endearment than anything else, to the generally loved and
respected physician who was the head of the insane asylum. He had become
general mentor and oracle of all the village and was known and loved by
man, woman and child.

"It's possible," answered Janci.

"His Reverence didn't look very well yesterday, or maybe the old
housekeeper has the gout again."

Janci gave a grunt which might have meant anything. The shepherd was a
silent man. Being alone so much had taught him to find his own thoughts
sufficient company. Ten minutes passed in silence since Margit's last
question, then some one went past the window. There were two people this
time, Liska and the old doctor. They were walking very fast, running
almost. Margit sprang up and hurried to the door to look after them.

Janci sat still in his place, but he had laid aside his spoon and with
wide eyes was staring ahead of him, murmuring, "It's the pastor this
time; I saw him--just as I did the others."

"Shepherd, the inn-keeper wants to see you, there's something the matter
with his cow." Count ---- a young man, coming from the other direction
and pushing in at the door past Margit, who stood there staring up the
road.

Janci was so deep in his own thoughts that he apparently did not hear
the boy's words. At all events he did not answer them, but himself asked
an unexpected question--a question that was not addressed to the others
in the room, but to something out and beyond them. It was a strange
question and it came from the lips of a man whose mind was not with his
body at that moment--whose mind saw what others did not see.

"Who will be the next to go? And who will be our pastor now?"

These were Janci's words.

"What are you talking about, shepherd? Is it another one of your
visions?" exclaimed the young fellow who stood there before him. Janci
rubbed his hands over his eyes and seemed to come down to earth with a
start.

"Oh, is that you, Ferenz? What do you want of me?"

The boy gave his message again, and Janci nodded good-humouredly and
followed him out of the house. But both he and his young companion were
very thoughtful as they plodded along the way. The boy did not dare
to ask any questions, for he knew that the shepherd was not likely to
answer. There was a silent understanding among the villagers that no one
should annoy Janci in any way, for they stood in a strange awe of him,
although he was the most good-natured mortal under the sun.