by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XVIII.
CAPUA.
Garibaldi had been remaining quietly at Caserta when, on the 24th, hereceived a message from Cialdini inviting him to cross the river and bein readiness to co-operate in a general action, which might possibly bebrought on the next day. A bridge had to be thrown over the Volturno,but at five the following morning he crossed with five thousand men. Hefound that a strong Neapolitan force had fallen back, in the directionof Gaeta, on the previous evening. Missori was sent on with the guidesto reconnoitre, and at Teano found the escort of the Neapolitan general,who had gone on to hold a conference with Cialdini. At five in theevening Garibaldi advanced eight miles farther in that direction, andbivouacked in the open air for the night. Scarcely had he resumed hismarch, at daybreak the next morning, when he met the advance-guard ofthe Piedmontese. The force marched off the road and encamped whileGaribaldi and his staff rode on to meet the king and his general.
The latter was first encountered, and the heartiest greeting wasexchanged between him and Garibaldi, for they were old friends. Theythen rode together to meet Victor Emmanuel, whose greeting withGaribaldi was extremely cordial. They rode together till the afternoon;Garibaldi went with his column to Calvi, and on the 28th retired toCaserta. On the news reaching Naples, Frank, who by this time had almostrecovered, drove to Santa Lucia. The Piedmontese and Garibaldians hadnow taken up their position on the south side of Capua, the formeroccupying their old positions at Santa Maria and Sant'Angelo, while thePiedmontese occupied the ground between the former town and La Forresta;the Piedmontese general, Delia Rocca, being in command of the whole. Thetroops were at once set to work to construct batteries, and a strongchain of outposts was pushed forward to within five hundred yards of thefortifications, to check the frequent sorties made by the Neapolitans.The latter were still resolute, and several fierce fights took place. Atfour o'clock in the afternoon of November 1st the batteries opened fire,and the guns of the fortress replied vigorously, the bombardment beingmaintained until dark. Preparations were made for an assault on thefollowing morning. In the evening, however, the Swiss general, DuCornet, sent in to capitulate, and his surrender was accepted on thecondition that he and his garrison should be allowed to march out withthe honours of war. Frank and the professor had driven early thatmorning from Santa Lucia, and had taken up their post high up on MountTifata, whence they could obtain a view of the city and surroundingcountry.
They drove back when the bombardment ceased. Early the next morning theyset out again, and, meeting an officer, were informed that Capua hadsurrendered. Signor Forli had two days previously gone down to Casertaand seen Garibaldi, and had asked him to give Frank a letter ofintroduction to General Cialdini, requesting him to allow him to enterwith the first party to search the prisons of Capua.
"That I will do right willingly," Garibaldi said. "Indeed, as I rodewith him two days ago, we naturally talked over the past; and Imentioned to him that I in no small degree owed the success of myexpedition to the large sum of money sent to me by Madame Percival, thewife of the gentleman whose murder by brigands had created so much stirtwo and a half years ago. He remembered the circumstances perfectly; andI told him that her son had accompanied me throughout, and had greatlydistinguished himself, even among the gallant men who accompanied me. Imentioned to him that he had still hopes that his father had not beenmurdered, and might be found in a Neapolitan prison, and gave him hisreason for hoping that he might yet be found in Capua. I need not,therefore, write a long letter."
The general at once sat down and wrote a note to Cialdini, introducingFrank to him, and asking that he might be nominated to accompany theofficer charged with the duty of examining the prisons of Capua. Assoon, therefore, as they learned that the garrison had capitulated,Signor Forli and Frank drove to La Fortuna, where Cialdini'sheadquarters were. Frank sent in his card and Garibaldi's letter, andafter waiting a few minutes was shown into his room.
"I am glad to see you, Captain Percival," the governor said warmly."Garibaldi was speaking to me of you in the highest terms, andinterested me much in the quest you are making for your father. A partyof our troops will enter the town to take possession of the magazines,and see that order is maintained until the evacuation of the town by thegarrison, which will indeed commence this afternoon. I shall myself beentering in a couple of hours' time; and the best way will be for you toride in with me. I will provide you with a horse; and it will save timeand relieve you of your anxiety if I send an officer with you to theprisons, ordering that you shall at once have every facility given youfor ascertaining whether your father is among those confined there."
