1634 D395d THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE DODGE CLUB; OR, ITALY IN 1859- BY JAMES DE MILLE, AUTHOR OF 'CORD AND CREESE; OR, THE BRANDON MYSTERY," ETC., ETC. WITH ONE HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE. 1869. BY MRS. OLIPH. BROWNLOWS. A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 38 cents. THE LIFE OF EDWARD IRVING, Minister- of the I ition Church, London. Illustrated by his Journals and Correspondence. 8' Cl<. MADONNA MARY. A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents. MISS MARJORIBANKS. A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 75 cents. AGNES. A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 75 cents. THE DAYS OF MY LIFE. An Autobiography. A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50. THE LAIRD OF NORLAW. A Scottish. Story. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50. THE LAST OF THE MORTIMERS. A Story in Two Voices. I2mo, Cloth, $1 50. THE HOUSE ON THE MOOR, A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50. LUCY CROFTON. A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50. A SON OF THE SOIL. A Novel. 8vo, Cloth, $1 50 ; Paper, $1 00. CHRONICLES OF CARLINGFORD. A Novel. 8vo, Cloth, $1 75 ; Pa per, $1 25. THE PERPETUAL CURATE. 8vo, Cloth, $1 50 ; Paper, Si 00. THE ATHELINGS ; or, The Three Gifts. A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 75 cents. KATIE STEWART. A True Story. 8vo, Paper, 25 cents. THE QUIET HEART. A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 25 cents. That the authoress of the "Chronicles of Carlingford" is entitled to a prominent position in the upper chamber of modern novelists, none will be inclined to dispute who have been fascinated by that delightful series Compare Mrs. Henry Wood's stories with the creations of Miss Bronte, Mrs. Gaskell, the authoress of "Adam Bede," or Mrs. Oliphant; gauge them respectively by the tests of truth, insight, force, and grace of style, and the difference is as between paste and diamonds. London Reader. Mrs. Oliphant's books are always characterized by thought and earnestness some purposo making itself manifest in them beyond that of merely striking the fancy of her readers, or gaining their attention for a moment. London Revieiv. We are entitled to look for something beyond the common in all that Mrs. Oliphant writes, and we find it in her masterly delineation of character, in the perfect keeping of her personages, whose conduct changes naturally with the natural growth and decay of their ruling motives. London Daily News. Some writers seem to have no power of growth ; they reproduce themselves with more or less success. But others, who study human nature, improve instead of deteriorating. There is no living novelist in wliom this improvement is so marked as Mrs. Oliphant. London Press. Mrs, Oliphant is one of the most admirable of our lady novelists. London Post. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. HARPER & BROTHERS will send the above Works by Mail, postage free, to an$ part of tk> United States, on receipt of the- price. THE DODGE CLUB; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. BY JAMES DE MILLE, AUTHOR OF "CORD AND CREESE; OR, THE BRANDON MYSTERY," ETC., ETC. itl) (Due ^unbrcb JJUustrations. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE. 1869. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. CONTENTS. CHAPTER L PARIS. THE DODGE CLUB. HOW TO SPEAK FRENCH. HOW TO RAISE A CROWD 5 ILLUSTRATIONS. Dick! Here I Invite my Friends. The Club. The Place Vendome. Keep it. Buttons ! CHAPTER II. ORLEANS. HOW TO QUELL A LANDLORD. HOW TO FIGHT OFF HUMBUGS ; AND HOW TO TRAVEL WITHOUT BAGGAGE 10 ILLUSTRATIONS That's a Hotel Bill. Cicero against Yerres. Sac-r-r-r-re ! CHAPTER III. THE RHONE IN A RAIN. THE MAD FRENCHMAN. SUICIDE A CAPITAL CRIME IN FRANCE... 13 ILLUSTRATIONS. Number T29. Horror! Despair! CHAPTER IV. MARSEILLES 14 CHAPTER V. THE RETIRED ORGAN-GRINDER. THE SENATOR PHILOSOPHIZES. EVILS OF NOT HAVING A PASSPORT : 15 ILLUSTRATIONS. Those Italians. Genoa, the Superb. CHAPTER VI. LAZARONI AND MACARONI, 17 ILLUSTRATIONS. Their Noble Excellencies. Lazaroni and Macaroni. CHAPTER VII. DOLORES. AN ITALIAN MAID LEARNS ENGLISH. A ROMANTIC ADVENTURE. A MASQUERADE, AND WHAT BEFELL THE SENATOR. A CHARM ING DOMINO. A MOONLIGHT WALK, AND AN ASTOUNDING DISCOVERY 19 ILLUSTRATIONS. Yankee Doodle I Kiss Hands The Young Hussar. A Perplexed Senator. Exit Senator. CHAPTER VIII. ADVENTURES AND MISADVENTURES. A WET GROTTO AND A BOILING LAKK. THE TWO FAIR SPANIARDS, AND THE DONKEY RIDE 24 ILLUSTRATIONS Darn it! Don't Thump! A Trying Moment. Senator and Donkey. CHAPTER IX. A DRIVE INTO THE COUNTRY. A FIGHT WITH A VETTCRINO. THE EFFECT OF EATING "HARD BOILED EGGS." WHATTHEY SAW AT P^ESTUM. FIVE TEMPLES AND ONE "MILL." 28 ILLUSTRATIONS." Do You See That ?" The Mill at Paes- tum. CHAPTER X. ON THE WATER, WHERE BUTTONS SEES A LOST IDEA AND GIVES CHASE TO IT, TOGETHER WITH THE HEART-SICKENING RESULTS THEREOF. 32 ILLUSTRATIONS. The Spaniards. "A Thousand Par dons I" CHAPTER XI. THE SENATOR HAS SUCH A FANCY FOR SEEKING USEFUL INFORMATION! CURIOUS POSITION OF A WISE, AND WELL-KNOWN, AND DESERVEDLY- POPULAR LEGISLATOR, AND UNDIGNIFIED MODE OF HIS ESCAPE < 35 ILLUSTRATION. The Senator. CHAPTER XII. HERCULANEUM AND POMPEII, AND ALL THAT THE SIGHT OF THOSE FAMOUS PLACES PRODUCED ON THE MINDS OF THE DODGE CLUB 37 ILLUSTRATIONS. Villa of Diomedes. Phew ! A Street in Pompeii. CHAPTER XIII. VESUVIUS. WONDERFUL ASCENT OF THE CONE. WONDERFUL DESCENT INTO THE CRATER. AND MOST WONDERFUL DISAPPEARANCE OF MR. FIGGS, AFTER WHOM ALL HIS FRIENDS GO, WITH THEIR LIVES IN THEIR HANDS. GREAT SENSATION AMONG SPECTATORS 40 ILLUSTRATIONS. The Ascent of Vesuvius. The Descent of Vesuvius. Where's Figgs ? Mr. Figgs. The Ladies. CHAPTER XIV. MAGNIFICENT ATTITUDE OF THE SENATOR ; BRIL LIANCY" OF BUTTONS ; AND PLUCK OF THE OTH ER MEMBERS OF THE CLUB : BY ALL OF WHICH THE GREATEST EFFECTS ARE PRODUCED. 47 ILLUSTRATIONS. The Bandits Captured. Sold. CHAPTER XV. DOLORES ONCE MORE. A PLEASANT CONVERSA TION. BUTTONS LEARNS MORE OF HIS YOUNG FRIEND. AFFECTING FAREWELL 50 I ILLUSTRATIONS. Two Piastres! The Brave Soldier. 881387 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVI. DICK RELATES A FAMILY LEGEND 53 ILLUSTRATIONS Bujiug a Whale The Long-lost Son. CHAPTER XVII. NIGHT ON THE ROAD. THE CLUB ASLEEP. THEY ENTER ROME. THOUGHTS ON APPROACHING AND ENTERING "THE ETERNAL CITY." 50 ILLUSTRATION. To Rome. CHAPTER XVIII. A LETTER BY DICK, AND CRITICISMS OF HIS FRIENDS 56 CHAPTER XIX. ST. PETER'S ! THE TRAGIC STORY OF THE FAT MAN IN THE BALL. HOW ANOTHER TRAGEDY NEARLY HAPPENED. THE WOES OFMEINHERR SCHATT '. 57 ILLUSTRATION ," Gracious Me !" CHAPTER XX. THE GLORY, GRANDEUR, BEAUTY, AND INFINITE VARIETY OF THE PINCIAN HILL; NARRATED AND DETAILED NOT COLUMNARILY BUT EX HAUSTIVELY, AND AFTER THE MANNER OF RA BELAIS. CO CHAPTER XXL HARMONY ON THE PINCIAN HILL. MUSIC HATH CHARMS. AMERICAN MELODIES. THE GLORY, THE POWER, .AND THE BEAUTY OF YANKEE DOODLE, AND THE MERCENARY SOUL OF AN ITALIAN ORGAN-GRINDER 60 ILLUSTRATION. Old Virginny. CHAPTER XXII. HOW A BARGAIN IS MADE. THE WILES OF THE ITALIAN TRADESMAN. THE NAKED SULKY BEGGAR, AND THE JOVIAL WELL-CLAD BEG GAR. WHO IS THE KING OF BEGGARS ?... 62 ILLUSTRATION. The Shrug. CHAPTER XXIII. THE MANIFOLD LIFE OF THE CAFE NUOVO, AND HOW THEY RECEIVED THE NEWS ABOUT MAGEN TA. EXCITEMENT. ENTHUSIASM. TEARS. EMBRACES 64 ILLUSTRATION. News of Magenta ! CHAPTER XXIV. CHECKMATE ! 65 ILLUSTRATION. Before and After. CHAPTER XXV. BUTTONS A MAN OF ONE IDEA. DICK AND IIIS MEASURING TAPE. DARK EYES. SUSCEPTI BLE HEART. YOUNG MAIDEN WHO LIVES OUT OF TOWN. GRAND COLLISION OF TWO AB STRACTED LOVERS IN THE PUBLIC STREETS. 6G ILLUSTRATIONS. Away ! Pepita. CHAPTER XXVI. CONSEQUENCES OF BEIXG GALLANT IN ITALY, WHERE THERE ARE LOVERS, HUSBANDS, BROTH ERS, FATHERS, COUSINS, AND INNUMERABLE OTHER RELATIVES AND CONNECTIONS, ALL READY WITH THE STILETTO .................. 61) ILLUSTRATION. An Interruption. CHAPTER XXVII. DICK ON THE SICK LIST. - RAPTURE OF BUTTONS AT MAKING AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.... 71 ILLUSTRATION. Poor Dick! CHAPTER XXVIII. WHAT KIND OF A LETTER THE SENATOR WROTE FOR THE "NEW ENGLAND PATRIOT," WHICH SHOWS A TRUE, LIBERAL, UNBIASED, PLAIN, UN VARNISHED VIEW OF ROME .................. 73 ILLUSTRATION. Sketches by a Friend. CHAPTER XXIX. THE LONELY ONE AND HIS COMFORTER. THE TRUE MEDICINE FOR A SICK MAN ........... 75 CHAPTER XXX. OCCUPATIONS AND PEREGRINATIONS OF BUT TONS ................................ .............. 77 ILLUSTRATION. Buttons and Murray. CHAPTER XXXI. BUTTONS ACTS THE GOOD SAMARITAN, AND LIT ERALLY UNEARTHS A MOST UNEXPECTED VIC TIM OF AN ATROCIOUS ROBBERY. GR-R-R-A- cious ME! ....................................... 77 78 79 CHAPTER XXXII. ANOTHER DISCOVERY MADE BY BUTTONS.... CHAPTER XXXIII. JSplKEKiK KO(\ KO(l KO(i ........................ ILLUSTRATION. Brekekekek Koax Koax ! CHAPTER XXXIV. THE SENATOR PURSUES HIS INVESTIGATIONS. - AN INTELLIGENT ROMAN TOUCHES A CHORD IN THE SENATOR'S HEART THAT VIBRATES. RESULTS OF THE VIBRATION. - A VISIT FROM THE ROMAN POLICE ; AND THE GREAT RACE DOWN THE COR- SO BETWEEN THE SENATOR AND A ROMAN SPY. - GLEE OF THE POPULACE! Hi! Hi!.... 80 ILLUSTRATIONS Got You There! Walking Spanish. CHAPTER XXXV. DICK MAKES ANOTHER EFFORT, AND BEGINS TO FEEL ENCOURAGED ............................ 