CUBIOUS MOTHEELY TEEATMENT. Ill 



the dead, growled " Ha ! Hum ! Lucky beggars ! 

 I should like to have had a finger in the pie. Did 

 the first fall dead 1 " 



" As a herring," replied Norman. " It was as 

 neatly polished off as could be with a single bullet. 

 The second one pitched into it like fun directly it 

 was struck ; but whether it conceived the pain to 

 be administered by its friend, or just tackled the 

 first thing it could lay paws on, I don't know." 



" Ah ! " said Mackenzie, " I have heard of them 

 doing that, but never myself saw it. These are 

 both females too evidently mother and daughter. 

 Observe, the first killed is barely full-grown, while 

 the other, by her bare teats and ragged look about 

 the sides and belly, is decidedly a motherly old 

 party." 



" Most unnatural treatment on her part of her 

 daughter, then," observed Hawkes. " But, Mac, do 

 you think we shall get much grease from them ? " 



" How confoundedly anxious you appear about 

 the grease, Hawkes ! " Mackenzie rejoined. " But, 

 yes, I should say we should get a fair supply ; they 

 are in very fair condition for the season. You will 

 be able to keep some of your fat engagements." 



"That's all right," said Hawkes. "But what 

 do you think, Mac ? Norman has already secured 

 several bottles of grease." 



