(1866) Hollowdell Grange By George Manville Fenn

HOLLOWDELL GRANGE OR

HOLIDAY HOURS IN A COUNTRY HOME

ev

GEORGE MANVILLE FENN

LONDON

RICHARD EDWARD KING, 106,

103,

110.

TABERNACLE STREET,

Ltd., E.G.

LONlXm: PRINTED BY RICHARD EDWARD KINO, LIMITED, TABZRNACL1 STREET, J! C.

PREFACE.

Tales of mirth and marvellous

my young

lieve,

have

friends

adventure, I bein

—

plenty

whose plots have been fetched from the the

and the

temperate,

heroes

—

counters

by

prisoners

of

tales

frigid ;

—

of wrecks

;

torrid,

tales

of

of en-

sea and land; of perils and dangers

of the most thrilling nature. pages,

zones

tales

however,

I

In the following

have plunged into no region

of romance

— have

called

enchanter's

wand

but merely related in simple

words

adventures of a town-boy during a

month's

the

visit

commenced

to

;

his

up

wonders with

country

with reluctance,

—a

visit

finished

with

cousins

but

no

Preface.

?v

regret.

readers

That the

when they

regret

may be

close this book,

shared by is

my

the sincere

wish of their friend,

THE AUTHOR.

Bishop Stoktford

1866,

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I.

PAGE

A FISH OUT OF WATER

CHAPTER

•

.

I

•

•

21

II.

OLD SAM. —CATCHING THE CARP

CHAPTER

•

III.

INDOOR AMUSEMENTS

39

CHAPTER

IV.

VISITING THE FISH TRAPS

CHAPTER BUYING A NEW WATER-BOTTLE

•

•

4.8

.......

69

•

•

V.

CHAPTER VL DOWN

BY VUE SEA

......•<•••

ffl

vi

Contents.

CHAPTER LOST IN THE WOODS

VII.

...........

CHAPTER

PAGE

90

VIIL

A SHORT SCOLDING

Xt\

CHAPTER WHICH

IS

RATHER FISHY

IX.

...,..,,.

CHAPTER A SAD AFFAIR

.

X.

••••

.

CHAPTER BUMPJTTY BUMP.

I24

—THE

WOPSES

CHAPTER

XI.

.......

\*Jl

XIII.

RATTING WITH DICK. —THE END OF THE WOPSES

CHAPTER

STALKING ON STILTS

.

lS6

XIV.

SUNDAY IN THE COUNTRY

CHAPTER

I48

XII.

A FLIGHT WITH THE FLIES

CHAPTER

137

.

.

1

9S

XV. IOJ

1

Contents.

CHAPTER

vii

XVI. FAGS

UP THE CAMP HILL

.

CHAPTER

XVII.

HIGH FLYING

23I

CHAPTER A day's fishing at

XVIII.

the lake

CHAPTER OLD SAM'S TROUBLES.

—A

.......

CATCHING TARTARS

»

FIRE

!

FIRE

269

•

ZSo

XXI.

£0$

XXIII.

............. CHAPTER

BEWARE OF THE SNAKE

29

XXII.

1

CHAPTER A BROKEN DAY

-

...,.,»••#

CHAPTER .'

....

XX.

MR. JONES'S MISHAP

CHAPTER

254

XIX.

SAD STORY

CHAPTER

FIRE

2l6

322

XXIV.

«..",.

328

* *

vi n

Contents.

CHAPTER XXV. a stupid ass

.

PAGE 337

.

347

..•»,;,,

358

.

•

CHAPTER

.

.

,

XXVI.

BOBBING AROUND

,

•

CHAPTER XX VH. LOUD

SIGHS.

— MORE

SORROW

CHAPTER GOOD- BYE

XXVIII, 367

HOLLOWDELL GRANGE OR,

HOLIDAY HOURS IN A COUNTRY HOME.

CHAPTER

I

A FISH OUT OF WATER. It was such a station,

del;

the

teasing asleep-

— an

fine

hot

Midsummer day

that the

porte*

truck -driver's

at

Hollow-

had grown

tired of

dog,

and

fallen

example which the dog had

foiiow, but could not,

fast

tried to

because there was only one

snady spot within the station-gates, and that had

been taken possession of by the porter; so the

dog had

poor

another the

flies

,

tried

first

but they were

all

one

place,

so not and

and then

stifling,

and

kept buzzing about him so teasingly, that

he grew quite

cross,

and barked and- snapped

so at the tiresome insects, that at last he

B

woke

Hottowdcll Grange; #r$

2

Jem

Barnes, the porter,

who

got up,

stretched

loudly,

and then,

j

yawned very rudely and

himself,

looking in at the station-clock, he saw that the

London was mind not to go to

he

2.30 train from

nearly due, so

made up

sleep again until

his

it

had passed It

—so

was a hot day

hot that the great black

tarpaulins over the goods-waggons were quite

and came

The

air

off all

down

black upon

the

Jem

Barnes's hands.

seemed

road

and

to quiver

dance over the white chalky dust; while

upon the

soft,

and the

all

the

grass in

the

meadows, drooped beneath the heat of the

sun.

leaves

As as

to the river, it

wound

in

trees,

it

and

shone out,

like

and here and

when you looked you could the great dragon-flies

a band of there

silver ;

and

see the reflection of

as they flitted

about over the glassy surface.

