nto the Country.--The Drive.--The glorious Land.--Sorrento
and eternal Summer.--The Cave of Polyphemus.--The Cathedral.--The
mysterious Image.--What is it?--David Relic-hunting.--A Catastrophe.
--Chased by a Virago.--The Town roused.--Besieged.--A desperate
Onset.--Plight.--Last of the Virago._

A few days after the affair related in the last chapter, our party
set out from Naples on an excursion round the environs. With the
assistance of their landlord they were able to get a carriage,
which they hired for the excursion, the driver of which went with
them, and was to pay all their expenses for a certain given sum.
They expected to be gone several days, and to visit many places of
surpassing interest; for Naples is a city whose charms, great as
they are, do not surpass the manifold loveliness with which it is
environed, and the whole party would have been sorry indeed if they
had missed any one of those scenes of enchantment that lay so
invitingly near them.

As they drove along the shore they were all in the highest spirits.
The sky was cloudless, and of that deep blue color which is common
to this climate; and the sun shone with dazzling brightness, being
only warm enough to be pleasant, and not in any way oppressive.
For many miles the way seemed nothing else than a street. Houses
arose on each side; crowds of people, and multitudes of wagons,
and droves of cattle constantly met their eyes. Caleches dashed
about in all directions. The street itself was paved with the
large lava blocks which prevail throughout the city; and in fact
it seemed as though Naples was prolonging itself indefinitely.

At length they emerged from the close-built city, and entered the
country. All the way the scenery was exquisite. On the left extended
green fields, and orchards, and vineyards; spreading away for miles,
they rose up the sides of high mountains. Upon these were small
villas and hamlets, while occasionally a castle perched upon some
inaccessible height threw an air of romantic attraction about the
scene. They passed several villages, and at length reached
Castellamare, a town on the shore of the bay. Passing beyond this,
they found a change in the scenery. The road wound along cliffs
which overhung the sea, and was ornamented by trees. The road itself
was a magnificent one, as smooth as a floor, and by its circuitous
course afforded a perpetual variety. The far white houses of
Naples, the towers that dotted the shore on ev