o was also "picked up;"
this was not done by Melchior, who stated, that anybody might have him
who claimed him; he tumbled with the fool upon the stage, and he also
ate pudding to amuse the spectators--the only part of the performance
which was suited to Jumbo's taste, for he was a terrible little glutton,
and never lost any opportunity of eating, as well as of sleeping.

And now, having described all our new companions, I must narrate what
passed between Melchior and me, the day after our joining the camp. He
first ran through his various professions, pointing out to me that as
juggler he required a confederate, in which capacity I might be very
useful, as he would soon instruct me in all his tricks. As a quack
doctor he wanted the services of both Tim and myself in mixing up,
making pills, etcetera, and also in assisting him in persuading the
public of his great skill. As a fortune-teller, I should also be of
great service, as he would explain to me hereafter. In short, he wanted
a person of good personal appearance and education, in whom he might
confide in every way. As to Tim, he might be made useful, if he chose,
in various ways; amongst others, he wished him to learn tumbling and
playing the fool, when, at times, the fool was required to give a shrewd
answer on any point on which he would wish the public to be made
acquainted. I agreed to my own part of the performance, and then had
some conversation with Timothy, who immediately consented to do his best
in what was allotted as his share. Thus was the matter quickly
arranged, Melchior observing, that he had said nothing about
remuneration, as I should find that trusting to him was far preferable
to stipulated wages.

PART ONE, CHAPTER ELEVEN.

WHATEVER MAY BE THE OPINION OF THE READER, HE CANNOT ASSERT THAT WE ARE
NO CONJURORS--WE SUIT OUR WARES TO OUR CUSTOMERS, AND OUR PROFITS ARE
CONSIDERABLE.

We had been three days in the camp when the gathering was broken up,
each gang taking their own way. What the meeting was about I could not
exactly discover: one occasion of it was to make arrangements relative
to the different counties in which the subdivisions were to sojourn
during the next year, so that they might know where to communicate with
each other, and, at the same time, not interfere by being too near; but
there were many other points discussed, of which, as a stranger, I was
kept in ignorance. Melchior answered all my questions with appare