83 ILLUSTRATION. Dick Thinks it Over. CHAPTER XXXVI. SHOWING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET A LAUN DRESS, FOR THE SENATOR WANTED ONE, AND CONTENTS. NOT KNOWING THE LANGUAGE GOT INTO A SCRAPE, NOT BY HIS OWN FAULT, FOR HE WAS CAREFUL ABOUT COMMITTING HIMSELF WITH THE LADIES ; BUT PRAY, WAS IT HIS FAULT IF THE LADIES WOULD TAKE A FANCY TO HIM? 85 ILLUSTRATIONS. The Senator in a Bad Fix The Sena tor in a Worse Fix. CHAPTER XXXVII. Home. Ancient History. THE PREHISTORIC ERA. CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF NIEBUHR AND HIS SCHOOL. THE EARLY HISTORY OF ROME PLACED ON A RIGHT BASIS. EXPLANA TION OF HISTORY OF REPUBLIC. NAPOLEON'S "CAESAR." THE IMPERIAL REGIME. THE NORTHERN BARBARIANS. RISE OF THE PA PACY. MEDIEVAL ROME. Topography. TRUE ADJUSTMENT OF BOUNDS OF ANCIENT CITY. ITS PROBABLE POPULATION. Geology. EXAMINATION OF FORMATION. TUFA TRAVERTINE. ROMAN CEMENT. TERRA COTTA. Special consideration of Roman Cata combs. BOSIO. ARRINGHI. CARDINAL WISE MAN. RECENT EXPLORATIONS, INVESTIGA TIONS, EXAMINATIONS, EXHUMATIONS, AND RE SUSCITATIONS. EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORY SET ON A TRUE BASIS. RELICS. MARTYRS. REAL ORIGIN OF CATACOMBS. TRUE AND RELIABLE EXTENT (WITH MAPS). Remarks on Art. THE RENAISSANCE. THE EAR LY PAINTERS : CIMABUE, GIOTTO, PERUGINO, RAFAELLE SANZIO, MICHELANGELO BUONAROT- TI. THE TRANSFIGURATION. THE MOSES OF MICHELANGELO. BELLINI. SAINT PETER'S, AND MORE PARTICULARLY THE COLONNADE. THE LAST JUDGMENT. DANTE. THE MEDLS- , VAL SPIRIT. EFFECT OF GOTHIC ART ON ITALY AND ITALIAN TASTE. COMPARISON OF LOM BARD WITH SICILIAN CHURCHES. TO WHAT EXTENT ROME INFLUENCED THIS DEVELOP MENT. THE FOSTERING SPIRIT OF THE CHURCH. ALL MODERN ART CHRISTIAN. WHY THIS WAS A NECESSITY. FOLLIES OF MODERN CRITICS. REYNOLDS AND RUSKIN. HOW FAR POPULAR TASTE IS WORTH ANY THING. CONCLUDING REMARKS OF A MISCEL LANEOUS DESCRIPTION 88 CHAPTER XXXVIII. ITALIAN TRAVEL, ROADS, INNS. A GRAND BREAK DOWN. AN ARMY OF BEGGARS. SIX MEN HUNTING UP A CARRIAGE WHEEL; AND PLANS OF THE SENATOR FOR THE GOOD OF ITALY. 88 ILI.USTBATIONS. Travelling in Italy. The Senator's Es cort. CHAPTER XXXIX. TRIUMPHANT PROGRESS OF DICK. GENDARMES FOILED. THE DODGE CLUB IS ATTACKED BY BRIGANDS, AND EVERY MAN OF IT COVERS HIM SELF WITH GLORY. SCREAM OF THE AMERI CAN EAGLE! 91 ILLUSTRATIONS. Dick in his Glory. Pietro The Barri cade. CHAPTER XL. PLEASANT MEDITATIONS ABOUT THE WONDERS OF TOBACCO ; AND THREE PLEASANT ANECDOTES BY AN ITALIAN BRIGAND.... . 95 CHAPTER XLI. FINAL ATTACK OF REINFORCEMENTS OF BRIG ANDS. THE DODGE CLUB DEFIES THEM AND REPELS THEM. HOW TO MAKE A BARRICADE. FRATERNIZATION OF AMERICAN EAGLE AND GALLIC COCK. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE LEATH ER 96 ILLUSTBATION An International Affair. CHAPTER XLII. FLORENCE. DESPERATION OF BUTTONS, OF MR. FIGGS, AND OF THE DOCTOR 99 ILLUSTRATIONS. Florence, from San Miniato Pitti Pal ace Fountain of Neptune, Palazzo Vecchio. The Du- omo. The Campanile. Strozzi Palace. Buttons Melancholy. CHAPTER XLIII. THE SENATOR ENTRAPPED. THE WILES AND WITCHERY OF A QUEEN OF SOCIETY. HIS FATE DESTINED TO BE, AS HE THINKS, ITALIAN COUNTESSES. SENTIMENTAL CONVERSATION. POETRY. BEAUTY MOONLIGHT. RAPTURE. DISTRACTION. BLISS ! 103 ILLUSTRATION. La Cica. CHAPTER XLIV. "MORERE DIAGORA, NON ENIM IN CCELUM AD- SCENSURUS ES." THE APOTHEOSIS OF THE SENATOR (NOTHING LESS IT WAS A MOMENT IN WHICH A MAN MIGHT WISH TO DIE THOUGH, OF COURSE, THE SENATOR DIDN'T DIE) 10G ILLUSTRATIONS. Solferino! The Senator Speaks. CHAPTER XLV. THE PRIVATE OPINION OF THE DOCTOR ABOUT FOREIGN TRAVEL. BUTTONS STILL ' MEETS WITH AFFLICTIONS 109 ILLUSTRATIONS. A Grease Spot. Farewell, Figgs ! CHAPTER XLVI. A MEMORABLE DRIVE. NIGHT. THE BRIGANDS ONCE MORE. GARIBALDI'S NAME. THE FIRE. THE IRON BAR. THE MAN FROM THE GRAN ITE STATE AND HIS TWO BOYS 111. ILLUSTRATIONS. In the Coach A Free Fight. Don't Speak. CHAPTER XLVII. BAD BRUISES, BUT GOOD MUSES. THE HON ORABLE SCARS OF DICK. A KNOWLEDGE OF BONES 115 CHAPTER XL VIII. SUFFERING AND SENTIMENT AT BOLOGNA. MOON SHINE. BEST BALM FOR WOUNDS 117 ILLUSTRATION. Used Up. CHAPTER XLIX. CROSSING INTO THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. CON STERNATION OF THE CUSTOM-HOUSE OFFI CERS 118 ILLUSTRATION. Buttons in Bliss. CONTENTS. CHAPTER L. VENICE AND ITS PECULIAR GLORY. THE DODGE CLUB COME TO GRIEF AT LAST. UP A TREE. IN A NET, ETC 119 ILLUSTRATIONS. Dick's Luggage. Arrested Silence ! CHAPTER LI. THE AMERICAN EAGLE AND THE AUSTRIAN DOUB LE-HEADED DITTO 122 ILLUSTRATION "Don't Try it On With Me !" CHAPTER LII. THE SENATOR STILL ENGAGED IN FACING DOWN THE AUSTRIAN. THE AMERICAN CONSUL. UNEXPECTED RE-APPEARANCE OF FORGOTTEN THINGS. -COLLAPSE OF THE COURT 124 ILLUSTRATION. Watts Mis-spelled. CHAPTER LIII. A MYSTERIOUS FLIGHT. DESPAIR OF BUTTONS. PURSUIT. HISTORIC GROUND, AND HISTORIC CITIES 126 ILLCSTBATION Formalities. CHAPTER LIV. DICK MEETS AN OLD FRIEND. THE EMOTIONAL NATURE OF THE ITALIAN. THE SENATOR OVER COME AND DUMBFOUNDED 128 ILLUSTBA.TION. The Count Ugo. CHAPTER LV. IN WHICH BUTTONS WRITES A LETTER; AND IX WHICH THE CLUB LOSES AN IMPORTANT MEM BER. SMALL BY DEGREES AND BEAUTIFULLY LESS 121) CHAPTER LVL THE FAITHFUL ONE ! DARTS, DISTRACTION, LOVE'S VOWS, OVERPOWERING SCENE AT THE MEETING OF TWO FOND ONES. COMPLETE BREAK-DOWN OF THE HISTORIAN 130 ILLUSTEATION. The Door. CHAPTER LVII. THE DODGE CLUB IN PARIS ONCE MORE. BUT- TONS'S "JOLLY GOOD HEALTH." 132 ILLUSTBATION. "lie's a Jolly Good Fellow I" THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. DICK! CHAPTER I. PARIS. THE DODGE CLUB. HOW TO SPEAK FRENCH. HOW TO RAISE A CROWD. IT' is a glorious day in Paris. The whole city is out in the public places, watching the departure of the army of Italy. Every imagi nable uniform, on foot and on horseback, en livens the scene. Zouaves are everywhere. Cent Gardes hurry to and fro, looking ferocious. Imperial Gardes look magnificent. Innumera ble little red-legged soldiers of the line dance about, gesticulating vehemently. Grisettes hang about the necks of departing braves. A great many tears are shed, and a great deal of bombast uttered. Tor the invincible soldiers of France are oif to fight for an idea ; and doesn't every one of them carry a marshal's ba ton in his knapsack ? A troop of Cent Gardes comes thundering down in a cloud of dust, dashing the people right and left. Loud cheers arise : " Vive I'Em- pereur!" The hoarse voices of myriads prolong the yell. It is Louis Napoleon. He touches his hat gracefully to the crowd. A chasseur leaps into a cab. "Where shall I take you ?" " To Glory !" shouts the soldier. The crowd applaud. The cabman drives off and don't want any further direction. Here a big-bearded Zou ave kisses his big-bearded brother in a blouse. " Adieu, rnon frere ; write me." "Where shall I write?" ' ' Direct to Vienna posts restante.'' Every body laughs at every thing, and the crowd ^ are quite wild at this. A young man is perched upon a pillar near the gar den wall of the Tuileries. He enjoys the scene immensely. After a while he takes a clay pipe from his pocket and slowly fills it. Having com pleted this business he draws a match alon^' the stone and is just about lighting his pipe. "Halloo!" Down drops the lighted match on the neck of an ouvrier. It burns. The man scowls up ; but seeing the cause, smiles and waves his hand forgivingly. "Dick!" At this a young man in the midst of the crowd stops and looks around. He is a short young man, in whose face there is a strange mixture of innocence and shrewdness. He is THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. pulling a baby-carriage, containing a small specimen of French nationality, and behind him walks a majestic female. The young man Dick takes a quick survey and recognizes the person who has called him. Down drops the pole of the carriage, and, to the horror of the majestic female, he darts off, and, springing up the pillar, grasps first the foot and then the hand of his friend. "Buttons !" he cried ; " what, you ! you here in Paris !" " I believe I am." " Why, when did you come ?" " About a month ago." " I had no idea of it. I didn't know you were here." ''And I didn't know that you were. I thought by this time that you were in Italy. What has kept you here so long?" Dick looked confused. " Why tlie fact is, I am studying German." " German ! in Paris ! French, you mean." " No, German." " You're crazy ; who with ?" Dick nodded his head toward his late com panion. ' ' What, that woman ? How she is scowling at us !" "Is she ?" said Dick, with some trepidation. "Yes. But don't look. Have you been with her all the time ?" " Yes, seven months." "Studying German!" cried Buttons, with a laugh. "Who is she?" "Madame Bang." 11EKE I 1KVITE MY "Bang? Well, Madame Bang must look out for another lodger. You must come with me, young man. You need a guardian. It's well that I came in time to rescue you. Let's be off!" And the two youths descended and were soon lost in the crowd. " Three flights of steps are bad enough ; but great Heavens ! what do you mean by taking a fellow up to the eighth story ?" Such was the exclamation of Dick as he fell exhausted into a seat in a little room at the top of one of the tallest houses in Paris. " Economy, my dear boy." " Ehem !" "Paris is overflowing, and I could get no other place without paying an enormous price. Now I am trying to husband my means." " I