sacrifice, they had sent him to the high school. Here Antonio denied
himself many pleasures in which his richer classmates indulged, and
tried in every way to live economically. He made no secret of his lack
of money, nor did he envy those who possessed more than he did. So on
this particular morning we find Antonio saving traveling expenses by
making the journey to his home on foot.

The path led through some tall bushes and curved around a huge rock.
Here he suddenly espied a queer looking vessel lying at anchor. Several
men with swarthy faces, clothed in a strange, odd fashion, were drawing
water from a spring which gushed from the rock. They were pirates from
Algiers. As soon as they caught sight of the boy, they sprang upon him,
like tigers upon a harmless lamb, seized him, dragged him to the ship,
robbed him of his beautiful clothing, dressed him like a slave, bound
him hand and foot and placed him beside some other captives, who greeted
Antonio with loud cries.

When Antonio had recovered from the first great shock, he folded his
chained hands, and turning his eyes towards the heavens, he cried aloud
to God for strength to bear this great trial, and for safe deliverance
from, the hands of his enemies.

The other prisoners, mostly Italians, had understood his prayers and
were deeply touched by his great faith. They soon became confidential,
and little by little they unfolded to one another the story of their
lives. One prisoner, well versed in law, who knew Antonio's father,
showed the boy much sympathy. Another prisoner, a sailor, grieved over
the old parents whose mainstay he had been for many years. "Oh," sighed
he, "now hunger and want will overtake them." Another, a fisherman,
somewhat older than the rest, was the saddest of them all. He sat apart