The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-10-20
CHAPTER IV.-CoNT1NUED.

CHAPTER IV.-CoNTINUED.
We sat in silence for some minutes,
each absorbed in his own thoughts. The
heat from the fire had warmed the hut so
that the blue steam began to rise from my
damp clothes. My companion reclined on
his elbow, tracing some diagram on the floor
with a poniard, which from its shape was
evidently of eastern make. The rain, which
now increased in violence, had almost
quenched the log fire, and was invading our
shelter, for the roof began to leak. There
being no wind the torch burned steadily,
throwing sufficient light for US to distin-
guish each other. ! began to wonder what
manner of man this was before me, dressed
in q motley of court fool and peasant, and
my curiosity was aroused to such an extent
that for the time forgot my own troubles.
Nevertheless l made no sign of inquiry,
knowing there is no means SO sure of OBJ
tanning information as to seem not to desire
it. My new friend kept his eyes fixed on
the point of his dagger, the muscles of his
queerwebbed face twitching nervously. At
length he became conscious of my sc rutiny,
for, lifting his eyes, he looked me in the face,
and then made motion of his hand toward
the wine skin.
mo more, thanks"
''There viii! be that left for tomorrow
before we start"
"Then you also are traveller"
"You say you are going to Bucine" He
asked the question in his usual abrupt man
ner; but his tone was composed.
1T lies on my road"
"And on mine, too. Shall we travel to-
gether? l could point out the way"
Certainly. 1t is very good of you"
"Well. it is time to sleep, and the torch
has burnt to an end"
As he spoke he stretched himself out at
full length, and, turning his back to me, ap
peared to sink into slumber. watched him
for some time by the embers of the torch,
wondering if l was wise in accepting his
companionship, and then, overpowered by
fatigue, lost myself in sleep, needless of
the rain, which dripped in twenty places
through the roof.
/ slept profoundly until aroused by my
shoulder being gently shaken, and, looking
up, beheld my host, as must call him, bend
ing over me- / thought had slept for few
minutes only, and saw to my surprise that
Il was we'll in the morning, and the sun
ehone brightly. All traces of cloud were
gone, though soft pillows of mist rolled oscr
the olive gardens, and vineyards of Chianti
grape, that stretched towards Montevarchi.
Heavens, man! How you slept! was
right when l limited you had q good con-
science"
scrambled up with hasty "Good-morn-
Ing" and, few minutes afterwards, hav-
ing finished the remains of the wine in the
skin, we started off in the direction Of Blu
cine. My companion had politely never in
ouired my name, and had been equally ret
icent. He placed on his head a silken fools
cap, and the bells on it jingled necessarily
rs he walked along with a jaunty air. at q
pace that was remarkable for man OF his
are. He seemed to have lost the melan
choly that possessed him during the night
and conversed in so cheerful and entertain
ing a manner that in spite of myself was
interested and withdrawn from my unhap
py thoughts He kept up his mood to Blu
cine. where, notwithstanding our strangt
appearance, we attracted, to my relief, les.
attention than imagined we should draw
With appetites sharpened by our walk
we did full justice to the meal l ordered al
the only hotel in the place. Here playee
: host, as a return for my entertainment, ano
in conversation my acquaintance said that h
was bound for Florence. ! told him tina
also was my point, and invited him to beal
me company on the road, to which he will
ingly agreed. / made an attempt here II
hire a horse; but not even q donkey wa
procurable, all available carriage havin,
been seized upon for the army. So ono
more descending the hill on which Bucin
il situated, we forded the river and contin
ued our journey.
At the albergo we heard that a body o
troops were foraging along the banks of tn
Arno, and resolved to make detour, and
crossing Monte Luco, to keep on the sides Q
the Chant hills, If necessary avoiding Mon
feyarchi altogether My companion MAR
tanned his high spirits until we reached tn
top of the spur of Monte Luce. known to tn
peasantry a. the Virgins Cradle. Here "
Stopped to breathe and observe the view.
looked back across the Chjana valley, an
let my eye run over the landscape whic
stretched - far q the Marches. In th
blue splash TO the south ef the rueesd an