52 HOUND AND HORN 



hounds, do you ? For I think, if you don't mind, old 

 chap, I'll go round by the Ford." And as I made no 

 reply, he continued, " It's not so far out of the way " 

 (it was a trifle of nine miles or so), " and the day's 

 young yet ; and besides, John Elliot has a colt I 

 rather want to see. He's been handling him, and 

 was to back him this week," he continued, talking 

 hurriedly, and looking earnestly across to the other 

 side of the valley. 



It was such an unusual custom for Billy to give so 

 many and so minute reasons for his contemplated 

 movements that my curiosity was roused ; but with- 

 out displaying it, I gazed hard into space and waited 

 for more. It came. 



'^ Do you think that bird-skinning, fox-stuffing 

 barber at Midhope Village could give me a decent 

 shave, for I feel rather a nigger ? " 



'^ Yes, I think he could ; but that's two miles more 

 out of the way." 



" Is it so much as that ? Then I must saunter on. 

 By-the-by, John said he'd perhaps ride out by the 

 swire on the chance of picking me up." 



As soon as he had forced the unwilling grey mare 

 to turn off down the bridle-path and proceed a little 

 way, the saunter was quickened to an easy canter, 

 and before he passed out of sight I saw, not the stout 

 form of John Elliot, but a slim figure in a skirt, on a 

 white pony, appearing from the opposite direction. 

 The two converged, met, and then rode away together 

 through the shining hills. 



