_Out into 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 every side, the islands
that rose from oat the waters, the glorious bay, the gloomy form
of Vesuvius, with its smoke clouds overhanging, all united to form
a scene which called forth the most unbounded admiration. Besides
all these general features there were others of a more special
character, as from time to time they came to some recess in the
shore; and the road running in brought them to some little hamlet,
which, nestling here, seemed the abode of peace, and innocence,
and happiness. Through such variations of scenery they passed, and
at length arrived at Sorrento.
This little town is most beautifully situated near the month of
the Bay of Naples, and around it arise high, encircling hills
which protect it from the cold blasts of winter and the hot winds
of summer. Sorrento has a perfect climate, All the seasons are
blended together here, and in the orange groves, that surround
the town, there may be seen at the same time the strange spectacle
of trees in blossom side by side with trees that are loaded with
fruit fully ripe.
It was evening when they arrived, and they had not much time to
spare; so they at once procured a guide from the hotel, and set
forth to see what they could before dark. First, the guide took
them to a deep chasm, which was so wild and abrupt, so deep and
gloomy, that it looked like the work of a recent earthquake. Not
far from this were some ancient reservoirs, the work of the times
of imperial Rome. The arches were yet perfect, and over the reservoir
was a garden of orange trees. Not far distant was a ruined temple,
in the enclosure of which was a myrtle plant, five hundred years
old, and so large that it formed a respectable tree.
After showing them these things and several others, the guide took
them to the sea-shore, to a place which goes by the name of the
Cave of Polyphemus. This is a large cavern in the cliff, in front
of which is a huge fragment of rock. Here the boys recalled the
story of Ulysses; and David volunteered to give it in full to Uncle
Moses. So David told how Ulysses ventured to this place with his
companions; how the one-eyed Cyclops caught them; how he imprisoned
them in the cabin, shutting up its mouth by means of a huge rock,
which David thought might have been that very fragment that now
lay on the shore before their eyes; how the monster began to devour
them; how Ulysses devised a plan of escape, and succeeded in putting
out the eye of the monster; how he then effected his escape from
the cave, and regaining his vessel, put forth to sea.
Then they went to visit the house in which Tasso was born. They
were not able to enter it, and as it was now dark, they retreated
to their hotel.
Oh the following morning they all set oat without the guide, to
see the town for themselves. A festival of some kind was going on,
which attracted many people, and the cathedral was filled. The
boys, haying nothing else to do, wandered away towards the common
centre of attraction. They soon lost one another in the crowd, and
one by one they worked their way into the interior of the place.
The organ was sounding forth, the priests were intoning service,
on the altar candles were burning, and far on high, through the
lofty vaulted nave, there rolled "the smoke of incense and the wail
of song!"
David found himself a little distance away from a side chapel,
which was evidently the chief attraction to the worshippers within
the sacred edifice. A dense crowd assembled about it, and in front
of it. Through these David managed to make his way, full of curiosity
about the cause of their interest. He at length forced himself far
enough forward to see inside the chapel. He saw a structure, in
the centre of the chapel, covered with drapery, upon which was a
cushion. Lying on this cushion was the image of a child, clothed
in rich attire, and spangled with jewels, and adorned with gold
and silver. Whether it was made of wood or wax he could not tell,
but thought it was the former. The sight of it only tempted his
curiosity the more, and he longed to look at it more closely. It
was evidently considered by the surrounding crowd to be an object
of great sanctity, for they regarded it with the utmost reverence,
and those nearest were on their knees. Upon the altar, at the end
of this chapel, lights were burning, and a priest was engaged in
religious ceremonies.
David's desire to go closer was so strong, that he waited patiently
in this one spot for the opportunity of gratifying his curiosity.
He had to wait for a long time; but at length he had the satisfaction
of seeing a movement among the people, which showed that they were
on the point of dispersing. After this the crowd lessened, and
the people began to take their departure. At length but a few
remained, some of whom were still on their knees around the image.
