MISS SHARP'S ANGOLA CAT 171 



another tug and a yell, Shag bolted without further 

 notice, and took across the turnip field. In a moment 

 away went the cry in fuU chorus, Jem swearing like a 

 trooper, and vowing vengeance when he caught them ; 

 but Jem couldn't catch them, being indifferently mounted, 

 and the further he rode the further he was behind,* the 

 lot running soon out of sight and hearing, until Shag, 

 after a four-mile circuit over the downs, went to ground 

 in his master's cottage in the next bourne. The old 

 Squire followed in their wake with sundry ejaculations 

 of " Good Heavens ! what will they do next ? What is 

 to be done with them ? Oh ! dear ! oh, dear ! Miss 

 Sharp's Angola cat ! never hear the last of it ! Confound 

 the curs ! I'll hang the lot." 



On arriving at the terminus in the bourne, Jem was 

 found sedulously engaged in the salutary process of 

 flaying these dare-devils to the tune of " ware cur dog," 

 and but for the timely appearance of the Master, to 

 whom they fled for refuge, the lot would have been dis- 

 persed over the country, so greatly were they terrified 

 by Jem's whip and voice. 



*' There, Jem," roared the old Squire, puffing and 

 blowing with his unusual exertion, *' that will do ; let 

 'em alone now, they have had quite enough whipcord 

 for one day." 



" They ham't had a quarter enough on it, sir," repHed 

 Jem ; " and as for Fencer, I han't had him in hand at 

 all, and he's about the wickedest of the party." 



" WeU, never mind Fencer ; and now I suppose they 

 have had exercise enough for the first day, and we shall 

 have a quiet night after so much racket." 



" Don't you be a-deluding yerself, sir, with that 

 idea," said Jem ; " they wants twenty miles more to 



