PODaERS' POINTER 97 



This hint was enough for Albatross, as no sooner 

 had the words escaped the lips of O'Eooney than, 

 with a yowl which sent the rooks whirling from 

 their nests, he darted from the trap, and, making a 

 charge at York, sent that aristocratic animal flying 

 up the avenue in a paroxysm of terror and despair ; 

 whilst Lancaster, paralysed by the suddenness of 

 the onslaught, allowed himself to be seized by the 

 neck, and worried, as a cat worries a mouse, with- 

 out as much as moving a muscle in self-defence. 



This was too much. I had borne with this 

 hideous animal too long. My patience was utterly 

 exhausted, and all the bad temper in my composi- 

 tion began to boil up. I had placed myself under 

 an obligation to a comparative stranger for the pur- 

 pose of beholding his magnificent and valuable dogs 

 scared and worried by a worthless cur. Seizing 

 upon a garden-rake that lay against the wall, I 

 dealt at Albatross what ought to have proved a 

 crushing blow, which he artfully eluded. It only 

 grazed him, and fell, with almost its full swing and 

 strength, upon the passive setter, who set up a 

 series of unearthly shrieks, almost human in their 

 painful shrillness. 



" Chain up that dog at once ! " shouted O'Eooney 

 in fierce and angry tones, " and look to Lancaster. 

 I fear that his ribs are broken. This is very 



