passers-by would approach was more than they could tell.

"Well," said Clive, "we've lost our dinner, and it's my firm belief
that we'll lose our tea, too."

David made no reply.

Clive arose, and walked over to him.

"Dave," said he, "look here. I'm getting desperate. I've a
great mind to go down the ladder as quietly as possible, and
then run for it."

"No, don't--don't," cried David, earnestly.

"Well, I'm not going to stay here and starve to death," said Clive.

"Pooh! don't be impatient," said David. "Of course they'll hunt us
up, and rescue us. Only wait a little longer."

"Well, I don't know. If they don't come soon, I'll certainly
venture down."

After an hour or so, during which no help came, Clive did as he
said, and, in spite of David's remonstrances, ventured down. He
went about half way. Then there was a noise of so peculiar a
character that he suddenly retreated up again, and remarked to
David, who all the time had been watching him in intense anxiety,
and begging him to come back,--

"Well, Dave, perhaps I'd better wait They ought to be here
before long."

So the two prisoners waited.

CHAPTER XXVI.

_Despair of Uncle Moses.--Frank and Bob endeavor to offer
Consolation.--The Search.--The Discovery at the Convent.--The
Guide.--The old House.--The Captives.--The Alarm given.--Flight
of Uncle Moses and his Party.--Albans! to the Rescue!--The Delivering
Host!_

On leaving the convent, Frank and Bob had hurried back to Albano,
where they found dinner ready, and Uncle Moses waiting for them in
anxious impatience. This anxious impatience was not by any means
diminished when he saw only two out of the four coming back to him,
nor was it alleviated one whit when they informed him that David
and Clive had gone to see some subterranean passage, of the nature
or location of which they had but the vaguest possible conception.
His first impulse was to go forth at once in search of them, and
bring them back with him by main force; and it was only with extreme
difficulty that Frank and Bob dissuaded him from this.

"Why, they're perfectly safe--as safe as if they were here," said
Frank. "It isn't possible for anything at all to happen to them.
The convent guide--a monk--is with them, and a very fine fellow he
is, too. He knows all about the country."

"O, yes; but these monks ain't to my taste. I don't like 'em,"
said Uncle Moses.

"It'll take them an hour to get back here from the plac