Page:The Children of the New Forest - 1847 - Marryat.djvu/128

 and the way in which he had been caught, hastened to get some gruel ready for him. As soon as it was ready, they gave it to the boy, who then fell back on the bed with exhaustion, and was soon in a sound sleep. He slept soundly all that night; and the next morning, when he awoke, he appeared much better, although very hungry. This last complaint was easy to remedy, and then the lad got up, and walked into the sitting room.

"What's your name?" said Humphrey, to the lad.

"Pablo," replied the lad.

"Can you speak English?"

"Yes, little," replied he.

"How did you happen to fall into the pit?"

"Not see hole."

"Are you a Gypsy?" "Yes, Gitano—same thing."

Humphrey put a great many more questions to the lad, and elicited from him in his imperfect English, the following particulars.

That he was in company with several others of his race, going down to the sea coast on one of their usual migrations, and that they had pitched their tents not far from the pit-fall. That during the night, he had gone out to set some snares for rabbits, and going back to the tents, it being quite dark, he had fallen into the hole. That he had remained there three days and nights, having in vain attempted to get out. His mother was with the party of gypsies to which he belonged, but he had no father. He did not know where to follow the gang, as they had not said where they were going, farther than to the sea coast. That it was no use looking for them; and that he did not care much about leaving them, as he was very unkindly treated. In reply to the question as to whether he would like to remain with them, and work with them on the farm; he replied, that he should like it very much if they would be kind to him, and not make him work too hard;