should think so." "I sleep here " " And have plenty of bedfellows." " I eat here " "The powers of the human stomach are as tounding." " And here I invite my friends." * "Friends only, I should think. Nothing but the truest friendship could make a man hold out in sucli an ascent." "But come. What are your plans ?" " I have none." " Then you must league yourself with me." "I shall be delighted." " And I'm going to Italy." " Then I'm afraid our league is already at an end." "Why?" " I haven't money enough." " How much have you ?" " Only five hundred dollars ; I've spent all the rest of my allowance." "Five hundred? Why, man, I have only four hundred." "What! and you're going toltaly?" " Certainly." " Then I'll go too and run the risk. But is this the style ?" and Dick looked dolefully around. " By no means not always. But you must practice economy." " Have you any acquaintances?" " Yes, two. We three have formed ourselves into a society for the purpose of going to Italy. W r e call ourselves the Dodge Club." " The Dodge Club?" " Yes. Because our principle is to dodge all humbugs and swindles, which make travelling so expensive generally. We have gained much experience al ready, and hope to gain more. One of my friends is a doctor from Phil adelphia, Doctor Snakeroot, and the other is Senator Jones from Massa chusetts. Neither the Doctor nor the Senator understand a word of any Ian- THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. guage but the American. That is the reason why I became acquainted with them. " First as to the Doctor, I picked him up at Dunkirk. It was in a cafe. I was getting my modest breakfast when I saw him come in. He sat down and boldly asked for coffee. Aft er the usual delay the gar9on brought him a small cup filled with what looked like ink. On the waiter was a cup of eau de vie, and a lit tle plate containing several enormous lumps of loaf-sugar. Never shall I forget the Doctor's face 'of amazement. He looked at each article in suc cession. What was the ink for? what the bran- dv ? what the sugar ? He did not know that the two first when mixed makes the best drink in the world, and that the last is intended for the pock et of the guest by force of a custom dear to ev ery Frenchman. To make a long story short, I explained to him the mysteries of French cof fee, and we became sworn friends. "My meeting with the Senator was under slightly different circumstances. It was early in the morning. It was chilly. I was walk ing briskly out of town. Suddenly I turned a corner and came upon a crowd. They sur rounded a tall man. He was an American, and appeared to be insane. First he made gestures like a man hewing or chopping. Then he drew his hand across his throat. Then he staggered forward and pretended to fall. Then he groaned heavily. After which he raised him self up and looked at the crowd with an air of mild inquiry. They did not laugh. They did not even smile. They listened respectfully, for they knew that the strange gentleman wished to ex- ! press something. On the whole, I think if I j hadn't come up that the Senator would have , been arrested by a stiff gendarme who was just then coming along the street. As it was, I ar rived just in time to learn that he was anxious I to see the French mode of killing cattle, and was trying to find his way to the abattoirs. ; The Senator is a fine man, but eminently prac tical. He used to think the French language ' an accomplishment only. He has changed his mind since his arrival here. He has one little peculiarity, and that is, to bawl broken English at the top of his voice when he wants to commu nicate with foreigners." Not long afterward the Dodge Club received a new member in the person of Mr. Dick Whif- fletree. The introduction took place in a mod est cafe', where a dinner of six courses was sup plied for the ridiculous sum of one franc soup, a roast, a fry, a bake, a fish, a pie, bread at discretion, and a glass of vinegar generously thrown in. At one end of the table sat the Senator, a very large and muscular man, with iron-gray hair, and features that were very strongly marked and very strongly American. He ap peared to be about fifty years of age. At the other sat the Doctor, a slender young man in black. On one side sat Buttons, and opposite to him was Dick. "Buttons," said the Senator, "were you out yesterday ?" " I was." " It was a powerful crowd." "Rather large." " It was im-mense. I never before had any idea of the popu lation of Paris. New York isn't to be compared to it." "As to crowds, that is noth ing uncommon in Paris. Set a rat loose in the Champs Ely- se'cs, and I bet ten thousand people will be after it in five minutes." "Sho!" " Any thing will raise a crowd in Paris." "It will be a small one. then." " My dear Senator, in an hour from this I'll engage my self to raise as large a crowd as the one you saw yesterday." " My dear Buttons, you look like it." M\Vill you bet?" " Bet ? Are you in earnest ?" " Never more so." "But there is an immense crowd outside already." "Then let the scene of my trial be in a less crowded plac* the Place Vendome, for in stance." THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX, " Name the conditions." " In an hour from this I engage to fill the Place Vendome with people. Whoever fails forfeits a dinner to the Club." The eyes of Dick and the Doctor sparkled. "Done !" said the Senator. " All that you have to do," said Buttons, " is to go to the top of the Colonne Vendome and wave your hat three times when you want me to begin." "I'll do that. But it's wrong," said the Senator. "It's taking money from you. You must lose." "Oh, don't be alarmed," said Buttons, cheer fully. The Dodge Club left for the Place Ven dome, and the Senator, separating himself from his companions, began the ascent. But tons left his friends at a corner to see the result, and walked quickly down a neighboring street. Dick noticed that every one whom he met stopped, stared, and then walked quickly for ward, looking up at the column. These peo ple accosted others, who did the same. In a few minutes many hundreds of people were looking up and exchanging glances with one an other. In a short time Buttons had completed the circuit of the block, and re-entered the Place by another street. He was running at a quick pace, and, at a moderate calculation, about two thousand gamins de Paris ran before, beside, and behind him. Gens d'armes caught the ex citement, and rushed frantically about. Sol diers called to one another, and tore across the square gesticulating and shouting. Carriages stopped ; the occupants stared up at the col umn ; horsemen drew up their rearing horses ; dogs barked ; children screamed ; up flew a thousand windows, out of which five thousand heads were thrust. At the end of twenty minutes, after a very laborious journey, the Senator reached the top of the column. He looked down. A cry of amazement burst from him. The immense Place Vendome was crammed with human beings. Innumerable upturned faces were staring at the startled Senator. All around, the lofty houses sent all their inmates to the open windows, through which they look ed up. The very house-tops were crowded. Away down all the streets which led to the Place crowds of human beings poured along. " Well," muttered the Senator, " it's evident that Buttons understands these Frenchmen. However, I must perform my part, so here- goes." And the Senator, majestically removing his hat, waved it slowly around his head seven times. At the seventh whirl his fingers slipped, and a great gust of wind caught the hat and blew it far out into the air. TUB PLACE VENIK>.\1K. THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. It fell. A deep groan of horror burst forth from the multitude, so deep, so long, so terrible that the Senator turned pale. A hundred thousand heads upturned ; two hundred thousand arms waved furiously in the air. The tide of new-comers flowing up the other streets filled the Place to overflowing ; and the vast host of people swayed to and fro, agitated by a thousand passions. All this was the work of but a short time. " Come," said the Senator, " this is getting beyond a joke." There was a sudden movement among the people at the foot of the column. The Senator leaned over to see what it was. At once a great cry came up, like the thun der of a cataract, warningly, imperiously, ter ribly. The Senator drew back confounded. Suddenly he advanced again. He shook his head deprecatingly, and waved his arms as if to disclaim any evil motives which they might im pute to him. But they did not comprehend him. Scores of stiff gens d'armes, hundreds of little soldiers, stopped in their rush to the foot of the column to shake their fists and scream at him. " Now if I only understood their doosid lin go," thought the Senator. "But" after a pause " it wouldn't be of no account up here. And what an awkward fix," he added, " for the father of a family to stand hatless on the top of a. pillory like this ! Sho !" There came a deep rumble from the hollow stairway beneath him, which grew nearer and louder every moment. " Somebody's coming," said the Senator. "Wa'al, I'm glad. Misery loves company. Perhaps I can purchase a hat." In five minutes more the heads of twenty gens d'armes shot up through the opening in the top of the pillar, one after another, and re minded the Senator of the " Jump-up-John- nies " in children's