quent proceedings without a word.

The guide now took the bundle which he had formed out of the
handkerchiefs of the population of Albano, and holding it under
his left arm, he drew forth some matches, and breaking off one, he
struck it against the sole of his boot. It kindled. Thereupon he
held the Same to the bundle of handkerchiefs. The flame caught.
The bundle blazed. The guide held it for some time till the blaze
caught at one after another of the projecting ends of the rolled-up
handkerchiefs, and the flame had eaten its way into the mass, and
then venturing nearer to the doorway, he advanced, keeping a little
on one side, and watching for an opportunity to throw it in. Frank
followed with his rusty gun, Bob with his pitchfork, and Uncle
Moses with his scythe. All were ready, either for attack or defence,
and all the while the bellowing of the crowd behind the house went
on uninterruptedly.

The guide reached at length a point about ten feet from the door.
Then he poised himself and took aim. Then he threw the burning ball.

But his aim was bad. The ball struck the side of the doorway, and
fell outside. In an instant Frank rushed forward, and seizing it,
threw it inside. It fell on the floor, and rolled towards the foot
of the ladder, where it lay blazing, and smouldering, and sending
forth smoke enough to satisfy the most exacting mind.

Then Frank drew back a little, poising his gun, while Bob, Uncle
Moses, and the guide, took up their stations beside him.

The smoke rose up bravely from the burning mass; but after all,
the result was not what had been desired. It rolled up through the
opening above, and gathered in blue masses in the room where Clive
and David were imprisoned. They felt the effects of the pungent
vapors very quickly, more especially in their eyes, which stung,
and smarted and emitted torrents of tears. Their only refuge from
this new evil was to thrust their heads as far out of the windows
as was possible; and this they did by sitting on the window ledge,
clinging to the wall, and projecting their bodies far forward
outside of the house. For a time they were sustained by the hope
that their enemy below was feeling it worse than they were, and
that he would soon relax his vigilant watch and fly. But alas!
that enemy showed no signs of flight, and it soon became evident
to them and to those outside, that all the smoke went to the upper
room, to oppress the prisoners, and but little spread t