eft them seated on the grass and busy arranging the flowers they had
gathered.

It seemed a long time before he gained the summit, and the young women
grew tired of sitting still in one place. Anna, true miner's daughter
that she was, spied some scattered bits of carnelian in the rubble near
by, and pointed them out to Blanka. Agate and chalcedony were also to be
found among the loose stones, and often the three occurred together.
Both Anna and her companion were soon busy gathering these treasures and
pocketing the rarest specimens. Indeed, so intent were they on their
work that they failed to note the approach of a strange man, until he
stood within fifty paces of them. Whence could he have come? Had he been
concealed behind some rock? What was his purpose in thus stealing on the
two unprotected women? He wore the Wallachian peasant costume,--a high
cap of white lamb's wool, from beneath which his long, black hair hung
down over his shoulders, a leather dolman, without sleeves, a broad belt
with buckles, under which his shirt extended half-way to his knees, and
laced shoes. He carried a scythe over one shoulder, and stood with his
back to the sun, so that his features could not be clearly
distinguished.

The young women seized each other by the hand, and uttered a cry of
alarm. The sight of the strange figure seemed to work on them like a
nightmare, or like the ghost of some one known in life, but long since
laid to rest in the grave. At first the man appeared to be as badly
frightened as the young ladies. He halted, gave a start as of surprise,
opened his mouth to speak, and then stood dumb, with staring eyes. For
several seconds he seemed undecided what to do next. Then he put himself
in motion and advanced toward the ladies, his face at the same time
assuming a wild, demoniac expression. He lowered his scythe from his
shoulder, and grasped it in his right hand.

At that moment there sounded from the height above the trumpet-like peal
of Aaron's horn.

"Aaron! Aaron!" cried both young women in concert and with all their
strength.

The intruder, taking fright at sound of the horn and at the name, stood
still and threw a look behind.

"Run, _frate_!"[1] shouted Aaron from above, already descrying the man.

[Footnote 1: Rumanian for "brother."]

But the latter, counting with safety on a considerable interval before
Aaron could descend, started once more toward Anna and Blanka. Only
twenty paces now intervened