losing them, as each wore a tiny bell round the neck, which, tinkling at
every movement, warned the boy of the straggler; a call invariably
brought it back, though often by a circuitous route, enabling the animal
to keep beyond the reach of the whip, which Stephan lashed about with
boyish enjoyment.

Noon found the goats encamped under the shade of some tall pine-trees,
and Stephan Reindel was busily arranging a bunch of bright red
cranberries at the side of his hat, when a shot arrested his attention.
He jumped up, and with boyish curiosity explored the pine wood; but
fearing to go too far on account of his flock, he was returning, when a
second shot followed by a sharp cry, convinced him it was some hunter
who had driven his game much lower down than was at all usual. The
second report had sounded so near that he continued his fruitless search
till it was time to go home, when, as usual, he drove his flock back by
five o'clock.

Directly they entered the village, each goat trotted off to its own
abode, and Stephan to his, where, after eating his supper of black bread
and cheese, he sat listlessly watching his mother varnish violins, by
which she earned a trifle every week. This was due to the kindness of
the chief manufacturer in the village, who, since her husband's death,
had supplied her regularly with some of the light work usually performed
by women, and to which she was well accustomed, having frequently
assisted her husband, who had been one of Herr Dahn's best workmen, and
whose death had left her entirely dependent on her own exertions for the
support of herself and child; for the last two years, however, Stephan
had bravely earned his mite by taking daily care of the goats belonging
to the whole valley. He was now discussing with his mother the
possibility of his ever being able to maintain them both by following