244 STALKS ABROAD 



mory," and so remained until the end of the first 

 verse. Then came that infectious laugh. He gave 

 a decorous smile, which promptly vanished behind 

 an enormous black paw. " Mackay I " said Harry 

 Lauder. The smile resolved itself into a gentlemanly 

 snigger. " Mack-a-a-a-y ! " reiterated the devil-pos- 

 sessed instrument. At that the last barriers went 

 down. The snigger dissolved into a wild splutter 

 of choking laughter which even the black paw could 

 not successfully repress, and he incontinently bolted 

 through the door and gave himself up to unrestrained 

 mirth in the back yard. 



