Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/129

WHO FOLLOWED THE PIPER been there; he had been at this pool and he had come into the Dark Forest to seek him. John Ball had left his cup as a sign that he would come back to find him there.

Valentine left the two cups in the water. He turned away, and he saw standing before him a strange creature. All covered with beast's skin it was; its arms were like a man's, but they were long and covered with hair, and rough hair fell down on its shoulders. When Valentine looked on the creature he lifted up his sword.

And then the creature cried out to him as if it were trying to make him understand something, and sounds that were nearly human words came from its mouth. It seemed to Valentine that it was not unfriendly to him, and that it was trying to let him see something. Valentine looked around; then he saw that there was a band of creatures half human and half beastlike coming at him, branches in their hands. He put his back to the tree and held his sword ready to guard himself.