Gradually the way became less
lonely, carts and waggons and droves of sheep were passed and houses
were more frequently seen by the wayside, and from these groups of
children came, talking joyously about the fair and counting their
pennies as they went along.
Half-a-mile from the little town they had to wait. A gaily painted
group of show waggons filled the roadway, for one of these had broken
down, and for a time nothing could pass by.
There was a great noise of talking and shouting orders, and one big
man, with tiny corkscrew curls of very black hair and silver rings in
his ears and a coat of faded velveteen, stood close by the carrier's
waggon and ordered others to do his bidding.
Pat was broad awake now, and when the carrier, seeing they would have
to wait awhile, took out a lunch of bread and meat and began to cut it
with a pocket knife, the dog stood on his hind legs and begged in his
most insinuating way.
"He's as smart as his master," said the carrier, laughing, while the
gipsy-like man turned and glanced keenly at the van.
"Does he know any more tricks?" asked one of the boys eagerly.
Dick bent down and whispered something to Pat, and he threw back his
head, half shut his eyes, and gave vent to a succession of shrill howls
that were the best music his voice was capable of, while his master
whistled the air of "Killarney" as an accompaniment.
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