Among the Brigands

by James De Mille

  CHAPTER XVI.

  _More Troubles for poor David.--Onset of four Women.--Seized by anold Crone and three Peasant Girls.--Fresh Horror of David.--A newUproar in the Yard of the Inn.--Uncle Moses bent double._

  Ludlow began to talk to the landlord about a conveyance toCastellamare, and David walked through the house into the yard.David's only desire now was to hurry on and join his friends assoon as possible. He had not the remotest idea that they were inSorrento, and that the trouble had arisen about them, but fanciedthat they were in Castellamare, full of anxiety about him.Sympathizing with their anxiety, he longed to go to them, so as toput an end to it; and seeing a carriage in the yard, he naturallywalked in that direction. Reaching, the yard he noticed that thehorses were in it, and that it was a barouche, like the one inwhich his party had been travelling. Not for one moment did hesuppose that it was the same one, nor did he notice it very closely;but giving it a careless glance, he looked around to see those towhom it belonged.

  As David went out into the yard, the driver had just gone into thebarn to tell Uncle Moses and the boys that the trouble was overand the crowd was dispersing. Their joy may be imagined. They werejust hastening from the barn to return to the hotel, and had justreached the barn door when David approached.

  David was walking along towards the barn, looking around to seewhere the people were, when suddenly he heard a wild cry, and sawa figure rush straight towards him. It was a woman's figure, andshe appeared quite old. Like lightning, the thought flashed throughhim that this was his old tormentor, the hag; and with a gasp hestarted back, and was about to run. But the other was too quickfor him, and David felt himself seized by his dreaded enemy. Thisdreaded enemy then behaved in a frantic way, hugging him and utteringinarticulate words. David struggled to get free from her, andthrowing a frightened glance at her face, which was but partlyvisible, beneath a very shabby bonnet, he saw that she was quiteold, and that tears were streaming down from her eyes. This frightenedDavid all the more, for now he was sure that she was insane.

  But now, to David's horror, he found himself surrounded by threemore women, in coarse dresses and horribly shabby bonnets. Theyall made a simultaneous rush at him, seizing his hands and arms,and seemed about to tear him to pieces. In vain he struggled. Hewas helpless. A cold shudder passed through him, and a thrill ofhorror tingled every nerve.

  All this had been the work of an instant. So sudden had been theonset, and so overwhelmed was David with utter horror, that hecould not even scream for help. But at last he got his month open,and was just about to give one piercing yell for help, when thewords were taken out of his mouth, and his voice stopped, and anew and greater surprise created within him.

  "David! David! My boy! my boy!" moaned the first old woman.

  "Dave! You rascal! What do you mean by this?" cried womanNumber Two.

  "Dave! Old boy! What in the world is the meaning of this?" criedwoman Number Three.

  "Dave! How did you find us?" cried woman Number Four.

  "Where have you been?" "Where did you come from?" "When did youget here?" "What made you go off?" "Did they seize you?" "Was itthe old woman that did it?" These questions, and scores of others,came pouring forth into his astonished ears. As for David, he couldnot utter one single word. At length the yearning affection ofUncle Moses seemed to be satiated, and the boisterous greetings ofthe boys exhausted, and one by one they released their grasp, andallowed David to extricate himself.

  Thereupon David stood off at a little distance, and gazed at themin mute amazement. The sight which they presented to his astonishedeyes was one which might have excited strong emotions in the breastof any beholder.

  There stood Uncle Moses, his figure concealed under a tatteredgown, and his venerable head enfolded in a battered bonnet ofprimeval style.

  There stood Frank, looking like a strapping peasant woman, with abonnet that was stuck on the top of his head like a man's hat.

  There stood Clive, looking like a pretty peasant girl, quite Italianin his style, with a dress that was a trifle neater than the others.

  And there was Bob, an utter and unmitigated absurdity,--with sdress that was tangled about his legs, and a bonnet that had nocrown. The four of them looked more like escaped lunatics thananything else, and no sooner had David taken in the whole scene,than he burst forth into a perfect convulsion of laughter.

