Part 3 (2/2)

”We'd better hunt up a policeet Uncle Moses here first You go, Bob; and be quick, or else those other beggars'll be back here and release hiuarded the prisoner Bob was not gone long, however, but soon returned in company with Uncle Moses Bob had found him at the inn, and in a breathless way had told him all, but he had scarcely understood it; and as he now came upon the scene, he looked around in wonder, and seemed utterly bewildered Had he found his beloved boys captured by bandits, he would have been shocked, but not very much surprised--for that was the one terror of his life; but to find the tables turned, and a bandit captured by his boys, was a thing which was so cohts, that he stood for a moment fairly stupefied Nor was it until David had told the whole story, and thus given hian to master the situation

”Dear! dear! dear!” he cried, looking slowly at each of the boys in succession, and then at their silent and sulky captive, ”and so you railly and truly were attacked and made prisoners by bandits

Dear! dear! dear!”

He looked inexpressibly shocked, and for some time stood in silence amid the loud clatter of the boys

”Well, Uncle Moses,” said Frank, at last, ”what are we to do with him?”

To this Uncle Mosesinquiry; and his own life had been so peaceful and uneventful, that the question of the best way of dealing with a captured bandit was, very naturally, a so one to answer He stood, therefore, with his head bent forward, his right hand supporting his left elbow, and his left hand supporting his forehead, while his arded the captive robber with a lance, and histhat captives destiny

”Well, Uncle Moses,” said Frank a second time, somewhat i,--and be quick about it too,--or else the other beggars'll be back”

”Wal,” said Uncle Moses, slowly and thoughtfully, ”that's the very identical pint that I' an the short of it is, that I' you can do is to take your handkerchees back, and coet some dinner For I've every reason to believe that dinner's ready about this tiin jest before Bob came for me”

At this the boys stared in a what in the world to make of this

”What do you mean,” said Frank, ”about our handkerchiefs, e've tied up the bandit with them?”

”Why,” said Uncle Moses, ”I think if you co yer handkerchees with you--as I s'pose you prefer havin em”

”But we'd have to untie them,” said Bob

”Wal, yes,” said Uncle Moses, dryly; ”that follers as a nat'ral consequence”

”What!” cried Frank, in an indignant voice, ”untie hio? And after he has nearly killed David and Clive?”

”Wal, he didn't _quite_ kill enantly upon the two boys ”They seem to me jest now to be oncoh death, as far as appearances go No haro”

At this Frank looked ineffably disgusted

”You see, boys,” said Uncle Moses, ”here we air, in a very peculiar situation What air we? Strangers and sojourners in a strange land; don't knoord of the outlandish lingo; surrounded by beggars and Philistines Air there any law courts here? Air there any lawyers? Air there any judges? I pause for a reply There ain't one No An if we keep this man tied up, what can we do with him?

We can't take him back with us in the coach We can't keep him and feed him at the hotel like a pet animule I don't knohar the lock-up is, an hain't seen a policeman in the whole place Besides, if we do hand this bandit over to the _po_lice, do you think it's goin to end there? No, sir Not it If this man's arrested, we'll be arrested too We'll have to be witnesses agin him An that's what I don't want to do, if I can help it My idee an aim allus is to keep clear of the lawyers; I'd rather be imposed on; I'd rather pay out ed, and do any thin, than put myself in the power of lawyers Depend upon it, they're as bad here as they air home They'd have us all in jail, as witnesses Now, I don't want to go to jail”

The words of Uncle Moses produced a strong i the man over to the authorities would involve some trouble, at least, on their part He hated what he called ”bother” Besides, he had no vengeful feelings against the Italian, nor had Bob As for David and Clive, they were the only ones who had been really wronged by the fellow; but they were the last in the world to harbor resente Their victory had also made the to Uncle Moses' suggestion, and untied the bonds

Number Six was evidently amazed He rose to his feet, looked warily at the party, as though expecting some new attack, then looked all around, and then, with a bound, he sprang away, and running towards the road, soon disappeared The rest did not delay er, but returned as soon as possible to the inn, where they found their dinner ready This they ate, and then drove back to Naples

The opportune arrival of Frank and Bob was soon explained They had been riding on donkeys, and had seen the crowd around David and Clive, and the struggle Fearing soer for their companions, they had hastened to the spot, and reached it in tiht have been most serious to David and Clive; but as it happened, the results were of no very grave character They felt a little sore; that is all Bob, also had a bad bruise on his left arm; but on the whole, very little harret afterwards that they had let the scoundrel go free

As for their guide, Michael Angelo, he had been busy in another direction, during this adventure, and when he heard of it, he was very anxious to have them arrested; but Uncle Moses, for reasons already stated, declined to do anything