"And where could there be a pleasanter place? This old hall, this jolly old fire, and this delightful company!" Another bow. The Captain looked very sullen still. He was evidently in deep perplexity. "Come, cheer up there!" said Buttons. "We won't do you any harm; we won't even complain to the authorities that we found our friend here. Cheer up! Have you any thing to eat, most noble Captain?" The Captain turned away. Meanwhile Figgs had told the story of his capture. After resting for a while on the slope he prepared to descend, but seeing sand further away he went over toward it and descended there. Finding it very dangerous or difficult to go down straight he made the descent obliquely, so that when he reached the foot of the cone he was far away from the point at which he had started to make the ascent. Arriving there, he sat down to rest after his exertions. Some men came toward him, but he did not think much about it. Suddenly, before he knew what was up, he found himself a prisoner. He had a weary march, and was just getting comfortable as they came in. [Illustration: Mr Figgs.] As they sat round the fire they found it very comfortable. Like many evenings in Italy, it was damp and quite chilly. They laughed and talked, and appeared to be any thing but captives in a robber's hold. The Captain had been out for some time, and at length returned. He was now very cheerful. He came laughingly up to the fire. "Well, Signori Americani, what do you think of your accommodation?" "Delightful! Charming!" cried Buttons and Dick. "If the ladies would only deign to smile on us--" "Aha! You are a great man for the ladies," said the Captain. "Who is not?" said Buttons, sententiously. After a few pleasant words the Captain left again. "He has some scheme in his villainous head," said Buttons. "To drug us," said the Doctor. "To send for others," said Dick. "To wait till we sleep, and then fall on us," said Mr. Figgs. "Well, gentlemen," said the Senator, drawing himself up, "we're more than a match for them. Why, what are these brigands? Is there a man of them who isn't a poor, miserable, cowardly cuss? Not one. If we are captured by such as these we deserve to be captives all our lives." [Illustration: The Ladies.] "If we don't get off soon we'll have a good round sum to pay," said Mr. Figgs. "And that I object to," said Buttons; "for I promised my Governor solemnly that I wouldn't spend more than a certain sum in Europe, and I won't." "For my part," said the Doctor, "I can't afford it." "And I would rather use the amount which they would ask in some other way," said Dick. "That's it, boys! You're plucky. Go in! We'll fix their flints. The American eagle is soaring, gentlemen--let him ascend to the zenith. Go it! But mind now--don't be too hasty. Let's wait for a time to see further developments." "Richard, my boy, will you occupy the time by singing a hymn?" continued the Senator. "I see a guitar there."