which he had seen when he came out into the clearing upon the back of
Brutus. And this picture, with queer variations, filled the foreground
of Gigi's dreaming.




X

THE HERMIT

_They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the
sea_.--HOLY WRIT.


For three days Gigi lay on the pallet of the good Hermit, near to
death. And for three days the great dog lay on guard by his side. The
Hermit went softly to and fro, taking tender care of the boy and giving
him medicine made from wonderful herbs which he had found in the woods.
Often he knelt in a corner of the hut, before a rude wooden Cross, and
said prayers; this seemed to give him strength for his work and hope
for its result. So that when he rose, his face would be bright and
happy.

This was he doing the third morning when Gigi awoke, feeling better.
The ache was gone from his limbs and the dizziness from his head. He
awoke with a long sigh, and for the first time since he lay down on the
Hermit's pallet he looked around him with interest. At first he did
not know where he was.