Page:The Gypsy Lad of Roumania (1914).djvu/24

22 away. The wounded wolf was overcoming its fear, and drawing nearer. But Peter succeeded at last in getting the child up where it clung to the horse’s mane tightly enough so that he could use one free hand to help himself. The wolf slunk after them half-heartedly, but they soon emerged upon the broad slope before the castle.

Here a frantic nurse came running to meet them. She seized the child with caresses and reproaches, declaring she had left him but a moment, but he was such a run-away that it was impossible to keep him in sight.

Peter judged himself quite authority enough to utter a dignified reproach.

“Then you would do well to give all your time to keep him in sight,” he said. “Had I been a moment later entering the glade, a wolf would have seized him.”

The nurse, and two or three other women who had joined her, cried out in horror. Looking at their pale faces, Peter thought the child would be more closely watched in the future.

Peter rode on past the castle, and down to the camp. He sought out Fontanus, and some of the other men of his village, delivering messages and gifts. However, he said nothing of his adventure with the wolf. Justus, coming upon him, cried in good-natured teasing. “Here is young David come to the camp with food for his brethren. Now if he could but slay a Goliath of the enemy! See, he has his bow and arrows along all ready for it.”

Peter laughed with him, but held his peace about the use to which he had already put an arrow.