Part 32 (1/2)
”A wild beast,” said David, dismally
”Of course; but what kind of a one?”
”It may be a wolf”
”I wonder if there are many wolves about here”
”Wolves? Of course All Italy is fall of them”
”Yes, but this beast has hard feet Don't you hear what a noise he 's I' even worse than a wolf”
”So worse?”
”Yes”
”What can be worse?”
”Why, a wild boar Italy is the greatest country in the world for wild boars”
After this there followed a long period of silence and despondency
Suddenly Clive grasped the upper part of the ladder, and began to pull at it with all histo do?” asked David
”Why, we ht draw up the ladder, and put it out of one of the s, you know, and get out that way--ht try”
Upon this both boys seized the ladder, and tried to pull it from its place But their efforts were entirely in vain The ladder was clumsily made out of heavy timbers, and their puny efforts did not avail to le inch from its place So they soon desisted, and turned away in despair Clive then went to one of the s, and looked down David followed him They looked out for some time in silence
”Couldn't we let ourselves drop somehow?” asked Clive
David shook his head
”It's nearly twenty feet froht break some of our bones”
”O, it's not so very far,” said Clive ”Yes, but if ere to drop, that wild boar would hear us, and rush out in a estion, Clive turned away, and regarded David with his old look of horror
”It's no use trying,” said David; ”that horrible wild boar waked up e entered his den He saw us going up, and has been watching ever since for us to come down They are the most ferocious, most pitiless, and most cruel of all wild beasts Why; if we had the ladder down froround, he'd pounce upon us before we could get even as far as the path”
Clive left the , and sat down in despair, leaning against the wall, while David stood staring blankly out into vacancy Their position was now not erous in the extren of any human habitation They could not see the convent Albano was hidden by the hill already spoken of; nor had they any idea how far away it one had not appeared like one which was ht be before any passers-by would approach was more than they could tell
”Well,” said Clive, ”we've lost our dinner, and it's my firm belief that we'll lose our tea, too”