CHAPTER IV
THE VOICE OF THE WOOD
It was getting dusky in the woods when the little party started reluctantly for home. The birds were already chattering their good nights before preparing for sleep and a belated squirrel or two looked inquisitively down at them.
Now and then one of the children found berries that tempted even Helena to linger.
"I did not know there were so many yet," she remarked. "I must ask father to beg the forester to let me come soon again for them alone. Of course I shall take you all."
As the trees grew a little more scattered, Ruzena, who had been walking lost in thought, now raised her head.
"Old Susanna," she said, "told me once that the trees talk, but I don't believe it."
"It's not the trees," said Jozef quickly, "but the spirit of the woods who answers when you call to him."
Putting his hand to his mouth, he shouted: "O-ho! O-ho!" And from somewhere came the answer "O-ho! O-ho!"