He ran down to close his house and they had to wait a while.  When he returned he carried a large piece of bread which he divided equally into five parts, and then they followed the narrow path over the meadows to the sheepcotes.

The newcomer told them many things on the way.  They could hardly part from him.

When Bacha came to supper they endeavored to out-do one another in telling him about it.  He listened intently, and said he would be glad when the strange boy, who it seemed was very decent, would visit them.  They all hoped that he would come the next Sunday.

CHAPTER FOUR

It is a true saying that, “People keep with people, and mountains with mountains.”  How one person gets used to another you can scarcely believe until you have seen it yourself.  What is it that draws one to another?  Long lived our three comrades with Bacha Filina without Palko, and nothing was lacking, but now if a day passed without seeing him it seemed as if they could not stand it.  Though it may seem strange, Bacha Filina would have missed him most.  Wherever he went, whatever he did, he always had in mind the moment when the bushes parted on that beautiful Sunday afternoon, and, like a picture in a frame, stood the strange boy so clean and neat with his cape over his shoulder, small hat in his hand, resting his hand on a shaggy white dog.  It would truly be a fine picture for a painter to paint in those wide mountains, if he could but make it so true to nature—­you could not look at him enough.  And he remembered again how Palko sat with them in front of the hut with the Holy Book in his hand, reading word for word, chapter for chapter.  Such beautiful and good things.  So must Jesus have looked when He sat amongst the Jewish teachers.  Oh, how did he understand the Word of God!  No sermon had moved old Bacha as did the talks of Palko the boy, though he had heard many in his life.  Bacha had a whole Bible which he read sometimes on Sunday.  He had also a big book with sermons, but since the time that Palko Lesina came every evening to them it was as if a veil had been removed from the man’s eyes.  The Bible became to him the living Word of God.

“The Lord Jesus used to walk by the Sea of Gennesaret,” said the boy seriously.  “Now He walks through these mountains of yours.  Sometimes He passed through our mountains to seek us, and now He seeks you.”

* * * * *

Again it was Sunday.  Filina got the boys ready to go to church, but he himself remained in front of his hut.  Fido who was not permitted to run with the comrades, lay at his feet.  Suddenly he pricked up his ears, jumped up, and like an arrow flew into the nearby thicket.  Bacha paid no attention.  He sat with his head bowed down.  He did not even hear someone speak to the dog, nor hear any greeting; he did not arouse himself till he heard close to him the pleasant young voice which he loved so much.