326 MEMORIES OF MEN AND HORSES 



pockets, and carried the big auger and the mallet in my 

 hands. "Jack" carried the centre-bit and rammer, 

 while in his pocket was the box of matches. 



It was really difficult to scale the spiked yard doors 

 with all these impediments, but it was done, and we 

 were fairly on our way, this time with very different 

 prospects of success. 



We had not progressed far before we heard the sound 

 of approaching steps, and presently we met the village 

 doctor, a timorous little man, who was walking home 

 after seeing a patient. There was a moon that night 

 and it was certainly foolish to give him any unnecessary 

 chance of recognition ; but the inducement to frighten 

 him was irresistible, and I sprang toward him with a 

 weird and horrible yell, as we were passing, waving the 

 big auger, like some strange weapon, in the air. The 

 doctor did not stay for more, but ran for his life, and we 

 had a hearty laugh as we heard his little feet pattering 

 away in the distance. 



But the first gate was soon reached, due investigation 

 of the neighbourhood made, and then to work. The 

 centre-bit drill is not to be denied, even by such oak 

 as this, and presently three holes are made in close 

 proximity, midway down the post on which the gate is 

 hung. Now for the big auger. Hurrah ! it bites ! 

 Started in the midst of the three above-mentioned holes, 

 it finds the way thus partially prepared for it ; and 

 forcibly pressed on and turned, it soon gets a hold on 

 the wood, and wins its way inexorably in, despite the 

 desperate hardness. 



I turned till I had made a good depth of full two 

 inches, and then stopped for breath. The metal of the 

 auger was then too hot to touch, so severe was the work 



