The Meadow Brook Girls Across Country Part 29

"Don't pay any attention to that old lunatic," he shouted to his companions. "She can't hurt you. Get the stuff and be quick about it."

But he had reckoned without his host. Raising her head, Sybarina sent a long shrill call echoing across the fields. Even in the excitement of the moment Harriet realized that it was a signal. A second later the call was answered.

"Skip!" warned the leader of the tramps. "It's Gipsies. We'll have the whole lot to fight if we don't light out!"

At this juncture five dark swarthy men came running across the fields.

With one accord the tramps took to their heels. The Gipsies started in pursuit of them, but the tramps had a lead of several yards and fear lending wings to their feet, they soon outdistanced their pursuers who finally abandoned the chase and returned to where Sybarina stood, surrounded by the Meadow-Brook Girls and their guardian.

Harriet sprang eagerly forward to thank their rescuers, but Sybarina waved her aside. Turning to the Gipsy men she spoke a few sharp words in the Romany tongue. The men nodded, talked among themselves for a moment then turned and strolled off in the direction whence they had come.

"Oh, Sybarina!" cried Harriet disappointedly. "Why didn't you let me thank them for chasing those tramps away?"

"I, their queen, have commended them. That is sufficient," returned Sybarina proudly. "They need no thanks for obeying my commands."

"Then we must thank you doubly," smiled Harriet, holding out her hand to the old Gipsy. "What would we have done if you had not been near?"

"It is well," replied Sybarina earnestly, taking Harriet's hand in both of hers. "But you must come with Sybarina. You must not stay here alone this night. The bad men will return again. But Sybarina's men will stay here and watch for them. You and your kind friends will go with Sybarina to her camp."

"But how did you happen to find us?" questioned Miss Elting.

"Sybarina has eyes. Did those eyes not see the patteran (trail of gra.s.s)? Did she not read the message of the patteran that all of her tribe know? Where did you learn to make the patteran that leads the Gipsy toward the land where the sun goes down?"

"She means the gra.s.s that we dropped in the road," explained Harriet.

The old woman nodded.

"The patteran," she reiterated.

"Why," laughed Harriet. "We did that so that our friend Jane McCarthy would know where we had gone."

"Then there is Romany in your blood. None but the people of the Romany would think of such a thing. Where is the other princess?" questioned the queen, glancing about.

"Miss McCarthy has gone to meet her father," Miss Elting informed the old woman. "But we have not thanked you enough for the great service that you have done us."

"It is nothing. Did not the princess save Sybarina's miserable life? The debt is still unpaid. Many summers will come, and many summers will go, ere the debt is paid. Sybarina never will live to pay it. Her people will remember. The Romany has a long memory, princess. Come, pretty ladies, come to the camp of the Gipsy. It is not good that you should stay the night here. To-morrow night, yes, but not this night."

"What do you say, girls?" questioned Miss Elting.

"Spend a night in a Gipsy camp?" asked Harriet.

"Yes."

"I think that would be fine."

"But, Sybarina, what of our own camp? Will not the men return and rob us?"

"I have told you. Sybarina's people will be on guard. You need have no fear. And when the princess with the fair hair returns, she shall be led to the Gipsy camp. Come."

"Wait please, until we fix our camp and leave a message for Miss McCarthy," said Miss Elting.

So excited were the Meadow-Brook Girls at the prospect of spending a night in a Gipsy camp that they almost forgot the thrilling experiences through which they had pa.s.sed. There were few preparations to be made.

Miss Elting pocketed her revolver, though she had no idea that she would need it. She knew that the old Gipsy woman might be trusted; that a Gipsy never forgets a favor-nor a wrong. Sybarina felt under deep obligations to them for what they had done for her. By inviting them to her camp she was conferring upon them the highest possible mark of her regard, as the guardian who knew something of the wandering tribes of Gipsies was well aware.

The camp was some little distance from where the Meadow-Brook tent was pitched. A note for Jane was pinned to the tent flap on the same spot where she had pinned hers; then the party set out through the darkness.

Not a man of the tribe was to be seen. The guardian asked no questions.

She knew that Sybarina's word was law and that keen eyes were upon the Meadow-Brook camp, that no marauders would be permitted to enter there that night. Sybarina led the way as if it were a familiar path, calling out now and then to warn the travelers of a root or a stone that lay unseen in the path they were following. How she was aware of the presence of the obstacles the girls could not imagine.

They came in sight of the dull glow of the Gipsy campfire after a quarter of an hour's walking. Then as they stepped into the circle of light, many inquiring eyes were fixed upon them. There were dark-eyed, olive-complexioned women of various ages, children clad in bright colors, some sitting under wagons eating bread and b.u.t.ter, others peering from the gaudily painted wagons, and still others lying asleep upon the ground just outside the circle. Horses might have been heard munching at the foliage out in the bushes, occasionally neighing or stamping. The fire crackled merrily. It was a bright but unfamiliar scene to the Meadow-Brook Girls.

Tommy and Margery were a trifle apprehensive.

"Where are we going to thleep?" questioned Tommy cautiously.

"I don't know, dear," returned Miss Elting. "Sybarina will provide a place when the time comes. We have our own blankets. I think we may sleep out of doors if we wish to do so. But we have a long evening before us yet. It is your opportunity to learn something of the life and habits of the Gipsies."

"Thay, Mith Elting do-do you think it thafe to thtay here?" questioned Tommy.

"Perfectly so. Much more so than in our own camp this evening."

Sybarina was brewing the tea with her own hands. Miss Elting stepped over to her.

"May I a.s.sist you?" she asked.

The Gipsy queen shook her head.

"Sybarina will make the tea for her friends, her good friends, the pretty ladies. Sybarina will have other guests this evening."

"Oh, will you?" questioned the guardian, in a surprised tone.

"Yes. Pretty ladies will come to cross the Gipsy's palm with silver.

Sybarina will read the future and the past for them. Sybarina will read your future too, but you and your friends need not cross her palm with silver. Sybarina is your friend."

Harriet had been an interested listener to the brief dialogue. She drew a little closer.

"I should like to learn to read the past and future, Sybarina. Will you teach me?" asked Harriet.

The old woman fixed her piercing eyes upon the eager face before her.

"The princess shall be taught to read the future this very night. The stars have said it."

"I'm afraid I never could learn to read palms in one night," laughed Harriet.

"The stars and the voices of the air will help you. Be not afraid. But you must be a Gipsy true."

"How do you mean?"

"You must be like other Gipsies."