Page:Sixteen years of an artist's life in Morocco, Spain and the Canary Islands.djvu/65

54 But, as time wore on, nature became exhausted, and the noise and mirth began somewhat to abate. The din of the Tomtom even was no longer heard so incessantly, and the musical enthusiasm of the professional who handled it evidently began to abate. Indeed, I continued myself to be the only object that had still attraction enough to excite some curiosity, and but for my presence, the wearied guests would probably have been dispersing to their several homes by this time. Longing eyes, however, were still cast on me, my clothes continuing to be the principal object to which their attention was directed. as their incessant curiosity was rather troublesome, I fortunately thought of a method by which I could both deliver myself from the persecution to which I was subjected, and do something to re-awake the flagging spirit of enjoyment. I had brought with me, in the expectation of finding an opportunity to introduce it, and knowing that it would contribute greatly to their amusement, one of those little toys so well known to children in France and England. To their eyes it was at first only a plain little box; but when I opened the lid, and out flew a little black frizzly devil, with horns and a tail, and a scarlet and white mouth, the sensation produced could only be compared to the effect of a spark of fire falling.