David now, in a slow and unassuming manner, advanced towards the
image. He could go close to it, and was able to see it perfectly.
An iron rail surrounded the structure on which it was laid, preventing
too close an approach; but standing here, outside of the rail,
David saw that the image was very rudely carved out of wood, and
was intended to represent a child. Why such an image should be the
object of such interest and devotion he could not for the life of
him imagine. He could only postpone any investigation into this
until he could find out from some one.
And now there came over him an overwhelming desire to obtain a
fragment from some portion of this image, or, its dress, or its
surroundings, to serve as a relic. His relic-hunting propensities
had never been stronger than they were at this moment, and no sooner
did the idea suggest itself than he looked all around to see what
were the chances.
As he looked around he saw that the cathedral was nearly empty: a
priest was near the high altar, two boys were in the middle of the
nave, by the chief entrance was a little group just preparing to
leave. Nearer him, and close by the image, were two women. They
were on their knees, and appeared to be absorbed in their devotions.
It seemed to David that it would be quite easy to possess himself
of some small and unimportant portion of the drapery. He was quite
unobserved, for the two women who were nearest were not regarding
him, the drapery was within easy reach, and a row of tassels, upon
which he could lay his hand, offered an irresistible temptation.
If he could but get one of those tassels, what an addition it would
be to his little stock of treasures!
David once more looked all around. The priests were still at the
altar; but the boys had gone from the nave, and those who had been
near the door had departed. The women seemed as intent as ever upon
their devotions. David looked at the drapery once more, and upon
one of the tassels which was nearest him.
Once more he looked all around, and then, stretching forward his
hand, he touched the coveted tassel.
Then he drew back his hand, and putting it in his pocket, he drew
forth his knife, which he opened.
Then he looked around once more.
Then, for the last time, he put his hand forward, holding the knife
so as to cut the tassel. But the cord which bound the tassel to
the drapery was strong, and the knife was very dull, and David
found that it was not so easy as he had supposed. But he was
determined to get it, and so he sawed away, with his dull old knife,
at the cord, severing one by one the filaments that composed it,
but doing this so slowly that he began to grow impatient. The
women were not looking. There was no danger. To work with one hand
was useless, and so he reached forth both hands, and began sawing
away more vigorously than ever. But his impatience, and his vehement
pulls and tugs, produced an effect which he had not expected. The
heavy drapery, which had been loosely thrown over, began to slide
off towards him as he pulled. David did not notice this, but
continued his work, looking around to see whether the women were
noticing him or not. At length he had sawed the cord almost through,
and gave a quick pull at it to break it.
The next moment the heavy drapery came sliding down towards him,
and, to his horror, the wooden image came with it, falling with a
crash on the marble pavement.
In an instant the two women started to their feet, staring with
wild eyes at the image and the drapery. Then their wild eyes caught
sight of David, whose frightened face would have revealed him as
the guilty cause of this catastrophe, even if it had not been shown
by the tassel and the knife, which were in his hands.
With a sharp, shrill scream, one of the women sprang towards him.
David instinctively leaped back, and eluded her. The woman chased.
David dodged her around a pillar.
The woman followed.
David dodged behind another pillar.
The woman cried out, "_O Scellerato! Birbone! Furbo! Ladrone!_"
And though David's knowledge of the Italian language was but slight,
yet it sufficed to show him that these names which she yelled after
him had a very direful signification.
Thus David fled, dodging, the woman behind pillar after pillar,
until at length he came near to the door. Had the other woman taken
part in the chase, David would certainly have been captured. But
the other woman did not. She stood as if petrified--motionless and
mute, staring at the fallen sanctuary, and overwhelmed with horror.
So the flight went on, until at length, reaching the door, David
made a rush for it, dashed through, and ran as fast as his legs
could carry him. The woman followed, but at a slower rate of speed,
and saw him go into the hotel. Then she returned to the church,
after which she went abroad with the story of the horrible desecration
through all Sorrento.
On reaching the hotel, David found the rest of the party there, at
dinner. He said nothing of his recent adventure, but took his seat
at the table.
