Read on line
Listen on line
Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad"

Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad

Here was seated a group of officers, watching intently the cloud that

marked the location of the volcano. Colonel Angeli, big and bluff, his

uniform gorgeous, his dark, heavy moustaches carefully waxed, his

handsome face as ingenuous and merry as a schoolboy's, greeted the

American with a gracious courtesy that made Uncle John feel quite at

his ease. When he heard of the nieces the Italian made a grimace and

then laughed.

"I am despairing, signore," said he, in English sufficiently

strangulated to be amusing but nevertheless quite comprehensible, "that

you and the sweet signorini are to see our lovely Naples under

tribulations so very great. But yesterday, in all the world is no city

so enchanting, so brilliant, so gay. To-day--look! is it not horrible?

Vesuvio is sick, and Naples mourns until the tyrant is well again."

"But the danger," said Uncle John. "What do you think of the wisdom of

our staying here? Is it safe to keep my girls in Naples during this

eruption?"

"Ah! Why not? This very morning the mountain asunder burst, and we who

love our people dread the news of devastation we shall hear. From the

observatory, where His Majesty's faithful servant still remains, come

telegrams that the great pebbles--what we call scoria--have ruined

Ottajano and San Guiseppe. Perhaps they are overwhelmed. But the beast

has vomited; he will feel better now, and ever become more quiet."

"I suppose," remarked Mr. Merrick, thoughtfully, "that no one knows

exactly what the blamed hill may do next. I don't like to take chances

with three girls on my hands. They are a valuable lot, Colonel, and

worth saving."

The boyish Italian instantly looked grave. Then he led Uncle John away

from the others, although doubtless he was the only officer present able

to speak or understand English, and said to him:

"Where are you living?"

"At the hotel named after your sick mountain--the Vesuve."

"Very good. In the bay, not distant from your hotel, lies a government

launch that is under my command.

Also read
Read
Notscha
Category: Chinese folktales
Read times: 49
Read
The Lady of the Moon
Category: Chinese folktales
Read times: 87
Read