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"Of course, darling," Lucia answered for the Captain, "but you must tell Nana where you are going." "No, I will tell you I think," Beppi said gravely. The Captain got up and he walked beside him to the house. There was a chance that the bright sword might be taken from its chamois case, and Beppi never missed a chance of seeing it if he could help it.
At the first streak of light Lucia stole softly away from the sleeping Beppi and Garibaldi, and crept down the tiny path to the plateau below. Once there she was on familiar ground and even in the pale light she could tell her way.
He opened his eyes, and a dazed look came into them, then he said: "Oh, yes, I remember, it began to rain and we were lost, your old crosspatch Garibaldi and I, so I found this nice little place, and I was going to pretend that I was a gypsy brigand, but I fell asleep." Lucia was far too happy to attempt the scolding that she knew Beppi deserved.
As the King passed on his inspection, his little hand went up in a smart salute. His Majesty stopped, smiled, and returned the salute gravely. Beppi waited until he had walked on, then he buried his face in Lucia's skirts, and wept from sheer joy. Lucia's pride knew no bounds.
After a little the blood stopped and Lucia bound up his head in soft white cloths. "Stay by me," Beppi begged, "don't go way downstairs, I am afraid." "Poor angel," Amelie cried, "he won't be left alone; old Amelie will bring up the little sister's dinner and she can eat by his bedside," and she hurried off, crooning to herself as she went to the kitchen below.
"She has strayed away, and Beppi has gone after her," she said aloud in relief, and returned to the cottage. Nana nodded when she explained. She was busy tying up the household treasures in sheets, and Lucia helped her. Every few minutes she would go to the door and call, but Beppi did not reply. The afternoon wore on slowly and a bank of rain clouds hid the sun.
Well, look yonder in that farm wagon." Lucia did not wait to hear more. She darted off and met the wagon before it reached the turn in the road. "Beppi! Nana!" she called. The man who was driving stopped, and Nana slid down from the straw, right into Lucia's waiting arms. She was so glad to see her, that she could only babble foolishly.
We went down a hill and pretty soon we were right by the ocean, and the waves were coming in all frothy white on the blue water, and I took off my shoes and stockings " "Oh, Beppi," Lucia protested. "Yes, I did," Beppi repeated, "I certainly did and we had a fine time, I can tell you, and here comes the exciting part.
But Beppi was not to be seen, nor was Garibaldi. Lucia stopped, discouraged. Fear and helplessness were getting the better of her, and she would most likely have given way to the tears she so despised had her eye not caught sight of a tuft of fur on the ground. She seized upon it eagerly. It was without doubt part of Garibaldi's shaggy coat.
"I suppose I am not to tell Nana that you left the house before sunrise this morning," he said. Lucia looked at him for a brief moment in startled surprise, then she replied quickly, "No, that is not it at all. What harm would it do if you told Nana? I am often up before sunrise." "Yes, but you don't go to the mountains," Beppi interrupted. "Oh, I saw you walking smack into the guns.
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