Among the Brigands

by James De Mille

  CHAPTER XI.

  _The Return.--The tender Adieus.--Back to Salerno.--On toCastellamare.--A pleasant Scene.--An unpleasant Discovery.--Davidamong the Missing.--Woes of Uncle Moses.--Deliberations over theSituation.--Various Theories.--The Vengeance of the Enemy.--Backto Sorrento in Search of the lost One._

  Returning to the main road with his guide, Bob traversed the sameway by which his donkey had carried him on the preceding day.His progress now was very different. It would not do to dashfuriously down the narrow and steep mountain pathway; so theyhad to go at a slow pace, until they reached the plain. Bob'sanimal also had changed. He was no longer the fiery, wild ass ofthe day before, which had borne him helplessly away from hisfriends, but a tractable animal, with sufficient spirit, it istrue, yet with all the signs of subordination and obedience. Heobeyed the slightest touch of the bridle, and moved along afterthe rider in front of him, as quietly as though he was the mostpatient and gentle of the donkey tribe.

  In two or three hours' time they reached the main road, and turningto the right, rode towards Salerno. Thus far Bob had not noticedmuch of his surroundings, but now his eyes gazed most eagerly uponthe road ahead of him, for he expected to meet his friends. Herightly supposed that they would have driven to Salerno on thepreceding day, hoping to find him there, and that they would driveback in search of him at the earliest dawn of another day.

  Bob's conjecture turned out to be rights He had not ridden morethan a mile when he saw a carriage approaching, which he soonrecognized as belonging to his party. In it were his friends, whohad recognized him as soon as they had caught sight of him, andwhose joy at meeting with him again, and amazement at the sight ofhis companion, knew no bounds. The carriage stopped, and the boysflung themselves out, and tore Bob from the back of the donkey,and hugged him, and hustled him, and danced about him in their joy.Uncle Moses was not so quick as the others, and held back. Bat ifhis greeting was last, it was not least fervent, as Bob well knewby the moistened eye, the quivering lip, the tremulous voice, andthe convulsive grasp of that venerable relative.

  Then and there, on the road, Bob had to satisfy the hungrycuriosity of his friends, and give them some sort of an outlineof his adventures. The particulars he reserved until a futureoccasion. Bob's account of his friends in the mountains at onceroused the enthusiastic interest of the whole party in theirfavor, and they all proceeded to shake hands with the Italian.Nor did they content themselves with this, for on the spot UncleMoses and the boys made up a handsome purse, which they presentedto him, not because he deserved it, exactly, but partly becausethey were so rejoiced at finding the lost boy, and partly onaccount of Bob's urgent appeal to them. For now Bob's sentimentsabout the humble people in the sequestered valley had undergonethe last phase which was necessary to complete a perfect revolutionof feeling; and he had come to regard them not by any means asbrigands,--far from it,--but rather as a family of peaceful,innocent, harmless, 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 uponthem, and vowing endless gratitude; and after the boys and UncleMoses had one by one shaken hands and bidden him good by, hestill stood there, smiling, bowing, and gesticulating; and asthey drove away, they saw him standing motionless in the roadtill they passed out of sight.

  Bob's adventures had not been without some serious consequences,for the strain on his mind during the previous day, and especiallythe horror of the night, combined with the fatigues to which hehad been subjected, had been somewhat too much for him. As soon,therefore, as the first excitement of the joyous meeting was over,a reaction took place, and he complained of utter weariness andexhaustion. As Bob was a boy who never complained except under sorepressure, the boys perceived that he was now in need of quiet andrepose, and therefore tried to put a check upon their eager curiosity.On reaching Salerno, they put up at the hotel again, and gave Bobthe opportunity of a long rest. Had it not been for Bob's adventure,they would by this time have been back in Naples; for their intentionhad been to go on from Paestum without stopping; but now they wereforced to delay somewhat. Still they were anxious to resume thejourney back, and as Bob seemed refreshed after a rest and a goodrepast, Uncle Moses thought they had better set out and go as faras they could before dark. The driver mentioned Castellamare as aconvenient stopping-place, and it was thereupon decided to driveon as far as that place, and pass the night there.

  They had passed through Castellamare before, when on their way toSorrento, and again, when returning from that place, on their wayto Salerno, so that it seemed quite familiar. But on quitting thecarriage and looking out from the windows of the hotel, they weresurprised to find how much the beauty of the place was enhanced bythis new outlook. Before, they looked at it as hasty travellers,snatching a passing glance; but now they could take a leisurelysurvey. Before them was the Bay of Naples; on the right, the citywith its suburbs, extending far along the shore; on the left, theisle of Capri; in front, the shores of Baiae; while in the rearwas the verdant landscape, with a background of mountains, overwhich reigned supreme the gigantic form of Vesuvius, from whosesummit was still floating the wrathful smoke cloud.

