"How did you escape?" he asked a priest whom he met in his journey.
"I put myself in safety," was the reply.
"What do you mean?" asked the King.
"Realizing the danger, I left Nola."
"What!" cried the King, with a flush of anger. "You, a minister of God,
were not here to share the danger of your people and administer the last
sacraments? You did very wrong and forgot your duty."
Reaching Ottejano, the King did what he could to expedite the work
of rescue at that central point of disaster, more than a hundred dead
bodies being taken from the ruins in his presence. He stood with set
pale face watching the removal of the victims and directing the movement
of the workers. During his visit at the front he inspected the temporary
camp hospitals, in which the soldiers were caring for the injured and
suffering, speaking to the poor victims, giving them what comfort he
could, and asking what he could do to relieve their distress. Every
request or desire was received with sympathy and orders given to have it
fulfilled.
A pitiful scene took place when the King bent over a poor man, whose
right leg had been amputated, and asked what he could do to comfort and
aid him in his affliction.
"Send me my son, who is serving as a soldier," said the maimed peasant.
The King, visibly affected, clasped the old man's hand and exclaimed:
"My poor fellow! I can do much, but to grant your request would mean
breaking the laws, which I must be the first to respect.
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