Page:The Gypsy Lad of Roumania (1914).djvu/14

12 the wife of Fontanus. She was Maria’s foster sister, and when he said that Maria, the wife of Sabas, had sent him, she would be sure to take him in. “They are rich,” concluded Maria, “and you will not go hungry or cold with them.”

At first Peter protested, and begged to go along and share their hardships. But at length Maria said, “I command you, my son.”

So Peter hushed his protest. Maria gave him his best clothes, which he put on. When he was ready she handed him a bundle of food. She pointed out the way again. Sabas and the boys wished him Godspeed.

Then with his bundle over one shoulder and Beauty perched on the other, he started on his journey.

It proved more than a three days’ journey to the village. And one day Peter, himself, made a closer acquaintance with the terrible Turks than he desired. Fortunately he was traveling through a barren country, and the Turks were marching straight ahead instead of spreading out over the country. When he first heard the noise of their approach, he left the road, and hid among the wild growth on the hillside. Had they been scouting, Peter’s story would have ended right there. But they marched past and the boy lay safe. Three times he was obliged to go into hiding because of bands of Turks. At first he feared that the village might be no longer standing. But he soon realized that they were coming from the East. After awhile he crossed their trail and saw no more of them.

Five days passed before he completed his journey, and