DUNDAS'S BAILIFF 321 



" Well, I suppose, as principal owner of the island, I 

 may be allowed a voice in that matter even. And now, 

 perhaps, you will be good enough to show me over the 

 place ? " returned Dundas, angrily. 



At a jog trot, and grumbling like fury, the Httle 

 bailiff managed to keep pace with his new and long-legged 

 young master. 



Suddenly, from a small reed-fringed pond situate 

 near the centre of a lucerne marsh, up rose a couple of 

 pochards within thirty yards of Dundas, who pulled at 

 the leading bird, a fine drake, but missed him clean, and 

 only succeeded in dropping his consort with a broken 

 wing. 



" Danged if my youngest nipper. Tommy, couldn't 

 a shot better nor that ! " remarked Rufus, as he went in 

 chase of the wounded bird, which, having captured, he 

 very soon despatched by calmly biting its head ; and 

 upon joining Dundas coolly suggested that he (Rufus) 

 should take the gun, "as it wan't no blazing good a 

 missing of birds loike that theer." 



" I'll see you hanged first ! " was all Dundas allowed 

 himself to reply. 



" All right, maister, heve yer own way ; but us heve 

 all gol? to learn, yer know," said Rufus soothingly. 



Dundas had not left the pond-hole many minutes when 

 a covey of nine partridges got up from a growth of rushes, 

 and with a great to-do headed towards the next island. 

 Ag«ain he missed with his first barrel, but managed to drop 

 a bird stone dead with his second. 