The

bank were quite motionless;

while,

and raced

reeds on the

out in the

middle, the fat old chub could be seen basking in the sunshine, wagging their great broad fantails in

the sluggish stream, too lazy even to snap

up the

flies

that passed over their heads.

along the shallows the roach and shoals,

flashing about, every

All

dace lay in

now and

then, in

the transparent water like gleams of silver light

Down

in the

meadows, where the ponds were, and

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

3

the shady trees grew, the cows were so hot that

muddy

they stood up to their knees in the

chewing ing

their grass with half-shut eyes,

long

their

distance.

now and

"But

tails

and whisk-

about to keep the

then a nasty, spiteful, hungry

at

flies

was of no use to whisk,

it

waxer,

a

for every fly

would

get on some poor cow's back, creep beneath the

and

hair,

force

horny trunk into the skin so

its

sharply, that the poor animal would burst out into

a

doleful

lowing, and, sticking

tail

its

loping and plunging through the

go

up,

meadow

was being

fields off the grass

scythes of the tall, rich,

mowers went

cut,

make

few

and the sharp

it

low

in

long rows

as the men, with their regular strokes, went

they would

A

tearing through the

green crop, and laid

the long meadows.

such

in

a clumsy way as only a cow can display.

gal-

down

Every now and then, too,

the woodside re-echo with the

musical ringing sound of the scythes, as the gritty rubbers glided over the keen edges of the bright tools.

Hot, bright

hot,

blue

hot sky

!

—how

!

the

how

and

sun glowed in the the

down

train

purled and panted, while the heat of the weather

made even as

it

back

the steam from the funnel transparent

streamed backwards over the engine's green !

The

driver

and stoker were melting, B

2

for

;

HoIIowdell Grange ; $r

4

they had the great roaring in

backs

;

many

stations,

guard was

the

of the engine just

fire

and the sun

of them,

front

t

scorching theii

stopping at

hot with

sc*

and putting out so much luggage

while the passengers, in the carriages said they were

almost at the

stifled,

and looked out with longing eyes

shady green woods they passed.

One

pas-

senger in particular, a sharp-featured and rather sallow youth about twelve years old, kept looking the

at

time-table,

wondering how long

and

would be before he arrived

name

that was the

at

HoIIowdell,

it

for

printed upon the ticket Fred

Morris held in his hand.

But just

at this

time there were other people

towards HoIIowdell

travelling

too by the

station,

chalky road

long dusty

and that

that

came

through the woods and over the wooden bridge r \

up

right

to the railway crossing

;

and these people

were no others than Fred Morris's country cousins,

and the old man-servant

who was Inglis

—

driving the

by*, his

side,

half groom, half gardener

pony chaise with Harry

while

Philip was cantering along

behind tail

hind pull

— such a donkey!

Fred's

upon

his

other cousin

donkey close

with thin legs, and a thin

that he kept closely tucked in between the pair, as if it

off.

He

he was afraid the crupper would

wanted no beating, although he

Holiday Hours in a Country Home*

could be obstinate enough when he

5

liked,

and

paddock where he grazed;

refuse to pass the green

but he wanted no beating, while with his young master on his back

he would

:

trot off with his little

hoofs going pitter-patter, twinkle -twinkle over the road, at a rate that

the

fat

used to puzzle old Dumpling,

it

pony, to keep up with.

Harry and Philip

Inglis

were rather

different-

'looking boys to their cousin, for, stouter in build,

they bore upon

their

good-tempered

faces

brown marks made by many a summer's .And now, upon

this occasion,

they were

the sun.

impa-

all

tience to get to the station to meet Cousin Fred,

who was coming down to spend the Midsummer The visit had been long talked about, holidays. .and now the boys were in a state of the greatest ^excitement

lest

any disappointment might take

place.

"Oh! do

drive faster, Sam," said Harry,

^.'snatch at the reins

Tiresome old ;an

know

" I

you

thing,

hour sooner

"What

;

!

he'll

Why

making

be there

didn't

you

first.

start

?"

1

for?" said Sam, grumbling, and holding

lightly to the reins

•sooner for?

to drive over

Think

;

"

what was

I don't

I to

come an kour

know how long

it

takes

to station?" j

" But," said Philip, from his donkey, " I'm sure

HoHowdell

6

we

be

shall

now !"

or,

There!'' he continued,

late.

hear the train " Nonsense

Grange;

"I can

!"

said Sam.

" Where's the steam

t

Why, you can

see the steam for two miles before

the train gets

in,

lon£ before the

in

train."

But Phihp was shrill whistle

and Dumps here could get

right, for just

then the loud and

of the engine was heard as

again, after setting

down one

it

started

solitary little pas-

senger in the shape of Fred Morris,

who looked

sadly disappointed to find no one there to receive

him but Jem Barnes, the porter, who stared very hard at the young stranger from Lunnun.'' ';

Dumpling double

galloped,

and Neddy went

upon hearing the

trot,

off at a

railway-whistle, spin-

ning along at such a rate that before Fred Morris

had learned which path he was fields to

go the shortest way

the Grange, Hollowdell

— and

to take across

the

to Squire Inglis's, of all

of which informa-

was getting very slowly out of Jem Barnes Harry had jumped out of the chnise. PHlip ..1

tion he

li

leaped off his donkey, and they were one on side of Fred, heartily shaking " I

ain't

you

" Our cousin

from

say,



hands with him.

our cousin

?"

said

Harry,

breathlessly.

Philip, " that

was

to

London, you know," said

com* by

this train 1"

Holiday Hours An a Country Home, *

My name

is

f

Morris," said the traveller, rather

h-

pompously, "and I'm going on a

be sure

to

"You're Cousin

said Harry.

!"

Come

Fred, and I'm Harry, and that's Phil.

Here Sam

into the chaise.

and

let's

be

But

off.

Fred replied that what

to

Mr.

to

Hollowdell."

