CHAPTER XII
THE JOURNEY CONTINUED
Rico had fallen asleep. He was awakened by the coachman, who wanted tohelp him from the wagon. Everybody had hurried away except thestudents, who came to Rico to bid him good luck for the journey andask him to tell Stineli about them. Then with a merry "good-by" theytoo departed. Rico could hear them singing Stineli's song as theywent.
"If we think not at all, Can we ever be sad?"
The next moment found Rico standing in the darkness, without any ideaas to where he was or what he should do. It occurred to him that hehad not thanked the coachman for having taken him so far, and hewanted to do so before going away. The man and the horses haddisappeared, and it was too dark to see where they were. Soon Ricodetected a faint glimmer to his left; this proved to be the light fromthe lantern in the barn, and he could dimly see the horses being ledthrough the door into the stable. Rico hurried to the place, andfinding that the large man who carried the cane was standing in thedoorway, apparently waiting for the driver, the boy waited there also.
The sheep buyer could not have noticed Rico at first, for suddenly heexclaimed: "What, you still here, little one? Where are you going tospend the night?"
"I don't know where," answered Rico.
"You don't know where! at eleven o'clock at night--a little one likeyou! What does this mean?" the man's breath nearly failed him in hisastonishment, but he had no chance to finish his exclamation, for thecoachman came out just at that moment, and Rico immediately stepped upto him, saying, "I forgot to thank you for bringing me so far, and Iwanted to."
"Good that you did!" said the driver. "I was busy with the horses andforgot that I meant to hand you over to a friend." The coachman turnedto the other man, saying: "Here, good friend, I intended to ask you ifyou wouldn't take this child with you down the valley, since you weregoing that way. He wants to go to Lake Garda, and he seems to be allalone in the world--you know what I mean."
"Stolen, perhaps," said the large man as he cast a pitying glance atRico. "I have little doubt of his belonging to those who would do wellby him if they had him. Of course I will take him with me." Hemotioned Rico to follow him as he bade the coachman good night.
A short walk brought them to the door of an inn; they entered and tookchairs at a small table in one corner of the room. "Let us count yourmoney," said Rico's new friend. "We can tell then how far it will takeyou on your journey. Where is it that you wish to go?"
"To Peschiera on Lake Garda," answered Rico. He took all the moneyfrom his pockets and piled it on the table, putting the large piece ofsilver on top.
"Is that large piece the only one you have?" asked the friend.
"The only one. I got it from you," answered Rico.
It pleased the man to have Rico remember this, and he was glad to knowthat of all the listeners he had been the most liberal. It occurred tohim to add another coin, but the supper he had ordered came in justthen, so he said instead: "Very well, you may keep what you have forto-morrow. I will pay for the supper and lodging to-night."
Rico was so tired that he found it difficult to eat anything. The mannoticed this and let him go straight to bed. He had scarcely touchedthe pillow before he was fast asleep.
Early the following morning Rico was aroused from a sound slumber byhis friend, who stood before him, cane in hand, ready for the journey.A few moments later Rico joined him in the breakfast room, wheretheir coffee was awaiting them. The man helped Rico to an abundantbreakfast, telling him that they had a long journey before them, sothat they must be fortified against hunger on the way. "A part of ourtrip to-day will be taken on the water, and that always sharpens aperson's appetite," said he.
The breakfast over, the travelers started on their way. They walked ashort distance and then turned a corner, where Rico caught his breathin surprise, for a beautiful lake lay before them. "Aren't we at LakeGarda?" he asked.
"No, no, we are a long way from it yet," replied his friend. "This isLake Como, where we take a steamer."
They were soon at the steamship landing, where they entered a smallvessel. The sunny shore seemed to speak a welcome to Rico. He and theman had taken chairs at a table. Rico took his largest piece of silverand laid it on the table in front of his friend, who was sitting withhis hands resting on his cane.
"What is that for?" he asked. "Have you too much money to suit you?"
"You told me that I must pay to-day," said Rico.
"It is good of you to remember," said the man, "but you mustn't putyour money on the table like that. Let me take it and I will settlethe bill for you."
He went to the ticket agent, but when he saw how full his own pursewas, he could not bear to use the only large piece the childpossessed, so he gave it back to Rico with his ticket, saying: "There,you had better keep this; you may need it to-morrow. I am with younow, and there may be no one to look after you when I am gone. Whoknows how much you may have occasion to use later! When you get toPeschiera have you some one to whom you can go?"
"I don't know of any one," answered Rico.
The man stifled his surprise, but he had a secret fear that all mightnot go well with the child. He resolved to find out more about the boyon his return trip, thinking that the coachman would be able to tellhim, and so he asked Rico no more questions.
When the steamer had landed her passengers, the man said, "We musthurry across to the railway station to catch our train, Rico, and I amgoing to take you by the hand; then I shall be sure not to lose you."
Rico had all he could do to keep up with the man, who walked onrapidly. He wished for time to look about him, but he had to waituntil they reached the train, which was the first one he had everseen. He felt very strange in it, even with the man at his side. Hewas glad that he was near a window, where he could look out, aseverything was of interest to him.
After about an hour's ride, Rico's friend said: "We are coming intoBergamo, where I shall have to leave you, Rico. All that you have todo is to sit still until the conductor comes to help you off, and thenyou will know that you are in Peschiera. He has promised me that hewill tell you."
Rico very earnestly thanked his benefactor, and then he and the goodman parted, each being sorry to leave the other.
Sitting in the corner of the car, Rico meditated upon all that hadcome to pass in the last few days of his life. No one in thecompartment paid any attention to him, and he was glad to spend histime looking out of the window, thinking of whatever he wished. Threehours had passed before the conductor came to him and took his hand tohelp him down the steps. Then pointing toward the station he said,"Peschiera." The train started on, and Rico watched it move away untilit was lost to view in the distance.