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Updated: June 25, 2025
It was hard climbing, and after repeated shouts of "Beppi," she sat down and tried to think. Big drops of rain were beginning to fall, and with the sun out of sight the fall air was damp and cold. She pulled her thin shawl around her shoulders and shivered. "If Garibaldi ran away she came up here; she always does," she argued to herself.
In a sudden frenzy of fear she began running aimlessly up and down the hillside, and looking down into the tall grasses, but there was no sign of Beppi. There were no trees or houses in sight, no place that he could hide behind, nearer than the mountain path at the foot of the valley. Lucia looked about her despairingly, then she went over to the goats. Garibaldi was not there.
Beppi inquired, "Lucia won't, and I don't think you will," he added with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "No, I suppose I won't after that," the Captain replied, laughing, "that is if you will promise to be very good and mind Lucia while I am away." "Away?" Beppi queried, "where are you going?"
Beppi was breathing regularly. "Old sleepy head!" Lucia whispered, and kissed him tenderly. The story was not continued and before many minutes she was fast asleep herself. It was an hour before sunrise when she awoke. The air that found its way into the little attic was damp and chill. Lucia crept out of bed, being very careful not to disturb Beppi, and slipped hurriedly into her clothes.
She ran out of the house and down the road towards the footpath. She had no idea of where she was going, but fear lead her on. Beppi, her adored little brother, and Garibaldi were lost, and she was going to find them. At the end of the road she paused and looked ahead of her. The sky was dark with rain-clouds and thunder rumbled in the west, an echo of the guns.
You won't like it, poor dear, but it's the only way they let goats travel." Garibaldi seemed to understand something of the importance of the occasion, for she walked along beside her little mistress with lowered head. Lucia waited until Nana and Beppi had disappeared through the gate before she started. She knew there was plenty of time and she wanted to be alone.
"Maria, where have you come from?" she called as the older girl threw herself into her out-stretched arms and began to cry. "Oh, from miles and miles away! I have been running since late last night," she sobbed. "But what has happened? Beppi, Nana, are they safe?" Lucia demanded. "Yes, yes, they are all safe with mother," Maria replied. "Then why did you come back?" Lucia persisted.
Lucia nodded soberly. "Not it I can help it, you won't," he added with decision. "You'll never do another stroke of hard work again." "But are there no goats in your garden to milk, and no work to do?" Lucia looked bewildered. "Yes, but there's a lot of people to do it, so many in fact, that all you will have to do is to pick flowers and tell Beppi and me fairy stories. Will you come?" "Oh!"
Rumors of underground tunnels and mines blowing off whole mountain tops, that she had heard from the soldiers, came back to her and left her cold with fear. Beppi had rolled over beside the goat for warmth, and was sleeping soundly. Lucia looked at him and then went once more to the mouth of the cave.
When they reached the cave she pointed to the back wall and said: "Listen there." The soldier was so tall that he had to stoop down before he could enter, but he was very careful to be quiet and not disturb the still sleeping Beppi. He put his ear to the wall and Lucia watched him excitedly. By the expression of his face she knew he was hearing the "rat, tat, tat."
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