could. Two
heavily laden barrows with luggage, and a multitude of cloaks, shawls,
and mantles, pronounced them to be travellers; and I soon collected,
from the expressions dropped by the boatmen, that they were about to
embark in the French steamer for Leghorn. Mingling with the group,
which the darkness freely permitted, I heard a voice say, in English,
something about the weather; and now, listening more attentively, I
picked up that they were an English family hurrying to Pisa to see a son
whose failing health gave them no time for delay. I gathered, too, that
the packet, which should not have started till the next day, was now
leaving suddenly; the captain haviug sent a message to say that he had
determined to put to sea rather than ride out the gale so near shore.

The travellers were mingling their complaints at this peremptory
summons, with others over the absence of their courier, who had got
leave to see some of his friends about a league away, and must now
inevitably be left behind. In the course of their lamentings, I could
learn that they had only engaged the man the evening before at the
recommendation of the landlord, and had scarcely seen him above a couple
of times.

In fact, except that he was an Italian, and his name Raffaello, they
knew nothing about him. At last they reached the jetty where the boat
lay, and now I could hear their discussion, whether it were better to
leave the courier's effects behind, or take them on, in the hope that he
might yet come up.

"He's a smart fellow, and depend upon it he 'll be here before we sail,"
said a young man of the party.

"No, no," cried another, "he 'll never hear a word of the packet till
she's half way to Leghorn."

"What did you tell him, William?" asked an elderly lady.

"To be back by six o'clock to-morrow morning," said the first speaker.

"Ay, but in what language did you speak?"

"I spoke Italian, and afterwards I said it in French; for he does n't
know one word of English."

This was all I wanted; I slipped noiselessly away, and, retiring to some
distance behind the party, waited till I saw them descend the stairs
to the boat. This occupied some time, for the party were numerous, and
their trunks and portmanteaus were without end. At last, just as the
word to shove off was given, I dashed forward at the top of my speed,
crying out in Spanish, "Hold fast there! wait for the courier!"

"What's the matter?" asked one of the Englishmen.

"