A Lucky Magpie 181 



well he might be pleased, for it was the saving 

 of me, and I believe he knew it ; bless his old 

 bones down yonder by the hedge! 



"As soon as Mag began to hop down the 

 garden I saw my gentleman do just what I had 

 done before him ; he jumped straight out of the 

 window, and down came the flowerpots after him. 

 I saw Miss Pringle give a jump from behind the 

 curtain and try to save them ; but it was too 

 late, and there she stood in the window wringing 

 her hands, while Mag and the gentleman raced 

 round the garden, over the neat beds and through 

 the rose-bushes, until everything was in such a 

 mess that I can tell you it took me a good long 

 time to tidy it all up early next morning. 



"At last he got Mag into a corner by the 

 toolhouse, and a minute later he was in my room, 

 with Mag in one hand, pecking at him till the 

 blood came, and in the other a sovereign ! 



" ' Here's the thief,' he said ; ' shall we send 

 for a policeman ? ' But Miss Pringle had already 

 done that, for she thought that every one was 

 going mad, and that somebody ought to be taken 

 up ; and when I had been taken over to the 



