the latter's guns.

In another half hour Paolo returned with a large bundle. It
contained two coarse cotton shirts, two warm garments resembling
waistcoats, and fastened by strings closing up to the neck, two red
sashes of coarse flannel, and two loose doublets reaching down to
the hips. These were worn and patched, but had been newly lined
with sheepskin. The breeches, which reached down to the knee, were
of coarse brown cloth; to cover the leg below the knee were bands
of gray flannel which were wrapped round and round the leg and foot,
while over these were worn wooden shoes. The hats were of conical
shape with wide brims, and both, like the clothes, bore signs of
long wear.

"It could not have been better, Paolo," Hector said as he examined
them. "I have seen scores of boys so dressed, and we shall certainly
attract no attention by our garb. They are warm, too, and we sha'n't
come to any harm from sleeping out in them."

"They cost more than I expected, master, owing to the doublets
being freshly lined, but I thought it would be worth it."

"Quite right! those sheepskins will be most useful. There is one
thing more we shall want, a thin rope, that will bear our weight
well, some twenty yards long. You had better go to a smith's and
get him to make a strong iron hook, by which we can fix the rope
on to the edge of a wall should it be needed. You had better have
it made a good nine inches across the hook, and the shank fifteen
inches long."