"I thank you greatly, general," Frank said. "I will not trouble youabout the horse, but will, with your permission, drive in in thecarriage I have outside. My mother's father, whom I found in prison atReggio, is with me; and should I be happy enough to find my father, wecan then take him away at once."
"Very well, we will arrange it so. Colonel Pasta, please write out anorder to the governor of the state prisons in Capua to offer everyfacility to Captain Percival to visit the jails and inspect theprisoners, with power to liberate his father at once should he find himthere. It will save trouble altogether if, when we enter the town, youat once ride with his carriage to the prisons, and see that this orderis complied with. You will also, before you set out, give orders to theofficer commanding the escort to allow the carriage to follow him.
"I heartily wish you success in your search," he said, turning to Frank,and again shook him warmly by the hand.
Signor Forli was much pleased when Frank told him the result of hisinterview. "However, my dear Frank," he said, "I pray you not to allowyourself to be buoyed up with any strong hope: if you do you may only bebitterly disappointed. You must remember, too, that even should we notfind him here, we may discover him at Gaeta."
"I will try not to let myself hope too much," Frank replied; "but at thesame time I own that the description you obtained of one of theprisoners sent on here from Naples has given me a strong hope that it ismy father. Should it not be so, I will not despair altogether, but willlook forward to the search at Gaeta. If that does not succeed I fearthat it will be no good to hope any longer, for all the prisons south ofNaples have been opened long before now, and had my father been confinedin one of them, I feel sure that, if able, he would at once have madehis way to Naples to see Garibaldi, and obtain from him funds to enablehim to return home."
Leaving the carriage, they endeavoured to obtain some food, for they hadonly taken some coffee and milk and a piece of bread before starting.They found it, however, almost impossible to do so--everything in theplace had been eaten up; but after some search they succeeded in gettinga bottle of wine and a small piece of bread at one of the cafes. Havingtaken this, they went back to the carriage, and sat there until they sawthe general and his staff come out from headquarters and mount. Just asthey were starting, an officer rode up to the carriage.
"I have orders, sir, to permit you to follow in rear of the escort, andto enter the city with them. Will you please drive on at once?"
An hour later they entered Capua. Shortly before an Italian brigade hadmarched in, placed guards at the gates and all the public buildings, andrelieved the Neapolitan sentries on the ramparts. Cialdini dismounted atthe palace of the governor, and ten minutes later Colonel Pasto rode upto the carriage. He was accompanied by a gentleman on foot, whointroduced himself to Signor Forli as a member of the Municipal body,and, taking a seat, directed the driver to the state prison, ColonelPasto riding by the side of the carriage. When they arrived at the gate,where two of the bersaglieri were on guard, they alighted, and ColonelPasto knocked at the gate, which was at once opened.
"I wish to see the governor of the jail," he said.
The warder at once led the way to the governor's residence, followed bythe colonel, Frank, and Signor Forli. The governor bowed, with evidenttrouble in his face, as they entered.
"This officer," the colonel said, "is the bearer of
an order fromGeneral Cialdini, to search the prison thoroughly for the person ofCaptain Percival, a British subject, believed to be confined here, andto free him at once if he is so. I also require a full list of allprisoners confined here, with a statement of the charges on which theyhave been imprisoned. To-morrow the place will be searched from top tobottom, and all prisoners--I believe that no criminals are confinedhere--will be released."
"I have no such person as Captain Percival here," the official saidhumbly.
"Not under that name, perhaps," Frank said. "I demand, sir, in the firstplace, to see the four prisoners who were brought here from Naples onthe 5th or 6th of September. If Captain Percival is not one of the four,though I am convinced that he is so, I will postpone a general searchuntil I make it with the Royal officials to-morrow."
The governor looked somewhat surprised at the knowledge possessed by theyoung officer; however, he only said, "I will take you to them at once,sir; they are together, and, as you will see, comfortably lodged."
