would toss him a bit of sausage or bread and he would
catch it with a snap.

"Fine dog!" commented my companion.

"So he seems," said I.

After the meal was over my companion proceeded to produce other
surprises from his pockets--a bag of tobacco, a brier pipe (which he
kindly offered to me and which I kindly refused), and a soiled packet of
cigarette papers. Having rolled a cigarette with practised facility, he
leaned up against a tree, took off his hat, lighted the cigarette
and, having taken a long draw at it, blew the smoke before him with an
incredible air of satisfaction.

"Solid comfort this here--hey!" he exclaimed.

We had some further talk, but for so jovial a specimen he was
surprisingly uncommunicative. Indeed, I think he soon decided that I
somehow did not belong to the fraternity, that I was a "farmer"--in the
most opprobrious sense--and he soon began to drowse, rousing himself
once or twice to roll another cigarette, but finally dropping
(apparently, at least) fast asleep.

I was glad enough of the rest and quiet after the strenuous experience
of the last two days--and I, too, soon began to drowse. It didn't seem
to me then that I lost consciousness at all, but I suppose I must have
done so, for when I suddenly opened my eyes and sat up my companion
had vanished. How he succeeded in gathering up his pail and packages so
noiselessly and getting away so quickly is a mystery to me.

"Well," I said, "that's odd."

Rousing myself deliberately I put on my hat and was about to take up
my bag when I suddenly discovered that it was open. My rain-cape was
missing! It wasn't a very good rain-cape, but it was missing.

At first I was inclined to be angry, but when I thought of my jovial
companion and the cunning way in which he had tricked me, I couldn't
help laughing. At the same time I jumped up quickly and ran down the
road.

"I may get him yet," I said.

Just as I stepped out of the woods I caught a glimpse of a man some
hundreds of yards away, turning quickly from the main road into a lane
or by-path. I wasn't altogether sure that he was my man, but I ran
across the road and climbed the fence. I had formed the plan instantly
of cutting across the field and so striking the by-road farther up the
hill. I had a curious sense of amused exultation, the very spirit of the
chase, and my mind dwelt with the liveliest excitement on what I should
say or do if I really caught that jolly spark of impudence.