"

Then the brigand raised his gun, and nodded at David. Then he
slapped the stock of it several times, fixing his keen, glowing
eyes gloomily upon the lad as he did so. Then he waved his hand
towards the sky.

By which David understood the following:--

"You're my prisoner! You cannot escape! If you dare try it, I will
shoot you! You can no more escape than you can fly in the air!"

Then the brigand pointed to the boat, and touched his breast.

By which David understood,--

"This boat is mine, and I will keep it as my lawful prize."

Then he waved his hand to the house, and then pointed to Naples.
After which he brought forth a purse from his pocket, tapped it
significantly, pointed to David, and then to Naples.

By which David understood,--

"I will keep you as a prisoner up there in my house till I communicate
with your friends about your ransom, and find out how much I can
get for you."

After this the brigand pulled the boat farther up on the beach,
and then, beckoning to David to follow, he strode off towards
the house.

Slowly and sadly poor David followed; and hope, which had for a
moment revived, began to die out within him. He had been deceived
by the demeanor of the brigand, during his own description of his
woes and wandering, and had mistaken for compassion what was only
ordinary attention. The manner of the brigand, when he had began
to gesticulate, changed hope to fear, and fear to despair. The
merciless allusion to David's captive state; the rude appropriation
of him as a prisoner by the grasp of his head; the ferocious threat
with the gun; and, finally, the display of the purse, and the coarse
reference to money and ransom, all convinced David that he had to
do with one who was a stranger to compassion--a ferocious and
ruthless nature, without pity, and without remorse. And now, as
his captor led the way to the house, he felt that he was being
conveyed to a prison, from which his escape was, indeed, uncertain;
for, though he knew that Uncle Moses would pay any ransom, yet he
could not know whether the brigand would ever be able to communicate
with him or not. On the whole, it was the darkest hour of his life;
and the stride of the ruffian in front of him seemed like the march
of inevitable Fate!

They climbed up the bank, and then went through the grove. Emerging
into the field, they walked on towards the house. As they drew
nearer, David saw signs that were not altogether in keeping wi