CHAPTER XII

THE JOURNEY CONTINUED

Rico had fallen asleep. He was awakened by the coachman, who wanted to help him from the wagon. Everybody had hurried away except the students, who came to Rico to bid him good luck for the journey and ask him to tell Stineli about them. Then with a merry "good-by" they too departed. Rico could hear them singing Stineli's song as they went.

"If we think not at all, Can we ever be sad?"

The next moment found Rico standing in the darkness, without any idea as to where he was or what he should do. It occurred to him that he had not thanked the coachman for having taken him so far, and he wanted to do so before going away. The man and the horses had disappeared, and it was too dark to see where they were. Soon Rico detected a faint glimmer to his left; this proved to be the light from the lantern in the barn, and he could dimly see the horses being led through the door into the stable. Rico hurried to the place, and finding that the large man who carried the cane was standing in the doorway, apparently waiting for the driver, the boy waited there also.

The sheep buyer could not have noticed Rico at first, for suddenly he exclaimed: "What, you still here, little one? Where are you going to spend the night?"

"I don't know where," answered Rico.

"You don't know where! at eleven o'clock at night--a little one like you! What does this mean?" the man's breath nearly failed him in his astonishment, but he had no chance to finish his exclamation, for the coachman came out just at that moment, and Rico immediately stepped up to him, saying, "I forgot to thank you for bringing me so far, and I wanted to."

"Good that you did!" said the driver. "I was busy with the horses and forgot that I meant to hand you over to a friend." The coachman turned to the other man, saying: "Here, good friend, I intended to ask you if you wouldn't take this child with you down the valley, since you were going that way. He wants to go to Lake Garda, and he seems to be all alone in the world--you know what I mean."

"Stolen, perhaps," said the large man as he cast a pitying glance at Rico. "I have little doubt of his belonging to those who would do well by him if they had him. Of course I will take him with me." He motioned 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 took chairs at a small table in one corner of the room. "Let us count your money," said Rico's new friend. "We can tell then how far it will take you on your journey. Where is it that you wish to go?"

"To Peschiera on Lake Garda," answered Rico. He took all the money from his pockets and piled it on the table, putting the large piece of silver 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 know that of all the listeners he had been the most liberal. It occurred to him to add another coin, but the supper he had ordered came in just then, so he said instead: "Very well, you may keep what you have for to-morrow. I will pay for the supper and lodging to-night."

Rico was so tired that he found it difficult to eat anything. The man noticed this and let him go straight to bed. He had scarcely touched the pillow before he was fast asleep.

Early the following morning Rico was aroused from a sound slumber by his friend, who stood before him, cane in hand, ready for the journey. A few moments later Rico joined him in the breakfast room, where their coffee was awaiting them. The man helped Rico to an abundant breakfast, telling him that they had a long journey before them, so that they must be fortified against hunger on the way. "A part of our trip to-day will be taken on the water, and that always sharpens a person's appetite," said he.

The breakfast over, the travelers started on their way. They walked a short distance and then turned a corner, where Rico caught his breath in surprise, for a beautiful lake lay before them. "Aren't we at Lake Garda?" he asked.

"No, no, we are a long way from it yet," replied his friend. "This is Lake Como, where we take a steamer."

They were soon at the steamship landing, where they entered a small vessel. The sunny shore seemed to speak a welcome to Rico. He and the man had taken chairs at a table. Rico took his largest piece of silver and laid it on the table in front of his friend, who was sitting with his 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 put your money on the table like that. Let me take it and I will settle the bill for you."

He went to the ticket agent, but when he saw how full his own purse was, he could not bear to use the only large piece the child possessed, 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 you now, and there may be no one to look after you when I am gone. Who knows how much you may have occasion to use later! When you get to Peschiera 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 might not go well with the child. He resolved to find out more about the boy on his return trip, thinking that the coachman would be able to tell him, and so he asked Rico no more questions.

When the steamer had landed her passengers, the man said, "We must hurry across to the railway station to catch our train, Rico, and I am going 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 on rapidly. He wished for time to look about him, but he had to wait until they reached the train, which was the first one he had ever seen. He felt very strange in it, even with the man at his side. He was glad that he was near a window, where he could look out, as everything was of interest to him.

After about an hour's ride, Rico's friend said: "We are coming into Bergamo, where I shall have to leave you, Rico. All that you have to do is to sit still until the conductor comes to help you off, and then you will know that you are in Peschiera. He has promised me that he will tell you."

Rico very earnestly thanked his benefactor, and then he and the good man parted, each being sorry to leave the other.

Sitting in the corner of the car, Rico meditated upon all that had come to pass in the last few days of his life. No one in the compartment paid any attention to him, and he was glad to spend his time looking out of the window, thinking of whatever he wished. Three hours had passed before the conductor came to him and took his hand to help him down the steps. Then pointing toward the station he said, "Peschiera." The train started on, and Rico watched it move away until it was lost to view in the distance.