SGBAPPEB. 97 



Farmer Houlton's collie would hear the pit-pat of the dog 

 approaching, and time his rush from behind the laurels to a 

 nicety, but the "woof- woof!" died away instantaneously on 

 discovering who it was, and a retreat with tail between legs 

 was effected with a despatch as dignified as possible under 

 the circumstances. Tim also had known Scrapper once, and 

 did not desire to renew the acquaintance. But Scrapper had 

 neither quickened his pace nor swerved an inch from his 

 course, nor had he deigned to notice the presence of the 

 other. 



Dr. Forcep's bull-dog, the baker's spaniel, Lady Beau- 

 champ's borzois, the sweep's rough-coated terrier, and the 

 parson's St. Bernard would all be passed in much the same 

 way. Then all at once round the corner dashed butcher 

 Hick's cart with the red-haired boy driving and a big cross- 

 bred retriever, a new-comer, running behind. The boy pulls 

 up at the side-walk, a big basket of meat on his arm, and the 

 pleasurable anticipation of a few minutes' chat with the 

 divine Mary in his heart, just as Scrapper comes trotting 

 past. At him goes Peter Jackson with a will. He has only 

 been in the neighbourhood a fortnight, and has had nine 

 victorious fights and innumerable skirmishes in the time ; 

 here was a great ungainly Airedale that looked like taking a 

 hiding quietly, so while red-headed Billy is flirting with 

 Mary, the kitchenmaid, he may as well be keeping his hand 

 in with this craven-looking creature. The first rush nearly 

 upsets Scrapper, who apparently was not looking for it, 

 but he merely grins in rather an ugl}^ manner and plods on. 

 Another rush, which Scrapper avoids by suddenly stopping ; 

 then he tries to make a detour, but Peter Jackson plants 

 himself in the way. Scrapper looks at him, more in sorrow 

 than in anger, and tries the other side. Once more Peter 

 Jackson bars the way. 



"Will nothing make you fight, you coward?" thinks 



G 



