About midday I came to where, in a secluded valley, there stood a single small cottage without any other building in sight.  It was a neat little house, with a rustic porch and a small garden in front of it, with a swarm of cocks and hens.  I lay down among the ferns and watched it, for it seemed to be exactly the kind of place where I might obtain what I wanted.  My bread was finished, and I was exceedingly hungry after my long journey; I determined, therefore, to make a short reconnaissance, and then to march up to this cottage, summon it to surrender, and help myself to all that I needed.  It could at least provide me with a chicken and with an omelette.  My mouth watered at the thought.

As I lay there, wondering who could live in this lonely place, a brisk little fellow came out through the porch, accompanied by another older man, who carried two large clubs in his hands.  These he handed to his young companion, who swung them up and down, and round and round, with extraordinary swiftness.  The other, standing beside him, appeared to watch him with great attention, and occasionally to advise him.  Finally he took a rope, and began skipping like a girl, the other still gravely observing him.  As you may think, I was utterly puzzled as to what these people could be, and could only surmise that the one was a doctor, and the other a patient who had submitted himself to some singular method of treatment.

Well, as I lay watching and wondering, the older man brought out a great-coat, and held it while the other put it on and buttoned it to his chin.  The day was a warmish one, so that this proceeding amazed me even more than the other.  ‘At least,’ thought I, ’it is evident that his exercise is over’; but, far from this being so, the man began to run, in spite of his heavy coat, and as it chanced, he came right over the moor in my direction.  His companion had re-entered the house, so that this arrangement suited me admirably.  I would take the small man’s clothing, and hurry on to some village where I could buy provisions.  The chickens were certainly tempting, but still there were at least two men in the house, so perhaps it would be wiser for me, since I had no arms, to keep away from it.

I lay quietly then among the ferns.  Presently I heard the steps of the runner, and there he was quite close to me, with his huge coat, and the perspiration running down his face.  He seemed to be a very solid man—­but small—­so small that I feared that his clothes might be of little use to me.  When I jumped out upon him he stopped running, and looked at me in the greatest astonishment.

‘Blow my dickey,’ said he, ’give it a name, guv’nor!  Is it a circus, or what?’

That was how he talked, though I cannot pretend to tell you what he meant by it.

‘You will excuse me, sir,’ said I, ’but I am under the necessity of asking you to give me your clothes.’

‘Give you what?’ he cried.