oyer.

How the pallid victims, imprisoned in the topmost tower, gazed with
staring eyes upon the mighty delivering host, and shouted out
blessings upon their heads.

How the sight of the pallid victims cheered the bold deliverers,
and drew them nearer to the lair of the monster.

And so forth.

Very well.

To resume.

Stationed at the window, David and Clive saw their friends vanish
in the direction of Albano, and knew that they had gone for help.
This thought so cheered them, that in spite of a somewhat protracted
absence, they bore up well, and diversified the time between
watchings at the window, and listenings at the head of the ladder.
From the window nothing was visible for a long time; but from the
head of the ladder there came up at intervals such sounds as
indicated that the fierce wild boar was still as restless, as
ruthless, as hungry, and as vigilant as ever.

Then came up to their listening ears the same sounds already
described, together with hoarser tones of a more pronouncedly
grunting description, which showed more truly that the beast was
in very truth a wild boar. But Clive did not venture down again,
nor did he even mention the subject. His former attempt had been
most satisfactory, since it satisfied him that no other attempt
could be thought of. In spite of this, however, both the boys had
risen to a more cheerful frame of mind. Their future began to look
brighter, and the prospect of a rescue served to put them both.
into comparative good humor, the only drawback to which was their
now ravenous hunger.

At length the army of their deliverers appeared, and David, who
was watching at the window, shouted to Clive, who was listening at
the opening, whereupon the latter rushed to the other window.

The delivering host drew nigh, and then at a respectable distance
halted and surveyed the scene of action.

Frank and Bob came on, however, without stopping, followed by Uncle
Moses, after whom came the guide. Frank with his old fowling-piece,
Bob with a pitchfork, Uncle Moses with a scythe, and the guide with
a rope. What each one proposed to do was doubtful; but our travellers
had never been strong on weapons of war, and the generous Alban
people seemed to be in the same situation.

As Frank and his companions moved nearer, the rest of the multitude
took courage and followed, though in an irregular fashion.

Soon Frank came near enough to speak.

"Is he there yet?" was his first remark.