  Thus far the disguise had possessed nothing but a serious characterin the minds of the wearers. By means of this disguise they hadhoped to escape, and the costumes, being thus a help to safety,had been dignified in their eyes. But now, when the danger wasover, and safety assured, there was nothing to hide from their eyesthe unutterable absurdity, the inconceivable ludicrousness of theirappearance. As David's laugh burst forth, each turned his eyes uponthe other, and saw how it was.

  Then they all burst forth! It was a cataclysm of laughter. The boysswayed backward and forward, and danced up and down, and shouted,and yelled with laughter. Uncle Moses stood with his eyes shut andhis figure bent double. Frank stared at each one in succession,and then at himself, giving a scream at each figure. Clive laughedtill he sank down; and Bob, flinging himself upon the ground in aperfect paroxysm, rolled over and over, and kicked, and yelled,and fairly howled in one prolonged and uproarious cachinnation.

  The uproar aroused the house.

  The driver hurried out of the barn and joined in the roar.

  The hostler followed him.

  The servants came from the hotel, and lent their voices.

  The landlord came out, and was at once seized with a convulsion.

  After the landlord came Ludlow. He didn't altogether understandit; but he saw David, and he saw the four figures; and from whatthe landlord had been telling him, he knew who they were. Thesight overwhelmed him. He opened his mouth. He burst forth. It wastremendous. It was Olympian. It was the laughter of Homer's immortals.It was a thunder-peal. It was too much. He could not keep his feet,but sank down on the stone steps, and burying his face in his hands,gave way utterly.

  Thus it Was, then, that David, the most solemn of boys, returnedto his distracted and anxious friends.

  At length the laughter ceased, and the costumes were set aside,and they all sat in the dining-room, asking and giving explanations.David had to tell the story of his adventures. The boys had to tellabout their search after him, and Ludlow had to tell the story ofhis meeting with David at Capri. These mutual explanations hadnothing in them but what was pleasant, so that there was nothingto detract from the joy of the occasion.

  And now Ludlow, finding the friends so happily reunited, pressedthem all to come over to Capri at once, and stay as long as theyfelt inclined to. David's eyes sparkled at this, and the otherboys, who had fallen in love with Ludlow at first sight, were moreeager to go than they could tell. But Uncle Moses demurred. He feltafraid of giving trouble, and thought they had better get back toNaples. Ludlow, however, pooh-poohed his scruples, answered everyobjection, and would not take any refusal whatever; so that theresult was, the final departure of the party for Capri.

  But before they went, several things had to be attended to. Firstof all, they had to dismiss the driver. With the exception of hissulk at Paestum, he had behaved admirably, and had been of immenseservice to them in more than one hour of need. The consequence was,that Uncle Moses gave him a reward so liberal that it elicited anoutburst of benedictions, thanks, and prayers for the future welfareof the whole party.

  The other business was to see about the return of the boat whichDavid had taken. This, however, was arranged without difficulty.Ludlow knew an honest fisherman who could be intrusted with thetask of returning the boat, and making explanations to the owner.By this man they sent a sufficient sum to repay the owner for theuse of it.

  They engaged another boat to take them to Capri. A gentle breezewafted them over the intervening water, and they soon stood beforethe artist's picturesque abode. Mrs. Ludlow received them all withher brightest smile and warmest cordiality, and the boys so
on beganto feel towards the artist and his wife as though they were nearand dear relations. They found the artist's cottage a perfectstorehouse of curiosities, and a museum of antiquities; they foundalso that it was of large dimensions, and contained sufficientaccommodations for the party; and thus they were able to feel thatthey were not a burden in any way on their warm-hearted friends.

  Ludlow took them all over the island, and showed them all that wasto be seen. He was not only an enthusiastic artist, but also anantiquarian of no mean attainments; and while he could point outto them the most beautiful spots on that lovely isle, he could alsotalk learnedly about the ancient Capraea, and raise out of ancientruins theories about the pleasure-grounds of Tiberius.

  But the most wonderful thing which they found there was the famousgrotto, so familiar to all from the accounts of tourists, and fromthe well-known description in Hans Andersen's Improvisatore. Afterthat glowing, poetic, and enthusiastic narrative, no other need beattempted. Here they passed three or four days, and when at lengththey bade adieu to the artist and his wife, it was with many sincereregrets on both sides, and many earnest wishes that they might meetagain.

  After which they all went back to Naples.