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"Ugh!" said Mr Moynham, shuddering; "I certainly have been a Tory throughout all my life, but I should not like to follow Charles the First's example." "I declare it's disgraceful," said Captain Buncombe; "I'll apply to the ambassador. This brigandage is the curse of Greece. I'll " "That won't help us now," said dad.
The leader presently gave an order, and our seniors were then each lifted on to a horse or mule, and tied securely there. "At all events," said Mr Moynham, who kept up his spirits still wonderfully, "we sha'n't fall off, that's one comfort, and so we'll have the less bruises after the scrimmage!"
We had horses, and mules, and donkeys for the journey; that is, dad and the captain rode horses, there were mules for our traps and food, which we had to take along with us, thanks to the hospitality of the regions we were going to, while the donkeys were for Bob and me and Mr Moynham.
The moment dad and Captain Buncombe heard Rollo's howl and our cry, they jumped up again like lightning, and began hitting out right and left at the brigands who now surrounded us; and Mr Moynham was not behind, I can tell you! He butted one big chap right in the pit of the stomach, and sent him tumbling down the defile, his body rattling against the stones, and he swearing like mad all the time.
He had been dragged under water by the boat and almost suffocated before he could get to the surface, being quite exhausted when the dog gripped him. For Rollo had seen him before any of us, and had not waited for our directions as to what to do. "I'm a soldier," he said, proudly tapping his chest, and looking round at dad and the captain, and Mr Moynham.
Rollo was presented with a grand gold collar, which Mr Joe Moynham said was like the one that Malachi, one of the Irish kings, wore in the days of Brian Boru; and, if you please, a lot of little purses, each containing a handsome present, were sent also in the parcel a good big one, you may be sure for distribution amongst the crew.
Ventre a terre!" shouted out the same hoarse voice again, and a volley was fired over our heads. "Pleasant!" said Mr Moynham, throwing himself down with his face to the ground like the cowardly guides. "But I suppose we'd better do as these gentry require, or else they'll be hitting us under the fifth buttonhole; and, what would become of us then?"
"Why have we met with this treatment at your hands?" said papa, puzzled at the Greek's behaviour. "You have nothing to complain of," said Stephanos, with an air of courteous nobility which exasperated the captain to that degree that I saw him clenching and unclenching his fists, and dancing about, as Mr Moynham said afterwards, "like a hen on a hot griddle."
"Quite operatic, and better than old Drury," I heard Mr Moynham say; but we were all too depressed and uncomfortable from our constrained attitudes to feel inclined to appreciate the picturesque, the brigands having taken us off the horses, and flung us down on the ground, having this time bound even Bob and myself; indeed, they treated us with even less attention than they would have bestowed on anything eatable, judging by the care they evinced in their cuisine, although they did not offer us anything either to eat or drink, much to Mr Moynham's great chagrin especially, nor did they give us the slightest covering to protect us from the night air when the waning watch-fires told us that bedtime save the mark had arrived.
"It was all very well to dissemble his love," quoted Mr Moynham; "but, why did he kick us down-stairs?" "The chief! which chief, or thief?" said dad sternly. He did not feel particularly pleased with the Arnauts or their leader. "I've had enough of the scoundrels already, and the sooner I lose sight of them the better! What do you mean by the chief?"
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