"I can believe that they are so at present," Frank said sternly, "andhave been, perhaps, for the past twenty-four hours"; for he felt surethat as soon as it was known that the general was about to capitulate,all the prisoners from the lower dungeons would be hastily removed tobetter quarters.
"I will accompany you so far, Captain Percival," Colonel Pasto said,"in order that I may inform General Cialdini if you have met withsuccess in your search."
Led by the governor, they left the apartment, entered the prison itself,and followed him down several corridors. One of the warders, by hisorders, followed him with a bunch of keys. Frank was very pale, his facewas set, and he was evidently trying to nerve himself to beardisappointment. Signor Forli walked with his hand on his shoulder, as ifto assure him of his sympathy, and to aid him to support joy ordisappointment. Colonel Pasto, deeply interested in the drama, walked apace or two behind them. At last the turnkey stopped before a door,inserted a key in the lock, and opened it. The governor entered, withthe words, "These are the four prisoners, sir."
Frank paused for a moment, took a long breath, and then entered. Threemen were lying on pallet-beds; the fourth, who had been seated, rose asthey entered. It was on him that Frank's eyes first fell, and thenpaused in doubt: the man's hair was long and streaked with grey, he worelong whiskers, beard and moustache, his face was very white and hisfigure somewhat bent. He was very thin, and his eyes seemed unnaturallylarge in the drawn, haggard face. As his eyes fell upon the uniforms ofthe Piedmontese and Garibaldian officers, he held out his arms and criedhoarsely: "I was right, then; we heard the firing yesterday, and knewthat the town was attacked, and when we were taken from our fouldungeons and brought up here, I felt sure that deliverance was at hand.Ah, Forli," he broke off, as his eyes fell on the professor, "this isall that was wanted to complete my joy. You too are rescued!" andbursting into tears he sank back upon his pallet and covered his facewith his thin hands.
"HE WENT UP TO PERCIVAL AND PUT HIS HAND ON HISSHOULDER"]
The professor laid his hand on Frank's shoulder, as the latter was aboutto dart forward.
"Stay a minute or two, lad," he whispered--"it may be too much for him,"and he went up to Percival and put his hand on his shoulder. "It is ajoyful occasion indeed, Leonard," he said. "You are free. Save for thePapal States and Venice, all Italy is free. I have other good news foryou. Muriel, your boy and my wife are all well, and will soon be able torejoin you."
"A minute, Forli--give me a minute," Captain Percival said, in a lowvoice. "I should not have broken down thus. It is almost too much,coming all at once, after so long a time of waiting."
Two of the other prisoners had half risen at Signor Forli's words; theother was too weak to do more than turn his face towards them.
"The news is true, gentlemen," Colonel Pasto said. "To-morrow, you andall within this prison will be free men. Capua has surrendered, and wehave but just entered the town. As there are still nine thousand of theNeapolitan troops here, there are many arrangements to be made, and wemust find some place for you all until you can be sent to your homes. Itis impossible to search the jails until to-morrow, but you need notregard yourselves any longer as prisoners. I have orders from GeneralCialdini to the governor here, that you shall in the meantime be welland plentifully fed, so as to prepare you for leaving this place.
"You hear, sir," he said, turning to the governor. "You will procure,regardless of expense, every luxury possible, with a proper supply ofgood wine; and see that all have a thoroughly good meal this afternoon,and another this evening. I request that you will, without delay, haveevery prisoner informed of what has happened, and that he will to-morrowbe released."
"I will see that it is done, colonel," the governor said. "I will atonce give the necessary orders.
"Perhaps it will be better, sir," he went on, speaking to Signor Forli,"that your friend should take something before he leaves. I havepleasure in placing my private room at your disposal, and will ordersome refreshment to be served there immediately."
Captain Percival now rose to his feet with an effort. "I am afraid Ishall have to be carried, Forli," he said, with an attempt at a smile."I was able to walk across the room this morning, but your news has, forthe present, demolished what little strength I had left."
