SOME HUNTING STORIES 201 



thrack of the foxes," and a covert keeper calling 

 about some fencing saw her trotting off with her 

 money, and wrinkled his nose thoughtfully. Then 

 he gave soft advice. 



A fortnight later Mrs. Keane lost another com- 

 plete flock of hens and chickens. " Roona3rted 

 she was." The bodies ? No, but here were the 

 feathers off them an' more at home, thrown 

 around the border of the hunt's path. The investi- 

 gator took them up this time. " Sleeping well, 

 Mary ? " he asked gently. He smelt the feathers 

 hard. 



Mrs. Keane wished to know if his honour the 

 Captain was funnin'. It was hard to sleep an' she 

 t rubbled. 



" Put them back in your bed, Mary Keane," 

 he said genially, " and your good night's rest will 

 make up for the foxes. And get fresh ones next 

 time for me." 



A sniff had revealed that the feathers were even 

 musty and too clearly reft from the lady's feather 

 bed. 



One man writing to our cheery secretary here 

 Mr. Power, put in his letter : 



" Bring the black mare for the yellow islands, 

 for the country is very deep and you will need an' 

 ondipindant horse." ^The black mare was well 

 known. 



Another asks for " Compsation for my ii hins. 

 Even old Mrs. Bennet thats is moldring in her 



