y at her. Evidently he
was some relative, of whom she stood in awe, for with something
like a gasp she seemed to shrink into herself, and then, gathering
her clothes about her, slunk away through the crowd.

Ludlow had often been at Sorrento before, and saw some familiar
faces among the people. These he accosted, and soon found out what
the trouble was. Although some of these very men had been howling
like maniacs a short time before, yet they now were as quiet, and
gentle, and amiable as lambs. They sneered at the old hag, deplored.
the excitement, and assured him that no harm had been done.

Soon the crowd dispersed, and the landlord, who had been watching
the scene in deep anxiety, came down, opened the doors, and gave
Ludlow and David a most eager, exuberant, and enthusiastic welcome.

CHAPTER XVI.

_More Troubles for poor David.--Onset of four Women.--Seized by an
old Crone and three Peasant Girls.--Fresh Horror of David.--A new
Uproar in the Yard of the Inn.--Uncle Moses bent double._

Ludlow began to talk to the landlord about a conveyance to
Castellamare, and David walked through the house into the yard.
David's only desire now was to hurry on and join his friends as
soon as possible. He had not the remotest idea that they were in
Sorrento, and that the trouble had arisen about them, but fancied
that they were in Castellamare, full of anxiety about him.
Sympathizing with their anxiety, he longed to go to them, so as to
put an end to it; and seeing a carriage in the yard, he naturally
walked in that direction. Reaching, the yard he noticed that the
horses were in it, and that it was a barouche, like the one in
which his party had been travelling. Not for one moment did he
suppose that it was the same one, nor did he notice it very closely;
but giving it a careless glance, he looked around to see those to
whom it belonged.

As David went out into the yard, the driver had just gone into the
barn to tell Uncle Moses and the boys that the trouble was over
and the crowd was dispersing. Their joy may be imagined. They were
just hastening from the barn to return to the hotel, and had just
reached the barn door when David approached.

David was walking along towards the barn, looking around to see
where the people were, when suddenly he heard a wild cry, and saw
a figure rush straight towards him. It was a woman's figure, and
she appeared quite old. Like lightning, the thought flashed through
him that t