m \- u "" «''®'' "It seems to me." said D^^riA -jry thoughtful and obse^iTb.;^"--: « it 7 " to me that the donkey may have^Lr '''"° etraight ahead along the foS .1 '. t ' "'"' '"'"" before him." ' happens to be Baid'Dl;i:'«td''I„"rt'^''"^.«'« mountains-. ■ bfanning'h„re^; *'"'"^^' "'-'""'' "-«'> "I don't believe that," said Prank. « I hold f h.t J a gnir o s some ttini..,4rf^fe."'^ - .V ^qold that_^ <\ iiiy^'fl^rf O, i^ . . i,f -"-.a^fJ HOPES AND PEARS. f' : 105 " Not if a by-road leads to his l^me." pZum ?"^'' ""^ ^^^ ^^ '^'^^.^"^^^ *^^^^ ^««' « EasHy enough," said David. « I dare sav they Xh^::^'^"^^"^*'^^Vti-weca„,eu^ "Yes," «aid Frank ; " but, unfortunately, we" couldn't understand aH of it." David heaved a sigh. • A^?Z ^ u'^y ^^^«^^^*'^ed,«thatlhad8tud. led Itaian before I camel But from thiKtime torth, I m determined not to rest till I've leajned the language." \ Unclb Moses was deeply distressed at Bob'l dis- appearance. He had only one idea in his mind. He told the other boys what it was. It was the Idea of bri^nds. They had met poor Bob; they had seized him. and had carried* him off to their • lurking-places in the mountains. Even now he was in captivity. And the heart of Upcle Moses yearned over the poor prisoner. He expressed these iears in a few words, for he was too agitated to say much. ® .f^^^:^*=^^Hd=to^=l^r^i^„„»uB over this and thought there was something in it. Both of them now thought that Bob might have been -isj >' s AMONa/THE BRIGANpg. 106 ♦carried by hi^ donkeV to the mountains ; and, H 80, his capture by briWnds would be almost cer- tain. To them, these n^untains seemed to be full of them ; the whole population, in their opinion, '. was a community of briga\ds. >. Chve ha(J also another i(^ea. It was this. The' driver had deserted them a^l haA^one off vow- mg vengeance. He had gon^to the mountains, and returned with a band of brigands to capture all of them. They had met Bob, seized him, and taken him off. At all this Frank laughed. "Pooh! "'said ho. "1 don't see whyyou should go ^ out of your way to torment yourselves about noth- ing at all. It all seems plain enough to me. The donkey has run off, and intends to keep running till he drops. There's a long, straight, smooth road before him, and he'll stick to that without bother- ing his head about by-roads or mountains. And if he's obstinate enough, I don't see why he shouldn't keep on running till he gets to Salerno. And it's my opinion, if we don't pick him up on the road, we'll find him at Salerno when we eet there." ' ^ "0, that's all very well," said Clive, " but think ho^7^certain you/s^^ere abr)ut the driver — " He was inte'rrupted by the sound of galloping horses an d rolHn g wh eels. The sound came from. - behind. At once they all turned their heads. Emerging from behind a turn in the road, they saw isaiya^'A^^'i/B. -A-r :,?rv . THE driver's EX?LANATI0N. 107 two horses galloping at full speed, and drawing a carriage. The driver was whipping the horses furiously, and calling and shouting. The carriage was empty. In a moment they recognized the trjith. it was their carriage and their driver. They all stood still, and looked in surprise, and the carriage rolled swiftly up. The driver at once stopped the horses, and jumped to the ground. Then, coming to the boys, he burst forth iftto a strain of the most profuse and vehement apologies. He implored them to forgive him, and began to explain the cause of his absence from the place where they had left Ijim. It seems that he found this place an inconvenient one, and had driven across the fields for about half a mile-, to some trees. Here he had taken his horses out, and aUpwed them to feed. He him- self lay down in the carriage, and took a siesta. 'He overslept himself. On awaking, he was horri- fied to find how much time had passed, and at once proceeded to search for the horses. But . during his sleep they had both wandered ofi", and could not be found until after a long . search. When at length he was ready, and had driven back, he found to his horror that they were not there. Thinking that they were still among the ruins, he had gone over the whole place, which *^ took- up still more tTmer""AfTaitt Re saw thatife^y' must have left. He at once drove ofi". Knolving that they were on foot, he expected every miinute •N t. 108 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. to catch sight of them. He drove 6n for niilea came to the conclusion that they had, perhap, found the carriage of some other visitor , and hS obtained ,eats.i„ that. He knew that they mtt have gonej and could only account in that waHor their rapid progress. ^ This exianation of the driver was perfectly . ^tisfactory Vo them all, and their joy at'^gettW the carriage lagain was so great that they efcu "f his unfortunate slumbers. The driver afso, on his part had noi forgotten all about his sulks and blr'' CT^°"" r -"'•-"■•-•'.e soil as oetore. On learning about Bob's mishap he at along the road, and that they would undoubtedly soon catch up itith him eX »i, u ■ """"'■"o'y into the carLle thl'^ u^''°'''P»'^ye<'' carnage, the driver wh pped np the Safte "71*"^^ -<=-' towards'salerno Alile after mile Was traversed. Still there were no sighs of Bob. '• Something's hiippened," said Clive. ^,^ He s been carded to the mountains," said Da- • _■; It's the brigandl 1 " groaned Uncle Moses. ''Th"; donte^' "4"/»''l J^™°k. confidently, hila slS^ " 1^"'- --horse. We'll fin'd ^^^^ '¥-' '"^ -^^ %f'^jw.iiMV--ii.-'*^ ''^aj*'- '^f^ :.^. .--■<, or miles t length perhaps, and had ey must way for erfectly getting sxcused , on his b, and 3oul as he at ve rnn btedly •ty got p the no. THE LAST HOPE. 109 No signs of Bob I Hurrying in, they made inquiries, and found that he had not come. This filled them all with the greatest concern ; and the driver, and the land- lord, and all others who heard of it, asserted that he must have been carried to\the mountains. It was now dark. Nothing more could be done ; atfd so they could only resolve to drive back on the following day, and make a more careful search after the lost boy. \ IdDa- 3. Bntly. I find ,/ Irove ■ f^ ; . \ 4 ■ i ■1 ir *=;. . .■ ./ ,. ■. ;;-;'-^'lt4'V;r' ■ '1:1 110 AMQlto TflB BRIOANBS. n CHAPTER X. The captive Bo^ and his grisly Visitant - The NMndon his Head. -Deriouement. - The BrigaHd Family. - The old Crone.- Tj Robber Wife. -The Brigand Children. -A ■ Revolution ^Feeling. - The main Road - The Carriage — In Search of Bob. .„ >■ ^"'^^^*'^£^- jAfiALYZED with terror, dumb with horror, Bob lay motionless and ahnost breathless • and the grisly old hag reached out her 'long, lean, thm, bony, withered, shrivelled hand and took his hair, while with the other hand she raised her sharp weapon. She took his hair very lightly and tenderly ; bo lightly, indeed,^aM3ob was just conscious of her touch; and^th^iigh he expected that he would be torn from his bed and struck dead the next instant yet this fate was delayed. ^ \\ She took his hair then in he^r hand very gently and tenderly, apd in her other hand she raised the sharp weapon. \ " yoyi t h e shqp p ^eapon was apaip pf^ Ihears. ^^ """ "^" "'"'" y. «nee|r These shears she held forward, and with them \J^ THE SHORN LOCK. Ill she snipped off, as noiselessly as possible, a lock of Bob's hair. She pressed the lock of hair to her thin lips, ^ looked at it steadfastly for some time, pressed it oi^ce more to her lips, and then put it in the folds of "lier dress. %^ Then kneeling by Bob's sidef she looked af"him long and earnestly. She bent over him, and looked ^^ down upon him. She laid the shears upon the floor, clasped her withered hiinds together, and gazed upon the boy. lie lay still. His eyes were closed ; but the delay of his fate ,and the snip of the shears in his haii" had roused him somewha^ from his abyss of terrojv He opened his eyes wide enough to see what was going on. He could not see the old wonlan's lace, but he saw her kneeling,. and he saw her thin hands clasped before ^ her, like onfe in prayer, and tremulous. ' The old womarf bcrit over him; and if Bob could have seen her face he would have known that this . old creatAre was an otjjject of any other feeling rather than fear, l^ale it was, that face that was \ over him, and wrinkled, arid emaciated; but there was"upoij it a softened expression — ,an expres- sion-of yearning arid of longing. That which at a distance .had seemed to his frightened fancy a' hungry, ghoulish look, was now nothing more than ~~ tB¥ fearri^st, fi^^ ga^^f "S love thaf"Ioifigeff^o" , satisfied — a gaze like that, of a bereaved mother who sees s0me one who reminds hfdr of her lost •.» ' J ^i 112 AMOJJG THE BRIGANDS. f *■- \ . boy, and looks at him with a \^ of unutterable yearning. So, now, it was with this poor old 4 " crepit creature. Perhaps in her papt life jom son had been torn from her, of ,whoifl 'fififee. minded her, and ^he had come now to f^ast'^Self " with his face, which reminded her of her lost boy to take a lock of his hair, to bow down over him in speechless emotion. Here, then, she knelt, her poor hands clasping each dther tremulously, her aged breast heaving with repressed sighs, while from her weak eyes there fell tears which dropped upon the fa^-of the boy. Those t«Srs had a wonderful effect. As Bob's lialf-opened eyes saw t^he old woman's attitude, his grisly terror left him; his heart re- gained its ordinary pulsation; the tremendQus pressure that had been upon his soul was re- moved ; warm, and fresh, and free,, his young blood sped through his veins, and ali; his frame was quickened to a bounding lif^nd vigor. By the force of this reaction he wa8«g^om his gt^y lethargy, hil^aralysis of ho^^ffiliB pr JiSe of miird w^^^restored. T^TOef? came those tears which fell upjpn fiis face. This completed the recovery of hi^ self^ommand. It did teore. It assured him that he was an object, not of mur- proufi fury, but of tender love, and that the o^e ^«^Q^^^d feared had: coiMniof^mtB^^p of cMfelty, but with yearnings of affection. Why this should be he knew not; he was content to ,<> '^^'* JH^- i '\ . * '"'^Ip! ■/ EFFECTS OF THE VISIT. 113 • t jcnow that it was so; and iii this knowledge all fear died out. But eve^n now he felt 8omewha^^" embarrp,8seld, for the old woman was evidentty only giving- way t\ her emotion because sHe believed him to be asleep; and thus he was an un- willing witness of feelings which she supposed to be seen by . none. In this there seemed "to be something dishonorable, and he, wished th«^»Oene to end. 'He chose to do so therefore by making^a few movements without op6tring his eyes ;'tiiat is, he changed his position several times, turned hinir. self over and back again, and thus gave signs of waking. Upon this the old woman silently took her lamp and shears, and left the apartmeM by the way she had come. So end^ the adventure. The effect; produced upon Bob was a varied one. He still felt the consequences of that horror into which he had fallen, that spasm and convulsion ~j J- ».' / !. y I- > . 114 \- AMONG THE BRIGANDS. He fell again into a deep , sleep, and did not wake till it was broad day. J On descending, the people all respectfully bade him good morning. Breakfast was rea%, consisting of black brea3, stew, and some coffee. Outside, the view was superb ; the rising sun had not yet ascended high enough to shine down into the. valley, but the glowing heavens, and the shadows of the moun- tains, and the light green of the little space near- est, with the darker green of the forests that clothed the mountain-sides, all made the spectacle a memorable one. Bob's whole state of mind was more healthy, and cheerful, and hopeful than it had been. Every- thing appeared bright and favorable. The old woman, as he looked at her this morning, did not seem to be at all repulsive. Her face was shriv- elled, it is true, and her„eyes were weak; but she looked gentle and mild, and treated him with very great favor and attention. The slatternly woman did not seem worse than any other Italian peasant woman. The children were dirty, no doubt ; in fact, very dirty ; but then they were brown, and healthy, and merry, hot inclined to mischief, and quite respectful to him. In short. Bob found himself surveying his situation and its surroundings with much complacency, and he began to feel that he Lftd luisjut^ed these^eople altogether the night before. But other things were yet in store which were -x^ ■:.<^i^^i.ihh 1 ■* ^ \. .\ii>- '%■ THE BRIGANDS. 115 to redeem still more the character of these peojjid. ^e was standiDg outside the house after breakfast, when, to his surprise, he saw the second " brigand " approach. He knew that he had not had time to go to Salerno and return ; so he saw that he could not have been to Salerno at all. He seemeii-toBobto be going there now, for he was mounted on a donkey, and led another by the bridle. The one which he led was no other than the ass which had carried Bob to this place. JBob's only thought at seeing this was, that the " brigand " was now setting forth for Salerno, and was a|)Out to take the donkey with him, either to sell if, or t6 return it to the owner, and get a reward. But this idea was not left long in his mind. I . The first " brigand," pame out, and tWtwo men talked to one another, ^fter which they turned to Bob, and the first brigand explained to him that he was to mount the donkjey. He pointed to the animal, smiled, waved his hand towards the road by which Bob had come, and uttered the word "Salerno." "' Bob's heart gave a wild leap ; he could scarcely believe what he heard ; /but the laces of the two men were smiling, and t(iey continued to nod, and gesticulate, and repeat tlie word " Rak^rnn," They ^ Tooke^^ like two benevolent farmers, and Bob won- dered how he could ev0r have seen anything ma- lignant in their very good natured faces. i* '^'^i^*^f^MfAfi{^^"'^ 116 AHONO THE BRIGANDS. ' ^^°"^®® *^^^® ^*® nothing to do now but to hnrfy away to his friends. Yet Bob was not willing to take too abrupt a leave. He remem- bered the old woman, and thought with a softened heart about her emotion. He went back into the house, and shook hands with her for good by. He even knew enough Italian to say, " Addi(K'^he old creature was much softened, and buxsrinto tears. Bob gave her one of his cuff-buttbl^s as a souvenir,^ for h^had nothing else to give, and the cuff-button was an uncommonly elaborate affair; and he had the satisfaction of seeing that the old woman took it as though it was of inestimable value. He then went around among them all shook hands with all of them, from the slatternly woman down to the smallest of the dirty children, and gave each one of them something — to the woman, a pencil case ; to one child, his pocket knife ; to another, a watch key ; to a third, a shirt stud; to a fourth, a memorandum book; and to the fifth, a handkerchief. « Brigand " number two was going to accompany him, and it was now evident to Bob that the delay which had taken place in his restoration to his friends jas probably owing to the fapt that they had to wait to procure bridles, or another donkey. It only remained for him now to bid good by to " brigand " number one, which he did with gr^nt earnestness, and cordiality, and fervor; presenting him at the same time with his neck-tie, a very nj'.toeSA'-ij^K!' • jA.-i!*! .*»■>< t , 117 ' DEPARTURE OP BOB. brilliant piece of satin, which the Italian receiWd with a great flourish, and profuse expressions df thankfulness. Bob had several . times regretted his Ignorance of the Italian language since his arrival m the country, but never had his regrets \ beeQ more sincere than on this occasionr Had he been able to speak Italian he would have made a speech then and there, and have invited them all from the old woman down to the smallest child, to' come and visit him and his friends either at Salerno, or at Naples, or in farK)ff America. But alas I Bob's tongue was tied, and so the invitation remained unuttered. He did what he could, how- , ever, and utterly exhausted the whole language of signs in the attempt to express to them his / thanks, and his good wishes for their happiness. The simple people seemed to comprehend him, for .they were by no means dull, and gesticulated in return many things which seemed to convey the same meaning; and when at last Bob rode away the humble inhabitants watched him uj|U he passed out of sight. 4 / / «r V .','■ .-U'iA . ^* ^jr SiiL^iti^ivW^ii' „4eiA.i&sf Ai'.'Wt- -iSiiUi!. 118 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. CHAPTER XI. ^J'cXr^""^'''"""-^'"'"''^'"'r«o.~On D,sZn L'-f^'^T ^'"■'-^•' -npUaZ nZuslllZT'" ""■ "•' ''"'"'ion.- Various .EARNING to the mail ^aj^^lih Us guide, Bob traversed the same way by which his donkey had carried him on the preceding day. Hie progress now was very d f ferent It would not do to dash furiously dowl had toC T T'" """"''*'■" f^'^^-y-' ^ ">«y ■ plain. '■Bob 8 animal also had changed. He was »o longer the fiery, wild ass of th! day befr which had borne him helplessly away from iX' 'SiVf": " *™'='*'"^ -i-ali with'surcie^ S- A T'J"' "'* "" *« »■■«»« of subordi. tou rof'L , T"'- ^« '"''y^'^ the slightest Sin f^t ;. ' *"' ■"""""* """S after the ■^^" '° ^'^°* -° f h'?. «» qu i e tly_4>»- thoug b he w ««— »s most patient and gentle of the donlceytribe In two or three hours' time they rei^hed the ^%i^-^ jf^- ,1 ■^ffUlil * iA-iy -wff. 1^ THE RETURN/ 119 mam road, and turning to the right, rode towards Salerno. Thus far Bob had not noticed much of his surroundings, but now his eyes gazed most/ eagerly upon the road ahead of him, for he exl pected to meet his friends. He rightly supposei' that they would have driven to Salerno on the preceding day, hoping^a,jPnd him thererand that they would drive back in search of him at the earliest dawn of another day. Bob's conjecture turned out to be right He had not ridden more than a mile when he saw a carriage approaching, which he soon recognized ^8 belonging to his party. In it were his friends. - who had recognized him as soon as they had caught sight of him, and whose joy at meeting with him again, and amazement at the sight of his companion, knew no bounds. The carriage stopped and the boys flung themselves out, and tore Bob and hustled him, and danced about him in their *'''^' . .. . ^°'^^ "^^^ °°* «° 'i'^'^^ as the others, and held back. But if his greeting was last, It was not least fervent, as Bob well knew by the moistened eye, the quivering lip, the tremulous voice, and the convulsive grasp of that venerable relative: Then and therej on the road, Bob h^A t^ aiytiflfir -the Bungry curlbsity of his friends, and giveth^ some sort of an outline of his adventures. The particulars he reserved untU a future occasion. I «t ,V i^fH- itr J jiflss!,> mi *r ^^Jh . - •/ k, .'^?'^-^Tr 120 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. Bob 8 account of his frienda in the mountains at . once roused the enthusiastic interest of the whole \ TJ u *^'' ^^'^^'' ^°^ *^^y ^" proceeded to . Bhake hands with, the Italian.. Nor did they con- . .. tent themselves with this, for" on the spot tJncle Moses and the boys made up a handsome purser which they presented to him, not because he 3e- served it, exactly, but partly because they were 80 rejoiced at finding the lost boy, and partly on account of Bob's urgent appeal to them. For now iiobff.s€fi|timent8 about the humble people in the -sequestered valley had undergone the last phase which was necessary to complete a perfect revo- Intion of feehn^,. and he had come to regard them not^ by any means as brigands,-,far from it, -but rather as a family of peaceful, innocent, hannless, affectionate, quiet, benevolent, warm-hearted, good- natured, hospitable, and virtuous peasants The Italian received the gifts with a series of gesticulations, by which he seemed to be invoking the blessing of Heaven upon them, and vowing endless gratitude J and after the boys and Uncle Moses had one by one shaken hands and bidden ; . hnn good by, he still stood there, smiling, bowing, . anA gesticulating^, and as they drove away, they saw him standing motionless in the road till thev passed out of sight. ^ Bob's adventur es jiad not beenLwithout Bome:„ ^us^^onsequences, for the stmin on his mind during the previous day, and especially the horror $i&£ii^^iX^ ^4, s /J.'trtVli.sy^ tIj«.iS»J. . ■tfl^^aa.,^~A^-^ SSj.numJfctt!.'^ ' '-tsj :t-tVr 0» TO CASTELLAMAIIE. v'l, 121 hi w/!?*"' "T!''""' "'"'' "'" f''«g«e8to Which he had been subjected, had been somewhat t»o much for hun As soon, therefore, as the first ex- ttm " ""^ ^T"^ ""'•'"■"S -"« over, a reac t.on took place, and he complained of utter weari- ness and exhaustion. As Bob was a boy who never complained except under sore pre'ssure, the , boys perceived that he was now in /eed of quiet and repose, and therefore tried to put a check upon their .eager curiosity. On reaching Salerno they put up at the hotel again, and gave Bob the' ■ opportunity of a long rest. Had itLt been fo hl\ r^T!^"^ ''""''' •'y «"^ «■»« have been back m Naples ; for their intention had been to go on from P^stum without stopping ; but now they were forced to delay somewhat. Still they were anxious to resume the journey back, and as Bob seemed refreshed after a rest and a good re. past, Uncle Moses thought they had better set ou^ and go as far as they could before dark. The dri ' ver mentioned Castellamare as a convenient stot^ pmg.place, and it was thereupon decided to drive on as far as that place, and pass the night there. Ihey had passed through Castellamare before when on their way to Sorrento, and again, when eturnmg from that place, on their way I, sLierno. ^ ""^ l^ °««°^ qq-tg familiar. JBut^ guittine - ^A,^ -. i-T :^ -^^ "*■*■*"<*«' -"m>^>a mutti n g fL w",T. ^°^ ^^"'^^^^ ^'^^^^^"^ *h« windowTof he hote , they were siirfirised to find how much the beauty of the place was enhanced by this new ^ •«!*. V'^-rt,: ., * \s^*a*ia'i^fo«fi;*>j ^'4kl'wSifiy.t .#/• ■ t 122 AMONG THE BRICJANDS. outlook. Before, they Id^olced at it as hasty travel- lers, snatching a passing glance ; but now th^y could take a leisurely surJey. Before them was ^e Bay of Naples ; on the riiht,the city with its sub- urbs, extending far along\ the shore ; on the left, the isle of Capri ; in fron^, the shores of Baise ; while in the rear was the ^^erdant landscape, with a background of mountain^ over which reigned supreme the gigantic forni of Vesuvius, from whose summit was still floatiig the wrathful smoke cloud. \ It was decided to pass the\ night here, and go on to Naples early on the following day. AH the party were tired, and went tb rest at an early hour. The night was calm, i^nd beautiful, and bright ; and as they went to Isleep, they were lulled by the plash of the wateVs as they gently rippled upon the pebbled beach. \ » Frank arose pretty early on th& following mo^ ing, and found that David was already up, and had - gone forth. The others were etillVasleep. Frank thereupon went forth for a walk, Ld one by one the others awaked also. They had brdered break- fast at an early hour, and they wei^e to start im- mediately after. When Uncle Mosek went down stairs he found breakfast ready, and departed to hunt up the boys. He found Frank! and Clive, _aD d Bob, w atchiag the driver grOom t&B t orses. -^ " Boys," said Uncle Moses, " breakfast's ready." "All right, sir," said Frank; "we'll be\along." S^<.%!iA«K«8lM^^>^^«^ J„ . s-T»«4.«-,U,4.. ^\ , , '-^Jift' .H'T ;j- ■Vi^ " *' AH TOTLEASANT DBCOTEBT. 133 tJpon tl.is Uncle Moses went back, and after a Where's Dav.d ? " asked Uncle Moses. I don't know, sir." "Well," said Uncle Moses, "Suppose he'U be along ; so let's sit down and begin " "^ "^ ^^ They all sat down. '* When they were about half through breakfast Uncle Moses began to wonder what L iSS^^ 1 )?-f ,7"^ f '^ ^' ^°' ^«^« ? " i^e asked. ' 1 didn't see hirn," said Frank "I didn't," said Clive. "Nor I," said Bob. "He was up before I was," said Frank -and had gone out I didn't see him at all. I only saw his empty bed, an^ found his clothes gone I da'I say he's gone off- on a walk." "0, he's all right," said Bob. "Yes," said Uncle Moses; «I don't doubt it Hes a very careful, quiet boy, I know; but he a houS LirclC' '^' -^«-^-«*-^ about the "Perhaps so," said Uncle Moses. .^^^^m^st^ii^hing their l>reakfastr- -^ut Uncle Moses began to fidget in his chair an,? look around, and sigh, 'and gfve other stns of growmg uneasiness of^bind." Feeling in SelJ r- ^l^^^^^^_ -*>. 124 AMONG THE BRIOANDS. as he did, the care of all the boy8,^he never was altogether free from anxiety; and the various ad- ventures which the boys h^dencountered^fiad not, in any way, tended to lessefi his unea^ vigilance over them. Bob's last adventurej'^Jn particular, had wrought upon him most paifiMy, so that he was ten times more careful over.lK^ young and somewhat flighty charges than heVaJibeen before. The absence of David at such an important time seemed unaccountable. If it had been any one of the other8,ut would have been intelligible; biit for David, who was the soul of order, regularity, and method, to fail an appo^taent, was something so extra^rdinailjr, that he could not but feel alarmed. Still he restrained himself, for he felt a littk* ashamed of his fears; and though he was evident ly very restless, uneasy, and worried, Ke said not. a word until the boys had finished their" breakfast. "I don't know what to make of it," said Unclft Moses at las^t, starting from his chair and going to the window. Standing there, he looked uneasily' up and down the street, and then returned and looked earnestly at the boys. " I don't know what \o make of it, at all," he re- peated. " Did you say you didn't see him, none of you? Didn't you see him, Clive ? " " No, sir," said Clive. " When I waked, all the ■b oys were up J^^ "Didn't he say anythin last night about in tendin to do anythin this mornin ? " I .\ ^~ji -•^^t-"-': DAVID AMONO THE MISSING. 125 " I didn^t hear him say anything" ' bLkfalr/" '" "'"^ ™'». an°»g''t. which brought np' ^pon this Uncle Moses went onf nf fi, and do.„ to the street. Reachin^rthe trLTTe' lo S r :r it" *"^ ^"."^^ ■^" '"> °^ ' "»^- the doL oT :„ e, stll "f""' P'^''™^ '"*" about half an hour, he returned more troubled y ',■>•'. --St^Wrf^ir;^* «!ii'.i«- ■A. A.^- L•^ j\ ,v«,'V . ' 126 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. than ever; and met Frank, Clive, .and Bob in front of the hotel. -^ " I can't find him anywhere^" said he. . Thus far the boys had thought nothing of Da- vid's disappearance : but the deep anxiety of Un- "cle Moses now excited their alarm ; and though, if left to themselx^es, they would have seen noth- ing to fear in the fact of David's being an hoitr Or , 80 behind time, yet, after all, they began to see that, in one like David, such conduct was most ex- traordinany ; and in this foreign country, of whose: ways they wene so ignorant, there might possibly be danger in such absence. They at once began 'to comfort Uncle Moaes; and then all of them vol- unteered to go sin different directions and see it » they could find him. tJncle Moses again set out, walking up the road in the direction of Sotrento ; Frank went down the road ; Clive took a by-road that led towards the hills; while Bob, who was. rather weak yet, and not capable^ of much exer- tion, said that he woufd watch from the window of tlie hotel, and be at home, in case of David's. ^ return, to explain matters. In this way they began their search, and Bob waited patiently in the hotel. After about an hour Uncle Moses catfte back. On finding that David had not returned, he looked unspeakably dis^tressed ; and when, after a sh ort time farthftr^ "Both Frank and Clive returned without any tidings of the fugitive, he began to look quite heart-brokenT t"9 #i. . ■# . ' • • ■ ■ -■ ■* , DEUBEnATIOM OVER IHE SITOATTOIf. 127 Then they Wked to the driver iaboat if but he d„ve. M give the™ „„ iut^n^tio^t ever Thoy sent him over the hotel to question I the people., but^his search wai as-va.^as h" Others had been. There wasno one in the hotel from the big landlord down to the scul ion wh ' could tell anything at all about DavM "' "'"' . »y the ^meall these examinations and searches had been made it was after ten o'clock. 