ch inhabitants of wet countries are familiar. The sight
of it shot a blaze of hope through his despair! He stopped at once,
dropped his rod, and, putting up his umbrella, laid it on the ground.
It was a large cotton one of the Gamp description. Under the shelter of
it he stepped quietly into the ditch, which was not much more than
knee-deep, with very little water in it.

Placing the umbrella in such a position that it came between himself and
the bull, he laid himself flat down in the drain. The opening was far
too narrow to admit his broad shoulders, except when turned sidewise.
The same treatment was not applicable to other parts of his person, but,
by dint of squeezing and collapsing, he got down, nestled under the
bank, and lay still.

On came the bull till it reached the basket, which, with a deft toss, it
hurled into the air and sent the silvery treasure flying. A moment more
and it went head foremost into the umbrella. Whether it was surprised
at finding its enemy so light and unsubstantial, or at the slipping of
one of its feet into the drain, we cannot tell, but the result was that
it came down and turned a complete somersault over the drain, carrying
the umbrella along with it in its mad career!

When the bull scrambled to its feet again, and looked round in some
surprise, it found that one of its legs and both its horns were through
and entangled with the wrecked article.

It was a fine sight to witness the furious battle that immediately
ensued between the black bull and that cotton umbrella! Rage at the man
was evidently transmuted into horror at the article. The bull pranced
and shook its head and pawed about in vain efforts to get rid of its
tormenter. Shreds of the wreck flapped wildly in its eyes. Spider-like
ribs clung to its massive limbs and poked its reeking sides, while the
swaying handle kept tapping its cheeks and ears and nose, as if taunting
the creature with being held and badgered by a thing so flimsy and
insignificant!

Happily this stirring incident was not altogether unwitnessed. Far up
the valley it was observed by four living creatures, three of whom
immediately came tearing down the road at racing speed. Gradually their
different powers separated them from each other. Archie came first,
Eddie next, and Junkie brought up the rear. On nearing the field the
first wrenched a stake out of a fence; the second caught up a rake, that
had been left by the haymakers; and the l