Little Philippe of Belgium
Page 6
HE WHISTLED A GREAT DEAL]
Still he worked them harder than ever. Often Philippe's legs ached withstanding so long. Often his throat was sore with singing.
He knew that he was being punished for his disobedience. He knew that ifhe ever escaped from this wicked man he would always obey his parents.
Tom often joked with Philippe, and the boy told him stories about thecountry through which they traveled. But all the while, Tom did not knowwhat plans were shaping in Philippe's head.
One day as they tramped along, Philippe carried a letter in his pocket.The letter was to Papa Pomme. Philippe was planning to post the letterwhen they reached Charleroi (=shaer-le-roi'=), in the evening.
In it he told Papa Pomme everything. But he told him not to worry, thathe was well, and also that he was laying a plan to capture the thief.
Part of Philippe's letter read: "I shall try to make him spend Mondaynight in the Cave of the Crows. That is the big rock between Namur(=na-muer'=) and Dinant (=de-naen'=). Send some one to that place, for ifmy plan succeeds we shall be there."
ON THE ROAD TO DINANT]
The Cave of the Crows is a mysterious rock out on the open road. Thereis a folk tale connected with it, and part of Philippe's plan was totell this tale to Tom.
As they walked along, the boy kept thinking over his plan.
A VIEW IN DINANT, A VERY OLD CITY]
"If only I can persuade him to spend Monday night there!" Philippemused earnestly.
They reached Charleroi, after passing the country of the iron workers.
Philippe found this part of the country different from that aroundAntwerp and Brussels. To him even the people seemed different. Here hefound pine and birch trees and little stone houses.
Most of the people in northern Belgium are blond and large. Here theyare dark and smaller and more lively.
Once in Charleroi, Philippe explained to Zelie what he wanted her to do.Zelie agreed to follow out the plan, and Philippe gave her the letter.
Then Philippe started to run down the street.
Zelie cried out to Tom, "Look! Quick! Philippe is running away!"
Tom was after the boy in a second, and Zelie quickly slippedPhilippe's letter to Papa Pomme into the mail box.
But poor Philippe had to pay for this trick. Tom locked him up all dayand gave him only bread and water.
Yet the boy's heart leaped with joy. Now the letter was off. It onlyremained for him to persuade Tom to spend the night in the cave.
It was pleasant country through which they were passing. Along the banksof the Sambre (=saen'-br=) River, they saw many women washing clothes. Menon barges waved and called to them. These men seemed a happy lot. Oldcastles loomed up.
Monday arrived. The three travelers were nearing the Cave of the Crows.
"Have you ever heard the story of the Cave of the Crows, sir?" askedPhilippe.
"No," replied Tom. "Tell it to me."
He liked Philippe's stories. The little fellow had entertained him withmany.
"They say," began Philippe, "that long, long years ago a wandering poetpassed this cave, and there he met a beautiful fairy. He fell in lovewith her and she with him. They married and lived in the cave together.
"But one day the fairy was called to a gathering in fairyland. The otherfairies were angry to learn that she had married a mortal. As apunishment the poor fairy was changed into an ugly black crow with ahoarse, terrible voice.
"She returned to the cave to her poet and found him also changed into acrow. But this did not spoil their love for each other. They livedhappily in the cave for years and years, and they had many children.There are thousands of black crows flying about the cave, shrieking andcawing. These are the descendants of the poet and the poor fairy."
Tom shuddered.
"A very good place from which to keep away!" he laughed.
"Oh, no," replied Philippe. "On the contrary, I should like to go there.I should like to go," he added mysteriously, "because it is said thatwhoever spends a night in the cave will find a bag of gold in themorning."
Tom's eyes sparkled. Philippe's heart beat quickly.
He continued, "Yes, it is believed that robbers once buried a bag ofgold in the cave. Anyone who is brave enough to spend a night there mayhave it."
Tom smiled, but looked doubtful.
"Let us go there, sir," suggested Philippe. "In the morning you shallfind that bag of gold."
Tom thought awhile but did not reply. The boy nearly cried out ineagerness. Oh, if only the man would consent to do this thing!
"ROBBERS ONCE BURIED A BAG OF GOLD IN THE CAVE"]
The letter he had written to his father would reach Brussels today. Hisfather would send some one to the cave tonight. Then he and Zelie wouldbe free, and Tom captured.
What had Papa Pomme said? Oh, yes! The thief must go to prison!
