Little Philippe of Belgium

The boy examined every booth. But there was no sign of Tom or Zelie.

Meanwhile the sister's lace was selling fast. People stopped to laugh and to pet Trompke. The little boy explained to them about the lace.

"The finest lace in all the world, madam," said he, "made by the sisters in Ghent. A very excellent bargain."

Philippe sold all his lace and found his pockets bulging with money. How pleased the good sister would be!

HE DRESSED TROMPKE AS A BRIDE

Besides, he had made extra money for himself. People gave him extra money because they liked his sweet voice and because Trompke made them laugh.

But the heart of Philippe was heavy. He had not seen Tom and Zelie! He was in a strange city; he was far from home, and it was growing late.

Philippe now walked slowly to the post office. Here he sent away two letters. One was to his father.

He told his father not to worry about him. He said that he could not return to Brussels because he was going to make his way and send them a great deal of money. He enclosed some bills in the envelope, and he felt proud.

The other letter was to the sister and contained the money in payment for the laces and also payment of the amount the sister had loaned him.

He still had money in his pocket. He bought food. But Trompke ate most of it. Somehow Philippe did not feel hungry. He was too excited.

Chapter XI

FOUND

The shadows were falling in Bruges. The high towers were reflected in the canals. The city was slowly being covered by night.

A terrible, lonesome feeling came over Philippe as he watched the darkness stealing on. How could he stay all night in the ghostly darkness of this old city? His teeth began to chatter.

A boy about his own age came up to him.

"Where are you going?" asked the boy.

"I don't know," answered Philippe truthfully.

"You don't know?" the boy laughed. "Then let me take you somewhere. Have you some money?"

VIEW OF A CANAL FROM THE ROSARY DOCK, BRUGES

Philippe showed the stranger his money.

"We can go to the cinema," smiled the boy eagerly.

So Philippe was taken to a theater by his new companion. Philippe was tired and discouraged and sank down in his seat with a sigh. He wanted to go home.

He was afraid of the dark city and the strange shadows. He knew he had done wrong. Now he was ready to give up.

But as he watched the flickering shadow people on the screen, he thought of that other film which he had seen with his father. He remembered the brave Belgian soldiers and the heroic King Albert. Then he had wanted to be a hero, too. But now he was acting like a coward.

This film story was a romance with knights on fiery steeds. What adventure those brave knights had! They did not give up and go home. They came home in glory and each married a princess!

Philippe sat up straight. He saw himself as one of those knights. Then he turned suddenly to the boy next to him.

HE SAW HIMSELF AS A KNIGHT

"Did you see a man and a girl with an organ today at the fair?" he asked.

"Yes," replied the boy at his side, "They were at the fair, and the girl sang."

"Did you notice which way they went when they left the market place?" Philippe demanded quickly.

"Well – " hesitated the other, "I did see them going down – Oh, don't bother me now. I want to see the film," he added irritably.

But Philippe had him by the shoulders.

"Come out of here," he ordered.

The boy was too amazed to refuse. Together the two marched out of the theater.

On the sidewalk Philippe seized the boy's arm and said to him, "I must find those people. Do you understand? Now, you've got to think which way you saw them go!"

After Philippe had told his story and explained about Tom and Zelie, the other boy remarked, "Well, my friends and I followed the organ man to a narrow little street where the poorest people live. The place was very dark, even in the daytime. It frightened some of the little children; so we left. We did not stay to see where the organ man went."

Philippe thanked his new acquaintance, and the boy was glad to go back to his seat in the theater.

Philippe followed directions, and soon he was in the dingy little street in which Tom and Zelie had disappeared.

No one was about. It was the blackest, most silent place Philippe had ever been in. He and his dog huddled beside a wall. There was nobody whom he could ask for information. Had he the courage to ring a doorbell?

He started toward a door. His finger was about to push the bell when a voice called to him. The voice came from above.

Philippe looked up, and there was Tom!

[145] [146]

He was looking out of a window. It was so dark that Philippe could not see Tom's face very clearly. But his voice was cheery.

"Hello, my lad," he called. "So you've come to us at last!"

Philippe ran up the steps, and Tom let him into the house. It was a poor house and smelled musty and old.

