138 Studies in Rat Catching. |_ch. viii. 



There on the horizon, against wind and 

 wave, steams a collier, taking fuel to lands 

 where the snow lies deep on the ground for 

 four months in the year ; and right and left, 

 outward bound or coming home, are various 

 white sails dotting the waters. But, Jack, 

 how about supper ? I ordered eggs and 

 bacon for supper, and those chimney corners 

 at the inn looked as if they might be snug 

 and warm to smoke a pipe in afterwards 

 before turning in. Step on. Jack, and have 

 supper ready in half an hour, while I go 

 round by the Rectory and see if the two 

 young gentlemen are at home. They are the 

 right sort, and as keen as Pepper after the 

 rabbits, and they always have half a dozen 

 good terriers as fond of the sport as they 

 are. 



At the Rectory I received a kindly wel- 

 come from Miss Madge Ashfield, the rector's 

 only daughter and the sister of the two lads 