Inglis's -at

"Yes,

visit

make

cousins, and

—Jem Fred,

I say,

!

bring the box

hot?"

isn't it

was, seeming hardly to

it

along

know

of the rough, hearty manners of his

he looked,

anything, rather dis-

if

appointed when he was met by the rough grin of

Sam, who was of anything but a smooth

and altogether a very

man to who had

different

well-brushed livery-servant,

safely off to the station in the

" I've

come," said Fred

fairly started

and Harry the rear

—"

not like

it

"

seen

hira

morning.

at last,

when they were

time upon the donkey bringing up

this

I've if I

come because Papa said you would did not but I'd much rather you ;

to

me

in

One can

London.

something to do there, and there's something I can't

to see. live

his father's

with Philip and Fred in the chaise,

had both come up find

exterior,

down

here."

Oh

we

!

Harry?" said

think

find

how you people manage

something

Philip, laughing.

very busy with Neddy,

who had

to

do,

don't

to

we,

But Harry was taken

it

into his

"

Hcttowdelt Grange ;

8

or,

head to go down a lane which led

pound

to the

a place where he had been more than once locked F

up

;

and

was as much as ever the lad could do

it

him

to stop

;

so Philip's question remained un-

" I say," continued Philip at

answered.

last, after

they had been conversing some time, during which

Master Fred had been cross-questioning Philip as to

his,

young gentleman

School

Paul's

St.

"can you swim

giving

that

what a high posi-

to understand

tion he occupied at said Philip,

and

knowledge,

educational

—"

say,"

I

V

" No," replied Fred.

" Can you play cricket

?

" No," said Fred. " Fish,

thing

r

row,

shoot,

and

rat,

that

sort

of

said Philip.

"No!"

"I have always

said the other.

London, where we do not

in

all

lived

practise that class

of amusement"

"Oh!

come, then," said

Philip,

able to teach you something. you'll see

are

;

and

how we there's

live

down

"we

Only wait a

shall

here.

Papa waiting

for

bit,

be

and

But here we us under the

porch."

As

Philip said this,

his seat,

into

Sam had

opened a swing

gate,

a garden through which

crawled

down from

and led the pony

wound a

carriage

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. drive

up

9

to a long low house, all along the front

of which extended a verandah, the supports and sloping roof being completely covered with roses, clematis,

and jasmine, which hung

in the wildest

profusion amongst the light trellis-work, and then

ran up the sides of the

bedroom windows, peeping

in at the lattice panes,

and seeming

petition with the ivy as to

to

be

in

com-

which should do most

towards covering up the brickwork of the pretty place

;

for

it

really

that even Fred,

was a pretty place,

who thought

— so

that there

pretty,

was no-

thing anywhere to compare with London, could

not help casting admiring looks around him.

along one side of the gravel drive there was a smoothly-clipped hedge of laurels left

;

All tall,

while on the

the velvet lawn, dotted all over with beds of

scarlet

and

geranium, verbena,

calceolaria, with

here and there rustic vases brimming over with

blooming creepers, swept down in a slope towards the park-like fields, from which

by a

light ring fence.

it

was separated

Right in front was another

mighty laurel hedge, that looked to be almost centuries old

called

the

;

and on the other side was what was kitchen

garden,

though,

I

think,

it

might have been called the parlour garden just as rightly, all

from the rich banquets

kinds of luscious

fruits

it

used to supply of

—peaches,

nectarines,

Hollowdell Grange, or

io

y

plums, strawberries, apples, pears, currants

;

and

as

be so loaded

to gooseberries, the trees used, to

with great rough golden and crimson fellows, that

they would lay their branches

down on

the ground

to rest them, because the weight was greater than

But the greatest beauty of the

they could bear.

at Hollowdell, or, as

house

was called

it

neighbourhood, " The Grange," was the did not creep there, but ran, and ran place

—

sides,

roof,

and

and growing

twisting,

all

—even

right

ivy,

all

in the

which

over the

twining,

and

up amongst the two

great old-fashioned chimney-stacks, round the pots,

and some shoots even drooping ting black

curling

in

them, ana get-

and dry amongst the smoke

and wreathing

would not have the

out.

ivy cut

For

came

that

Squire

Inglis

anywhere excepting

the front, where he used to superintend while

cleared roses

it

away now and

Sam

then, so as to give the

and creeping plants a chance

beauties in the bright

in

summer

time.

to

show

their

And

there

the Grange stood, with flowers blooming around in every direction, as sweet

it

and pretty a place as

could welcome any one just come from the great desert

of bricks and mortar called

which people

who

London,

in

are not compelled are so foolish

as to go and spend their time in the sunniest and brightest days of the year.

"

—

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

And,

and

;

directly after there stood

welcome

too, to

Papa beneath

as Philip said, there stood

the porch

whom

their sister's child,

**

Mamma had

they

not seen since he was almost a baby. "

Now,

boys," said the Squire, after

all

the hand-

shaking had been finished, " I've nothing to do with

Fred

this.

your visitor for a month, so

is

make him happy and

leave you to

and mind you see

I

comfortable,

that he enjoys himself."

Philip and Harry promised readily enough that

"But, Papa," said Harry, "Dr. Ed-

they would.

when we broke

we were

do

wards

said,

a

work every day during the holidays, and

little

"And

what?" said

at

«

his father.

good humouredly

good guess

me

to

»

an d

he,

up, that

"

;

I

think

what you would

to write to the "

Doctor

Oh

yes,

Eh] now," said I can make a You'd

like.

you

to let

off,

like

wouldn't

you 1 "

!

yes, yes,

" Hurrah, that's capital

clapping their hands.

