ged hurriedly into the
mountains opposite.

Lucia caught sight of their shining helmets every now and then as they
climbed higher and higher, and finally disappeared. She was undecided
what to do, but after a little hesitation she determined to follow the
beggar. Now that the Austrians were out of sight there was no need for
her to avoid the open path, and she hurried to it and ran quickly in
the direction that the man had taken. She did not know where she was,
or how far she would have to go before she reached Cellino. She had
seen nothing of the town from the mountains, and she guessed that it
was much farther away than she had at first supposed.

She walked on as fast as she could, keeping a sharp lookout for the
beggar, but he had apparently disappeared, for she could not find him
or any trace of him.

It was late in the afternoon when she reached a part of the river that
was familiar to her, and with a start she realized that she was still a
good three miles from Cellino. She was very tired and very hungry, but
she sat down to consider the best plan to follow. She knew nothing of
what had passed between the men at the bridge, but she had sense enough
to realize that whatever it was, it was not for the good of the Italian
forces.

Some one must be warned, and soon, for the speed of the Austrian
soldiers made her feel that the danger was imminent.

"I will go on to town and warn them," she said aloud to Garibaldi,
"that is the best plan, and then I can find something to eat."

She jumped up and started off with renewed energy. At a little path
that turned to the right she left the river and came out on the broad
road at the foot of a valley. It was not long after that, when she saw
the little white cottage ahead. The sight of it gave her courage.
There, at any rate, would be a human being to talk to, and bread to
eat. She ran the rest of the way, and did not pause until she was in
the little room.

The sight that met her eyes sent a sudden damper over her spirits.
Everything was upside down. The green bed was stripped of its sheets,
and all the familiar ornaments had gone. Lucia stood dumbfounded
trying to realize that Nana had really gone. A feeling of loneliness
and despair made the tears come to her eyes.

She clenched her fists and tried to swallow the lump in her throat, but
without success, the tears came in spite of her and in her
disappointment she threw herself down on the bed and sobb