87/^1! had b,en served at seven, and seven was t he hou' at winch David should have been, among them He had been gone,therefore,more th^n thre! hour"' Even the boys now began to feel uneasv IT„ pie Moses and all -the boys began to " k tb^"; h..s^to find some way otacooLing for Da'";::: " No," said Bob, " never iZ Ti '*"'• snchathing." ' I know he never did J/n T^*^'' ''*™ *^^'"' « «'*'k anywheres" - d Uncfe Moses, "or he'd been back long 'r-' houri;'/ark:..'raiaTir'^'^^™--''- he'd : ""'" '*''' F'ank,"he isn't fond of ridine- he had to." " ^'^ ^^ ^^y ^"ything about— about H?" . ■r ifoiV- -tW'ti .' ^^ ts^ /*■■ Kit i'Sjt' s K f 128 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. . Uncle Moses hesitated at the question which he ^ was about to ask. " About what, Uncle Moses?" ksked Clive. "About — bathing?" asked Unde Moses, in a faltering voice. \ " No," said Clivo. Uncle Moses drew ^ long breath.' "It would be dreadful dangerous," said he. " But, Uncle Moses," said Clive, " David would never think of such a thing. He might go in if all of u^ fellows went in too, just for company ; but he doesn't care CLough about it to go in alone. The fact is, he doesn't care much for any kind of sports. He's too fond of books." Uncle Moses sighed heavily. "I wonder," said Bob, " if any of those Sorren- to fellows have been about here, and seen him." At this suggestion -every one of them started, and stared at one another. "Sorrento fellers?" repeated Uncle Moses. ^' Do you think there's any chance ? " " 0, J don't know," said Bob. " I only thought it might be possible. You see Dave made no end of a row^ there about that tassel that he took, and you know how we had to run for it. Well, you know Sorrento isn't very far from here, and I just thought that some of the Sorrento people might have seen us come here ye sterday. I f t h oy did, w ; they might have tried to pay up poor old Dave for what he did out there." H "^S^Ci^4 ^'U' .-^ (^ ,. *^-.^.,>',.- f\ VARIOUS THEORIES. m "Thl^r^T^ ^'"°'" '^'^ ^"^^« ^««««. with a ffroan a little stroll +1. ^^'^°^^- ^e °iay have taken been at hi„g all night for the 2Z Zly we do / I II g^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^.^^^ ^^ e„ followed. On sugge^ing tt S Ln^tl: .« 'f tr;e'^;tt-^^^^^^^^^ it only added! ^r ' '"' '""""^^M over the b<^' '° *■■' '"'^'^•^of P"«'« Mose, and at'lnce^iirCr^'H t° 1"™ ""^ '^ ^"^-*o Dave is in their f'i fH" '^ *°° >'«• If - ""}, "« mayn't be there it L" wnere else is Tie ? " ~ "I don't know/' "There's no need for all of US 9 i.y.\^ ^n," said Bob, who to go," said Uncle '■*■■■* 130 AMONG THE BBIGANDS. Moses. " I'll go alone, and you boys stay here till I come back. But I don't know, either. I'm afraid to leave you. If David's got into trouble, how can any of you hope to escape ? No, you must all come, for I declare I'm afraid to trust one of you out of my sight." " But some of us ought to stay," said Bob, " for Dave may turn up all* right, and how'll he know what's become of us ? " '' " Wal," said Uncle Moses, " I'll leave word for him here at the hotel." " Yes," said Frank, " that's the best way. None of us want to dawdle our lives out in this place all day, and you don't want to leave any of us be- hind, Uncle Moses ; so if we all go together,%e'll all be satisfied." A few minutes afterwards the carriage rolled out of Castellamare, carrying the party back to Sorrento* M. u~>> t 'i^, -.,j;:''*'"''rf;>-j.Vs^-i:"-'ss^Ji^'5iJf't:';.u^ A GLORIOUS SCENE. 131 * CHAPTER XII. - ne Waking of David.— A glorious Scene. — A Tempta- tion. — David embarks upon the wide wide Sea. — Youth at the Prow and Pleasure at the Helm. —A daring Naviga- tor. — A baffled and confounded Navigator. — Lost / Lost I Lost / — Despair of David. — At the Mercy of Wind and Sea. ->- The Isle of the Brigands. — The Brigand Chief. N the-niorning of that day David had waked very early, feeling refreshed with his slumbers, and not at all inclined to pro- long them. Ther c/thers were all asleep, and the hoijse was silent. As he lay he could hear the gefitle ripple of the water upon the beach, and feel the sweet, balmy air of morning as it fanned his cheeks. For some little time he lay enjoying his situation, and then jumped out of bed and went to the window. Immediately in front of him lay the Bay of Naples, a dark blue expanse, with its border of green shores and white cities, overhung by a sky whose hue rivalled that of the sea beneath. The braaiy of thrscene was 80 exquisite that it caffed him forth, and unable any longer to remain within doorS; he dressed himself and walked (^ut. On his -:^t 132 AMONG THte BRIGANDS. way out he met no one, for all /were still asleep. f V, He had to unlock the door to let himself out, atid ,^'* when outside he saw that t^ie street was as deserted as the interior of the \ hotel. Standing at the door, he saw tiie eastern sky all ruddy and glowing. The sun was not yet up, but these hues indicated its approach, and announced - that it was at hand. The fertile plains, all covered with vineyards, spread afar, extending from the outskirts of the town to the slopes of the moun- tains, whicli in the distance rose up grandly, their sides covered with groves, and resting in dark shadows. There, too, was Vesuvius, as ever, mon- arch of the scene ; and the smoke that hUng over its summit stood revealed in a black mass against ' the blue sky. , David left the hotel, and, after walking a few paces, turned his steps towards the sea-shore. Here the attractions were greater than on the land, for the blue expanse of water spread itself out before him, fencircled by shores and ■ inlands, and all the congregated glories of the Bay of Naples were there in one view befor^ his eyes. There was a beach here of fine pebbles, which sloped gently into the water,, and upon thi^beach a number of boats were drawn up. After wander- , ing along the beach for a little distance, David "eiitered oHe oT these T)oat8, and saf down. It was a small boat, with a mast and sail, the iatter of . which was loosely furled. Here David sat and looked out upon the water. B M, « ^ \- t-J» .%>P W~ ^ Jjife* i.*l **1 ^^W■^l^^^ A*l>4i f v-s'Jr'-^ *.'viy*-t J, / A TEMPTATION. 133 The glorious scene filled lys whole soul with en- thusiastic delight. Upon.that deep blue surface his eye was attracted by several white sails far away that moved to and fro. At that moment it seemed to him that to move thus over such a sea would be equal to a bird's flight in the blue of heaven: and as he watched the boats he longed to be iirihem Suddenly he thought of the boat in which he was. Could he not have a little sail up and down along the shore ? True, he did not know how to sail a boat, but he could learn ; and this seemed as good a tune to learn as any other. He did not know the owner, but on his return he could pay him what the excursion might be Worth. He could float lover this glorious water, and move up and down Within easy reach of the shore, so as to land whenever it might be desirable. D^vid was not at all an enterprising boy, or an ' ad^turous one. He was essentially quiet, me- thodica 1 and conservative. It was not because this sail was a ri^y thing that he tried it, but rather because it seamed so perfectly safe. There fas a breeze, -he felt it, -and the progress of ^he boats, afar off on the water,;iantalized him and /tempted him on. The result /was, that without taking much time to think aboiit it, David yielded tojhg inci in^ t^Q^.Q£ th o^aem#tiir ftDtl pushing tfag— boat from the land into the water, he let loose the ml ; and then seating himself in the stern, he pre- pared to glide over the wat^ri •' Iw.v*. ) «j # 134 AMONG THE BRIO ANDS. F ';. -I About sailing David knew absofutelj nothing/ He was not eyen acquainted with the' theory of . ^ BaiHng; nor did he know how, or on what princi- * pie, a sail-boat moves. About steering- he was equally ignorant, nor did- he know how a boat obeys its rudder. But he knew that the one who Bails a boat sits in the stern, and holds the tiller; so David did the same, holding the tiller in his right hand, and the sheets in his left. . The wind was not very strong, and it happened to be blowing in such a way that, as he unfurled the sail, it filled at once, a^d the boat moved liglil> ly and pleasadtly alpng. The motion filled Dkvid With deKght. He saw himself- borne on past the shore, at a gentle rate, and felt that the moment was one of supreme happiness. Thus, holding ^hfeet and. tiller, he resigned hims|#f to the joy of the occasion. The wind was moderate, and there was nothing whatever in the movement of the boat to excite the slightest uneasiness. The wavelets dashed pleasant- • ly against the bows, and the course of the boat re- mained sufficiently straight to keep her sail filled, David 8^ that whatever the secret of navigation might be, be had unconsciously stumbled upon it; and finding that the boat was doing so admirably, he was very carefuj^^o hold the tiller straight, and not *o "ovejt tg eitj j ^ el^je^ SaJio l o aned b aok , and luxuriated in the pleasant n^ion, and looked up at the deep blue sky that bent above him, and around 'tiSiV^yteJs^sl"'' \k' "*.. <> ; i i^ \ 1 A DAMNO NATIOATOB. 135 at the wJde^ expanse of water, the green verdur that h.3 course ran along the shore, paraUel to « nowfaX"'- ?r '"■'=^''' """-^'^Oatle Ul' now farther awav from it than when he started- bu .. yet the disjanee did not seem exoes^ ti -oTnntr^ !""''"''^- ^'■o™ '•™ the ihorerao tT„ . ,1 *"?"?»'«<» o" a headland, and DavW tt!tri^tS^''«^--^--t^' p.^pp^i:r::rranT^^^^^^^^^^ any human being wore serenely unconscons of^^ unfitness. Davids frame of mind was one of Im ' „^;*f ". ''^ioy^-nt. He was quite uncons^S of tl e increaee of the distance between h°s b„^t and the shore, which grew greater every Z^^l and equally unobservant of the lapse of ti^? In times of great enjoyment the hours fly quX b l tus fle?.T "t ^^""^*'"" "' feeKJ;^' At length, even in the midst of his happiness ' \i -Bmnk "4 '^ T T« Mtl M been oat? Be, . ^^"* -OBld/ehaverHrfrhadhl gMB7 He looked at hi* watch. To hie ntter a»a.eme,t and consternation, he found thaUt^ M-uJi-.-^- i ^ibsM*'"^ ,1 ' 136 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. seven o'clock — the time fixed for breakfast. He had been sailing for two hours at least. As to dis- tance, he could not grapple with that thought, but turned hastily, and looked back. That look gave him but little satisfaction. He could see a line of white at the skirts of the sea ; but whether It was Castellamare, or Naples itself, he was unable to guess. It was. a wide, sharp, and' painful awakening from his bliss and serene delight, and it was an effectual one. No more placid gliding now; no careless voyaging. Two hours ! Seven o'clock I Already they were at breakfast, aid waiting for him. They were wondering about his absence. And when could he join them again ? Two hours ! If it had taken two hours to come thus far, it would also take fully as much time to go back. Go back ? And where should he go, or how could he get back ? ; . ^ Thus far, David's idea about his course, if he can- be said to have had an idea, was, that it lay alon^ the shore, and that somehow he could go backus easily as he had come. But now that the necessity for going back was upon him, he instant- ly became aware of his utter ignorance, for he had not the faintest idea how to turn the boat. There was no time for delay, however, gome- 1^^"^ ^.^l^Q J_Q jffl^^^i^d that immediately, David "tnew Ihis much at least, that a boat could be turned by means of the rudder; so he began to t»«* A BAFFLER AND CONFOUNDED NAVIGATOR. 137 .experiment upon this part of the vessel. He , pulled the rudder towards him. The boat turned and as it turned the sail began to flap, and toss! and snap, in such a way that he grew exceedingly nervous. Suddenly a puff of wind came, and the sheets where whijiped out of his nerveless hand, Vhile the sail thus loosened blew forward. , David's heai-t quaked at this, and he. knew noi what to do. With some vague idea of. bringing thdboat back to her former position, and beginning all (Wer again, he pulled the tiller first to one side and then to the other ; but to his dismay he found that the boat no longer obeyed it. Then he tried to get\pos8es8ion of the sheets again, and, clumsily crawliiig forward, he managed to secure them- after w^iich he crawled back to the stern, and chngmgUo the sheets, began, as well as his ner- vousness Would allow him, to try a series of experi- ments. First, he pulled the tiller towards him. At this the\ boat came up to the wind, and resumed - her former ^ourse. But this was the very course on which hedid not wish to go ; so he pushed the tiller from hiih. Upon this the boat fell away ; and the flapping, \ jerking, whipping, and snapping wh^ich had 80 alarmed him before, recommenced,' and alarmed hiip more than ever. For some time he continued this, until at length, as he brought 4be 4H»ttt up i;a i^e ^wmd oncelnor^^^^"" ' \ •""•♦^, "loio came a fresher puff than, any Avhich had thus far blown, and the boat lay % over on her side. Terrified ■-•*>■_..:,.-« 'i.fe.>rJjlfi. a' fsSi'* ■ t: " /• I 138 AMONG THE BRIGANDS./ out of his Wits, David had just sense enough to put her off, and then dropping sheets and 4iJler, he sank back and looked all around in a panic. This puff was the beginning of a somewhat stronger breeze — a breeze which would have rejoiced tlie heart of a sailor, but which carried nothing but terror to the heart of David. What to do now he did not know, nor for some moments did ho even, think. The wind to his inexperienced senses seemed a hurricane, and the wkveleta seemed formidable waves. For a time he lay paralyzed in tl>e stern, expecting every instant to be ingulfed; but as the time passed, and his doom was delayed, he began to recover himself and.think about whaj; he should do next. ' ^ To him, in his terror and anxiety, the first neces- sity seemed to be to get rid of that dangerous sail. As It flapped in the wind it seemed to endanger the boat. At all hazards that must be furled- or taken down. So once more, by a mighty effort, he crawled forward, and gtasping the flying sheets, he drew them in, and tied the sail to the mast, per- forming the work in a manner whif(^ was very clumsy, yet quite efficient. The upper partof the sail still Remained free, bagging out a little, like a balloon; but the lower part was tied up in a way that would defy tlie tempest itself. After this i^^^^'^ ^^^^ saf ej:,^^ d crawlin g back, iiedfewa lonff= breath, and threw a fearful glance around. Some time bad been taken up with these expert W'-i- Aiin"' i-«iS.i \' David's anxiety. 139 ments m navigation, and as David l6oked, hfe saw tliat the jresult had been not to- bring him nearer to CastellatOare, but to take him farther out from the Bhore. The nearest land to him now was an island, but what island he could not say. As his eyes wandered around, they saw nothing that was familiar. A mountain appeared over the land astern, and the smoke on its summit showed that It must be Vesuvius ; but it had a diffef- ent appearance altogether from that with which he Avas familiar. He could form no idea of th^^course which he had taken, and could only guess, in a general way, where Castellamare might be. Some time before, he had been troubled at the thought that he would keep his party waiting ; but now he had no trouble whatever on that scorQ. His only trouble or anxiety was about himself. He ' felt as though he was in a position of tremendous danger, and was being tossed about by pitiless waves, which were hemming him in on every side, ike ravening beasts of prey. In reality the piti- less waves were scarcely waves at all,, the breeze was only moderate, and there was no possible danger; but David did not know this, and so he suffered as much as though his imaginary danger was real. ** -"Meanwhile ar^tldTof the sail had been left loose, as has been said, and afforded something for the breeze to act upon. Th^ consequence was, •VlM.. Uo AMONG THE BRIGANDS. had already not.'ced P °'' *•""'' ""^'d with hiaeyes fi'd ,!"' T" ''"" ^'^ """•^'"^'i Vesuvius. mf„ itTui , " 'r' ''^'^™' ""<» see that he was innv.o i , ^^ ^^g^n to Wore ,„„;trrrer''"''Tr '''''''''"' excited in bis mind th^ , ■ *"' Prospect- tention was now d" recL """ ^^^ "'"' "" '"•' "^ time passed slowirbuU, r? ' """ P'"^<^- ^he about tl.re«ToZ'afl \ , ^T' ""'^ "' '^"gth, the boat, he found hi »■' '""^ ''^^' '"<"•*« t«rn that he c'ouMtp'astr: " *" *" "'^ "-^'-d rocks, above whi^h grltt/ot t h '"'"'''' "^ the island he saw houses d peopl'" TT'"^ were plain and etniU .„a .f*^ ''^ ''""'es kboring in the fie Ms ' dTv d- t T^^'^ "^^""^d ing all Italian peasants a^t ^"'''"'^ "=""«'''«■•■ hi» mind a fear wh ch , '^"r'''' '""' '^'''^'^ in On this lonelyl laid H '^'Tf '" ''^^'' ""^■'^"•''S. be brigands, ^hot'ldtre'Itt ""'"t"™ "'s''' and from whom hi could h„„et "^ '''"^■'' P-^' than those early shinwrli-T, "'* "° ''<'««'• seas about whom he 7 f"* T"""" '" 'hese ■nnch. He conZtuLt^d > •'^"^ """^ »"""«d »<> hft-l homo hiiu t„ u Z T " '""' *"" I'wt mjgM_be secure from observation, and ,-> ,^:aa ^»«W<>»w»wj««»^ r r * DAVID'S FfeARS. 141 fset, and forced a g'^ve S ^""t'^''*"'^ ' dense for David to ffoTr: c """ '"^'^'"'t'y to leel secure from observatmn . The grpve ran along the edffe of th» , °,f ''*'"">. distance, but was of n^ ^ . i *"'' '"^ '°"« as he peered tCugh L^IT "t" ^"^ ^-'d, -: — - ■• ■ ., ^ ^-gEewas in hia mootb, stuofc-into Wmassofhapbichcdiei^dThrrowtlTof his lace. His hair was long, and dark, andt^ rt. ••■'•■•; .•- ■■'■ t?f%€«E«s^ ■I J* t THE BRIGAND CHIEF. 243 and was engaged 'on /«'" t"** *"* *«^' to be cleaning^ '^ """' "''"^'' •>« ^^^'"ed thongh to avoid "oleCt; """'^'""^ '»'^' -■ and tu'T' •„V'r'''''r.r''''' "'"««' ^---j. stumbled up^^th^ T1 *^\'^">'"i«. he had formidable fiZet "° ""• ^" "'at style, and iafhlt belr; frer' ■«"'• '"'^ ''"^-<' brows and slouohingtt he ,' T '"^''^ ^^^ him, from that diSoe' iitTh! T 'r"''' "^ in-plaoable Pra Diavolo himself "°"'^ °'' '""^ couHrormtMXt'h' n; ^" .r- *- he %• He started back dete™ " "'" '"""'^^ 'o boat once more sTZ ''!"V™"""« '» ^^ek his less oautior than hef^'""."' '"' """ he was a long tendril of «^' ^""^ '"""'''°« ''i' <•«>* ™ ing, he r"l , T' f '"P"' ""^ '■o'h In faU- othrtho™ Plait .' r'"'' ^°"« "-'•" <" flesh, cauZg tve™ pain*\ ^'""«, P'«^<""' "^^ a ory burst \om h1m'^'''^,,^lfP-i« °f himself -^mmw^ r^^ Jim, The cry wag iustaut ly ■ ^ » retreat. But first he looked fear- I f,- l ■■■'. '. _. 1 ■ ^t ■ ir 144 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. \ IK fully around to see whether his cry had dis-* W' covered him. 1 As he did so his heart sunk within him. The brigand chief had heard him ! 1 He was walking straight towards Mm I • ■ « . ; '■ :■ . ■ - " ■ ' - ' \ ' \ ■' \ - 1 9 I .■( * "fW i^ ; HtM.l^.lM,..^^^ V. DAVID CAPTURED; 145 CHAPTER XIII. ^(i'vid Captured.— The biir hr,,ir I. , . mSS"' 'y."'!":- David's Plea f or Merc, n *"«— The Robber- s Hold. "" '-^ '"'^'''"""' *sfair. consciousness of lii, „k„- u ■ , """'"y- ine with desnair ^L ^- '"''P'<'«™ess filled him out afl ' 'gnorance of Italian put it h wra „7r; '" '''^»™ '"« '■"••y 0. depCe mentsTw / T P"™"""- '" '^e few mo- 2"* "'at mtervened between the first diaooverv > that ho was seen and the arrival of his enemy hZ had left behind. Re thought of their grief sl otaer. That^ ^.^Ae, those friends,,.that loving '■£.&. t n -Ai 146 AMONG TBE BRIGANDS. . , mother, he 'now might never see again. / Farewell ' all dear ones I Farewell, bright past / Farewell' sweet life, and glad light of day ! S^ch were thl .thoughts, gloomy and despairing, that filled his mind and tormented his heart; and>t the moment that his pursuer entered the grove and stood he- iore him, David looked up with pale face and trightened eyes, and something like a sob escaped nun. ^ The bi^, burly brigand stood before him, and' eyed him from head to foot. He was very tall, and, indeed, to Dpvid he seemed gigantic, whi^e his right hand held the rifle, like a walking-stick. He looked at David in silence, and scanned him curi- o^ly all over ; and David's e/eST^iich had at first sought those of his captor in timid entreaty : Dow sank before his stern ga;?e. , ' '- "Cosa volete?^' said the brigand. '' Doiide ve- nite?" in a deep voice. "Mn capisco,'' Mtercd David, bringing forth the only Italian that he knew. At this the brigand was silent, and again sur- veyed him. " Parlate Italiano ? " he asked, at length. « Nor said David, in a tremulous voice ; for he understood the meaning of, those words well enough. ■ ■ n m - =_- .said the brigand, and then, " Pattez V0U8 Franfais ? " ' ^ "iVb/'gaid David. I". :5ahtEi "itiia* \: %^>:c -¥'•. ■'*5**^ J^tjffti \^, -^(f^^ 'ur,r ^'' K^v; 'TOE BIG BULLY op' iBBioANB.. UJ ">or«, apparently Ute curS^! t^T Z" nationality of his prisoner ZZ / ' ""^ -•3.f con,.unicatfon witX "' '°™ --« "- David shook hjs head. his looks "nTLZ IZt^''"^ ''' ^'^^'^r froM- David, dress showed hi "to'hT^^ ""■^'" ""■ youth, while his face JZlJ f ■•''■•'P'='=toble a'ity ; for his con-plexSi^l'tk^ 7"' "^"'°"- • sallow, his eve, rfLt i T- , *' ""'' somewhat 'and hi's fraJe'Xntr ' *""■■ ""'" ""^ ^'-^g''*' more returning to the eiana" «on '"^'""•'"''"> David shook his head. . „ . ■ At this the bVigand frown«fl ^j ' ^ ' \-Japsed n.to sil,n^ i^ 3^r At l" Tr ^ade^ a further effort. " '^"^^^ ^« ef vating his eyeS "■ " """-S^'ve to^, , -David shook his head. V •^ \ 148 AMONG THE BRIGANDS.' ^L^ /^ When Datid shook his head at this, the brigand / turned away in disgust, and stood for ^ few mo- ,^ ments meditating. David felt his fate to be hang- ing in the balance, and stood in deep suspense, watching with anxious' eyes* the facip of llis captor. But the heavy beard and mustache, and the slouched felt hat, concealed all expression ; nor could David see anything there which could at all lessen his anxiety. He thought, however, that if he could only communicate 'in some way his mourn- ful story, and let his captor see that he had came here unintentionally, and only wanted to get back to his friends, he might excite his compassion, if indeed there was any compassion in' the gtern soul of this awful being. It was David's onl^ chance, - however ; and so, putting his hand timidly on the brigand's arm, he pointed towards the shore, and •^^ waved Ms arm towards Naples. At this the brigand stared ; but seeing tljiat David persistently pointed in that direction, hb walked oflF through the grove for a few paceib, till he reached the top of the bank, where the lj)each ap- . jpeared before him, and the boat drawn up on it. ' David followed him, and as they came ini sight of the. boat he pointed towards it, and then touched his breast, meaning by that to show that the boat was his. This the brip -and at once understood and after once more staring hard at D|ivid, as though anxious to ascertain whether he wa^ speak- ing the truth or not, he bounded down the bank. f * ,.; 3S1011 : nor A TEBBIPIC INQUISITION. I49 and strode towards the boat, which he examined narrowly, inside and out. During this time he paid no attention.to David ; but tothe poor lost lad this mdifference gave no hope. He knew that there was no escape for him. He felt that on this island the bnganji was f upreme, and any effort to fly ■ would only be worse than useless. So, instead of trying to fly. he followed the brigand, and came up. to where he was standing beside the boat. . The brigand examined it very narrowly outside and mside. He inspected the bow, the stern, and the rudder. He knelt down and looked under^ neath. He stepped inside and examined David's - clumsy fastenings of the ml These excited much mterest, apparently, and caused prolonged study on his part. To David all this appeared perfectly mtelhgible, and very natural. The brigand was evidently examining his plunder, tp see what it was worth. David felt an additional pang of grief at the thought that he had sequestrated the proper- ty of some innocent Castellamare fisherman, and diver ed It into the possession of brigands,- but he consoled himself by the thought that if he ever escaped he could hunt up the owner and make good the loss. Escape for himself was the first thins ^ and he tried to hope that the boat might prove a ipgesuffic iently va lua ble 4^.^Ufyt\m . m iu d-o f-^ the brio-an^ anA a: t- \ the brigand, and dispose himlp mercy and com- passion. So, as the brigand inipected the boat, David stood watching the brigand, and looking '4^ & -«.*-. 'A, 'ia».V. U**" \- ■r .fl :-? ;\-'!';j(^- 150 ■'4'i^ ■ 'N AMONG XHE BRIGANDS. earnestly to see whether there were |iny signs of a relenting disposition. But the face of the brig- and preserved an unchanged expression ;^and af- ter he h^ examthed the boat to his satisfaction, he once more confronted David, and the poor, for- lorn, despairing lad saw that his aspect was as ma- lign, as ferocious, and as truculent as ever. David determined to make a further effort. There was nothing else to be done. He felt that he must pacify this ferocious being, disarrn his hostility, appease his cruelty, and, if possible, ex- cite his (?m»pdssion. To do all this, it would be necessary to express himself by signs — for he could not speak the language ; and though signs seemed very inadequate, yet he had to resort to them. He had heard, however,' of the skill of thrf Italians in expressing ideas by means of gestures, and he hoped that this man might gain some mean- ing from his unskilled efforts. So, first of all, he tried to tell the brigand that he was from America. He laid one hand on his heart, and waved the other towards what he sup- posed to be the west. The brigand nodded solemnly, and seemed td comprehend what he wished to state. It gratified David to see this, and to notice also^ that the brig- and was very attentive, and fixed his dark, stern iytsa upon 4iim with closeslr srcnitiny. The next thing that David tried to tell him was, that he had friendfa witli him. , ' .v>t r'^S i ♦ ■•■:':':m-' SIGN LANGUAGE. 161 ,.,-^ This he did by pitting his breasl, waving his arms around him, smiling, and touching four of his fingers. \ ' A: The brigand nodded. He bad ap^rentiy^ the idea. . " V D^vid was very much encouraged. The next thing to be told was, that,h^ and his friends had gone on an excursion into the Wntry. This he did' by prancing along the sahd, an^ snapping an imaginary whip ; after whiteh he " pointed to the opposite shore, waving hi8\hand along the country. ' \ The l^^igand nodded again, and appeared de'^ply interested. \ The neVt thing to be told was, that he had ptit off in this boat. • ' He waved his hand towards Vesuvius. Theu he lay down on the sand, and pretended to be\ asleep. He then rose, yawned, and rubbed his eyes. Then^^went to the boat, pretended to puStr^Tand hoist sail. The brigand now nodded very vigorously, and it began to be evident to David that his story was making some impression. *" He now wished to explain that the boat had^ot beyond his control, on account of his ignorance^f navigation, and that he had drifted or been blb\^n " -upon this sltore. .V To do this, he pointed .ant, ihut h^ .vp^fd pay any money; that he had ftiends in Naples who would treat with the brigand for his release on his ^:-i(#i. THE CAPTOR AND ms CAPTIVfi.*" I53 and his concluding.offer '"' '''"■7' eral times gravely and, thouffhtCnIlv ti t looked at the boat, and then ft nl-:, f".^" at the sea t:, n ."./'"'" ^t- David,, and then "f '^*- ^° ^"""i It seemed as if the bri»„na' wastry,„gto trace the boat's devious tLkter toiheii^d^i'L— Stt;r '"•' """" until at length he seemed Mi """"^ """«' »l80 to have come t-f^ •'""''''"'"<'"• ''''<' course of c::d„:r' •" '*'""°° «'"'"' •■'^ <""• DaWd-rre'a^' " Afte" 'h"TT ''''"^' """ "^'^ '' »» »d nodded '"'"' '^ P'''"'^'' t" ''^-15 thnncrK' *K <- . ' '^ ^^^" captive. Al- t forma tl^nf :ft ^^.-'O-'. .^* ^ff, WlBe cottage bejond the grove After •» J- \ ^»t r- •': 154 AMONG THE BIIiI0AND8. pointed^ to the island and nodded, pointed to Na- pies and shook his head. ; By wjpch David understood him to say, " You are my prisoner. I hVe in that house. You shall ^e kept there. You can't escape." Then the brigand raised his gun, and nodded at David. Then he slapped the stock of it several ! times, fixing his keen, glowing eyes gloomily upon the lad as he did so. Then he waved his hand towards the sky. By which David understood the following: — " You're my prisoner I You cannot escape I If you dare try it, I will shoot you ! You can no more escape than you can fly in the air I " ' Then the brigand pointed to the boat, and touched his breast. ^ ^ By which David understood, — '' " " This boat is mine, and I will keep it as my lawful prize." ^ , Then he waved his hand to the hciu^e, and then pointed to Naples. After which he brought forth a purse from his pocket, tapped it significantly, pointed to David, and then to Naples. By which David understood, — " I will keep you as a prisoner up there in my house till I cominunicate with your friends about 5^our ransom, and find out how much I can get for After this the briganci pulled the boat farther Tip on the beach, and thbn, beckoning to David to follow, he strode off towards theiotise. sSij^.,. ^'^iii^V^-Afet /'/, •A "V ..