toys. Six of them seized him and made him prisoner. The indignant Senator remonstrated, and in formed them that he was an American citizen. His remark made no impression. They did not understand English. The Senator's wrath made his hair fairly bristle. He contented himself, however, with drawing up the programme of an immediate war between France and the Great Republic* It took an hour for the column to get emp tied. It was choked with people rushing up. Seven gentlemen fainted, and three escaped with badly 'sprained limbs. During this time the Senator remained in the custody of his captors. At last the column was cleared. The prisoner was taken down and placed in a cab. He saw the dense crowd and heard the mighty murmurs of the people. ^ He was driven away for an immense distance. It seemed miles. At last the black walls of a huge edifice rose before him. The cab drove under a dark arch way. The Senator thought of the dungeons of the Inquisition, and other Old World horrors of which he had heard in his boyhood. So the Senator had to give the dinner. Th Club enjoyed it amazingly. Almost at the moment of his entrance But tons had arrived, arm in arm with the Amer ican minister, whose representations and ex planations procured the Senator's release. " I wouldn't have minded it so much," said the Senator, from whose manly bosom the last trace of vexation had fled, "if it hadn't been for that darned policeman that collared me first. What a Providence it was that I didn't knock him down ! Who do you think he was ?" "Who?" "The very man that was going to arrest me the other day when I was trying to find my way to the slaughter-house. That man is my evil genius. I will leave Paris before another day." "The loss of your hat completed my plans," said Buttons. "Was that done on purpose? Did you throw it down for the sake of saying ' Take my hat ?' " " No. It was the wind," said the Senator, innocently. "But how did you manage to raise the crowd ? You haven't told us that yet." " How ? In the simplest way possible. I told every soul I met that a crazy man was go ing up the Colonne Vendome to throw himself down." A light burst in upon the Senator's soul. He raised his new hat from a chair, and placing it before Buttons, said fervently and with unc tion : " Keep it, Buttons!" KEEP IT. BUTTONS! 10 THE DODGE CLUB; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. THAT'S A UOTFL BILL. CHAPTER II. ORLEANS. HOW TO QUELL A LANDLORD. HOW 'TO FIGHT OFF HUMBUGS J AND HOW TO TRAVEL WITHOUT BAGGAGE. A TREMENDOUS uproar in the hall of a hotel at Orleans awaked every member of the Dodge Club from the sound and refreshing slumber into which they had fallen after a fatiguing journey from Paris. Filing out into the hall one after another they beheld a singular spectacle. It was a fat man, bald-headed, middle-aged, with a well-to-do look, that burst upon their sight. , He was standing in the hall with flushed face and stocking feet, swearing most frightfully. A crowd of waiters stood around shrugging their shoulders, and trying to soothe him. As the fat man spoke English, and the waiters French, there was a little misapprehension. "There, gentlemen," cried the fat man, as he caught sight of our four friends, " look at that ! What do you call that ?" " That?" said Buttons, taking a paper which the fat man thrust in his face, " why, that's a hotel bill." "A hotel bill?' Why it's an imposition!" cried the other excitedly. "Perhaps it is," said Buttons, coolly. " Of course it is ! Read it out loud, and let these gentlemen see what they think of it." "I'll read it in English," said Buttons, "for the benefit of the Club :" Mister Blank, To the Hotel du Rni : Six porters One cab 6 2 2 5 5 2 .... 1 t . ' One candle. . . One candle. . . One candle. . . One candle. . . ... 1 " ... 1 " ... 1 " ... 1 " One information. Wine Tobacco. . . "By Jove! Thirty-five francs! My dear Sir, I quite agree with you. It's an imposi tion." A deep sigh expressed the relief of the fat man at this mark of sympathy. " There's no redress," said Buttons. " You'll have to grin and bear it. For you must know that in these inland towns hotel-keepers are in league, offensive and defensive, with all the cab-drivers, omnibus-drivers, postillions, truck men, hostlers, porters, errand-boys, cafe'-keep- ers, cicerones, tradesmen, lawyers, chamber maids, doctors, priests, soldiers, gens d'armes, magistrates, etc., etc., etc. In short, the whole community is a joint-stock company organized to plunder the unsuspecting traveller." "And must I stand here and be swindled without a word ?" cried the other. " By no means. Row like fury. Call up the whole household one by one, and swear at them in broad Saxon. That's the way to strike terror into the soul of a Frenchman." The fat man stared for a moment at Buttons, and then plunging his hands deep inro his trowsers pockets he walked up and down the hall. At last he turned to the others : " Gentlemen, is this endurable?" " Horrible !" cried Dick. " Abominable !" the Doctor. "Infamous!" the Senator. "By jingo! I've a great mind to go home. If I've got to be plundered, I'd a durned sight rather have my money go to support our own great and glorious institutions." There is no doubt that the unfortunate man would have had to pay up if it had not been for the energetic action of Buttons. He summoned the hotel-keeper before him, and, closing the door, asked his friends to sit down. THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. -11 Then Buttons, standing up, began to repeat to the hotel-keeper, smilingly, but with extraor dinary volubility, Daniel Webster's oration against Hayne. The polite Frenchman would not interrupt him, but listened with a bland though somewhat dubious smile. The Dodge Club did infinite credit to them selves by listening without a smile to the words of their leader. Buttons then went through the proposition about the hypothenuse of a right-angled tri angle, and appended the words of a few negro songs. Here the worthy landlord interrupted him, begging his pardon, and telling him that he did not understand English very well, and could his Excellency speak French ? His Excellency, with equal politeness, regret ted his want of complete familiarity with French. He was forced when he felt deeply on any sub ject to express himself in English. Then followed Cicero's oration against Verres, and he was just beginning a speech of Chat ham's when the landlord surrendered at dis cretion. When, after the lapse of three hours and twenty-five minutes, the fat man held his bill toward him, and Buttons offered five francs, he did not even remonstrate, but took the money, and hastily receipting the bill with his pencil, darted from the room. "Well," exclaimed the Senator, when he had recovered from the effects of the scene " I never before realized the truth of a story I once heard." "What was the story?" " Oh, it was about a bet be tween a Yankee and a French man, who could talk the long est. The two were shut up in a room. They remained there three days. At the end of that time their friends broke open the door and entered, and what do you think they found there ?" "Nobody?" suggested the fat man. "No," said the Senator, with a glow of patriotic pride on his fine face. " But they found the Frenchman lying dead upon the floor, and the Yankee whispering in his ear the beginning of the second part of the Higgins story." " And what is the Higgins story?" "For Heaven's sake, 1 ' gasped the Doctor, storting up, "don't ask him now wait till next week !" As they passed over the mountains of Auvergne a new member was added to the Dodge Club. It was the fat man. He was President of a Western bank. His name was Figgs. It was a damp, dull, dreary, drencjpng night, when the lumbering diligence bore the Dodgo Club through the streets of Lyons and up to the door of their hotel. Seventeen men and five small boys stood bowing ready to receive them. The Senator, Buttons, and Dick took the small valises which contained their travelling apparel, and dashed through the line of servitors into the house. The Doctor walked after, se renely and majestically. He had no baggage. Mr. Figgs descended from the roof with con siderable difficulty. Slipping from the wheel, he fell into the outstretched arms of three wait ers. They put him on his feet. His luggage was soon ready. Mr. Figgs had two trunks and various other articles. Of these trunks seven waiters took one, and four the other. Then Waiter No. 12 took hat-box; 13 travelling desk ; 14 Scotch plaid ; 15 over-coat ; 16 nmbrella ; 17 rubber coat; Boy 1 cane ; 2 muffler ; 3 one of his mittens ; 4 the other ; 5 cigar-case. After a long and laborious dinner they rose and smoked. CICERO AGAINST VEEBE8. THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. 