Part 16 (1/2)

He glanced timidly at the King.

”Hurrah!” shouted the people. ”Long live the Prince. Long live John and his animals! Hurrah! Hurrah!”

”No more of this!” The King made a gesture, and the shouting stopped, changing into sullen murmurs. The King was not popular, it seemed.

”Let the performance proceed!” he commanded. ”I do not like these interruptions.”

Once more the Hermit saw him whisper to a servant, who went away quickly on some mysterious errand.

Now, with a happy face, John himself stepped forward and showed his skill and strength and grace. He turned somersaults backward and forward; he stood upon his head and danced upon his hands. He did all the old tricks which he had learned of the tumblers, and more of his own invention, till the people shouted rapturously, ”Bravo! Bravo!

Hurrah for our John!”

With his eye on the Prince, John began to caper at his merriest. He danced high, leaping like a gra.s.shopper, and seeming to bound like thistledown. All the while his eyes twinkled, and the people laughed with delight.

”Bravo! John, bravo!” shouted the Prince, clapping his hands. ”Come here and let me decorate you, my friend.” And as John bowed before him the Prince placed upon his bosom a beautiful star of diamonds that gleamed and sparkled like a cobweb full of dew.

”Hurrah! Hurrah! Long life to John! John! John!” shouted the people, as if they loved the name.

And the Hermit saw that the King turned pale and shook with wrath at the sound. The next moment he grasped the arms of his chair and stared into the crowd eagerly.

Suddenly he arose, and, waving his sceptre, commanded silence. John bowed and turned to the King, waiting to hear his pleasure. But instead of the speech which every one expected, they saw the King gazing down into the crowd before him, and on his lips was a malicious smile. But he looked very old and sick, and he tottered as he held to the arm of his throne.

XXVI

THE TALISMAN

John turned his head to see at what the King was staring. There was a movement in the crowd. Men were being elbowed forward. A noise of harsh voices arose, and to the platform crowded three figures in rags and tatters.

They forced their way directly in front of the platform, and stood staring up. John stepped forward to see what it meant, and in a moment fell back with a cry of dismay. He was looking into the eyes of Cecco, Tonio and the Giant!

”Hi! Master Gigi!” cried Tonio's hateful voice; ”so here we find you setting up as a tumbler on your own account. Your Majesty,” he cried, appealing to the King, who was listening with a wicked grin on his face, ”this is our boy. We own him. He ran away, but he belongs to us. Give him to us again!”

The little Princess screamed and clung to the Hermit's arm; but he sat motionless, watching. The people began to murmur and jostle the three strangers. But the King raised his hand, and they listened to him.

”We will hear these men,” he said. Then, turning to John, he added smoothly, ”And after that, sirrah, you shall answer for yourself.”

The Hermit rose and took a step forward, still holding the little Princess by the hand. Brutus broke away from the page who held him, and crouched growling at John's side.

Then Tonio raised his voice, and cried louder, pointing at John with his skinny hand. ”He is our boy,” he said. ”We taught him his trade; let him deny it. Now he is robbing us of our fair dues. He is a runaway. Give him back to us!”

Still John stared at him, too dazed to answer. But the Hermit took another step forward, and said sternly:--

”He is your boy, you say. How did you come by him?”

”We bought him for a gold piece,” they said in chorus. ”That was years ago. For ten years he traveled with us. And then he ran away. His life is ours; let him deny it if he can!”

John stood silent, horrified at the fate which seemed to confront him.

For in those days children who were bought and sold in this cruel way were the slaves of the masters who had purchased them.

The Prince had fallen back, pale and trembling. But the King now spoke again, gazing with malicious eyes upon the two wood-folk whom he hated.