- it A*»«'if '' i- '- - Batidcabbied orp. 155 Slowly and Badly poor David followed: and hope, wl.,ch had fbr a »„„,ent revived, be^n to d.e out w,tl.,n him. Ho had been decei^d bv the demeanor of the Wgand, during his ow" de8cn> t.on of h,8 «"'||fe«'anderi„g, and had mista! «'"/";,"'""?'«»"'>« only ofdinary atten- SL„ m'^';^^ brigand, when he had > tear toN^spair,' Wfhiercilese allusion to David's capfve state, the rude appropriation^of him as a [hir' I !?' ^""'P °f '"■" "^-^ the ferocious hreat w.th the gun , and, finally, the display of rll ^^ '""'^''V'«'"''^o''«'«noeto^ money and. ransom, all conv,nce\l David that he h,^ to do with one who was a strang^fo compassion* a ferooioue and ruthless nature, w^hout pity, and without"" mor e. And now, as h^ captor led the.,vay to tl,a honse^he felt that he ^ being conveyed to a prison, frdra which his eseaW walindeeT m,«„,! ^n; for, though he knew thi ullg:^?^ ^ ,»;*u u- ^-1- — ?P1p to communicate . ^. h,^m^r not. On the whole, WtKe^aflll t!, f K-' '' ""'' *'■" ''"''o «<■*••« ruffian in fi^^qf him-seemed like the march of i„evitabk \^ ^° ' ' *^"'' J**" ';" ° ' '- ' "J " " '" w'A.t waTw • 5 "i ^'^"''^'■"e '"'» t'"' field, they / walked on towards the house. As they drew' nearby D«videaw signs that were notl^S ■£'m ■>^ '^■^ 156 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. «> m keeping with the rough exterior of his eneiy for m front of the cottage there were flower8\in' bloom, which appeared to be cultivated bj soiie ^ careful hand ; but a moment's thought showed dI vid that this might be tlit3 work of the robber'< • wife. Jhe -prospect of meeting with a woman al. torded hope ; for whatever the husband might be ^ the wife might be gentle, and pitiful, and woman' ly; ai^ David drew hope from the flowers; for the orffe that could have tastes like .these might not be altogether hard and implacable ; and as the' giants and ogres of the fairy books had wives who ^ generally were willing to help the victims of their husbands, so here, in^the wife of this Italian ogre Pavid hoped to find one who might be as merciful as those of fairy lore. At length thoy reached the house, and the brig, and, after waiting for a moment for his prisoner to come up, entered the door. David followed, and found himself inside. • The' door ^pen(*d immediately into a room. It was largG and low. The floor was paved with red tiles, tnd the walls were of wood, varnished Around the walls hung numerous pictures with- out frames. In diff-erent places tltere were con- •fused heaps of clothing and drapery. The clothing was rich, though fantastic. In one corner was a Wramevwit h H rm or ^apend^ ; while o ver th fg, off- the wall, he saw arms of differ^it kinds +- pistols, ^arbfties daggers, and blunder^Fusses. The fash- 7. ^i.*;' -V- THE EOBBEB'S HOLD. 157' 4J Dav rt nnV;! J • ■ '■ "'■namisr* which even board anr? « «i ^"P°'^' ^ ^o"i8 Quatorze side- board, and a classic tnpod, stood in a row Some Chinese tables were in one corner. In th c^uTre ' ot the room was a fah]« r.f ^ • ^estre rockmg-chair, in which lay a ^uit-,r T^T ] T Bcenfi sfrnnt rf -J , . guiC'ir. I he whole scene struck I^avid as being perfectly in keeping lvnf*i,„j •". >'^"""'»" ^""^-^'"'^ driver questioneaallTese^L?* T' "" a^ked the same question Tf a^ "' ''""''"""'' "'"^ yeirf:;: i^ir 12 d 'T r'-" •'"•^ "•""■' ««-- gray dress?" ' '' '^'"'^ '"'"■' ^""°w face, and • "No." And at each fresh answer Uncle Mo.p« *. m one was filled wi/j " 1,/^ r^^"'^^' ^"'l «very one in tliat Hnl„ 1 . <«'hu8.asm. Then no profoiraid : .sr„^xr ^^i'^ ", "-»- addition to a bnv'J ..•■' w "'"'"'' ""''o- in fonhaiithl^ol^elSf Xr-'^^^-S'-t peculiarly his own ? , * "' "''"'^'' were The nearer tev drew tts ""T' "'"^'■•' "^^ >>«' ' and pressing id ^h ™'°' **" """•« "''Son' Grad„;uy the spectljr:^ ;; ::: „7p"rr '• began to affeof fh^ i / uncle Moses fidLe theyb^a^ toT ^ '" '^'"' °^ ^•"''' »»• iBg over dem, 5 " ''*' "^ ""P'^"'*"' ^^ »t«»l- ■■■fiilSir».f.\.i;4^'/[it'f'.s>%. t^l^''.. :J ■r^^ ... 160 AMONG THE BRipANDS. A little way out of Sorrento the driver halted and spoke to Uncle Moses. He felt a little troubled, he said, about taking the' carriage into the town. He reminded them of the rec^t uproar of the people, and their narrow escape, and warned them that if they were rec ognizQ^^i they might again be assailed. But this warning fell on heedless ears. Uncle Moses was decided to go on. Jf David waa^ny- ' whore, he _ might be in that very'tbwn, a piWer in the hands of those foolish people who took of- fence at nothing. If they wished to save him, they must go into the very midst of the people, and save him from their vengeance. At this the driver drove on. -; About a half a mile outside the town thej^ over- took an old woman, and the driver stopped, and put to her tli^^ulual question.' As the wamm looked up they all recognized her at once. Slie was their old friend, or rather enemy — the virago herself, and no other 1 At the driver's question she stared at them, and at once recognized them all. A dark and gloomy expression came over her, and if glances could have injured them they would have been blasted on the spot. She stood there, and after the driver h4d asked -Iha question aim -glared at theinTor some time in silence, looking frcJhi one to the other. Then she fltretched forth a long, bony, skinny hand, and ^4*rjt'^"^""->'y" w SEAPPEARAHCE OP Tbf nr,> J OP THE OLD yjBAOO. m ™oek It at them Tho„ i, , ■ ^shrill, veno.„o„s strnMof H ''' '■°'"' ■" " '""g. ' • " What does she efv7" , ? ' ^^'"'"■'e'^'*"-'- the driver. . ^' '^^^ Pncle Moses, of • " 0, nothing," said the driver « si. , " oirse ; and she say she willT * ' ^* ""^^ <'°«» And once more th« 7 ' vengeance." • to go back. "';*''" '^"^«'- "god Uncle Moses '■ ■ But this appearance of «.^ • threats only roused Uncle Mn '';''^° """^ ^-^^ •-.,minktion. He w„= "'"^ *<* fresh deter" * be-Sn seized LesIT'*"' «''" »-'1 h,^' ~ woman was, perli ^r'"'™'"''V and that this .l the driver assuf^d ht ^'7'.*° *""^ '° ^''' '"'t she was crazy, and tiSff h ""' "'!^' *"' '"formation tW „.U8 It ^. «'»»«e<^ gain . They n«w Ed Th. '"'""""' *'''«^«™- leng entered the tovtn T J"'°^^^^' "°* ''efore Uuole Moses at once iTf, T")^^ "■« ''<'*«'• ' ' appearance of th/cIrSl .'""•^'M- -^y^e ' landlord l«>ked a litHe"?' "'"' P«*P'g«"*^he ef Uncle Moses he Z^edslnr ""'' "' *''« '"I'^T ' a' to David he knernnft T^ ''"'"''''ed. Bat "Had hn hoaTj^l^! u°^ ''^''*^''°'^■ where ? " ' ■'"No — arrested any. "H»Hi,"°u'''''^ "*»"•" ■ H^tei^of any „„ebei„g arrested?.. 4^ ; fgailist tiien) ? " "0^ CM||lainly — for l^reats- &'whg\^^f^& iMlt day "•i# ■•v:k- .^S^^ ,' "V r|ti)ta8 nothing but tlir&ats against the sao ^P^yi^gfotfe fbre\gnera j but tlje feeling had subsided "' e. Still their appedlimce in Sorrento would It^doubtedly rouse the poQple again, and the land- : lord urg^d them for their ,5pivn sakes to hurry away " as fast as possible back to ^stellamare. ^ But Unqle Moses refused, to think of this. He Was here, and here he Wouldi'Temain tintil he had found David. He wanted the landlord to help him ili'tflis tasl^. liei' him go out and mollify the peo- ple in' ^y way, -and ^e if he coirid find anything ' ab()ut;ithe lopt boy. He promised to pay any sum to tile landlord, or anybody else, if they would only effect his resque. . • This promise acted powerfully upon the land- lord's cupidity, and he thought that at any rate it would be well to try. Sd he told Uncle Moses to wait, and he wguld see what could be done. He thereupon left them, and UiK^e Moses and the^bc^s walked up stairs to that sf had dined before, when eached their ears4 aited in silence. THjty did noF havt If: ■ fS not more than a qua minutes, when hurried oom in \vhi9h they roar of the people ey satL doWn and ,Tt very long. ~ irwai" n hour, or twenty ps were heard, and 1 1 M k' A the landlora rtshed in, followed hv th. 1, • Both were agitated and disturled it tl ■"™'- "::;i:rdtsr'"\-'"^ '':'i>XrjeVi^:::i#^^-^^^^^^ Af tu;\, TT 1 ,r "*^P®"Pie' J^»u are lost I " though Prank could fnf ^ ^"^ ^^"^^'•' ^"^ J^^tr«iJ?^ ^' ^° ^^"^ ^^"«®d all th^ a t the huildJag^-a i K} curses at thoste witWri "and^ mTT """ 7®**®^ out ■^ /- .«^»,.^- >'*•! \^' >'- " ;i'l 164 AUONO THE BRIGANDS. \ ■ ■ bold boy, but this sight was too much for him. iHis heart sank within him, and he involuntarily shrank back/ farther out of sight. Soon thej people outside began to throw at the party within something harder than words. Stones came flying through the open windows, and one of these misfittles came .very close to the head of"^ tlncliB Moses. The landlord rushed forward, and closed all the'shutfers, and bkrred them, while the boys gathered around Uncle Moses as though to 'protect him from those savage assailants without. "What shall we do?" asked Frank of the driver. \ , * . The driver shrugged his shoulders. "Can't we drive 'through them as we did -before?" 'v_ . " Dey have put a guard aiwie gate. Dey pre- ^ I pare dis time — an not let us go." " Isn't there any hack way ? " asked Frank, once more, of the landlord, who now rejoined them, after X having barred all the windows, '* Dere.is ; but de people are on de guard." * *^Axe there no soldiers about — no police? Can't B^qae one go and get help?" • The landlord shook his head^ijespondingly. " But there must be some way of gejtting rid of^j^ thftni"^," ""^^ Fran W / Imp at lfiuijy . ^* C an 't yon explain that it was all a mistake?" The landlord sighed. ^ "I haf try," he said, in a doleful voice. " And " . * \ ft - .^ ;■'■ HUBBIED GOMBULTATION. 165 dey say I mus put yoii out of de house. Dat I can not- do -^ so I sail haf to soffaire. Listen I " And at that momeDt the crash' o^ glass below interrupted him, and formed a striking com- mentary on his remarks. « Dey vill bre^k*rie vin- dow," said h^ « an dey vill try to break de dbor; but I haf bar^ricade as well as I can." /- " Are we at all safe ? " asked Frank. ^^ The landlord shook his head. "Not mooch. If dey get enrage enough, dey break in, andMen" — a significant shrug ended the sentence. " m " Have you any arms'— fire-arms ? " aske Frank, after a thoughtful pause. " I haf a small shot gun." « Give me that," 'interrupted Frank. " But I haf no powdaire," said the landlord. At this Frank turned away in despair. *^ Can't we get to some other room than this ? " he asked of the driver. " Isn't there a place where we can have some chance of defending oursel The driver had been silent for sbme tim^ buried in thought. ; He did not hear Frank's Words, but as he spoke, he looked earnestly at him and said, — , , " 1 haf a plan. Ifemay be no good — but it is de Ah," asked Frank, eagerly, « what is that? " You must all disguise." "Disguise?" t« S&.. '.».'? f'-*yijt V * ^\i* '-*- " »'^iis-,-« ••* »''«ii 166 iUONO THB J~ i: " ^®8 " T ii ft Bi h A''^'^^' ^ ^^^^ *^y *° '8®t some." ^'Bvif^mH^WBm r&d^nj^e us all the same." 1 « No ^— de »pian * is dis. You all disguise — ^|tay below — I sail sit iti de carriage ; de hor||e ari* all , ready now. Ef de peojile do brealfc in, 1^ will all. rush up stair to here. You sail be down stair in de stable. De moment de crowd com?, I will hul" de gates opened. You sail spring in — an den n whip up, an make a fly for life. You ond'stan?" The di^iver spoke hurriedly: Frank understood him, and at once approved, .j^this the dr%pf went off to get the»iandiord to prxjcure^ fem(^ .dresses. That worthy hurried away, and^soo! % returned with about twenty gowns, bonnets, and ,; petticoats. These he threw upo^j.the flodr, and* : ^™Pte^*^^®"^ *° ™^^® ha^e, fbr^e people out- side ^fea-d^^ talking dl getting a beam to battel in ' Sfel^^iS^'®^* ^® ^^^ ii&aplored them nortoi buTthey scorned his prayersi ^-^--^ Upon this, the boys be'gan to put pn the dresses, ^Jguising ti^mselye^as well as they could. It was yery ., PBEPABATIONS FOB LEAVINO. At first he refused positively, and only con- sented when he was assured that the safety of thQ boys depended upon his 'disguise^ So he yielded reluctantly, and allowed the driver to officiate as lady's maid. ° ' , No sooner iNras this task concruded,'than the landlord and driver hurried them down stairs', and through a passage-wlay into the barn. Outside, in the court-yard, was the carriage, with the horses reiady. The hostler tvas sent to the. gate to fling it Open at the driver's signal, and the landlord, stimulated by a promise from Uncle Mose.? of a large reward in case of his rescue, returned to the hotel, to operate upon the crowd from that quarter. j^ . < « Snc^ s T^" "4 /,. • • ^>. ** V j._... ' *■ — Wa' %' ^ . ^„ i ■ / **' -. * . . '. j' • 161 AMONG THB BBIOANDS. / \ j CHAPTER XV. . . < <«■.■■' In the Robber's Hold. — The Brigand's'^^ Bride. — Sudden^ amazing, overwhelming, bewildering, tremendous, as^ founding, overpowering, and cn4shing Discovery. — The Situation. —Everybody confounded. — The Crowd at Sor- _ r^nto. — The Landlord's Prayers. — The Virago calls for Vengeance. |HE brigand put his gun down upon the sofa, and motioned to David to take a seat. He then left the room, and David heard his Toice calling, — . " Laura 1 Laura 1" A light footstep sounded in the n^ room, and^ the brigand returned, followed by a woman.- - This woman's appearance astonished David.i She was a lady. She was young, beautiful, bright as a vision, dressed simply, but in the modem fashion altogether. She had a very sweet face, and a bewitching smile, and as she entered she looked at David in some surprise. ' Then this great, big, bluflf, . bearded, broad- Habouldered, beeUe4wnvtj4, brusqtifrHbully-no^ brigand; this fierce, ferocious, bloodthirsty, re- lentless, ruthless ru£^n ; this hard-hearted, im- /•f^v. THB BBIGA^'S ACCOUI^ OF DAT^. 169 placable, inexorable villain; this cruel, vengeful, vindictive, griping, grasping, scowling fiend; this demoniac miscreapt, without pity, and without re- morse, opened his mouth. > J And this is wl»t he said, in fipsirate English I —. "See here, Ldiira; I've picked up a poor wretch of a Bohemian — can't speak a wordmf an^^ lan- guage, and had to explain by signs/ /Well, yuu know I'm gl-eat on gestures ; so I worked his story out of him. It seems he came to Naples with his father, mother, and two sisters, and they all went on horseback up Vesuvius. Well, somehow they were captured by brigands, and wer^ carried off; but the father, who, I believe, is a- medical man^ managed to drug the food of the scoundrels, and carried off his family. Well, they ^ot to the shore, found a boat, and set out for Naples. After sailing a little distance, a squall struck the boat, and it upset. All were drowned except this poor lad, who managed to cling to the boat, and drifted, or was blown, ashore here on the cove, just down" there, last night. 5e was senseless all night, and .only came tohimself a little while ago, and I picked hifl^^.j^st as he was reviving. He says- he 18 alonei^^B jfR^e world, and has appealed to me ^ help him, Pbpr lad I my hewt feirir aches ibr hii fl. flejsftys heh^sn^t jot a penny o fmnri fty, U> ISdimpl^^ ine to help himT Of course I've tried to comfoijlr him ; for I've told him thit "be may a»ke my hofuse his home, and I've promised to 'vVi ■t?" V 170 AMONG THE BRIOAl}pS.i give him whatever money \4 wants,, and move heaven and earth to get hina Iback to his friends, if he has any." ' - During this astounding, speech <^e lady had . stolen over to David, ;^nd sitting hf hia- side, she placed a soft hand tenderly on hia" head. As jfeie story was being told, her" eyes filled with tears, and leaning forward, she kissed the poor boy's pale brow^ When it ende'd she murmured in English,* that was even better than that of the " brigand," -.- " Poor boy ! poor boy 1 5} Walter, dearest, how I do wish I coijld speak Bohemian^ so |^ to tfeij him how sorry I feel ! " And what of David ? What did David think - • Nothing. Nojt a word I DaviSh was mralyzed.* He was stunjp gasped* for brelih. / And 80 this was his brigand-r- the brutal^ the beetle-browed, the cruel, ^;he bloodyvjjamded.i- thp. inexorable, the demoniaif and ajl the r^st of'itl He gasped' for breath, as I think. I Jiave tjready remarked ; .and as the ex-;brigaii^ want on vriti^ narrative, David listened ix a dazed wa^, _^ iDega'n to undorstand that Jhe language of g^urea has its Httle uncertainties. But wheti the. lady kissed him,^and wheljk'hei- sweet voice spoke x^de WOf€re i>r, p4t_J*j liy^^jjolriti t^tcuiU — TO'.'^O aVliKVI**^ feel — say ?. :;5 His voice cftme to hi " O, how I thank 0, what a fool I amVS^ .' e burst forth, (^^ow good jfiu ax^ r » . aaid k. HI ^' Ame '. ■" Up ■t' oflai " peal, -'' hOU8( ^"br chair ■; .vVf'A * ha, h guag ,» pne- ■•^^■T-ha think jinglt '"- andC '. hm hi ,1?' Lu THE fiXfLANATIQSa^, ihi 171 AndTie coiiM say no more. . < ' i Not a ^ord more, on my honoi^J - \,/It was .now the turn of * the otliers to be' / flurprised. The lady ^^art^d back in wpniier, and looked at David, and then at her husband. The e^rigand started back also, and stared at David in utter ' bewilderment. " What 1 " he roared, in a deep, thunderous bass vpice. " Say that again." " O, I'm an;^AmGrican — and I'm silch a fool 1 " said David. " Why didn't I tell you so ? " • ^ „ .. *i An American ! "• roared, the ex-brigand. " AnCv j'* American 1 " . 7-' . . ■. s • . • * Upon this he burst into a perfect thunder-peal ^^'^ of laughter. The laughter came forth, peal after peal, in long arid deafening explosions, till the house vibrated with the sound, and till at last the ^fex.brigand sank ©xl^sted into the* Oiastonbiir^ chair. ■ l i v *_ ^. '#■ f An American 1 " h^ cried ; « ari^ think of me -4 ha, hrf^ ha I — asking you if you spoke every h^.^ guage inihe world — ha, Jia, ha ! — but the'Vight ' , . ^ Qne— hft, ha, ha 1 — and speaking every* language ' ^ ha, ha, Jha I — but my owh ^-ha, ha, ha ! And to think of us two Am'er^<»ad^ — Ha, ha, ha I —after ♦ry. 'ing Italiap — ha, ha, f^l v^ and French, and Spanit "^ ■' i^^ ha, ha ^-^ifeBtl4ie4 I -* only think, Laiya^^i v| '; ii% ha, bar HerWn(J*I~,ha,1ia;-hal^flp«idinit '^ ■\ ,. t. ^ \% ^^ 172 AHOKG THE BRIOANDS. ^ an hour in making signs' to each other — ha, ha, ha 1 — but 'pon my life it's too bad in me to-be howling out in this fashion, my poor lad, when you're in the midst of such deep affliction, vl Bwear I'm sorry. I forget myself." " But I'm not in any affliction at all," said David, "Whatl What's that?" cried the ex-brigand, " Didn't you lose your fa.ther ? " . " No." ^ . * "But your father, and mother, and the rest of them—" "No," said David. "You didn't quite under- stand what, I wanted to say." . And he then pro- ceeded to tell his story in plain English. He was listened to with deep attention J but as his story turned out to be so different from the first report of the ex-brigand, the lady stole an arch look at her husband, and her eyes fairly danced with fun and merriment. But the ex-brigand bore it ad- mirably ; and as David ended, and showed himself to be in no such deep affliction as had been sup- posed, he once more burst forth in a fresh peal of ' riotous langhter. • # . Upon this David ventured to hint at hJfe own *late fears, and on being questioned by th^ lady he confessed frankly what had been the intirpreta-V tion that he put lipon the signs of the ex-brigand. _tt Well," said thai, worthy, " I'm not a brigsmtl T jll. I'm an artist." l^'l'itt fure I don't wonder, Walter," said the lady^ -■'•*. 1 , THE EXPLANATION. l^S "You dress yourself up in such an absurd fashion — and I've always told you that this room looks like a bandit's den." ^'Nq, no, ifeura^^ay ^n artist's studio. How ' could I get along without my furniturer-^ As for my dress, it^s quite. in keeping with the place and the people. Its picturesque, and that's all aa/ artist is bound to consider." Further explanations followed, in the course of which it appeared that this ex-brigand was % Walter Ludlow, an American artist, who, for the time being, was living here with his bride. They had been married th^eie months. The island was Capri. They were enjoying love ^in a cottage, which cottage was furm*»hed iri an artistic, rather than a fashionable s^lray. They lived here quite free from restraint, and" the artist occupied the time partly with his ar«, and, partly with general ehjoyment. Neither of them felt at all inclined to leave Capri for some tiij^e to come, but thought it the pleaaantest place in the world. Ludlow happened that day tp be qleaiiing his gun, with the intention o^ going on a shooting excursion. The noise which had been taade in the wood |>y David had startled him, and he had gQfte to see what it was; x^th the idea , v^-C^ ■♦■•',;••- ..,■-;*; V * ^" '■ '•.'(■'.■"-y ■ ■ , \,' , .f> ■» " " ,«•.••■ m >'ss^ I ' V- / • IN SOEBENTO. 17.5/ ifl. As you say, your uncle will be wild with anxiety about you, and wJU have no. peace till he hears from you. So I su^ose the best thing I cm do % you, is to restore >ouNto him^rst of all, and then arrange for a visijfrdm you ail on some future occasion." ■ David thanked him very earnestly, and dwelt' i^ngly upon the anxiety of "Uncle Moses under the circumstances. :" Well,, my lad," saidv Ludlow, "*! think, you'd •Best go off at once, and I m\jan to gd with you. Unibrtunately there is a heyd wind, just now, so #at we cannot go to Ca^tellamare without taCking^' too long a time. The beit way will be to go oye# to Sorrento from this plaft^ and take.a carriage, or horses, to Gastellamare." v ' * ; This, ijroposal pleased David, .glreatly, And as X«dlaw Was r^ady to start, ',|ie ro«0 to go. Mrs. ' Lui_ .• ■ t^ i .,. » ■■ ■: . , V - 4 * # •''.»4I fdNP ■I\ ■ ■ ' f 2^ y'. 176 AMONG THE BBI0AND8. A one which had b^n raging there a few days before, and excited some trepidation in his breast. Involuntarily he hung back, *' , - " What's the^ matter ? " igked Ludlow. - / « The mob," said David ; "do — do you think it's safe to ventui^ among them ? " "^afe ? Pooh 1 why not ? " " f hey appear ' to be excited. Hark ! how they shout." " 0, nonsense I These Italians are always shout- V mg, But David still hesitated, and finally told Lud- low about the trouble with the taSsel, and the old woman, and the mob, and their escape. At this story Ludlow laughed heartily, and then |>roeeeded to reassure David. ^" Don't be alarmed," said he ; " they won't re- member you. If they did, I've got something that 11 make them keep at a respectful distance ; " and he touehed his breast significantly. " A six- shooter, David, my boy, is a very - convenient tfjing to carry abput one in this country, and it ia' surprising how ^e native mind respects it. So come alo^g, an3 ^i^e— that is, I and my six- shaoter'll — take care of you. Don't be uneasy. They've got something else on their minds now." With thes e wor ds Ludlow walked on, and David |ulluw«*d, fnttof feat". • ~~ fhe crowd in' front of the hotel web in a great state of ratge and excilieqaent, Son^e were banging ^.u, i^a^' h. •^^.H '■jryf-'^ ..,- David's fears. 177 at the door, others poinding, against thQ window . shutters, ^thich had been closed by the teSSfied ^ landlord; others were standing atadi;(:anco,andHrr.- . . ang to fend stones to throw. Fortunately H^re wtere / >io loose stones of any size, few bcing'larger tlian a pebWe and tKere'fbre, as yefe, no yery great^ daW- ^ age had been done. But the crowd was eyidentl capable of any amount of kiischief. * Eyery onl was howling, and yelling ; andV the midst of them\ was an old woman, whose shouts and/shrill crie8\ made her conspicuous in the sq^ne. ^She was^n- \ courag,ng\and stimulating a niimber of men who ^ . were carrying a beam to the hou.se, Which they " eyidenty purposed to use as a battering-ram, soaa T to burnt open the door. .' 1 The momeht that Dayid caught sight of this woman, he shuddered, and falling behind Ludlow caught at his hand,, and tried to pull him back. Liudlow turned in surprise. "It's the same woman," said David, in an agitated voice, " who^hased me." "Is it?" said^lrtfcllow, with a smile. «0. well youve got me with you now. So be a man-' cheer up, my boy. It's all/right." ,, Saying this, Ludlow again walked forward, this time keeping his left hai^ on David's arm. David felt that It w a s not " a ll Vight," but h^ had to to l- low Ludlow, and so he followed him into the midst of the crowd. Working their way tm through the people, they At la^t came near t6 the ■" \12 - " ,. ■' X^,. . ^ '' ••: t; /' h 178 ^V|f; ▲HONG THE BBIGINDS. door, and found themselves close by the men whp were carrying the beam. , They had laid it ori the ground, and^ wefB hesitating^or a naoment. Over- head Ludlow heard the voice of the landlord plead- ing with them in pitepus tones. " O, gqfod citizens 1 O, dear citizens I Don^ destroy my furniture ! Don't ruin me ! There is a miajtake. On my honor, the strangers are in- nocent." ' " At this the old virago howled out some insane maledictions, and njged ^e crowd on. Some on the outskirts yelled, and the old hag, whirling around in the midst of her tirade, found hereelf face to face with D»vid. The terrified lad shrank back, and tried to hide himself ; but the old woman recognized him at once, and with a howl sprang at him. Ludlow saw the movetiienl ' He put himself in front of DaVid*, and, seizing the old woman's arm in a grasp like a vice, held her backj and asked her steml5^, in Italian, — . " Accursed one I what do you mean ? "- "0, citizens of Sorrento!^' shrieked the'ji^g. ""Copious citizens ! Help! This is the accursed * hoy, I This i^Hie sacrilegious on© I the blasphemer I the tnsulter'of the Bambino ! the — " /»* Silence 1 " roared Ludlow, in a voice of thun- " der. ^ Men of Sorreu^T •trangers ? Does this'mad thipg goiem the city ? " - ** The boy,' the boy ! the blasphpner 1 tiie «a^ ■/•: V ^:^^ r:'S'>--':^MV 'r I whp ri'the Over- >lea4- Dqn'jb jre is '6 in- isane oe oil irling irank Oman )raDg / ^^\ gthe d h€)r )• iirsed )meri thun- tresT ty?" « V f r : J r- ., .ji ■ — — " — r* '":■ . , ; 1 i.^i '■■■ ■ " ■■ fl ■w^ '*" 'feFi' at .f^::. .*J i - ,>li,^> 1- -n ^ ,f:^ m ...„ I- I' J V I in < 'A THE MOB AT SORRENTO. I7J riJ^ious^he accnr|p' shri^ ^J ^^at her yeHj, some om^ mob seemed inclined to respond. They were^Iready ripe for mischief, and whep the hag diverted their attention to David "^ they felt quite ready to take him hT hand. So now a rmg of dark faces was formed around Ludr low, and .the yells of the hag directed them to seize David. Ludlow pushed the hag from him, drew hi, revolver from his breast, and took two strides' towards the house, which was close by, draWina Davd after him. Then he put his blk a^ljll the wall, and holding the revolver in an ap. parently careless manner, with its muzzle turned "iti^"^^ So^entol" said h?, "what foolery « > -^?^ The wo,5»au is mad. I have just comefL ' , Capr, %rth4l,,; boy. Many of you know me, for I rftm often here.; and now. when I come, am I-to be insulted by a mad woman? Are youl" ' ' Seize him I seize the boy ! the boy 1 the blaa- phejner I " yelled the hag. \' Ludld^ placed .his hand on David's head, and looked with a smile on the crowd nearest. "Does her madness usually take this form, geii- tlomen?" he added; "does she usually .hn^^ thi& TmiimosityTo-ntfreTfoys'ancl At this question, which was Wked in an easy and natural manner, the crowd looked abashed. ■: ■^ ' ■ ■ ■ ^ ... ■• :3^ ■ » vd f -■. ' '' . ■ • r -(^. ■ - i * ,' ; ; ^^^- ■ '-'P. _ ./•■ I- , / ■ ■ •■■"1 / -. ' ■• ,- . '^ \ / ' "'Omk.'/^ Arniiil y '"■■■■ ■-A- -■-•■*,. l«'; 5., / /; •■"> . *• • •■ V •■ «: ■# r- ft* I ^< '^'*' \*' ^^ .1 1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 1.1 £ 12.5 lis 2.0 us mi I L^ i U 1 1.6 // .<^ ^/^ 'f^ ^^^ ^•-#/. ^ <^^ ^ .y-'^.i'; ,.'* '. ,»-r reckless. They were also jealous of th^^'^rod namQ of the town, and now began to *■'" j^*' 1 ^£Um'4,>^>,: lilt ititi^mMlriij \t^L: THE TIB400 DRIVEN OPP. 181 tXTt;'*t °'' ^^^- A -™- passed hound- the. on a^L D 7' B\?r'"" "^ was now disgusted with her and beryel """' .^it ja^itt^Tri':^ '"""«' - ^-'"^vT aJtlvstit^^Xirr^^^^^ young „>a„ who thus address^ed'her- he 1, iXttt "■" "'"' '°*"^ Bava;:,-t c was. Although jome of tl,«. '""'''« bowline like ™«:f- . * "^"^ "»'' ''ad been l^ul,. Ue^ r ir. ^!°^ ' ^ "n'^ " "i abl ^ 7: ^^•^ 182 AfiONO THE BRIGANDS. Soon the crowd dispersed, and the landlord, who had been watching the scene in deep anx- iety, came down, opened the doors, and gave Lud- low and David a most eager, exuberant, and en- thusiastic welcome. ♦^^ '\ r.^ \\if -.-set- i ^lJi%u^«l^Vji.'A.^. \>J,iU^. 1. .i^^^ i v 'j,'h %^ii'A-M^l.Mj4i .. \ i^^ii:' I^my^t J.'! MOBB TROUBLES FOR POOR DAVID. '' 183 t„.»i CHAPTER XVI. Mare Troubles f orpoor David. _ Onset of four Women. - HorrorofDavtd.