and the incident illustrates one possible source of trouble to a ’cycler travelling alone through countries where the people neither understand, nor can be expected to understand, a wheelman’s position; the situation would, of course, be aggravated in a country village where, not speaking the language, one could not make himself understood in his own defence.  These people here, if not wise as serpents, are at least harmless as doves; but, in case of the bicycle frightening a team and causing a runaway with the unpleasant sequel of broken limbs, or injured horse, they would scarce know what to do in the premises, since they would have no precedent to govern them, and, in the absence of any intelligent guidance, might conclude to wreak summary vengeance on the bicycle.  In such a case, would a wheelman be justified in using his revolver to defend his bicycle ?

Such is the reverie into which I fall while reclining beneath a spreading mulberry-tree waiting for Igali to catch up; for he has promised that I shall see the Slavonian national dance sometime to-day, and a village is now visible in the distance.  At the Danube-side village of Hamenitz an hour’s halt is decided upon to give me the promised opportunity of witnessing the dance in its native land.  It is a novel and interesting sight.  A round hundred young gallants and maidens are rigged out in finery such as no other people save the Croatian and Slavonian peasants ever wear — the young men braided and embroidered, and the damsels having their hair entwined with a profusion of natural flowers in addition to their costumes of all possible hues.  Forming themselves into a large ring, distributed so that the sexes alternate, the young men extend and join their hands in front of the maidens, and the latter join hands behind their partners; the steel-strung tamboricas strike up a lively twanging air, to which the circle of dancers endeavor to shuffle time with their feet, while at the same time moving around in a circle Livelier and faster twang the tamboricas, and more and more animated becomes the scene as the dancing, shuffling ring endeavors to keep pace with it.  As the fun progresses into the fast and furious stages the youths’ hats have a knack of getting into a jaunty position on the side of their heads, and the wearers’ faces assume a reckless, flushed appearance, like men half intoxicated while the maidens’ bright eyes and beaming faces betoken unutterable happiness; finally the music and the shuffling of feet terminate with a rapid flourish, everybody kisses everybody — save, of course, mere luckless onlookers like Igali and myself — and the Slavonian national dance is ended.