'The American man took out his card and put it on the table. "Esdras B.
Longer is my name, America is my nation, 'Frisco is my resting-place,
but this here beats Creation," said he. "Boys, giants--side-show giants--
I minded to slide out of my bet if I had been overtopped, on the
strength of the riddle on this paste-board. I would have done it if you
had topped me even by three inches, but when it comes to feet--yards--
miles, I am not the man to shirk the biggest drink that ever made the
travellers'-joy palm blush with virginal indignation, or the orang-
outang and the perambulating dyak howl with envy. Set them up and
continue till the final conclusion."

'O mon, I tell you 'twas an awful sight to see those four giants
threshing about the house and the island, and tearin' down the pillars
thereof an' throwing palm-trees broadcast, and currling their long legs
round the hills o' Larut. An awfu' sight! I was there. I did not mean to
tell you, but it's out now. I was not overcome, for I e'en sat me down
under the pieces o' the table at four the morn an' meditated upon the
strangeness of things.

'Losh, yon's the breakfast-bell!'




REINGELDER AND THE GERMAN FLAG
[Footnote: Copyright, 1891, by MACMILLAN & CO.]


Hans Breitmann paddled across the deck in his pink pyjamas, a cup of tea