commonplace
as the old woman.

He fell again into a deep sleep, and did not wake till it was broad
day. On descending, the people all respectfully bade him good
morning. Breakfast was ready, consisting of black bread, stew,
and some coffee. Outside, the view was superb; the rising sun had
not yet ascended high enough to shine down into the valley, but
the glowing heavens, and the shadows of the mountains, and the
light green of the little space nearest, with the darker green of
the forests that clothed the mountain-sides, all made the spectacle
a memorable one.

Bob's whole state of mind was more healthy, and cheerful, and
hopeful than it had been. Everything appeared bright and favorable.
The old woman, as he looked at her this morning, did not seem to
be at all repulsive. Her face was shrivelled, it is true, and her
eyes were weak; but she looked gentle and mild, and treated him
with very great favor and attention. The slatternly woman did not
seem worse than any other Italian peasant woman. The children were
dirty, no doubt; in fact, very dirty; but then they were brown,
and healthy, and merry, not inclined to mischief, and quite respectful
to him. In short, Bob found himself surveying his situation and
its surroundings with much complacency, and he began to feel that
he had misjudged these people altogether the night before.

But other things were yet in store which were to redeem still more
the character of these people. He was standing outside the house
after breakfast, when, to his surprise, he saw the second "brigand"
approach. He knew that he had not had time to go to Salerno and
return; so he saw that he could not have been to Salerno at all.
He seemed to Bob to be going there now, for he was mounted on a
donkey, and led another by the bridle. The one which he led was no
other than the ass which had carried Bob to this place.

Bob's only thought at seeing this was, that the "brigand" was now
setting forth for Salerno, and was about to take the donkey with
him, either to sell it, or to return it to the owner, and get a
reward. But this idea was not left long in his mind.

The first "brigand" came out, and the two men talked to one another,
after which they turned to Bob, and the first brigand explained to
him that he was to mount the donkey. He pointed to the animal,
smiled, waved his hand towards the road by which Bob had come, and
uttered the word "Salerno."

Bob's heart gave a wild leap; he could sc