VII

THE WANDERER

With a lump in his throat, Gigi left the only roof that had ever shown
him kindness. In the gray dawn he crept out to the highroad. There
was no time to be lost, for already the east was growing pink, and soon
the sun would be making long shadows on the open road. Giuseppe would
surely spy him and bring him back.

As soon as he was outside the farm enclosure, Gigi began to run. But
he found that he was stiff and sore from his fall of the day before,
and from the many beatings which he had received of late. Every bone
in his body ached, and especially his head, which throbbed so as to
make him faint. Still he ran on. For more than anything else he
feared being captured and sent back to the Gypsies.

At last Gigi came to the great tree where branched the cross-road to
the north. Here he turned aside. Then he drew a deep breath, feeling
safer. He ceased running, and presently, being hungry and tired, 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 dinner and supper.
He looked at the remnant of bread and cheese longingly, but at last
wrapped it up and put it back into the little pouch which, as was the
custom in those times, he wore at his belt.

The lane upon which he was now traveling was shadier than the highroad,
and as he went on the trees grew even taller and bigger. Apparently
the way was leading through the outskirts of a forest. The lane was