8AC-R-K-E-KE I The head waiter informed Mr. Figgs that with his permission a deputation would wait on him. Mr. Figgs was surprised, but graciously invited the deputation to walk in. They ac cordingly walked in. Seventeen men and five boys. " What did they want?" " Oh, only a pourboire with which to drink his Excellency's noble health." " Really they did his Excellency too much honor. Were they not mistaken in their man ?" " Oh no. They had carried his luggage into the hotel." Upon this Mr. Figgs gave strong proof of poor moral training, by breaking out into a volley of Western oaths, which shocked one half of the deputation, and made the other half grin. Still they continued respectful but firm, and reiterated their demand. Mr. Figgs called for the landlord. That gen tleman was in bed. For his wife. She did not attend to the business. For the head wait er. The spokesman of the deputation, with a polite bow, informed him that the head waiter stood before him and was quite at his service. The scene was ended by the sudden entrance of Buttons, who, motioning to Mr. Figgs, pro ceeded to give each waiter a douceur. One after another took the proffered coin, and with out looking at it, thanked the generous donor with a profusion of bows. Five minutes after the retreating form of Buttons had vanished through the door, twenty- one persons, consisting of men and boys, stood staring at one another in blank amazement. Anger followed ; then " Sac-r-r-r-r-r-r-R-K-R-R-R-R-R-.R't up, you beauty! Here come the shaved monkeys, a-riding on don keys, Fresh from Bobberty Shooty." They raised me up in the air, Bed, body, and all, And carried me soon to the man in the moon, At the siege of Sebastopol. Down, down, down, Hound, round, round, A whirlpool hurled me out of the world, And oh, no bottom I found. Down, down, down, Whirl, whirl, whirl, And the Florentine boar was pacing the shore, His tail nil out of curl. '. He smoked my favorite pipe, JHe blew a cloud of smoke, He pulled me out with his porci le snout, And hugging him, I awoke. " Why, Dick," cried the Senator, " what pre cious nonsense !" " It was intended to be so," said Dick. " Well, but you might as well put on an idee. It must have some meaning.'' " Not a bit of it. It has no meaning ; that is, no more than a dream or a nightmare." The Senator now began to discuss the nature of poetry, but was suddenly interrupted by a shout " The Temples !" The country about Psestum is one of the most beautiful in the world. Between the mountains and the sea lies a luxuriant plain, and in the middle of it is the ruined city. The outlines of walls and remnants of gates are there. Above all rise five ancient edifices. They strolled care lessly around. The marble floors of a good many private houses are yet visible, but the stupendous temples are the chief attractions here; above all, the majestic shrine of Neptune. It was while standing with head thrown back, eyes and mouth opened wide, and thoughts all C taken up with a deep calculation, that the Sena tor was startled by a sudden noise. Turning hastily he saw something that made him run with the speed of the wind toward the place where the noise arose. Buttons and Dick were surrounded by a crowd of fierce-looking men, who were making very threatening dem onstrations. There were at least fifteen. As the Senator ran up from one direction, so came up Mr. Figgs and the Doctor from another. " What is this?" cried the Senator, bursting in upon the crowd. A huge Italian was shaking his fist in But- tons's face, and stamping and gesticulating vio lently. "These men say we must pay five piastres each to them for strolling about their ground, and Buttons has told this big fellow that he will give them five kicks each. There'll be some kind of a fight. They belong to the Camorra." Dick said all this in a hurried under-tone. " Camorry, what's that brigands?" " All the same." " They're not armed, anyhow." Just at this moment Buttons said something which seemed to sting the Italians to the soul, for with a wild shout they rushed forward. The Doctor drew out his revolver. Instantly Dick snatched it from him, and rushing forward," drove back the foremost. None of them were armed. "Stand off!" he cried, in Italian. "The fight is between this big fellow and my friend. If any one of you interferes I'll put a bullet through him." The Italians fell back cursing. Buttons in stantly divested himself of his coat, vest, and collar. t The Italian waited with a grim smile. At one end were the Senator, the Doctor, Mr. Figgs ; at the other the Italian ruffians. In the middle Buttons a:.d his big antagonist. Near them Dick with his pistol. The scene that followed had better be de scribed in Dick's own words, as he pencilled them in his memorandum-book, from time to time, keeping a sharp lookout with his pistol also. Afterward the description was retouched : Great mill at Pcestum, between E. BUTTONS, Esq., Gentle man, (tnd Italian party called HEI'PO. 1st Round. Beppo defiant 'no attitude at all. But tons aSBuitfe.i an elegant j>o e. Beppa made a succes sion of wild strokes without any aim, which wereparrie 1 without effort. After which B'uttorw landed four blows, one on each peeper, one on the smeller, and one on the miig. 1- ii-fst blood for Buttons. B;'ppo considerably sur prised. Ru.shetl furiously at Buttons, arras'flying every where, struck over Buttons' s head. Buttons lightly made obeisance, and then fired a hundivd-p"und.ev on Beppo' s left auricular, which had the effect of bringing him to grass. First knock down for Buttons. 2iZ Round. Foreign population quite dumbfounded. Americans amused but not excited. One hundred to one on Buttons eagerly offered, but no takers. Beppo jumped to his feet like a wild cat. Eyes encircled' with ebon nurioles, olfactory quite demolished. Made a rush at Buttons, who, being a member of the Dodge Club, dodged him, and Innded a rattler on the jugular, which again sent foreign party to grass. 3r7 ROUIM. Nimble to the scratch. Beppo badly mashed and raving. Buttons unscathed and laushintr. Beppo more cautious made a faint attempt to get into 32 THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. t - ' ' - ''' ^^ THE MILL AT IMiSTUM. Buttons. Ne go. Tried a little sparring, which was sum marily ended by a cannonade from Buttons directly in his countenance. 4th Round. Foreigners wild. Yelling to their man to go in. (Don't understand a single one of the rules of the P. R. Very benighted. Need missionaries.) Evinced strong determination to go in themselves, but were clieck- , ed by uttitude, of referee, who threatened to blow out brains of first man that interfered. Beppo's face magni fied considerably. Appearance not at all prepossessing. Much distressed but furious. Made a bound at Buttons, who calmly, and without any apparent effort,' met him with a terrific upper cut, which made the Italian's gigan tic frame tremble like a ship under the stroke of a big wave. lie tottered, and swung his arms, trying to regain his balance, when another annihilator most cleanly ad ministered by Buttons laid him low. A great tumult rose among the foreigners. Beppo lay panting with no de termination to come to the scratch. At the expiration of usual time, opponent not appearing, Buttons was proclaimed victor. Beppo very much mashed. Foreign ers very greatly cowed. After waiting a short time Buttons resumed his garments and walked off with his friends. After the victory the travellers left Pa?stum on their return. The road that turns off to Sorrento is the most beautiful in the world. It winds along the shore with innumerable turnings, climbing hills, descending into valleys, twining around precipices. There are scores of the prettiest villages under the sun, ivy-covered ruins, frown ing fortresses, lofty towers, and elegant villas. At last Sorrento smiles out from a valley which is proverbial for beauty, where, within its shelter of hills, neither the hot blast of midsum mer nor the cold winds of winter can ever dis turb its repose. This is the valley of perpetual spring, where fruits forever grow, and the sea sons all blend together, so that the same orchard shows trees in blossom and bearing fruit. CHAPTER X. ON THE WATER, WHERE BUTTONS SEES A LOST -IDEA AND GIVES CHASE TO IT, TOGETHER WITH THE HEART-SICKENING RESULTS THEREOF. ON the following morning Buttons and Dick went a little way out of town, and down the steep cliff toward the shore. It was a classic spot. Here was no less a place than the cave of Polyphemus, where Ho mer, at least, may have stood, if Ulysses didn't. And here is the identical stone with which the giant was wont to block up the entrance to his cavern. The sea rolled before. Away down to the right was Vesuvius, starting from which the eye took in the whole wide sweep of the shore, lined with white cities, with a background of mountains, till the land terminated in bold prom ontories. Opposite was the Isle of Capri. Myriads of white sails flashed across the sea. One of these arrested the attention of But tons, and so absorbed him that he stared fixed ly at it for half an hour without moving. At length an exclamation burst from him : "By Jove! It is ! It is!" "What is? What is?" "The Spaniards!" "Where?" " In that boat." " Ah !" said Dick, coolly, looking at the ob ject pointed out by Buttons. It was an English sail-boat, with a small cab in and an immense sail. In the stern were a gentleman and two ladies. Buttons was confi dent that they were the Spaniards. THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. Tllii Sl'AMAltUS. " Well," said Dick, " what's the use of get ting so excited about it ?" "Why, I'm going back to Naples by water !" "Are you? Then I'll go too. Shall we leave the others ?" " Certainly not, if they want to come with us." Upon inquiry they found that the others had a strong objection to going by sea. Mr. Figgs preferred the ease of the carriage. The Doctor thought the sea air injurious. The Senator had the honesty to confess that he was afraid of sea sickness. They