162 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



look at me like a man don't faint and I'll tell 

 you. By serving them as you do the Rats when 

 you take the Ricks away ! Starving 'em out ! 

 There's no other way ! They'll starve you if you 

 don't starve them. Their food their only food is 

 ever has been the premium price the dispro- 

 portionate value of the grain-crop. TAKE AWAY 

 THAT BAUBLE ! ' quoth farmer Oliver the Pro- 

 tector. 



There was an * awful pause.' Mr. Greening was 

 looking into the fire. One would think there was 

 something written in the live embers which he was 

 trying to decipher so hard he looked at it ' Ah ! 

 I've thought o' that ! ' he slowly muttered at last, as 

 if to himself;* Kill or cure ! But that's kill first 

 and cure afterwards." ' 



' Kill the proud flesh to cure the sound. Yes : 

 cruel work, no doubt, at any time ; but crueller 

 when done at the wrong one.' 



When'sthat?' 



* 



f The moment when it ivill be done ; as surely as 

 effect follows cause ! Does it need a ghost to tell 

 us that that time will be a time of scarcity a 

 famine perhaps, or a fancied one ? Then it Avill be 

 done, and done in a hurry too ! And then 



