Zelia Margaret Walters

“ When another month had passed, Peter no longer felt like a boy. He had looked upon danger and battle. He had seen war in its cruelest form. He had prayed fervently for peace, and yet he knew why these men would fight until the last one fell. For peace with the Turk as ruler would be worse than war. Things had been going badly for the Roumanian forces. The Turks were pouring an overwhelming number across the borders. When Stephen, at his wits’ end, divided his forces to guard several points, the different detachments were defeated. ”

“ There came a time when the faces of men and women were troubled. Even the boys and girls gathered in anxious groups. Prince Stephen had sent messengers, commanding all the men to gather into an army to repel a great invasion of the Turks. Peter had heard much of Prince Stephen before this, and the brave young ruler had become the boy’s hero. When he went to the top of the high hill beyond the pasture, he could see the turrets of Prince Stephen’s great fortified castle. ”

“ Once, when he was almost ready to give up, and steal away to the woods, Sabas spoke a word of praise to him in the field.
“For thy years,” he said, “I never saw so good a workman. You drive the ox as steadily as a man, and the creature likes you, I think, for he does your bidding as he does not mine.”
Peter’s heart swelled until he thought it would burst. “A good workman!” he sang to himself. “That’s worth while!”
On another discouraging day, Maria met him when he came home, and presented him with a gift. It was a homespun smock such as the men wore. ”

“ We’ll tell them that they dare not come home defeated,” cried Peter.
So in the forest the two paused, and the prince planned the campaign. Then he rode one way and Peter another. Some new spirit of faith made the men respond. Before night they had gathered a company that was growing hourly. They took up a position in a mountain pass, and when the Turks, flushed with victory, came upon them, the men fought with a strength that was invincible. The Turks rolled back. The Roumanians, heartened by victory, pursued, and pressed them to the very borders of the country. ”

“ Then the prince told the story as he had heard it from the women. Men from the castle had gone into the glade, and found the dead wolf. Fontanus bade the lad go into the prince’s service with his blessing. Peter was glad but for one thing. He managed to murmur a question as to who would take care of the cattle for Helena. But Fontanus said they would send for an uncle, too old for warfare, but quite strong enough for that work. ”

“ Then he would come to a village of tall houses. He was to ask for one Boerasa Helena, the wife of Fontanus. She was Maria’s foster sister, and when he said that Maria, the wife of Sabas, had sent him, she would be sure to take him in. “They are rich,” concluded Maria, “and you will not go hungry or cold with them.”
At first Peter protested, and begged to go along and share their hardships. But at length Maria said, “I command you, my son.”
So Peter hushed his protest. Maria gave him his best clothes, which he put on. When he was ready she handed him a bundle of food. ”

“ Whenever he tried to put the child on the horse it would start away. The wounded wolf was overcoming its fear, and drawing nearer. But Peter succeeded at last in getting the child up where it clung to the horse’s mane tightly enough so that he could use one free hand to help himself. The wolf slunk after them half-heartedly, but they soon emerged upon the broad slope before the castle. ”

“ He would have plunged into the wood, and gone farther away, but for a reason most important to a healthy, growing boy. It was dinner time, and the smell from those kettles, bubbling out in the open air, was so tempting that he could not summon courage enough to go. ”

“ Before dawn they were on the way again, and soon rode up before the castle. The drawbridge was up, the gate was closed. Armed guards patrolled the walls, and early as it was there were women on the turret. When they looked over, Peter could see that they were the mother and wife of Stephen, with their maidens. Peter’s heart was pierced with a fresh grief. There was the lovely and gracious Princess Zaida, all of whose family had been slain by the Turks. Was such a fate hanging over her head, too? Peter thought frantically that he
He understood now that there was no welcome home for him. ”

“ Even as he gazed, she looked up and met his eyes.
“I will take care of Beauty for you while you work,” she said. “I will guard him carefully.”
“You are very good, boerasa,” he said. “I thank you with my heart.” ”

“ When I came back the hare was burned on one side, and he beat me, and said as soon as he could lay hands on my dove he would kill it and eat it. And you know, Taka, it comes flying to my shoulder whenever it sees me, so he can easily catch it if I stay in his tent. So I have decided to run away. ”

“ On these days the men came from the fields early, and after supper, all the village gathered while the men and boys drilled. They practiced shooting with bows and arrows, charged imaginary enemies and marched in ordered ranks. ”

“ He had no mother in the camp to save something for him, or to seek him out with some food. There was just one person who might be kindly disposed in the face of the chief’s wrath. Peter waited until everyone else was busy with dinner, and then creeping near the tent of the old woman who befriended him, he called softly from his shelter, “Taka! ”