"Pablo," replied the lad.
"Can you speak English?"
"Yes, little," replied he.
"How did you happen to fall into the pit?"
"Not see hole."
"Are you a gipsy?"
"Yes, gitano--same thing."
Humphrey put a great many more questions to the lad, and elicited from
him, in his imperfect English, the following particulars:
That he was in company with several others of his race, going down to
the sea-coast on one of their usual migrations, and that they had
pitched their tents not far from the pitfall. That during the night he
had gone out to set some snares for rabbits, and going back to the
tents, it being quite dark, he had fallen into the hole; that he had
remained there three days and nights, having in vain attempted to get
out. His mother was with the party of gipsies to which he belonged,
but he had no father. He did not know where to follow the gang, as
they had not said where they were going, farther than to the sea-
coast. That it was no use looking for them; and that he did not care
much about leaving them, as he was very unkindly treated. In reply to
the question as to whether he would like to remain with them, and work
with them on the farm, he replied that he should like it very much if
they would be kind to him, and not make him work too hard; that he
would cook the dinner, and catch them rabbits and birds, and make a
great many things.
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