On arriving home Mr. Merrick told the girls with great elation of his new friend, and how they were to be taken aboard the launch in case of emergency.

“But how will we know when danger threatens?” asked Louise.

While Uncle John tried to think of an answer to this puzzling query someone knocked upon the door.  The concierge was standing in the passage and beside him was a soldier in uniform, a natty cock’s plume upon his beaver hat and a short carbine over his arm.

“A guard from Colonel Angeli, Signor,” said the concierge, respectfully—­the first respectful tone he had yet employed.

The soldier took off his hat with a flourish, and bowed low.

“He is to remain in the hotel, sir, yet will not disturb you in any way,” continued the whiskered one.  “But should he approach you at any time and beckon you to follow him, do so at once, and without hesitation.  It is Colonel Angeli’s wish.  You are in the charge of this brave man, who will watch over your welfare.”

“That settles it, my dears,” said Uncle John, cheerfully, when the soldier and the concierge had withdrawn.  “This Italian friend doesn’t do things by halves, and I take it we are perfectly safe from this time on.”

CHAPTER VIII

ACROSS THE BAY

Tom Horton called an hour later.  He was in despair because his party had decided to leave Naples for Rome, and he feared Beth would be engulfed by the volcano unless he was present to protect her.

“Mr. Merrick,” said the boy, earnestly, “you’ll take good care of Miss De Graf, sir, won’t you?  We both live in Ohio, you know, and we’ve just got acquainted; and—­and I’d like to see her again, some time, if she escapes.”

Uncle John’s eyes twinkled, but he drew a long face.

“My dear Tom,” he said, “don’t ask me to take care of anyone—­please don’t!  I brought these girls along to take care of me—­three of ’em, sir—­and they’ve got to do their duty.  Don’t you worry about the girls; just you worry about me.”

That was not much consolation for the poor fellow, but he could do nothing more than wring their hands—­Beth’s twice, by mistake—­and wish them good luck before he hurried away to rejoin his family.

“I’m sorry to see him go,” said Beth, honestly.  “Tom is a nice boy.”

“Quite right,” agreed Uncle John.  “I hope we shall meet no worse fellows than Tom Horton.”

At noon they were served a modest luncheon in their rooms, for Signor Floriano, having sent his important papers to a place of safety, had resolved to stick to his hotel and do his duty by any guests that chose to remain with him in defiance of the existent conditions.  He had succeeded in retaining a few servants who had more courage than those that had stampeded at the first alarm, and while the hotel service for the next few days was very inadequate, no one was liable to suffer any great privation.