r, such as I had before now seen at the town-fair, had made
his way to the Lodge, and the swarthy master, with his two companions, as
it might be his brothers, were like all the men of their tribe. A thick
growth of hair covered the mouth below an eaglenose, and on their shaggy
heads they wore soft red bonnets. One was followed by a tall camel,
slowly marching along with an ape perched on his hump; the other led a
brown bear with a muzzle on his snout.

The master's wife, and a dark-faced young wench, were walking by the side
of a little wagon having two wheels, to which an over-worked mule was
harnessed. A youth, of may-be twelve years of age, blew upon a pipe for
the bear to dance, and inasmuch as he had no clothes but a ragged little
coat, and a sharp east wind was blowing, he quaked with cold and shivered
as he piped. Notwithstanding he was a fine lad, well-grown, and with a
countenance of outlandish but well nigh perfect beauty. He had come, for
certain, from some distant land; yet was he not of the same race as the
others.

When we had seen enough of the show, my uncle commanded that meat should
be brought for the wanderers; and when pease-pottage and other messes had
been given them, they fetched, from under the wagon-tilt, a swarthy babe,
which, meseemed was a sweet little maid albeit she was so dark-colored.

Ann and I gazed at these folks while they ate, and it seemed strange to
us to see that the well-favored lad put away from him with horror the
bacon which the old bear-leader set before him; and for this the man
dealt him a rude blow.

After their meal the master went on his way; and when we likewise had
eaten our dinner, my dear godfather and uncle, Christian Pfinzing, came
from the town, bringing a troop of mercenaries to the camp where they
were to be trained that they might fight against the Hussites. He, like
the other guests, made friends with the strangers, and in his merry
fashion he bid the older bear leader tell our fortunes by our hands,
while the young ones should dance.

The man then read the future for each of us; my fortune was sheer folly,
whereof no single word ever came true. He promised my brother a Count's
coronet and a wife from a race of princes; and when Ann heard it, and
held up her finger at Herdegen for shame, he whispered in her ear that
she was of the race of the Sovereign Queen of all queens--of Venus, ruler
of the universe. All this she heard gladly; yet could no one persua