would not listen to persuasion, but were all resolutely bent on keeping to the carriage. Buttons exhibited a feverish haste in search ing after a boat. There was but little to choose from among a crowd of odd-looking fishing-boats that crowded the shore. However, they se lected the cleanest from among them, and soon the boat, \\ith her brqad sail spread, was dart ing over the sea. The boat of which they went in pursuit was far away over near the other shore, taking long tacks across the bay. Buttons headed his boat so as to meet the other on its return tack. It was a magnificent scene. After exhaust- ting every shore view of Naples, there is nothing like taking to the water. Every thing then ap pears in a new light. The far, winding cities that surround the shore, the white villages, the purple Apennines, the rocky isles, the frowning volcano. This is what makes Naples supreme in beauty. The peculiar combinations of scenery that are found there make rivalry impossible. For if you find elsewhere an equally beautiful bay, you will not have so liquid an atmosphere ; if you have a shore with equal beauty of outline, and equal grace in its long sweep of towering headland and retreating slope, you will not have so deep a purple on the distant hills. Above all, nowhere else on earth has Nature placed in the very centre of so divine a scene the contrast ed terrors of the black volcano. Watching a chase is exciting ; but taking part in it is much more so. Buttons had made the most scientific arrangements. He had cal culated that at a certain point on the opposite shore the other boat would turn on a new tack, and that if he steered to his boat to a point about half-way over, he would meet them, without ap pearing to be in pursuit. He accordingly felt so elated at the idea that he burst forth into song. The other boat at length had passed well over under the shadow of the land. It did not turn. Further and further over, and still it did not change its course. Buttons still kept the course which he had first chosen ; but finding that he was getting far out of the way of the other boat, he was forced to turn the head of his boat closer to the wind, and sail slowly, watching the others. There was an island immediately ahead of the other boat. What was his dismay at see ing it gracefully pass beyond the outer edge of the island, turn behind it, and vanish. He struck the taffrail furiously with his clenched hand. However, there was no help for it ; so, changing his course, he steered in a straight line after the other, to where it had disappeared. Now that the boat was out of sight Dick did not feel himself called on to watch. So he went forward into the bow, and made himself a snug berth, where he laid down ; and lighting his pipe, looked dreamily out through a cloud of smoke upon the charming scene. The tossing of the boat and the lazy flapping of the sails had a soothing influence. His nerves owned the lulling power. His eyelids grew heavy and gently descended. The wind and waves and islands and sea and sky, all mingled together in a confused mass, came before his mind. He was sailing on clouds, and chasing Spanish ladies through the sky. The drifting currents of the air bore them resistlessly along in wide and never-ending curves upward in spiral movements toward the zenith ; and then off in ever-increasing speed, with ever-widening gyrations, toward the sun set, where the clouds grew red, and lazaroni grinned from behind A sudden bang of the huge sail struck by the wind, a wild creaking of the boom, and a smart dash of spray over the bows and into his face waked him from his slumber. He started up, half blinded, to look around. Buttons sat gaz ing over the waters with an expression of bitter vexation. They had passed the outer point of the island, and had caught a swift current, a chopping sea, and a brisk breeze. The other ; boat was nowhere to be seen. Buttons had al- ' L ready headed back again. THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. " I don't see the other boat," said Dick. Buttons without a word pointed to the left. There she was. She had gone quietly around the island, and had taken the channel between it and the shore. All the time that she had been hidden she was steadily increasing the distance between them. "There's no help for it," said Dick, "but to keep straight after them." Buttons did not reply, but leaned back with n sweet expression of patience. The two boats kept on in this way for a long time ; but the one in which our friends had embarked was no match at all for the one they were pursuing. At every new tack this fact became more pain fully evident. The only hope for Buttons was to regain by his superior nautical skill what he might lose. Those in the other boat had but little skill in sailing, These at length became aware that they were followed, and regarded their pursuers with earnest attention. It did not seem to have any effect. "They know we are after them at last!" said Dick. " I wonder if they can recognize us ?" "If they do they have sharp eyes. I'll be hanged if I can recognize them ! I don't see how you can." " Instinct, Dick instinct !" said Buttons, with animation. " What's that flashing in their boat ?" "That?" said Buttons. "It's a spy-glass. I didn't notice it before." " I've seen it for the last half-hour." ' ' Then they must recognize us. How strange that they don't, slacken a little ! Perhaps we are not in full view. I will sit a little more out of the shade of the sail, so that they can recog nize me." Accordingly Buttons moved out to a more conspicuous place, and Dick allowed himself to be more visible. Again the flashing brass wsis seen in the boat, and they could -plainly per ceive that it was passed from one to the other, while each took a long survey. "They must be able to see us if they have any kind of a glass at all." "I should think so," said Buttons, dolefully. " Are you sure they are the Spaniards ?" "Oh ! quite." " Then I must say they might be a little more civil, and not keep us racing after them forever !" "Oh, I don't know ; I suppose they wouldn't like to sail close up to us." " They needn't sail up to us, but they might give us a chance to hail them." " I don't think the man they have with them looks like Senor Francia." "Prancia? Is that his name ? He certain ly looks larger. He is larger." "Look!" As Buttons spoke the boat ahead fell rapidly to leeward. The wind had fallen, and a cur rent which they had struck upon bore them away. In the effort to escape from the current the boat headed toward Buttons, and when the wind again arose she continued to sail toward them. As they came nearer Button's face ex hibited a strange variety of expressions. THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. 35 They met. In the other boat sat two English ladies and a 'tall gentleman, who eyed the two young men fixedly, with a "stony British stare." " A thousand pardons !" said Buttons, rising and bowing. " I mistook you for some ac quaintances." Whereupon the others smiled in a friendly way, bowed, and said something. A few com monplaces were interchanged, and the boats drifted away out of hearing. CHAPTER XI. THE SENATOR HAS SUCH A FANCY FOR SEEKING USEFUL INFORMATION '.-CURIOUS POSITION OF A WISE, AND WELL-KNOWN, AND DESERVEDLY- POPULAR LEGISLATOR, AND UNDIGNIFIED MODE OF HIS ESCAPE. IT was not much after ten in the morning when Buttons and Dick returned. On reach ing the hotel they found Mr. Figgs and the Doctor, who asked them if they had seen the Senator. To which they replied by putting the same question to their questioners. He had not been seen since they had all been together last. Where was he ? Of course there was no anxiety felt about him, but still they all wished to have him near at hand, as it was about time for them to leave the town. The vetturino was already grum bling, and it required a pretty strong remon strance from Buttons to silence him. They had nothing to do but to wait patient ly. Mr. Figgs and the Doctor lounged about the sofas. Buttons and Dick strolled about the town. Hearing strains of music as they passed the cathedral, they turned in there to listen to the service. Why there should be service, and full service too, they could not imagine. "Can it be Sunday, Dick?" said Buttons, gravely. "Who can tell?" exclaimed Dick, lost in wonder. The cathedral was a small one, with nave and transept as usual, and in the Italian Gothic style. At the end of the nave stood the high altar, which was now illuminated with wax-can dles, while priests officiated before it. At the right extremity of the transept was the organ- loft, a somewhat unusual position ; while at the opposite end of the transept was a smaller door.