Before long, the party became conscious of a great tumult and uproar
in the street in front of the house. Frank and Bob went to the
windows, and looked out. A sudden exclamation of surprise brought
Clive and Uncle Moses to their side. David followed slowly, with
a strange feeling of apprehension, and with the recollection of
his late flight still strong in his mind.
He looked out.
A great crowd presented itself to his horrified eyes--a crowd
representing all Sorrento; old, the middle-aged, the young; the
rich, poor; male and female; old men, old women, boys, and
children. At the head of this, and immediately in front of the
door, was the very old woman who bad discovered his sacrilege,
and had chased him through the cathedral. Now he had hoped that
the old woman had forgotten him; but her appearance now was
tenfold more terrible than ever. Here she was--a virago--with a
great following, whom she was exciting by violent harangues, and
urging by wild gesticulations, to do something or other which
David could not understand, but which he could well imagine to
be something that had reference to his own humble, unworthy, and
very much terrified self.
Before they had fairly grasped the whole of the scene that was thus
so suddenly presented, they were accosted by the landlord and the
driver, who entered the room hurriedly, and in some excitement, in
search of them.
"One grand meesfortune haf arrive," said the landlord. "De people
declare you haf insult de Bambino. Dey cry for vengeance. How is dis?"
"What?" asked Frank; "insult what?"
"De Bambino."
"Bambino?"
"Yes. It is de consecrate image--de Bambino--does miracles, makes
cures; wonderful image, de pride of Sorrento; an dis is de day
sacred to him. What is dis meesfortune dat I hear of? It is one
grand calamity--for you--eef you do not take care."
"Bambino? insult?" said Frank. "We haven't insulted anything
whatever. They're crazy."
Here David, finding concealment useless, confessed all. The boys
listened in astonishment The landlord shook his head with an
expression of concern and perplexity.
Then he had a long conversation with the driver.
Then they both left the room. The landlord went outside, and tried
to appease the crowd. He might possibly, have succeeded, had it
not been for David's old woman, who shook her fists in his face,
stamped, appealed to Heaven, raved, and howled, all the time he
was speaking. The consequence was, that the landlord's words had
no effect.
He then entered the hotel once more, and after seeing the driver,
and speaking a few words, he hurried up to our party, who by this
time were in a state of general alarm.
"You must run--fly--leaf Sorrento--now--widout delay," he
cried, breathlessly. "I haf order de carriage. I sall tell de
people dat you sall be arrest, an pacify dem for a few moments,
till you get start."
The landlord once more left them, and going out to the crowd, he
made a few remarks, to the effect that the hotel was being searched
now for the offender against the Bambino, and when he was found he
would at once be handed over to the authorities. He urged them to
wait patiently, and they should see that justice would be done.
The crowd now grew calmer, and waited. The landlord then went back,
and led the party down to the court-yard. Here the carriage was
all in readiness, and the driver was waiting. They all got in at
once, unseen by the crowd in the street; and then, cracking his
whip, the driver urged the horses off at full speed through the
gates. The crowd fell back on either side, so as to make away, and
were not in a position to offer any obstacles to so sudden an onset.
They also had the idea that the culprit was inside the hotel, in
the hands of the authorities.
But the old woman was not to be deceived; she saw it all in a
moment, and in a moment she raised the alarm. Having, howling,
gesticulating wildly, dancing, and jumping, she sprang after the
carriage. The crowd followed. But the carriage had already got a
good start; it had burst through the people, and those who stood
in the way were only too glad to get out of it, and thus, with the
horses at full speed, they dashed up the street; and before long
they had left Sorrento, and the hotel, and the insulted Bambino,
and the excited crowd, and the raving old beldam far behind.
David's adventure in Sorrento had been a peculiar one, and one,
too, which was not without danger; but if there was any satisfaction
to be got out of it, it was in the fact that the tassel which he
had acquired, remained still in his possession, to be added to his
little stock of relics.