ted to dally with the dictates of Roderick.

The noble chief Roderick and his imperial queen, Tamora, who seemed to rule
her terrible husband, with one hundred of the most villainous cut-throats
it had ever been my misfortune to behold, gave us a "great send off" from
their inaccessible mountain lair.

Roderick gave William a talismanic ring that shown to any of his brother
robbers on the globe would at once secure safety and hospitality.

Tamora in her sweetest mountain manner gave me a diamond hilted poniard,
and then with a Fra Diavolo chorus, we were waved off down the precipitous
crags with a special guide on the main road leading to imperial Rome.

William and myself drew long breaths after we had passed the Horatio
Bridge, and planted our feet firmly on the Appian Way, leading direct to
the precincts of Saint Peter's, with its lofty dome shining in the morning
sun.

Gentle reader, if you have never been in battle or captured by robbers, you
needn't "hanker" for the experience, but take it as you would your
clothing, "second hand."

At the "Hotel Caesar" we brushed the dust from our anatomy, and ordered
dinner, which was served in fine style by a lineal descendant of the great
Julius, who wore a spreading mustache, a purple smile and an abbreviated
white apron.

In the afternoon we called on Pope Clement, who had heard of our experience
with the robbers, and seemed very much interested in our narration of the
details of our capture and entertainment.

Clement seemed to be a nice, smooth man, setting on a purple chair with a
purple skull cap on his head, and a purple robe on his fat form.

His big toe was presented to us for adoration, but as we did not seem to
"ad," he withdrew his pedal attachment and talked about the "relics" and
the "weather."

We did not purchase any "relics," and as to the Roman "weather," no mortal
who tries it in summer desires a second dose.

There seemed to be a continuous smell of something dead in the atmosphere
of Rome, while the droves of virgins, monks, priests, bishops and cardinals
seemed to be pressing through the streets, night and day, begging, singing,
riding, and like ants, coming and going out of the churches continually.

Selling "relics," psalm singing and preaching was about all the business we
could see in the Imperial City.

It is very funny how a fool habit will cling to the century pismires of
humanity, and actually blind the elements of common sense and