^ The church was moderately filled. Prob ably there were as many people there as it ever had. They knelt on the floor with their faces toward the altar. Finding the nave somewhat crowded, Buttons and Dick went around to the door at the end of the transept, and entered there. A large space was empty as far as the junction with the nave. Into this the two young men entered, very reverently, and on coming near to the place where the other worshipers were they knelt down in the midst of them. While looking before him, with his mind full of thoughts called up by the occasion, and I while the grand music of one of Mozart's masses was filling his soul, Buttons suddenly felt his arm twitched. He turned. It was Dick. Buttons was horrified. In the midst of this solemn scene the young man was convulsed with laughter. His features were working, his ', lips moving, as he tried to whisper something which his laughter prevented him from saying, and tears were in his eyes. At last he stuck his handkerchief in his mouth and bowed down very low, while his whole frame shook. Some of the worshipers near by looked scandalized, others shocked, others angry. Buttons felt vexed. At last Dick raised his face and rolled his eyes toward the organ-loft, and instantly bowed his head again. Buttons looked up me chanically, following the direction of Dick's i glance. The next instant he too fell forward, tore his handkerchief out of his pocket, while his whole frame shook with the most painful convulsion of laughter. And how dreadful is such a convulsion in a solemn place ! In a church, amid worshipers ; perhaps especially amid worshipers of another creed, for then one is suspected of offering de liberate insult. So it was here. People near saw the two young men, and darted angry looks j at them. Now what was it that had so excited two young men, who were by no means inclined to offer insult to any one, especially in religious, i matters ? It was this : As they looked up to the organ- j loft they saw a figure there. The organ projected from the wall about six ; feet ; on the left side was the handle worked by the man who blew it, and a space for the choir. On the right was a small narrow space not more than about three feet wide, and it was in this space that they saw the figure which produced such an effect on them. It was the Senator. He stood there erect, bare-headed of course, with confusion in his face and vexation and bewilderment. The sight of him was enough the astonishing posi tion of the man, in such a place at such a time. But the Senator was looking eagerly for help. And he had seen them enter, and all his soul was in his eyes, and all his eyes were fixed on those two. As Dick looked up startled and confounded at the sight, the Senator projected his head as far forward as he dared, frowned, nodded, and then began working his lips violently as certain deaf and dumb people do, who converse by such movements, and can understand what words are said by the shape of the mouth in uttering them. But the effect was to make the Senator look , like a man who was making grimaces for a wager, like those in Victor Hugo's " Notre Dame." As such the apparition was so over powering that neither Buttons nor Dick dared to look up for some time. What made it worse, | each was conscious that the other was laughing, so that self-control was all the more difficult. Worse still, each knew that this figure in the 36 THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. organ-loft was watching them with his hungry glance, ready the moment that they looked up to begin his grimaces once more. "That poor Senator!" thought Buttons; " how did he get there ? Oh, how did he get there ?" Yet how could he be rescued ? Could he be ? No. He must wait till the service should be over. Meanwhile the young men mustered sufficient courage to look up again, and after a mighty struggle to gaze upon the Senator for a few seconds at a time at least. There he stood, projecting forward his anxious face, making faces as each one looked up. THE SENATOR. Now the people in the immediate vicinity of the two young men had noticed their agitation as has already been stated, and, moreover, they had looked up to see the cause of it. They too saw the Senator. Others again, seeing their neighbors looking up, did the same, until at last all in the transept were staring up at the odd- looking stranger. As Buttons and Dick looked up, which they could not help doing often, the Senator would repeat his mouthings, and nods, and becks, and looks of entreaty. The consequence was, that the people thought the stranger was making faces at them. Three hundred and forty-seven honest people of Sorrento thus found themselves shamefully insulted in their own church by a barbarous foreigner, probably an Englishman, no doubt a heretic. The other four hundred and thirty-six who knelt in the nave knew noth ing about it. They could not see the organ- loft at all. The priests at the high altar could not see it, so that they were uninterrupted in their duties. The singers in the organ-loft saw nothing, for the Senator was concealed from their view. Those therefore who saw him were the people in the transept, who now kept star ing fixedly, and with angry eyes, at the man in the loft. There was no chance of getting him out of that before the service M'as over, and Buttons saw that there might be a serious tumult when the Senator came down among that wrathful crowd. Eveiy moment made it worse. Those in the nave saw the agitation of those in the transept, and got some idea of the cause. At last the service was ended ; the singers departed, the priests retired, but the congrega tion remained. Seven hundred and eiglity- three human beings waiting to take vengeance on the miscreant who had thrown ridicule on the Holy Father by making faces at the faithful as they knelt in prayer. Already a murmur arose on every side. " A heretic ! A heretic ! A blasphemer ! He has insulted us!" Buttons saw that a bold stroke alone could save them. He burst into the midst of the throng followed by Dick. "Fly !" he cried. " Fly for your lives ! It is a madman! Fly! Fly!" A loud cry of terror arose. Instantaneous conviction flashed on the minds of all. A mad man ! Yes. He could be nothing else. A panic arose. The people recoiled from before that terrible madman. Buttons sprang up to the loft. He seized the Senator's arm and dragged him down. The people fled in horror. As the Senator emerged he saw seven hundred and eighty-three good people of Sor rento scampering away like the wind across the square in front of the cathedral. On reaching the hotel he told his story. He had been peering about in search of useful in formation, and had entered the cathedral. After going through every part he went up into the organ-loft. Just then the singers came. In stead of going out like a man, he dodged them from some absurd cause or other, with a half idea that he would get into trouble for intrud ing. The longer he stayed the worse it was for him. At last he saw Buttons and Dick enter, and tried to make signals. "Well," said Buttons, "we had better leave. The Sorrentonians will be around here soon to see the maniac. They will find out all THE DODGE CJAJB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. 37 about him, and make us acquainted with Lynch ft In a quarter of an hour more they were on their way back to Naples. CHAPTER XII. HEPCULANECM AND POMPEII, AND ALL THAT THE SmHT OF THOSE FAMOUS PLACES PKODUCED ON THE MINDS OF THE DODGE CLUB. THEY had already visited Herculaneum, but the only feeling whfch had been awakened by the sight of that ill-fated city was one of un mitigated disgust. As honesty was the chief characteristic of the whole party, they did not hesitate to express themselves with the utmost freedom on this subject. They hoped for bet ter things from Pompeii. At any rate Pompei was above ground ; what might be there would be visible. No fuss with torches. No hum- bu^ging with lanterns No wandering througl long black passages. No mountains bringing forth mice. Their expectations were encouraged as the} walked up the street of Tombs leading to the Herculaneum Gate. Tombs were all around any quantity, all sizes, little black vaults full of pigeon-holes. These they narrowly examined and when the guide wasn't looking they fille< their pockets with the ashes of the dead. "Strange," quoth the Senator, musingly that these ancient Pompey fellers should pick ut this kind of a way of getting buried. Tins -nust be the reason why people speak of urns nd ashes when they speak of dead people. They walked through the Villa of Diomedes. They were somewhat disappointed. From guide-books, and especially from the remarka bly well-got-up Pompeian court at Sydenham Palace, Buttons had been led to expect some- -hing far grander. But in this, the largest 'louse in the city, what did he find ? Mites of ooms, in fact closets, in which even a humble modern would find himself rather crowded. There was scarcely a decent-sized apartment in the whole establishment, as they all indignant ly declared. The cellars were more striking. A number of earthern vessels of enormous size were in one corner. ' What are these?" asked the Senator. 'Wine jars.'' ' What ?" ' Wine jars. They didn't use wooden casks. 'The more fools 'they. Now do yon mean to say that wooden casks are not infinitely more convenient than these things that can't stand up without they are leaned against the wall? Pho !" At one corner the guide stopped, and point ing down, said something. " What does he say ?" asked the Senator. " He says if you want to know how the Pom- peians got" choked, stoop down and smell that. VILLA OF DIOMEDE8. 