t room between the ends of the poles and the pile of
brushwood for them to walk close behind each other, and as the greater
portion of the weight rested on the other ends of the poles they did not
find the burden a heavy one.

"How are we going to sell these, Paolo?"

"We shall have no difficulty in selling them, master. This frost will
set every housewife on the lookout for wood, and you will find that we
sha'n't have to go far before we are accosted."

It was two miles from the spot where they had bought the faggots to the
gates of Turin.

"I sha'n't be sorry to get rid of this load," Hector said. "It is not
the weight but the roughness of the poles. My hands are quite chafed by
them."

"Loose your hold for a bit, master. My hands have been accustomed to
rough work, and many a load of faggots have I drawn in my time."

"I will hold on, Paolo. It is not more than a quarter of a mile farther.
My hands have done plenty of work, too, but it has been done with smooth
handled weapons. It is well that they should become accustomed to harder
work."

They passed without a question through the gate, and following the
example of other vendors of wood, of whom they saw several, Paolo began
to shout, "Large faggots for sale!"

It was not long before a door opened and a woman beckoned him.

"How much do you want for the whole?"

"A crown and a half," Paolo said.

"I have been offered as many for a crown," the woman replied.

"Then, signora, you did wrong to refuse. It took two days' work to cut
them, and we have dragged them here for miles. Two crowns would not pay
for the labour. Not one scudo would I take under the price that I have
named. Why, if the town is besieged these faggots would be worth twenty
crowns before the winter is over."

"Well, I will give you the money," the woman said. "It is extortionate.
Generally I can buy them at half that price."

"I do not say no to that," Paolo laughed, "but with two armies wanting
firewood and cutting down the copses without even taking trouble to ask
leave of their owners, I think that you will see firewood very scarce in
the city before long."

"Well, carry it in and pile it in the yard."

This was soon done, the poles were thrown on to the top of the heap, and
the boys went off along the street again.

"We have made half a crown for ourselves," Paolo laughed; "now we must
decide how we shall spend it."

"It would be a good plan to spend some money anyhow," Hec