Page:Anthology of Modern Slavonic Literature in Prose and Verse by Paul Selver.djvu/207

Rh The Latin boy felt aS if someone had boxed his ears. He answered in the same tone: "And why should I not look upon her with favour?"

"Because she could thrust you into her girdle and then climb this hill at full speed; do you understand me!"

"She might do that with you, but not with me; do you understand me?" cried the Latin boy.

The people feared that the quarrel might take an ugly turn, and began to pacify the two. The serdar turned the whole thing into a joke. But there was one who cried: "Calm down, both of you. Such a buxom girl as that could overcome the two of you, if she wanted!"

"That she could not!" exclaimed the Latin boy, and stood up.

"We can easily make sure. We will call the girl in, and you shall match yourself against her, to see who is the Stronger," cried the other.

Noise and laughter now arose.

"Stop now, you young scamps, we will now hear the serdar play on the gusla!" shouted the older men. But the younger ones were fairly bursting with laughter as they saw how haughtily the Latin boy bore himself. Some shouted: "Call Dunja here Call Dunja! The serdar will allow it. Why should he not? That is no disgrace, God forbid Will you, Luka? Say so and then you will see!"

He beckoned with his hand as a sign that they should keep quiet. Then he cried: