ST. GEORGE'S DAY
The next day the boys walked over to the home of Nicolaia's village
friend, Demetrius, and here a delightful surprise awaited them. Two
young bear cubs trotted like dogs at the feet of the village boy as he
came to meet them.
"Where did you get these?" both boys shouted with delight.
"From my uncle," returned Demetrius. "He captured them after their
mother had been killed. At first they had to be fed sheep milk with a
spoon."
As he spoke, one of the little fellows ran up a tree in the yard and
the other began to play with a young puppy. Soon the boys were trying
to help Demetrius teach them to turn somersaults and do other tricks.
They gave this up only when they remembered there were other things to
settle before parting. These things all related to St. George's Day,
or, as it is sometimes called, the "Witch's Sabbath." This would come
the very last of the week. There were mysteries in regard to the day,
for the boys spoke in whispers while Jonitza was trying to make one of
the bears jump through a hoop. He was so much interested in the antics
of the little creatures that he paid no attention until just at leaving
he heard something which made him open his eyes wide. Hidden treasure
was to be found!
On the way home he answered Nicolaia in monosyllables and looked moody,
much to the latter's surprise. "What's the matter?" Nicolaia finally
asked.
For answer Jonitza glared and then burst out with: "What have I done
that you won't let me go with you on St. George's Eve?"
Nicolaia was taken aback. "You've done nothing," he made haste to say.
"But this must be kept a secret and your mother wouldn't like your
going."
"I won't tell her," said Jonitza, wincing a little as he spoke; "that
is--not until--eh--I show her the treasure. Then she won't care."
Nicolaia looked up and down the road as if trying to find a way out of
a difficulty. At last he said faintly, "Well, all right, if you can
meet us in the yard by the cow-sheds at ten o'clock."
On the day before the "Witch's Sabbath," Jonitza watched Nicolaia's
father cut square blocks of turf and place them before every door and
window of the farm-house and stables. "Why are you doing that?" he
asked. The farmer smiled at him but did not answer. Katinka, however,
came and whispered that it was to keep out the witches. She turned
from him to help her father place thorn branches here and there in the
cut turf. Jonitza followed every act with a fascinated air. "What's
that for?" he asked her. "The witches run when they see thorns," she
explained, smiling at the thought.
Two of the men who were helping on the farm at the time, offered to
keep watch all night near the stables lest the witches should charm the
cattle and do them harm. Mrs. Popescu, who heard them make the offer,
asked them if they really believed in witches.
They looked at her with the air of grown up children. "If it wasn't
witches," said one with a triumphant air, "what made old Theodoresco's
cow give bloody milk last year for several months beginning the very
next day after the 'Witch's Sabbath'?" Mrs. Popescu, seeing that it
would be useless to argue the question, left them.
A half hour later, Nicolaia appeared and beckoned to Jonitza to follow
him indoors. Here he took an earthen jar from a closet. "What do you
think that is?" he asked.
"One of your mother's jars," Jonitza answered.
"No," said Nicolaia without smiling. "Put your hand inside and see what
you find."
Jonitza did so and brought out some ancient coins dating back to
pre-Roman times.
"My father is keeping these for luck. He found them when he was
plowing," said Nicolaia. "I am showing this to you because I thought
you ought to know that it may be that kind of treasure that we'll find
to-night."
Jonitza had this constantly in mind the rest of the day. "How wonderful
it would be to find a real treasure," he kept thinking. He ate little
for supper, went to bed at once when his mother suggested it, and tried
very hard to keep from falling asleep. But alas, despite his efforts,
sleep came and it was a very deep sleep, so that when he awoke it was
bright morning.
He hurried out, ashamed of himself, and found his friend looking
very drowsy and grinning in a somewhat downcast way. In answer to
Jonitza's hurried explanations of what had happened to himself and
urgent questions, Nicolaia said: "It was just after ten o'clock when we
started. I was relieved that you didn't appear, for I didn't know what
might happen. There was no moon at the time, but the stars were out,
and as we know the hills well, Demetrius and I had no trouble making
our way over them. We heard all sorts of strange noises, but we weren't
a bit afraid. I thought we should surely find the treasure. You see,
they say around here that it is easiest for the one born on a Sunday
or at midday; and Demetrius was born just two minutes after noon on a
Sunday. So that ought to count.
"We spoke only in whispers as we tried to look in every direction at
once. Each of us wanted to be the first to see the blue flame which
shows where the treasure lies hidden. It must have been past midnight
when Demetrius seized hold of my arm. I felt his hand tremble.
[Illustration: "'WE STOOD AS IF PARALYZED'"]
"'Do you see that?' he whispered.
"I looked where he pointed and saw in the distance what really seemed
like a tiny fire. It was not particularly blue but we did not think of
that. I felt for my knife, for it must be thrown through the flame so
that the spirits who guard the treasure won't harm you.
"'Have you your knife?' I whispered back.
"'Yes,' returned Demetrius. 'I'll throw first, and if I miss, you throw
right after.' Before this we had not minded anything, but now as we
crept on, we shuddered whenever we stepped on a dry twig or caused a
stone to roll down hill.
"As we came nearer there was no sign of flame but there were bright
patches on the ground as if from the remains of a fire. This could just
be seen around a big bowlder where we stopped for a moment to gain
courage for the final step.
"As we stood there we heard a sound as of some creature rolling
over. Then on the other side of the big rock, a huge form arose. We
distinctly heard some cuss words and a threat so terrible that we stood
as if paralyzed. Suddenly the figure began to move, and forgetful of
everything else but our own safety, we ran down the hillside, stumbling
over each other, now rolling a way, tearing our clothes on thorn
bushes, and generally having a hard time until we both landed in a
brook. We crawled out very much chilled and stood listening. Everything
about us was quiet, so I don't know whether we were followed or not.
However, we did not dare return.
"So, of course, we didn't get any treasure. My father says it was
probably some old gypsy, but I know it was a bad spirit, for as I have
said, it was after midnight, and good spirits show the flame only till
twelve. When it is seen later, the treasure is guarded by bad spirits."