ed it, told it so often to parties of tourists, that he
at length grew to believe every word of it himself; and the fact
that he had been an actor in that scene never failed to make his
story quite credible to his hearers.

At this time, however, he had not advanced so far, and he was able
to tell the actual facts of the case to the boys and Uncle Moses.

They were these:--

At the convent they kept a number of pigs, and on the previous
day, early in the morning, they had missed the very animal which
had created this extraordinary scene. He had escaped in some way
from his pen, and had fled for parts unknown. They had searched
for him, but in vain. He must have wandered to this old house at
the first, and taken up his quarters here until he was so rudely
driven out from them. The guide could only hope that the little
black pig would learn a lesson from this of the evils of running
away from home.

To all this the boys listened without any interest whatever, and
did not condescend to make any remarks. The guide himself became
singularly uninteresting in their eyes, and they got rid of him as
soon as possible, paying him liberally, however for the additional
trouble to which they had put him. Uncle Moses also had some words
of remonstrance, mingled with congratulation, to offer to David
and Clive; but these also were heard in silence. They might have
found ample excuse for their delay in this ruined house; but they
did not feel inclined to offer any excuses whatever.

The fact is, this reduction of the great wild boar to the very
insignificant proportions of a little black pig--commonplace,
paltry, and altogether contemptible--was too much for their
sensitive natures. It had placed them all in a false position.
They were not cowards, but they had all been alarmed by the most
despicable of animals. Frank felt profoundly humiliated, and
reflected, with a blush, upon the absurd figure that he had made
of himself in hesitating so long before such an enemy, and then
advancing upon it in such a way. Bob's feelings were very similar.
But it was for David and Clive that the deepest mortification
was reserved. They had been the cause of it all. It was their
vivid imaginations which had conjured up out of nothing a terrible
wild beast, which had kept them prisoners there for hours in
loneliness and hunger, and which had thrown ridicule upon the
population of Albano, by drawing them forth to do battle with
one poor little ha