had a hand even lighter than Dinah's with flour and pastry. . . .
The two captains had moved on to the gate of Home Parc, and she could
still espy them past the edge of the window. She saw Captain Hunken
draw his hand horizontally with a slow explanatory gesture and then drop
it abruptly at a right angle.

'Bias was, in fact, at that moment expounding to Cai, point by point and
in a condescending way, the right outline of a prize Devon shorthorn.
Mrs Bosenna (who had taught him the little he knew) guessed as she
watched the exposition, pursing her lips.

"A trifle o' bluffness in the entry don't matter, if you understand me,"
said 'Bias, retrieving his lesson. "Aft o' that, no sheer at all; a
straight line till you come to the rump,--or, as we'll say, for
argyment's sake, the counter--an' then a plumb drop, plumb as a
quay-punt."

"Where did you pick up all this?" asked Cai.

"I don't make any secret about it," 'Bias owned. "Mrs Bosenna taught
me. Though, when you come to think it out, 'tis as straightforward as
sizing up a vessel. You begin by askin' yourself what the objec' in
question--call it a cow, or call it a brigantine--was designed for.
Now what's a cow _designed_ for?"

"Milk, I suppose," hazarded Cai.

"Very well, then, I take you at that: the squarer the cow the more she
holds. It stands to reason."

"I don't know." Cai made some show of obstinacy, but, it is feared,
rather to test his friend than to arrive at the truth. "A round cow,--
supposing there was such a thing--"

"But there isn't. It's out of the question."

"I speak under correction," said Cai thoughtfully; "but looking at what
cows I've seen,--end on. And anyway, you can't call a cow's udder
square; not in any sense o' the word."

"What beats me, I'll confess," said 'Bias, shifting the argument, "is
how these butchers and farmers at market can cast their eye over a
bullock an' judge his weight to a pound or two. 'Tis a trick, I
suppose; but I'd like to know how it's worked."

"Why?"

"If 'twas a vessel, now, an' tons burden in place o' pounds' weight, you
an' me might guess pretty right. But when it comes to a bullock!"

"I don't see," objected Cai, "how it consarns either of us."

"You don't?" asked 'Bias with a look which, for him, was quick and keen.

"To be sure I don't," answered Cai. "If it happened as I wanted to buy
a bullock to eat, all at one time--and if so be as I found myself at
market in search o