~A new Uproar in the Yardoftft, Inn. — Uncle Moses bent double. UDLOW beg^in to talk to the landlord about " a conveyance to Gastellamare, and David walked through the house into the yard.' Davui 8 only desire now Ws to hurry on and join his friends as soon as possible. He had not the remotest idea that they Were in Sorrentd, and that the trouble had arisen about them, but- fancied that they were in Gastellamare, full of a^iety .about him. Sympathizing with their anxiety, he longed to go^ to' them, so as to put an end to it • and seeing a carriage in the yard, he naturally walked m that d^ection. Reaching, the yard he noticed that the houses were in it, and that it was a barouche, like the\one in which his part^ had been travelling. Not\ for one moment did hi sup. pose that it was the sUe one, nor did he notice - , , — ""■*"" ""^ ""*^ uia ne notice -It very closely j but giving if a careless djanceT he looked around to see those to whom it be- longed. ■' J^A^.^. 184 ^\^' AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ^ As David weht out into the yard, the driver" had just gone into the barn to tell Uncle Moses and the boys that the trouble was over and the crowd was dispersing. Their joy may be imagined. They were just hastening from the barn to return to the hotel; and had just reached the barn door when David approached. ^ David was walking alon- towards the barn looking around to see where the people were' when suddenly ho heard a wild cry, and saw a figure rush straight towards him. It was a wo- man'^ figure, and she appeared quite old. Like hghtning, the thought flashed through him that this was his old tormentor, the hag; and with a gasp he started b^ck; and was about to run. But the other was' too quick for him,- and David felt himself seized by his dreaded enemy. This dreaded enemy then behaved in a frantic M'ay, hugging him and uttering inarticulate words. dJ vid struggled to get free from her* and throwing a i frightened glance at her face, which was but part- 1 ly visibfe, beneath a very shabby bonnet, he saw \ that she was quite old, and that tears were streak, ing down from her eyes. This frightened David all the more, for now he was sure that she was insane. But now, to David's horror, he found himself sur- rounded by three more Women, in coarse dresses and horribly shabby bonnets. They all made a ^m i i lt a n e oufl mah at h i m, Bei z ing fafg^^g^rair- arms, and geemed about to tear him to pieces. In ~'~i: t^^ii^ii^^^h%.:s:^i j^'?»(ii^^*fTtiiBHr^;j^"i*v'tc^ ^*^^^^^^fe. ^ si^/"j-r 185 ONSET OP P6m WOMEN, ^^m I^e strugg!^" ^o Vas helpless A onM was David wifh nff i ' ^"'' ^P-^.^erwhelraed even ;r :',,:"" ^',';-;; '"f •>« couM „ot opbn, and was jut a W ^^^ .^ ^;V'''""""' y«« for holp,w„o„ the wort ^:r™,~F h.3 mouth, a„,I his voice sfoppcl an 1 »T ^ greater ..prise created withiif ht "' ' °°" "■"' tbefi"::oM.t:r ^'^^°^■'"'^'^°^"•--d■ "Dave! Old boy ! What in iho world i'J' "Where have you been?" "Where did v.„ come from ? " " Whon ^;^ x , ^^ ^°" _ J "^" "'^ jou get here ? " " Who* made you go off? " " n.Vl ♦L • "** if fKo ij ■ ^^ ^"^3^ seize you ? " " Was It the old woman that did it? " Ti • and scores nf o*i " ^'*^^® questions, ;*^, f**" __^^ ,„ ^ the boys gxhftusfeJ^ „^ „„„ ^„^^, released th lowed David to extricate himself. iS&l^^ % t -M-Wl b; ;-^;> 186 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. Thereupon David stood off at a little distance, and gazed at them in mute amazement; The sight which they presented to his astonished eyes was one which might have excited strong emotions in the breast of any behold^'f . *' ' There stood Uncle Moses, his figur^ concealed under a tattered gown, and his venefabfe head en- folded m a battered bonnet of primev^ style ' There stood Frank, looking like a strapping . peasant woman, with a bonnet that was stuck on the tQp of his head like a man's hat. There stood Clive, looking like a pretty peasant girl, quite Italian in his style, with a dress that was a trifle neater than the others. And there was Bob, an utter and unmitigated absurdity, — with a dress that was tangled about hia legs, and a bonnet that liad no crowns Th^ four of them looked more like escaped lunatics than anything else, and no sooner had David taken in the whole scen«, than he burst forth into a per- fect convulsion of laughter. Thus far the disguise had possessed nothing but a serious character in the minds of the wearers By means of this disguise they had hoped to es^ cape, and the costumes, being thus a help to safety had been dignified in their eyes. But now, when the danger was over, and safety assured, there was nothing to hide from their eyes the unutter- ^eAbsurdity, thA JncQiiceivaW^ ^^ David's laugh burst forth, their appearance. V i J. The sig! mouth. Wail Olyi imniortal! inucji. I *■?«««,. 1 iii"ji%>, j*i \> i-t :. "™0« ™ THE r^KD OP THE m. 187 each turned his e,es upon the other, and saw how of hughfer''' tL'^- ' '"* ' '' ^' " -""-'y^ ward, fn^dan^el 'ranTrt'rdT' '"''''''• yeHed with laughter Dn.u « ' "^ *''*'""'' «■«» ffivin J o euccegsion, and then at himself the Kround in !„.? * ' "^'"^^ '"''"=«"" "Pon o.e prolonged and upro^rilraohS '" The uproar aroused the house. inltoaT" '"""'""' of tto bam and joined The hostler followed him Jhe servants came from the hotel, and lent their ^^t^lT" ""'' '"<' ^'^ »' -- -•-<• After the landlord came Ludlow Ha dl^n-f i had been tellbrhfj; k t "^ "''*' *"" ''"'«"<"d The sight re^whermeri^" flf'o^lr^'^r mouth. Ho burst forth u P^"^'' •"" .mmortals. It was a thunderZ, i; ^""f ' 188^ AMONG THE BRIGANDS. on. the stone step., and burLg his face in his hands, gave way utterlv. f ' Thus it was, then, that Dafid, the most solemn of boys, returned to his dis/racted Anri friends. "iSBiactea and anxious we.e eet aside, and thovall sit in the dinine-room fpll *K^' 1^ " n , . P' ^"" Ludlow had to «, pressed them all^ to come over to Tanr,- at one,, ,„, ^^^y ^^ ,^ ] ^ or to Cap who had fallen in love ml Ludlow at first si^h' were more eager to go thJn they could tl 1 tt Uncle Moses den,„rred. He felt af«L of Jv ing trouble, and thought thov had h„» . back to Naples. Lndlo-t, . owevTr, pooh-po edfj scruples, answered every l.bjectioi.^and would ^ teke any f„,,, ^^j^^^V ^^ ^^^. ou d t the final departure of the party for Cipri. ' Bat before they went, aevoral things had to be d ™^th 'th^' "' 1 ''"' '•'"' '"'-^^^^^^ ^^i=r r , ^ ^ "•- - - v v y ^^ u u, w ni8 suifcr at Prog- .turn, he had behaved a&y.and had been of imme of nei gave outbu the fu The of the ever, y knew i with tl explan? a suffic of it. . They Capri, tervenir artist's j: them '-all ■ cordiah't; . wards th near and cottage I museum was of la accommoc able to fe ^^ay on th< I'ndlow them all tl enthusiasti 0k -^i VrSif TO CAPRI. 189 . ^"e other business wi- f^ , '^-V onUe boat wl„-e,Xw^L7,^''°".'"'« return over, wai, arran<-od J,l Vf ""• ^'"'^ '">'"■ a sufficient Vum to rorZ u ■""'" ""^^ «<">' of it. , \ "'t'.V the owner for the use Tliey engakd- another t,oa* t^ *>, . Capri. A geStle breeze n-ft^ /,"'"' """" *" tervening wateV an i H '^ """" "'™'-fi'« ■"- them '-all with hW brio-Iifflte • '''"^'"''«"' • cordiality, and tlip bovslTJT " ""'" ""'™'^'' - ■■ wards the artist arid h? T "**" '" ^oel to- near and del; rS.io;, " Thr 'Tf '"^^ '™- cottage a perfent A,' ^ '^""'^ '"'« artist's was of large dimenXnl Z ""'"' "'"'' ""at it aoco„n.odatons for iht !'.?'* "°"""''"''' ^""i-o"" able to fee, that '^l^ ^ '^^a b'"^ ''"^ ^^ - -a, on t„eir war„..heltrfrie:;i^, '"""« '" ^^ \ flto Vi i^j ■ i, A ^a»i^ V ' ^> l-M^ -^ -* *■ \ 190 AMONG THE BBIGAlh)8. mean attainments; and whjle he could point out to them the most beautiful spots on that loyely isle, he could also taHc learnedly about the ancient Capraea, and rais^ out of ancient ruins theories •about the pleasure-groulids of Trberids. But the most wonderful thing which they found there was the famous grotto, so familiar to all from the accounts of tourists, and from the well- ^ known descrifition in ilans Andersen's ImprOvisa- I tore. »After that glowing, poetic, and enthusias- tic narrative, no other need be attempted. Here they passed three or four days, and -Avhen at length they bade adieu to the artist and his wife, it was with many sincere regrets on both sides, and many earnest wishes that they might meet again. After which they all went back to Naples. h '{ *--i^fit.'.., V v' i £ \ ■% \ ■ • _ - ' .# ' ' up in tl > J ;> .. a black 1 * ■»* * ■ 'V^' " all side \ ■*■ • ^-colossal - * „ ., ■ - ia 't,h« 1 * / / .■s. .. 1^.1. A • v •■ *-( nt out .-^"i"- loyeiy ^ 1 ncient ■s eories TESUTIUS. 191 \ ' - N J .'\ CHAPTER xVlI. Vesuvius. — Ponies nn,i ^/,\-t.. c :. . \ /. r. sticks. —Sand and Lava — Th* ^ HE sight Of Vesuvins frori,, a distance had hllcd Dav,,! Avith an .ycknt ilesiio to visit It, and all the rest shared tl,is iivling. Vesuvuis was before them al«.ays. The eref .loud of de„s9< black sn.oke, which h„ng ovT ko^a pall was greater, and denser, and blacke* were "" 'r '" ■''"""'" ^™' '""^'''rt.ed. There and all around and all beneath t.ho volcano gave ^ns of an approaching er,jptio„. Sotoetimes the ™oke as .t ascended fron, the crater, would tower al sides, g,vmg to the st,eetator the vision bf a tZ^S^^ -the ^.apeand.the ^gn-Whioh -Jfl tlw. inevit^B -foreruniier-on.n approtShing"" would hang low over the crest of the mountain. «■ - '^ 4 ^ K * I :^/tf ■soil, \ ' ^ V'-^^f'^-ri^i-. 192 AMONG THE BRIGANDS, t and roll far down its sides, and envelop it in its dense, black, voluminous folds. / ' tn,Vl7f ' '"^ ?'^^ '^*' ^^^^^'^PPea'-ances, the ascent tnig ht be made m safety, though every day lee^ . -^d the c .nces of an ascent by incrLing IS danger. 1 his Ihey learned from Michael 4ngelo, their guide, whom they had engnged to make the ascent; so they determined to go without any , further delay. Accordingly, two davs after their excursion to Baia., they .,et out, going first to Poitici ^vhere they hired poni^ -to take them to «ie foot of th^ cone; each one supplied himself with a good stout stick to assist his ascent, and Michael Angelo went with them as general man- ager of the expedition. On riding up they fomid the road good atlrst, but soon It became somewhat rough.- It left the fertile meadows and vineyards at the base of the mountain, and ran fev- a wild, rocky country, which looked, as |rncle Moses said, likeUhe abomination of desolation." No verdure ap- peared,no houses, no flocks, and herds -all was - . wild, and savage, and dismal. After passing over • these lava fields, the party reached what is called - " the Hennitage»-a kind of refreshment station-f^ near the foot of the cono.:' Resting here, for a little ^ ' way they proceeded on foot. %e path was now an|re tTiat it became^ rather climbing than walking. After a toilsome walk th^s path ended at the foot of the coije. £^^i&H ^-. r " '? , VESUVIUS. 193 ascending from whe^ 1 T^ ^'r """• vie>v was lost in amoke M. "^"^ *» surface of loose 8and».'^ ' ^^ """■' ^^"'' ""^ « ordered heans „f " ' n^*' ''"°">«'- "'W, dis- these last Shae,T„lt^#r, ''"1^ °^- the ascent. A nurabifr nf ™ ° "a*^® chairs and strao^^l I ? "^'^ ^"'^ ^^i* but they alldSed evf u;!*";? "^'^'»"'=«' torel.onhiannassi^:;::^!'''*"'-'"'--^ iavl W:e*&" --- r the cone. The ,«^own the s":;iid ;'iTCa 'rr"^^^'^ «"g. rough stairway, wherall tl ! '"^ * irregular. It wn<, IoK • "'® *teps are the/ had t/'stira d'r: ' vL^'r- ^^^^ ■uost, and the boys had frl , *'™™ '^" ''' on his account Rnt ^^-^''^ to stop rather about two Zds of L ''"^ '""^ ^^-o^sed -ore excited and n BoT'tK"'^ '"'^^" '° ^^o- most evident Thlt .v. <"""'ement was take suffic eni cal of n^ ""t '"" '"'■«" "ould alone, and soo'n w <• "^'^'' '«' started off . -^3',i,e'ar«nnh:i- ^"•''"''^"■"« ''- »•■« Usually there is. nn . - i 1 ( ptCji, 194 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. On the present occasion, however, there was little or no wmd ; and the smoke, .^ich was far dens than usual, gathered in thick, black folds, and pometime. rolled down the sides of the con; and h,d the crest from view. Michael Angelo ex- pressed a fear that they ^.«u Id not be able to reach the crest ; and as they drew nearer, every Btep showed that this fear was well fbunded. At ast, when they were within easy distance of it there came rolhng down a cloud of smoke, so' « dense and so full of sulphurous vapor that they / cLhes. "'"^ '°^ """'' '''''' ''''' ^^^^ ^J It was now evident that they could go no farther. ^moke It rolled away at last, yet still hovered near them every little while moving threateningly down, as though to drive them back, and prevfni the crater from desecration by human footsteps. Ihey had evidently reached their farthest limit and could go no farther. ' But where was Bob? Scarcely had they discovered the impossibility ofgbwg farther than this thought came to them Where was Bob? He had left them some time' previously, and had gone far ahead of them. They had expected every moment to come up with him. But there were no signs of him anywhere. _^,E r ^x ^ ll e d outwitfr^tfs^t rength.^^^^I^^^^ tna thve joined in the cry. '>V last. - ,^£,teJ.itvilK ',i»Ri>i»i ?„!,:. y *;i«iS*ii, .•* ... V; ,• i»,^-- '%. IBE LOST Bo£ 195 There was no response. *ear came to them o • i_ . All shouted- the bo^rn T^^"'"?- ""-f"! fear. Angelo. ' ^"y'- ^""'-^ Moses, and Michael StilUhere was no response. ».. trceitn :;;„r r' "t- '""^ -'k all these cries the «1 ^ i apprehension; but to "ot one ansTeritgr^d "' ^""""^ ^''^''-'t them, and over II!;^ "JT"'™,:"' ■"-'•"« Cose to them in that dread fl ?^,^ "'''«"' *° '"^"'ve over,,heln,ed the tt bV ""^ '"'^"^'l '««1 • "I can't stand this any lono-er I " • j „ . ..w'V'g"'"™-! David. ■ / --'rn^ert^^r-'^'''^''"^'-^ woods. We can't teU whte "eT " r,"" ''" "'• Ime, an walk as nigh abre^t j ^"'^ '°™ » "an get, an yet for ennTu "^ ""<'"'«'■ «« «■« pound. In Z wly weTbe"""'^ >°, "°^«' «>« him." •'^ ** " "8 more likely to find f «t:ttt^;^^«-e,.s in tween each. The fiv« f h ^ ^* ^^tervened be- next to him was UnoJv ^®''*''^™«'''gl>t, • David, while Frank Won r' '''" '^''^^.' *^«« *' ^^'^ «^treme left, i^ ^^^,, r 196 AMONG THE BBIOANDa. this way they d^t«rn,ined to go as far forward a^^the smoke would permit. The prospect was gloomy enough; but the situation of Bob nerved them all to the effort. Besides, they were en couraged by the fact that the smoke would som"- times retreat far up, exposing the surface to the very crest of the cmter. So they advanced, clam' benng over the rough blocks, and drew nearer and nearer to the summit. At length a heaW "ass of black smoke came ro«in| down. U Zf T ^ *" '"'^ "'"'"' "'«"• Each one fell flat on h,s face at Michael Angelo's warning, and covered his mouth and nostrils with his hSker- chief, so as to keep out the sulphurous vapors. It painful, and it seemed a long time before the Wackness of the darkness was mitigated. But at last the smoke withdrew itself; and the whole party stood up, and looked around painfully for one another, panting heavily, and drawing labo- nous breaths. ° ^_ " You can't go any further," said Uncle Moses. I ain t gom to let you resk your lives, boys. Ton must all go back, an I'll go for'ard " " No, uncle ; I'll go," cried Prank. •" And I," cried David. « And I," cried Clive. "Noneof ron shall ly. 1 tell you I'm gom. I order you to stay fc^',4-i.'.'**4w'.,-.--.l!\ • A FEARFUL SEARCH. jg^ " Go back," he said ; "ril M Tb > '''™"''^^- there, fio back. D'ye h!ar?^' '•"'*'' "'^^"'^ JdVrbo/rButrk'Hr,*" -^^^ "'= upward, swiftTa^d 1^ X^ ""^^ ^'^<'fj «P™ng going first to^he left^and' tb? 7 .u*"* "^■"' David and ri;v„ . . ^^'^ *° '^e right, lu anu Olive also rushed forward rT„ i withafaceo/LXllSr^''^^^^^^ All this had not taken many minnt,.. I. act of desperation on the ZrT^f p It was an wa. determined to Je B bCUirt'rt "' f ly the smoke did not descend jnTtTt thaf "^ but was floating „p fr„„ thlCmmitt 2^^' edffe of thfi rrof^^ ij 1 °"'""3"> so that the Frank had seen a prostrate figure If l.^ -^^ .beyond the edge of the ^0 ^3 ^" first feehng was one of surprise that RAKi % oeeded in penet^ting so fa^ /his tlf ^1'!':^ .'..ifei,-li.ViJiiu;i.'.-, ■ "-* NG-THE BR;GAND9. 198 ^°^^°^*for fear thatV might be beyond the reach of help.. With frantic haste he rushed towards him, and reaching the spot, he raised Bob in his arms. He was senseless I And now, as Frank stood there, close to the perilous edge, the treacherous smoke, which had thus far held back, rolled down once more. To face it was impossible. Frank flung himself down and buried his face as before, looking up from' ^me to time to see if the smolce was lessening. • The time seemed protracted to a fearful lepgth. The dense fumes which penetrated through- ^he thick folds of the clothes which he held over" his mouth nearly suffocated him. He began to think that he, too, was doomed. And where were the others ? Scattered, apart from one another — and thus they had been caught by the rolling smoke. They could do only one thing, and that was what they had done before. Uncle Moses alone refused to yield. He tried to toil on so as to get nearer to his boys. He had a vague idea of getting near to Frank, so as to die by his side. But physical pain was stronger than the determination of his soul, and at length he involuntarily flung himself down' arid'tSovered his face. ' But ftt last even that ordeal was passed, t Tha„ smoke TTfled. It rolled awav. There wa^ away. . -" 'v^"v.vi ainuy. iiiere was air again for them to breathe. Frank roused himyelf THE SLIDING BANCS. 199 before the smoke had all passed, and lifting Bob in his arms, carried him swiftly downward. He reached the place where Uncle Moses was stand- ing, gasping, for breath; and the other boys who had seen liim hurried towards him, and tried to help him carry his senseless burden. Uncle Mo- 8es also tried to take Bob in his own arms,' and prayed Frank, with tears in his eyes, to'let him carry him ; but Frank refused them all,' and ip. Bisted on doing it himself A few paces more, however, over the lava blocks, showed that Frank's strength would not be sufiicientfor such a journey. He sank down exhausted by his excessive exer^ tions, and waited a few moments to take breath. While he was thus recovering his breath Michael Angelo reached the spot, and explained that there was another place of descent not far off, and led the way towards it. Here tT^dy found the side of the cone all covered with loose sand. Down this they went. At every 8tep,t|iey sank in up to their ankles, and the sliding soiivbore them down, so that for every step they took they were carried the length of two or three steps. Frank clung to Bob till he had got beyond the reach of the smoke, and then he fell backw^fd gasping for breath. The others scrambled towards him, eager to help him; and Michael Angelo, who =.had exerted himself fee^ bast of aH, and wag -" fresher than any of them, raised Bob in his arms and said that he would take cajte of him now. At J. VK* .'» i. 200 AMONG THE BRJQAJSfta. this Frank gave up his precious burden and of tTe'cone " "'""'' *''^ "'" ^~° ■*'*« ^' sand With trembhng hands they felt for hi, heart, and found, to their. unspeakable icy that ^s still beating. There was'^no water^^e'a bu ^ey^chafed his foet«„d hands, and did Xt'tlt; mg but aWast Bob opened his eyes, and drawing anir::;^^^''-""^'''-"'''^^^-^"" "What's — the matter?" i,» .„ feeble voice. he murmured, in »■ Motes*''iL*'hr f '°'' """'"' '""'*<' "y^ °f UiScIe pmverfnl V'f .°"'™"'«'' >«^"diWe words of prayenul gratitude. JL^l T^^'"^'" ""'' ^''™''' '''''» ^y this time had completely recovered from his fatigue. « Nothing thmk He lay there in silence, and with an ex Eto" .^^T'^.^™^"' - "- f-e, elid n% trying to collect h,s scattered laculties, so as to account for his present situation. ^ And now the question was, how to get Bob away,, «n that tbk modi /r "1 ^ ^lad gone TemedThprT AA^ ^ cDirveyance seemed denied them. After waiting a short time, however JiLu >,^ -*'''''" .^4,1, V ' ARRIVAL AT THE HERMITAOE. 201 abit tV2arr T? "■"° ^-'-^ «^'-^-*'^ cha.r and strap men. Seeing Bob and his frieZ they made .nquiries; and on learning wha had happened, the ladies refnsed to make^he aac „t on «o unfavorabre aday, hut preferred po^ponTg and settmg h,m upon it. they earried him towards t,f :™5: '"'-« '"«^ --" Without an; telfrsty "■"^ -P'dly better, and was able to He had felt very anxious to see the crater and ' equa ly anxio„s,to see it first. Taking adval"e of a fme when the smoke had retrefted heZ made a rush, and had jn.,t attained the ve'ry ed!^ of the crater, when suddenly he found Lllf relr t oTt' '': ^---^^--'oud of smok " T n^XnToTfliirir'T'T''''''^- ^ Iv nr.A . . ^ ^® turned mechanical- »ind TTai" ' "r."^" "^"'S'" alone in hi "' That was all he remembered. He must and fL 1 T ^^'"^ ''»y ''«"'««" the summit and the p ace where he was found. MichaoL Aiigelo started of and gotra cB ri ao. h^ means of which Bob was tiken to NapleT^R^dTd «ot seem to have suffered any veryT^^'^s ^ ' ■ Kvt-.-'Hf (T^^AiSv fTS-^Tirir -l^»»l,ll| \ 202 /^WONO THE BRIGANDS. to for some dJ^s he was quite languid and miser- able and comp amed of a taste of sulphur in his mouth ; hi8, coat, too, which on going up was of a ff -blue color] had become quite iald' from the action of the pi,werful sulphurous fumes. nartv f/^T' ^'^' "' ^''" ''' '^^ ^««* ^^ the party, had.am^le reason to feel thankful. -v^ 7- /) j' ■-.'in>f*rwr~ "*^ f 'f"*^^'^ \ '"**''^ ' miser- in his 8 of a n tho f the ..^ ts;»**fe.< I Sl& POMPEII, THE ) OP Tins DEAD. 203 CHAPTER XVIII. <^ Pa ' T Jf "fl'^^^'-^'-^The MonuLnts of the Past. - Temple., Towers, dkc^ Palaces. - Tombs and "^^-"^f-ts.^ Theatres and Amphitheatres.- Streets ana i^ares. , " ■ .1 FEW days after th|ir ascpnt of VeBuvius the whole party started off to visit^ Pom- peii. The prospect of this journey gave them unusual deh:ght. Bob had ^ovv completely recovered his health and spirits, dive's poetic interest m so renowned a place was roused to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. David's classical taste was stimulated. Frank's healthy love of sight-seeing was excited by the thougiit of a place that 80 far surpassed all others in interest { and Uncle Moses evidently considered that this was the one thing in Europe which could repay the traveller for the fatigues of a pilgrimage. Thus each, in. his Own way, felt his inmost heart stirred' Withm him as they approached the disentombed city; and at length, whgn they reache d thA gn- -— n^ce to t5e place, It is difficult to say which onT" k lelt the strongest excitement. :Threy found a number of other visitors there. V. ^^^#2.M . ■/ 204 K; I' -. 1^- AlfOKO THE BRI0AND8. consisting of fepresentafeives of all nations- Rng. sians, Germans, Americans, French, and Endish • ^ ^dies gentlemen, and bdPT*. Michael Angelo was with them, and was more useful to them thflfeafe*. mere guide-book eould have been. ■ The first emotions of awe which filled their '^ minds as they entered the streets of thi m ysteri- ous city gradually faded away, and they began to examine everything with great interest. The first thing that struck their attention was t|,e extreme narrownpss of the streets. There was o«ly room lor one. carnage to pass at a time. The sf^e walks were a foot higher than the oarriage-way. There . were.crossing.tones|^,stood high abovethe pave- ■Z^''^' V'^ «^dewalW were paved with brick, and the carriage-way with lava blocks, which were very neatly joined together. Ciive took a piece of brick as .relic, and David broke off a fragmenlirom one of the crossmg-stones ibr; the same purpose. - chll I 'T T? *° "^ ruined edifice, which Mi- chael Angelo called the Basilica. It was twc^ hun- dred ^t m length, and seventy in widtkk, JoZ end still remained the ,^ibunal or Seat ^^^ seven feet above thefavement; and^|^K«e the^ walls were columns formed of , bri^^^d^ w^hplaste. The bpys picked off some o/^e tplaster as relics. - ^ they went on an^ came to anntheiv ^ Which Michael Angelo called the ^^^ -It was built round a court- 1., S3 -%--> • ->" ^ jJijiffSt', .i> ■ ■ •■''■?53f3gp» ' / THE MONUMENTS^ OF THE PAST. 205 yard; |ith porticos. Hero David and Clive ob.' ^W^ ^"!" more relics. p this was an open square ^iirroun^ed by ^ irs, of which only tlie lower parts remained. Hs .was the t^orum Gi^^ilo ; an^ beyond this stood the Temple of Jupiter, which they visited without •finding anything that was particularly interesting. After this Michael Angelo took them to a place which he said was the- Public Bakery. - Here they saw millstones, ov6n>, water^-esscla, and sohia other articles of winch the)^. cbuld mjt^uess the use. Not far away were 6omobakera^iops. In .thaee shops loaves of bread were found by the^ diggers. Of course they Avere burned to char-' coal; but they retained their original shape, a^nd showed marks upon" them which were probably intended to indicate^Iie bakery from which they came. Heaps of corn\eie also found. Going down the street where these were situ-' ated, they came to one of the gates of th« city. Beside this was a niche in the wall, used as a sen- tg-box, upon which all the party gazed with a Vofound interest; for in that sentry-box those who disentombed the city found a skeleton, in the armor and with tlie equipment of a Roman soldier. Evidently the septry had died at his' post. They took a good loc^ at the walls here, which tli^y fou » ' ' ' — ' ^- "f^^^ty-five ieet HgH, and^ formed of huge stones, that were joined together without cement. The gates had evidently been double. • . *, r" ^isfe4fi:^'2-*^J~AIS^.=^*,-.t' ^'> iJrfe/,.-^^". If % " ,A' '^* 'i^y 206 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. Passing throDgh tins gate, they fonnd them- cabled he "Street of Tombs." Looking dow^t eharacter, I,„,ng ,t on either side. These were the tombs of wealthy citizens. They visited sev eral of them, and found them all alike. The iX . nors were all simple, the walls being p,e' "Id ^'h mehes, in which were deposited thf urns that t * !.r'''' °^ ""^ ''■'^'^- '^'"•» was the first me that they had seen anything of this kind and they e.a(„,ned it with deep andsolemn interest Here, too, Clive and David succeeded in find „s Thranref^^''^''^''^--'^--^-^ ^onf r 'i"' ^'"^^"^ ^°S'='° '<"» "'«'» to what was rZ V nl '"/t""!;" " "'■ "■"' ^'*^' "o- known as ^ the Villa of, D.omede. They entered here and \ wandered through the halls, and rooms, and c'o. ^^ yards. They saw nch mosaic pavetnents • the basins of what once were fouhtains, the lower parts of marble pillars that once belonged to state colonnades They saw some roonfs that o^ce had been used for cold baths, and others that had been used for vapor baths. Dining-room rece,> t.on-roams, bed-rooms, kitchens, libmrier'epened «P all around, and told them of that vanished pTst bu«y hu*„a„ We. Far more than bas7lic„s,"orte^" Pl.», or streets, or wall,,' were they affected by t^A Jt^*'-' '<' BKELETONS. 207 this glimpse into the home of a household : and Bilence After going through all the house thev descended mto the cellars. These were ver;,pi^ ^ous and extended beneath the entire Wll He e, at one end. they saw what is called the W in^ Cellar. Many wine jars were standing «e e!! wide mouths and round bottoms, which made it brs t&r ^'"° """" '"PP"^'- I" these wine £!„:;;;: '^"'^""-■-''--.h."' only Here Michael Angelo had much to tell them. He told them that several skeletons had been found inthese vault,, belonging to hapless wretches who had no doubt, fled here to escape the sto™ of ashes wVh was raging above. On of t , seTk el- etons had a bunch of keys in its bony fingers a„d this circumstance led some to supposf hit ^t r T.f ''''™ of Diomede himseff'Tut othe s thought that it belonged to his steward Whoever anVr'leaV'f ":" '"^'^ ™'^ '" W hTs doo" and to leave his bones as a memorial to ages in the far distant future. " ■ ^ Leaving this place, they visited another house ::!:;!!i'!; !:!!^-^''ofcaiussaiiust, mZ.,,, «H ««r^«fth^imse tey saw something WW hal once str„«fc them all as being rather singlla t W.3 noth^ig else than a shop, small in sotted l^i * 208 AMONG THE BRIGANDa. «P w,tt shelves and counters ; a row of mrs was fixed on one ,ide, and in the rear were CnacT W.chael Angelo informed them that it had once been an eatmg-honse. The boys thought it « should o'l ; u"'" ™"'' " """^ "^ «"»»«'- 8^.ould tolerate such an establishment ; but there was the undeniable fact before their eves IZr wards their surprise diminished ; for" man v.' verj wilhng to hire the fronts of their houses to other part.es who did wish to do so. In Ss house they saw the traces of very ele^nT „rl ments, and learned from Michrj t^^ °Z The elegant house of the Dioscuri was visited ne:ct It „ ,„ the Via dei Mercurii, and is a some 'Zr'^'r" ^""'"^'^o ™'"' -""J -"<» - visited many other houses, a description of which .8 not necessar^; tj,ey were all like the Villa of Djomede, though less interesting ; and among hem d" ^■ "tl"'. '"""^ g e''e">l c haracter. Tn, u ■ tZ r' *" *^«'°«e--"ained, thou^^^ . few a small part of the second story ^^ visible '«:■ ■ •!