40 THE STRIKE AT SHANE'S. 



''Keep cool," said Dobbin; ''let us all work to- 

 gether and be patient." 



"Patience is a virtue I don't boast of,** said Dick ; 

 *'but I will do the best I can." 



The sorrel said that playing sick was about as hard 

 as working, for he had been going hungry all the week, 

 a sick horse, of course, not being expected to eat. 

 He could get along all right as long as they would turn 

 him out in the pasture, where he could crop the grass 

 without being seen ; but when they shut him up in the 

 stable they could tell how much he ate. 



The gray mare had the same experience, but they 

 both promised to hold out to the end, if it took all 

 summer, and they got so thin that they had to stand 

 twice in the same place to make a shadow. 



"I have had a pretty rough time of it," said the 

 cow. "The only way I could get even was by not 

 giving milk, and the only way I could keep from giv- 

 ing milk was not to eat. I have had to starve myself 

 for the whole week, but I have the satisfaction of know- 

 ing that they have not had enough milk in the family ; 

 and that good-for-nothing Tom has not had any milk 

 to drink for one week. No doubt I am looking pretty 

 thin, but I am determined not to give any milk if I can 

 help it. I have received several beatings from Tom, 

 because he says I won't give down my milk, and I 

 kicked him once." 



"That is quite heroic on your part," said Dobbin. 

 "Who is the next?" 



* ' There never was a dog hac^ as hard a time as I 



