Zacharias Papantoniou

“ Bathing Of all the children the one who loves water the most is Panos. He sits under the fountain naked and bathes. If he finds a tank on the road, he's capable of undressing and diving into it.
Mr Stephan called him Dipper-Panos.
The Dipper, isn't that a bird that goes mad for water? If he hears water flowing, he whistles in his cage. And if Panos hears water, he jumps for joy.
As soon as he heard we would go to the mill for flour, how excited he was! ”

“ He goes to the mill by himself. He understands just like a person. He now knows where the children want to go. He's an animal that walks self-confidently on the edge of precipices. He sees in the dark, and remembers all the paths he's taken in the night.
And how his copper bell echoes in the ravines!
They had been walking for about an hour.
“Can you hear, boys?” said Costakis stopping. The others too stopped to listen. A noise reached their ears.
“Water!” said the children.
Costakis, still, cocked his ear, and as he heard so much water, he cried thrilled: “The Roumelle!” ”

“ On the banks on both sides plane trees profited from the water. Beside them other trees bent down to drink.
The river widened here to form a pool, on whose bed they could see even the smallest pebble. Elsewhere there were terraces of glistening stones. The water came down the steps making white waterfalls.
Hardly had they had time to look, when the children saw Panis get undressed and go into the water.
“No, no! They shouted to him; you'll get cold. Get out of there!”
Panos went in even further. He hit the water with his hands, splashed his body, stuck his head in the water. ”