"You had better sit down, Captain Percival," the colonel said. "Thegovernor will doubtless send some men with a stretcher at once, and Ineed hardly assure you how great a pleasure it has been to me to beemployed on so successful a mission. I shall tell General Cialdini thatyou have been found." And so saying, after shaking hands with CaptainPercival and the other prisoners, he left the room with the governor.
Frank also went outside, as, seeing how weak his father was, he quiterecognised the wisdom of Signor Forli's advice that he should not betold too much at once; and, indeed, he felt that he could no longersuppress his own emotions. Leaning against the wall in the passage, hecried like a child.
Assisted by Signor Forli, Percival went round and shook hands with theother three prisoners.
"I was right, you see," he said: "I told you last night, when we wereall brought up here, that our deliverance was at hand, but I hardlythought that it could be so near. Soon you too will see your friends,from whom you have been kept a much longer time than I have.
"We have only met once before," he said to the professor, "when nearlytwo months ago we were all brought out and placed in a vehicle together,and driven here. On the way we told each other what our real names were,and the addresses of our friends, so that if by some miracle one of usshould issue alive from our horrible dungeons, we might let the friendsof the others know how and where they had died. Thank God, we shall nowall be bearers of good news."
"I fear that I shall never be so," the weakest of them said, feebly.
"Do not think that," Signor Forli said cheerfully: "good food, freshair, and, more than all, freedom, will do wonders for you. I, likeyourselves, have been a special prisoner in a fortress for upwards ofthree years, and you see me now as strong and as well as I was when Ientered it. Make up your mind that you will get well and cheat thesetyrants, who had thought to kill you by inches."
Four of the jailors now entered; one of them carried a stretcher,another had a bottle of excellent wine and four large glasses, which hefilled and handed to the prisoners.
"This is the first taste of freedom," one said, as he emptied his glass."There, friend," he went on, as one of the jailors partly lifted thesick man and placed the glass to his lips, "that is your first steptowards health and strength. I can feel it already tingling in my veins,which years ago a glass of pure spirit would hardly have done. No, wewill take no more now," he said, as one of the men was about to refillhis glass. "Leave it here; another glass now would intoxicate me, afterfive years on water alone and starvation diet."
Captain Percival was now placed on the stretcher and carried out; Frankfell in with Signor Forli as he followed the party. "Unless you aregoing to tell him soon," he said, "I must go
; I cannot stand it, beingso close to him."
"I will tell him as soon as we are alone," the professor said: "he hascalmed down, and that glass of wine will do him a world of good."
On arriving at the governor's room, Captain Percival was placed in aneasy chair, and the jailors left. Frank went to the window and lookedout.
"I can hardly believe that it is not all a dream, Forli. The strangestpart is that, while I had hoped to open your prison doors, you haveopened mine."
"You are wrong, Leonard: the same person who opened my doors has openedyours; as you set out to find me, so another set out to find us both."
Captain Percival looked at him wonderingly.
"Of whom are you speaking, Forli? My head is not very clear at present.But who could have been looking for us both? You don't mean Garibaldi?"
"No, no, Leonard; truly he has opened the doors to all prisoners, but hewas not searching for any one in particular. When I tell you that Murielsent out to Garibaldi the sum that you had put aside for that purpose,and that she and my wife had never altogether lost hope that you and Iwere both still alive, whom should she send out with it, and to searchfor you, but----"
"You don't mean Frank? You cannot mean him: he is only a boy at school."
"He is nearly seventeen now, and there are hundreds of younger lads who,like him, have done their duty as men. Yes, it is Frank. I would nottell you at first; one shock was enough at a time. Frank, my boy, youhave your reward at last."
Frank turned and ran towards his father. The latter rose from his seat.
"My boy, my dear lad!" he cried, as he held out his arms, "this is toomuch happiness!"
It was some minutes before either father or son could speak coherently;and fortunately, just as Frank placed his father in the chair, one ofthe attendants brought in a basin of clear soup, two cutlets, anomelette, and a bottle of wine, saying that the governor had sent themfrom his own table, with his compliments.
Captain Percival smiled faintly when the man left the room.
"It is my last meal in prison, and if it had been sent to me a week agoI should have declined to eat it, for I should have made sure that itwas poisoned; however, as it is, I will take it with thankfulness."
