COCK-TAIL'S STORY 61 



he is two years old as ever he was. We can't get 

 un to do anything hke the terriers ; he frisks about 

 Hke an eel, so as we can't touch un at times." 

 Finding that I had no friend to say a good word 

 for me I absconded, and when seen at a distance 

 have often been mistaken for a fox, and scared by 

 the cry of " Tally-ho ! tally-ho ! " and the hounds 

 following me. That they never caught me I 

 suppose may be attributed to my not having 

 the fox's strong scent. 



" Thy story is marvellous ; but I must doubt its 

 truth until I see thy mother. I fear that thou art 

 hke other vain creatures, who, knowing their own 

 unworthiness, would fain connect themselves with 

 those who are in any way excellent, but beware of 

 betraying us." 



" Ha ! is it so ? I am off." 



" He is gone, and grins defiance ! This mongrel 

 will think nothing of destroying us by the dozen ; 

 but he may suffer for it yet. 



"And now, my friends, as we have heard the 

 mongrel's account of himself, let us hear Craven's 

 story. Open thy hps and throw thy tongue freely ; 

 tell us how many times thou hast beaten these vex- 

 atious hounds, and be not chary of thy experience." 