Tom was very pleased to see the boy.

"I knew that some day you would come," he said, slapping Philippe on the back. "You are a fine brave lad, and we shall have a splendid life together, wandering on the road."

"YOU ARE A FINE, BRAVE LAD"

"Where is Zelie?" asked Philippe.

"Ah, she will soon be home. She is so busy. She works very late sometimes," answered Tom smiling.

"What does she do?" Philippe asked after a little silence.

"She plays the organ, and she sings," the man replied. "Now, you shall join her, and together you two should bring in much money."

His eyes gleamed. Philippe did not feel very happy. But he could not tell why. Perhaps he was just tired, and tomorrow all would be well.

Then suddenly from the street below, there came a howl. Philippe ran to the window and saw his dog, Trompke, below. The fat puppy was whimpering and calling his master. He had been forgotten outside.

Philippe smiled at Tom.

"That is my Trompke," he said.

They opened the door, and the puppy flew up the steps into Philippe's arms. Philippe stroked him, and then he told Tom how Trompke had helped him to sell the sister's lace. Tom was delighted.

"What a bright boy you are!" he exclaimed. "You shall continue selling lace for me. That is a splendid plan."

Just then Zelie came home. She seemed thinner and paler than when Philippe had last seen her. She did not talk very much, but her face lit up when she saw Philippe.

"I am so glad you have come," she said. "We shall have such good times together."

Tom grinned broadly.

"Yes, indeed," he agreed. "There is a fair in Ostend (ŏst-ĕnd'), so we four shall start our wanderings tomorrow."

"We four?" asked Zelie.

She had not noticed Trompke. The puppy was curled up behind a chair.

"WE FOUR SHALL START OUR WANDERINGS TOMORROW"

"Yes," smiled Tom slyly. "The little dog is to be one of our party, and a very important one, too. Eh, Philippe, my boy?"

Philippe smiled and began to feel happier. At last he was going to do the thing he had always dreamed of doing. At last he was going to travel with Tom and Zelie.

Chapter XII

PHILIPPE FINDS OUT

So Tom went out next day and purchased some lace at a very cheap price. He and the two children packed their things, and started on their journey.

Philippe's plan succeeded, and Tom was delighted with the way the lace-gowned dog drew the crowds. Philippe and Zelie sang together, and people thought the two children very attractive. They brought in much money for Tom.

From town to town they traveled.

Tom always seemed gay and pleasant. The only times he ever showed his ill nature was when the children did not bring in enough money. Then his scowls were very disagreeable to see. But usually he was pleased with what Philippe and Zelie and Trompke made.

They arrived at the fair in Ostend, a famous beach resort of Belgium. They attracted the attention of many children along the wide beach. Here they saw hundreds of bathing machines.

BATHING BEACH AT OSTEND

These machines are little houses on wheels, in which people dress and undress. Horses are hitched to the houses. They pull them to the water's edge, where the bathers jump into the sea for their swim.

From Ostend they journeyed to Courtrai (kōō-trĕ') and the flax fields.

Philippe noticed how much the Belgian people living near the border of France resemble the French people.

In sections of Belgium close to Holland, the people wear wooden shoes and look very Dutch. Their language, Flemish, is indeed

almost the same as the Dutch language.

As they wandered through the Belgian villages the smell of cows and fresh hay greeted their nostrils.

Nearly everyone is poor in these villages. The women wear bedroom slippers in the street.

They now came to Tournai (toor-nĕ'), which is one of the most ancient towns in Belgium. It dates from the time of Julius Caesar.

As they approached the city of Mons, (môns) they passed great coal mines. These mines were taken over by the Germans during the World War.

While armies were fighting in France and destroying French property, Belgian farms and factories were being well run by the Germans. That is why our travelers, wandering over the country of Belgium, saw few ruins.

They trudged along black roads and passed great chimney stacks.

Several times Philippe had sent money home to his parents.

But one day Tom said, "I must ask you to give me all the money you make. It is I who feed and clothe you. And now you belong to me."

Philippe had a strange feeling then.

He answered, "But I must send my parents some of what I make. It is only fair."

Tom scowled fearfully and snapped, "You will do as I say!"

After that time Philippe worried. He told Zelie, but she said nothing. She looked very sad, however.