Suddenly Tom spoke. "No," he said. "I think we shall move on. It mightbe dangerous to stay in that cave."
"What!" cried Philippe. "Are you afraid of the crying of crows?"
"No," replied the man, "It is not that. I prefer to spend my nights incities."
Philippe's heart sank.
"But, sir," he said, "would you let such a chance of gaining wealthescape you? They say that the bag of gold is very large indeed!"
"Then why is it that no one has ever found it before?" asked Tomsuspiciously.
"Because," answered Philippe, "there is no one with courage enough. Onemust be brave to spend a night in such a cold, dark place with howlingbirds all about. That requires courage like yours, sir!"
The man was pleased with the boy's flattery.
"Do you really think that the bag of gold is worth the trouble?" heasked.
"Worth it!" exclaimed Philippe. "Why, sir, it will make you rich!"
Now, Tom, like most wicked men, was ignorant. He had never gone toschool and he could not even read. Though he was sharp and quick, he hadno learning and he was not very shrewd. He believed the boy's story.
Philippe had seemed to know a great deal about the country. The lad hadtold many true stories. He had shown his knowledge on any number ofoccasions. Besides, Tom was so greedy that he could not bear to let achance like this go by.
Of course, Tom knew that this was only a belief. But then, there hadbeen robbers everywhere at one time, and they might easily have buriedtheir treasure in this mysterious cave.
"Very well," he said, "we shall spend the night in the Cave of theCrows!"
Chapter XIV
TROMPKE TALKS
It was a weird place to which Philippe led his little party. Crows,descendants of the poet and the fairy, flew all about. The noise theymade was deafening.
Philippe was in a state of great excitement; and the screeching andyelling of the thousands of birds made his head whirl.
As night came, however, the crows grew quieter. The little group settleditself to rest.
The man said, "This is your doing, boy. If there is no bag of gold inthe morning I shall make your head feel like a bag of gold!"
He smiled, but Philippe saw a wicked gleam in his eye.
They were all tired, and soon Tom fell asleep; but not Philippe andZelie! The boy and girl lay awake and stared into the darkness. Theylistened. They waited.
Now, if only some one would come! This was their one chance to captureTom and to free themselves. The night wore on. But no one came.
Philippe could stand it no longer. What if Papa Pomme had not receivedhis letter?
The boy stirred slowly and sat up. Suppose morning came and no onearrived? Tom would not find a bag of gold, and he would surely beat poorPhilippe for deceiving him.
No, he could not take that chance. There was only one thing to do. Hemust try to escape with Zelie now.
Philippe stole softly to his little friend's side.
"Quiet, quiet, Zelie! Not a sound! Come with me," he whispered.
Softly, silently they tiptoed toward the entrance of the cave.
&
nbsp; THEY TIPTOED TOWARD THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE]
But Philippe had forgotten one thing. He had forgotten Trompke. AndTrompke was not to be forgotten! The little dog lay chained to a rock.
Tom always took care to keep him tied. Trompke was an important memberof that little group.
As the boy and girl neared the door, Trompke awoke. Dogs do not sleep assoundly as people. Trompke's brow wrinkled. He cocked his puzzled headon one side. His tail began to speak.
"Where are you going, my little master?" asked Trompke's tail.
But the children were at the door. They did not hear the tail language.
So Trompke had to use his mouth. He barked. He barked again.
Philippe clutched Zelie's hand and ran out of the cave.
PHILIPPE CLUTCHED ZELIE'S HAND]
But the first bark had awakened Tom. He was up like a jack rabbit. Hecried out to them to stop. But they kept on running.
Tom was swift, and it was not long before he overtook them. Back to thecave he brought them. Philippe could see that he was very angry.
"Make ready to leave," he commanded Zelie.
Morning was in the sky now. Tom stood before Philippe, and his eyesflashed. But Philippe's eyes were steady.
"You are brave, eh?" sneered Tom. "Only brave men will spend a night inthe cave. Well, my hero, where is the gold?"
BACK TO THE CAVE HE BROUGHT THEM]
Philippe answered, "I do not know, sir."
"Tricks!" roared Tom.
Then he took a stick.
Meanwhile a big touring car was driving along the road toward the cave.It was the car belonging to the two gentlemen who had taken Philippe toAntwerp.
When Papa Pomme had received the letter from Philippe he had immediatelyshown it to the gentlemen. They had been terribly worried about the boyand had tried in every way to help the poor parents.
