exclaimed the four in surprise.
“‘Why, the one who found Gray Ears,’ I cried in reply, ‘none other than Diggeldy Dan!’
“Now at the sight of my face and my polka-dot suit and the sound of my ting-a-ling name, all the children immediately rose in their seats and began to shout and to sing:
“‘O, Dan, Dan, Diggeldy Dan,
O, Dan, Dan, Diggeldy Dan:
Do play some pranks for us, Diggeldy Dan!’
“But at this the four frowned and held up four separate hands, whereat the three ringmasters again cracked their whips and called for all to be silent. And then the four opened their purses.
“‘No! No! Not a penny!’ cried I, as I watched them, ‘for it’s not that kind of a reward that I’d like best to request.’
“‘Ah, ha!’ said the first.
“‘Oh, ho!’ winked the second.