rp and close scrutiny.
Then he said something.

Bob could not understand him, and tried to explain by signs that
he had lost his way, and that the donkey had run away with him. He
also pointed to himself, and said, "Americano," and waved his hand
in the direction of the road up which he had come, and said,
"Salerno." This was very well for Bob, especially when his anxiety
of mind is taken into account, and his signs seemed intelligible
to the Italian. He looked at Bob carefully, and finally seemed to
make out an explanation of his appearance, which satisfied him,
after which he motioned to him to follow, and walked back towards
the bridge. Bob's first impulse was to rush away, and run as fast
as his legs could carry him; but the thought of the Italian's gun
checked the impulse, and he followed.

Meanwhile, the other brigand, who had caught the ass, stood stroking
it and examining it. The animal seemed perfectly quiet and docile;
altogether a changed animal, different far from that wild beast
that had torn Bob away from all his friends, and thrown him here
among these dread associates. This other man had very much the same
general appearance as the first one. His beard was reddish, and
his eyes were smaller, the general expression of his face was more
sinister, as Bob thought, and though he had no gun, yet he seemed
none the less formidable.

The two men stood talking together for some time. One of them seemed
to be narrating to the other Bob's account of himself, as he had
understood it from the signs that had been made. After this they
seemed to be discussing the subject of Bob and the ass, for they
looked at him and at the animal from time to time during their
conversation. At length they seemed to have made up their minds
about the subject, for they stopped talking; and motioning Bob to
follow, they walked away, leading the ass with them.

Again a strong impulse rose in Bob's mind to fly; but again
the dread of being shot at prevented him. He therefore followed
as before.

There was in this place a circular sweep of hills enclosing a
valley, through which the brook ran. Crossing this by a bridge,
the road wound along a gentle declivity, and not very far away were
one or two houses. One of these was two stories high, much
dilapidated, and looked as though it might once have been a wind-mill,
or something of that sort. It stood on the edge of the torrent,
and the door-way was towards the road. The other buildin