thought Gigi the most fortunate boy in the world.

But Gigi never smiled. At the end of one trick the Giant growled a
word under his breath, and made a motion at which the boy cringed.
Something had gone not quite right, and trouble threatened. He bit his
lip, and the performance went on as before.

Now Gigi had to do the most difficult trick of all. With the Giant as
the base, and Cecco, the other tumbler, above, Gigi made the top of a
living pyramid that ran, turned, twisted, and capered as the great
strength of the Giant willed. At a signal they managed somehow to
reverse their positions. All stood upon their heads; Gigi, with his
little green legs waving in the air, heard shouts of applause which
always greeted this favorite act. But the sound gave him no pleasure.
He was tired; he was sore from a beating of the previous night, and his
head ached from the blow which had made that ugly mark on his cheek.
Gigi grew dizzy--




II

THE FALL

Suddenly a woman's voice screamed from the crowd:--

"Ah! The Cherub!"

Gigi had fallen from the top of the pyramid. He fell on his shoulder,