tated voice, "who
chased me."

"Is it?" said Ludlow, with a smile. "O, well, you've got me with
you now. So be a man.--cheer up, my boy. It's all right."

Saying this, Ludlow again walked forward, this time keeping his
left hand on David's arm. David felt that it was not "all right,"
but he had to follow Ludlow, and so he followed him into the midst
of the crowd. Working their way on through the people, they at last
came near to the door, and found themselves close by the men who
were carrying the beam. They had laid it on the ground, and were
hesitating for a moment. Overhead Ludlow heard the voice of the
landlord pleading with them in piteous tones.

"O, good citizens! O, dear citizens! Don't destroy my furniture!
Don't ruin me! There is a mistake. On my honor, the strangers are
innocent."

At this the old virago howled out some insane maledictions, and
urged the crowd on. Some on the outskirts yelled, and the old hag,
whirling around in the midst of her tirade, found herself face to
face with David. The terrified lad shrank back, and tried to hide
himself; but the old woman recognized him at once, and with a howl
sprang at him.

Ludlow saw the movement.

He put himself in front of David, and, seizing the old woman's arm
in a grasp like a vice, held her back, and asked her sternly, in
Italian,--

"Accursed one! what do you mean?"

"O, citizens of Sorrento!" shrieked the hag. "O, pious citizens!
Help! This is the accursed boy! This is the sacrilegious one! the
blasphemer! the insulter of the Bambino! the--"

"Silence!" roared Ludlow, in a voice of thunder. "Men of Sorrento,
is this the way you treat strangers? Does this mad thing govern
the city?"

"The boy, the boy! the blasphemer! the sacrilegious! the accursed!"
shrieked the hag. And at her yells some of the mob seemed inclined
to respond. They were already ripe for mischief, and when the hag
diverted their attention to David, they felt quite ready to take
him in hand. So now a ring of dark faces was formed around Ludlow,
and the yells of the hag directed them to seize David.

Ludlow pushed the hag from him, drew his revolver from his breast,
and took two strides towards the house, which was close by, dragging
David after him. Then he put his back against the wall, and holding
the revolver in an apparently careless manner, with its muzzle
turned towards the crowd, he once more opened his mouth.

"Men of Sorrento!" said he, "what foolery is this? Th