hat he learned at the beginning of the world, and that he always uses
in every land, among every people.

It was but a few moments later when Gigi was awakened suddenly by a
touch on his shoulder. The boy opened his eyes and stared about,
bewildered. He did not know where he was. Who was this bending over
him in the dim light? Not Tonio; not Cecco; not the Giant? Then he
recognized Mother Margherita, stooping low with a pitiful expression on
her face. She had a little bundle in her hand.

"Get up, Gigi," she whispered. "You must be off. My man is so angry!
He vows he will take you to the village to-day and give you up to your
masters. He thinks you are a thief, Gigi. But I do not believe that
you stole the silver piece."

"The silver piece!" cried Gigi, still more bewildered.

"Sh!" cautioned the woman, laying a hand on his lips. "Giuseppe must
not know that I am here. He sleeps still. When we counted the money
in the bag we found it short by one piece of silver, besides the one I
gave you. That was my own to do with as I chose. But he believes that
you stole another when you were holding the bag for me, hiding under my
skirts."

"I did not take it!" cried Gigi, wide-awake now. "Oh, I would not
steal from you,--not from you, the only person who was ever kind to me!"

"There, there! I told him so!" said the good woman soothingly. "I
told him I must have lost it at the market when I was making change for
somebody. But he will not believe. You must be off, Gigi, before he
wakes, or you will have to go back to those cruel fellows. Giuseppe is
so set! Like a mule he is when he is angry!"

Gigi sprang to his feet and looked wildly around. "Where shall I go?
What shall I do?" he asked.

Mother Margherita looked at the pale little lad and her eyes filled.
"Poor little fellow!" she sighed. "Suppose you were one of my boys,
Beppo or Paolo! But we must lose no time"; and she dashed the tears
from her eyes. "Here is your cloak to hide that gaudy dress. And here
is a bundle of food,--all I could spare without the good man's
knowledge. For it must seem that you have run away of your own accord.
I know that will make him sure that you are a thief. But I dare not
let him guess that I have warned you and helped you to escape. You do
not know Giuseppe's anger!--Farewell, dear little lad, and may the
Saints have you in their keeping."

She led him to the door and pointed out the direction, in the gr