The drive down the mountain was quite easy. When they reached the hotel the children went straight to bed to dream of the pleasure to-morrow,—for they were to visit the buried city, Pompeii.
The next day was bright and clear. Although every one felt a little tired after the excitement of the night before, they were all ready for the day's trip.
It was a strange place, this city with no one living in it. There were streets all laid out and the walls of houses standing. The roofs were gone, however.
Mr. Gray explained to the children that the city was buried under the terrible shower of ashes which settled down over it. The roofs had been burnt or broken down by the weight above them. After a while, soil formed above the ashes, grass began to grow, and the rest of the world forgot about the city, once so beautiful, with its stately palaces and grand buildings.
Most of the people had time to flee before their homes were destroyed. But some of them stayed too long. Their skeletons were found when the city was unearthed.
The children went into a cellar where there were marks on the walls. The guide told them that these showed where people were pressed against them. They must have fled to that place for safety, but it had been of no use. They stood here prisoners until kind death freed them from their suffering.
They saw many marble ornaments. There were ducks and geese, rabbits and lambs, made long ago.
"All this makes me feel queer, Lucy," whispered Tessa. "I will be glad to get back to a live city again." Lucy felt so, too. It was interesting, of course, but it was very strange.
After the visit to Pompeii, Mr. Gray told the children that his vacation was over and they must all go back to Rome.
"But we will not return by train," he said. "We will take a sailing vessel, as I think you will enjoy a trip on the water."