Part 36 (1/2)

The guide smiled, and made no answer It was a brilliant idea

It was all his own He was proud of it He was pleased to think that the number of them was equal to the number of days in the year Three hundred and sixty-five handkerchiefs collected fro people of Albano, ere now yelling and howling as before, at the rear of the house, and diversifying the uproar by loud calls and inquiries about the wild boar

The guide smiled cheerily over the handkerchiefs He was so proud of his original idea! He went cal it very dexterously, so that the bundle h to burn, Frank watched him curiously So did Bob So did Uncle Moses So did Clive

So did David Three hundred and sixty-five handkerchiefs! Only think of it!

At last the as finished The handkerchiefs rolled up into a big ball, loose, yet cohesive, with ends hanging out in all directions

”You had better be careful what you do,” said Clive ”The end of the chaots If they were to catch fire, ould couide ”Nevare fear I trow hio near de wood He make no flame, only de smoke

Nevare fear”

At this the trepidation which these preparations bad excited in the minds of Clive and David, departed, and they watched the subsequent proceedings without a word

The guide now took the bundle which he had formed out of the handkerchiefs of the population of Albano, and holding it under his left ar off one, he struck it against the sole of his boot It kindled Thereupon he held the Saht

The bundle blazed The guide held it for soht at one after another of the projecting ends of the rolled-up handkerchiefs, and the fla nearer to the doorway, he advanced, keeping a little on one side, and watching for an opportunity to throw it in Frank folloith his rusty gun, Bob with his pitchfork, and Uncle Moses with his scythe All were ready, either for attack or defence, and all the while the bellowing of the crowd behind the house went on uninterruptedly

The guide reached at length a point about ten feet from the door

Then he poised hi ball

But his aim was bad The ball struck the side of the doorway, and fell outside In an instant Frank rushed forward, and seizing it, threw it inside It fell on the floor, and rolled towards the foot of the ladder, where it lay blazing, and sh to satisfy theun, while Bob, Uncle Moses, and the guide, took up their stations beside hi mass; but after all, the result was not what had been desired It rolled up through the opening above, and gathered in blue masses in the room where Clive and David were ient vapors very quickly, , and se from this new evil was to thrust their heads as far out of the s as was possible; and this they did by sitting on theledge, clinging to the wall, and projecting their bodies far forward outside of the house For a time they were sustained by the hope that their ene it worse than they were, and that he would soon relax his vigilant watch and fly But alas!

that eneht, and it soon became evident to them and to those outside, that all the smoke went to the upper rooh the lower room; so little, indeed, that the wild boar did not feel any inconvenience in particular

”Can't you do soly

”We can't stand thiseyes, and choking voice

Their words sounded faint and low a of the crowd behind the house, who still maintained their stations there, from preference, and kept up their terrific outcry Amid the yells there came occasional anxious inquiries as to the success of their efforts At tiers would venture froers, however, were only few in nu was of the most superficial description possible

The latest experient inquiries So many handkerchiefs had been invested in this last venture, that it was brought nearer home than before

Each man felt that he was concerned personally in the affair; that, in fact, he, in the shape of a representative of so important a kind as his own handkerchief, was already inside, and assailing the obstinate monster with a more terrible arm than any which had yet been employed--smoke and fire

But the clamor of the crowd had not so ht of poor Clive and David, who, clinging to the ith their faces flushed, and their eyes red, swollen, and streaer

”Do so or other, quick,” cried Clive