"There's nothing to laugh at," said the man who appeared to be Captain, very sulkily.
"It's evident that you Italians don't understand late improvements," said Buttons. "But come, hurry on."
The Captain turned and walked ahead sullenly.
"It's all very well to laugh," said the Doctor, in a cheerful tone; "but suppose those devils behind us shoot us."
"I think if they intended to do that the Captain would not walk in front. No, they want to take us alive, and make us pay a heavy ransom."
After this the Club kept up an incessant chatter. They talked over their situation, but could as yet decide upon nothing. It grew dark at length. The sun went down. The usual rapid twilight came on.
"Dick," said the Doctor, "when it gets dark enough I'll give you my pistol, so that you may show off with it as if it were yours."
"All right, my son," said Dick. Shortly after, when it was quite dark, the Doctor slipped the pistol into the side-pocket of Dick's coat. At length a light appeared before them. It was an old ruin which stood upon an eminence. Where they were not a soul of them could tell. Dick declared that he smelt salt water.
The light which they saw came from the broken windows of a dilapidated hall belonging to the building. They went up some crumbling steps, and the Captain gave a peculiar knock at the door. A woman opened it. A bright light streamed out. Dick paused for a moment, and took the Doctor's pistol, from his pocket. He held it up and pretended to arrange the chamber. Then he carelessly put it in his pocket again.
"You haven't bound them?" said the woman who opened the door to the Captain.