ood-humouredly.

"Well," he said, "we can't go fishing without we make a hundred miles'
journey, so we can't get fish. How would a lion steak eat?"

"Worse than a cut out of the poor old goblin's breast. But, I say, are
we to go and skin that old savage to-night?"

"I'll go with Jack, and do it, if you're tired."

"That you won't," cried Dyke. "But, I say, Jack's bad sick he says."

"Yes, I suppose so. He generally is now, when we want him to work.
We've spoiled Master Jack by feeding him too well; and if it wasn't for
Tanta Sal, Master Jack would have to go upon his travels. That woman's
a treasure, little un. She's a capital cook; and what a wonderful thing
it is that it comes so natural to a woman, whether she's white or black,
to like washing shirts. Do you know, I believe that Tanta Sal would
take to starching and ironing if she had a chance. Have any more?"

"No: done," said Dyke, wiping his knife carefully, and returning it to
the sheath he wore in his belt.

"Then let's go and have a look at the chickens. Why, the other day I
felt as if I could open all the pens and say to the birds, `There, be
off with you, for you're no good.'"

"But now you're going to have another good try."

"Yes; and we must give them greater liberty, and try to let them live in
a more natural way."

"And that means always hunting them and driving them back to the pens."

"We shan't mind that if they all turn out healthy," said Emson. "Come
along."

"Wait till I call Tant," said Dyke; and he went out to the back to
summon the Kaffir woman, who came in smiling, cleared away, and then
proceeded to feed her lord; Duke, the dog, waiting for his turn, and not
being forgotten.

It was like playing at keeping bantams in Brobdingnag, Dyke said, as
they entered the pens pretty well provided with food for the birds, and
going from enclosure to enclosure, armed each with a stout stick,
necessitated by the manners and customs of their charge. For though it
was plain sailing enough scattering out food for the young birds, which
stalked about looking very solemn and stupid, the full-grown and
elderly, especially the cocks, displayed a desire for more, to which
"glutton" would be far too mild a term to apply; while the goblin's
successor, as king of the farm, seemed to have become so puffed up with
pride at his succession to the throne, that the stick had to be applied
several times in response to his insatiable and aggressive d