Translation:The High Mountains/14

A young Vlach was running towards them calling the dog. He came up, caught the dog by the fur on his neck, and raising his shepherd's crook, pretended to hit the dog.

The dog sat down and rolled into a ball. The young Vlach was a little child, the dog twice as big as him.

“Where is old Athanase's hut?” asked the children.

The young Vlach showed them the huts with his hand. He followed them holding the dog and they went down together.

—Is old Athanase of your family?

—Grandpa

—Which hut do you live in? The young Vlach replied again with his hand. He raised it and showed a hut.

At the entrance there was a young girl.

She wore clogs, a belt, an embroidered apron. She had brown eyes, the same as the young shepherd.

—Who's that? The children asked the young Vlach.

—Aphrodo.

—Is she your sister?

—Yeah

—Have you got any other brothers and sisters?

—Na

—Is your father here?

The young Vlach slid his tongue between his teeth and said “um”.

He wasn't for long speeches. At the beginning he said some words, now it was limited to yeah, na and um. As much as to say that they were finished with this conversation. For more than this wouldn't make much sense.

Meanwhile pretty Aphrodo welcomed the children and invited them into the hut.

When they saw it, they were astonished. It was so homely! A real house.

“This is some cabin, Phanis! Not like ours!” said Dimos.

Aphrodo smiled.

—If we had sheep and goats as well, ours would be nice too, said Phanis.

—You have houses down there which are permanent, said the young Vlach ; and as well you know how to read, which isn't the case with us. Lambros, why are you staying at the door? Come inside and see these charming children.”

—Um! Lambros said again, and he hung his head digging the soil with his clog. Then he took up his stick and left.