Mr.Watson, hard-headed man of resource as he was, grew more and more dejected as he realized the impossibility of interesting the authorities in the case.

The Sicilian officials were silent and uncommunicative; the Italians wholly indifferent.

If strangers came to Taormina and got into difficulties, the government was in no way to blame.

It was their duty to tolerate tourists, but those all too energetic foreigners must take care of themselves.
Probably Mr.Watson would have cabled the State Department at Washington for assistance had he not expected each day to put him in communication with his friend, and in the end he congratulated himself upon his patience.

The close of the week brought a sudden and startling change in the situation.
The girls sat on the shaded terrace one afternoon, watching the picture of Etna grow under Kenneth's deft touches, when they observed a child approaching them with shy diffidence.