were tending a drove of horses feeding in the plain below. They had
kindled a large fire, and were busily cooking their morning meal.

"I had no fears of their intentionally betraying me, and the fact of
their cooking arrangements made me suspect that they were some way from
home, so that they would not speak of me thoughtlessly, and thus get me
into trouble. I was very soon among them.

"`My dear boys,' said I, `I am a wayfarer, hungry and weary; can you
spare me some of your food?'

"They all looked at me earnestly for a minute before one of them spoke,
as if they would learn if I was telling the truth. Then, satisfied
apparently, they all found their tongues together.

"`Gladly, gladly, stranger, whoever you are. Come and sit down and
rest--you are welcome.'

"Ah! The candour and heartiness of youth before bitter experience has
taught it to mistrust the world is very delightful. They were boiling
potatoes. They had a large can of milk with them. The potatoes were
just cooked. One of the lads plunged his long knife into the cauldron,
and drew out a potato at the point. He presented it to me, with some
salt, in a dish. There were eight lads in all, fine intelligent
fellows, not serfs, but sons of freemen, small farmers and others: The
occupation in which they were engaged is looked upon as honourable. It
is highly exciting and interesting. Their herds were feeding together
near them. The moment one was seen to stray, one or two lads threw
themselves on their own steeds, which they kept tethered near, and
galloped off in pursuit of the straggler. They had, too, to defend
their cattle from the wolves--often hazardous work. They offered me
some milk, and then each lad helped himself to some potatoes; they had
an abundance cooked, so that I was not depriving them of their food.
They were all light-hearted and communicative. They told me how they
had been startled in the night by unearthly sounds, and whence they
proceeded they could not tell.

"`Not tell!' said one, looking up from his dish of potatoes. `We did
not see what it was, but we can tell well enough. It was the _Vodainoi_
calling to us from the neighbouring river, trying to tempt us to come
near, that she might draw us into the water. She has drowned many
people in that way. Why she does it I do not know. Perhaps she wants
their souls to destroy them; perhaps their bodies, to eat them. She is
very beautiful, all clothed in green garme