When the two gentlemen read of Philippe's plan to capture Tom at thecave, they immediately told the police. Soon the big touring car withthe two gentlemen and two policemen was on its way to the cave.
"This is the place," cried one of the officers.
The car stopped. The four men jumped out. With their guns drawn, theyentered the cave.
They heard Tom laughing and saying, "Now, after I have beaten you,perhaps you will not try any more tricks. We shall leave for otherlands, where you cannot escape so easily. We shall go to France andEngland and then----"
Suddenly Tom stopped speaking. His jaw dropped open. The stick fell fromhis hands. He saw a sight that made him turn pale. For two gentlemen andtwo policemen stood in the door of the cave. Each policeman was pointinga pistol at Tom!
Then the Englishman and the American walked over to them.
"The plans for your trip sound very interesting," said the Englishman inFrench to Tom. "But I am afraid we must spoil them. There is anothertrip which we have planned for you, instead."
The American looked very thoughtful.
"How in the world do you say 'prison' in French?" he asked.
"The same as in English," answered his friend.
They marched outside to the car. Tom was handcuffed. He walked betweentwo policemen. Zelie walked with Philippe. They entered the big car andstarted off. Tom was scowling fiercely.
The American smiled and said, "In our country the children sing thissong." He sang:
"Off to prison you must go, You must go, You must go, Off to prison you must go, My fair lady!"
Philippe echoed, "My fair leddy!"
Together they repeated the song, Zelie joining in. Philippe did notunderstand what he was singing. He did not care, for he was very happy.
The road ran along the beautiful River Meuse (=muz=). Philippe watchedthe patient fishermen sitting on the banks. "How peaceful and quiet itis to stay at home!" he thought.
Chapter XV
A NEW SONG
The two gentlemen have gone back to their respective countries.
Now once again Philippe and Rose sit in the market place of Brussels.
Once again the little boy sells his mother's vegetables, while thepretty baby sings to the passers-by.
There is also another child. That other is Zelie, who now lives withthem. There is no more sadness in her eyes now.
But Philippe has changed. He has at last had the adventures about whichhe has read and dreamed so much. And he is glad that they are over.
The Belgian people say that there is no place like home, and Philippenow agrees with them.
"IN A NOOK WITH A BOOK"]
He has made up a new song. He has used the old Belgian saying, "East,west, home's best," for that song. Listen! Philippe and Rose and Zelieare singing it now:
"Winds blow, Rivers flow, Time flies and days go. Storms sweep, Shadows creep, Stars shoot and fires leap. Things sprout All about, Folks dash in and out. Roads wind, Leave behind Us three, peace to find. Philippe will Sit still; Never more seek a thrill. Zelie knows, So does Rose, Philippe would rather doze In a nook With a book; Some day be a cook. All may go To and fro, Here, there, high and low, But we rest In our nest, For east, west, home's best!"
"SOME DAY BE A COOK"]
PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY
Antwerp [)a]nt'[w][~e]rp
Bruges br[=oo]'j[)e]z
Brabanconne br[.a]-baen-s[=o]n'
Brugere brue zhar'
Charleroi shaer-l[)e]-roi'
Choux sh[=oo]
Choux fleur sh[=oo] flur
Courtrai k[=oo]r-tr[)e]'
Dinant d[=e]-naen'
Emile [=a]-m[=e]l'
Emile Epinard [=a]-m[=e]l' [=a]-p[=e]-naer'
Ghent g[)e]nt
Grande Place graen plaes
Meuse m[=u]z
Mons mons
Namur n[.a]-muer'
Ostend [)o]st-[)e]nd'
Pomme p[=o]m
Petit choux de Bruxelles p[)e]-t[=e]' sh[=oo] de bruek-sel'
Sambre saen'-br
Tournai t[=oo]r-n[)e]'
Trompke tr[)o]mp'-ky
Yvelle [=e]-v[)e]l'
Transcriber's Notes:
The author wrote "Brabanconne" but as this causes the word to bepronounced wrongly, this was changed to "Brabanconne".
Philippe was printed once as "Philipp" (p. 89, "Philipp shook hishead"), and this has been corrected to "Philippe".
The illustrations have been relocated to better match the flow of thetext.
Page 191 (last page), "Pronouncing Vocabulary" section, the followingmarkings are used to represent accents:
[)x] means character with breve (u-shaped symbol) above it [.x] means character with 1 dot above it [~x] means character with tilde above it [=x] means character with macron (straight line) above it