Little Tony of Italy Part 13

[Ill.u.s.tration: HOUSE OF THE VETTI: POMPEII]

"Go away from here!" roared a guide. "And take that dog with you!"

Tony scampered. He knew that dogs are not allowed in Pompeii. He crouched beside a fence. When the guide's back was turned, he slipped under the fence.

He was inside the gates. He was in Pompeii. Really inside the gates of Pompeii! Standing upon the long, silent streets, in the shadow of stately ruins.

Columns and statues stood like graceful ghosts. It was a place to impress any child. To Tony, light-headed with fever, it was a wonder and a dream.

A guide came along, leading a party of tourists through the streets.

To Tony his voice droned like a swarm of bees.

"It was a city of pleasure and wealth," said the guide. "Tinkling fountains played. Painted chariots clattered over the cobble-stones.

Boys and girls laughed and sang."

Tony saw it, felt it, heard it all!

"See the tracks of the chariots in the pavements," droned the guide's voice. "The plumbing was so good that the fountains are still running today."

Tony followed them through restored palaces, courtyards, wine shops.

Some of the houses had four dining rooms--one for each season: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Before one house was the word "Have." This means "Welcome" in Greek. The Fascists say this when they salute.

In the old Roman Bath was a case with images like mummies. The guide entered the building with his tourist train--a train of human question marks.

Tony followed. He hid in a dark corner so they would not see him.

"Here we have the forms of some of the ancient people found in the ruins," explained the guide. "They are, however, only hollow forms.

They have been surrounded by lava."

"What is lava, Mama?" squeaked a tourist child.

"Hus.h.!.+" said the mother.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A STREET IN POMPEII _Photo by Courtesy of Italian Tourist Information Office_]

"I want some if it is to eat!" howled the child.

"Lava," said the guide, "is the fiery fluid which comes out of a volcano during an eruption. When it cools it hardens and becomes like rock."

"I don't want to eat any!" decided the child.

"Here is the form of a dog," went on the guide.

"I want a 'hot dog,' Mama!" whined the child.

They finally left the building. Tony heard the child's irritable voice far down the street. He came out from his corner. The building was empty.

He looked at the strange, rock-covered images. The little dog was about the size of Tina. He s.h.i.+vered. He went outside. The sun had dropped behind a hill. He could see Vesuvius puffing, puffing on her pipe.

"Oh, you--you wicked one!" He shook his fist at the mountain.

His head began to spin. The streets were more silent than ever, for the sight-seers had all gone. Tall columns, like black knights, stood guard over the buried city.

Tony had heard the guide say that at a certain hour the gates would close. Was that hour now past? Was he locked in the deserted city, alone? Trapped, like victims of the volcano so long ago?

He felt ill. He was burning with fever. He started toward the gate, squeezing Tina until she grunted.

Then, all at once, his legs seemed to disappear beneath him and he sank to the earth.

The ruins of Pompeii whirled all about him. Vesuvius blew a great column of smoke in his face, and he knew no more!

CHAPTER X

FEVER, FEAR, AND TROUBLED SLEEP

The next thing Tony knew, he was in ancient Pompeii. He was in the buried city before it had been buried!

"How could this be?" you ask. "A person cannot live in the past!"

Ah, but Tony had arrived upon a queer s.h.i.+p. The name of the s.h.i.+p was _Fever, Fear, and Troubled Sleep_.

Tony really and truly lay upon the ground dreaming. He lay where he had fallen when we last left him. But, in his dream, he was in old Pompeii.

Old Pompeii appeared to him just as Anna's father and the guide had told about it.

Tony believed that he lay in a corner of the Forum, the main square of the town. It was night, and a group of beggars slept beside him. Tina cuddled snugly in his arms.

All about him slumbered Pompeii with the smoke from Vesuvius curling above in the black sky.

Tony looked up at the fire-mountain and, all at once, his heart seemed to stand still. Why, that volcano was going to destroy Pompeii! It was written in books of history! Everyone in the modern world knew it!

But here n.o.body knew it. How could they? They were ancient people. He was living in the past. Tony, the beggar boy, was the only one who knew!

He must tell them!

He stood up. He saw those beautiful homes and gardens he had heard so much about. Tomorrow they would be in ruins!

Tomorrow? How did he know that the end would come tomorrow? Tony could not explain. But he did know. Dreams are like that.

[Ill.u.s.tration: OLD OLIVE OIL MILL: POMPEII]

He woke the beggars. He warned them of the coming terror. Frantically he tried to explain to them the danger of what was about to happen.

"Vesuvius will erupt and destroy Pompeii," he said.

[Ill.u.s.tration: POMPEII]