There was a bellow from the door, and I grabbed my clarinet and scrambled after the page. Owner Gope didn't like to wait around for piper-slaves. I saw him looming up at his place, as I darted through to my assigned position within the huge circle of the viand-loaded table. The Chief Piper had just squeezed his bagpipe-like instrument and released a windy blast of discordant sound. He was a lean, squint-eyed rascal fond of ordering the slave-pipers about. He pranced in an intricate pattern, pumping away at his vari-colored bladders, until I winced at the screech of it. Owner Gope noticed him about the same time. He picked up a heavy brass mug and half rose to peg it at the Chief Piper, who saw it just in time to duck. The mug hit a swollen air-bag; it burst with a sour bleat. "As sweet a note as has been played tonight," roared Owner Gope. "Begone, lest you call up the hill devils--" His eye fell on me. "Now here's a true piper. Summon up a fair melody, Drgon, to clear the fumes of the last performer from the air before the wine sours." I bowed low, wet my lips, and launched into the _One O' Clock Jump_. To judge from the roar that went up when I finished, they liked it. I followed with _Little Brown Jug_ and _String of Pearls_. Gope pounded and the table quieted down. "The rarest slave in all Rath-Gallion, I swear it," he bellowed. "Were he not a slave, I'd drink to his health." "By your leave, Owner?" I said. Gope stared, then nodded indulgently. "Speak then." "I claim the place of Chief Piper. I--" Yells rang out; Gope grinned widely. "So be it," he said. "Shall the vote be taken now, or must we submit to more of the vile bladderings ere we proclaim our good Drgon Chief Piper? Speak out." "Proclaim him!" somebody shouted. Gope slammed a huge hand against the table. "Bring Iylk, the Chief Piper, before me," he yelled. The piper reappeared. "The place of the Chief Piper is declared vacant," Gope said loudly. "--since the former Chief Piper has been advanced in degree to a new office. Let these air-bags be punctured," Gope cried. "I banish their rancid squeals forever from Rath-Gallion. Now, let all men know: this former piper is now Chief Fool to this household. Let him wear the broken bladders as a sign of his office." There was a roar of laughter, glad cries, whistles. I gave them _Mairzy Doats_ and the former piper capered gingerly. Owner Gope roared with laughter. "A great day for Rath-Gallion," Gope shouted. "By the horns of the sea-god, I have gained a prince of pipers and a king of fools! I proclaim them to be ten-lash men, and both shall have places at table henceforth!" * * * * *