■ V .V,. ars was irnaces. td once i it ex- t house lust — t there After- . many V of the peians id not ••least ses to Ilust's orna- that 1 that rious sited is a tains they hich a of hem TEMPLES, TOWERS, AND PA^cES. 209 •not make any pa;tic„Vr 1 fflt, V '""Z *' -d nearly two h»ndred- feet wide intili?^ t..em to one of the greatest c„ r^ti ttK*^ ^; The bu,ld,ng to which he led them was in m„I' fis\'r "'*"."» '^^ majority of the edt wMe, and a .Lie t ^ h^ ^X' sT^t « wh:" isT ^T''"^;;"^ " """p'« »f --"U! What IS this ? " asked David An'glw' " "" '■'"''"•' "^ '-•" -W Michael - "The Tempkof Isis I " exclaimed David in ea«r jHon.hau:Lt:^irr:nir;nterytr cal i«rt quitv h "t 1 connected with clasd. that^J h,^' ""'■'' ^'P^^Wly from the feet that he had very recently read Bulwer's Last ■.,■1 K It „U.' . ^i u. 210 *-*/ ^- AHOHG THE BMOANDS. Days of Pompeii ; and on this occasion that Ihole rt9r?,w,th all its descriptions and all its incidS,,' was brought vividly before him by the surrrni mg scene. Most of all was the Temple ofTs.t ftm,har to him than anything else that he had • f""""l;° '^ "ty- Glancus and lone, the Chri^ ZntZr "t '"" '"•^ Arbaces' seemed : haunt the place. In one of the chambers of this very temple, as Michael Angelo was now tell ng 7JIT r,''''^ '«\*"g the way to that chamber,-!:- had been fonnd a huge skeleton, with an axe bes de .t; two walls had been beaten through by that -e, but the desperate fugitive could^go no far then In another part of the city had been found another skeleton, carrying a bag of coins and some ornaments of this Temple of Isis. David listened to MichaelAngelo's account with strange in erest. realty ty Michael Angelo's prosaic statements. Alter mspecting the chamber just mentioned had once been the pedestal of a statue. Here M^hael Angela showed them a hoUow niche himself there and speakswords which the ignorant '^f!.,"^^"'^ ^to o y iip«- ^hls one IhinF^ Bhowed the full depth of ancient ignorance aSd Cfei^V-iji -^ »*t-«tii„i.. 1 , .•-■ !*.* . ' >'* ^^ AND AHPBITHE.TB^. «,. 211 .'^uent volubility pe^uH." V'!,"""'"*^*'"' that -"■■'A These moral ^Ls !' '" "" ^'•'» "^ *<.« ^"ge'o's regular route "".?"'"' "'«•«»«' he found himself here in this T . '"'"""" *■"" «*■■«»» of wisdom .oumZIITJ' f '«'■«' ^h* 1 'e next place to which Sh i ^Z" *° ^°«'- ^-^ to take them was th« t^^^^'o'-tend- -;.W be s,en from wh re th?'""'^'''™' -'"ch A" this time David had hi ^ '""""^ ^tandin^ "fths others, and far "'"'^ «»g^' than any He felt his soul stirred toT' "^'"'"""''^ ""v^d nlhng scenes through wcVhTr^ f""" ''•^ «>« • It seemed to him as ?hou»h ;^ *'' been moving, here to his eyes, in one 1 n''^'^r^« "sealed ' heen laboriously acquli.fJT' "" """ he had . »^dy of years. ^Bu 1 "^ttt '"t "^ "" These Roman houses in,„ 1, t"?"' "'an books, '"ore far better than an" II '"' """'"^ '^'^k. -'graved prints, howeverTccunr""/' P'""' "^ temples afforded an insiX ^V"""' These -'■gion better far than tll° ?/'" P^^a" ' These streets, and shops IndTu,"'^ description. ""to the departed Ror„ , ^'""' '""' "" '"B-Kht fresher, and more WWd a^nd ""'"' "'" "- ^ v,v,d, and more profound, than I , 212/ it • AMONG flTHB BBIGANDS. any that he had ever gained before. It seemed L him that one day was too small for such a place. He must cdme again and again, lie thought. AH© was unwiljin^g to go on with the rest, but lingeVeci ■ longer thah any over each spot, and was always! the last toi quit any place which they visited. \ They stopped on theif way at the Tragic and / Comic Theatres, and at length reached the AmphI / theatre itself. This edifice is by far the largest' / m the city, and is better preserved than any. It '^h built of large blocks of a dark volcanic stone, and constPvcted in that massive style which the Romans lived, and of which they have left the begt examples in these huge amphitheatres. As this Amphitheatre now stands, it might still serve for ^ one of those displays for which it was built. Tier Btter tief those seats arise, which once had accom- modations for fifteen or .twenty thousand human beings. On these, it is said, the Pompeians were seated when that awful volcanic storm burst forth by which the city was ruined. Down from these seats they fled in wildest disorder, all panic-stricken rushing down the steps, and crowding through thj doorways, tramjling one another under foot, in that mad race for life ; while overh«id the storm g^th- ered darker and darker, and the showers of ashes .fell, and the suifocating sjulphuric vapors arose, and amid the vo lcanic storm the lightning s -pf the Bkyiiashecl fortl, illuminating all the surrounding 'gloom with ^ horrid l&stre, and blending with the , ' ( !">>■ MEAI8E8 AND AMPH^eilTBES. 213 What little ha, been Sd of tT*' '■''/°"'P^""- gather around this p1.ee id .1 ,V'''^ ""^ "Pon those seats there .•»!'' him who sits of that awful scene th ""« ^"'^ realisation where else. *'"° "«" ^e obtained any. -■^r'r^f':rt"''''<^ -ted then..: -ole ^ sea; and each rn'et"" """ '^"^ "^ «>« ing3 that filled him Th^ f ? "*^ *» ""« '^^l- lours, and all of ^em fcif "^ T*"^'"' ""^ f"' that the rest on'ttre tts'^'lTr^' "■ ttey sat and rested. ''^'^j^*^ grateful. Here ^ ^iS%hf»li^»!- ^3laK'^ S%' ■■■f 2U AMONG THE BRIGANDS. 'I CHAPTER XIX. Lofy classical enikn^Usm of David, aHd painyuftack of feeling on the Part of Frank. -David, red hot with the flow of the Past, is suddenly confronted with the Present. ^The Pr^esent dashes Cold Water upon his glowing En- thusiasm. — The Gates— Minos, JEacus, and Rhada- manthus. — The Culprits. S they thus rested on the seats of the Amphitheatre, the classical enthusiasm of David rose superior to fatigue, and his enthusiastic feelings burst forth without restraint, in a long and somewhat incoherent rhapsody jabout the fall of Pompeii. Full before them, as they sat, rose Vesuvius; and they saw that which helped them to reproduce the past more vividly, for even now the dense, dark cloud of the volcano was gathering, and the thick smoke-volumes were roll- ing forth from the crater. Far into the heavens the smoke clouds arose, ascending in a dark pillar till they reached the upper strata of the atmos- phere, where they unfolded themselves, and spread outafar--^he east, and the west , and the north^ -*iid tho Buuth. Some Buen appearance as this the ^ mountem may have had, as it towered gloomily before the Pompeians on that day of days. Some" ' '-i'h^^t-tXA.: ^^ a^ ..>.;■> ■?stif fl ^"■*" ^*-, ENTHUSIASM OP DAVID. 215 Buch scene as this may have appeared, only deep- ened into terrors a thousand fold more gloomy, to \ the population of the doomed city, as they gatb ered here on these seats for the dasi time. \ Such were the ideas of DavidWrk ; and these ideas he poured forth in a long rhap&ody, full of wild enthusiasm. At length, however, that ©nthu- Biasm flagged, and he was compelled to (stop for want of breath. ^.^ #*^1 T^ "0, that's all very fine," said Fratit, suddeWv, as David stopped, and breaking the silence which had followed his eloquent outburst, — « that's aU very fine, of course. You have a habit, David', my son, of going into raptures over old bones and old stones, but alter aU, I'd just like to ask you one question.'* ^ « What's that ? » asked David, a little sharply. " Why, this. Has this pkce, after all, come up to your idea?" And Frai^k looked at him with very anxious eyes. " This place ? " said David. « What, Pompeii ? Come up to my idea? Why, of course it has. What makes you ask such a question as that? I never spent such a day in all my life." " Well, for my part," said Frank, in a very can- did tone, " I'll be honest. I confess I'm disap, pointed ." ^ And saying this, Frank shook his head defiantly, and looked at all the other boys, with the air of one who was ready and wiUing to maintain his po9ition. .'•4, 4 \ 4&.*j«Vl i^^:.^' 2ie AH%0 IBB BBIOANDS. aoribable tone, m which reproach, astonishment •^ disgust were all blended together.- ' t^rW '" Tf f"'"'^' fi™'y. " disappointed -«i terly, completely, and tee-totally. I'll tell-;^„ what my idea w,s. My idea was^ tha the "£ would b<,^reet,, in the first place Well, tK no streets at all. they're mere lanes. rZil was, tha{ the Jiousea would be hoJe^. Well tonef^-T'" '^,*f":°P'«^ Davi<]Hn- .indignant tones. "How could the houses be standing after beng buned for so many centuries? You w^^. what a tremendous weight of ashes, and sto^s*- tod earth, lay upon their roofs. Housri Why • wTrlwhoIe 7' ^°''^°" '«•'' ^^o" if «'eho£es were whole and uninjured, what would they be? f:;h'"r"?l— "--^^^ /■ ^^J^T^^Tfound? Nothing butshams- pillars built of bricks, and ptetawd over to re- i'l0li-*tAli^!l* i!t. J f-TS, tT-WT^t- I -J %; I if &^*- DISAPPOINTMENT dp FRANK. 217 eemble marble. Do you call that the right ^tyle past: S' I ""'" ^'^"^' "^ ^^"^'- ^"- plaster Greek because it's in Pompeii? Then thS f f /^^^^''^-^ - ---able little placel^ that 11 only hold ab(|ut fifty people " - — ^^Poohr' said David; "as if tliey didn't know, •what was large enough I " enoughjor them, what * poor lot they .u«t hlf^ Jaf T "rr""'' "^^'^^ "P<""P«''' -«« not a •tTfilT" ""^'""'y'' -a" city. You expect/ t8 find here the magnificence of Rome " / thtl^'IV In""''- ^ "'^'■'''y «^Pect to find eon^e- thing that'll carry out the promise of thbse pi<> tures tha they make of scenes in Pompeii. Why there .sn^t anything in the whole town, except' , perhaps, th,s place, that looks large enough for an ordinary person to move about in. Look at the ' wa Is -^miserable thmgs J^wenty feet high. Look Loot' f^^-r'y wide enough fora sbgle cart Look at the sidewalks - only wide enou|h for a Taf o„r- ^"l" °"'^*'>-8^" «'o whol town that comes up^o my idea isl the Amphitheatre. T^ IS i^sigctoble. It c orteapond^^ritMA.^-. TOre , and the descriptions of travellers. BuTm to all the rest, I have only to remark that they ar^ first, mean; secondly, smaU; and thirdly, in out^ rageonsly bad taste." • ,.C v««J,4>'- - .1 i*< A, i-a?isBi - - „ - 1 T pjr^:.-,'---!^;K^jf, 216^ AMONO THE BBIOANDS* - n™"^ f»f««. "Of a bone," said Frank, smilingly. aiay." " ''" "* ''"'' ""' ' ^''^^ ^^^^ " Arid yon, sare ? " said he to Bob "Don't deal in such articles," said Bob, with a grm - not m my -line -not my style." Pardon," said the official, with a sicEly smile, bBt I must put de Usual interrogatoree. Tou sare?>; and he addressed himself trDavid David turned pale. He hesitated for a moment ' " WeU," said he, "I believe I have got a few rllf "™''; J"^' '"^o »■• three, you know; little relics, you know." "Atl ver good, ver nais," said the official, ,vith «aIIo«r featofres. "AndWon «aro9» i.. ^ V turning to Clive. '""'y""'»"«' he continued, "Well, yes," said C|ive, « I've got a few, I I jf >i!^;« |i&§''i f. y <*' ^ s- 9'^ Mb ^* ^^ Af** ^ ■&£ ^ 'r.t^ ^-. :.» 220 f AMONG THE BRIGAIIDS. ^ "0 no not at all," said the Italian; "dly don^t -one,.„..ee.,:::^Xr:::sfc- David, ,n a heart-broken voice ' Pp*" o„ A 1- , * "• ^^" tousand, twentv ton sand, hnndred tousand come here eieryyX. all take away hnndred toueand pocket ftnTh t carlT:Jayn\lTd\t"i f V" ""^ bad, hey. ha. yL otdttanf IT nX^ dX all oop into my hand." ^ T bat the official was obdurate. He pleaded the la He .nested on the fall restoration of eve^ hW | I piece Of brick from the Sidewalk. 1 bit of stone, sreet : «*"<^^«> Bisilica. ■-fi doT do. Fort^m. Temple Jupiter. -./ ..fl -^•;\ ^.^.'il'.';-^^^ ^# i^-, /• «r<*i*i % ftELICS fBOM THE BURIED CITY. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 bit of stone from 221 do. do. do. do. do. do. bon^ do. . 1 package dust,' 1 do. 1 do, 1 pebble, 1 do. If bit of plaster, 11 I li }' l' 1 do. do. brick, do. stone, do. the Public Bakery. Sentry box. Wall. Gateway. Street Tombs. Villa Diomede. do. Sepulchre, do. do. Villa Sallust. do. Eating House. House of Dioscuri. Pantheon. Temple Mercury. do. Isis. Tragic Theatre. Comic Theatre. > Amphitheatre, do. Slowly and reluctantfy tbltwo ^ .'""' f '"• those precious treasure, Z\ ^\ '™'"' °''* r treasures, badly and mournfully M i.A<.!m?^^s^ 222 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. V. they laid them on the table, under the stern, the inflexible, the i-elentless gaze of the three inex- orable custodians, who. to David's mind, seemed the impersonations of Minos, ^acus, and Ehada- manthus. Yea, all these, and many more, - frag- ments from houses, bits of mosaic stone, little chips, -all were seized, and all were confiscated. Not a word was spoken. It was a sorrow too strong for words ; and Minos, ^acus, and Rhada- nla^thu8, stood, individually and collectively, in- flexible and inexorable. The rueful counte- nances of the two culprits excited the sympathy and pity of their companions; but it seemed a case where no help could avail them. Frank and Bob looked upon the scene with a strong desire to interfere m some way, and Uncle Moses looked quite as distressed as either David or CUve Suddenly a new actor entered upon the scene. It was Michael Angelo. He came in with a quick step, started as he noticed the sadness on the faces of his party, and then threw a rapid glandte around. One glance was sufficient to show plainly enough what had happened. He .saw the table covered with the stones and bones already described. He saw the heart-broken expression that was 'stamped upon the faces of David and Clive as they gazed u^ their parting treasures. He saw the attitude wid , - y ^ ""•" ""« ttiLuuae and ^^^^^P^os^vf-mm^mmr^nd PrankTimr Bob, as theji watched their friends. ■fi»^ kJfi'',^.4*yi .iKuif*. ^5 >»«>i_i()(i,»*kji'!yi;ii!j'-.i(i ."•ti-iJiatv 'i«.'-»f mLk «^<,.4i:,k'>' tVy^Jijtd. ■\fx and # . ^ '"DOES coxcaiAijEg, . 223 U^lZl/Tt ■"" °"'y 4la»e J ^11 to Michae Angelo, but suggested to him.» course of conduct upon which he instantly procifded to act Its all right," said Mtehael Angelo " n«. onderstand. I haf exnl^Jno J v "^*^'^- ^©7 BhadtinThu,'"™ "'" ''^^''^'«<'' -<» 'ooM at £!=|Sn^=thi;t^s « 1 11 . •", *^ dismissing a case, plainedr"*" ''" "" ^^'"'-""-thus ; "he haf ex- nat tuere was tg Fe Bifr>.,„oj .i.-L .? "10.= Vhat U.„. °"": . ' '"°'e''" at uni irom i-ompeu, no amoant of « explanation " \. /v.'W. aJs ■,''i&4i,':i Michael Angelo laughed. " I gif him," said he, "just one half dollar. Dat was what he wanted all de time. Aftai're dees you know what to do. All r-r-right. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha 1 " . And Michael Angtflo burst into a peal of daughter. r---i- TTpon this UncIeHoses began to moralize about 1- ^. h^-'f/ > , . *l. l,a » '' ^>- .;.%,^""i&?ii^,MaJ«.«i-'>'<* * TO NAPLES AGAm. / '^- V 'r'"'''-"sr4i^^^ 225 ten thousand otter thll^'^' ""«««»«««. ""d And tte carriage rolled back to Naples. ' ^ - -hi"* . ^ K *. * \ M ^ t ■ I 'I ^ih i&ii • -•• > • 1 1 •♦• .1 ; ■ AiiXt*«!f _';■■<*!-'. >♦, 226 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. > CHAPTER XX. nt Gbrus of JVaplts. - Tk, Museum.- The Curiosbi,, -Ho^ tkey unroll ,ke Carrel ManuJcHf^s'^^tla « . f'-H'-culaneum anU Pompeii. - On ,o Soie. - c^f ^(irshes. — The AppiiForum. IpHE party remained in Naples some t^me longer, and had much to see. There A^as the Royal Museuta, filled with the treasuLs of antique art, filled also with what was t^hL for more interesting -th« numerous articles 0x. burned from Herculaneum and Pompeii. Here were jewels, ornaments, pictures, statues, carvings kitchen utensils, weights, measures, toilet requi-' sites, surgical instruments, arms, armor, tripods, braziers, and a thousand other articles, the ac- companiments of that busy life which ha^ been so abruptly stopped. All these articles spoke of spme- thing connected with an extinct civilization, and told, too, of human life, with all its hopes, fears - joys, and sorrows. Some spoke of disease and pain! !f!^ l'^'^^"^^"!!^J^y ' ^'^^^^ <^Aeace,,tLe war ; here were the- emblems of religion, there .the symbols of literature. ■A * ■ \ \ t'^^u t-£4» - TT ig^Si g Sg yi« 'Curiosities, exhumed — Capua. • ^ Pontine ne time er&, AJiras •easujres ^hbm sles fex- H^re irvings, requi- tripods, the ac- )een so f sQme- >n, and fears, - d pain, tjbhosa I there .HEKCCLASEAN AND POMP.uk KANUSCBIPOB. 227 in the libraries of tK« I ?/ f ^^^ ^^^"^ ^^^^^ were baffled • but Tf i . ?* ^^'^ ^^°"*« »* ^rst might be doriA Tk^ . ■'^ wnicn the thing were Dot over eirf>r,V?. """"^ " "''o"^' »»' » through .rfiiTaar " ': -^^ ^^--^^ ro.Ied,^ouIdcruJeltttt;nClX""" was arjfestfid hv ««**• • ■^''"w>«'ni8«runlbhnir «eIatin;u11bS7j;:,f„-»f "f f '»"«'•' was niaoed tt.-. ,',? ™'"='"' "heet of muslin unrged slowly and ^S- ?_'^'! "f^ '' "<" «me;>maou being \.nrSTfe7-r^^^^ atince made. Of co»r» t^ ''" "^P^ '^ pr^«ervethomanus:;LTtlS:ert::S.e1 •^, ;>:*- s^j^^S^u" --•i:;.? 228 AMONG THE 6RIGANDS. and after a short exposure, just long enough to admit of a copy being made, they shrank up' and crumbled away. There were other places of attraction in this beautiful city— the Villa Reale, the chosen prom- enade of the Neapolitans, which stretches along the shore, filled with trees, and shrubbery, and winding paths, and flower-beds, and vases, and statues, and sculptures, and ponds, and fountains, and paviHons. There was the Castle of St. Elmo with its frowning walls ; the Cathedral of San Francisco, with its lofty dome and sweeping colon- nades ; an4 very many other churches, together With palaces and monuments. _ But at last all this came to an end, and they left Naples for Rome. They had a carriage to them- ee^yes, which they had hired for, the journey,' and the weather was delightful. The road was smooth and pleasant, the country was one of the. fairest on earth, Jpd as they rolled along they all gave them- .^^Ives^p to the joy of the occasion. Thev passed .^ thresh a region every foot of which was classic gro^d. Along their way they encountered amphi- thej^res, aqueducts^mbs, and other monuments of Jie past, some m ruins, others still erect in stately though " melancholy grandeur. Capua in- vited them to tarry — not the ancient Capua, but * he mode rn, which, though several milea r1.-«tftnt _ •bin the historic city, has yet a history of its own, /and its own charms. But among aU these scenes^ 1 »-'^ts.'S^-""*ivWi^«iu:^ s*e„.v fi^VwV"^. s ■ • S I] '\-r b] r'-t?- J if ■^_ / i TEBBACINA. r 229 ',^n ''^'•'\T'"* they encountered, the oL that nspressed them most was Cicero's tombl It 'is bmlt on the spot where he was assassinate J, of im- ■ r°«e stones, joined without cement. In Lpe it IS square but the interior is circular, and I siLle column rises to the vaulted roof. Of-Com-re whl^ ever contents there may have been have lolg since been scattered to the winds; no memoril of ?he great orator and patriotic statesman is visiL now • but the m.me of Cicero threw a charm aLt the place, a^d It seemed as though they weJe drawn nearer to the past. ,The boys expressed tLr fee" 2ve'^T""" ™^%'""* David, who ^as most alive to the power of classical associations, de- vered verbatim, about one half of the Lt or^ tion of Cicero against Catiline. He would have dehvered the whole of it, and more also, hojZl doubt, had not Frank put a sudden stop io Us iiow of eloquence by pressing his hand against David's "Ip itT "*''""« *°.^«*-e "^'^ "« ^^ On the afternoon of the second day they arrived shore with the blue Mediterranean in f™nt„stretch. mg far away to the horizon. Par out into the se« ■ run the promontory of Circ»um,-flvniliar to the .■>^ -wMe-erer^hBwi^tef the white sails of & f«>vmg ves«,lB passed to and fro. th^ y^Z broke on the st.»nd, fishing-boats were dr.^ up 23Q AMONG THE BRIGANDS. -^' on the b'oach, and there were wonderful briaknem and animation in the scene CTisimew Terracina, like aU other towns in this country thl Tlr ""^^^'^'^K where thft waters of the Mediterranean rippled and plashld over the ^:iT:^.'''7o t rtoiiir- t- th. surrounding heaut, th'e^y^el: ^^ and wandered, and scrambled, and raced »nH chased one another about the sl«mbe™„s 'town the long roll of the Mediterranean waL aTthev dashed upon the beach, and on the fouS^X,^ ttg resumed their journey The tr^ ^ "" .though the Pontin^e Mars^tdXiteS PoI«*"Shlst':ne'^;L'^ *''%''^^ o' «-« *«Haa in breadth i^i)^::::^^:^'^^ PONTINE MAB3HBS. 231 . origm of these marshes is not l;nown. In thei early ages of the republic of Rome ntimerous^ cities are mentioned as existing here. But all these gradually became depopulated , and now not a vestige remains of any one of them. Prom a very remote period numerous efforts were put AninM!?"" '""'' ^'"^- ^''«» the famous Appian Way wa» constructed through them thev formed which ran by the road-side? and of this canal Horace speaks in the well-known account of brs journey to Brundusium. Julius Ca^sarintend- task of reclaiming them ; but his death prevented Lni ™T"' recessive emperors, the aO tempt was made and continued, until at last, in the reign of Trajan, nearly all the district was recovered. Afterwards it fell to ruin and Z neglected for ages, down to modern times. Varl ous popes attempted to restore them, but without Bnccess until at last Pope Pius VI. kchievedthe accomplishment of the mighty task in the year 1788, ever since which time the district has been nnder cultivation. u-»8oeen The road was a magnificent one, having been S°^^S!!!°-lfthe4ien.i^^ • V *_7«» Jixed on essh siTe with tre^ef^ was broad and well paved. It is considered on, of the finest m Europe. Alottg this they rolled. .^'^i''^ >• >» :^. ^^Vrt."" > /■'■^ 1* ' - ^f* ^-i '*''"';-lv-: /. 232 AMONG TH^ BRIGANDS. ""atics/'and took L. . """"P'^'-ed of "rheu- --^y:-. As the, went o„XTw frowTs tf "'^ """" , com ng to work in the fiTll Th„ "^P'"^*'"'' lived in thB I..II „ "'" °eias. ihese peasants women, and even children w„r„ "P"*'™"- "en, pale, sickly faces and h. ! ? "■*' *'"' ""^ir deaclly were :: effects of Thl' '''°'' "'"'''«<' """^ from this marshy soil ''°^'°"" ^^'alations Bto^rarttf^rr-r'"r-« roadside. David bZSJL T''*'^'' ^^ «"« this place might orS. J°°t " '» "'"««'«' mentioned fn the booT^5 f ''* ""^ ''°™»> ^PPii of St. Paul on his war to 1° ■" " "'"PP^S-P'-^* were too hungry toUtT' """ "-e others the question. Thev^J?^ T^"'' *'''"«^»' '» ' their journey. ^ ' '' *''*'' jesumed . -"^. — . ' -"»., ^ -^r-- ) * ;. ■ -., - -M'^.^^. ■ ■-^s^: s S^S"' ^.. I. >(»«.; fiand the as damp, particu- ' " rheu- against pwarm- >easants easiants ! had to f labor, • Men, d their )d hotv lations which 5y the lether Appii place thers er in two imed PONTIlfe MABSHE8. 233 'fi CHAPTER XXI. - The Pontine Marshes yl rj.^^ n, foul EMSicnsJ^T^^""" "'"'"" '•orfy.- |0R the first half 6t the day the boy, h»a been ,n g„at «p,rits. Laughter^ noisy -.s ha7rcitC;SrAr"^°- ^a.iniat«.eBedia.. B^a^:",! t -^|^ Wan^. actVn thet ^Thtt^Tt^h: r and chill, and unpleasant. A ceneml fJv ^ % I T!^" ^^ nonsense mnr^ „*„^.-j. f . \^P^^,tJfiftC^^^^ ^tJ ^^*?. .A ;-:v?^ r 234 AHONO THE B^fGANDS. T^eeks older than DavM^^t ^ "'^/"'^ » '«'' and more „>at„re in J^ rltt^ fet""^"" hard student anri r^ , -^ '^^l^^^^s. i»avid was a and had a a^er sha'/ofTh T °f "^ '»*-°™. be gained from btks -but ^'""r'^'f ''"''' "ay' of the world and i^ »n *K T^ ^ '^«" ">-»•« ' cal affairs of com^riifo . "'*''' *'' ""^ P™<=«- ««perior to Dav.T For 1 ""' ■«"»«as„«bly -assumed, and vlrv J f ''"^™ F™nk often , of the pkr'f and so "'■'"'°' ""' ^ardianship •hearted Lin! Sf* ''?;'""'««■'' and simple, from them ^' T ^'""'"'^ '•^l-'^ed protection selves go to 2;n p u :^'"°S'' "»' '» '«* them %Pontin "Ses W a '^"l «"'"*'■« air of send one t '^'^' -would be sure to Zt , ***'• *'"^«'-' "-^ ^aid . dnlged in under suehT "'^ ""*' "'Sht be in- et/whichwaT created """T'^'"^''- "^ anxi- aense of res;:n M % ZZ 7% '^'^J '" ''" keep him awake, and left him f^ "'®"'™* *«*- awake also; and thn's l^Z^S^^^^ fag danger. . '™"' 'he impend- V # V : tr /•uTt-^-'y^. V it J of tho 3I7 a i'ew stronger i^id was a ok-worm, that may >en more e practi- asurably ik often lianship to him, Uncle as their simple- tection 'arning i tliem- air of ncy to this, 3 said,- be in- anxi- >y his nt to^o" [I_hi8 A CHANGE COMES OVER THE PARTT. 235 was not a very strilrin., -^ut the smgmg Up. • -^ . . -^ strikmg success : there was a l«Pt l^nt whether it was thf. .,. . f '^" "''^^P' •riade him more Uahl! f '"\ ""'"'« '^-Perament "Come, Bob," said Prank, " this won't do Yn.. .don't mean to say that j^ou'^ sleepy7 "" yawt!"' ""!'"'«• ^^ ''^''^ his eyes, and ;;Bob -«rid p, k, „ t,t^ ^^ ^^ ^^ *'- I" »" "ghy -aid Boh, with u d»wl "r-'^^'t'S^-Tn.wideaX'; Scarce ha4 he finished this when hie eves cIn.,H •gain, Mid his head fell forward. ' ^ thers 3end- V - L*j»*.-1# *" -n «.. ?■. — 1 «PB- v^'iu tmiv I ' mat 236 /I AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ^ Frank shook him, and Bob raised himself np with an effort at dignified surprise, whi«h w» however, a feilnre. ■ x" was, kv" Jr ''^^^"''' ''"'" * ^'"°<' ^^ »aW i" a has- fcy, sldepy voice. « But I will shake you," cried Prank. «oddi:g~ag":in: '""'" "'' ^'"'' '° " •^'^ ""'^p^^' rI^'^CL """^ F™k;"tWll never do. Bobl Boblw^ke , Bobl B0*0KHMHM>0<«KM.b wa-a-ara-ara-arake u-u-u-u-up ! " he^hnhlf "JT".'''"!' ""■'" "P- O-the contrary, W» H P ? '''"'' '" " ^°°^''^ -^d ™becile way towards Prank, as though seeking unconsciously to find a place on which to rest it. But Prank wouldn't ^llow anything of the sort. He ml! Bob «t erect, and held him in this way for some fW uavid and Clive were a little roused by this and Burveyed ,t with sleepy eyes. Uncle Mose "hot ever was as wide awake as ever -he had his and th,s made sleep out of the question. He now joined h,s entreaties to those of Prank; and thi two, umtjng their shouts, succeeded iL maJng considerable uproar. "iai"ag Still Bob would not wake. rZl n""^^^ ^"°" g^* °"^ ^°d walk," said Vro^jnk. "lL..m uever do. IT Be sleeps here, he may never wake aimin » ' ^"J' never wake again." ife4^*,«?l0kr^-^^ w J i^-nrVfW) -♦ i \ it<* \s * -J ''rf- ...fei^it.^,it, 4 "1^" «„.M\i,^w^ 'V. limself up 'hioh was, I in a hus- r whisper, 0. Bob I o-o-o-o-bl contrary, cile way isczously it Frank ade Bob lie time, ng him. his, and es, how- had his ; e boys, He now and the making Fraaka THE SLEEP OF DEATH. e may '*■' '^CA.w^^^k 237/ Saymg this, Frank turned to onen iha . • door to call to the driver A ! V^!",' , ""^"^^S^ his hold of Bob who b!j^ ^« he did so, he loosed that side^eU ;ve^o' Ffank' T' '"^^'^ "^ ^° downwarT °^ ^ ^^^ ^^^^ h'« ^oe him as hard as he conld, he veiled ;„ sleepily unwilling to submit to tV . ^^ his teeth. " *' ^^ ^^^^ed it in « B0K)^0b I Bo^D-O-O-OKHMJ-b I » yelled Fmnt ilut Bob wouldn't ""upi Dl^Ih''t^ "u**" *'■«'''«''"■*•'•'« teeth. held in hifl teeth. ^ "^"^ ^^'^ '°°"**»' **»«* :.i*)i*j!l;^viiiijl..'\,.w^,',.?! -v ,, , 'it'. t*vii '■■to "V 238 N si It t\-* AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ^ZT^ ^''''^^^ ^* ^^ dismay, and then looked He gave -a cry of vexation. • Bob had seized Frank's trousers in his teeth and as he was pulled up, he held on tight. €onse' quently tI^e cloth gave way, and there was poor Frank, reduced, to rags and tatters, and utterly unpresentable in any decent society. . He |ave up Bob in despair, and beg^n to in^ vestigate the extent of the ;uin that had been wrought m his trousers. It was a bad rent, an ' Z t"^ V T' ^? ^■''* ' ""^ "^-^ that/4m^ia da wag to fie his handkerchief around his leg 'Bob now slept heavily, held up by Uncle Moses. Ibe other boys grew drowsier and drowsier. Frank was just deciding to get out of the carriage . and make them all walk for a time, when a snd- den event occurred which brought a solution to the problem. It was a sudden crash. Down sank the carriage under them, and away • It went, toppling over on one side. A cry oiT terror escaped all of them. Every one started up, and each one grasped his neighbor. ' There was something in this sudden shock so dreadful and so startling, that it broke through even the drowsiness and heavy stupor of Bob and penetrated to his slumbering faculti««, «n^ f^ „n His^nt roused them all. With a wild yell he flung his arms i^ound Uncle Moses. Uncle Modes feU ,'ra.,»&i S^f^ N \i en looked his teeth, t. Oonse- was poor id utterly '^TL to in- had been rent, an "Cbuld do le Moses, drowsier, carriage n a sud- lution to nd away cry of rted up, hock so through •ob, and i Jp-an \ A BBEAK-DOWN. 239 " AM right," 8aid he, ih a cheerful voice "W„ have^^,o„e„ver quite.. The horses haZtopp!