"From Florence," Beppo answered.
The man threw back his head and laughed. "That's a likely story!" he
roared. "From Florence! Ha, Ha! Very good, per Bacco! You are indeed
clever liars! You are a pair of naughty little runaways, that's what
you are, and if I had time I'd take you straight back to Venice now! As
it is, I'll wait until I get my load, and then back you go, and I hope
you'll get a good spanking into the bargain."
The children said nothing. They couldn't; they were crushed. But
during the rest of the journey Beppo thought as he had never thought in
his life before, while Beppina prayed fervently under her breath.
During the weeks that they had been so closely watched by Carlotta,
Beppina had grown almost to read Beppo's thoughts, so when he furtively
took her hand, lifted one eyebrow, and jerked his head in the direction
of Mestre, she knew he meant to try to go forward no matter what
happened.
They were now nearly across the lagoon and approaching the harbour.
Early as it was, the water was already swarming with craft of all
descriptions, for Venice has to get all her supplies from the mainland,
and many boats are required for the traffic. There was consequently a
great deal of shouting back and forth as the men jockeyed for the best
positions at the dock. Their own brown boatman was so busy bawling at
his competitors and shunting about that for a few moments he was unable
to pay any attention to the children. At last, however, he crowded in
between two other boats, and while he was explaining to their owners
that they were the sons of pigs to take up so much room, Beppo seized
his sister by the arm, and the two leaped into the next boat, from that
to a third, and then to the dock; and before their captor realised they
were gone, they were already speeding frantically up the dock.
"Stop them! Stop them!" howled the boatman, climbing out and starting
in pursuit.
Two or three other men joined him, shouting, "Stop! Stop!" too, but
their calls only lent speed to the flying feet of the runaways. They
did not know where they were going, but they ran as rabbits run when the
dogs are after them, and soon found themselves in the streets of the
town. The cries of their pursuers grew fainter, and were lost
altogether as Beppo suddenly dashed into a side street and they doubled
on their tracks.
From a safe hiding-place behind an old building in an alley they caught
a glimpse of their pursuers as they turned back to the boats, talking
volubly and gesticulating like windmills. They were telling the boatman
who had brought the children over what they thought of him for getting
them into such a wild-goose chase. Beppo actually chuckled as he
watched them go, so great was his relief.
"Now, Beppina," he said, almost gayly, "we'll hurry to the other end of
the town as fast as we can go, and get something to eat. I've got ten
soldi in my pocket that I picked up when Luigi wasn't looking, and I'm
as hungry as a bear. They won't follow us any more, but we'll keep out
of sight until the shops are open, anyway."
For an hour or more they wandered quietly about, through the by-ways of
the town, until they found a small bake-shop on an unfrequented street;
and when an old woman appeared and took down the shutters, they went in
and boldly asked for bread and cheese. The woman eyed them with some
curiosity, but asked no questions, and they got out as quickly as
possible and hid behind an empty house on the outskirts of the village
to eat their breakfast.
"I'm sure of one thing," said Beppo, as he munched his bread. "I'm not
going to tell our story to any one after this. People would only think
we were lying. We'll find our own way to the villa, and earn our money
as we go along. Padua is only about thirty miles from here, anyway."
"Oh, Beppo," said Beppina, much impressed, "how did you know that?"
"Geography," said Beppo proudly. "You remember how I knew about Ravenna
and Rimini, and, besides, the other day I asked a tourist to let me see
the map in the guidebook. Padua is almost straight west from here. We
can go away from the sun in the morning and toward it in the afternoon,
and we can't help running into it. We'll dance in the villages as we go
along, and when we get to Padua it will be easy enough to find the
villa."
Beppina had some secret doubts. She remembered how sure Beppo was about
finding his way in Florence, but she didn't say a word. She was willing
to take any risk if only they could keep out of the clutches of
Carlotta.
"Do you suppose they are hunting for us in Venice?" she asked.
"I shouldn't wonder," answered her brother, glancing at the sun. Then
he chuckled, "I'll bet they're mad! I hope they'll never find their old
boats!"
"Let's get away from here as fast as we can," urged Beppina. "They
might follow us, or they might send word to the police."
"That's true," said Beppo. "We can't be too careful."
They had finished their breakfast by this time, and, taking their
direction from the sun, set forth at once toward the west. Soon they
were out among the suburbs. Then they passed stately villas owned by
wealthy Venetians, and beyond that came into open country. It was much
easier walking than it had been in the mountains, for the land was
level, or gently rolling, the villages were near together, and the
highways well travelled. Moreover, they had been hardened to much
walking by their weeks of constant practice, and were able to trot along
the road at a good rate of speed.
At noon they reached a village, and here they decided to replenish their
little hoard of money, so, making their way to the piazza, they
surrounded themselves with a crowd for whom they danced the trescone and
sang themselves hoarse. They were just gathering up the few coins that
were thrown to them, when Beppo saw a policeman approaching, and, not
wishing to take any chances, the two children instantly disappeared like
smoke down a side street, and out into the highway once more.
By supper-time they had covered ten miles, and when night overtook them,
they were in open farming country, surrounded by olive orchards,
vineyards, and cornfields. In a field beside the road they came upon a
straw-stack, and, hiding themselves on the farther side of it, they ate
the bread and ham which they had bought on the way, and then, pulling
the straw down over them for covering, slept peacefully until morning.