MY OLD FRIEND NICK 65 



in their cases meant the long-legged ones. But 

 their constitutions had been so taxed by the long 

 hours of immersion, that their bodies had not kept 

 pace with the abnormal development of their 

 shanks. 



Most of them were roosters, and whenever one 

 would crow it would fall prostrate with the effort 

 and lie there kicking until up-ended by some 

 kindly hand. And they were compelled to sit 

 down when they ate or drank in order to reach 

 their food without falling headlong into the dish. 

 And their voices, such voices! like nothing in 

 the world so much as Nick's laugh. 



When I commented on their unusual develop- 

 ment, Nick remarked with a humorous twinkle 

 in his eye and a shrewd twist of his mouth, 



"Ay, mon, tha shouldst na find fault wi' thot, 

 th' art built graidely lang-leggit thaself." 



The partnership books, consisting of chalk 

 memoranda on the inside of the harness-room 

 door, were duly examined and found correct. 

 "What these twenty curiosities cost me I have never 

 told. I never shall. Neither Nick nor I cared to 

 discuss that part of it, but we made somewhat 

 elaborate plans to try again the next year and 

 to retrieve our shattered fortunes. 



Poor Nick! he died that winter of a sud-* 

 den attack of pneumonia. Before he died he 

 asked for me ; but I was away, and did not know 