"Well, but would

Papa," shouted the boys,

it

be

right

V

!

said their father,

seriously. ^

" so to

Oh

!

yes, Papa," said

Harry

;

" for

we

will

do

much after the holidays, and work ever so hard make up for it and it is so very, very hard to

learn lessons

;

away from school.

I

never can get

Hollowdefl Grange;

12

on half so

well, for

games we want

one can't help thinking of the

to play

at,

good

:

so do

and then one don't

and

to be obliged to learn, difference

or,

please

it

feel

does make such a

write,

a good,

there's

father," said Harry, coaxingly.

The

Squire laughed, and that laugh was quite

sufficient to satisfy the lads,

and tossed

frisks,

Philip's fell

their

who gave two

caps

in

the

or three

air

;

when

on the top of the verandah, and had

be hooked down with a long hay-rake.

to

Dinner was nearly ready, so Fred followed

box up occupy

to

the pretty

— one

his

bedroom he was

little

which opened out of the room

to set

apart for Harry and Philip; and soon after he was

down

in the dining-room eating

forth the

who were

a meal that called

remarks and comparisons of dreadful trencher-men.

his cousins,

They

told

him

that

he must learn what a country appetite meant,

and

so,

off,

by way of teaching him, they dragged him

as soon as dinner

wonders of the

place.

and round by the silver

pheasants

was

over, to look at

all

the

First over the flower-garden,

aviary,

where Mamma's gold and

were kept

;

and then into the

greenhouse, where Poll, the parrot, hung in her great gilt cage, swinging about amongst the flowers,

dancing up and down, and shrieking out whenever

anybody came by; then swaying backwards and

"

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

13

forwards in the ring in the cage, and climbing up

and down

all

over the bars,

this

head up and head down, and as wicked

way and

all

that way,

the time looking

and cunning as a hook-beaked old grey

parrot can look.

"Sam, Sam, where's the master?" shouted

Poll,

in a reedy-weedy tone, like a cracked clarionet, as

soon as the lads came

in

Stealing the grapes," she shouted again.

grapes.

" Rogues, rogues, rogues hi

!

hi

"Stealing the

sight.

!

And

"

!

Two

then she gave a

the morning,

in

shrill whistle,

burst out into a loud hearty laugh, that stare,

it

was so

and

made Fred

natural.

" There," said Philip, proudly, " you haven't got

such birds as that in London." "

Oh

yes,

we

have," said Fred, " but

Papa

don't

Poor Polly," he continued,

care about buying them.

putting his finger in to stroke the parrot

"Don't do but

it

was too

that,"

shouted the boys together;

late, for

almost at the same

Fred gave utterance to a most doleful "Oh Poll had

made a snap

& piece of

at his finger,

out sufficient to

flesh

moment

—h—h

!

and hooked

make

it

bleed

pretty freely.

" What a beast " said Fred, !

his handkerchief

angrily,

round the place

;

and binding

" I'd

kill it if i

bad

my

way,"

I

Hollowdell Grange; ory

14 "

But

it

was your

trying to touch

"Ah

!

it

;

wasn't

but he didn't

Philip, " or

Harry, quietly, "

fault/' said

for

" it %

know

would

it

he would not have done so

said

bite/'

but never

;

mind, come along, and Jefs go down the garden."

The abundance his pain

;

of the

fruit

made Fred

forget

and, having seen the boys' gardens, the

next thing was to have a look

pond

at the little

with the rock-work fountain, which they had made,

and which played by means of a

barrel of water

hid in the shrubbery behind, the stream being con-

Here

veyed through a piece of small piping.

was

that

Harry and Philip kept

sures they captured, and the in carp, roach, dace,

all

little

and perch

the finny trea-

pond was

rich

amongst

while,

;

it

other valuables, Fred was informed of the existence

of an eel a foot long, which had been put

months

before,

doubt fattening

and never seen in the

Neddy had been

mud

at the

was no

bottom.

terrier,

who could

or anything, so Harry said

there was Tib, the

;

catch

and then

one-eyed, one-winged

raven,

which hopped about with his head on one

and barked his

at the visitors,

beak into Fred's

at a distance

two

seen, but round in the stable-

yard there was Dick, the rats, rabbits,

since, but

in

leg,

side,

and then began to dig

and could only be kept

by Philip poking

at

him with the

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

15

handle of the stable broom, when he hopped

and

upon the dog-kennel, every now and then

sat

giving a short angry bark

;

bark as Dick the

gave when he found

in spite

of

all

terrier

but nothing like such a

his leaping, whining,

he was not to be

and howling,

of his chain, with

and

his

thing, that

looked more

"No; it.

I won't hold

Perhaps Fred

and

scratching

lithe,

quadruped, and offered

eyes

Philip's rabbits.

Just then Harry went to a box in the stable,

pulled out a long,

left

boys went to

starting out of his head, while the

see Harry's pigeons

that,

out that afternoon, but

let

straining at the end

of

off,

like

it

it/"

and

twisting

a short snake than a

to Philip to hold. said Philip

j

"I'm

afraid

will."

"No, that I won't," said Fred, shrinking backj "I never saw such a nasty-looking thing in my life. What do you keep it for?" " Keep it for % you cowards," said Harry, stuffing ^

the animal into his pocket

when we

are

off

" you'll see to-morrow,

rabbiting:

ferret for miles round." it

;

-

why,

And Harry

it's

him

so,

but although

which was quite enough it

was such a good

best

really believed

was, for the old keeper that he bought

told

the

it

for

ferret,

it

of had

Harry had a

nasty habit of stopping in a hole as long as liked,

it

which was sometimes very tiresome when

HoflowdeH Grange;

iG

or,

any one was waiting outside upon a cold

cutting

day.