38 THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. Every body who comes here is expected to smell this particular spot, or he can't say that he has seen Pompeii." So down went the five on their knees, and up again faster than they went down. With one universal shout of: " Phew-w-w-w-w-h-h-h ! ! !" It was a torrent of sulphurous vapor that they inhaled. "Now, I suppose," said the Senator, as soon as he could speak, " that that there comes di rect in a bee-line through a subterranean tun nel right straight from old Vesuvius. " "Yes, and it was this that suggested the famous scheme for extinguishing the volcano." "How? What famous scheme?" "Why, an English stock-broker came here last year, and smelled this place, as every one must do. An idea struck him. He started up. He ran off without a word. He went straight to London. There he organized a company. They propose to dig a tunnel from the sea to the interior of the mountain. When all is ready they will let in the water. There will be a tremendous hiss. The volcano will belch out steam for about six weeks ; but the result will be that the fires will be put out for ever." From the Villa of Diomedes they went to the gate where the guard-house is seen. Buttons told the story of the sentinel who died there on duty, embellishing it with a few new features of an original character. "Now that may be all very well," said the Senator, "but don't ask me to admire that chap, or the Roman army, 'or the system. It was all hollow. Why, don't you see the man was a blockhead ? He hadn't sense enough to see that when the whole place was going to the dogs, it was no good stopping to guard it. He'd much better have cleared out and saved his precious life for the good of his country. Do you suppose a Yankee would act that way ?" " I should suppose not." " That man, Sir, was a machine, and nothing more. A soldier must know some thing else than merely obey ing orders." By this time they had passed through the gate and stood inside. The street opened before them for a considerable distance with houses on each side. In cluding the sidewalks it mi^ht have been almost twelve feet wide. As only the lower part of the walls of the houses was standing, the show that they made was not imposing. There was no splendor in the ar chitecture or the material, for the style of the buildings was extremely simple, and they were made with brick covered with stucco. After wandering silently through the streets the Senator at length burst forth : "I say it's an enormous imposition!" " What ?" inquired Buttons, faintly. ' ' Why, the whole system of Cyclopedias, Panoramas, Books of Travel, Woodbridge's Ge ography, Sunday-school Books " " What do you mean ?" "I mean the descriptions they give of this place. The fellows who write about it get into the heroics, and what with their descriptions, and pictures, and moralizing, you believe it is a second Babylon. It don't seem possible for any of them to tell the truth. Why, there isn't a single decent-sized house in the place. Oh, it's small! it's small !" "It certainly might be larger." "I know," continued the Senator, with a majestic wave of his hand "I know that I'm expected to find this here scene very impressive ; but I'll be hanged if I'm satisfied. Why, in the name of Heaven, when they give us pictures of the place, can't they make things of the right size ? Why, I've seen a hundred pictures of that gate. They make it look like a triumph ant arch ; and now that I'm here, durn me if I can't touch the top of it when I stand on tip- In all his walk the Senator found only one thing that pleased him. This was the cele- THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLLX. 39 brated Pompeian institution of a shop under the dwelling-house. " Whenever I see any signs of any thing like trade among these ancients," said he, "I re spect them. And what is more satisfactory than to see a bake-shop or an eating-saloon in the lower story of a palace ?" Their walk was terminated by the theatre and amphitheatre. The sight of these were more satisfactory to the Senator. " Didn't these fellows come it uncommon strong though in the matter of shows?" he ask ed, with considerable enthusiasm. "Hey? Why, we haven't got a single travelling circus, menagerie and all, that could come anyway near to this. After all, this town might have looked well enough when it was all bran-new and painted up. It might have looked so then ; but, by thunder ! it looks any thing but that now. What makes me mad is to see every traveller pretend to get into raptures about it now. Raptures be hanged ! I ask you, as a sensible man, is there any thing here equal to any town of the same population in Massachu setts ?" Although the expectations which he had formed were not quite realized, yet Buttons found much to excite interest after the first dis appointment had passed away. Dick excited the Senator's disgust by exhibiting those rapt ures which the latter had condemned. The Doctor went by the Guide-book altogeth er, and regulated his emotions accordingly. Having seen the various places enumerated there, he wished no more. As Buttons and Dick wished to stroll further among the houses, the other three waited for them in the amphi theatre, where the Senator beguiled the time by giving his " idee " of an ancient show. It was the close of day before the party left. At the outer barrier an official politely exam ined them. The result of the examination was that the party was compelled to disgorge a num ber of highly interesting souvenirs, consisting of lava, mosaic stones, ashes, plaster, marble chips, pebbles, bricks, a bronze hinge, a piece of bone, a smalL rag, a stick, etc. The official apologized with touching polite ness: "It was only a form," he said. "Yet he must do it. For look you, Signori," and A 8TISEET 1>" POMPEII. THE DODGE CLUB ; OR, ITALY IN MDCCCLIX. here he shrugged up his shoulders, rolled his eyes, and pufted out his lips in a way that was possible to none but an Italian, " were it not thus the entire city would be carried away piece meal!" CHAPTER XIH. VESUVIUS. WONDERFUL ASCENT OF THE CONE. - WONDERFUL DESCENT INTO THE CRATER. AND MOST WONDERFUL DISAPPEARANCE OF MR. FIGGS, AFTER WHOM ALL HIS FRIENDS GO, WITH THEIR LIVES IN THEIR HANDS. GREAT SENSA TION AMONG SPECTATORS. To every visitor to Naples the most promi nent object is Vesuvius. The huge form of the ! volcano forever stands before him. The long pennon of smoke from its crater forever floats out triumphantly in the air. Not in the land scape only, but in all the picture-shops. In these establishments they really seem to deal in nothing but prints and paintings of Vesuvius. It was a lovely morning when a carriage, ! filled with Americans, drew up at an inn near the foot of the mountain. There were guides without number waiting, like beasts of prey, to fall on them ; and all the horses of the country awonderfullot anamazinglot alean, cranky, , raw-boned, ill-fed, wall-eyed, ill-natured, sneak ing, ungainly, half-foundered, half-starved lot ; | afflicted with all the diseases that horse-flesh is ! heir to. There were no others, so but little time was wasted. All were on an equal foot ing. To have a preference was out of the question, so they amused themselves with pick ing out the ugliest. When the horses were first brought out Mr. Figgs looked uneasy, and made some mysteri ous remarks about walking. He thought such nags were an imposition. He vowed they could go faster on foot. On foot ! The others scout ed the idea. Absurd ! Perhaps he wasn't used to such beasts. Never mind. He mustn't be proud. Mr. Figgs, however, seemed to have reasons which were strictly private, and an nounced his intention of walking. But the others would not hear of such a thing. They insisted. They forced him to mount. This Mr. Figgs at length accomplished, though he got up on the wrong side, and nearly pulled his horse over backward by pulling at the curb- rein, shouting all the time, in tones of agony, "Who-a!" At length they all set out, and, with few in terruptions, arrived at a place half-way up the mountain called The Hermitage. Here they rested, and leaving their horses behind, walked on over a barren region to the foot of the cone. All around was the abomination of desolation. Craggy rocks, huge, disjointed masses of shat tered lava-blocks, cooled oflf into the most gro tesque shapes, mixed with ashes, scoriae, and pumice-stones. The cone towered frowningly above their heads. Looking up, the aspect was not enticing. A steep slope ran up for an im mense distance till it touched the smoky canopy. On one side it was covered with loose sand, but in other places it was all overlaid with masses of lava fragments. The undertaking seemed prodigious. The Senator looked up with a weary smile, but did not falter ; the Doctor thought they would not be able to get up to the top, and pro posed returning ; the others declined ; where upon the Doctor slowly sauntered back to the Hermitage. Mr. Figgs, whom the ride had considerably shaken, expressed a desire to as cend, but felt doubtful about his wind. Dick assured him that he would find plenty when he got to the top. The guides also came to his relief. Did he want to go ? Behold them. They had chairs to carry him up or straps to pull him. Their straps were so made that they could envelop the traveller and allow him to be pulled comfortably up. So Mr. Figgs grace fully resigned himself to the guides, who in a short time had adjusted their straps, and led him to the foot of the cone. Now for the ascent. Buttons went first. Like a young chamois this youth bounded up, leaping from rock to rock, and steering in a straight line for the summit. Next the Senator, who mounted slow ly and perseveringly, as though he had a solemn duty to perform, and was determined to d