Punch (67.1874)

July 11, 1874.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

17

OUR NEW NOVEL.

ONE-AND-THREE !

BY THAT DISTINGUISHED FRENCH NOVELIST,

FICTOR NOGO.

PART THE THIRD—THE LITTLE 'UNS IN.

Book the First.

II.—Before the Tempest.

The Marky Dtj Crow understood the Circus business thoroughly.
He was rash and skilful. The Marky was exasperated against
Gammon : firstly, because Gammon had been doing uncommonly
well; in the second place, because he was his kinsman.

The Marky had determined upon producing The Taking of
Sevastopol. He wanted real soldiers. These Gammon had, on the
other side, already engaged. The Marky contrived to draw them
from their allegiance.

These tactics confounded Gammon, who had also already prepared
The Siege of Sevastopol.

The Marky would
use the soldiers for
show. But he meant
to depend upon the
supers. The supers
were the pivot about
which he could ma-
noeuvre the soldiers.

Then there would fol-
low the fireworks, the
scenes in the circle,
with the greatest at-
traction of all, the
Acrobatic Children.

The Marky himself
would perform his
celebrated Trick Act.

He had issued his
Orders, signed Marky
Du Ceow. They were
not transferable. No
other signature would
admit. This was to
exclude Gammon and
his party, none of
whom were to be
allowed to enter, even
on payment. The
Maeky Du Ceow’s
own men would watch
them like lynxes
should they effect an
entrance, and forcibly
eject them on the least
sign of disapproba-
tion.

It was a deeply
planned and terrible conception. If it had succeeded, the Marky’s
Cirque would have been unconquerable.

The Maeky Du Ceow had outnumbered Gammon. Success appeared
certain. The place, too, was well chosen. It was in the fiiidst of
the Market Place. The Cirque Republicain was outside the town.

This became a serious matter for Gammon.

When the Royal Circus opened its doors, Gammon stood attentively
studying its programme, in the glare of the naphtha lamps which
lighted his own booth.

Suddenly a lightning-like flash burst from the shadowy Market
Place. Then a sound like clanging of bells, cymbals, and drums.

Through a trumpet roared a strident voice, “All in to begin ! ”

Gammon murmured to himself, “ It has commenced. I will sur-
prise him.”

He turned towards the leader of his Band. It was Katgoot,
afterwards famous for being the object of the oft-repeated crv,
“ Play up, Katgoot ! ”

‘ ‘ Is the Big Drum here ? ” asked Gammon.

The Big-drummer ranged himself before Gammon in silence.

Gammon resumed, “ And the wind instruments ? ”

“ Here! ”

Twelve men, armed with brass, trombones, ophicleides, French
horns, and cornet-a-pistons, stepped forward.

“ Good,” said Gammon.

Then he continued:

“Listen! The Band from the Royal Circus will come out for

refreshment. Ten minutes are allowed for this. They shall be
prevented from returning, and you will take their places. Once in
their orchestra, you will know what to do. For galops, play
waltzes, for waltzes galops ; for quick time slow time. Always
changing and changing suddenly. This will upset everybody. We,
in disguise, will be in front. Once in disorder, we will tear up the
benches, and seize the horses. As a precaution, we will pour water
on the fireworks. We will capture the Acrobatic Children, who belong
to us by right, and the real soldiers will come over to our side. To-
morrow, their doors will be closed, and ours will be open.”

The Band were about to cheer.

_ Gammon commanded silence. They cheered in a whisper. It was
like the hum of insects before a storm.

III.—Knockings out of Time.

The Band of the Royal Circus had, or was supposed to have,
returned from refreshment. The pit was crammed. Peasants, from
the provinces, sat beside their wives and children. Sweethearts sat
together. The townspeople were in the dress circle and upper boxes:
they were divided into rank and fashion. The Mayor was patronising
the show of horses. The Gods were aloft in the gallery. Men, women,
and boys with oranges, apples, ginger-beer, and lemonade. The two
last were the assistance lent by England. With the people the vin

du pays was most
popular. Neverthe-
less, the majority
sucked oranges, and
threw away the skins.
A few cracked nuts.
These were chiefly
women. Women have
good teeth, and are
inquisitive. Curiosity
compels nut-cracking.

The Band played a
portion of the Cheval
de Bronze, and the
Maeky Du Ceow
bounded on his bare-
backed charger into
the ring. He was
welcomed with cheers
—the crowd springing
up like one man. He
wore his cocked hat
jauntily, carried his
bones in his belt, and
his banjo in his hand.

Widdicomb Junior,
Master of the Ring,
had just finished a
dialogue with the
English Clown. The
latter cracked his joke
on the Master. The
Master cracked his
whip on the Jester.

Which had the best
of it ?

There was no time
for questioning. The Band commenced at a slow pace, then sud-
denly broke into a fast and furious movement.

The Marky Du Ceow’s steed bounded from a canter into a full
gallop. Taken by surprise, the Marky struggled to keep his footing,
then reeled, and fell. It was a rude shock. The crowd yelled : most
cheered.

The Marky resumed his position. He murmured to himself,
“ There is something wrong.” What could it be ?

The hoops were brought out, and held for him to jump through.
He urged on his horse.

There was a whizzing through the air, and something flew swiftly
by the Marky’s head. What had happened ? Somebody had thrown
an orange.

A second followed the first, and smashed itself in the left eye of
Widdicomb Junior. A third knocked the Marky’s hat off on to
the sawdust.

“They are chucking things at yer!” said the Clown, himself
throwing a somersault, and vanishing.

Some one had, in fact, aimed at the Maeky Du Ceow. It was
Gammon. The Marky was surprised. He attempted to clear the
first hoop, but stumbled: the second, and fell. Each time the Band
had suddenly changed the tune. The crowds in pit, gallery, and
boxes were furious. They jeered, they yelled, they threw nuts,
oranges, ginger-beer bottles. The horse-riders swarmed into the
arena, but the horses became unmanageable. The first moments of
rage and disappointment were terrific.