had perforce to grasp the stem of a bush with one hand to
support herself. Yet while the blood was gone from her face,
there had formed in the hollows where her eyes had been two
lakes of blue.

"See how he is sleeping!" she murmured.

And, true enough, the child was sound asleep, though to my eyes
he looked much as any other baby might have done, save that the
couch of autumn leaves on which he was ensconced consisted of
leaves of a kind which could not have been discovered in the
faraway forests of Orlov.

"Now, do you yourself lie down awhile," was my advice.

"Oh, no," she replied with a shake of her head on its sinuous
neck; "for I must be collecting my things before I move on
towards--"

"Towards Otchenchiri"

"Yes. By now my folk will have gone many a verst in that
direction."

"And can you walk so far? "

"The Holy Mother will help me."

Yes, she was to journey in the company of the Mother of God. So
no more on the point required to be said.