Part 38 (1/2)
”Signor,” he said haughtily, ”why should you believe that I speak a falsehood? I am a poor man, and I attend to my own business. I have no time to listen to foolish gossip. You say there is such a body. I would not be impolite, signor, so I simply say that of it I know nothing at all. I must beg you to ask no further questions.”
Through all this Teresa had continued to mutter and moan about her brother. They could do nothing to comfort her. d.i.c.k tried it, but his Italian was poor, and he entreated the professor to say something soothing to the girl.
Gently the old man placed an arm about her shoulders.
”My child,” he said, ”your brother was a brave, man, but he could not escape the decree of this terrible band. He knew he could not escape, and he entreated Richard, as a great favor, to take you to America and deliver you to friends of your family who are there. This we shall do.
Trust us.”
”I do trust you, signor,” she sobbed; ”but I cannot forget the terrible thing I saw-my brother slain before my eyes! I can never forget that!”
”No wonder, dear child. You should be thankful you escaped from those men.”
”Until I am far away from Venice I shall not feel that I have escaped.
Nicola Mullura will do everything in his power to place his b.l.o.o.d.y hands on me. I shall live in constant terror of him.”
”He shall never touch you!” cried Zenas. ”Boys, she fears the wretch, Mullura, will get possession of her.”
”Teresa,” said d.i.c.k, using as good Italian as he could command, ”we swear to defend you with our lives. You may depend on us.”
”You are such brave boys-such wonderfully brave boys!” murmured the girl.
”I can't say it in dago talk,” put in Brad; ”but you bet your boots, Teresa, that what my pard has promised, we'll back up. You hear me shout!”
CHAPTER XX.
THE OATH OF TERESA.
Fearing she might do something rash in her distress and occasional spells of delirium, d.i.c.k and Brad took turns watching over Teresa that night.
The girl was given one of the three rooms taken by the professor and the boys in a private house. It was useless to urge her to retire. With the horror of what had happened, upon her, and in great fear that Mullura would find her, she kept her clothes on and slept on the outside of the bed. The door between that room and the adjoining one, in which the boys remained that they might be near her, was left slightly ajar at her request.
It was long past midnight before she slept at all. When they peered in, they discovered her lying staring up at the ceiling, her face pale and her lips moving, as if in prayer.
”Pard,” said Brad, ”she sure is a right pretty girl.”
”She is,” agreed d.i.c.k. ”But you mustn't forget Nadia Budthorne, old man.”
”Now quit!” remonstrated the Texan soberly. ”No danger that I'll get smashed on this girl, partner. My sympathy for her is aroused a heap, that's all.”
”When a fellow becomes very sympathetic for a pretty girl, he's liable to fall in love with her. I fancy your sympathy was aroused for Nadia, to begin with.”
”Well, I don't judge it was a case of sympathy between you and June Arlington.”
”She certainly deserves sympathy,” said d.i.c.k. ”Think of her fine brother!”
”I don't want to think of him!” growled the Texan. ”Of all onery coyotes, he certain is the worst!”
”He's about as bad as they make 'em,” nodded d.i.c.k.