^! ' '«<- . to p„J, them all when oZ rfT""' '? *''* '«'"«» since it was as m„ch aT^K ''''*«'» '^«» gone ' a walking pace ";en\^tb ^^ """" "^ '» "^ ' the other reason wiTt ht """f,'^ "'"■™«o ! »<« • be^better able to TgbtVi ''f '"« '^"y '^""M ^d menaced them. In Ch » Z™"'""'' '^"o'' " concerned, there did »„/' ! '^^ *' ^''O'^^ess particular dai^ffer-L*i, ^ ""^^ "=«» to be anr '""J been suffi^e^fl ' ^''^^'-ob^afcrZ ;?' ^- ^» " t th at^^ ,'; : ^ "" . " ^t °"'^' ""'' t^ - "■ewever, on accouat of h °'"*- "^"o'e Moses, \ >-<• Us tenden^^t" rhtl^";,'"'' '■'"'™'-"4 • 16^ '''*""»t,cs,. together with •^ ■ 242 AMONG THE ^GANDS. his freedom, from drowsiness, was installed in ^he , carriage, with all due honors, as its sole occupant, / Walking on thus, Jjiey did not regret, in the / slightest degree, the hardships of their lot, but rather exulted in them, since they had been the means of rousing them out of their almost uncon- querable tendency to sleep. Frank felt the high- est possible relief, since he was now freed from the responsibility that had of late been so heavy. In Bob, howeveay^ere was the exhibition of the greatest liveliness. Bob, mercurial, volatile, non- sensical, mobile, was ever running to extremes; and as he was the first to fall asleep, so now, when he had awaked, he was the most wide awake of all. He sang, he shouted, he laughed, he danced, he ran; Jie seemed, in fac^, overflowing with animal spirits. I • ,1 Fortunately they wej-e not very far from the end of the marshes whep the wheel broke, and in less than two hours the^y had traversed the re- mainder. The driver could speak a little English, and informed them that tWy could not reach the destination which he had jproposed ; but he hoped before dark to get as far\a8 an inn, where they could obtain food and lodgiiig. He informed them that it was not a very gooS inn ; but under the circumstances it was the byst that they could hope for. To the bbys, fao^A^everrit made TJttiraf^rence^jMtTsort of aVi inn they came to. As long as t]^could get soiethiliig to eat, and ij &' toy.-: ' i / LONELY iW. 243 any kind of a bed to lie on, tL were Lf . I 80 they told the driver. - ' ""^^ "^^^^ P^t«nt ; and Leaving the marshes, the road bein f ^nd after about a half houi^s Wh J^^ came to a place which Cdrit'fc was the inn. • ^ ^^iver miormed th<^ once been covered wth ?"'' '"«''' ''^'"'^ ^ad had fallen offTn 'in, ""r' '"'* ""« »'»««<> stones underneath ?„/""''' '^"'''°''"« t""* ™"gt A door opened iaZ/LT'" ""^ *'"" ^'««'-»'d«- Which wasVllCdiSr iTth "'' "^ ,third in thTaTt7^ nteVeV if '"^7' '^' » matr-Sonre srlh^^ h.^! T *" ""*" »°d die- had sashes wi t X'tLr'f^''' """'" sashes at all. . ^ ' *'"'* °*''«" had no whtSed'h^ aTthe:r^ *^ '"°™''"'» »' There was somethinLt k "«' "' '* <'™'^ °«ar. their dirtv swarf h,, <-o ^'P"'^*^® to the bovs; Mblack be:X'thn«r"' -** shag^, beneath which their M t ^^ «y«hrows, from . ^e^^^w^e^nanevi^aspect^a. ^fcS^i ■•i 244 1 . 4 AMONG TH^ BRIGANDS. vnoked simster, auspioioM appferance, by which ' nl . ^' "*■■* '1"""y ™P'««8ed. They said Dothmg, however, and much m theV disliki^ th„ that there was no help foHt, and so the; madeul ^err inmds to pass the night here as we'u ^\^ teaving the carriage, they waited a few mo- ments to ask the driver about the prospecTs f^ •rLTV!7; ^' ''"^' '""' ev'rytMng a^ rSfte^dX^C:^^^^^^^^^^ ■f^tt^lw.^X""'''^'''''"^*"'---^^^^ .Jt'' r!r""'^l«'«»' somewhat, and though thev aT w„„|d have been willing to walk to Velletre would n„r^ ^ f^'^"" '"'"• y«' ^-"'^ MolTs wo»M not be able to do it, and so they had to make np their minds to stay. " wmage On entering the house, they found the interior q« to ,n keeping with the exterior. The h^l w« were infonned, was to be theirs. The door wm fragUe, and without.any_fe,tening, The rZZ" ---.:• ^ : -y-jjywning , me room was -rtarge one, oontainin^g a tebie'and three be^t inth one emaU waah^tand. Two windows looke ' u M THE INN. 245 open to the air * *"' ^"* ^as ■oom at alt^ '' """^ '""«?!? Ughtedthe While they were Z,- "^^ ^^ •>«»»«'• browed villlL ^Ted „;?r;" .f '"«*'«'' '»- pl*ed down each dish in '"' """* "^ ''« roind upon the .L .^"''ce'sion, he looked hpngry than ihese bT ^ese "^ ^"'''"*''' eiai^ation to be affe^twi ''*'"* *°° "«« ^oaeioD. "« **" "i^arksfor afotnre , So the dinner passed. -they al. looked tl'fte^^^t^'T^t^^ ''°'''' th.ir he«i. togethTrand tten fl "" """^ '^ P"' t::'ii, i<(.iiniMi 24d 1^ '-' AMONG THE BRIGANDS. -'^SV^?' " Adon'^ like this," said Prank. * V \ do. said Clive. do. saidLfavid. ^ \do- . said Bob. Cnri/r' ''"°^^*!^ ocfortable iere," said " I>id youy otice that scowl ? " said Bob ^""'X saidCHve. ' f' \ sai* David, h '-*.TT«'.*?* ,. «^'d Frank. Moses. I ve been expectin somethiii o' this 6ort." nhJ ^'^'x,^"°^^ "" ^^""^' ^«^ fearof,l,eink do r TH K ^'' "P ^"^ closed the rick t? door. Then he resumed his seat. ^/ Then they all put their heads together again. This IS a bad place," said Frank! / ^^- said Clive. / do. said David. / ^^ , do. said Bob. "I distrust them alf," said Clive. J do. said Frank. *' ' ^ do. gaid David, do. said Bob. :" i ' I don t like the looks of ttiat ^re driver," said yPcie Moses. " I blevflJ ig - ' ^^^ tvy^yc^, - - 'y; "^gmmiriv o g^ tfaat the re ^«^ a purpose, so^r^;;^^;'^ here den." ^^/i^j, ;JM ;.v;..-A "^ ^ Vi5 I •• / -V.I - ,.nr'- SUSHGIOUS APPEARANCES. 247 Hr wH?r' rr Lri '^-H !"*L»''« -•-a- of all. Who was thQ^ down was certain! all pre-jirranged men bfelow. Th _,, " There are a dbz do. do. do. , after all? That break- 'US. It might have been ^ suspicions. Then the manyofiheml lem/' said Bob. spd Frank. «iaid David. /said ChVe. ««,-/n 'i' .? '^ ^ gatheriVhere altogether" said Uncle Moses, "an it's m^ idee that^heyVe come for no good. Didn^t Zou notice how they stared^ at us wUh them ^Xked-looking eyes fcket] a^though^th^r^^ ilT r ""'^ '^'^' ^"^^^^' narverand sinnoc, ^Wnall on ye put together." • //^ *«%!{; r«!il4»»jU« ^ m. w ?■::■ I'\ a y,. 248 AMONG THE BRlQj^s. At this little outburst fho l^« • , . regretted that th J had It 7^ ""'^ °°*^^'°^' ^"t ing on. , ^ ^^^ ""^^^ ^* ^east, proposed go- " We're in a fix/' said ChVe. " ^^ ' said Bob. ^^- said Frank. ' .do* ^^^^ ^avid. - ^^* said Bob. " It's ihl I ^^'^ ^^^ve. Undo Mot; °''"°"'"' P'"- I ever see," said "It'a too dart to leave now," said David. ' do. ®^^^ ^^'ve. do* ®^^^ ^ob- ' "Yes,anc| they'd an be arC'^'f Theyreth,^orstsortofbriganda,"«SJdBob. do. ' «aid Frank. -^ do. Bai4 David. "Y^, reff'Iar hW^fi,- . said Clive. JJncIeMose/'''^^^^^^^-^*^ miscreants," said "mdoorhas no lock," said Frank. ,% said David-j^ ^ • . ^^^ ^--^ oaid Co b. ' Jjt ^oT ^ said Clive. ■iiaS*.&r.'.i..., i nothing, but proposed go- ^ncle Moses. ■ see," said vid. ve. b. t; . " nk. fore we'd su3Pieioua appearances. ^ — -ri-EABANCES. 249 "O, yes, it's a ree-'lnr f^« ^ «ure," said Uncle Zis «T' '? T''*^ ^'" '^^ ''' out of it." ^- ^ *^°^>' hope we']I get ^ « That window's open, too," said David. do* said Frank, do* saidpiive. "Yes nn+»,„ • ,. said Bob. Mose! C^^^^^^ \-^ - iV'said Uncle " ThL'li ! ^^'"''^ *« P"t agin it I " . ^fa^^^jj^ come to-night," said CJive. • /' ^ said Frank. ° said Bob. selves." ' ^''^®''^go* to preparour- . "Wliat shall we 40?" said Frank. „ ^*^- said Bob. /. , °°- saidClive.^ ' stances ? ^^^sX; is °^ '" "°'" *"« «~ He closed it again. Thenhawe^t«oeachoft,h.w.ndow„u. =^^88fon7 He looked out of each. Then he resumed his seat. -»ttCi~ i"!2|Al'f|<-,^'rf','. %,. . ,' '-V- i'jAi. 250 %* AMONG THE BRIGAND^. J^^fValr- asked tinoie Moses, in an i„,„i„.„g under the end windlw" ' "'"''' ^'^'^P^^^. just - wk;ra:o„:trhef:-:r' -^ *wan "It's a solemn time I - '^ ''''™<'^' ''''<=«s. *':e%*::Lr;ra;s:tTt^^ "^ '^--^ remark. ^^^^"^ *o ^ucle Moses' ^^At^ length, after a sHence of some time, F.„; P«' the largest tar^ie^'^'^''" opens inside : if th^ h.^ . ^i^'n^t the door. It be opened." ' ^'^^'^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^t it, it can't ;^' But the windows," said Clive And now they M set ZT,' '=°f<'«P"y- "aking^repa™^;': fo ho nij^t't '" ^"'"^ t'ons consisted in making It '' P'^P*™" ahouM offer resistance to ,h ""'"'" *'"■="• bloody-minded, mn de rous h H T"""' "^ '^'' ■•ng, and diabo ieal br Ss ^^f "''T*"'' "">^'- ^ the bedstead; Z Z^ T" '*"'• . «■« " "*' '»W. ponderous, olifash. iV. «iU ' an inquiring I Frank; "but whispers, just and thej all earnest faces. Uncle Moses, ^ut by their ^ucle Moses' time, Frank ?/' said he, ^ idea is, to e door. It ' it, it can't wi^dow8, sntly. ly to work h prepara- de which ;8 of the 'd, scowl- ^nk's sug. m rsi. One oldVash- BARRICADES. 251 loned, and seemed* canahlA ;^ i doorway, of withstaS 11^^? '^T' « cannon ball ThU ,^ "s.^yning less than a bodily f J^hl*^ tT; ;:r'r\''-'*'"« " fast against tlie door Th„ ^T'^ " ''"'^ """l -the highest dtJCto'ailTrr^ ^'"'^^'■"^ seareronTInr:::;"!:- '-P-t'the roo», to invasion. As to Ih! S' "* "" *" ^"a'-d against their heigl^VoV the^ "^' *'"^ »'«'»e''rthat one Who might be ab ovl F^TTT' '" "^^ an too. thi:rn r iS :a'xfg& "^^ opening into the attic Th^ <"|deme«th the Porhaps, a trifle more e'cur?^^"^ . ^« ''''• to close up the daT ^ ^ ''*'^ ''««'' able removal of^the stenll:""""* "^^"^ '"" «>« j -^doingthe^af lTT'^ -?"-». and =5f ay. TOr^acfi fron, an^ possible quarter. Frank drew attnieana enemy in that a long breath of relief a« he look^ .■\:MiM0i:fA: M- lih&a)4i-'iiJlf¥»^t* #^,: '^ 252 AMONG THE BBIGAND8. placency, .and to the annrl '*'' "J"*' <"""- . deteons «enae of seclitj ' ""' '"'="<'«'»«'' » - • ^«'^e«»featla«t,"sa,dCl*e _ ^°- said Bob. , ; :^^<>- said David. . ' "Tfc. k °',. said Frank. -- ' i"« an»y of them bldv-L,,,!'", -"^^ "'"' ''^'^ "^ /hem oifall right, and b^molnt th mT''' "«"" ' / wagons passin by, an JZn , .^ f ™ " ''* '<^'« °f ^0 go, let's see wh "t weepL^l •"""• ^'" ''««>™ ' «a«e o' need. It's riluT ^ ? "*" "kearupJn h^y.„ alius best to have things " Well," said Prank "I'm "othing but a knife ■ " Ld " """Z ^ '"^ I'^« got « ordinary jaokknk,„l7a;"r.'''^.''''^'''''^«<> not particularly sharp.' " u ^"'"'"'f 'a-'go, aud io opened it, and flourished 7- T.""*"' ""''' ''«'a» something." """shed it ,n the air, « but it's " Well," said Clive « T i. , ""'.I've heard tL\herernor *^*'''''^''''^<'-- ohair, if you ^„t . .. "^ » nothing equal to a M take this,7nd knorr'"'' \'""-^'''' '" """I «o ^ ttat shows hi; noseS JT '"^t '""' '•"gand «* oh air from the flooV f " j !1_''° ■"■'^. «■.». he lifted "^^^^^^^^^'SSr'iand Sil/'^f ^ \».i . ^ ■t^j-n 3ouId be done. ^ equal^ com- » which they succeeded a ^©'re jest, as > can defy a reants, fight •i be lots of But before < *kear up in ive things ^y I've got displayed Jarge, and 3aid he, as " but it's to I a knife; ual to a ; and so brigand he lifted airi ~" J, "and WEAPONS OP THE GARBISON. ■. , 353 > don't see the necfiasif tr «<• - how we.e ;^r.^b"/ir 'if ^ ''"''i . " Well,"> said Bob «rv' *^'^°''" "Wal," said Uncle Mo8ea'«T'„. i .t's pooty i,g,y weepin r he handf / "^"' "" ".an -a desprit ngfy^^^X" " """«' And now let's go to bed," said David ^°- . said Bob. ■ ^°' eaidCIive. ^ "Yes, boys, that's , bout thetifr*- do," said Uncle Moses, decisivd^;'' """« """^ f'i •"", >i§i. 4^ II&S. ^jihAJi>a>^,, .1.-,. . Zi,^....;^ ■ '■^JtA-'^ »■« .'^^=«K«>-'.-- .«*». \ ' € f I^^APTER XXIII. ^.-^^^l-^s^L 7%tf /(jjp £c^rs.- Omet of, he Brigands! "~ l ^'"""S eSK^ ^oy a" went to bed. '■ . i . ' alltif i:\r "" "-fi''™- -liich they danger remaih^d t It " ^^'f'^^' ' "•«"»^** "f to create alarm with th. « < *"^ ""^ ''^ t'""" W^ at this «metha„ to^'etrr'T'" been that this was his nat„r» I -f "''^ ''*^« that his nerves wer« ' ' " "^^ '^^ ^'^^^ tremendous adten Itl! JTJ!. ^.f^''!- --e his n« *«^ , — ^*" "wre sene tremendous adventures during the naar P^stum ; but whatever was awake ^jncapable of sleep-, i ^,'^««a|""g the sleep ofthi ,*le afflTFrank/^ad the same b« tad been placed in such a wfv th % '- of horror se, cer-' led wide the othert ht. was the oor. It lead of • '>. 'JiJBi*«' *^^^^-s. t' H\^ ^^*' -V*,t ' -'14*» W::m % M- f- The low Tk^ Garrison ^e feleaguered — The Scaling which they )r^caution8, thought of ne of them >n of Bob. ore excita- may Iiave have been since his of horror • puse, cer-' ped wide ;he otherii ,t. . t wad the foor. It f^ead of V,,. . ■ SLEEPLESS WATCH. ^ £55 occupied'by David and CHv« I t '""'' ""^ ^d disposed of tberete^;''" ", ^''^ ""^ "^^^ ' soon fei, ::[:«;'■ tbTs:"- 't°""°^' '"^^ He fnpri oii k f'oiie»i^maiijed awake. •ooL J^;^;rtd^"rt„-^ :;;^-ands. He He L^C W^^^"^ '^''^^ *■" »'-P • rollinffl,^ Th^, '&*? "g'""' ^""^''''« ''"''» of mif > . ^- ^'"**'90w^aau8eles8. «ien he tripd another Be «„;i«. j a • ^/v m e thod flL Wavi / gram, idiers. ^..;fe)'...„.^!<^,, ,X- -■ «: » ■*■*■ ■■"".'■'"'"'^ws-. ^'■^.■■■;: / 256 AMONG THE PBIGANDS. J Funerals. ' A shore covered with sea-weed. An illimitable ibrest. A ditto prairie. The vault of heaven. The ^ wide, shoreless ocean: A cataract. . Fireworks. The stars. '^■ A burning forest. Looking at his nose. Wishing himself asleep. Rubbing his forehead. Lying on his back. .. ^0: do. right side, do. do. leftside. '. ^o. (Jo, face. they were all equally u^f ^" '*"'"" *''** «af onM'''r*", ? '■" ''^^P"^^' •""! """6 "P he sat on the srde of the hfirl wrifk u* /• , © "P "" d.wn, and looted around ' ^^t d^glmg The moon had risen, and was sUninir' into thi. ^-^cotstrr-X^ef::^^^^ '4^ fe^ie^PThye^sepuIchrai dron. fS^ef In sp.ta of h« vexation- abou^ hi. wakel^e.Va . * v5it''-Wi" ^^^ »ther .. .n a subdued tone, anVhe ^J "."7"" "^ ^-"«« !;« "t least a haJf a dLen wh ^ ""' "'«'^ "">«' ■' To this noise Bob sat list ",''"'/''"' """^ '^"^'"g- '«™a.-«^ in the same Ze±f '"""^ '™«- " ^'^ ""I'ke nothing out of it b '; > "°"™<' '"<' «<>»><» £l the fears of briwl . l'"'"'''^'' '" '«»-akon ■ w The ^^ent w "" T'^'"^""* ^''^"^ ^elow ^'s excit^ent Witlking with tfi^ / 17. increa^d. \ i •* / • ''^■. 'M ^MONG THE BRjCGANDS. 54fe.. . At last he heird tTie BountJs more'plainly ■ They were evidently at the foot of .he stairvvay. Bob hs ened m increasing excitement: H» Then, there came a creaking sound. It was from tl,e stairway. They were ascending, it, I, waft.' ^"^ 01- waking Frank, but decided to m The sounds draw nearer. There must have jbeen e.x or seve* men upon the staifcay, and they were walking up. ^^ ,. What for? 41 V HeMd no doubt what it was for, ^nd'^ he waited know,ng that they were coming to this room in' which he was,,^ -'-^j, _They triefl. t* walk softly. ThJre wew low I^'wCary "' *"''"^' "^^^ ceased, as tteT Neafer and nearer 1 . - . t / Ai1^bknew|totthey%re outside of/the "' door, an*as he 8at^)rt llje Ud, l,o kn«* thSt &re * could^ot be .mor, thjglfc^d o'f distanorUtween r rJ "^ "|4woody.,pinded, beetle-browed^ ru^less^ ,demo.a| agd fiendish a,rig.„ds. J,s^tldod r.f oolTinW veins at the. ver, , He did not dare to move. He sat riVid, with rf,irr„;" «■"""-■ "'-^-^^^o" the Then -came sTslight creaking sound -the sound of a preaSBre agjinst the door, which yielded * '-teijilai,,.. THE LOW WSrsPEBa. 25d ?"^Zr'^:' 'y ">« w, Hed fro, They were trvin ' J'j*^''" """'■•-takabje soipd •«'««?, and- they wisld 7„ '"" ''"'"">» were all -;o acco,„p„.,^,,::X^-e n „o,-,„,e.i,, .„ JPora mompnf ;♦ ^ errand. „ -m anguish ine^press/ble tt 1^ "'°"^'>* e"*-' ' ' was not 80. Then he ;!n , 1°°" '^^'^ 'hat f t''« door from the baffled l,H 1-" '"'"«« P"'''' f '^ey would drop aTatteT,"'''- ^' "'""Sht- •'"^nopen attack """'' "' ^«'="<=y, and •But they did not do 80. ">S, 88 yet, to resort tl ^'- '^^ "'«'"« "» Wished to «ffe„t ;^^ ' '° ""'V violence. |_ ]" - ence. Such weVe Brb'''T '" '''"'^^ tho,iht8 were 8treng,henfd 1''°"^'"'' >^'"<'t slowlyaove away and H /' '"' ^^""^ 'hem W'th^ whioh^ they' J^^1^''^LJ.J?A ^Ji^e. are going to try the Windows,/ thought «^««P. He determined fn "^^^ "° ^''"^ ^r «« iaid his hand rF^^n:^ff - cranks forehead, ind shook '«* 260 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. , his head. Then, bending down close to him, ho hissed in his ear, -^ " ' \ " Wake 1 wake I Brigands 1 Don't speak I don't speak! silence I" . \ Frank was a light sleeper, and a quick-witted ^ lad, who always •retained his presence of mind. At Bob's cry he became wide awake, and without a singjie word sat up in bed and listened. AH was still. " What's the matter ? "he asked. Bob told him all in a few words. Upon this Frank got up, stole noiselessly to the / Window on tiptoe, and listened. Bob followed. As they stood close to the window, they heard the sound of murmuring voices immediately beneath. Several of the panes of glass were out of tlii^ window, so that the voices were perfoctlyaudiWp '' though of course their ignorance of the langu^e prevented them from understanding what was saii As they listened, there arose a movement among them. The voices grew louder. The men were evidently walking out of the house. The listeners heard the sound of their footsteps on the ground as thoy walked away, and at a little ^distance off they noticed that the voices babame more free and unrestrained. "They'll be back again," said Frank. " \ " Lfil'a wak o tho otho r o," suitl Bob. Upon this suggestion they both proceeded at once to act, waking them carefuUj^, and cautioning /■ ^'/»mj5e -ij.'i-i 7 262. K AMONG THE BRIGANDS. e • ri:„t"' ""^ """■* "°""^ '"' *^°p'o*by He came back and told the others. All felt thi, same d>smay which Frank had felt. Non" of hit :Mui_a word,„but they all stole „p /t" wtS and oobng out they saw for thebselves ^' i he brigands approached the house/ carrvm^ ge«d «,"" "" '^'•'■^^■"'-eathen-nff -lo«e to- dri:d:::peVfiv'^„:f'-;'''^'r^'"^^'-'' . whisper. *' sa,d, word, not even a ■ Wed'bTaT"'™ ?*""'^ th"^ brigands was fol- S „'•":?!,?! °" "'± P-' .-"-» brought .*ings nearer to a climax Th '^ . , ""'''"S'" once more »„. 1! ."'„'•_.. ^bey raised Ae ladder ■tBe: Clive hiacthair. ■*< ■ ■*>.- once more, and moving it I 1, t e f ,C aTJ . , they proceeded to n,.t ;t' ■ '""^ aw^, . i TP,„ 1 jj P ' " 'JP agairtst the housS . '. The ladder w,s put up at the fquth «nd of tht ■ house, and as it was being carried there fSAh Of defence. ^ grasped .fey, weapon 4 * - # 63 t * « m .,.^)..- c '"^L - « «-i pte* t)y tile A.1I felt tU »ne ofthejal ^le windov^,! t" , carrying tlieirjoad time. As a^ looked • jclose to- tion cairie stood in ►t even a was fol- ^ brought •le ladder e housB. -'* d of thfe .' ' fo^'tjhe (foses |all irrding- a rvation, weapon X ^'^^ |ELEAGUERED PABTY. 26J s Frank his knife. ^ Bob his' chair. " ' ^ David his knife. Uncle Moses his razoir. - i " Be ready; boys," said Uncle Moses, in a firm' voice, as l,e grasped his razor. "The honr S^ . come, and the decisive moment air at hand I" .rept It tevlr" " '''"''''' ^"'^ *"'= "^"^^ ^"^ - ■» «nf It ""^'*'""'*'' "neamvhile elevated the ladder ^^^ . thri!. ^, •"''" '"'" " "'«" '» the hearts of ■' • the br^ r' '•" '"'^ ™'""- ^^ "-y -- on« of .the brgands seize the ladder in order to monnt l^they all involuntarily shrank back oneTtep "'' ■in a wh'S.:' ^'"'""": "' -"^^ ''^■'^' ^-pfe. .: This remark encourkged- the# for a moment ' • ■ tt^m'S!"!^ *5 '•T'^ '""^ ^™'"' that announced _»,«.em»sjfcey stepped in through the window.- * .^, V°^ brigand! I .•''Vo brigands! I ■ ' '. ,'^,, J ' '" .V ' Thpe6bd|and8l'n ' '%-:'i-' i ■ Foni-brigantls!!]! : ^ ' '' ? j. , "'' :i\ ^ ,4 experienced at seeing that" the attack waf' n^ ' , m«e upon tbefr window i^aa suVeeded 4Z "«. ■'fi-' ^- '"^ - 1 •^^** ^.#.*, ■w^ ■iVIIHHWII ^>rK. 264 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. l4:;'i^ v. "V,- hare overhead. 1^1 h^jehwly wL open tL"*'! that .^nmg t„ey conld drop'do^Trb/ot"^" The same thought came to all nf ih T * 4 one common i„,^,3e ZXlf'^Z"^'' :'''' : the step-ladder lay on the^o^^ffi^^ |4.^^*«»' first , the other, Mo^eP ^' '^'^ rmt, frank, with his fcnifei Second, Bob, with his chair. ' : ^ Third Clive, with his chair.. . 1 K^th, David with his knife. .... ,. ' «e excitement of tt Ir t "^d^ rd7red"l' OvrrhertheXS'^^^S;^ ^/^^e ^oO^' ment whatever. i^^^^g; wit nd move- whiS^^Id^^^hSwi"'''''"^-^:-^™''' Bo'^ f ""/T*,!^"- watchingt^etew-^ &* 'j-v . . '^ere abotit to come. ^Pouiiig through whic^ their epemies h '!''■ I ) : • f^^Sg^jfeai %^„^^ M W^..^ f n J^-r.-.,-^r,=? •i « 'W '_jw^cyk#f^i^«ifvi;»' ' .1 %!f ,^ „^, ; i -■I :\ \ - «^ £ "8 a ,>\'i.. }:*r J \ ./f --tii\^Kp— , H^"fff'!if I?«C»EASiNO ALiBlr. 265 The brigands bad lighted a lamp I ' The excitement grew stronger. ,, The suspense was terrible i that surrender wonld W \ , ^ ^"^ "?' '•''"t , minded- AiscrearwouIdTh "^^-yoody- ths. besieged- pal ,"L ,f°T ?° '""""*>''' "■«> them_of sdlinr-t^L if *?''' ^Posed upon An)•<• .were immediately aboL .1, m.- ^ bnggnds ,,• down into the room ' """■ ^''^'''«''t ^^one : ; " "^'^'^^^ crMn. a M strong, stern, '' ••*! ,J %« ^ V ^ 2K AMONO THE BRIGANDS. - ' ::"::™r '"''"*= v'T" "''''■'' ^"^f''- "Who's rHEEE?"pri.,i p i *' loader, sti-onger L/Z ^T •"''^"^^ *i»e, in a No answer ' ^"^ ?*"« "^^'^g voio^ -A.1I was still. «» Wliat did it mean ? " WHO'S THERr? n • ^ T, ^ in the loudest, sttnLr:! ^-"^ a third tiu^o, «oi„g tone tha hTeS "'''''"^"^^«*«^-n- TLL FIRE ! f f j j , , j '"n '""^P"^^' " ^PEAK, QR This tremendous thrpaf ^^ li ^ '■ carried out, of course „U,^ t ,e In"' 'T •'^^" ' ja^or of thi part^ below h,,^ ?'' "'""'•'' ""^ brought a reply. ' ■"" *' ""^ mte it " Alia raight ! " crip,! „ • . onalee me. Alia safe r"'™-."^'^'"'''- I''« .'traps for de vettum I^r "","'""' ^et some ' instantaneous and iLli ?. ""™ '^^^ «° The dark terror of T^Cnt bef'"" "' ^"'"'"e- fransformod to an absrat^' TwZ'r"''^"'' • - « *^'*'' HUietiy upon the floor : '*» , ^ND OF TROUBLES. . 287 O I "said Frank, trying to Rn»»t • ' • ' careless 4;terK>t:,act Ll "-Te 'l.rV"^' Shall we I^ave in ihe morning »" ^" ' '''"'«'• . " O, yais Alia r-r-raieht " saM .1 j • . remark whatever Thev " n "' "■*"*« "» ^ rather sheepishly back T. ,. ■ T^' "'''"'">'' »"« -«'• found a-»ood Zlu ,^ "''"''^'^ refreshed, and fc^n^'i:- ■ "reakfaat waiting foF*h.™ ^1 ftrand ahtonother carriage in ti!-^ ^^^^ "d resu&d their journey.' "'2*^«'«y «»tered ./' r^i' "*• C^', 'CL' ' * 1° 1 r t' I|i^^ lite Jlnpji 268 AMONG THE BRIgInDS. Y CHAPTER XXI7. olog) versus Appe^^^Tln^^ f ''' ^'^^ - ^rchl ranean Channel. '^'^ ^^^^i^nt subter- onn shone ^ri,Ulyfror,TLliTZ'V ^'s was pure, and brilliant, and ZZ aM -r f '^A had such a wonderful t,n„ «*""*'' "nd 'I also \ objects seemed -t t^L rer err/' T- ***"' with which their o,„ "'® distinctness /road was amj ifi^ ":i ""^ 'r"*"' "^"^ ^well g«ded,^tnrtho„7f~ rf' "?" ^''■ steadily ascending vet fhl » T "''^' " '™» ' swh an ^asy slope' hat it '^°""*,'^''^ """I* hy b.e ; and^ CCwlTd' 1'^ r ITa^ '" "■emiy as If on level ground C ^ ^ ,*" scenery around «»s of thf ^ , *'"'«<"'«'•. "» agter. Thev ^.^ f "" T^^ "tractive char- Jgere^ .amaBg^ 4^ ^H^^ tWweTeTnTT^^^^Z^SSf " \ .;.• i 7' — The Ap. VS. — Archce- /■ the Boys. — tkient subter- f (1 3n this Jast ', they were ti ta Rome ! 8 day; the :y; the/ftfiN ind it also \ iat cjist^nt istinctness lied. The eil paved, les it was " made by Qpercepti- r and as- aver, tbe ive char-. Fos*;, arrd* *, afld no, ON TO ROME. 269 lofty peaks lost amid the clouds, still the lowering " forms tjiat appeared on every side were full of grandeur and sublimity. Amid these the road wound, and at every new turn some fresh scene ^f beauty or of magnificence was disclosed to their Admiring eyes, Novv it was a sequestered valley, with a streamlet running through it, and the green of its surface divocsified by orle or "two white cot- tages, or the darker hue of olive groves and vine- yards ; ag^in it Was some little hamlet far up the sloping mountain-side ; Again some mouldering- tower would appear, perched upon some command- ing and almost inaccessible emintfttye — the re- mains of a feudal castle, the monurn^^of lawless power overthrown forever, Sometimes they would pass through 4he Itreet'of a town, ahd have a fresh opportunity of contrasting |;he Ij^zy and, easy- going life of Italy with the busy, energetic, >rest- iess, and stirring life of the'r own far-distant America. ^ * i , Oij to Rome! Tffls day was to>nd tfiem in the " ^rlial City ;" >and though thejr enjoyed the drive, still they were, eager to have jt oter, and to find themselves in that place which Was once the centre of tlie World's ;: rule, and continued to be so fjMLjQ ma# ages.^ Their impatience to* reach tl JiMfe stination waa not, however, excessive, and diME^l all |)revent then! from enjoying to the utm3|^ ^ journey sa loag as it lasted. Uncle Moses ^aS*li&.qnly ex- \4.A*\}.^ >#^ 270 ',«-- V t; ^»fOKO THE BBIOASM, / coption He wo / ' --l. so^e p,::: 7:^ -«- '» <.»<« .-t „ve, a»d happened^ but he had /nn„ h'""' "" """"''^"t 'wd '»'»». both in bo^TSV °T''""''Shlnbn. -"king „,ater,al for tf do."""' ' ""■"»'-''' ".« •"d-^nts indeed; and the '^r" /""^ "'"'"'' ««■ «Pon hin, waa ^recisej Xt": i .m'"' P'"""-'' frorn^ really Perilous jCn^ '"'^'" ''"^^ ^-^^-Ited ■i* length they arrived rff i^ H they .-..tended to Ivwl'" """P "^ ^'b-o, "^-ds re.un,e their „,ne? tT f°""' """^ ' "deof 3 hill and trY'. . ^i'"'"" «tood -, "P -as so situated tl, ^*!' ^' rhieh they boundless view *''*' " eo^imanded a ^'^I^'S^lir^:;:;-- 'oca, iide than '«»« " place, than Alba L^f; ""I *°'^» -'"' "o Ko^an legends; for thorn! t '° 'T"' ?° "^arly aooount Tullus Hosti, u fc:' 5 '°^ "^ aocounts, Tullus Host it !,X''"°'''''"e *» I'he old «^ of Alba^onga; 3^ " ftl? T'' *''« "*^ P^oP" e'f^ on. its ,if,; ,^,, ^"^'•"'ards anothe,J, Ln , !P^"d'd villas of ihXit?"^ "'^ "P «■» / '^'''«"« and Domitian Tad "°''''''^- ^«4 .o«, THE MEDITERBA'NEAN.^fc 271 «op of the' hill. He informed them Cit stood en the site of n famous temple, and thA it was visited eve,y day by large numbers of travellers. On ;f;"''g *<> th^ir guide-book, the boys learned As they had nkhing else to do, they set out for the convent, and soon reached it. Arriving there ' they found spread out befor^ them a view which Burpassed anything that they had ever seen in their lives. Par down beneath them descended ■ u2v ""'o "' *f"»»'*" hill, till it ..rminaLd t the Roman>mpagna. Then, far away before their ■ eyes^it spread for many a mile, till it was termi- ^ mted by along blue line, which it needed not thl explanation of the monk at their elbow toTec g! nize as the Mediterranean; ^ this blue li'ne S d Stan sea spread far away, till it terminated in a was the, Cape of.Terracina. But their attention ' z:^'V' "v'r' ^"■•''" -^ --" -" gray hue the resultTof waste and barrenness seemed also to mark its hoary age, - through tiS ' there ran a silver thread, with many a winding to »d ,0, now coming full into view, and deam- J"l.'° ^gl J'L°LJ;gw ^retreMing^ tm ilja to sigKir , . " What is this i" asked David "The Tiber I "said the monk.'. ■mkn , e ■-»''. '\ • :»■■■■■: ■I.)-.,, . ■ ■ . ,v J ' -. f A t' ^*'jl . * . it ,/:,.^::r.-.j-. . 'v " / „ • ). ,. :--^ ..:■•/■.-■ . : *_ ' ■ i r-"-- -'■■■■ 7 ■'■■' ' ■'.- " ' =^ \ >»•• -t--t ,« 1' .^li ■ f ■ >mm "-...'f'i' H: /■ ^^M-j^ Ni. J/ ■ /"■, • ■« ,;^ - "'• • ! V "v ' ; • / 1, " ■« ■t t' ^ \ ' ' ^ ,/,'.; ■• ''."'' \ ' \ . -w"' ' " ' , * "-^ 1 ■ 1 ■ ■■ i H 1 /w /' , , . y. .,.-4'' < %, !*'■ ' ';• ■' • 1 .",_ *- ^ -i t- ' " . t • jAr ^^ k.. ^.^«M W \X ^ J i. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) f .5 1.0 I.I I^IM 125 Z DA' ■■■ 2.0 III 14.0 1^ Lil Wiu 11.6 'ft «!■/ % X Hjulugi-4iiiL' ' ^Sdaioes CorpQPaticHi * \ 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WnSTM,N.Y. USM (716)in-4S09 / // ^/ ^:^i ♦* ^ fe 4^' 1 ^ '■' gO^ ;V \\ / 4s ^ \i-AA^- ** "1. (I Ilprf. / / T \ i ,i^t> jii «fc^*^' V -^ 272 AMONG 'THE BRIGANDS. -S"'- mass if\r JCr Thlr '" ■r-'^' '■•■ now had grown slightlXv k « 7^"" •""*' ha<, they^conld not make puTwhatH •'^'"""'"''.^ 'r; whether a hill or a /r ' r^, exact- looked most l*e a to^n a,,d the" " *T" ' ''"' ''' projections seled like Iwer a„d 2 "^^ *"'' wJi:r::in::p::X"riT''^*«"^ feel at all s„re about it " ' ''"' ''"«'' »"' " Dat," said the guide « <1n> ;» d Wack mass dat you «;« t d ^""^' "'«' <<«' P"te.-s. It's not 'clear t J /I rr- "' '"• can see it aJI plain " *'°^® ^'® «n-e!t;^g :;^rscer":r "''*-'•■•'' might have .tirred the sou s of even TT "'"''"' 4{t e i jt dri e d. Past Th^o^ -" ' "^«>imacted with .. • * f4". \ listoric name, 1 them. The' around that in a dark, ir- osphere jiwt direction,^ 80 8 was, exact- own ; but it ilarities and es- Promi- arger mass, formed the t hesitating It does not S' and dat ch of St. time we stood ip >ne which east emo- ere were to enthu- 'd Clive, now felt EITHC8IAS1. OP THE Bom ~ 278 himself profoundly moved bv *l,;. . . David's enthusiasm was Ihat „r. ^ ■ "P^"**"'*- was that of a poet- v^-„tl *'<='«''»'• ! CJive'g ceptibility, and ;,oqfientt^' '''"">'''' »"»• feelings. *'0"l»eM m the expression of his asm of 'thi own tt ft^ ':' ^'''"'r^ ""'«'»- very violently by dfher le^^ f"".* "'*"' ''"'''^ reminiscences Th! '"""'''/^^•"'g or classical mov^d theTrfeeCX;- J«f- '"em certainly "How magnificent I" r^li m* i^es.' eaid David, chiming in « o„oi, , . trc-r^.ShXjr^^"^''"' -^^^ • » whore the StvXi "" .°'''''"'*'°"- Hire dowi there ;. ,1, SS and The consul.; „d that lonXu" ^t"""' '^I'T **"' '■o-K''' "« ages.'.!