HORSES AND HOUNDS. 251 



you are,",said Jim, jumping quickly upon his legs and collaring 

 the keeper. "Let go," cried the man, " or it shall be the worse 

 for you." " Not a bit of it," said Jim ; " I can thrash two such 

 fellows as you any day in the week. I am just in the humour 

 for it now, and if I don't serve you out as bad as you meant to 

 serve our old fox, my name is not Jim. So, no nonsense — you 

 two shall go before your master this very night, or one of you 

 I'll carry there, that's all." 



Jim being a tall powerful fellow, and a pretty good hand at 

 most games, that of fives not excepted, the keepers were obliged 

 to submit, and they all marched off together for the mansion, 

 Jim shouldering the steel traps, which he told me afterwards he 

 longed to give the head keeper a taste of about his head and 

 ears. The master having told him upon more than one occasion 

 that he should never be refused admittance if he was at home, 

 Jim walked up to the front door, with a knock and ring, as if 

 some gentleman had arrived. He knew it would be of no avail 

 going to the back. The footman soon made his appearance, and 

 was not a little surprised when he beheld Jim there. " is your 

 master at homef coolly asked Jim. "No, he ain't," replied 

 the indignant lacquey, " to such visitors as you — your place, if 

 anywhere, is at the back door." "I rather think not, just now, 

 Mr. Footman, and I will thank you to tell your master Mr. 

 So and So's whipper-in wishes to see him on particular busi- 

 ness." " I shall do no such thing," said the footman. " Very 

 well," replied Jim, "then here I'll knock and ring, if fur the 

 next hour to come, until you do, my fine fellow, that's all." 



The man shut the door, thinking Jim dared not do as he 

 threatened, but he little knew the customer he had to deal with. 

 In a moment such a thundering knocking at the door, and such 

 a pull at the bell, that you would have thought the Marquis of 

 Carabas had arrived. The master, who had just gone to his 

 dressing-room for the night, hearing this racket at the hall door, 

 rang his own bell violently. His valet rushed up stairs at the 

 summons. " AVho on earth is at the hall door at this time of 

 night V demanded the master. " I can't tell, sir." " Then go 

 this minute, and let me know ; they will knock the door down." 

 The enraged footman was obliged to open the door again. 

 " Well," said Jim, " are you going to deliver my message, or 

 shall I knock and ring a little longer f " Confound your impu- 

 dence," said the footman, " I should like to twist your neck a 

 bit." " Only just try, Mr. Longshanks," rejoined Jim, " and I 

 will soon take some of that powder out of your wig for you." 



The message at last being delivered to the master of the man- 

 sion, he desired Jim should be shown into his study, where in a 



