In this basin were set
up several squalid tents, about which the gipsies were squatting.
They set up a yell of surprise as the two boys were brought in.
"Where under the sun did you find them, Beppo?" exclaimed the same woman
who had so cruelly ill-treated The Wren the time the boys rescued her.
"Oh, they were just taking a stroll, and happened to stroll in here,"
said Beppo viciously.
"I guess they won't have a chance to bother us again. They're going to
make quite a stay here."
The gipsies set up a taunting laugh. Suddenly, from one of the tents,
a tiny figure darted.
"Oh, I knew you'd come! I knew you'd come," it cried.
It was the poor little Wren. She had been stripped of her nice clothes
and put into some filthy rags, her face was stained with crying and
there was a bruise on her forehead.
With a curse Beppo seized the child by one arm, swung her round and
dealt her a savage box on the ear.
"Get back where you belong!" he roared.
The next instant Beppo had measured his length on the ground and beneath
one of his eyes a beautiful plum-colored swelling was developing.
Pages:
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194