* ! ?" """god the conrs. of fotar. * IN 274 - J ■ AMONG THE BRIGANDS. -rtel legend, that tof "::',' /"l;^ ''" "•« <- of Borne. What a niZ « • ^"""'^ growth Maca„V. wfo/A^'o-rnttjr- ^^ '» '^^ " ^^'^ *o the great asylum I ■ Hailtothehill-topseerenl Hail to the fire that burns for aye I And the shielda that fell from heaven • » some silver watpr flock ;3 i *"® '^^^en of .00 j;;!': ||:'' "» -^«^ »' the"u -it ytisdeAWLake." "The Alban Lake I" ori,>A n -j . the .l^ke that the ^2n ^ ^" ^^^^ ' ^^^at, VeiiT" ^°' ^'^'^^^ ^t the siege of rj*^'^'Tf«^id the guide. existence V^'' ' "' '' „*^^ ^^^^ - funnel stiil in "It is." ' " Is it far away ? " ^' Not ve^ far." "Boys, we must so therA n • xi. But ho. ,ong wiU it taJ^e f: : !:iZ^:"''''''- SSflt.JivKii .»'.,. . » ..i'"9 ■• THE ALBAN LAKE. 275 guide. "■■" "" "">- "» o- ^o„r," .aid the th:tt:./dr^evr'';r^ ^^''"^- "^»'- get our dinner. ItV r^„T„\ J° ^''"'' "* """^ *» we must leave forij^^'' '^""^ ""^ ^"'^ '^en «.S^::d\riiK :t^^^^^^ "^ to see that wonderful tunnel " °"' ""^ "''""''. tu:nils:„"r;v:^^"':-"*-V-.otforanthe * "Nor should I," said Bob. wirredVrtt-f/Sd'cr '^^f.'"- • And „e„, A„.„„., ,.^^_^^ _j.^ OfirirHUnn. "'® ''*"« where yon bar ™ was tilled, the weary baM's delight.' '• for'K fi:'?hr;:et" •;*' -^■'^^ p*'-% x o«» ,^^„„^ ^^-eggtical^otatioB,-. you'tt - rSr^^ Come where?" Wh;., I .aut to visit the tunnel of th. Albaa ^ S: 't^/Jitd'.'i>e'9r .■,. ^;/^ ••C" »&>itt',w- ' ■ 'f ^ fc*?x » 1 '■ -w'«....A,rt»*P *.«■ 276 AMONG THE BRIGAND8. ^ake, and it'JI take an hour tn rl. v t..- ^ve'll lose our dinner What dn * ^^ ^' ^°' don't think a dinner's the mf. ^'" '"^? ^«" the world ? " ""^'^ important thing in " Of course not," ' said Cli ve « Bp«J^. P;ok up some scraps when we relurl ' T '" them in the carriage!'' ' ' ^"""^ ®^<^ - "That's right," said David. "Bovs" h« t^nued appeahng to Frank and Bob "iju'd h T' come." "' you'd better "What I and lose our dinnprs?" • j t, 'comfully. .Catch „s at ," nI T' '^""'^' more substantial fn^^ +1 ^^® require I>on't we. Bob ? » ^^'" ^'^'^^ ^°^ ^^^ rnins. ■ '; Certainly," said Bob. " For mv n. . ™.« HoC and V- ,' \""' ^ <^™'' ''■'<"^. I'™ awa, in sHeooe, a„S .poke to Z'^J^ '""«" ^_^_^.o„^ not co.i„g.bao.tfdi:err. said -i|^)favM7«wBwroTOseelh at tunnel." ' ^™ 5 '»«« yo<"- dinner ; that's all." 't. If we go, )u say ? You rtant thing in sides, we can urn, and eat ys," he con- you'd better 'ried Frank, We require ^ old rnins. part poetry 'e. As for farm,' why, 1 detested whole lot urn round know, I'm »er Horace and ChVe ^y turned r 1 " said i tunnel." THE ALBAN LAKE? 277 " ^f course. We don't care "/ tban we can hel" '"'"' ''Y'"-^ »'■"« ^^ere Mo.s wU, fidget and lo:?aX;„r,""^""'« O, no; It's all ri^ht T«iH • ^i . V i« 'vith us; you know^' t™ "'"^ T ^^'de After a few more words, Frink ani r1 v truth, e,;l„;L'';^^ Teltirr"' *° '^"^*'>« well as they were Tbiri! l "PP^^'*^^ »» guide to the^Jke Albano ' T""''''"'' '"^'^ AibtuUr brfo'n;"'';; "'«" ^'"' ^'-^ "^ *« not hav^ heard i/ 1"^' "^ '^""' '''«' »»>' of the famous tLr,.)lI'l ^ ^nef account to CliveTnd David! ' ''•""' "^ '"'^'^ ""^-"je The city of Veii had been besieged for n£ years with out success, V the B.Zn„ T... i!! in the sLare of th ''L'' " ^'"" P™"?'^^ ««"""«.jSfi3wi.'.\*-?-,.i "'-''-t t*- t.1i ^ ifjA ... ,■ ^*. "■^fW* ;r "'■".*^"i:i ;^ '• THE ALBAN LAKE. lans, in their the oracle of ns messenger le priest, wfio' tain pracular ' could never Lake should e messeng^er 5k an answer same effect. Iraw off the V to the sea. at laborious the Romans th tha,t ex-:» always dis- ut a tunnel ihe hardest e had seen issages far mtry, pre- aples, and it was ac- of it, and re sent to ?8 to coniG surrender 'd^sccor^'"^ emselves Jy in the 279 oracular boj)ks of Veii, to the effect that, if this 8i^ge should be carried through to the capture of the city, Rome itself should be taken by the Gauls soon after. This prophecy, however, had no effec whatever upon the stern resolution of the Romans. The subterranean passage tp the lake was also ' «"PPlemented by another, which led to the citadel or veil. As the. time approached for the final assault, the Roman Senate invited all the Roman fhZ f /''."'^P''' ''' ^^"^ P^?°^^««'M*^«*>,-^ t^j^ s^« #*ia*^A.^ ■. I ^V^ \ 280 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. miles long, six feet Kir^l, *""' F^e«- It is about two Fide. ^' ^* ^^^^' ^°^ ^^'^^ and a hajf feet To this place the ffuide Ipri n. • j , entertained them oft fei^'^^^-^'^.*'''' «''«.-»hich aocopH.Tl ^^ account of -Xx«»t),hioL is 2en abo' '" Tl' P'''"''"''"-^ ""b ?»pleasant to l,ear TLl tddT ''' " ""^ "»' «> the neighborhood of T„ > ^^ °°^ "''<' "™J J"-s life amW the fsc * ItTe '"'.'^' '"^-'' ^;e^a certain degree o^an^e:-;^rttrofd -sses.andg^sses.aldlrbriZrr'^r •t Having seen it, they wars Jf- f7^ "°"°'' «o 80 back to the hote^ Aft '^"'^''"'^ ""•»«<» tte gu.de showed theL' wht^Ver: "' ''■■^'»"''«' turmng off throng), tlie fi!ll I ."'" * P*"- Bbort cut back. uL 1- !?' '^'"* *"-'ned a - tn.«b.e, and he Jnt b^^'^"!^ ^' "'■« ^or hi* ^e.wenta,o„gthepatht:^t\:S-:^ . i0^'^'-J4^H^:f:--~ r;, ;-r^ ' * . sl^l v. 'lie legend*, riy Boman h. the chief about two half feet ^Iive,ttnd icount of lars with th of .the was not ho Jived passed them to the old ningin '68, and around turned stance, » path ned a /"« ■or hi^ while ected THE ^LO^/ELY PATH. 281 CHAEaiER XXV. . Bay. ^ The Wild BeasfsJ^?^ J^'''^''y^-^* great Bore/ Latr ! - What is Itf-A to the hotel, went down a slope of the hill into a vallev nnri i ^ 'hill, beyond which J^lXl ^h^^''- --"d houses visible, for th. t^:iJ^mZZ h.ll except, of course, the convert thlhVom .t^mp,c„ous position, was ncver'ont o^'sST A«ey descended into the valley thev c!L f • smce deserted.. It was two stories in beiglft b„f the stones were high, and it looked as tlfongh " ^.4l m idf ^w]mt 4t^baat,een/^^3 ^ ^ "No doubt," said ChVe «i/{« ♦», ^V*^- med^val cas^e.^^ ' ' ^^^ '"^' ^^ ««°^« ir%'s:» J/ , ■J*. J, ^- K^.-^^jjw^i^y^^-rw' 282 jlMONO THE BRIGANDS. ^ '-' It ddes not have.rnuch of the lo6k of a castle " "Why not?" - ' ^ . • .' ■ ; : " 0, why; there ate no architectural features in- - it ; no battlaitients ; it has, in fact^ a. ratiier modern air." . . "Not a bit ofit," said Clive. «^ee those oW stones grown over with moss ; and look at the." ivy.'' "Yes, but look atr the windows.* They didn't ^. haVe such large windows in castles, you know." " • " Yes, btft these windows were probably made afterwards; The place wa^ once a castle ; but at length, of course it became deserted, and began to . fall to ruins. Then somebody fixed it up for a dweliing-house^^and made these windows in the walls." ' , " Well, that's not improbable." , • ^ " Not improbable ! ^hy, I'm sure it's very nat- / ural. Look how thick th« walls are ! " " They do seem pretty thick." J* 0, they are real castle walls ; there's no doubt ^ at>Jl about that" said Clive, in a positive tone. "Why, they are three feet thick, at lea&t. And, _ you see, there are signs of an additional story I having been above it." . " Yes, I dare say," said David, looking up. *' The edges there look ragged, as though .eome upper portion has been knocked oflF." " f „," And J daresay it's^b^a ^g r eat p l ace fotb rrs^ "' ands," said Clive. / ® "0, bother brigands/' said 'David. <'For my Wi ■^ %J. ( ■■'. A FEUDAL CASTLE. 283 - part^ begin to think, not only that there are no brigands now, but eveti that 'there never havo Deeti aQy such people at all." . ^ *' Well, I won't go bo far as that," said Clive, " but r certainly begin to have my ^oiibts about them." ^ " They're all humbugs," said DavicT^ " All of our brigands have been total failures," said Glive. « * "Yes*," said David; "they all>turned ©ut to be - the most amiable people in the world*' But come; suppose we go inside, and explore this old ruin. It may be something famous. I wish the guide were bere." ^ - • - ." 0, well look at."' it first all over, and then ask at the hotel." '^ ', "Yes, that's the way." ■ -, " But have we time ? " " 0, of courso ; it. won't take us five minutesi*,! Upon this Clive started oft* for the ruined struc- ture, followed by David. - , Jt was, as hasl5een said, two stories in height. In th© lower story ifag a small, narrow d<5or\Yay. The door was gone. There were no windows, and it was quite dark ih.side. ^it was about twelvB 'feet wide, and fifteen feet long.' At oae emi were -Bome piles of^agotB hea ped toge ther. The height was aT)out fifteen feet. Befofe them they saW aT rude ladder, running up to the story above. Tts feet rested near the back of the room. There was ^- I I. /■ " * (> 284 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. no^floor to the house, but only the hard:packed ■ ,Zt''' ^"'^"^ 'r" -d "-i<>. looking " Lef s go into the upper story,'' said Clive 10 this proposal David assented quite readilv and accord nelv thpv h^n, . " 4"«e readily ; : towards thoi^«t ^r, *°'"'"^' »»<» ™lked »pper stl; """"'""' ''^^ "^'* •» «>« in front '*Tr "^''*' ^o"- '''-«-«- two windows Mastered I ""' " """'' ^"^ ">« ^'^'b were plastered. Fragments of straw lav abnnt ;„. ^J^ wonder what all that can be for," ajked "0, no doubt," said Clive « it's snmA ^f^u sive wood-work of the old loe:» ' °' *"' "J'^C It;, a waste of Lber.'^ """' "" """'" »'<»'•• MplWiliiii iiiiiiiiliii li I -^itMH^s. >.,*if i. ^m. ^ ' w t^H c 'l> ^ £ayk A BARONIAL WINDMILL. 285 " 0, well, you know you mustn't expect the .same ingenuity in an Italian builder that you would -jn an American." , " I don't know about that. Fhy not? Do you mean ^ say that the Italians are inferior to the . Amerft«sm architecture? Pooh, man ! in America there 18 no architecture at all ; while here, in every little town, they have some edifice that in America would be considered something wonderful." « 0, well, you know they are very clumsy in practical matters, in spite of their artistic^uperi- ority But apart from .that. I've just b^ri think- ing that this is only a part oPsome large castle, and this lumber work was, perhaps, once the main support of a massive roof. So, after all, it would have its use." David said nothing for some time. He was looking earnestly at the wood-work. " I'll tell you what it is," said he, at last. " IVe got It. It isn't a castle at all. It's a windmill." A windmill I " exclaimed Clive, ^contemptuous- ly. What nonsense 1 It's an old tower -the Keep of some mediaeval castle." Mt^ a windmill ! " persisted. David. « Look at . that big beam. It's round. See in one corner those projecting pieces. They were once part of ^^^^^ whee l. Why, of c ou rs e, I f B^ ;- windmill The other end of that cross-beam goes outside for the fans to be attached to it. This bijr cross-beam was the shaft. Of course that's it." ' i;^ijf4ii|bL»ji*>^« li'iLi.lvt^ 'W M-C-^SsM AtlV j1^S\ *-^ 286 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. jas unable to disprove a fact of which the evi- dences were now so plain, but he strugried lo rdrae«e';*'™^-''"«-P--^'%o^^^^^^ n«I7 » '" ™.^ ■""' " ' '^'"•^ ^y i' ""y have been used afterwards for a windmill; but I am surtrt durvigthe middle. ages. Afterwards it besan to go to r„.n; and then, I dare say, some mill fH" turret rrT" °^ *'"' ■^''"P- •'"^ t°™ off thi wi h the be "r'!' ''"' "^^^-^ "P this roof wfththe beams, and thus turned it into a wind- ^idtugir"'"'"^^'""^^'''-"-'^- " p. then," said he, « in that case, I've eot noth ing to say about it at all " ' ^ '^e got noth- niircasl' or'''' '""'"'''"' '""'"°«''» ■■■> 'he baro. ma' oasUe, Chve was unable to prevent an expres- .e^on of disgust from being discernible on Ws fine ^^^, and without another word, he turned I ^ David followed close after him of If l^dr?'- ""' "^°"" <'° ""e nearest rung of the_Jadder, he was startled hya noiso belm^ . itrmme Iroin IBe pile of fegots, and was of th» most extraordinary cha^ctar^ Itwaaa Iffi^^^ .!i . ♦^^ '•'•I'^li.'t' A BARONIAL WINDMILL. 287 scraping growling, snapping noice ; an indescriba- We medley of peculiar sounds. Clive instantly drew back his foot, as though he had trodden on a snake. "What's the matter?" cried David, in amaze- ment. " Didn't you hear it ? " "Hear what?" " Why, that noise I " .. "Noise?" "Yes." , • "What noise?" ^ - •Clive's eyes opened wide, and he said in a low, agitated whisper, — ' " Something's down there I " At this David's face turned pale. He knelt down at the opening, and bent his head over The sounds, which had ceased for a moment, be- came once, more audible. There ^as a quick, beat- ing, rustling, rubbing noise among the fagots, and he could occasionally hear the rap of footfalls on the floor. It was too dark to see anything, for the narrow door was the only opening, and the end of the chamber where the fagots lay was wrapped m deep gloom. Clive knelt down too, and then both boys, kneel- ing there, hatened eagerly and intently with tiieir eaPK" ^alL .,,<,, liati8it?"58kedClive. sure I don't know," said David, gloomily. t I.- 288; AMONG THE BRIGANDS. 1 don t know, I'm sure," said poor David tfbo in spite .f h.s recent declaration of his belief that'aU brigands were humbugs, felt sometLing like h^ dat.on at dive's suggestion. ^"^"""'^ They listened a little longer a Jin* ^t* r""^:" '"■■ " *™«' »«' f^n began agam. -This time ,t was much louder than bef^e Th*e was the same rustling, rubbing, crackTne »^pp.ng sound made by something amtg he feg! bW th !."■* "*' " ^'""<'''' reiterated Pub- e^aftWrr r/^'P^^""" "Of-, whioh sounded exactly hke that which a dog makes when shaking hunself v,o t,y after coming out of the 3 j^er this there was a low, deep sound, midwl^ between a yawn and a growl; then all wasT^l ^ David and Clive raised themselves softlyV and looked at one another. . ^' "Well? "said Clive. "Well? "said David. "I don't know," said Clive. "I don't know," said David. Y"' " What sliall we do ? " said Clive David shook his head. Then, leaking down the opening once more, he again nused hi? eyeTand J5|;^anawfu,lo„konCUve,Ue^:in^ ~^IP8 not a brigand I " "No," said CUve, '■ I don't think it ie, either." •H , . o.'.» .'. ,^,% %*> AT BAY. 289 -me dismal tone atbeZ"^^^"' ^^ "^^ ^ '^- "Clivel" «wre,— "Well?" ^ " It's a wild heast ! " ^^iye looked back at David WifK pressed equal horror an^ ^ ^ ®^^' *^»* ex- « n««u "orror, and said not a word i>on't you think so ? " asked n«..-I - "Yes," said Clive ^^^^^^^»d. Then: — " How^can w^ get down ?" said David. "Idon't'knowI-saidDavid'"^""'* do. eaidpiive. -such aoises at- """ ^"'"' "'"«''«'J Snapping, ^ja, variations, crack in a- -1 cracking, deep-breathing, scratching, sighing, yawning, growhng, grunting, sm * " thumping, jerking, rattling, i — a tt u tt tt tt u do. do. do. do. do. do. do. tt tt tt ^iio7 do. do. do. — 1 — hi '•# "''it ^m^^'^^^^'mimi ,'' AMONG THE BRIGANDS. pushing; with variations. > shding, shaking, jexking, twitcliing, groaning, pattering, i-olling, rubbing, « It tt It tt ti tt do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. . xf" together with .many more of a similar character, all of which went to indicate to the minds of both ot the boys the presence in that lower chamber and close by that pile of fagots, of some animal! ma state of Wakefulness, restfessness, and, as they believed, of vigilant watchfulness and ferbcity. "I wonder how it got there," said David. "That ohve grove - that's it - 0, that's it. He saw U8 come in here, and followed us." "I don't know," said Clive. "He may have been among the fagots when we came in, and our coming has waked him." » " I wonder that the guide didn't warn us." " 0, he never thought, I suppose." "Noj he thought we would keep by the path and go straight to the hotel." " What fools we were 1 " " Well, it can't be helped now." :!^ wo nde r wh a t it iV aaid€ 4iTe, after another- anxious pause. "A wild beast," said David, dismally. VU». Ill ->>' r THE WILD BEAST'S LAIB. 291 It may be a wolf." ' " ^SI thlTei ,.t'?t;' '"" <" «>-•" hear what a noise h«iT '^ '^'"- »»»'* you feet? A wolf^ feet ar^r^ 'T^*™^' ^''^^i^ ^''r-'^hi„,eJr!Ceta''S-.^''»^^™'<' "Sometlimg worse?" ,"Yes." ■ , " What can be worse ? " " Why, a wild boar. Ih.1^ ;= ♦!, fy in the world for wild b^a^ ", ""* «™'"?»' """n- and "det; '''"'^^'' ^ '-^P-o-^ of silence '^<''4'::c?bejL%fxr"r'^-<'f'He " What are yon trvfn "^ j' l^f - "" '"« """gl"- ■•' o..t o'f one of'fhe w^I:' ''*' '^'^''''"'^ P"' out that wa>-4: j;",^:;:; yo" know, and get "I don't know," said David. « w« „,; , ' . Ppon this both boys sei^.H .i. ,*\^.""g'" try." *o pull it rrorniZZ B^'':'.''^Y''^Mea entirely fn vain ■nTt^f^ *''^"' **"•'« '^ere , '4 .btiiJ skllS»i^ii8fe.'< ■ V j»si<,»i ii<,ft'-"?tj. 292 AMONO THE BRIGANDS. David shook his head. " ;t'8 nearly twenty feet from the window led^e " oL« f \"k ''" ^'^^^^ '-' of us might brelk some of oiir bones." . u V '^V""* "'' ""^^y ^^'*'" '^^^ Ci»ve. Us no use trying," said David ; « that hnrr,M w.ld boar waked up when we enter;d wf dtn^H " gerous m the extreme. From f hio r.T-« ^u oked out for somehow ? " dow ledge," light break wild boar t." rned away. horror, it horrible i den. He hing ever the most if all wild I from the 'd pouiice far as the » despair, d staring was DOW Qied dan- thej saw tOIlM nnf the hill how far A GBEAT BORE. 293 - >»' would approtTwari' ;t''''r''"^P»-«'- " Well," iaid ClFvr . Z f *'' ""'^ "<'"''' '«"• , it W firm belief ;:\ ^^y? J"'' <>" ^nner, and David made no rep^ '* °" *«"' *«>•" , 'ie ""L^'f "'''''^'^ -- '» him. ' Pirate" V; a ':;a'; m 'd 7 " ^'"' ^«"'"^ <>- ■« q-ietlr as/oa^Cand t: ^ '7" ""> "^^^^ " Nf^ ^ ,^ ^-oiwie, and then run for it " "W^lKTo^V-ed David, :';ltl,: death," s'aH cC'^ ^^ *" ^"'^ ''«'« "»<» ^^-^e to ^ wait a little longer" '^' '""^ /«»<»«* »»- Only ^•u'Sirt 'r Jl '■'"^ ''-''-- -". way. Then there wl . • "^'" *'«'"' half character that hTJd „ ,rtrL" ''^""""^' " remarked to DaWd, who il 2 * '^ l^'"' "■* > watching him in intense ^.itvanf." ^^ ''"^ to come h..,lf ■ , "aiety, and begging fiin. So the two prisoners wai^d. The/ ,:»v. Z. ^«t\4.v^' m^^^.f' 7>:,..'ft',- 294 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. V' <■ CHAPTER XXVI. Des^ir of Uncle Moses. — Fran^ ami Bob endeavor to offer fonsolation. —The Search. ~ The Discovery ah-the Convent. — The Guide. — The old House. — The Cap- tives. — The Alarm given. — Flight of Uncle Moses and his Party. — Albans! to the Rescue .' — The Deli-Verim Host/ . ' ^N leaving the convent, Frank and Bob had hurried back to Albano, where they found dinner ready, and Uncle MoSes waiting for them in anxious impatience. This anxious im- patience was not by any means diminished wten he saw only two out of the four coming back to hi|»j~iior was it alleviated one whit when they informed him that David and Clive had gone to see some subterranean passage, of the nature or location of which they had but thevag^uest possible conception. His first "impulse was to go forth at once in search of them, and bring them back with him by main force ; and it was only with extreme dfficulty that Frank and Bob ^ssuaded him from « Why, they're perfectly safe — as safe as if they were here," "said ^rank. *«It isn't possible for ^^^Mi "■(»*> ' (1 x^ DESPAIR OP UNCLE M03ES. 295 anything at all to happen to them. The convenj/' guide — a monk — is with them, an(J a very fide fellow he is, toe. 'He knows alfabout ti?e country." " 0, yes ; but these monks ain't to my taste. I I don't like 'em," said Uncle Moses. 1 ' " It'll take them an hour ftT^et back here from the place. There's no use for you to try to go there, for you don't know the way ; and if you did go, why, they might come back and find you gone, and then we'd have to yait for you. So, you see, "the best thing to do. Uncle Mos^Sj is for us all to set' quiet- ly down, get our dinner, and wait for them to come back." The numerous frights which Uncle Mosers; had already been called on to experience about 'his precious but too troublesome charges had always turned out to be groundless ; and the result had invariably been a happy one ; yet this did not at all prevent Uncle Moses from feeling as anxious, as worried, and as unsettled, on this occasion, as he had ever been before. He sat down to the table, therefore, because Frank urged it, an(l\ he hardly knew how to move without his cooperation. He said nothing. He was silenced, but not convinced. He ate nothing. He merely dallied with his knife and fork, and played listlessly with the viands upon his p late. Frank an d Bob were both as hungry aa hunters, and for some time had noT eyes but for their food. A* last, however, they saw that Uncle #Jlo8es was eating nothing ; whereupon they began ) s?'-'ia*^,'«<«»jy t^' ' k! -* *% 0« f " /^J 296 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. to remonstrate with him, and tried very to induce him to take something. Tn ^n« Moses was beyond the reach of pe^sSjiil?'' His appe,tite was gone with his »^an Aing^^s, .and would not come back umil tht:^j^d come also, Ihe dmner ended, and then Uhcle MCsdft grew more restless than ever, He walked out, and paced the street up and down, every little while commg back to the hotel, and looking anxiously in to see ^f the wanderers had returned. Frank and Bob felt sorry that he should feel so much un- necessary anxiety, but they did not know w«hat to ' j#^'or to say. They had done and said all that ■ thejr po&sibly could. Uncle Moses refused to be comforted, and 8«r there was nothing more for- tnem to do. At length the hour passed which Erank had allotted as the time of their absence, and still they did not come. : Uncle Moses now came, and stared at them witi, a disturbed face and trembling frame He said not a worJ|^«pituation w^s 6|iQ.whicb; ,%hi8 mmd, rend^gH^ ""^^^^0^ '' '"^ <*fh^'. 'T 0(^5^^ Moses,- said Frank; ' ^'they're all. right. What's the usa of imagining ftU^sopts of nonsense ? Suppose they are delayed a tew mmutes longer — what of that? They couldn't reckon upon being back in exactly an ^ur._The^uide said, ' about an. hour^ .. You'lt-^ nave to make some allowance. "" Uncle Moses tried to wait "longer, and succeeded 5itf»'iij«pi'W;9 -"tikJfciJtrt I / His )ys, .and Q« also* ■So- grew 'ut, and e while ously in ink and ich un- wSiat to * all that I to be ore for ik had ill they stared frame, which, P'rank ; gining elayed They fely an ¥oa^it=^ eeded m. THE SEARCH. . mm 297 ' in controlling himself for about half an hour m6re. Then he found inaction intolerable, and" insisted, on Frank|nd Bob accoiapanying him on a search for the lo^ ones. Frank suggested the necessity of going to the convent first, and geftiog anothto guide. / He left word at the hotel where they had gone, and why, so that David -apd Clive might , Mlow them, or send word ; and then they all three - .^et forth for the convent. % ' ''' On reaching the place, the first man that they saw was no other than the guide himself. At this sight even Frank was amazed, and a Ut^e dis- turbed, tie asked him hurriedly where the boys , were. ..•'•, ^ "De boys f'' said the guide. " Haf dey not com'e X^ de hotel ? " " No." ; ^^~ -^ . "But I did leave dem on de road to go back, and dey did go. Dey must be back." .. . "But they're not back. And I wit to hunt them up," said Frank. " Where was the road - where you say you left them ? " . " 1 will go myself and show you de ver place," said the guide. « Do not fear. Dere can Come no harm. It is not jiossibilev" With these words the guide set forth to take ' them 4o the place. These wor ds of tl>g^ guide added, if possible, to the deep distress and disfnay of Uncle Moses. He was only conscious now tUat the boys were without any guide in some unknown. -«i'»Sfe^^^Lv=r X * s- ^ KM 1/ 298 ■M4:' AMONG TB^BRIGANDS. perhaps dangerous ptace. If ho fearoj wl.ile he ,B..pposed that they had a g„ido, his I^M der^those new and worse circ„n.stances were Z f„M " k''\T ""^ 8uide explained all about it fe told about the tunnel, about the path which he had recommended as a short cut. h! declared bat^t was perfect!, straight, and that it ^1 ^^ le for any one to get lost between Albano a^d 2 pla e where he left them. There was no place 1 e open_a little valley — that was all. Kut tins gave no comfort to poor Uncle Moses He wa ked along looking ten years older, luhZ face f„„ of, net. At length the gnide ca^e to th. path along wh.cb he fid sent Batid and Clive^and where he had seen them go " We haf now," he said, "to walk to de hotel at A lano, and yon sail find dey did come back nd will be dere at dis moments." ' " What a joke it would be," cried Prank " if they have got back, and have started off after us I be .eve it. They're starving, and wiU think of nothing but their dinners." But poor Uncle Moses refused to see any « joke " At length thB,- came within sight of the house. J.jLL.t. '^ V ^e> "^^ \.^d 1 vvliile he fears iin- 3 were far »ut it. He icli he had ed that it mpossible » and the place, he vas quite le Moses, witli his ne to th^ 'live, and direction hotel at ack, and . ink, "if fter us 1 I don't bink of "joke " house. THE SEARCH. 299 As they walked on, there came to their ears a Ion- shrdl yen. All of them started. At first they dS notv^detect the source of the sound. Then it was repeated. " Hallo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o ! " They looked all around. Frank saw two figures ^ one at each window of the old house. ./'' " Hallo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o I " The cry was repeated. It came from thesfe two figures. Those must be David and Cli/e • but how in the name of wonder had they got ttlere, and wh^t were they doing? But he said jrot a word He merely pointed, and then started oFkt a full run, followed first by Bob, then by the gu^de, and last by Uncle Moses, who did not yet comprehend why Frank was running, or where. A emart run of only a few minutes brought them "^ to the place. There they saw David at one win- ^?5i and Clive at the other. Both of them ap- peared to be tremendously excited, and ^^e shouting to them most vociferously, both together m an utterly cfonfused and unintelligible manner' At length some words in the midst of their out- cries became distinguishable. "Keep back! 0, keep backl The wild boarl The wild boar I Run for help! Keep back I You'Jl JPeigrn to p^c es^L^^Kee p b a ck ! ^ Run A>f h^^ At this Uncle Moses shrank back in spite of him- self, and the guide looked much disturbed ; but ± rank and Bob stubbornly stood their ground .■^"^ \'4,^^Mi'':- :■.. '. ik' yA-i".'A'i^'• -f \r:' I 300 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. "What do you mean?" cried Frank "Dnn'f t^ck^upsucharow. What wild boaf? ZZe " Underneath I » bawled Clive " ^®'' watching ns," shouted David ; ile was hid in there, and wg^ cam« in ^ waked him Wp o-^f V Jlr ™® ^° ^"^ us out] » ^'* "P here^^e won't let Bh^G^ '* ^°" '' '^^^^^ -7 nearer,'' ig',^''^ "' ^"^ ^°°"'" --d Clive ; « we're starv- " J^eep back I " cried Clive. ^ do cried David, ^o and get help I '> cried Clive. « n , '^''' ^'"^ed David. Get a gun I " cried Clive. ,,„ , ^^' cried David. Help 1 " cried Clive. do. cried David. ' \ ^ " Take care I » cried Clive. ^ do. cried David. He'lUear you to pieces I " cried Clive. "cfiedlKtVia. Etc., etc., etc. I "Come back," said the guide, in evident anx. !J^' .,;..r^'f y,Ji,-i THE OLD HOUSE 301 f. "Don't ? Where ae m and won't let ^ nearer/' im now," et a gun re starv- iety. " Wq are too near. We can do notin' We mus get arm." tL:r!r'tk^r^^^---"^^--^^^^oar The guide said nothing, but shook his head solemnly, and looked unutterable things. Mean- lo 'nn^'f^r^ *' retreat, watching the small door of the old house, and the rest followed him, as they thought he knew better what ought to be done than they did. The guide took up that line of retreat which led towards Albano.and as he did 80 he watched the door of the house with evident anxiety, as though fearful of seeing at any moment, the formidable beast bound forth to rush upon them. But at length, after he had placed a con- siderable distance between, himself and the old house, he began to breathe more freely, and to think about what ought next to be done . "Do you think it really is a wild boar?/ asked J^rank once more of the guide. " Dey did say dat dey did see him,"/^aid he "Yes; but how do they know/rhey never saw a Wild boar," objected Fran] "^ "Any man dat sees a wild>5kr will know him" said the guide. >^ ' he'r?"'^''^'''* kn6w ^t>«rftherg were any about y nu "About here' "Yes; 80 ne^the town, and public roads. I thought that;^ animal like the wild boar prefers :Vf*i;5fe'/i"^l#"i4.(W!- - Vft^i^^'^^ it'Oi *W.. ^ 'kswj 302 U.WV :.,\ ^KOm THE BRIGANDS. yoong-orsomraatinlikfdJ" r"""^ '™« d«>- wander, an if day happen ,„'' ''"^ *='" ''"■'''' ""d are terrible." '^'^ '° """"^ "«" a villa, dey . dis." ' "'^^'"-'^''J' wander about like ;;BuUhe^li.e.„fa,„ff,, [- dar„,rj:rd:x^»trn-not his den." "® ^^^'®J^; just de place for "ffair of the previous Lt ^V"' '"*«"'^''- The «■' effect on hi. Jnd ifd . ^""''''^ " P^'^^r- -■"'ng to allow l..