14 THE STRIKE AT SHANE'S. 



Even John Shane missed him, but it was the result 

 of a selfish interest ; for here was his team broken up, 

 and not a horse on the place to take his place. There 

 was no use of talking about breaking one of the colts ; 

 and Bay Dick had such a temx)er that he couldn't be 

 worked with any horse hut Dobbin. If he should 

 hitch one of the colts up with Dick, everything would 

 l)e kicked to splinters in fiye minutes. 



He w^ent among his neighbors and tried to hire or 

 buy a horse, but it was the busy season, and none of 

 them cared to part with any of their horses. In this 

 way he spent the w4iole day and succeeded in doing 

 nothing but get into a very bad temper. 



He w^ent down to the field w^here Mike was plowing 

 with the only team on the farm, and told him not to 

 spare the horses, but " put 'em through from daylight 

 till dark." 



''■Not if I know mesilf," said Mike to himself, as 

 Shane started away. "It's not such a fool I am to 

 overtax me ow^n stringth for the sake of getting a 

 little more work out of the horses." 



Shane searched far and wide for a horse, but could 

 find none at that season of the year. His temper grew 

 worse all the time. Tom didn't escape his wrath either ; 

 but Tom had a way of getting even by taking out his 

 spite on the cattle and horses, and even the dog and 

 cat did not entirely escape his kicks and blows. 

 And his leisure time was spent going about the fields 

 shooting birds, as he said "for practise." 



Things w^ent on this way for a week or ten days, 



