of the
number drew from underneath their short cloaks instruments of music,
while others cleared their throats as if about to sing. Presently there
stepped apart a masked form, who thus gave command in a rude sort of
rhyme:

"Hola, my merry mountaineers,
Prepare a festive lay;
Our gallant friend will measure trip
While we a song essay."

Each other masker thereupon drew a rapier, and turned its point to centre.

"Unbind the captive, give him room;
Now, friend, pray mind your play.
Strike up, my lads, and heed your time,
And merrily troll away."

At the word, the others commenced in deep, hoarse voices:

"An old graybeard a wooing came,
"Ha! ha! ha!
With plenty of brass, but little brain,
Tira la la!

Merrily round we go,
Merrily.
All in a circle O,

Cheerily!
Right joyful was the gaffer gray,
La la la!
And who so blithe as he I pray?
Tira la la!

Merrily round we go.
Alas! the change of time and tide,
Ah! ha! ha!
That gaffer's joy to grief should glide,
Tira la la!

Merrily round we go."

"Trip on, friend Jean," the leader said; "thou laggest wretchedly. Let
me spirit thee with this good steel rod; 'twill move thee most
famously."

Jean Maret, in spite of himself, discovered great agility on this
occasion. He could hardly have moved with more readiness in the rustic
cotillon among the village lads and lasses. Nevertheless, not a few
oaths escaped him, doubly provoked as he was by the composure of his
tormentors, and the laughter of the surrounding spectators. But swifter
still flew the brisk burden, "Tira la la."

"Good people all," the chief now said, "we have piped this man to play,
and now that we the pipes have tuned, 'tis fair his purse should pay."

"Villain!" replied the veteran, testily, "ye shall not have a doit!"

"Good luck, our friend's not satisfied," returned the mask. "And yet
we've done our best. Well then, Jean Maret, we will offer you a change.
Doubtless you have seen the dance which is inspired by the bite of our
famous black spider. Let us see if our good steel may not be able to
supply the place of the spider. Come then, my lads, strike up 'La
Tarantula.'"

Again Jean was forced to display his powers of agility, as flew the
music and the accompanying voices, onward and still on, with
ever-increasing rapidity. At