Well, I wouldn't touch

'•'

Fred; "but

be

by any

things, else I'd

of- your

touch

" I never do," said Philip

about "

so.

at

say, Fred,

want

;

nasty

fast

it

country

enough."

" I hate

it

it,

twines

"I

Mrs. Phil," said Harry, grinning.

he

to

worse than an eel ever so much."

It's

Hark

for sixpence," said

I ain't afraid, only I don't

bitten again

bumpkin

it

is

such a coward

worse than you

;

are a great deal."

"I'm and "

not] a coward," said Fred, colouring up,

setting his teeth.

Oh

yes,

you are " said Harry, teasing him !

"why, aH you London

boys are

cowards.

;

I

wouldn't be a Londoner for ever so much."

And

then, as

prompted by a mischievous

he pulled out the

clination,

right

if

ferret,

and pitched

upon Fred's shoulders as he stood with

back half turned.

Fred gave a cry of Harry, struck him

full in

the

face a

blow that made him stagger backwards. a

moment Harry

rushed at his assailant breathless,

away

at

From

;

recovered himself,

and while

his

and

and darting

In

it

fear

anger,

at

in-

Philip, pale

and

and

looked on, the two boys pummelled

each other like the bitterest enemies. the very offset the struggle was

all

in

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

was of a stronger and

tavour of Harry, for he build than his

sturdier

cousin

;

but

was not

it

Harry's nose was bleeding, and Fred's

until

lii>

and they had been up and down half-a-dozen

cut,

times, that Fred gave in, evidently bitterly

and mortified from

and

at his conquest,

humbled

suffering

more

from the pain of the blows

his defeat than

he had "

17

received.

Come

here

half

Philip,

brimming

in

the

inside

and with the

a whisper,

your face and hands

Come

"

in his eyes. ;

I'll

Fred,"

stable,

in here

said tears

and wash

pump some

water."

Saying which the boy fetched some water in the stable pail, and, giving

brother, took sitting

it

upon a

a reproachful look

where Fred was

into the stable

truss

at his

of straw, trying manfully to

choke down a sob which sadly wanted to gain a vent. "

I'm

so

sorry,

handkerchief

into

he

Fred," the

pail,

said,

dipping his

and

bathing

" I can't

cousin's blood-besmeared countenance.

how Harry could do Papa say if he came 1 Pray

think u his

No,

I

shan't

tell,"

so.

don't

Oh

!

tell

his

what would him."

said Fred, stoutly, with

face half in the pail,

and the words

all

the

time half choked by that sob which would keep rising

from his overburdened heart.

"But I'm

8

Hollowdell Grange; ory

1

am

not a coward, though,

I?

Is

my

face

cut

n

much % Upon

inspection

it

proved that with the ex-

ception of the damaged

lip,

and an ugly cut on

upon

the back of his head where he had fallen

much rubbed down his

the paving stones in the yard, Fred was not

when Philip had and polished him

hurt ; and

well

clothes,

off with

Sam's spoke-

conflict

were hardly

brush,

the

marks

of

the

perceptible.

came sneaking into the stable, looking dreadfully ashamed of himself, with his Just then Harry

face smeared all over with blood from his bleeding

nose,

poor

and carrying in ferret: for

it

hand the body of the would frighten no more poor his

its

own

by being trampled upon during the fray. "Will you shake hands?" said Harry,

half

met with

rats or rabbits to death, having

sulkily, half sheepishly, to

Fred gave a

Fred.

sort of gulp, but

he held out his

band, which was heartily shaken; and directly after

Harry was

sitting

on the

truss of straw,

and

being sponged and cleaned by his late adversary

and

his brother.

" I say, you know," said Harry, " I

but you shouldn't have hit stand that.

me; no

But then I was wrong

am

sorry,

fellow could first

I say,

"

;

Holiday Hours 'm a Country Home. though, don't be hard on a fellow, for

19

do want

I

make you comfortable

to be jolly with you, and

but I'm such a vicious beast, and always getting into a row, ain't

Phil *'

He

nodded

won't

"

1

but added directly

assent,

whacked

Bill Sims, the biggest

at

chap

class last half, for hitting a little un."

though,"

say,

Harry, wiping his

said

lace with his pocket handkerchief, "it's again, ain't

after,

any one crow over me, though,

let

school, and he

in the first " But I

Phil

I,

We've made

it 1

it

up

all

again,

right

haven't

we 1 " Yes, to be sure," said

who *'

killed the

Why, you

poor

ferret

;

but

?

Harry

any fault" " Never mind, now," said Philip

*he garden again

till

tea-time

nest in the hedge."

"

;

you put your

serves rne right,

it

" But

smiling.

"

did," said

foot on his head

Fred,

\

;

"

it

let's

there's

was

all

go down

a linnet's

^

Ah so there is," said Harry " come on." And away they went, for the storm had blown 4<

;

!

over, and to have looked at the lads

have imagined that the

slightest

no one could

disagreement had

occurred to mar the harmony of their afternoon.

As .a

they went

down

the garden Harry fetched

spade from the tool-shed; and when the c 2

little

Hollowddl Grange; &ry

2C

patch that he owned was reached, the boy, with

something very

and

like a tear in

laid his ferret in

it,

each eye, dug a hole,

and had

when they were summoned

just filled

to tea;

it

in

but they did

not go until the spade was put away, and they had

shaken hands

vowed

all

round in the tool-house, aitd

friendship for evermore.

"

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

CHAPTER

II.

— CATCHING

THE CARP.

