“Well,” Beppi took a long breath.  “This afternoon I was tired of playing in the garden and I went out into the road.  Nana was sound asleep and did not hear me, and when I had walked a little ways I met two boys; one of them was bigger than me and the other one was littler.  We said hello, and one of them asked me my name, and I told him, and then the big one said he guessed I couldn’t fight—­” Beppi stopped and turned two accusing eyes at Lucia, “that was because I had on these old stockings.  I told you, sister, that I’d be laughed at unless I went barefoot, same as always.”

“Never mind about that,” the Captain interposed, laughing, “tell us the rest.”

“Well, I told him I could, and we did, of course, and I won,” he continued proudly, “and after that we were friends, and they asked me if I’d ever been to the shore, and I said; not right to it, so they took me.  We went down a hill and pretty soon we were right by the ocean, and the waves were coming in all frothy white on the blue water, and I took off my shoes and stockings—­”

“Oh, Beppi,” Lucia protested.

“Yes, I did,” Beppi repeated, “I certainly did and we had a fine time, I can tell you, and here comes the exciting part.  While we were on the beach a soldier came along; he was walking on the wall and he had a big gun.  The two boys ran to him and I went with them.  He asked me my name and where I lived, and I told him, and he said he had a nephew in the war, and one of the boys asked him how Roderigo Vicello was, and when I heard that name I just shouted, ‘Why I know him,’ and then I told them all about the bridge and the King giving Roderigo a medal, and everything.  They were all glad, I can tell you, and I guess these boys won’t say I can’t fight again in a hurry,” he added triumphantly.

“Oh, that is exciting news!” Lucia exclaimed, “Roderigo told me he had an uncle here.  Did he have a big scar on his face, Beppino?”

“Yes,” Beppi replied eagerly, “he got it in the Tripoli war.  He is a very brave man, I think, but he says he’d rather fight than guard the shore, but of course he has to do as he’s told, because he’s a soldier.”

“And I suppose that means you don’t have to do what you’re told until you’re one,” the Captain laughed, “what will Nana say when she hears you ran away?”

“Who’s going to tell her?” Beppi inquired, “Lucia won’t, and I don’t think you will,” he added with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

“No, I suppose I won’t after that,” the Captain replied, laughing, “that is if you will promise to be very good and mind Lucia while I am away.”

“Away?” Beppi queried, “where are you going?”

“Back to fight,” the Captain replied, “and perhaps I shall be gone for a long, long time, and of course, while I am gone I shall expect you to take care of your sister.”

“Oh, Lucia can take care of herself,” Beppi laughed, “she always has, and of Nana and me, too, but I’ll be good if you say so, only can’t I go down to the shore once in a while?”