"Yes, and you must eat as much as you can," Forli said. "You have got adrive before you: we shall take you straight up to Santa Lucia, where wehave rooms; the mountain air has done wonders for Frank, who has had atouch of these marsh fevers. It would be difficult to find a place inCapua now, so the sooner you are out of it the better."
Captain Percival took a mouthful or two of soup and then stopped.
"That won't do, Leonard--that won't do; you really must make an effort.Do it in Italian fashion: pour a glass of wine into it; if you will takethat, I will let you off the meat."
"I could not touch it whether you let me off or not. I have not touchedmeat for two years and a half, and I shall be some time taking to itagain."
He finished the soup, and then, upon the insistence of Signor Forli,took some of the omelette.
"Now," the latter said, "we will be off. When we came in here, we toldthe driver to find some place where he could take the horses out andfeed them, and then come here and wait for us. I suppose we must getsomebody to let us out of the prison."
Frank rang the bell. When the attendant came in, he said, "Please tellthe governor that we are now leaving, and that we shall be obliged if hewould send down an official to the gate to let us out."
The governor himself came in two minutes later; the gate was close bythe entrance to his house; and Signor Forli said,--"I will go out first,sir, and fetch our carriage round, if you will be good enough to giveorders that the gate is to be kept open until I return, and to order thewarder there to allow Captain Percival to pass out with us." Ten minuteslater they were on their way. Captain Percival would not be laid on astretcher again, but leaning upon his father-in-law and son, was able towalk to the carriage.
"I have a flask of brandy-and-water in my pocket, Leonard, and if youfeel faint you must take a little."
Very few words were spoken on the journey. Frank sat by the side of hisfather and held his hand in his own, and it was not long before CaptainPercival fell asleep. The excitement of the past thirty-six hours hadfor a time given him a fictitious strength; and now the sense ofhappiness and of freedom, aided, no doubt, by the unaccustomed meal andthe wine he had taken, took the natural effect, and after trying in vainto question Frank as to what had taken place, he dozed off.
"That is the best thing for him," Signor Forli said in low tones, whenhe saw that Captain Percival was asleep, "I hope he will not wake uptill we arrive at Santa Lucia. He has borne it better than I expected.It has, of course, pulled him down a great deal more than it did me. Astrong and active man must naturally feel solitary confinement much morethan one who seldom takes any exercise beyond half an hour's walk in thestreets of London; who is, moreover, something of a philosopher, and whocan conjure up at will from his brain many of his intimate friends. Ihave no doubt he will sleep soundly to-night, and I trust--though ofthis I do not feel quite sure--that he will be a different man in themorning. Of course it may be the other way, and that when the effect ofthe excitement has passed off he will need a great deal of carefulnursing before he begins to gain strength. At any rate, I shall go intoNaples to-morrow and send a telegram to your mother, and tell her tocome over with my wife at once. It would be of no use going down toCaserta; the wires will be so fully occupied by the military and royaltelegrams that there will be little chance of a private message gettingthrough. They are sure to start directly they get my message, and may behere in three or four days. I shall advise them to come via Marseilles;for, as the train service is sure to be upset, they might be a good deallonger coming by land, besides the annoyance of long detentions andcrowded trains; for you may be sure that there will be a rush from thenorth to come down to witness the king's entrance into Naples."
"I think that will be a very good plan indeed," Frank agreed; "and theknowledge that they are coming will, I should think, do a great deal ofgood to my father."
Darkness had fallen long before they reached Santa Lucia. The villagewas still full of soldiers. As he leapt out from the carriage Frankcalled to four of them standing near to help in carrying his fatherupstairs; and so soundly was Captain Percival sleeping, that this wasmanaged and he was laid on the bed without his fairly waking, though hehalf opened his eyes and murmured something that Frank could not catch.
