"
"Oh, thank you, papa! I am so glad! Come, Leone, we will make haste, so
as to set off ere the day gets more advanced."
And warmly embracing her father, the girl sped swiftly away, followed
by her cousin.
In half an hour the cortege was ready, and, after some little
hesitation on Don Garcia's part, they started.
Lianor, with her two favorite maids, Lalli and Tolla, were cosily
seated in a palanquin carried by four strong men. Before, clearing her
path from all difficulties, went a body of twenty-five soldiers.
Beside her, Panteleone kept up a cheerful conversation, pointing out
the beauties of the palaces through which they passed. Some twenty
natives, armed with poignards, brought up the rear.
Toki, a native who had grown old in the Viceroy's palace, led the way
toward one of the ruined temples--that erected to Siva, the God of
Destruction.
Lianor gazed with awed eyes at the magnificent palace, still bearing
traces of former beauty.
"How wonderful! I must stay here, Leone, and sketch those old statues.
We need go no farther."
The day was beginning to get intensely hot, so the men were nothing
loth to seek shelter in the cool temple, to sleep away the sunny
hours.
Pages:
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208