The Black Cross

away shafts of light, like arrows silver-tipped, shot from an unseen quiver. In the distance, the snow fields stretched

es of Béla?a rose dark and mysterious in their roundness, like a patch of giant toadstools, shadowy and strange. The air was damp and a cold wind blew over the snow dri

ar now,

ds of your cloak you will see the dom

Vela

e, fluttering like a leaf that is tossed hither and th

heart. Come closer, Kaya, and let me put my arm around you. Your body sways like a frail stem, a flower. You are stumbling an

ls before my eyes and blinds them. Is that the d

onderful the way you have tramped the w

a little by the snow, and numb. That is nothin

r! Put your head down and battle with it. The demon! Keep behind me

co; is it safe, do you think? Th

why

Velasco, with my-with my

ur breath comes in jerk

Velas

never in the snow-fields and the market-places. Kaya, we

-Vela

some smaller station-Dvis

lasco, b

ial. We will fill them in together: two gypsies, one dark and one fair. Ha, Kaya-keep up-a littl

ee! Everything whirls before me in

climb slowly and the shafts had grown suddenly yellow. Across the icy surface of the pond the wind whistled, lashing him in the face as with a wh

other despairing glance around; then he lifted the form in his stiffening arms and carried it slowl

light; by the side of the road houses appeared, straggling at first, then nearer together. Suddenly, be

?-

ched. It was a cart, roughly set on runners, drawn by a pair of long-haired

in sheep-skin and smoking a short,

adjaga?" he cried. His voice was hardly dis

kin, let me lay my comrade in the cart! He is faint with the cold, benumbed. We have tramp

to see the sun. Get in, Bradjaga, and if the burden in your arms is no corpse it will soon become one! The night has been hell. Bózhe

f the cart, his violin and the knapsack slung from his shoulders; his arms still clasping the slight

-your heart beats faster-your eye-lids are flickering! Another moment and you will be warm and safe. The lights

rose above the distant tree-tops; and behind the stables a cock began to

nd that something was choking her and weighing on her breast; but when she tried to move her limbs, she found that it was the blankets, wrapping her

ya faintly, "You are

at has happened?" she said again, "Where are we? I thought we were tramping through the sn

t. You opened your eyes once, and then when we laid you on the straw you fell asleep. You slept so long I was frightened, Kaya-if it had not been for your jacket moving under

e is it,

into the court and now, in another

llow curls, and then she looked at

rmured, "Is this what you call an in

s a s

gypsey," she said, "Your clothes are ragged and torn, Velasco; they are wo

aga, sweet, and disr

rom her velveteen trousers and the sleeves of her jacket. "They wouldn't let us

the floor, dusting it with her elbow and cramming it down on the

copecks, and some honey-cake. At sun-down, when the peasants come for their vodka, there will be a dance. They have never danced to

comrade by the arm and pulled h

Oh, I feel the honey-cak

e it yo

deep; it is like

. You thief! Ah, take your fing

es are slits and disappear under your brows, and now-Velasco, turn your h

d then you sh

the straw. "I am a boy," she said softly, pa

once,

Vela

with cob-webs; the light came through it dimly, a shaft of sun-beams dancing on the floor; they

o-Vel

t is mine! The colour has come back to your cheeks and the light to your eyes. You slept while I guarded you. My eyes were heavy, but I dared not shut them; I watched the folds of your jacket rising and falling, the

ain, and his dark eyes gazed into h

Ka

her hand and

piece of the bread, Velasco, and we will talk a little together while we eat. We have been such good comrades, you and

you in my arms! Come to me an

strong! Not on the lips-Velasco-not on

ce you-how can I? Your hands are struggling in mine, but they are soft like the down on a bird's breast! Some day you will come to me, Kaya, some day-when you love me too. When-ah!

my big brother! Laugh, Velasco! Smile at me! When you look like that and come so close, I am frightened! Don't tease me any

Kaya? Look me in th

ll by itself,-cradled so snug and so warm? It is charming to be a gypsey, Velasco. Are you glad I came to you, or are you sorry? That night, do you re

a-Ka

. When it is time for the dance I will wake you. I will sit here close

t you

eep, Vela

t my eyes

us

m under his head, his young limbs stretched in the straw, asleep. He murmured and tossed uneasily. There was

m in the straw. She moved without rustling, drawing i

erself, "He does it for me! His hands have been frozen-for me! They were

the loft, and then bent over him,

he breathed, "He

pressing her lips to the scratches. He murmured again, tossing uneasily; and she fell backwards

in the dusk I will wake him. He will play for the dancing-Velasco! The g

? If I had known!-God, save him! Give him back his life and his art that he has given to me. Give it all back to him

enched teeth; staring at him,

ela