The flickering flames lit up the trunks of the trees, making them stand
out like sentinels against the velvet darkness of the woods beyond, and
sending dancing shadows of the bear and the donkeys far across the
murmuring stream. The moon looked down through the tree-tops and the
nightingales sang plaintively in the shadows.

After supper, while Luigi sat smoking his pipe by the fire, Carlotta
threw a heap of straw into one corner of the van, and said to the
children: "Come hither, my poverelli! Here is a soft bed for you! Lie
down and sleep!"

Too tired to do anything else, if, indeed, there had been anything else
in the world for them to do, the children obeyed, and, clasped in each
other's arms, soon fell asleep, worn-out with sorrow and fatigue.

CHAPTER THREE.

IN THE MOUNTAINS.

They were awakened next morning by the chattering of the monkey, and,
looking out from their corner, they could not for a moment remember
where they were, or how they came to be there. The sun was shining
brightly, the birds were singing, and Carlotta was up and stirring
something in a pot over the fire. Luigi had gone with the donkeys to
give them a drink, and Ugolone was standing on his hind legs beside his
tree, grunting impatiently for his breakfast.

Beppina gazed at the strange scene for one blank moment, then, as memory
came back, she buried her head in the straw and sobbed. Beppo tried to
comfort her.

"Don't cry, Beppinella," he whispered. "To-day we shall find some way
of returning to Florence. I feel sure of it! It might be worse.
Pazienza! We must make the best of it."

Just then, Carlotta, hearing the muffled sobs and the murmur of his
voice, appeared at the end of the van.

"Come out, little lost ones," she called to them. "The sun shines, and
we shall have a fine day in the mountains. See, here is Carina waiting
to greet you!" She tossed the monkey toward them as she spoke, and
disappeared around the end of the van. Soon she returned, carrying in
her hand a green blouse and a gay striped skirt.

"Here," she said to Beppina, "I will lend these to you. Then you can
save your pretty clothes so they will be clean to wear when you return
to your Mammina." She spoke so confidently of their return that Beppina
thought perhaps the woman meant to take them back that very day. She
reluctantly put on the queer blouse and the striped skirt, while Beppo
arrayed himself in a pair of velveteen trousers which