"We will not try to take his things off," Signor Forli said, "but justthrow a blanket lightly over him now. I will remain here while you godown and get some supper. You had better stay in the room with him allnight; there is no getting hold of another bed, but----"
"I shall do just as well without a bed," Frank said; "since I landed atMarsala I have hardly slept in one; besides, I don't fancy that I shallsleep much, anyhow. I have plenty to think about and to thank God for,and if my father moves I shall be at his bedside in a moment. It islikely enough that he will not have the least idea where he is."
"Quite so, Frank. When you come up from supper bring an extra candlewith you: you had better keep a light burning all night."
Captain Percival, however, did not wake up until it was broad daylight.He looked round in a bewildered way until his eyes rested upon Frank,who was seated close to his bedside.
"That settles it," he said with a smile, holding out his hand to him. "Icould not make out where I was. I remember leaving Capua in a carriage,and nothing more; I must have slept like a log, as you got me out of thecarriage and up here without my waking."
"I think it was the professor's fault chiefly, father, in making youtake that second glass of wine in your soup. You see you were altogetherunaccustomed to it, and being so weak, that and all the excitementnaturally overpowered you. However, I think it a capital thing that itdid. You had twelve hours' good sleep, and you look all the better forit. I will tell Signor Forli you are awake. He has peeped in three orfour times to see
how you are going on."
He went out for a minute, and a little later the professor came in witha large cup of hot milk.
"You are looking fifty per cent. better, Leonard," he said. "You hadbetter begin by drinking this, and then I should recommend you to getrid of those rags you have on, and to have a good wash. I am going intoNaples, and will bring you some clothes. You certainly could not getinto my coat, but I will lend you a shirt, and that is all that you willwant, for you had better lie in bed to-day and listen to Frank's accountof his adventures, having a nap occasionally when you feel tired, andtaking as much soup as you can get down, with perhaps a slice ofchicken."
"What are you going to Naples for?"
"I am going to send the good news to Muriel, and to tell her and my wifeto come over at once and help you to build up your strength again. Iwon't say come over to nurse you, for I think you can do withoutthat,--all you want is building up."
Before he started the professor showed them the telegram he had writtenout.
"It is rather long," he said, "but a pound or two one way or the othermakes little difference." It ran: "Prepare yourself for good news, anddon't read farther till you have done so. Thank God, Frank's search hasbeen successful. I dared not tell you when I last wrote that I had founda clue, lest it should only give rise to false hopes. However, it ledus to our goal. Leonard is recovered and free. He is weak, but needsnothing but good food and your presence. Start with Annetta at once;come straight to Marseilles and take the first steamer to Naples. Youwill find us at the Hotel d'Italie, where I shall have rooms ready foryou."
After Signor Forli left, Frank told the story of his adventures bit bybit, insisting upon his father taking rest and food three or four times.
The professor returned late in the evening. "I have got rooms at thehotel," he said; "and it is lucky that I did not put off going down tillto-morrow, for telegrams are coming in from all parts of Italy to secureaccommodation. However, fortunately there were still some good roomsleft when I arrived there, and I need not say that I did not haggle overterms, outrageous as they were on the strength of the coming crowd. Yourfather is going on all right, I hope?"
"Very well indeed, I think. I only talked for about half an hour at atime; he has slept a good deal, and he has eaten well, his voice isstronger, and there is a little colour in his cheeks; he was terriblywhite before."
"That was from being kept in the dark, Frank, as much as from illness."
They went upstairs together. "I hear a good account of you, Leonard,"the professor said, "so I will give you what I have in my pocket, whichI should otherwise have kept till to-morrow morning." He took out apiece of thin paper, handed it to Captain Percival, and held the candleclose, so that he should read the contents. It was but a few words, butit took some time in the reading, for the invalid's eyes were blindedwith tears. When he had read it, he dropped it on the coverlet and puthis hands over his face, while the bed shook with his deep sobs. Franktook up the paper and ran his eye over it.
"The good God be praised for all His mercies! Oh, my husband, I can sayno more now. Mother and I start to-night for Marseilles.--Your mosthappy and loving wife."
Two days later the party left for Naples. That morning Garibaldi, towhom Frank had sent a message on the morning after his return fromCapua, drove up to Santa Lucia to see his old friend.