OLD SAM

•"Come, Fred, get up,

Make

haste,

such

it's

ai

weather.

jolly

and then we can go down the garden,

before breakfast," said Harry, the next morning. "

Aw — aw—yaw— aw— aw,"

dreadfully,

and

so

sleepily

said that

gaping

Fred,

he

forgot

to

place his hand before his mouth.

Oh

"

-country

!

come,

;

here,

say, that won't

I it's

Thereis Phil

down

"Ah —aw—aw—yes, yawning

we

again.

Do

get

up and

the garden now."

I'll

get

up/'

said

" But what early folks

don't get up so soon at home.

you have breakfast

in the

seven o'clock, and we're going

to have such a stinging hot day. dress.

do down

Fred,

you are

What time do

?

"Eight o'clock, and Papa never waits for any-

body ; so make

haste down, or

to do anything before

"I want some hot

it's

we

shan't

have time

breakfast bell."

water," said Fred, grumpily.

— Nollowdell Grange ;

22

(<

or,

"What fori" said "Why, to wash in,

of course," said Fred.

"Ho!

burst out

ho! ho!"

Harry.

hot water to wash with in July

use any cold,

all

it's

have red cheeks

"Hi,

much

ever so

hallo

never'

ever so-

it's

You

over.

better,

laughing f,

Why, we

!

through the winter, when

and the jugs get frozen

water,

Harry,

try cold

and makes you-

like Phil's."

—o

o!" shouted somebody

front-

out of doors. " There's Phil." said Harry, going to the

and throwing

open, when in came gushing the

it

sweet morning

laden with the

air,

of a thousand

flowers.

nodded round

the

The

dew

rosea

a..

sweetness. a jasmine

casement, and from almost-

every tree within reach of hearing, right the coppice,

window

came

down

to

ringing forth the merry morning.

songs of the birds.

"Oh!"

said Fred, in a burst of admiration

he went to the window, half dressed it

beautiful?

pretty.

"

I

I

had got up sooner.

said Harry.

up, then, to-morrow morning

has found an haste and

old

'

bottle

come down, and

ferrefs cage."

" oh

!

isn't

I never thought the coaniry half so*

wish

Do you ? "

;

as-

" !

>t

Won't we have you But only look; Phil

washer.' we'll

Do make

put him in the

Holiday Hours in a Country Home, "

Oh

do

!

about in finished

;

stop," said

Fred, splashing his face

water,

cold

the

23

and hurrying

" do stop for me, there's a

good

to

get

fellow."

Five minutes after the three lads were together

upon the lawn,

rolling

a prickly, spiky hedgehog

over and over in the vain hope of getting him to

open out and show

and sharp piggy

Sam was

his

like

black, bright

snout;

all

little

eyes,

which time old

busy at work, making his keen bright yellow-eyed daisies that

scythe shave off the

little

seemed sprinkled

over the green turf that was

all

so soft and elastic to the feet.

"Chinkle chingle, chinkle chingle," rang out over his shoulder, and

the scythe, as he held

it

sharpened

gritty

it

with

his

rubber,

and then

again shave, shave, shave, over the velvet grass, till

long rows of the

little

strands lay across the

lawn.

A comical

old fellow was Sam, and he used to

say that no one loved the young masters so well as he did

;

but

somehow

or another

Sam

never

used to see them out in the garden without finding

something to grumble about His complaints were generally without foundation;

think he had cause to complain

but ;

Sam

o

and, being rather

an old man, he used to consider he had a to do.

used

right so

!

24

Hollowdell Grange;

"

Now

then, Master Harry, you're at

my

What's the use of nice I

if

you

will

We

Harry,

ain't

trying to

in'

going

laughing.

fetch us out again

doors,

to,

ft

like that

?

do."

T

though, are we, Phil ?" said

" Old if

again

it

keep the garden

keep racing about over

wish you'd keep "

or,

Sam would be

we did

Old Sarn grinned, and

;

sure to

wouldn't you,

;?hook his head,

Sam

and

n 1

just

then eight o'clock struck by the village church,

which was abour a mile

off,

scythe, and, shouldering

walked

fast, just

it,

so

Sam wiped

his

off to his break-

— " Now, boys,"

as a cheeky cry of

came

from out of the verandah, where Mr. and Mrs. Inglis

were standing, watching the lads upon the

lawn.

The

pretty breakfast-room looked so bright

cheerful

;

there was

dew-wet roses

in

and

such an odorous bunch of

a vase

;

such sweet scents, too,

came through the open window, and such country farmhouse bounty spread upon the breakfast-table, that Fred told his cousins after the

meal that he

had never enjoyed anything before half so well in his

life.

"Now,

boys, what are

you going to do to-day f*

said Mr. Inglis.

" Going fishing, Papa, in Trencher Pond," said

Harry

;

Holiday Hours

"Why,

a Country Home.

in

25

nothing there worth catching,"

there's

said Mr. Inglis. "

Oh

yes,

Papa

" said Phil.

!

backs, and such beauties

green and scarlet tures

the

;

you ever saw, and

and, besides,

it is

"

Some

!

most it is

of stickle-

It's full

are

gold and

all

beautiful

little

so easy to catch

crea-

them

so pretty there now."

" Oh, very well " said their father !

got leave for you to fish in

;

" only I've

Lord CopsedelTs lake

next week."

"Hooray!"

said

Harry

;

After breakfast Fred was

ment

to be off to

to him, for

"that's capital." all

in a state

Trencher Pond.

of fer-

was new

All

he did not even know what a

stickle-

back might be, and he longed to see some of these gorgeous fellows that were

for their trip, for

three willow wands,

over "gold and

They were not long

green and scarlet"

equipped

all

some

can to hold the spoil they started, with the

;

in getting

Harry soon produced

twine,

worms, and a

tin

and, thus provided, away

full

understanding that their

dinner would be ready at one o'clock precisely.

