A TERRIER TALK 77 



the rue if ye dinna folia ma advice an' get quitten 

 o' — " The remainder was merged in a prolonged 

 *' Hiss-s-s-ss ! '' 



^' I wonder if you would ever tire of talking horse, 

 Bill ? " 



'* Don't know. Perhaps not until you tired of talk- 

 ing hounds and hunting, or got bored with listening 

 to my drivel, eh ? " 



As this was the third day of a frost, and as it 

 looked like lasting, we agreed that the latter question 

 might be put to the test, and that in the evening we 

 would try it. 



It may have been the enforced idleness that put 

 mischief into my companion's head, and he took 

 advantage of a rare opportunity of playing a practical 

 joke upon his hostess. He had seen or heard of the 

 Lady Collector, and had obtained a minute descrip- 

 tion of her attire, which was something between that 

 of the Salvation Army and a hospital nurse. He 

 was at great pains to collect sundry articles, which 

 he deposited in a scattered heap by the side of the 

 path leading to the garden. They included half of 

 a w^ell-chewed golosh, pieces of an old straw poke 

 bonnet, shreds of blue serge, red ribbon, whalebone 

 stays, &c. After some hesitation he added a rib 

 or two and the thigh-bone of an old horse ; but 

 mercifully these had been removed by old Lapwing, 

 who at that time was allowed her liberty for the 

 benefit of her health. He enticed his '* Grandma," 

 as he often called her, out for a walk, and suddenly 

 remarked in a very solemn tone of voice as they 

 neared the heap, ** O Granny, look what I found 

 on the floor of the kennels a little while ago ! " 



