Stranica 89 [89]
OCR
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 country 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
