"It was mine!" cried Gigi with spirit. "She gave it to me and told me
to keep it for a fiesta. But I gave it up because--because I did not
want to be beaten again."

"You did not give it up soon enough!" roared the Giant, working himself
into a terrible rage. "You shall smart for this, you whelp! After
supper I will beat you as never a boy was beaten yet. But I must eat
first. I must get up my strength. No supper for you, Gigi. Do you
watch the donkey here while we go to the inn and spend the silver
piece. Then, when we are camped outside the town,--then we will attend
to you!"




III

THE RUNAWAY

It was but a step to the inn around the corner. Off went the three
gypsies, leaving Gigi with the donkey beside the fountain. The poor
animal stood with hanging head and flopping ears. He too was weary and
heart-broken by a hard life and many beatings. His back was piled with
the heavy roll of carpet and all the poor belongings of the band,
including the tent for the night's lodging. For on these warm spring
nights they slept in the open, usually outside the walls of some town.
They were never welcome visitors, but vagrants and outcasts.

Gigi sat on the fountain-step with his aching head between his hands.