“Sh!” admonished Laura again. “Don’t let them see that you’re afraid. That will only make them the bolder.”
But all of the six girls outside the Gypsy’s tent were more than a little disturbed. The situation did seem serious.
[CHAPTER VI—PRESSING HOSPITALITY]
The other woman had been stirring the great pot of stew. It certainly did throw off a delicious odor. Each girl carried a lunch box and they had been about to hunt a pretty spot, near a spring, and satisfy their appetites. Now the woman at the cauldron, who looked a deal like an old witch, turned and waved her spoon, grinned, and said something to the half-frightened visitors.
The younger Gypsy woman interpreted:
“She says you can have some dinner, if you will stay.”
“My goodness!” whispered Dora. “I could not eat any of that stuff.”
“Some of the Gypsies are good cooks—and that smells delicious,” Eve said.
Laura shook her head, but tried to speak kindly. “We could not stop long enough to eat with you,” she said. “We must go just as soon as the other girl comes out.”
“Better think twice of it, little lady,” said the Gypsy woman. “When you eat the bread and salt of the Romany folk they remain your friends.”