oking at the cows, as they would always have reminded me of such a
melancholy accident."

"Very true, Humphrey; but you have been saved that misfortune, and ought
to be grateful to Heaven that such is the case. What shall we do with
him now we have him?"

"Why, if he chooses to remain with us, he will be very useful in the
cow-yard," said Humphrey.

"Of course," replied Edward, laughing, "as he was taken in the pit-fall,
he must go into the yard with all he others who were captured in the
same way."

"Well, Edward, let us get him all right again first, and then we will
see what is to be done with him; perhaps he will refuse to remain with
us."

As soon as they arrived at the cottage they lifted the lad out of the
cart, and carried him into Jacob's room, and laid him on the bed, for he
was too weak to stand.

Alice and Edith, who were much surprised at the new visitor, and the way
in which he had been caught, hastened to get some gruel ready for him.
As soon as it was ready they gave it to the boy, who then fell back on
the bed with exhaustion, and was soon in a sound sleep. He slept
soundly all that night; and the next morning, when he awoke, he appeared
much better, although very hungry. This last complaint was easy to
remedy, and then the lad got up and walked into the sitting-room.

"What's your name?" said Humphrey to the lad.

"Pablo," replied the lad.

"Can you speak English?"

"Yes, little," replied he.

"How did you happen to fall into the pit?"

"Not see hole."

"Are you a gipsy?"

"Yes, Gitano--same thing."

Humphrey put a great many more questions to the lad, and elicited from
him, in his imperfect English, the following particulars.

That he was in company with several others of his race, going down to
the sea-coast on one of their usual migrations, and that they had
pitched their tents not far from the pit-fall. That during the night he
had gone out to set some snares for rabbits, and going back to the
tents, it being quite dark, he had fallen into the hole. That he had
remained there three days and nights, having in vain attempted to get
out. His mother was with the party of gipsies to which he belonged; but
he had no father. He did not know where to follow the gang, as they had
not said where they were going, farther than to the sea-coast. That it
was no use looking for them; and that he did not care much about leaving
them, as he was very unkindly treated. In reply to the q