362 A PLEA FOR THE OLD RED RAG 



*' See anything of Benjamin these times ? " I inter- 

 rupted. 



" Benjamin don't complain of the cold where he is," 

 said his old master drily ; " and no one need tell 'im 

 to think of ginger now ! I guess he don't get much 

 'untin' — not fox-'untin', at least ; a fine buoy in his 

 way, no doubt, but I never could cram any knowledge 

 of the chase into his noddle, nor any love for it into 

 'is 'eart, 'ard though I tried ! 



" Drat 'im ! " continued Mr. Jorrocks testily, " wot 

 between 'im and old Doleful and that 'umbug Mello 

 'Andley Cross wasn't altogether just a bed of roses. 

 'Owsomever, I ain't bothered by any of 'em now, but 

 if Miserriraus was to come out with us, dashed if 

 I wouldn't fly over him even if he wore the scarlet ! " 



And with that he smote the table such a bang that 

 the gla-^o^s jingled again, and I started to my feet. 



I rubbed my eyes ; the chair opposite me was again 

 vacant ; the chiming clock on the mantelpiece was 

 noisily striking midnight, but the aroma of lemon, 

 sugar, boiling water, and (I think) whisky was still 

 strong in the room. 



"Could I have dreamt it all?" I sleepily muttered, 

 and, extinguishing the lamp, walked slowly up to bed ; 

 but there was a soft tinkle of rain against the big 

 staircase window as I passed, and a southerly wind 

 seemed to carry from the far distance the faint, weird 

 scream of a peacock. 



TJNWIM BBOTHBBS, lilUITED, THE QBESHAM PBBSS, WOKING AND LONDON. 



