HOW THE NEWS CAME 7 



at the end of my table what I had been doing, and 

 I repHed, " Why, huntin' hounds, of course." To 

 which she retorted, '' If you are going to drop your 

 *g's' about hke that I shan't play." 



Later on in the day, Billy Kerr, a young relative, 

 arrived breathless with excitement, and gasped out : 

 "Is it true? For if it is, by the powers, I'll whip 

 to you if you have only a three-legged horse to 

 give me." 



" Come away down to the stables, and I'll show 

 you a four-legged one." 



When the linen sheet was stripped from the Irish 

 mare in obedience to Batters' command, *' Peel that 

 mere," and after her legs had been felt, and her 

 hocks examined, the Oracle remarked, " She wadna 

 mak' a bad wheep's horse, Maister Willyum." 



As there had been no opportunity for an inter- 

 change of news between the two, it left it to be 

 surmised that the tele-girl had revealed to Batters 

 the momentous message of the morning. 



'^ Let's have a look through what you've got here 

 before I go," said Billy. 



So the horses were inspected in turn with a new 

 interest and a new importance, and much discussion 

 took place as to whether this one or that one was 

 suitable — fast enough, stout enough, and clever enough 

 for a huntsman's horse. 



" What have you just now ? " asked Billy. 



"At the moment there are five here and two at 

 grass, seven hunters all told ; all good of their kind, 

 and all to be depended upon ; but two of them are 

 shared with the family." 



" Which are these ? " 



