into the open space which had been left about the fountain. And then
they saw what the backs of the butcher and baker and candlestick-maker
had hidden from them.

From the back of a forlorn little donkey that was tethered behind the
fountain a roll of carpet had been taken and spread out on the ground.
Beside this stood the three tumblers. One of them was a thin, dark
man, small and wicked-looking, dressed, like the drum-beater, in red
and yellow. The second tumbler was a huge fellow more than six feet
tall, with a shaggy mane of black hair. His muscles stood out in great
knots under the suit of green tights which he wore.

"A Giant he is! Faith, he could toss me over his shoulder like a
meal-bag!" muttered the Blacksmith, who stood with crossed arms looking
over the heads of the crowd. "And the wicked face of him! Ugh! I
would not wish a quarrel with him!"

But the little boys in the front row were most interested in the third
tumbler, who stood between the other two, with his arms folded, ready
to begin.

This also was a figure in green, with short trunks of tarnished
cloth-of-gold. But beside the Giant, in the same dress, he looked like
a pigmy or a fairy mite. This third tumbler was a little fellow of
about eight, very slender and childish in form, but lithe and
well-knit. Instead of being dark and gypsy-like, as were the other
three of the wandering band, this boy was fair, with a shock of golden
hair falling about his shoulders, and with a skin of unusual whiteness,
despite his life of exposure to sun and hard weather. And the eyes
that looked wistfully at the children in front of him were blue as the