true than mine, Easy; but still I
think we need not fear that. At the same time, we had better not remain
here any longer; and it occurs to me, that if we tore our clothes more,
it would be advisable--we shall, in the first place, look more wretched;
and, in the next place, can replace them with the dress of the country,
and so travel without exciting suspicion. You know that I can speak
Italian pretty well."

"I have no objection to tear my clothes if you wish," replied Jack; "at
the same time give me your pistol; I will draw the charges and load them
again. They must be wet."

Having reloaded the pistols and rent their garments, the two midshipmen
stood up in the cart and looked about them.

"Halloo!--why, how's this, Gascoigne? last night we were close to the
beach, and among houses, and now--where the devil are we? You dreamt
nearer the mark than I did, for the cart has certainly taken a cruise."

"We must have slept like midshipmen, then," replied Gascoigne: "surely
it cannot have gone far."

"Here we are, surrounded by hills on every side, for at least a couple
of miles. Surely some good genius has transported us into the interior,
that we might escape from the relatives of the crew whom I dreamt
about," said Jack, looking at Gascoigne.

As it afterwards was known to them, the speronare had sailed from the
very seaport in which they had arrived that night, and where they had
got into the cart. The wreck of the speronare had been found, and had
been recognised, and it was considered by the inhabitants that the
padrone and his crew had perished in the gale. Had they found our two
midshipmen and questioned them, it is not improbable that suspicion
might have been excited, and the results have been such as our hero had
conjured up in his dream. But, as we said before, there is a peculiar
providence for midshipmen.

On a minute survey, they found that they were in an open space which,
apparently, had been used for thrashing and winnowing maize, and that
the cart was standing under a clump of trees in the shade.

"There ought to be a house hereabouts," said Gascoigne; "I should think
that behind the trees we shall find one. Come, Jack, you are as hungry
as I am, I'll answer for it; we must look out for a breakfast
somewhere."

"If they won't give us something to eat, or sell it," replied Jack, who
was ravenous, clutching his pistol, "I shall take it--I consider it no
robbery. The fruits of the eart