violently. It might have been merely
excitement; but the announcement that the signor's feats were about to
commence prevented his asking his sister the cause of her agitation.
And now all sorts of strange contortions, unnatural postures, and
perverse displays of muscular eccentricity were gone through by the
exhibitor, much to the satisfaction of the applauding crowd. As to
Walter, somehow or other the whole thing seemed full of emptiness. Why
was it so? Surely because, to use the forcible language of Chalmers,
"the expulsive power of a superior affection" had begun to make such
exhibitions distasteful to him. However, he had not much time for
reflection. The acrobat was now coming to his performances on the rope.
Hitherto his exertions and feats had been attended simply with
difficulty; now they were to be attended with danger, and were therefore
looked upon by the multitude with thrilling and breathless interest.
Springing upon the rope, pole in hand, he made his way rapidly up the
sloping cord, then from one tree to another, and then high in mid-air to
the summit of the wooden palace or temple. Vehement bursts of applause
rewarded him for this feat accomplished. And now he came down from his
height on his return journey, which he accomplished with perfect ease.
Again he was in the act of ascending, when, looking round for a moment
on the crowd below him, his eye fell on Walter and his sister. Then a
change appeared to come over him,--he seemed to have lost his steadiness
and self-possession. Nevertheless he continued his upward course. But
when he had gained the part of the rope which sloped upwards to the
temple, and was about to exhibit some daring feat of agility, twice did
he make the effort unsuccessfully, and then, in a third violent attempt,
missed his foothold, and fell to the ground amongst the terror-stricken
spectators.

Frightful then were the excitement and the cries of the horrified
multitude. Some rushed to raise the poor fallen man, while the police
struggled to keep back the surging crowd. Drawn on by a strange and
terrible fascination, Walter and his sister pressed forward to where the
unhappy acrobat lay bleeding and insensible. His features were now more
plainly visible,--there could be no mistake about him. Signor Telitetti
was none other than Orlando Vivian.

"We must take him to the hospital, poor fellow, as quickly as possible,"
said one of the policemen. A stretcher was acc