Near to the pathway lay a long clump of greenery, and from behind this there stuck straight up into the air four human legs clad in parti-colored hosen, yellow and black.

Strangest of all was when a brisk tune struck suddenly up and the four legs began to kick and twitter in time to the music.

Walking on tiptoe round the bushes, he stood in amazement to see two men bounding about on their heads, while they played, the one a viol and the other a pipe, as merrily and as truly as though they were seated in a choir.
Alleyne crossed himself as he gazed at this unnatural sight, and could scarce hold his ground with a steady face, when the two dancers, catching sight of him, came bouncing in his direction.

A spear's length from him, they each threw a somersault into the air, and came down upon their feet with smirking faces and their hands over their hearts.
"A guerdon--a guerdon, my knight of the staring eyes!" cried one.
"A gift, my prince!" shouted the other.

"Any trifle will serve--a purse of gold, or even a jewelled goblet." Alleyne thought of what he had read of demoniac possession--the jumpings, the twitchings, the wild talk.