TAKING THEM OVER 19 



cut out with a spade in solid cubes, which looked 

 most appetising in the troughs in the feeding-house 

 next door. 



" Let's take hounds out on the green while the 

 pudding is being prepared," suggested Bill. 



As hounds climbed round one, and scrambled and 

 raced for a little bit of broken biscuit thrown to them, 

 my volunteer whip got the ear of the young lady for 

 a time, and had evidently been impressing her with 

 his knowledge of hounds' names, for she said to me, 

 *' Do you know that Mr. Kerr knows all the hounds' 

 names," and added shyly, '* Do you ? " 



I was obliged to confess I did, and disclaiming any 

 supernatural talent for the accomplishment, continued, 

 " There is a shepherd here who knows at a glance 

 every one of the 640 sheep he has to look after." 

 But this did not seem to impress Miss Florence as 

 much as might have been expected. 



'^ Feeding-time, Tom ? " as that individual appeared 

 at the kennel door. '* Very wxll, now let's see you 

 separate the puppies first." 



** Right, sir. Stand back, hounds : steady there 

 now: then, puppies, little puppies, puppies only; 

 here, little boys ; here, little dearies : " and in no 

 time he had six couple of young hounds forward 

 wriggling with delight ; and while the old hounds 

 all remained standing dejected in the background, 

 they were allowed to pick out the tit-bits. Then 

 a little more flesh and biscuits was added, and 

 the old hounds called over singly, the shy feeders 

 first — Dainty, Lavender, Beeswing, Rosalind, Pilgrim, 

 Woodman, Ringwood, Gossamer, Gambol, Dexter, 

 Sportsman, Ranter, Dalesman, Driver, Newsman. 