  It was decided to pass the night here, and go on to Naples earlyon the following day. All the party were tired and went to rest atan early hour. The night was calm, and beautiful, and bright; andas they went to sleep, they were lulled by the plash of the watersas they gently rippled upon the pebbled beach.

  Frank arose pretty early on the following morning, and found thatDavid was already up, and had gone forth. The others were stillasleep. Frank thereupon went forth for a walk, and one by onethe others awaked also. They had ordered breakfast at an earlyhour, and they were to start immediately after. When Uncle Moseswent down stairs he found breakfast ready, and departed to huntup the boys. He found Frank, and Clive, and Bob, watching thedriver groom the horses.

  "Boys," said Uncle Moses, "breakfast's ready."

  "All right, sir," said Frank; "we'll be along."

  Upon this Uncle Moses went back, and after a few moments Frank,and Clive, and Bob entered.

  "Where's David?" asked Uncle Moses.

  "I don't know, sir."

  "Well," said Uncle Moses, "I suppose he'll be along; so let's sitdown and begin."

  They all sat down.

  When they were about half through breakfast, Uncle Moses began towonder what was keeping David.

  "Which way did he go, boys?" he asked.

  "I didn't see him," 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'tsee him at all. I only saw his empty bed, and found his clothesgone. I dare say he's gone off on a walk."

  "O, he's all right," said Bob.

  "Yes," said Uncle Moses, "I don't doubt it He's a very careful,quiet boy, I know; but he is always so punctual, that it seems kindo' odd for him to be so late."

  "O, I dare say he's misunderstood about the hour," said Clive.

  "Perhaps so," said Uncle Moses.

  The boys now went on finishing their breakfast; but Uncle Mosesbegan to fidget in his chair, and look around, and sigh, and gaveother signs of growing uneasiness of mind. Feeling in himself, ashe did, the care of all the boys, he never was altogether free fromanxiety; and the various adventures which the boys had encountered,had not, in any way, tended to lessen his uneasy vigilance overthem. Bob's last adventure, in particular, had wrought upon himmost painfully, so that he was ten times more careful over hisyoung and somewhat flighty charges than he had been before. Theabsence of David at such an important time seemed unaccountable.If it had been any one of the others, it would have been intelligible;but for David, who was the soul of order, regularity, and method,to fail an appointment, was something so extraordinary, that hecould not but feel alarmed. Still he restrained himself, for hefelt a little ashamed of his
fears; and though he was evidentlyvery restless, uneasy, and worried, he said not a word until theboys had finished their breakfast.

  "I don't know what to make of it," said Uncle Moses at last, startingfrom his chair and going to the window. Standing there, he lookeduneasily up and down the street, and then returned and lookedearnestly at the boys.

  "I don't know what to make of it, at all," he repeated. "Did yousay you didn't see him, none of you? Didn't you see him, Clive?"

  "No, sir," said Clive. "When I waked, all the boys were up."

  "Didn't he say anythin last night about intendin to do anythin thismornin?"

  "I didn't hear him say anything."

  "O, I'm sure he's misunderstood about the hour," said Frank. "That'sit He's off on a walk. I dare say he's found some old ruin; and ifthat's the case, he won't know anything about time at all. Put himin an old ruin, and he'd let all the breakfasts that ever werecooked wait before he'd hurry."

  "Wal," said Uncle Moses, "there's somethin in that too. David'sdreadful fond of old stones, and old bones, and tumble-down edifices,and old sticks an weeds. Why, he's all the time collectin; an ifhe keeps on, his baggage'll become nothin else but that."

  Pleased with this thought, which brought up before his mind whatto him was an inexplicable peculiarity of David, Uncle Moses drewa breath of relief.

  "Wal," said he, "we'll have to wait patiently, till David's donewith that there old ruin; an meantime I think I'll take a turn ansee if I can see anythin of him."

  Upon this Uncle Moses went out of the room, and down to the street.Reaching the street, he walked up and down the entire length ofthe town, looking eagerly in every direction, peering into thedoors of houses, staring into space, scanning groves and vineyards,and every half minute taking out his watch and looking at it. Atthe end of about half an hour, he returned more troubled 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 David's disappearance;but the deep anxiety of Uncle Moses now excited their alarm; andthough, if left to themselves, they would have seen nothing to fearin the fact of David's being an hour or so behind time, yet, afterall, they began to see that, in one like David, such conduct wasmost extraordinary; and in this foreign country, of whose ways theywere so ignorant, there might possibly be danger in such absence.They at once began to comfort Uncle Moses; and then all of themvolunteered to go in different directions and see if they couldfind him. Uncle Moses again set out, walking up the road in thedirection of Sorrento; Frank went down the road; Clive took aby-road that led towards the hills; while Bob, who was rather weakyet, and not capable of much exertion, said that he would watchfrom the window of the hotel, and be at home, in case of David'sreturn, to explain matters.

