The Winslow mail., 1900-02-01
CHAPTER Iv.-CoNr1NUED.

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 it's 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 | 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
queer-webbed face twitching nervously. AT
length he became conscious of my scrutiny,
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 will 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."
We'll, 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, oyerpowered by
fatigue, lost myself in sleep, needless of
the rain, which dripped in twenty places
through the roof.
l 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
it was well in the morning, and the sun
shone brightly. All traces of cloud were
gone, though soft billows of mist rolled over
the olive gardens, and vineyards of Chianti
grape, that stretched towards Montevarchi.
Heavens, mani How you slepti was
right when l limited you had a 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 Bu-
cine. My companion had politely never in
quired my name, and had been equally ret
icent He placed on his head silllen fools
cap, and the bells it jingled incessantly
as he walked along with jaunty air, at a
pace that was remarkable for a man of his
age. He seemed to have lost the melal-
choly that possessed him during TIE night,
and conversed in 80 cheerful and entertain
ing manner that in spite of myself | was
interested and withdrawn from my unhap-
py thoughts. He kept up his mood to Bu-
cine, where, Notwithstanding our strange
appearance, we attracted, to my relief, less
attention than l imagined we should draw.
With appetites sharpened by our walk,
we did full justice to the meal l ordered at
the only hotel in the place. Here played
host, as return Tor my entertainment, and
in conversation my acquaintance said thathe
was bound for Florence. | told him that
also was my point, and invited him to bear
me company on the road, to which he will
ingly agreed. | made an attempt here tc
hire a horse; but not even a donkey was
procurable, all available carriage having
more descending the hill on which Bucine
is situated, we forded the river and contin-
ued our journey.
At the albergo we heard that body of
troops were foraging along the banks of the
Arno, and resolved to make a detour, and,
crossing Monte Luco, to keep on the sides of
the Chianti hills, if necessary avoiding Mon
tevarchi altogether. My companion main
tanned his high spirits until we reached the
top of the spur of Monte Luco, known to the
peasantry as the Virgins Cradle. Here we
stopped to breathe and observe the view. |
looked back across the Chiana valley, and
let my eye run over the landscape which
stretched as far as the Marches. In the
blue splash to the south Of the rugged and
conical hill of Cortona, | recognized Trasi-
meme, and beyond it lay Perugia. | turned to
call my friends attention to the scene, and
at first did not perceive where he was. An
other glance showed him standing on the
edge OF the cliff, little to my left, shaking
his clenched hand in the direction of Perugia,
whilst on his face was marked every sign of
sorrow and hate.
Curious to see what this would result IN,
] made no attempt to attract his attention,
but in moment he shook off the influence
which possessed him, and rejoincd me with
a calm brow. We thereupon continued our
journey with this difference, that my COM
panion was now as silent as hitherto he had
been cheerful. My own dark thoughts too
came back to roost, and in gloom we de-
scended the Cradle, pushing our way through
the myrtle with which it was covered, and
walked on, holding Montevarchi to our
right.
We kept q sharp lookout for the foragers,
and, seeing no signs of them, made up cur
minds, after some consultation, to risk going
to Montevarchi, which we reached without
mishap a little after noon. 1t was not my
intention to halt there more than an hour
or so, which |, hoping that would have
better luck than at Bucine, intended to
spend in trying to hire an animal of some
1 kind to ride.
We stopped at the Bell inn, near the gate,
and,-after deal of bargaining, which con-
sumed a good hour, the landlord agreed to
hire me his mule for two crowns. The ras-
cal wanted ten at first. just as the matter
was settled dozen or so of troopers rode
in, and, spying the mule, in the twinLling Of
az eye, claimed it for carriage purposes.
1t was in vain that the landlord protested
that it was his last beast, that it had been
hired to the noble cavaliere, meaning me,
and may other things beside. The soldiers
were deaf to his entreaties, and, although
had more than a mind to draw on the vii
lains, | had the good sense to restrain my
self, for the odds were too many against
me. | therefore hid my chagrin under
smile, and the mule was led away amidst
the lamentations of mine host, who was fur