bout a law-suit, at the conclusion of which it came
about that he belonged neither to the mother nor the father. Finally,
he came to the castle of Lord Gemer, and from there the doctor sent
him to the mountains because he was like a candle that was ready to go
out. About his father he knew only that he was somewhere far away, and
had already a second wife and two boys. It seemed to him he was as
much of an orphan as Petrik. The dog Fido didn't remember his mother
either, because he had hardly begun to run about the kennel when a
wild boar killed her. Thus it is not surprising that all three loved
each other.

For Ondrejko they built a special room beside the shepherd's hut.
There were three large sheepfolds, and "Bacha" Filina had charge
of them all. Ondrejko had in his room a real bed, and a spare one
prepared for the doctor when he came to see him; but, because he was
rather lonesome, he preferred to sleep with Petrik on the hay, and
because Fido couldn't follow them to the loft up the ladder, he at
least guarded the ladder so nothing would happen to the boys. Bacha
Filina was a large man like a giant. His face was aged and stern; all
his teeth were still perfectly white and he had not a single gray
hair; but, strangely, his eyebrows began to get gray. But, when he
creased his forehead above his eagle-like black eyes which could see
everything far and wide, it seemed as if storm-clouds were gathering.
Not only both the boys, but everybody else was afraid of these
storm-clouds, even the herdsmen and the sheep, as well as the
longhaired, fourfooted guards of the sheepfold. Bacha Filina did not
get mad easily, but when he did, it was worthwhile. Though Ondrejko
was the son of his lord, Bacha Filina didn't let him get by with
anything. The boy had not been taught to obey; however, Filina taught
him this hard lesson without scolding him or touching him with even
one finger. When the doctor brought him to the mountains he said to
Bacha, "What this boy needs is to eat black bread and drink whey. He
has been raised on fancy foods and they do not agree with him. It
would be good for him to wash in cold water, but he is afraid to get
wet. You must not worry about him being a Lord Gemer because it is a
question of his health."

"Oh, that!" said the Bacha, wrinkling his forehead, "I am able to
handle such a little brat"--and he was. The first few days Ondrejko
did not dare resist this big man in anything, and now he would not