d all the pots and pans
slung around the van to jingle in unison.

After a moment Moll spoke.

"You bid me shut up," she said, with an angry jangle in her naturally
soft, full tones. "All right, I will, Joe Harris; but when the time
comes--as come it shall--that you're sorry you didn't listen to me,
don't look to Moll for pity. There, them's my last words."

Then a sullen silence fell upon the pair; but by the time the caravan
had reached its destination they were chatting as harmoniously as if no
difference of opinion had ever arisen to disturb their peace.

The horses were again unyoked, the bear dragged from its lair, and
arrangements put in train for the night. After a scanty supper of scraps
and fragments--for by this time the store in the larder was at low
ebb--having charged Bambo and Tonio with threats and strong words to
look well after the children on peril of their lives, and on no account
to allow them out of the van, Joe and Moll dressed themselves in their
best, and set off to look up some old friends and spend a pleasant
evening in the town.

No sooner were they safely out of the way than Tonio slyly
disappeared--following, doubtless, the example set him by his master and
mistress--possessing no more sense of responsibility to restrain his
movements than a kitten or a butterfly. Thus the dwarf found himself,
greatly to his satisfaction and delight, left in sole charge of the
captives and the encampment.

* * * * *

The first faint light of the misty October morning was spreading up
slowly from the east, the delicate hoar frost of autumn was lying like a
filmy veil of silvery gossamer over the furze bushes and rough grass
around the camping-place, before the pair of pleasure-seekers returned.
By that time, however, Tonio was sleeping soundly beside the piebalds in
shelter of a tumble-down wall, with the monkey curled closely in against
his dusky breast. Joe and Moll were stupid, tired, and decidedly out of
sorts, as people are wont to be after a surfeit of enjoyment and a scant
supply of sleep. Bruno growled as usual at being disturbed, and clanked
his chain as if in remonstrance; from behind the wall the uneasy
fidgeting of the hungry horses could be plainly heard; while Tonio's
noisy snoring rose and fell upon the still, damp air with rhythmical
regularity. But over the old yellow caravan a curious and suspicious
silence reigned; not a sound was to be heard within i