Stranica 89 [89]
THE: CAST CGE S OB LIEE
to his feet, without daring to caress him, for he felt how
much he was to blame.
“Master,” said he, "what will become of us? Night is
approaching and we are so far from Peestum! "
“We must go,” said the child, and he rose; but he
was so weak that he was obliged to sit down again.
A burning thirst devoured him; he was feverish and
everything whirled before his eyes. He thought of
his grandmother, and began to weep. What was poor
Graceful’s remorse for having so soon forgotten such
fair promises, and condemned himself to die in a coun¬
try from which there was no return, and all this for
the bright eyes of a doe! How sadly ended the day so
well begun!
Sinister howls were soon heard; the brothers of the King
of the Wolves were calling him and coming to his aid.
Graceful embraced Fido, his only friend, and forgave him
the imprudence for which they were both about to pay
with their lives; then loaded his musket, offered up a
prayer to the good fairies, commended his grandmother to
them, and prepared to die.
“Graceful! Graceful! where are you?" cried a little voice
that could be none other than Pensive’s, and the swallow
alighted on the head of her master.
“Courage!”’ said she; "the wolves are still far off. There
is a spring close by where you can quench your thirst and
63