They had only about a mile

to walk

green lane, and then to turn off on the

little

down a

common

which contained the pond, but that mile took a long time to get Over, there was so .see,

and

to listen to

;

much

to do, to

there was the hole where the

Hollowdell Grange; ory

26

wasps had a nest to

look

at

were the

there

;

9

nimble squirrels to watch as they darted across the road, and, scampering up

down

Ah, how

at the visitors to their domains.

Fred longed

one

have

to

little

bushy-

nimble

tricks,

of the

he watched

tailed fellows, as

peeped

the trees,

their

scampering and leaping from bough to bough as easily

and

ground.

Then

a cat would upon the

as

fearlessly

there were so i;iany pretty wild-

and hedgerows

flowers in the banks

birds to learn the

names

for

of,

many

so

;

they were

all

—

who only knew sparrows and they were different to the sparrows down here at strangers to Fred,

Hollowdell

— and

was a hedge-sparrow's tiny

its

for

formed mossy

Then

little

there was a

for,

plaited together,

beautifully-

cup-shaped nest in the fork of smooth, round, and

tree, just inside the coppice,

and wool

and made as even

was so low down

poor chaffinches, close by, cried " pink

it,

in

—

lining all

as possible.

by bending the branch,

that,

the boys could look at the

with

Harry and Phil said

it,

soft-edged, with the horsehair

It

at,

Papa did not approve of the birds

being disturbed.

a

peep

but not to touch,

;

though Fred wanted to take

"No;"

There

parrots.

nest, too, to

blue eggs

little

and

canaries

which they

the

horse-chestnut tree

—

pink

did, while

pink

"

in a state of

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. alarm

the greatest

destroyed

and

;

pinky

head,

crested

wings,

and

breast,

short but

sweet,

journeyed

on.

the

as

And what

a

the

tree

and

hundreds

standing like

floral

little

treasures

"

and

bees

Oh

rapture

!

bottom,

to

hundreds of the blossom-spikes

from every part of the

pyramid of

and then, from top

leaves,

tree

white blossoms,

mighty green

one

itself

song,

travellers

horse-chestnut

was—r-all one mass of pinky

his-

white-marked

youn^r

three

that

graceful

with

out into a loud and joyous

burst

be

should

cock bird,

pretty

the

work

their

lest

27

trees themselves

while

;

came a continuous hum,

it

other

insects

honeyed

the

rifled

as

and bore them away.

;

"

were here

oh

never did

I

1

know how

perfect

in

Mamma

don't I wish

!

Fred,

out

burst

last

at

"

and Papa

beautiful the

country was." "

Ha

I

ha

ha

!

"

!

laughed

holding one of his hands nothing to what

And away across the

we

"

;

are going to

they raced

little

his

common

cousins,

come

each

along, that's

show you."

through the gate, and to

the

pond

corner, where the golden furze-bushes

in

the

hung over

the side. Philip was right

water

—

clear,

:

bright,

it

was a pretty pond.

and deep, with

all

Such

kinds of

8

Hollowdell G\ tnge;

«

water-plants growing therein

water buttercups, their

cottony

little

and

tassels;

seed-stems,

Such

tall

golden

%

silvery

ones with brown

taller

tufts,

growing

lilies,

reeds, short thin rushes with

brown pokery

stout bulrushes, with their

silvery bright

tantalisingly

out

of

reach.

smooth water, with bright blue

skimming about over the

beetles

or,

surface

and that

;

skating spider that skims about over water with his long legs as

easily as if

it

were

without

ice,

giving a thought as to the possibility of sinking.

Then down

in the clear depths

now and

every

peering,

then

where Fred was

boatman

could be seen rowing about with their of oars, lying upon their backs to

themselves

—

curious

little

beetles pairs

little

make

boats of

that

by night

fellows

come

out of the water,

cases,

send out a bright and beautiful pair of

wings,

and

rly

and, opening a pair of

about through the

air

till

the

morning.

" to

Oh the

look at the

!

intense

little

delight

crocodiles

of

his

!

" cried Fred,

cousins,

as

the

showily-dressed newts went sailing easily through

the clear water, with waving crests and lithe

such gay

little

fellows, with

swimming about

in

chase

orange throats

tails;

while

of one another by

myriads were the sticklebacks, of which the lads

had come

in

quest

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

29

Darting about over the pond were hundreds of blue or green

thin-bodied

dragon-flies,

with bright transparent wings,

was

sible at times, so rapid

now and

every

that

fellows,

seemed

their vibration;

larger

to

dragon-flies,

while

upon the wing as

then, rustling

they dashed about in chase of one another, the

invi-

make

came the

brighter

scene.

And now began hooks the

the

fishing

for the voracious

;

worm

as soon as

little

—Ashing

sticklebacks seized

was dropped into the pond,

it

sometimes two together, one

at

each end, so that

the tin can the boys had brought soon

dozens of the

without

The

fish inside.

first

had

to

several

draw out a

painted " tidier " was Fred, and a gorgeous fellow

was, with a throat of the

it

shaded

scarlet,

green of

the

off

into orange

most

dazzling

;

most

little

brilliant

and

while gold

lustres

shone

in

the sun. "

Mind

his prickles

warning to Fred Fred's

fingers

;

in

though he was

but

cried Harry,

" it

was too

with which the

by way of

late, for

were already bleeding

effects of the spines

Fred was

!

from

poor the

fish bristled.

a high state of delight, and, novice

m

fishing,

he succeeded

in pulling

out nearly as

many

Philip fished

by means of tying a piece of twine

as his cousins.

