Page:The Children Who Followed the Piper.djvu/130

THE CHILDREN The strange creature that he had seen first went toward the others, a branch in his hand. It fought with the others, holding them back from Valentine. Then Valentine, the sword in his hand, rushed at them. The creature that he had first seen helped him, and the other wild things fled amongst the trees.

The Satyrs fled. All but the one who had helped him. And this one threw down the branch he held and went to the well. Valentine saw it take up the cup that was on the water. The creature held the cup out as if to show it to Valentine.

Valentine took up the other cup. He held it out to the creature that had been so friendly, and, as he did, he thought upon John Ball, who had left the cup in the well.

The two stood facing each other, the youth and the strange wild being. Both held out the carven cups. The strange creature passed its fingers over the cup it held as if to show Valentine the carvings that were upon it. Valen-