He saw Vesuvius towering above, a terrible giantess puffing on a poisonous pipe! Would she ever again break out in anger?
The wind blew. It had started to rain. The night was so black.
His legs ached. But he must run, run far away from Anna's father. He could never, never go back again. Now he was really a thief. He was running away with Tina!
The little dog began to shiver in his arms. He stopped for a moment, took off his coat, and wrapped it around the animal.
The rain came down harder and harder. Finally, Tony found a haystack, and the boy and dog cuddled down for the night.
Early morning brought a blue sky. The rain was gone. The Bay shone and the smoke from Vesuvius sailed straight up in a thin grey line.
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THE APPIAN WAY [Photo by Courtesy of Italian Tourist Information Office] |
But Tony awoke in a fever. Tina stood beside him, her tail beating a pleasant tune on the ground. Her sweet, white face smiled down at him.
Why did he not jump up and play with her as he always did in the morning? Why did her little god lie so still?