OULTON BROAD AND NEIGHBOURHOOD n 



chance of leniency lay in making a clean breast of it, he 

 threw himself on his knees and implored his master to give 

 him another chance, explaining the while (with as many lies 

 as he dared venture on comparatively unknown ground) his 

 past life, his present sincere repentance and his future 

 promised good conduct. By this line of action his master's 

 resolve was strengthened, and on the morrow he visited the 

 inspector to attempt to hush up the case. 



Needless to add that with a little tact with the police 

 and judicious palm tickling with others he was successful in 

 preventing the public at large from hearing anything, but it 

 leaked out among his friends, and sly hints were from time 

 to time dropped until it was seen how sore the subject was. 

 Of course Jack was deposed as keeper, but he was employed 

 as yachtsman, and in other capacities, until his rough-and- 

 ready trait was brought into conspicuous prominence in a 

 certain transaction in connection with a pony which brought 

 about the final coup de grace. 



His master's pony died, or rather got so ill that it had 

 to be killed. Jack knew of another. A beauty, just the 

 very thing his master required. It belonged to a friend of 

 his, was quiet, sound, and had no vice. Accordingly, one 

 bright sunny afternoon in August, the trap was sent away by 

 train to a station about ten miles distant, the master and Jack 

 accompanying it. 



On arriving at the station they found the pony waiting. It 

 looked all right, and trotted well up the road in a halter. 

 After the usual haggle a bargain was struck and the pony 

 was taken for a week on trial. It was harnessed, and the 

 pair proceeded to drive home. 



After the first mile the pony refused to go any further, 

 and no amount of persuasion or blows would move it an 

 inch. 



At last Jack hit on a brilliant idea. He would tie a small 

 bundle of dry grass to its tail with the remains of a box of 

 fusees in the middle. He would then set light to it. He had 

 never known that to fail ! It was done, and both were seated 



