TAKING THEM OVER 15 



as we returned from exercise. Old Peter guessed 

 what had happened, for his favourite was missed 

 from its daily custom of bringing in rabbits, leverets, 

 and young game birds to its ^'kittlins," so to clear 

 the atmosphere we introduced the subject on the 

 first opportunity. 



" Peter, there's rather too many cats about the 

 place just now." 



No reply. 



'^ It's all very well to have a few to keep down 

 the vermin, but when they get beyond a few, they 

 are apt to get into trouble." 



Still no reply. 



" In fact, any cat seen a mile away from home 

 will have to be destroyed." 



Then Peter, with a stern face and a hard voice: 

 " For ma pairt A wud raither keep caats az raats," 

 and wheeled and strode away. 



One of the old draft hounds was the principal 

 offender in this instance, and as he distinguished 

 himself soon after in a way calculated to bring 

 discredit on the pack, his death warrant was signed. 

 We had ridden over (with hounds) to a farm which 

 seemed a likely walk for a puppy. We had shut 

 hounds up in the straw-barn, and were interviewing 

 old Mr. Br3^don in his parlour. He had just said : 

 ** I didna ken hoonds were sic bonny massy beasts, 

 and I wud like fine ti rear a whulp ; but the 

 mistress " 



Billy was eloquently urging that Mrs. B. need 

 know no fear, two whelps were no trouble, that 

 one kept the other out of mischief, and so on ; when 

 we both saw passing the window that gluttonous 



