Part 2 (1/2)

CHAPTER II

_How in the World did it get there?--A joyous Ride--Hark! Hark!

The Dogs do bark! Beggars cos, and some in a tattered Gown!--A pleasant Meditation on a classic Past very rudely, unexpectedly, and even savagely interrupted, and likely to teredy!--Perilous Position of David and Clive_

Fortunately, no bones were broken The Italian slowly picked hi a stupid look at the boys,there in their night-clothes, and earnestly discussing the question,--How in the world did the goat get there?

This was indeed a knotty question, till at length it was unravelled by Uncle Moses

”Wal, I declar,” said he, ”ef I didn't go an leave the door open”

”You!” cried all

”Yes,” said he ”You see it was dreadful close an suffocatin last night; so when you went to bed, I jest left that door open to cool off Then I went off to bed, and forgot all about it”

That was clear enough as far as it went, but still it did not account for the presence of a goat in the sixth story of a hotel

This they found out afterwards That very day they saw flocks of goats being driven about frooats in their own hotel They were hoisted up to the various stories, milked, and left to find their way down theoat's milk was universal, and this was the simple way in which faoat, he was undoubtedly the patriarch of some flock, who had wandered up stairs himself, perhaps in a fit of idle curiosity

”If it hadn't been dark,” said Frank ”If it hadn't been so abominably dark!”

”We were like Ajax,” said David,--as a bit of a pedant, and dealt largely in classical allusions,--”ere like Ajax, you know:--

'Give as but light, and let as _see_ our foes, We'll bravely fall, though Jove himself oppose'”

”O, that's all very well,” said Uncle Moses; ”but who's goin to pay for all that thar furnitoor? The goat can't”

”Uncle Moses,” said Bob, gravely, ”there's a great deal in what you say”

Uncle Moses turned aith a look of concern in his mild face, and retreated into his room

(It may as well be stated here, that Uncle Moses had to pay for that furniture The landlord called up an interpreter, and they had a long and so interview It ended in the landlord's recovering a sum of money which was sufficient to furnish a whole suit of apart now fairly introduced to Naples, the boys were all eager to see the place and its surroundings, and Uncle Moses was quite willing to gratify theuide, nalish, and, thus equipped, they set out first for Baiae

Through the city they went, through the crowded streets; past the palaces, cathedrals, gardens; past the towers, castles, and quays; till at last there arose before theh this they drove, looking in astonishment at its vast di through it, on foot, on horseback, and on wheels Then they came to Pozzuoli, the place where St Paul once landed, and which is mentioned in the New Testament under its ancient naht of this produced strange effects upon the little party Uncle Moses, filled with pity, lavished uide Clive's sensitive nature shuddered at the spectacle Frank tried to speak a feords of Italian to theelo Davidabout the ancient Roant verses:--

”Hark! hark! The dogs do bark!

Beggars coown!”

The beggars followed them as far as they could, and when they left them, reinforcements always arrived

Thus they were beset by them at the crater of the extinct volcano of Solfatura