Translation:The High Mountains/10

They arrived at the Green Wood late in the evening.

In the middle of the pines, eight huts were waiting for them. That was their little village!

How small and wretched the huts seemed! They had to bend down to get inside.

—What? Are we going to stay here? they asked.

—What sort of doors are these? said one.

—We'll just have one room then? asked the others.

—Where's the bed?

—There isn't even a chair!

It's true that the shelters had nothing much. Each cabin was one room made of branches, just enough to protect its occupants from the wind and rain.

—Andreas, said Costakis, how can we stay here?

Andreas started to laugh. “You'll see how you'll get to like it too! he said. I'm used to my cabin and wouldn't change it for a house”

Costakis eyed one hut then another, he went into all and paced around to find the best one, but none seemed good enough. Kaloyannis and Matthias ducked into the biggest hut and announced: “This is it, this one's ours!”

—Hey, get out of there, said Costakis, you've taken my house.

—What? This is your hut?

—It's the one I intend to have.

—You may intend to, but we're already in it, said Kaloyannis

—You see Costakis, said Mr Stephan, if you hesitate too long, you'll end up with no house at all.

Andreas put him in a cabin with two others and then decided for all of them where each person was going to go.

They unloaded their packs and started to take away their own belongings: bedcovers, clothes, packets of food, small bags, cans which they carried away and gradually arranged them inside.

“If only we had a cupboard........, they said. A shelf, a clothes chest.....”

As time passed they realised however that they could in fact do without them.

After having prepared their little homes, they went out to see the forest. At this hour the sun was setting and the tree trunks shone with a red glow.

Some tall old trees surrounded them, also others young and all green. A lot of undergrowth covered the ground.

In a short time all this forest was filled with darkness.

Then, alone in the night, the young travellers felt they needed each other.

Tired as they were, they fell asleep on the dry branches which served as mattresses.

But while they softly closed their eyes, the crowing of a cock was heard. The little cock which they had brought from the town had started to crow. As they had just freed it and it was stiff, he called “cock-a-doodle-doo!” as if it were morning. This cry was so unexpected that the children burst out laughing.

“Is it already time to get up?” they exclaimed.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo!” crowed the cock again, but this time in a hoarse voice.

But even though this cock wanted to bring in the morning, the children were tired and fell fast asleep.