Maggerli, that was going to be killed in a horrible way with a knife,
and he could prevent it if he kept silent. Even now the little kid was
lying so trustfully beside him, as if, she knew that he would always
keep it; no, he could not let this happen, he must try to save it.

"Yes, I will, Jorgli," he said, but without any enthusiasm.

"Then it is a bargain!" and Jorgli offered his hand to Moni, that
he might seal the argument, as that was the only way to make a
promise binding.

Jorgli was very glad that now his secret was safe; but as Moni had
become so quiet, and he had much farther to go to reach home than
Moni, he considered it well to start along with his two goats. He said
good-night to Moni and whistled for his two companions, which meanwhile
had joined Moni's grazing goats, but not without much pushing and other
doubtful behavior between the two parties, for the goats from Fideris
had never heard that they ought to be polite to visitors and the goats
from Kublis did not know that they ought not to seek out the best plants
or push the others away from them, when they were visiting. When Jorgli
had gone some distance down the mountain, Moni also started along with
his flock, but he was very still and neither sang a note nor whistled,
all the way home.




CHAPTER IV

MONI CAN NO LONGER SING