"I am almost as pleased, Percival," he said, after a silent hand-griphad been exchanged, "to have freed you as I am to have freed Italy, amatter in which the money your wife sent me in your name had no slightshare. You have reason to be proud of your son: he has shown throughoutthe expedition a courage and coolness equal to that of any of myveterans. He captured the first Neapolitan standard that was taken, andhas rendered me innumerable services as my aide-de-camp. You are lookingbetter than I expected."
"I should be an ungrateful brute, if I were not getting better, afterall my son has gone through to rescue me, and the feeding up that I havehad since I came here."
"You must have suffered intensely, Percival?"
"It has been pretty hard. I have all the time been in solitaryconfinement in filthy holes, where scarce a ray of daylight penetrated.I have had nothing but either the blackest of bread or roasted maize toeat, but I have been kept up throughout by the conviction that ere verylong there must be an upheaval: things could not go on as they were. Iknew that my own letters had excited a general feeling of horror at theaccounts of the dungeons in which political prisoners were confined, andI determined to make the best of matters. A year ago--at least, Isuppose that it is about a year, for I have lost count of time--a freshhope was given me, when one of my jailors, who was at heart a goodfellow, and occasionally ventured to say a few words to me, told me thatthe Sardinians, with the help of France, had recovered Lombardy fromAustria, and that Tuscany and other Papal States had all revolted andjoined Sardinia. That gave me fresh hope and courage. I felt that thingscould not long remain so, and that the south would soon follow theexample of the north. I felt sure that you had borne your part in thestruggle with the Austrians, and that, just as you headed the Romaninsurrection, you would certainly throw yourself heart and soul into arising in the south. I hear now, from my son, that in fact the whole hasbeen entirely your work."
"I have done what I could," Garibaldi said, "and well have I beenrewarded by the gratitude of the people. But I see already that thejealousy of the Piedmontese is carrying them beyond all bounds, and thatI shall soon be back in Caprera. But that matters not: I shall be happyin the thought that I have earned the gratitude of all Italy, and thatthe work I have done can never be undone. The king is a brave andgallant gentleman, but he is prejudiced by the lies of the men roundhim, who cannot forgive me for having done what should have been theirwork. It is a pity, but it matters but little. I fought for the causeand not for myself, and my only regret is that my brave companionsshould suffer by the jealousy and ill-humour of a handful of miserables.I shall be in Naples in a few days, and hope to find a still furtherimprovement in your condition."
The long drive to Naples had no ill effect whatever, and CaptainPercival was able to walk from the carriage up to his room, leaningupon Frank's arm. They learned that it would be two days before the nextsteamer from Marseilles arrived, and these were passed by CaptainPercival in the carriage, driving slowly backwards and forwards alongthe promenade by the sea, sometimes halting for an hour or two, while hegot out and walked for a time, and then sat down on a seat, enjoyingintensely the balmy air and the lovely view. He was now able to dispensealtogether with Frank's assistance. His hair had been cut short, and hisface clean-shaved with the exception of his moustache, for, as he said,"he hardly knew his own face with all that hair on, and he wanted hiswife to see him again as he was when he left her." His cheeks were stillvery thin and hollow, but the sun and sea air had removed the deadlypallor, and the five days of good feeding had already softened thesharpness of the outlines of his face.
On the day when the steamer was due he remained down at the sea untilshe was sighted. Then he returned to the hotel with Signor Forli,leaving Frank to meet the ladies when they landed and to bring them upto the hotel. Garibaldi had run down to Naples on the previous day, andspent some hours in endeavouring to smooth matters between thecontending factions, and had given Frank an order to the officers of thecustom-house to pass the baggage of Signora Forli and Mrs. Percivalunopened. The greeting between Frank and his mother and the Signora wasa rapturous one. Not many words were spoken, for both ladies were sogreatly affected that they hurried at once into the carriage. Frank sawthe small amount of baggage that they had brought handed up, and thenjumped in.
"How is he looking?" Mrs. Percival asked anxiously.
"Of course he is looking thin, mother. He was very weak when we foundhim, five days ago; but he has picked up a good deal since then, and inanother fortnight he will be walking about with you just as of old."
