2S6 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



gone off along the spoor, scenting us out), and traced 

 us all the way back. 



On the home farm we met our father trying to 

 appear stern, but too glad to receive us safe for angry 

 words. Our appearance caused a reaction in our 

 mother. She had frequently reproved us for lingering 

 too long, and I suppose she thought the present a 

 fitting time for some more severe punishment than a 

 mild reproof. " You bad bairns ! You have nearly 

 frightened me out of my wits ! Go to bed at once — 

 and supperless, mind. I won't bid you good-night — 

 for a punishment." Away we crept — guilty we did 

 not feel, wretched we certainly were. We had not 

 thought of food while our minds were taken up with 

 " Keen-come-a-lay," but after creeping into bed the 

 pangs of hunger made themselves felt, and they were 

 torturing. 



Early next morning we woke up, feeling utterly 

 miserable. The hunger of the evening was nothing 

 to that of the morning. What was to be done ? No 

 one was stirring in the house, and it would be hours 

 before any one would be. We sat up and condoled 

 with each other, and were infinitely unhappy, when — 

 suddenly our eyes fell on a white paper parcel lying 

 on a chair close by our bedside. Eagerly we seized it, 

 wondering where it came from, hoping it was meant 

 for us, almost guessing what it contained. On the 

 paper, in large print, was traced, "Eor the Hungey 

 Pilgrims." We opened the parcel with eager haste, 

 and there were large fair slices of bread thickly but- 



