[Ill.u.s.tration: Mr Figgs.]

As they sat round the fire they found it very comfortable. Like many evenings in Italy, it was damp and quite chilly. They laughed and talked, and appeared to be any thing but captives in a robber's hold. The Captain had been out for some time, and at length returned. He was now very cheerful. He came laughingly up to the fire.

"Well, Signori Americani, what do you think of your accommodation?"

"Delightful! Charming!" cried b.u.t.tons and d.i.c.k.

"If the ladies would only deign to smile on us--"

"Aha! You are a great man for the ladies," said the Captain.

"Who is not?" said b.u.t.tons, sententiously.

After a few pleasant words the Captain left again.

"He has some scheme in his villainous head," said b.u.t.tons.

"To drug us," said the Doctor.

"To send for others," said d.i.c.k.

"To wait till we sleep, and then fall on us," said Mr. Figgs.

"Well, gentlemen," said the Senator, drawing himself up, "we're more than a match for them. Why, what are these brigands? Is there a man of them who isn't a poor, miserable, cowardly cuss? Not one.

If we are captured by such as these we deserve to be captives all our lives."

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Ladies.]

"If we don't get off soon we'll have a good round sum to pay," said Mr. Figgs.

"And that I object to," said b.u.t.tons; "for I promised my Governor solemnly that I wouldn't spend more than a certain sum in Europe, and I won't."

"For my part," said the Doctor, "I can't afford it."

"And I would rather use the amount which they would ask in some other way," said d.i.c.k.

"That's it, boys! You're plucky. Go in! We'll fix their flints. The American eagle is soaring, gentlemen--let him ascend to the zenith.

Go it! But mind now--don't be too hasty. Let's wait for a time to see further developments."

"Richard, my boy, will you occupy the time by singing a hymn?"

continued the Senator. "I see a guitar there."

d.i.c.k quietly got up, took the guitar, and, tuning it, began to sing.

The brigands were still in a state of wonder. The women looked shy.

Most of the spectators, however, were grinning at the eccentric Americans. d.i.c.k played and sang a great quant.i.ty of songs, all of a comic character.

The Italians were fond of music, of course. d.i.c.k had a good voice.

Most of his songs had choruses, and the whole Club joined in. The Italians admired most the n.i.g.g.e.r songs. "Oh, Susannah!" was greeted with great applause. So was "Doo-dah;" and the Italians themselves joined energetically in the chorus. But the song that they loved best was "Ole Virginny Sh.o.r.e." This they called for over and over, and as they had quick ears they readily caught the tune; so that, finally, when d.i.c.k, at their earnest request, sang it for the seventh time, they whistled the air all through, and joined in with a thundering chorus. The Captain came in at the midst of it, and listened with great delight. After d.i.c.k had laid down his instrument he approached the Americans.

"Well, ole hoss," said the Senator, "won't you take an arm-chair?"

"What is it?" said the Captain to b.u.t.tons.

"He wants to know if your Excellency will honor him by sitting near him."

The Captain's eye sparkled. Evidently it met his wishes. The Americans saw his delight.

"I should feel honored by sitting beside the ill.u.s.trious stranger,"

said he. "It was what I came to ask. And will you allow the rest of these n.o.ble gentlemen to sit here and partic.i.p.ate in your amus.e.m.e.nt?"

"The very thing," said b.u.t.tons, "which we have been trying to get them to do, but they won't. Now we are as anxious as ever, but still more anxious for the ladies."

"Oh, the ladies!" said the Captain; "they are timid."

Saying this he made a gesture, and five of his men came up. The whole six then sat with the five Americans. The Senator insisted that the Captain should sit by his side. Yet it was singular. Each one of the men still kept his gun. No notice was taken of this, however. The policy of the Americans was to go in for utter jollity. They sat thus:

The Captain.

The Senator.

Bandit Number 1.

Mr. Figgs.

Bandit Number 2.

The Doctor.

Bandit Number 3.

d.i.c.k.

Bandit Number 4.

b.u.t.tons.

Bandit Number 5.

Five members of the Club. Six bandits. In addition to these, four others stood armed at the door. The women were at a distance.

But the sequel must be left to another chapter.

CHAPTER XIV.

MAGNIFICENT ATt.i.tUDE OF THE SENATOR; BRILLIANCY OF b.u.t.tONS; AND PLUCK OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CLUB: BY ALL OF WHICH THE GREATEST EFFECTS ARE PRODUCED.

"Boys," said the Senator, a.s.suming a gay tone, "it's evident these rascals have planned this arrangement to attack us; but I've got a plan by which we can turn the tables. Now laugh, all of you." A roar of laughter arose. "I'll tell it in a minute. Whenever I stop, you all laugh, so that they may not think that we are plotting." Another roar of laughter. "b.u.t.tons, talk Italian as hard as you can; pretend to translate what I am saying; make up something funny, so as to get them laughing; but take good care to listen to what I say."