a dog. It was a pleasant reflection, though, that I did not hit him,

because his master might just possibly have been a policeman. Inspired

by this happy failure, my valor became utterly uncontrollable, and at

intervals I absolutely whistled, though on a moderate key. But boldness

breeds boldness, and shortly I plunged into a Vineyard, in the full light

of the moon, and captured a gallon of superb grapes, not even minding the

presence of a peasant who rode by on a mule. Denny and Birch followed my

example.

Now I had grapes enough for a dozen, but then Jackson was all swollen up

with courage, too, and he was obliged to enter a vineyard presently. The

first bunch he seized brought trouble. A frowsy, bearded brigand sprang

into the road with a shout, and flourished a musket in the light of the

moon! We sidled toward the Piraeus--not running you understand, but only

advancing with celerity. The brigand shouted again, but still we

advanced. It was getting late, and we had no time to fool away on every

ass that wanted to drivel Greek platitudes to us. We would just as soon

have talked with him as not if we had not been in a hurry. Presently

Denny said, "Those fellows are following us!"

We turned, and, sure enough, there they were--three fantastic pirates

armed with guns. We slackened our pace to let them come up, and in the

meantime I got out my cargo of grapes and dropped them firmly but

reluctantly into the shadows by the wayside. But I was not afraid. I

only felt that it was not right to steal grapes. And all the more so

when the owner was around--and not only around, but with his friends

398

The Innocents Abroad