Then one evening while they were having supper by the side of the road, Tom announced, "It is time that Philippe learned our business, eh, Zelie?"

Zelie started and turned very pale, but she did not answer.

"Listen," continued Tom. He leaned over toward Philippe. "Do you see that farm over there?"

He pointed to a little peaceful-looking farm in the distance. Philippe nodded. He wondered what Tom was going to say. Tom had never talked like this before.

"Tonight we shall go to that farm," Tom went on, "and we shall take a wheelbarrow along, and we shall help ourselves to all the fine vegetables there. Tomorrow we shall set up in the market place. You have sold vegetables in market places before, eh, my Philippe?"

But the boy could not answer. He was horrified.

It all came to him then. This was the vegetable thief – the man who had stolen his own father's vegetables! Tom! Oh, what a foolish boy he had been! Why hadn't he listened to his parents? He was traveling with a thief!

Tom said in an irritable voice, "Come on, boy! Don't stare at me like that! Wake up, and we shall teach you!"

But Philippe had jumped up quickly and stood before Tom. His fists were clenched and his cheeks burned.

"No, no! I won't steal," he cried. "It is wicked to steal! I will not help you!"

Tom only smiled calmly.

"NO, NO! I WON'T STEAL!"

Then he said, "Oh, very well, my boy. Do not excite yourself. You need not come along, since you feel that way. Zelie and I have always done well. We can still get along without you. You shall do your work by singing, and we by stealing. That is simple."

But Philippe was angry.

"Oh, you wicked man!" he cried. "I will not stay with you any longer. I am going home!"

Then Tom caught hold of the boy's arm. Tom's eyes flashed.

"No!" he said firmly, "No. You had better not try that. You are mine, and you shall stay with me!"

That night Tom locked Philippe in the room of a little hotel while he and Zelie went to the farm.

Philippe wrote a letter to his father. He told all of what had happened. He begged forgiveness and asked his father to come and get him.

But when Tom returned, he found the letter and burned it.

"Do not try any tricks," he said, "for you will be sorry."

He yawned sleepily and went to bed.

When Philippe heard Tom's snores, he tried to run away. But Zelie stopped him at the door.

"Don't go," she said. "Please don't go. He will find you, and then he will beat you."

"How do you know?" asked Philippe.

"Because," Zelie replied, "he has done it to me!"

And then Philippe knew why Zelie's eyes were so sad and held a look of fear.

"Oh, Zelie," Philippe cried, "I am so sorry for you. You are so brave."

Zelie then began to cry softly.

"Sometimes I am very sad," she sobbed. "That is why I was so glad to see you. Before you came, oh, he made me work so hard!"

"Do not cry, Zelie," said Philippe, "but tell me all about it. I will protect you."

"DO NOT CRY, ZELIE"

Philippe suddenly felt very brave. He felt like one of those knights he had seen in the film. He felt like a hero out of a fairy tale. He knew that he was only a boy, but he had great courage, and he wanted to protect Zelie.

"We two will escape," he promised the girl. "You'll see. Now tell me everything."

Then Zelie told Philippe that Tom was not really her father.

"My mother and father died when I was a baby," she told him, "and this man is my uncle. Oh, he is a very bad man, and he has made me steal, and if he ever should catch us trying to escape – oh, oh!"

The poor little girl again began to sob.

"Stop, Zelie," urged Philippe. "I have a plan, and we will escape."

Zelie dried her eyes. Then she went to her room, and Philippe started to think.

Chapter XIII

THE CAVE OF THE CROWS

Philippe tried several times after that to post a letter. But Tom's eyes were very keen, and he seemed to see everything at once.

Ever since that day, Tom had watched Philippe all the time. But the man acted no differently than before. He whistled a great deal and was pleased with the money that the children brought in.

HE WHISTLED A GREAT DEAL

Still he worked them harder than ever. Often Philippe's legs ached with standing so long. Often his throat was sore with singing.

He knew that he was being punished for his disobedience. He knew that if he ever escaped from this wicked man he would always obey his parents.

Tom often joked with Philippe, and the boy told him stories about the country through which they traveled. But all the while, Tom did not know what 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 letter when they reached Charleroi (shär-le-roi'), in the evening.

