"But they're not back. And I want to hunt them up," said Frank.
"Where was the road where you say you left them?"
"I will go myself and show you de ver place," said the guide. "Do
not fear. Dere can come no harm. It is not possibile."
With these words the guide set forth to take them', to the place.
These words of the guide added; if possible, to the deep distress
and dismay of Uncle Moses. He was only conscious now that the boys
were without any guide in some unknown, perhaps dangerous place.
If he feared while he supposed that they had a guide, his fears
under these new and worse circumstances were far greater.
On the way the guide explained all about it. He told about the
tunnel, about the path which he had recommended as a short cut. He
declared that it was perfectly straight, and that it was impossible
for any one to get lost between Albano and the place where he left
them. There was no place, he declared, for them to get lost in. It
was quite open--a little valley--that was all.
But this gave no comfort to poor Uncle Moses. He walked along
looking ten years older, with his face full of grief. At length
the guide came to the path along which he had sent David and Clive,
and turning into this, he walked along in the direction where he
had seen them go.
"We haf now," he said, "to walk to de hotel at Albano, and you sall
find dey did come back, and will be dere at dis moments."
"What a joke it would be," cried Frank, "if they have got back,
and have started off after us! I wonder whether they would. Not
they. I don't believe it. They're starving, and will think of
nothing but their dinners."
But poor Uncle Moses refused to see any "joke" at all. It was a
deeply solemn reality to his poor, distracted breast.
At length they came within sight of the house.
As they walked on, there came to their ears a long, shrill yell.
All of them started. At first they did not detect the source of
the sound. Then it was repeated.
"Hallo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!"
They looked all around. Frank saw two figures, one at each window
of the old house.
"Hallo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!"
The cry was repeated. It came from these two figures. Those must
be David and Clive; but how in the name of wonder had they got
there, and what were they doing? But he said not a word. He merely
pointed, and then started off at a full run, followed first by Bob,
then by the guide, and last by Uncle Moses, who did not yet comprehend
why Frank was running, or where.
A smart run of only a few minutes brought them to the place. There
they saw David at one window, and Clive at the other. Both of them
appeared to be tremendously excited, and were shouting to them most
vociferously, both together, in an utterly confused an unintelligible
manner. At length some words in the midst of their outcries became
distinguishable.
"Keep back! O, keep back! The wild boar! The wild boar! Run for
help! Keep back! You'll be torn to pieces! Keep back! Run for help."