«,self atnoV^"'"'"*^'^' •'"• « belief in any danger tiZT ^ ■"'^"''"d ^"fo P'de not beheved^; ' r T "^'- "«" «>o " «o strongly, he wou d have 7f ' ""^ '"'''''" <>» a»"»al in the house was sol! ' "''""■» "«" 'he 8 goat -a doK-aTvtl °"'""'"P'*<'«one- boar. Howevef asitw 'f- ™*'"'^ "'«» « wild to believe what C I'd ' ' """^ """""S '«« but As for Uncle Mosph i.« «^'-n. .The bo,"r; ':,7 --.^"He hi„self with a^rocZrw^Jd bla t ; '' '^"^'^ ^^^^^ ^^ beast barring the wajr to i4!y|l»i3*!5iru&*,.Ji ..!:5#i>* feto. r..;»ilr*j*V1f -^X er come near "Dat is so. ey Jose der go wild, and ' a villa, dey here ? " about like itain — not 3 place for ', although ^iQt Tiio I a power- Jj'igly un- iiiled into Had the sisted on that the 'e one — 1 a wild left but himself house, w&y to THE CAPTIVES. - gQ^ liberty; but then he refleotpd H.a* *u- r -iM beast could not J^ta; „ L"' ^tut"'- a bear, the affair would l.nvo k ^ ^^^"^ onl^ way of delivering ,I,o boys, wl o " ,ld n / rescued without some „K,re formidable 1 1 'i^ ''" the,r own unassisted strength. """' In a short time they were Uol- ;„ j.u -on the news flow ab'out , « toln In ' ""f ance with the invariable rule tlost'orv '^' Bderablv eiihr,r„^ „ 'uie, the story was con- hf^hly re:p^;tab;: dTmen^ri" '"^ ^°"°'"-^ down there they had X covte ''[he" "Jrc a'llt '*j' inejnad then made frood thmV ».^+ f /«^ng their slaughtered viotigr ^ i tfr W wnd hoar had re(lurnedi»ith th„ „■. j ™° -nting their yoZ'^y^^lZt^^T^ «.voa chase to the murderers. These , alt 'h:^ iS#^ i^^J^^iSiki^^s,\:, Ur'>> 304 AMOlfG THE BRIGANDS. . their destruction They hid alrelf? "" V''^'" week. One of th» „ '^^ ''^^° *''«'-^ a Anton; tLldetr,- ^"'r'''^'^' ^^o"'^^ Vision ,i nUr^L';: ,rv"r, ;;;o;' Ji^^s in a . Ws in\o'clos'e ^roxi^^ /fiTe d'n"' "" "'■"' desire to capture thero?;^!™ "Se"'!"' "^ that was eeneralJv K^r j "^ -inestorv -e briefly dZS asrir r,."!^'-" ""y - where atenr midway le^^T" r*^"" "^ ^fioUon.andthetrnt^tctlttjIttdtr ^'-t. J.'» ■ !>'..« j^ ^ L ^ -A^iixht St^^tii.\m^iiU.^ ucceeded in J in climbing nimals came just vanish- had leaped rtion of the Qj in sullen 'k up their ^ the other , and effect >en there a from the other was ') Brother t this in a surviving distance, now come '^ the un- ijectured tin. The sited uni- the wild n with a 'lie story ich may Mi some^- Jtartling had the THE DELIVERING HOST. 305 effect of drawing forth the population of Albano ^^ the whi %^r^:zrL^ feo they now marched forth,— » ■ Men with scythes.' ' hoes. , \ ' rakes. .^ ' shoveisi- " \ ' tongsi gridirons. brooms. bean-poles. carving-knives. umbrellas. stones. earthen pans. bricks. charcoal. chairs. spits. . bed-posts. crowbars. do. do. do. ^ do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. 20 ^ugerss- spades, stakes, clubs. *li iii'&A'* 'j.si»f!jiLS>l ., ►.j>.,,t'^„4!i';«f ,'^. ^^^'i '^S^^J^jA^^tA 306 <( AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ^ Men with staves. do. do. do. do. do. . do. ■ ^ do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. u It tl II « (( u u u opera-glasses. sickles. colters. ploughshares. wheelbarrows. pitchforks. - . , \ - posts. , beams, bolts, bars, hinges. ' .pokers. '' saucepans, mallets, hammers. saws. \ , chisels, ropes, chains. . gi'appling irons, together with a miscellaneous collection of articles Bnatched up at a moment's warning by an excited Znl wt' "^"°'JT^°' ^°d children, headed hy Frank who wielded triumphantly an old fowlin^- pH.ce loaded with a double charge, that couM d'o no damage to any one save the daring individual that might venture to A\^nh^rzfs it It u (t II tt u tl tt THE CHASE OP THE WfLD BOAB. 307 ^ - CHAPTER XXVII. A Salamander. Smokmg out tkcMomta-.- BMA poerosque cano 1 pie "„" ett'"'^'''^''^'^' ^^^ -««ed the pec % nearest, wh;theTb!ff . **" """P"" "".t ehanic, or implemlf f 1' f ''"' °'" '"o' »f >>>e- -e their f"SrwenffLtT'7'*l"'''''^"'J»- the Pell De8troy;r *° ''° ''**"« ^g^-st ""gfity aeEverm. hosTTn^t^?. f^'"' "P"" tho 7 mieRty aSEveriae host !„/ i.""^ "^'' "P"" ^e "Pon their heads ' °''°'"«'' «"' Weeeings How the sight of the palUd Viet.-™ Chared the !&»*^'v\jH f *- ''-k i.|^^^i4!!ilkM>ib'.'&'V^A//i0PP8ed been ^'^^^^^^^^^'^ ■'^- . .: «rhf;:.°'"'™^"'='""^'"'"eh to speak. Xs he there yet ? " was hw fire* / ,,-"Tes," said Clive. ^"^ '"^ ^'^^ ^^■""fc- i " Wliere ? " cf%"ts>'^""'"'''^<''°""--.-'l-apae l>P.Mishi„g his weapon. , "'"'^' P™"^'^ r ?' ".": ^« <=«°'t do anything." I wuhyou could," said Prank. •IP wSTi^ili* ifi- A^. :yr'' 810 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ir<'. "I wish we could too/' said David, fervently. Upon this Frank talked with the guide. The question Was, what should they do now ? The most desirable thing was, to draw the wild beast out of his lair, so that they might have a fair chance with him; but, unfortunately, the wild beast utterly refused to mpve front his lain After son^e talk with his guide, Frank suggested that a large number of the crowd should go to the TQar, and the left end of the house, and strike at it, and utter appalling cries, so as to frighten the * wild boar ^nd drive him out. This proposal the guide ex{>Iained to the crowd; who at once pro- ceeded with the very greatest alacrity to-act upon it. Most of them were delighted at the idea of fighting the enemy in tha.t fashion ; and so it hap- pened that the entire crowd took .up their station in a dense mass at the re^^r of the "building ; and then they proceeded to beat upon t1ie walls of the house, to shout, to yell, and to utter such hideous sounds, that any ordinary animal would simply have' gone mad with fright, and died on the spo|. But this animal proved to be no ordinary one in this tespect. Either h^ was accustomed to strange noisesj, or else he had such nerves of sfeel, that the present uproar affected him no more than the sighing of the gentlest summer breeze ; indeed, .David and Clfve^wef e fer more aflected, IbTWtliF^ first outbreak of that tumultuous uproar, they actually jumped from the floor, and thought that ^/^■it&i', .?,.,. .* -mtf- ■«.'*•• .■-^-'•.■f^-f.'^ 'r-^s''' "'t'-z' THE ALBAN ABMT. 311 the rickety old house was tumbling about their ears. ^ During this proceeding, Frank stood bravely in front of the door, ahont a dozen yards oflF, with his rusty fowling-piece ; and close beside hira stood Bob with his pitchfork. Uncle Mosea with his scythe, and the guide, with his rope. " He doesn't care for this at all," said Frank, in a dejected tone. " We must try something else. What shall we do?" And saying this, he turned oijce more and talked with the guide. Meanwhile David and Clive, ^who had recovered their equanimity, rushed to the opening, and began to assist their friends by doing what they could to frighten the wild boar. '^ " Shoo-o-o-o-o-o I " said David[. " Hs-s-s-s-s-s-s ! '* said Clive. '' " B6-P-0-0-0-0KM) I '' said David. ' " Grr-r-r-r-r-r ! " cried Clive. But the wild boar did not move, even though ^e uproar without still COB tinued. - | Then Clive went down the ladder a little dis- tance, far enough down so that by bending, his head was below the upper floor. Then he took his hat and hurled it with all his might and main at the pile of fagpts. "Then Be w^nt lip again. ~ But the wild boar did not move. Thereupon David went down, and he went a 4'»4V >>'*^ ':S-.m- f\ ■ J* -^ ' t ' T -/ K 1 v'* \ jrii AMONG THE BBI0AND3. little, lower. He took his hat, and uttering a hide- 0U8 yeU, he threw it with aU his force at the fogots. But even this failed to alarm the wild boar. Da- vid stood for a moment aifter this bold deed and lis- tened. The only satisfaction that he had was, the sound of a low, comfortable grunt, that seemed to show that th^ present situation was one which was rather enjoyed than otherwise by this formidable, this indomitable', this invincible beast. They came back to the windows in despair, and by this time Frank ha4 finished his discussion with the guide. He was looking up anxiously towards them. "Look here," said he; "that miserable wild boar won't come out. The guide thinks the only way to get at him is to smoke him out. The only trouble is about you. Will the smoke bother you, do you think?" « I don't know," said Clive. " '^ ou stop up the opening ? " «No, dows?" Can you keep your heads out of the win- u Well try. But I wish you'd only thought of before 1 wish we had," said Frank, thoughtfully. "But never mind," he added, cheerily, "there's no nae gping baci? for one, because, you see, we'll wmm. bringing a ladder, so as to get us out first, smok ing him." - , ' M ^i^. -i- f , « WILD UPROAR. 3ia have you out of that long before a ladder could be brought here," . " It was only by yelling at the top of their voices that they were able to make themselves heard by one another, for the cro>^ behind the house still kept up their yells, and knockings, and thui^piugs, and waited to hear that the' wild boar had fled. As the time passed without any such news, they were only stimulated to fresh efforts, and howled more fearfully and yelled more deafeningly. "There's an awful waste of energy and power about here, somehow," said Frank. " There ought to be some way of getting at that wretched beast, without all this nonsense. Here we are, — I don't know how many of us, but the whole population of a town, at any rate, against one, — and what's worse, ^we don't seem to make any impression." • Meanwhile the guide had gone off among the crowd, tod while Frank was grumbling, he was busying himself among them, and was engaged in carrying out a very brilliant idea that had just suggested itself to him. In a short time he re- turned with an armful of something, the nature of which Frank could not quite make out. *' What have you got there ? " he asked. " What are you going to do?" ., " Poy~w« r^ handk ercfaiefa"- :— -^ "Handkerchiefs?" ; :,.' " Yes ; de handkerchiefs of de population of A1-. banc, Dey are as many as de days of de year." i- 314 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ■■:*#■ ^^ "I should think 80," cried Frank, in amazement. " But what are you going to do with them ? " " Do wit dem ? I am going to make a smoke." " A smoke ? What ? Are you going to burn them up ? " . "Dere is notin else to burn; so I must burn- what I can. See, I make a bundle of dese. 1 set fire to dem. Dey burn — dey smoke — and de boar smoke out. Aha! he suffocate — he expire ' — he run ! " "Well, if that isn't the greatest idea I ever heard of I » cried Frank. " Handke^iefs I Why, you must have hundreds of them in that bundle." ' The guide smiled, and made no answer, It was a brilliant idea. It was all his own. He wks proud of it. He was pleased to think that the number of them was equal to the number of days in the year. Three hundred and sixty-five handkerchiefs cpl- lected from the good, the virtuous, the self-sacri- ficmg people of Albano, who were now yelling and howling as before, at the rear of the house, and diversifymg the uproar by loud calls and inquiries about the wild boar. The guide smiled cheerily over the handker- chiefs. He was 8o proud of his original idea 1 He went calmly on, forming them into a rough bundle, domg^it very dexterously, so t hat the bundle might J>*4tght enough ttrhotd together, yet loose^nough^ to burn. Frank watched him curiously. So did Bob. So did Uncle Moses. So did CHve. So did .I'j'ji m. ttazenaent. n?" smoke." ■ to burn lUst burn- )e. I set - and de e expire I I ever I I Why, mndle." It was as proud imberof ;he year, liefs cpl- elf-sacri- ling and ise, and nquiries landker- Ba! He bundle, e might enough So did So did *■ — .- ":,- ing neare* to the doorway, he advanced, keeping a little on o^e side, and watching for an opportunity * to throw it\in. Frank followed with his rusty gun, Jit / 316 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. / 1 Bobjith his pitchfork, and Uncle M0868 with his scythe: All were ready,,either for attack or de- •fence, and aU the while the bellowing pf the crowd ^ OeJJind the house went on uninterruptedly. The guide reached at length a point about ten feet from the door. Theti.1^ poised himself and took aim. Then he threw th^ bul-ning ball But his aim was bad. The ball struck the 'side of the doorway, and fell outside. In an instant 1 Frank rushed forward, and seizing it, threw it in- side. It fell on the floor, and rolled towards the foot of the ladder, where it lay blazing, ^nd smoul- dering, and sending forth smoke enough to satisfy the most exacting mind. Then Prank drew back a little, poising his gjn. whde Bob, Uncle Moses, and tha guide! took^ip their stations beside him. The smoke rose up bravely frpm the! burning mass; but '^fter all, the result wa», uot What had been desired. It rolled up thrbugt the opening above, and gathered in blue masses in^heVoom, where Chve and David were imprisoned. They lelt the effects of the pungent vaporf verV «uickly more especially in their eyes, which stilL and smarted and emitted torrents of tpars. Their only r^luge from this new evil was to thrust th^ir heads fh/r^?"^"!' _*!'.!, ''^°^^^." ^^ ^^'^ POBBib l e ; and this ,^ey xM V^i tti n g on the window ledg e, clinging to the waH^and projecting their bodies fai- forward outside of the hpuse. For a time they were bus- I'^TV"'' SMOKING OUT, THE MONSTER. 317 8 with his ick or de- the crowd abont ten tDself and ,11. r the 'side n instant rew it in- i^ards the id smoul- to satisfy his gijn, tooktip burning 'hat had opening he room, . They ttickfy, g» and leir only ir heads Eind this tamed by the hope that their enemy below was feehng it worse than they were/and that he would Boon relax his vigilant watch and fly. But alas I that enemy showed no signs of flight, and it so^n became evident to them and to those outside, that V all the smoke went to the upper room, to oppress the prisoners, and but little spread through the lower room ; so little, indeed, that the wild boar did not feel any inconvenience in particular. "Can't you do something? » ^sked Clive, implor- mgly. \ ^ "We can't stand this much longer," said David despairingly, with streaming eyes, and choking voice. ° Their words sounded faint and low amidst the jejlmg of the crowd behind the house, who still maintained their stations there, from preference, and kept up their.terrific outcry. Amid the yells ■ there came occasional anxious inquiries as to the success of their efforts. At times messengers would venture from the rear to the front to recon. noitre. These messengers, however, were only lew m number, a^d their reconnoitring was of the most superficial description possible. The latest experiment of the ^uide was the cause of more freq^ent and more urgent inquiries. So JPany„ h andkerc|iieis hod been iaves i ed in thia -S?" f ilingmg forward )re BUS' last venture, that it was brought nearer home than before. Each man feltihatlie was concerned peiv Bonully in the affaii-; that, in fapt, he, in th^e shape •'■Tw ■ 318 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. of a representative of so important a kind as his own handkerchief, was already inside, and assailing the . obstinate monster with a more terrible arm than any which had yet been employed - smoke and. fire. \ 7 ". But the clamor of the crowd had not so much effect on the little band in froni^ as the sight of poor Clive and David, who, clinging to the window with their feces flushed, and their.eyes red, swot len and streaming with tears, appeared unable to hold dwi much longer. ^ !! ?n something or other, quick," cried Clive. I II have to jurtp down," said David. _ And both or them tried to push themselves far- ther out, while thei^j^s w^re turned down, and they seemed anxiously measuring with their eyes the distance between themselves and the ground I" > i id as bis assailing ible arm — smoke so much sight of window 3d, swot nable to ?Iive. Ives far- wn, and 3ir eyes round. THE LAST APPEAL. ,J%- ■<^' 319 •V CHAPTER XXVIIL 7^e Salamander inaccessible to Fire. — The last Appeal. — Frank takes Action. — He fires. — Casualty to Frank and Bob. — Onset of the Monster. — Flight. ~ Tremen- dous Sensation. -^ The Guide's Story. — Another Legend ofAlbano. — On to Rome. p|OR some time Frank had felt an intolerable impatience, and had been deliberating in his own mind about the best way of ending a/cene which was not only painful to the poor .prisoners, but humiliating to himself. In spite, however, of the immense odds in vfavor of the attacking party, Frank could not think of any way of making those odds available under present cir- cumstances, when the last plaintive appeal and the desperate proposal of CHve and David came to his ears. He saw that they were suffering tortures, from the smoke,, that they could not endure it much' longer, and that they would have to ma'ke a descent from the window. To prevent thi« ,^nd the danger that might result from it, Frank solved upon immediate action. So he grasped^his rusty fowling-piece with re- a ^. 44 J. ■ fe/ii. ^Kk ^ \ y; •p-'_^- i^^.-flF^.,-,-' ■■'";v,':i'jf'si'^;^>'iM^ 320 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. ' ■fir ilc' deadly purpose, and rushed to the narrow door-^ way of the old house. Bob followed at once with his pitchfork, resolved to go wherever Frank leid the way, and to stand by him at all hazards. The guide stood looking on. Uncle Moses also stood still, and made a. feeble attempt to order the two boys back ; but his words were neither -heard nor heeded. At this David and Clive stopped in their desperate design, and looked down at Frank and Bob. - . Frank stood by the dootway. , He put his head inside, and looked all around, cautiously, yet resolutely. The interior, howeyer, was always .a dark place; and now the fumes of blue smoke made it yet darker. But though jhis eyes saw nothing of the fierce beast, his ears cottld detect the rustle and the crackle which wfere pro- duced by the motion of something among ,ihe xfegots. This noise showed him plainly where' it mlist be. - ' Thereupon he hesitated no longer. He raised hip rusty fowling-piece to ms shoulder I ^^^ He^jtooic deadly aim 1 He fired ! Bangui The flash illumined the dark interior, and t|ie smoke from the gun Jinited with t h e sm ok e was already there. But simultaneous with the bang and the "flash, Frank felt hjmsell* hurled bac ! / %'■■ f CASUALTY TO PRANK AND BOB. 321 ward and to the ground, knocked aown by the recoil of the gun, flat on his back. Up rushed Bob, full of the deepest anxiety. F.^nl ^T ^' ^' '"^"''"^ *^" P'^^t'-^te form of Frank there was a hurried clatter fro^ within and then -down healso went- head first -over thl. r;-^*^"^^^ down by some rushing figure th ough the doorway, and was now careering wildly over the fields. »reering Uncle Moses saw that figure, and then hurried up to his two prostrate boys. David and Clive from their stations at the win- dowsawit,and then instantly hurried down the ladder, and out of the house, where they stood panting and staring wildly at vacancy. The guide saw it, and as he saw it there came over his ace an expression of an. utterly inde. Bcribable kind. He clasped his hands together th« '^TuT^ ' '''''' '^' ^^^'-"^ations for which the English language, or indeed any other Ian- guage but the Italian, can afford no equivalent. vooTf^ . "'V^'"' '*"°^^°^ with clasped I^ands, vociferating and staring, in company with David 8prun.rr'/'r T\"^ fig-ef Frank liad sprung to his feet, and soliad Bob; Uncle Moses, ~X tT' "!.'."; *" "* "'*■» "'»»'' »««"■"& with feohuga that defy description, at the ecene before 21 »• -iK-4 / \ . / 322 AMONG THE BRIGAND3. '■\ What was thia scene that thus held their gaze ? Well, in the first place, there was that valley, already so familiar to David and Clive — a smooth slope on either side, some olive trees near, but beyond that all bare, and no houses visible in that direction. Now, over this open space there was running — so swift and so stVaight that it was evidently iippelled by pain or panic — what ? A little black pig I A pig, small, as has just been said, an ordinary domestic pig — of no particular breed — the com- monest- of animals. Moreover, it was black. It was also, undoubtedly, as has just been remarked, either suffering from some of the shot of Frank's rusty gun, or from the terror that might have been excited by its report. And now this little black pig was running as fast as its absurd little legs could carry it — far away across the fields. « O, holy saints 1 "j cried the guide ; « it's the little black pig, that w,edpis8ed Rom the convent yesterday morning — the pig — tba little black pig — the pig — the pig I Is it possibly ? 0,-i8 it possible?" Every word of this was heard by the tKiys. They understood it all now. It seemed also th^ the little black pig, having accomplished as much mischief as any single pig can ever hope to bring abottt, was evidently making the best xjfitrway to its home, and steering straight for the convent. Tj^a they eaw^ ^d they gazed in silence^ Nothing ' i '."Si / r gaze? t valley, i smooth Bar, but ) in that lere was it was It? )rdinary the com- ack. It marked, Frank's ive been le black tie legs it's the convent e black ? 0, is THE guide's story. 323 wa« 3aid, for nothing could be .aid. Tl.ey could not even look at one another. David and ('1^^ were of course the most cre.tJe : 't^ others had equal cause for humiliation. liLm that If ,t had really been a wild boar, Flank's act tit , r.li"''" ""' ^^"^ """J ^ he acted u^der the belief tb^t it was ao, it w«s imdoubtedly'darin/ and pl„ck/and self-sacrificing , but; .u^^^^^ he conclus,on of the affair did not allow himlo' look upon It m that light matled T''^ "•' "'"''' '^«'"'«' '^^^ house maintained their ehouts and outcries. Under the circn^stances, this uproar became shocking^ absurd, and out of place ; so the guide hastened ^ p/t an end to it On the whole, he-thought it was ±,7:"" "■"■'" '° '^" '^^ •^"*''. for the truth I L r '" *^^""' "'* ^"'^ P™P'« of AHia. 90, that they would, undoubtedly^have taken ven- geance on the strangers for such a disgrace „ this. ■ guide's atory became an idgalized version. ' I Itjas so«,ething to the following effect:- ' 1^^!;^ » y ;''' ■ ' o ' Vhe >>id, had been lam^^ beeh^^fraid fo come forth and fece so mSny I^ ' H ■ ' '« ; : r^^-^xi . , — "^" "" many ene- I^the guide) had therefore determii^a fe^t-rs^.*"'"**"". ,-'.» ^.,. \ 324 AMONG THE BRIGANDS. to tr}' to s^ioke him oilt, and had borrowod their handkerchiefs for that pulrpose, as there were no other combustibles to be had. Of this thejr were already aware. He had tied the^haridlTerchiefs togetheir "in such a way that they would burn, and after setting fire to them, had hurled the blazing tfiass into the house. There it emitted its sti- fling fumes till they confused, suffocated, fright- ened, and confounded the lurking wild boar. Then, in Jhe midst of this, the heroic youth, armed with his gi:n, rushed forward and poured the deadly contents of his piece into the' body of the beast. Tad it been any other animal, it would undoubted- ly^have perished ; but the wild boar has a hide like sheet iron, and this one was merely irritated by the shot. Still, though not actually wounded, he was enraged, and at the same time frightened. In his rage and fear he started from his lurking-place ; he bounded lorth, and made a savage attack upon the party in frbnt of the house. They stood ifcheir ground firmly ahd heroically, and beat him ofi"; whereupon, in desj^air, he turned and fled, van- quished, to his lair inN^e Alban tunnel. -'» In this way the guide^ vivid imagination |aved the travellers from the Julw of the Alban peopleyr by preventing that fury, andWjplying in its' place self-complacency. The Alban popple felt satisfied ■W ^^08 tttitt with thi s s iu ^ y^ They a u - cepted it as undonbted ; they toqk it to their homes jfld tQ theii^ j^^El^rts; they e^plargad, a4orned,im- yi.- THE guide's story. -O 325 proved and lengthened it out, until, finally, it assumed the amplest proportion, and became one ot the mosf popular leg^ends of the place. What 18 still more wonderful, this very guide, who had firs created it, told itsooftento ptl^iesof tonrS that he at length grew to believe every word of it himself; and the fact that he had ^eeh an actor in that scene never failed to make his story quite credible to his hearers. / 4 "« At this time, however, he had not advanced so tar, and he was able to toll the actual facts of the case to the boys and Uncle Moses. Th«y were these : — At the convent they kept a number of^igs, and on the previous day, early in the morning, they had missed the very animal which had created this extraordinary scene. He had escaped in some way from his pen, M had fled for parts tihknown. They had searched %^, but in vain: He must have wandered to this old house at the first, and ^aken up bis quarters here iintil he was so rudelv t^71 "^ r. ^ **''^' ^^ ^^^^« ««"ld ««ly hope that the httle_J)Iack.pig would le^ a lesson from this of the evils of running away from home. To all this the boys listened without toy ihterert whate^r, and did not condescend to n&ke any * remarks. The guide. himself benam. ftjngnlnrlj -TfQIn-teresting lu^tEiTr eyes; tod the^g^ rid of him as soon as possible, paying him hberally, hov- eyer, for the; additional^ tpjuble to "which ^hey had .>« , jgi^k- «-" ( 326 AlCOKO THE BRIGANDS. 4 kf put him. Uncle Moses also had some words of remoiistrance, mingled with congratulation, to offer to David and Clive ; but these also were heard in silence. They might have found ample excuse for their delay in this ruined house; but they did not feel inclined to offer any excuses whatever. The fact is, this reduction of the great wild ^oar to the very insignificant proportions of a little black pig — Commonplace, paltry, and altogether contemptible — was too much for their sensitive natures. It had placed them all in a false position. They w«$re not cowards, but they had all been alarmed % the most despicable of animais. Frank feltyWfoundly humiliated, and reflected, with a W^fupon the absurd figure that he had made of ^imself in hesitating so long before such an ene- y, and then advancing upon it in such a way. Bob's feelings were- very similar. But it was for David and Clive that the deepest mortification was reserved. They had been the cause of it all. It was their vivid imaginations which had con- jured up out of nothing a terrible wild beast, which had'^ept them prisoner^ there for hours in loneliness and hunger, and which had thrown ridicule upon the population of Albano, by draw- ing them fortli to do battle with one poor Tittle harmless runaway pig. ^ -il they walked Backlo the hotel, they kept fer^ in the rear of the citizens of Albano; and Uncle Moses began to "improre" the occasion, and moralized in a solemn strain. ^ t-> *'mf.' '<•'■ UNCLE MOSES REMOXSTBATES. 327 " Wal," said he, "my dear boys, I must say that you hev one and all the greatest talent fbr gittin' yourselves into trouble that I ever see. Ever senco we landed on these ilLfated shores you've ben a-goin' it, and a dri vin' of me wild with anxiety and the only thing I can say is, that thus far your misadventoors hain't turned out so bad as I have feared m each individdool case. In fact thar's alius ben what they call a anticlimax ; that is, jest at the moment when thar'd ought to be a te-rific di^ster, thar's ben nothin' but some trivial or augherble tummination. Now, I'm free to confess, boys that thus far my fears hev ben gerroundlessi Im free to say that thus far thar hain't ben what we can conscuentiously call a accident. But what of that? The incidents hev all ben thar. Every individdool thing that can make a accident has ben thar — It's ony^the conclusion that has somehow broke down. And now I ask you, boys, what air we gom' to do about it ? Is this to go on forever ? Ib It perrobable that advuss circumstances air gom' to alius eventooate thus? I don't believe it. The pitcher that goes often to the fountain is broke at last, and depend upon it, if yon go for to carry on this way, and thrust yourselves in every danger that comes in your way — somcthin'll happen — mind I tell ^-" " ^^ This, and much more of the same sort, did Uncle Moses say ; but to all of it the boys paid verylittle - •i?*"* ^^^ ^*''^' *^® ^''^J®^* was to all of them 'V ■m M^ .t^ s Itltistration to »^ n 'A M /I AMERlCA^f GIKL ABROAD. ,1 'at . k m^M^ije^ Wi^^^0jf- 1,^ lt.M.4 \ ■le^ NEW PUBLICATIONS OF LEE AND SHEPARD. PAUL COBDEN'S NEW BOOK|g- TAKE A PEEP. 16mo.. Illustrated. $1.55* THE BECKONING aERIES. 4 vols, niustrated. , 16mo. Per vol., |1.25. ' ' ^ 1. WHO WILL WIN? * 2. GOING ON A MISSION. 3. THE TURNING WHEEL. 4. GOOD LUCK. 5. TAKE. A PEEP. BY POPULAR AUTHORS. LOTTIE':EAIVIES; ob, Do Youb Best and Lsavbthk Rest. 16rao. Illustrated. ' $1.50. " A succesBfftl picture of New-England life." —J. Q. f^Utiir. RHODA THORNTON'S GIRLHOOD. By Mrs. Maby E. Pratt. 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