Whatever may be the
opinion of the reader, he cannot assert that we
are no conjurers—We
suit our wares to our customers, and our
profits are considerable.
We had been three days in the camp when the gathering
was broken up, each gang taking their own way.
What the meeting was about I could not exactly discover;
one occasion of it was to make arrangements relative
to the different counties in which the subdivisions
were to sojourn during the next year, so that they
might know where to communicate with each other, and,
at the same time, not interfere by being too near;
but there were many other points discussed, of which,
as a stranger, I was kept in ignorance. Melchior
answered all my questions with apparent candour, but
his habitual deceit was such, that whether he told
the truth or not was impossible to be ascertained
by his countenance.
When the gathering dispersed we packed up, and located
ourselves about two miles from the common, on the
borders of a forest of oak and ash. Our food
was chiefly game, for we had some excellent poachers
among us; and as for fish, it appeared to be at their
command; there was not a pond nor a pit but they could
tell in a moment if it were tenanted, and if tenanted,
in half an hour every fish would be floating on the
top of the water, by the throwing in of some intoxicating
sort of berry; other articles of food occasionally
were found in the caldron; indeed, it was impossible
to fare better than we did, or at less expense.
Our tents were generally pitched not far from a pool
of water, and to avoid any unpleasant search, which
sometimes would take place, everything liable to detection
was sunk under the water until it was required for
cooking; once in the pot, it was considered as safe.
But with the foraging, Timothy and I had nothing to
do; we participated in the eating, without asking
any questions as to how it was procured.
My time was chiefly spent in company with Melchior,
who initiated me into all the mysteries of cups and
balls—juggling of every description—feats
with cards, and made me acquainted with all his apparatus
for prepared tricks. For hours and hours was I
employed by his directions in what is called “making
the pass” with a pack of cards, as almost all
tricks on cards depend upon your dexterity in this
manoeuvre. In about a month I was considered
as a very fair adept; in the meantime, Timothy had
to undergo his career of gymnastics, and was to be
seen all day tumbling and retumbling, until he could
tumble on his feet again. Light and active, he
soon became a very dexterous performer, and could
throw a somerset either backwards or forwards, walk
on his hands, eat fire, pull out ribbons, and do fifty
other tricks to amuse a gaping audience. Jumbo
also was worked hard, to bring down his fat, and never
was allowed his dinner until he had given satisfaction
