And Mattina saw that her uncle's laughing eyes could look very fierce. "Have you the money for which you served?" "No, they had not given it to me yet." "We will get it. Rest easy! And how much did they agree to pay you for every month?" "Eight drachmæ." "Are they not ashamed? It is not even two dollars. And doubtless they made you work hard for it, eh?" "There was always work, yes; but...." "But what?" "She said that ... that at New Year I should have a present. And now ... now...." And Mattina suddenly realizing that the present, the long dreamed of present, was lost for ever, burst into wild sobs. "Bah! Bah! And is it for their miserable present that you are spoiling your heart's content? Am I not here to get you a far more beautiful present?" Mattina lifted streaming eyes, full of wonder. "You!" "Who else? And what shall the present be?" The heavens seemed opening in glory before Mattina's dazzled eyes. "Can I say whatever I like?" "Surely." "Then I want ... there is a picture in a shop in Athens, with a broad golden frame; it is the sea, and a boat on it with a white sail, and you can see the sail in the water all long and wavy, and if you touch the water, you think your finger will be wet. That is what I want." "You shall have your picture; we will hang it in our house in Lexington, where there is no sea, and it will remind us of our island." "Shall we not live here in Poros, my uncle?" "Here? Not yet! I am young still, and strong, and I mean to earn more money in America than I have done already. Besides, I have to think of providing your dowry now, you see. In good time, when I am older, and you are a woman grown, then, if God wills it, we will return to the island. It is not good to leave one's bones in a strange land. No; in eight days we go down to Piræus to leave for America in a great big ship, bigger than you have ever seen before, even in your sleep, and when we get there, to America, you shall see what your eyes will see!" "My uncle!" "Yes." Then as no words came, he added, "Say what you want! You must not fear to ask for whatever your heart desires." "My uncle, there is Zacharia too...." "What? The little one? I saw him at Kyra Kanella's. He is very little." Just for a second the young man hesitated, then-- "Can you care for him on the journey, my maid? A journey of many days, mind you, with a sea which may make you ill; a rough green sea with waves as high as houses; not like this blue joy here. Can you?" "Surely," said Mattina, "I can do many things." Her uncle looked at the sturdy little figure, and at the strong firm little chin. "I believe you can," he said. "Come!" holding out his hand, "let us go and find the little rascal." THE FINDING OF THE CAVE I It is a great thing to be a Zamana, and of the right branch, too. At least that is what little Pavlo Zamana had always been told.