John of the Woods

crept out to the highroad. There was no time to be lost, for already the east was growing pink, and soo

before, and from the many beatings which he had received of late. Every bone in his body ached, and especially his head, which thr

d, he sat down upon a stone and opened the bundle which Mother Margherita had given him. He found bread and cheese, and began to eat greedily, until he remembered that he knew not where he should find

even taller and bigger. Apparently the way was leading through the outskirts of a forest. The lane was

as a sound; yes, there certainly was a sound on

nto the forest, and began to run wildly through the underbrush. He did not care in

stones which seemed to rise up on purpose to delay him; torn by briars and tripped by clutching vines. But always he ran on

He was too tired to move, but lay there motionless, and presently he fell into a troubled sleep. When he awoke with a start, it was growing dark, and he was

ttage. But how was he to know which way to go? He looked up and around him in despair. He was in the midst of the wi

n the forests. In those days, all over Europe bears and wolves and many kinds of wild beasts, large and small, wandered wherever there were trees and hiding-places;

ad. Once more he crawled to his feet and began to stagger through the darkness, groping with his hand

rstand, and which set his heart to knocking fearfully; the cracking of twigs far off and near at hand; little scurries in the underbrush as he approached; now and then the crash of something bounding through th

n Gigi could bear. He fainted, and fell