116 Wild Lifein a Southern County. 
buoyant, and floating as it were, easily on the wheels. 
Then the painting takes several weeks, and after that 
the lettering of the name; and when at last com- 
pleted it is placed outside by the road, that every 
farmer and labourer who goes by may pause and 
admire. In about twelve months, if the builder be 
expeditious (for him), the new vessel may reach her 
port under the open shed at the farm, and then her 
life of voyages begins. 
Her cargoes are hay and wheat and huge moun- 
tainous loads of straw, and occasionally hurdles for 
the shepherd. Nor are her voyages confined to the 
narrow seasof the fields adjoining home ; now and then 
she goes on adventurous expeditions to distant market 
towns, carrying mayhap a cargo of oak-bark, stripped 
from fallen trees, to the tan-yard. Then she is well 
victualled for the voyage, and her course mapped out 
on the chart in order to avoid the Scylla of steep hills 
and stony ways and the Charybdis of tollgates, 
besides being duly cautioned against the sirens that 
chant so sweetly from the taps of the roadside inns. 
Or she sails down to the far-away railway station 
after coal—possibly two or more vessels in the same 
convoy—if the steam plough be at work and requires 
the constant services of these tenders. 
She has her own special crew—her captain the 
carter—and for forecastle men a lad or two, and often 
a couple of able-bodied seamen in the shape of 
labourers, to help to load up.. When on the more 
