BY THE LIGHT 0' THE MOON 101 



a bee-line across the marshes. Jack Tanker ton also 



retraced his footsteps, nor did he walk as gingerly as 



before. 



• •••••• 



" Begorra, man, an' you'd better get up a syndicate to 

 work the mineral rights you've just acquired. I never 

 saw a man so rich in lead in all me Hfe before," coolly 

 remarked the sporting surgeon of Mudleigh as he probed 

 out the twenty- seventh shot pellet from the buttocks of 

 Bully Tompkins, the giant eel-catcher, who had just been 

 brought into Dr Patrick O'Leary's surgery by his 

 mate, Bill Gibson, to have an ounce or so of No. 4 shot 

 extracted from the lower part of his anatomy. 



" I don't know naught about sinikits, maister," 

 groaned the guernsey-clad giant in reply to the doctor's 

 pleasantry, " but if ever Bill or me comes to I'arn who 

 was the skulking varmints as peppered us on the fleet 



's marning, well, domned if we 'on't wring the 



necks ofi 'em." 



'' Quite right, me man," quoth the little surgeon, as 

 he popped a sovereign into the wilHng fist of the eel- 

 catcher, just by way of a largesse, don't you know. 



" I reckons it wor Ginger as done it, don't 'ee mate ? " 

 grinningly remarked Bill Gibson to his friend as the 

 worthy pair of marshmen left the surgery. 



" In course it wor ; and he can heve a shot at t'other 

 side for another of they ' yaller boys.' But let's christen 

 this 'un fust," was the giant's reply, as they headed for 

 the " BuU and Badger." 



