Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/113

 could not cry nor speak human words, for what came from his thick tongue were the growls and grunts of the half man, half beast. He had eaten wolf meat, and for a year he would be one with the Satyrs.

John Ball ran from where the robbers had been sitting. He ran toward the well beside which he had left Baldwin. Baldwin, his horse, was there. He tried to shout to Baldwin, but a howl only came from his mouth. Baldwin saw him. Tremors went through the horse. He turned and raced away. And John Ball could not call out his name nor make Baldwin stay.

John Ball went to the well and he looked into the water where the cups were, and he saw himself changed into a Satyr, being covered all over with a beast's rough skin. Then he knew what terrible ill luck had befallen him in the Dark Forest. Now if he came upon Valentine or upon Golden Hood they would not know him. Even Baldwin had raced away from him.

He lamented, and he heard his own voice as