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remained quite still and waited。 In about an hour I heard distant
voices talking excitedly； and in a few minutes I saw the two girls
bringing up a party of six or seven men； well armed with bows and
arrows and pikes。 There was nothing for it； so I remained sitting
quite still； even after they had seen me； until they came close up。
Then we all had a good look at one another。
Both the girls and the men were very dark in colour； but not more
so than the South Italians or Spaniards。 The men wore no trousers；
but were dressed nearly the same as the Arabs whom I have seen in
Algeria。 They were of the most magnificent presence； being no less
strong and handsome than the women were beautiful； and not only
this； but their expression was courteous and benign。 I think they
would have killed me at once if I had made the slightest show of
violence； but they gave me no impression of their being likely to
hurt me so long as I was quiet。 I am not much given to liking
anybody at first sight； but these people impressed me much more
favourably than I should have thought possible； so that I could not
fear them as I scanned their faces one after another。 They were
all powerful men。 I might have been a match for any one of them
singly； for I have been told that I have more to glory in the flesh
than in any other respect； being over six feet and proportionately
strong； but any two could have soon mastered me； even were I not so
bereft of energy by my recent adventures。 My colour seemed to
surprise them most； for I have light hair； blue eyes； and a fresh
complexion。 They could not understand how these things could be；
my clothes also seemed quite beyond them。 Their eyes kept
wandering all over me； and the more they looked the less they
seemed able to make me out。
At last I raised myself upon my feet； and leaning upon my stick； I
spoke whatever came into my head to the man who seemed foremost
among them。 I spoke in English； though I was very sure that he
would not understand。 I said that I had no idea what country I was
in； that I had stumbled upon it almost by accident； after a series
of hairbreadth escapes； and that I trusted they would not allow any
evil to overtake me now that I was completely at their mercy。 All
this I said quietly and firmly； with hardly any change of
expression。 They could not understand me； but they looked
approvingly to one another； and seemed pleased （so I thought） that
I showed no fear nor acknowledgment of inferioritythe fact being
that I was exhausted beyond the sense of fear。 Then one of them
pointed to the mountain； in the direction of the statues； and made
a grimace in imitation of one of them。 I laughed and shuddered
expressively； whereon they all burst out laughing too； and
chattered hard to one another。 I could make out nothing of what
they said； but I think they thought it rather a good joke that I
had come past the statues。 Then one among them came forward and
motioned me to follow； which I did without hesitation； for I dared
not thwart them； moreover； I liked them well enough； and felt
tolerably sure that they had no intention of hurting me。
In about a quarter of an hour we got to a small Hamlet built on the
side of a hill； with a narrow street and houses huddled up
together。 The roofs were large and overhanging。 Some few windows
were glazed； but not many。 Altogether the village was exceedingly
like one of those that one comes upon in descending the less known
passes over the Alps on to Lombardy。 I will pass over the
excitement which my arrival caused。 Suffice it； that though there
was abundance of curiosity； there was no rudeness。 I was taken to
the principal house； which seemed to belong to the people who had
captured me。 There I was hospitably entertained； and a supper of
milk and goat's flesh with a kind of oatcake was set before me； of
which I ate heartily。 But all the time I was eating I could not
help turning my eyes upon the two beautiful girls whom I had first
seen； and who seemed to consider me as their lawful prizewhich
indeed I was； for I would have gone through fire and water for
either of them。
Then came the inevitable surprise at seeing me smoke； which I will
spare the reader； but I noticed that when they saw me strike a
match； there was a hubbub of excitement which； it struck me； was
not altogether unmixed with disapproval： why； I could not guess。
Then the women retired； and I was left alone with the men； who
tried to talk to me in every conceivable way； but we could come to
no understanding； except that I was quite alone； and had come from
a long way over the mountains。 In the course of time they grew
tired； and I very sleepy。 I made signs as though I would sleep on
the floor in my blankets； but they gave me one of their bunks with
plenty of dried fern and grass； on to which I had no sooner laid
myself than I fell fast asleep； nor did I awake till well into the
following day； when I found myself in the hut with two men keeping
guard over me and an old woman cooking。 When I woke the men seemed
pleased； and spoke to me as though bidding me good morning in a
pleasant tone。
I went out of doors to wash in a creek which ran a few yards from
the house。 My hosts were as engrossed with me as ever； they never
took their eyes off me； following every action that I did； no
matter how trifling； and each looking towards the other for his
opinion at every touch and turn。 They took great interest in my
ablutions； for they seemed to have doubted whether I was in all
respects human like themselves。 They even laid hold of my arms and
overhauled them； and expressed approval when they saw that they
were strong and muscular。 They now examined my legs； and
especially my feet。 When they desisted they nodded approvingly to
each other； and when I had combed and brushed my hair； and
generally made myself as neat and well arranged as circumstances
would allow； I could see that their respect for me increased
greatly； and that they were by no means sure that they had treated
me with sufficient deferencea matter on which I am not competent
to decide。 All I know is that they were very good to me； for which
I thanked them heartily； as it might well have been otherwise。
For my own part； I liked them and admired them； for their quiet
self…possession and dignified ease impressed me pleasurably at
once。 Neither did their manner make me feel as though I were
personally distasteful to themonly that I was a thing utterly new
and unlooked for； which they could not comprehend。 Their type was
more that of the most robust Italians than any other； their manners
also were eminently Italian； in their entire unconsciousness of
self。 Having travelled a good deal in Italy； I was struck with
little gestures of the hand and shoulders； which constantly
reminded me of that country。 My feeling was that my wisest plan
would be to go on as I had begun； and be simply myself for better
or worse； such as I was； and take my chance accordingly。
I thought of these things while they were waiting for me to have
done washing； and on my way back。 Then they gave me breakfasthot
bread and milk； and fried