closed."

The people were flocking in from all parts, for at that time of the
evening they had nothing in particular to do. The Count and the Baron
drew near. The burly personage astride of the cask continued his
address, while two or three attendants who had come with him went round
to collect the coin.

"You will understand, brave Hollanders, that any one who is disposed to
give two guilders or three guilders is welcome to do so, and will, I
hope, reap a proportionate reward," he cried out at the top of his
voice.

The Count, who had become much interested, wondering what was coming out
of the cask, proposed putting in five guilders.

"As you like," observed the Baron, "but it is wise, as a rule, to know
what you are going to get for your money, and I suggest that we promise
the individual on the cask an ample reward should we be satisfied. It
would be as well not to pay more than anybody else."

"But then we can scarcely claim the privilege of standing in the front
rank," observed the Count. "Come, he shall have two guilders."

"As you like, it will save me the necessity of putting my hand in my
purse," said the Baron.

The attendants having collected all the money they were likely to get,
the individual on the cask, in a sonorous voice, announced his intention
of exhibiting its contents. For some time past there had been strange
noises proceeding from it, the cause of which no one could understand.

"Are you prepared to see what you shall see?" cried the stout
individual, riding astride on the cask. "Make ready, then. One, two,
three;" and by some contrivance or other, he suddenly caused the head of
the cask to fall out to the ground, when a chorus of mews and feline
shrieks and cries as if long pent up burst forth, followed by an
avalanche of cats with labels fixed to their tails; who, gazing for a
moment at the assemblage, dashed frantically forward, some in one
direction, some in another, blinded by the light suddenly let in on
their eyes: one made a rush at the Baron, and had almost seized his
chin, while her claws stuck into his shirt-front before he could knock
her off; another made a dash at the Count, who fled precipitately. Each
cat, perhaps with the impression that she was ascending a tree, sprang
first at one of the bystanders, and then at another; and then, if driven
aside, dashed frantically forward down the slope, upsetting half a dozen
of the spectators as they endeavoured to make th