We'll be
all right yet."

CHAPTER V.

_They discuss the Situation.--They prepare to foot it.--A toilsome
Walk and a happy Discovery.--The Language of Signs once more.--The
Mountain. Cavalcade.--Bob's Ambition.--Its Results--Bob
vanishes.--Consternation of the Donkey Boy.--Consternation of the
Cavalcade.--E Perduto!_

The mention of brigands produced a startling and powerful effect
upon the whole party, and after Uncle Moses' wail of despair, and
Frank's rebuke, there was silence for a time.

"Well," said David, "I don't know. I don't believe in brigands
altogether. Millions of people come to Italy without seeing anything
of the kind, and why should we? For my part, I still think it very
likely that the driver has driven back to some place on the road
where he can get better entertainment for man and beast than is
offered at Paestum."

"Where could he go?" said Frank. "There isn't any inn for miles."

"O you don't know," said David. "There are some by-roads, I dare
say, that lead to houses on the hills. I dare say he'll soon be
back. From what I've seen of the Italians, I think they'd stand a
great deal before losing any money. The driver would wait till he
got his pay, and then try to take his revenge."

"Well, it may be so," said Frank; "burin any case, it will be best
for us to start off at once. There's no use waiting here any
longer. We can foot it, after all. And we may come to houses, or
we may pick up a wagon, and get a lift."

This was evidently the best thing that could be done, and so they
all at once set off on foot, on their way back to Salerno.

Fortunately for them, they were quite fresh. They had been driving
all the morning; and for two hours they had been strolling up and
down within a small circuit, looking at temples, or sprawling on
the grass. They had eaten a good lunch before leaving the carriage,
and had not had time yet to feel hungry. The weather was mild and
pleasant. The sun shone brightly, without being too hot, and
everything was favorable to a walk. More than all, the road was
very good, and not being much travelled, it was grass-grown to a
great extent, and this grass afforded an easy and agreeable path
for their feet.

They set out in high spirits, walking pretty vigorously, yet not
too rapidly, for they wished to husband their strength, chatting
all the while, and debating the point as to the driver's intentions.
Frank maintained that he had deserted them out of m