"You are looking thin yourself, Frank--very thin. My father mentioned inhis letter that you had
had a touch of fever."
"Yes, it was rather a sharp touch; but, as you see, I am all right now,though I have not yet returned to duty. I was able to take a part in thebattle of Volturno, but collapsed after it was over."
"And your grandfather has not changed much, you said?" the Signoraasked.
"He has borne it marvellously," Frank said. "As I told you in my letter,he has kept himself up by going through all the authors he knew byheart. You know what a marvellous memory he has, and of course thathelped him immensely. Of all the prisoners we have released, there wasnot one who was so well and strong as he was. I really don't think thatyou will find any change in him since you saw him last--except that, ofcourse, his hair is rather greyer. Father is a good deal greyer, mother.I think that, perhaps, it is the result of there being so little lightin the places where he has been kept. Here is the hotel. Now I will takeyou up to them, and will leave you there while I come down and see afteryour traps. I should doubt whether any English ladies ever arrived atNaples before with so little luggage."
He spoke cheerfully, for both his mother and the Signora were so muchagitated that he was afraid of their breaking down before they gotupstairs. On reaching the door he opened it, and, closing it quicklybehind him, went away. It was a quarter of an hour before he returned tothe room. All had now recovered from the effects of their firstmeeting.
"We have already settled, Frank, that we will start for home at once.Your grandfather says that he has ascertained that a steamer will leaveto-morrow for England; and we mean to go all the way by sea. It will doyour father good, and you too, for your grandfather says the doctor toldhim that, although you have got rid of the fever altogether, you needchange to set you up thoroughly, and that a sea voyage would be the bestthing for you. And, as we are all good sailors, it will be thepleasantest way as well as the best. Fortunately your work is done here.The fighting is over, and even if it were not, you have done your share.You have not told us much about that in your letters, but Garibaldispoke of you in the highest terms to your father; and your grandfatherlearned, from some of your comrades, what you really did at Calatafimiand Palermo."
"I did just what the others did, mother, and was luckier than most ofthem, though I was laid up there for a month with the wound I got; but Idon't see how I could start to-morrow without leave, and, at any rate,without thanking Garibaldi for his kindness."
"Well, then, you must run over to Caserta and see him this evening. Therailway is open, is it not? It is only a run of half an hour or so."
"Very well, mother, I will do that; and very likely he will be over inthe morning. He comes here nearly every day, and if he had not intendeddoing so to-morrow, I am sure he would come, if only to see you and thesignora, and to say good-bye to father and the professor. About whattime does the steamer start?"
"At one o'clock."
"Oh, that will leave plenty of time; the general is always up at threein the morning."
Frank was not mistaken: at eight o'clock Garibaldi arrived at the hoteland spent half an hour with them. He delighted Mrs. Percival by themanner in which he spoke of Frank, saying that no one had distinguishedhimself more during the campaign.
The voyage to England was pleasant and uneventful, and by the time theyarrived at home, Captain Percival was almost himself again, while Frankhad entirely shaken off the effects of his illness. It had been agreedthat he should not return to Harrow; six months of campaigning hadill-fitted him for the restrictions of school life, and it was arrangedthat he should be prepared for Cambridge by a private tutor. He finallypassed creditably, though not brilliantly, through the University. Heand his family had the pleasure of meeting Garibaldi when the latterpaid a visit to London, four years after the close of the campaign; andthe general, in spite of his many engagements, spent one quiet eveningwith his friends at Cadogan Place.
Four years later Frank married, and his father settled upon him hiscountry estate, to which, since his return to England, he had seldomgone down, for, although his general health was good, he neversufficiently recovered from the effects of his imprisonment to be strongenough again to take part in field sports. He lived, however, to a goodold age, and it is not very long since he and his wife died within a fewdays of each other. The professor and Signora Forli had left themfifteen years before.
THE END.
Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:
the enemey=> the enemey {pg 140}
who assuredy=> who assuredy {pg 192}
guerillas=> guerrillas {pg 203}
the the entrance=> the entrance {pg 244}
fictitous=> fictitous {pg 342}