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CHAPTER XXIX. 



THE CR OSS- ROADS AT DALLINGTON BURN. 



"When his lordship and Jack mounted their hacks in the morning 

 to go to the cross-roads at Dallington Burn, it was so dark that they 

 could not see whether they were on bays or browns. It was a dull, 

 murky day, with heavy spongy clouds overhead. 



There had been a great deal of rain in the night, and the horses 

 poached and squashed as they went. Our sportsmen, however, were 

 prepared as well for what had fallen as for what might come ; for they 

 were encased in enormously thick boots, with baggy overalls, and 

 coats and waistcoats of the stoutest and most abundant order. They 

 had each a sack of a macintosh strapped on to their saddle fronts. 

 Thus they went blobbing and groping their way along, varying the 

 monotony of the journey by an occasional spurt of muddy water up 

 into their faces, or the more nerve-trying noise of a floundering 

 stumble over a heap of stones by the roadside. The country people 

 stared with astonishment as they passed, and the muggers and tinkers, 

 who were withdrawing their horses from the farmers' fields, stood 

 trembling, lest they might be the " pollis" coming after them. 



" I think it'll be a fine day," observed his lordship, after they had 

 bumped for some time in silence without its getting much lighter. " I 

 think it will be a fine day," he said, taking his chin out of his great 

 puddingy-spotted neckcloth, and turning his spectacled face up to the 

 clouds. 



" The want of light is its chief fault," observed Jack ; adding, 

 " it's deuced dark ! " 



" Ah, it'll get better of that," observed his lordship. " It's not 

 much after eight yet," he added, staring at his watch, and with diffi- 

 culty making out that it was half-past. " Days take off terribly 

 about this time of year," he observed ; " T've seen about Christmas 

 when it has never been rightly light all day long." 



They then floundered on again for some time further as before. 



" Shouldn't wonder if we have a large field," at length observed 

 Jack, bringing his hack alongside his lordship's. 



" Shouldn't wonder if Puff himself was to come — all over brooches 

 and rings as usual," replied his lordship. 



" And Charley Slapp, I'll be bound to say," observed Jack. 

 " He's a regular hanger-on of Puff's." 



" Ass, that Slap," said his lordship ; " hate the sight of him ! " 



" So do I," replied Jack ; adding, " hate a hanger-on ! " 