In it he told Papa Pomme everything. But he told him not to worry, that he 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 Monday night in the Cave of the Crows. That is the big rock between Namur (nâ-mür') and Dinant (dē-nän'). Send some one to that place, for if my 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. There is a folk tale connected with it, and part of Philippe's plan was to tell 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!" Philippe mused earnestly.

They reached Charleroi, after passing the country of the iron workers.

Philippe found this part of the country different from that around Antwerp and Brussels. To him even the people seemed different. Here he found pine and birch trees and little stone houses.

Most of the people in northern Belgium are blond and large. Here they are 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 slipped Philippe's letter to Papa Pomme into the mail box.

But poor Philippe had to pay for this trick. Tom locked him up all day and gave him only bread and water.

Yet the boy's heart leaped with joy. Now the letter was off. It only remained for him to persuade Tom to spend the night in the cave.

It was pleasant country through which they were passing. Along the banks of the Sambre (sän'-br) River, they saw many women washing clothes. Men on barges waved and called to them. These men seemed a happy lot. Old castles 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?" asked Philippe.

"No," replied Tom. "Tell it to me."

He liked Philippe's stories. The little fellow had entertained him with many.

"They say," began Philippe, "that long, long years ago a wandering poet passed this cave, and there he met a beautiful fairy. He fell in love with 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 other fairies were angry to learn that she had married a mortal. As a punishment the poor fairy was changed into an ugly black crow with a hoarse, terrible voice.

"She returned to the cave to her poet and found him also changed into a crow. But this did not spoil their love for each other. They lived happily in the cave for years and years, and they had many children. There are thousands of black crows flying about the cave, shrieking and cawing. 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 that whoever spends a night in the cave will find a bag of gold in the morning."

Tom's eyes sparkled. Philippe's heart beat quickly.

He continued, "Yes, it is believed that robbers once buried a bag of gold in the cave. Anyone who is brave enough to spend a night there may have it."

Tom smiled, but looked doubtful.

"Let us go there, sir," suggested Philippe. "In the morning you shall find that bag of gold."

Tom thought awhile but did not reply. The boy nearly cried out in eagerness. 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. His father would send some one to the cave tonight. Then he and Zelie would be 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 might be 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 in cities."

Philippe's heart sank.

"But, sir," he said, "would you let such a chance of gaining wealth escape 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 Tom suspiciously.

"Because," answered Philippe, "there is no one with courage enough. One must be brave to spend a night in such a cold, dark place with howling birds 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?" he asked.

"Worth it!" exclaimed Philippe. "Why, sir, it will make you rich!"

Now, Tom, like most wicked men, was ignorant. He had never gone to school and he could not even read. Though he was sharp and quick, he had no 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 had told many true stories. He had shown his knowledge on any number of occasions. Besides, Tom was so greedy that he could not bear to let a chance like this go by.

Of course, Tom knew that this was only a belief. But then, there had been robbers everywhere at one time, and they might easily have buried their treasure in this mysterious cave.

"Very well," he said, "we shall spend the night in the Cave of the Crows!"

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 they made was deafening.

Philippe was in a state of great excitement; and the screeching and yelling of the thousands of birds made his head whirl.

As night came, however, the crows grew quieter. The little group settled itself to rest.

The man said, "This is your doing, boy. If there is no bag of gold in the 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 and Zelie! The boy and girl lay awake and stared into the darkness. They listened. They waited.

Now, if only some one would come! This was their one chance to capture Tom and to free themselves. The night wore on. But no one came.

Philippe could stand it no longer. What if Papa Pomme had not received his letter?

The boy stirred slowly and sat up. Suppose morning came and no one arrived? Tom would not find a bag of gold, and he would surely beat poor Philippe for deceiving him.

No, he could not take that chance. There was only one thing to do. He must 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.

THEY TIPTOED TOWARD THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE

But Philippe had forgotten one thing. He had forgotten Trompke. And Trompke 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 member of that little group.

As the boy and girl neared the door, Trompke awoke. Dogs do not sleep as soundly as people. Trompke's brow wrinkled. He cocked his puzzled head on 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. He cried out to them to stop. But they kept on running.