o, the Pirate of the
Pacific, Lafitte, the Pirate of the Gulf, and Rinaldo Rinaldini.

CHAPTER XIV.

_On the Way to Sorrento again.--A mournful Ride.--A despairing
Search.--A fearful Discovery.--The old Virago again.--In a
Trap.--Sorrento aroused.--Besieged.--All lost.--A raging
Crowd.--The howling Hag.--Hurried Consultation.--The last forlorn
Hope.--Disguise, Flight, and Concealment._

So, as I have said, the carriage rolled out from Castellamare,
along the road to Sorrento, freighted with its anxious load. All
were silent. Uncle Moses was weighed down by an anxiety that was
too deep for words, and sat bent forward with his head buried in
his hands. The boys respected his feelings too much to say anything,
and consequently they, too, sat in silence. They were far from
feeling anything like despair, however, on David's account. Before
they started, Bob had assured them that "Dave" was "all right,"
and would turn up before long somewhere--an assurance which Frank
and Clive accepted as a perfectly sound and reliable statement;
and so, if they were silent, it was not so much the silence of care
or sadness, as of sympathy with Uncle Moses.

As they went along they met people from time to time, some
wayfarers, some in carriages, some in wagons, and some on
horseback. In accordance with the earnest request of Uncle
Moses, the driver questioned all these without exception, and
asked the same question of all.

"Have you seen anything of a boy about fifteen years old--pale,
with dark hair, sallow face, and gray dress?"

And to this question there was one uniform answer from every one,

"No."

And at each fresh answer Uncle Moses would feel more and more
disheartened, and sink into a new abyss of despondency and anxiety.

Far different was this journey to Sorrento from that former one
which they had made a few days before. Then they were all together,
and every one was filled with joy and enthusiasm. Then no one in
that little party was penetrated with a more profound and heartfelt
joy than David, who, in addition to a boy's delight at novelty,
brought forth all that classical glow and fervor which were peculiarly
his own. And now, where was he? The nearer they drew to Sorrento,
the more urgent and pressing did this question become; and as each
one asked it of himself, there was no answer. Gradually the
spectacle of the woe of Uncle Moses began to affect the boys, and
in spite of Bob's confidence they began t