270 The Hunting Field With Horse and Hound 



table to accommodate a large family. In one end of the room 

 a spacious fireplace and oven where the cooking is done, the 

 opposite end of the room being given up to two alcoves just 

 long enough to accommodate two beds. These beds are about 

 the height of a sixteen hand horse and are far more difficult 

 to mount, but once located in the middle, one sinks below 

 the horizon of feathers like a ship in the trough of mighty 

 seas. 



On either side of the fireplace, are cupboards, invariably 

 painted green. Wliile you are removing your coat, Madam, 

 who has inquired after Mrs. McDougal and the "bairns" in gen- 

 eral, then each one in particular, goes to a cupboard and takes 

 out a snowy white table spread, unfolds it once or twice, sets 

 out some bread and cheese, the right number of glasses and 

 lastly a bottle of Walker's "Mountain Dew." Donnon says 

 grace, then we help ourselves to the bread and cheese, and a 

 "wee taste," in which to drink to the health of the Donnons. 

 This delightful hospitality given and received, it was then in 

 order to retire to the stables for a look among the beasties. 

 Time, however, was going on and we had several other calls 

 to make on the way to the meet. 



Bess came from the stable smacking her lips over the last 

 taste of corn and was once more persuaded that it was her 

 duty as a good and faithful servant to go between the shafts. 



Our next stop was at one Mr. McFadden's and as that 

 gentleman was expecting us he was on the lookout. It was but 

 two miles from our last stopping place, but no matter, Bess 

 must come from the shafts again, and the same Scotch hos- 

 pitality gone through with. Our host was a sandy-haired, side- 

 whiskered, upstanding Scotchman with a Scotch plaid cap of 

 the Thomas O'Shanter build, light blue eyes, a red face, and a 

 redder nose. "Come in, McDougal, sure and ye'll no be pass- 

 ing wi' oot taking a wee drap." "Well noo," replied McDou- 

 gal, "we just had a taste at your good neighbour's, Mr. Don- 



