The National tribune., 1902-02-20

arose in body and would have donated
their dinner and their old clothes to their
envious messmates.
That afternoon, during Mikes watch on
deck, Bob LennOX dropped an apparently
chance word about the sacred soil" at
the Campo Santo.
why don't you boys go up and get
someY' asked Mike derisively.
"Well, we be the lads can do that same.
if we make up our minds"
If" said Mike with scornful leer.
What would stop usF asked Joe,
seemingly In very angry tones.
"Johndarms," answered Mike tantaliz-
ingly.
"f'n bet you the soft tack for the mess
for the rest of our stay here in port that
we bring off the dirt"
Done" said Mike; cts bet, an I'll
GO you the axle-grease better"
Hadn't you better order it at onceT'
asked Bob LennoX, who came up in time
to hear the last remark.
"Please yourself about that; but mind,
no shinanigan; the simon pure article, and
no paving-stOnes."
That's right; run up your signal: No
Trust. I'll tell you what, we'll put it in
Yohn YohnSon's hands as soon as we get
it under our hippers, and he will stow it
away in his hold till we report aboard"
Right you are; I'll agree to take the
dirt as the true business from Yohn Yohn-
son; he'll give us all square deal"
This arrangement made Yohnson a CEN
tral figure in the proposed raid, and he
swelcd up with Importance.
Yohnson had a small tin box in his
Clothes-bag. This box was similar to the
ones used by collectors 10 carry their cash.
The boys prevailed on johnson to take
this box with him Ito carry grub for the
party"
Once ashore the boys took the late train
for Pisa, some ID miles distant. 4
hours ride brought the party to the old
town, and the lads ran, as merry rOusta-
bouts will do, without however. any at
tempt at undue carOusal. | had studied
the crew so closely that | was able to
pick out men for the boats who were So
Der, steady fellows, lads who could he
relied on to attend to business: such men
were put in charge of the cutters running
regularly between the frigate and the
shore.
Early the next morning the party met
in the breakfast room of the hotel. They
got their breakfast and started for the
Square, in which are situated the Lean,
ing Tower, the Whispering Gallery, and
the Campo SantO.
| must here mention that on the way
up in the train Joe Purcell ran across
| ltnaldO Bacciocco, one of our Ships
Band. "Backshy," as we called him, was
jolly sort Of fellow. native Of Leg
horn. and therefore knew everything and
everybody about LeghGrn and Pisa. His
appearance was hailed with delight by
| Bob Lennox. Bob and the bandsman botl
had very good voices, and therefore had
| something i'll common.
Bob must have communicated his plans
TO his ''macaroni friend" for whom should
the party see parading up and down thu
porch OF the Camps Santo on their ar
rival but Mr.. RinaldO Bacciocco.
| AS an Italian to the manor born, Back
shy had the call on the Campo and sooI
had the guide in an animated conversation
| on matters connected with the politics o
that bubbling time. Garibaldi was n
that time preparing for his subsequen
raid on the Papal States.
Just previous to the start in the morn
ing Bob and Joe had each filed a socl
with earth, each secrctng his burden il
the folds of his blue shirt The box whicl
Yohnson carried was about the same tim,
filled with nuts, buns, fruit and small
flask of whisky.
After some little preliminary skirmishin,
about the Campo Bob got hold of the boz
and ostcntatiouSly offered the guide SOM
of the fruit and drink. few words from
Backshy put the guide in good humor, an,
he helped himself literally.
Bob then motioned to his friend to en-
gage the attention Of the guide, SO tha
the proposed plunder could be obtained
Quick, Iohnny, empty the stuff int
your shirt"
The box was forthwith emptied of it
ediblcs.
Now, johnson, you stand here by thi
pillar and cover me. You, Joe, crawl dow
and fill the box; III stand by and reacl
it up to johnson"
johnson, big with Importance, In hi
role as umpire-custoiian, took the position
indicated, where he could watch the move