20 HOUND AND HORN 



Then, after a pause, as fast as they could be named — 

 Warrior, Tr3rwell, Trojan, Templar, Truthful, Dew- 

 drop, Ringlet, Ruffian, Regent, Proctor, Rallywood, 

 Royal, Talisman, Rustic, Challenger, Marmion, Pirate, 

 Lapwing, Tyrant. 



In a very short time the troughs were cleared 

 out and polished clean, and hounds started to lick 

 each other all over. 



" What are these poor things, Tom ? " inquired 

 Miss Florence, as three hounds — Forager, Chorister, 

 Wisdom — were let out of a small shed to join the 

 others. 



'' Them three. Missus, is to have ile to-night " 

 (** Because they've been naughty," ejaculated Billy, 

 bursting with laughter), '* and I'm preparing them 

 for it. Besides, old Forager will lick about a full 

 feed off the muzzles and backs to the others." 



As we were leaving, some little kittens appeared 

 from below the meal-chest on the concrete floor. 



*' They wxre kittened underneath there/' explained 

 Tom. 



" You'd better put an old sack or something for 

 them to lie on." 



^' Oh, sir, when they feel cold they lie on the 

 porridge," retorted Tom ; and sure enough I fre- 

 quently saw them after this extended flat on their 

 little stomachs, their hind feet pushed out behind them, 

 evidently enjo3dng the comfort of the heat-retaining 

 pudding. 



Old Batters was a man of moods. He was either 

 tiresomely taciturn or abundantly voluble ; and we 

 could never decide in which he showed to the greater 

 advantage. He had often to be consulted on matters 



