PEACE AND THE TRAVELLING SHOWMAN—THE COMPANY AT THE “BLUE DOLPHIN”—THE SHOWMAN’S LEGEND.
Peace had not gone very far before he came up with a travelling caravan.
The vehicle in question was going at a slow pace, it was heavy and cumbersome, being, in fact, a sort of wooden home on wheels.
Peace could not at first quite make out what it was, but upon closer inspection he came to the conclusion that it was a show, such as one sees at fairs. The driver was seated in front of the vehicle trolling a merry ditty.
“Good night, my friend,” said Peace.
“An’ good night to you,” returned the driver. “Bedad, but this is not the most lively road for a man to thravel.”
“No,” said Peace, “it is not; but you have the advantage of me. I have many miles to travel on foot, and I am as tired as a dog. You couldn’t give a chap a lift, I suppose? I’ll pay for the accommodation.”
“Faith, and may be I could; but who and what are you?”
“A traveller—a poor hawker.”
“Och! Sure now, I aint the man to refuse a favour o’ that sort. Which way are you going?”