  In this way they began their search, and Bob waited patiently inthe hotel. After about an hour Uncle Moses came back. On findingthat David had not returned, he looked unspeakably distressed;and when, after a short time farther, both Frank and Clive returnedwithout any tidings of the fugitive, he began to look quiteheartbroken.

  Then they talked to the driver about it; but the' driver could givethem no information whatever. They sent him over the hotel toquestion all the people, but this search was as vain as the othershad been. There was no one in the hotel, from the big landlord downto the scullion, who could tell anything at all about David.

  By the time all these examinations and searches had been made itwas after ten o'clock. Breakfast had been served at seven, andseven was the hoar at which David should have been among them. Hehad been gone, therefore, more than three hours.

  Even the boys now began to feel uneasy. Uncle Moses and all theboys began to rack their brains to find some way of accounting forDavid's absence.

  "Did any of you ever hear of his walking in his sleep?" asked,Uncle Moses, in an agitated voice.

  "No," said Bob, "never. I know he never did such a thing."

  "He couldn't have taken a walk anywheres," said Uncle Moses, "orhe'd been back long ago."

  "O, yes; he wouldn't have started on a three hours' walk," saidClive.

  "Perhaps he's tried a donkey ride, and been ran away with, likeme," said Bob.

  "O, no," said Frank, "he isn't fond of riding; he'd never get onthe back of any animal, unless he had to."

  "Did he say anything about--about--?"

  Uncle Moses hesitated at the question which he was about to ask.

  "About what, Uncle Moses?" asked Clive.

  "About--bathing?" asked Uncle Moses, in a faltering voice.

  "No," said Clive.

  Uncle Moses drew a long breath.

  "It would be dreadful dangerous," said he.

  "But, Uncle Moses," said Clive, "David would never think of sucha thing. He might go in if all of us fellows went in too, just forcompany; but he doesn't care enough about it to go in alone. Thefact is, he doesn't care much for any kind of sports. He's too fondof books."

  Uncle Moses sighed heavily.

  "I wonder," said Bob, "if any of those Sorrento fellows have beenabout here, and seen him."

  At this suggestion every one of them started, and stared at oneanother.

  "Sorrento fellers?" repeated Uncle Moses.

  "Do you think there's any chance?"

  "O, I don't know," said Bob. "I only thought it might bepossible. You see Dave made no end of a row there about thattassel 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 justthought that some of the Sorrento people might have seen uscome here yesterday. If they did, they might have tried topay up poor old Dave for what he did out there."

  "It may be so," said Uncle Moses, with a groan. "The whole populationwere ravin mad, an we had hard enough work to get away."

  "Well," said Frank, "it's the only thing that can account for Dave'sabsence. He may have taken a little stroll this morning, and falleninto the hands of some of those fellows. Perhaps they've beenwatching all night for the chance. They would watch, not only allnight, but a fortnight, for the sake of revenge. There's no peopleso revengeful as the Italians. Poor Dave! What can we do? I'll goand ask the driver."

  Saying this, Frank hurried out of the room and down stairs totalk to the driver about it. All the others followed. Onsuggesting this Sorrento theory to the driver, that worthyshook his head, and thought that there might be something init. He evidently began to look upon David's absence as somethingvery serious, and his seriousness over it only added to theanxiety of Uncle Moses and the boys.

  "If this is so, we ought to drive off to Sorrento at once," saidFrank, "before it is too late. If Dave is in their hands, he needsus now, and I only wish we had thought of this before."

  "But he mayn't be there at all," said Bob, whogenerally had a mind of his own.

  "Where else is he?"

  "I don't know."

  "There's no need for all of us to go," said Uncle Moses. "I'll goalone, 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, howcan any of you hope to escape? No, you must all come, for I declareI'm afraid to trust one of you out of my sight."

  "But some of us ought to stay," said Bob, "for Dave may turn upall right, and how'll he know what's become of us?"

  "Wal," said Uncle Moses, "I'll leave word for him here at thehotel."

  "Yes." said Frank, "that's the best way. None of us want to dawdleour lives out in this place all day, and you don't want to leaveany of us behind, Uncle Moses; so if we all go together, we'll allbe satisfied."

  A few minutes afterwards the carriage rolled out of Castellamare,carrying the party back to Sorrento.