Both he and

Hollowdell Grange;

30

or,

round the middle of a worm, and dangle down line,

but Harry had brought a

;

The

ends

and

float

his

worm by hooking one

fast

and

and secured

end of

letting the

it.

sport

grew

and might

furious,

have been continued for any length of time, but for a

sudden alarm that was raised respecting

worms,

for

Harry had

abstracted the

just

last

unfortunate wriggler from the tin box.

"Never mind/' said Philip, some more;" and he directly set up

tufts

soon

"I'll

find

to work, pulling

down pieces of the all damp but all in

of grass and kicking

bank wherever vain, not a

it

worm

about giving up

looked

at

;

could he find

;

and he was

his task in despair,

just

when a shout

from Harry took his attention. " Here,

come here

!

Harry, " I've got such

" said

a thumper."

Fred and Philip both ran up

enough

he

" thumper,"

seemed as

he

to

have

called

it,

to him,

got for

and sure

hold his

of

line

a

was

running about backwards and forwards through 9

the water, while the willow

him

for

served

a rod was bent half double.

"Pull him to the the

wand which

side,

and

I'll

get hold of

line," said Philip.

"But he won't come."

said Harry, trying to play

"

—

"

Holiday Hours

"

in

a Country Home.

31

his fish to the bank, but without success, for just

then

made

it

a dart right out towards the middle

of the pond.

Harry's

wand bent more and more,

and, just as the greatest strain occurred, the line -divided about

two

feet

above the

float,

wand

the

gave a smart rebound, and poor Harry, the picture disappointment, stood with

of

waving about

line

at the

wofully after his lost

Oh — oh — oh

"

Fred

together, "

end of

of

his stick, gazing

fish.

—h

hi"

groaned

what a pity

Harry continued

a short piece

and

Philip

!

most

to look

but said

rueful,

nothing. " It must have been a jack," said Philip.

a big one told

"

you

Why

!

didn't

you

pull

out

it

"What when

I

?

How

could

I,"

said

dragging so 1 " I am sorry," said Fred

Harry,

;

"

it

"

when

it

was

must have been a

great stickleback to pull the line in half,"

"

a

Ha

!

ha

Look

i

ha " laughed the cousins, "it wasn't

They never grow any

stickler.

"

!

I

look

\

"

said Fred,

thing that was bobbing

u

bigger than these.*

pointing to some-

up and down

in the

pond,

there's Harry's floater."

"So

there

is,"

said Harry; " perhaps

in close enough to get hold of,"

it

will

come

"

Hottowdell Grange ; or}

32

But, instead of

coming

any

in

closer, the little

coloured cork kept working away towards a deep, dark-looking part, right under a large beech-tree,

whose

hung

arms

over

portion

that

of

the

pond. " Get up the

tree,

along that bough.

"No, sure as

You'll get

don't," said Fred,

you

will.

shan't

goose.

I've

it

then."

"you'll

in;

fall

I'm

Don't, pray don't," he continued,

Harry ran towards the

"I I,

Hal," said Philip, " and creep

fall,"

said

tree.

Harry; "don't you be a

climbed harder trees than

that, haven't

Phil?"

"I should go too "All

Hal, so as to get

far,

deep there

think so," said Philip; "but don't in,

for

it's

1

right," said

Harry; "give me a bump

Philip laid hold of his brother's leg,

him a

lift

ever so

just as

up.'

r

and gave

he grasped the tree with both

arms, and then, taking advantage of the inequalities

of the bark with his boots, Harry managed to climb slowly and laboriously to where the tree forked,

and the branch reached

forth

from the parent stem

over the deep pool, while Fred stood half aghast at

what seemed to him the most daring act he ever

beheld.

"Oh!

take care," he exclaimed, looking quite-

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home, pale, while the

palms of

$$

hands grew moist and

his

hot with excitement " I'm

all right,"

upon the branch

said Harry, creeping slowly out

and then, seating himself

;

astride.

he began to work himself out over the water, while the

"

bough quivered and bent

Can you

see

Phil

it,

"

1

at every

movement.

said the adventurer.

" Just under the bough, now, and coming nearer. It's

gone

!

"

he exclaimed, in dismay, as the

sank down out of perhaps

it

will

Harry kept on

" But keep on, Harry

sight.

come up till

again."

he was about twenty

away from the trunk of the feet

float

tree,

feet

and about three

from the surface of the water, and then

sat

watching where Philip threw a stone at the place

where the distance

float disappeared.

down

He

could see some

into the black -looking water,

report said was here ten feet deep

;

there

which were

weeds and dead branches sticking up here and there, but

" " or "

It's

no

float,

of no use

and no ;

fish.

do come back," said Fred,

know you will fall." Whoof !" said Harry, I

giving himself a kind of

jump, so that the bough swung up and down, and his feet dipped the water, while his

rose to the branch above him.

head nearly

" Here's such a r

jolly ride

;

come and have a

turn, boys."

Hollowdell Grange;

34

or,

F

" Pray don't," said Fred, « I

And

—but not

then

in

you'll fall."

obedience to Fred's request

Harry became motionless feet

know

;

for just

beneath his

he saw, rising from the depth of the pond, the

white top of his

what he saw,

Fred gave a half shriek

float.

for to

him

seemed a

it

at

feat of un-

surpassed daring, as Harry clasped the bough with his legs,

and swinging himself head downwards, he

plunged his hands into the water and grasped his truant line.

There was a moment's still

at the end, but

it

of keeping the cork

twisting the line

was beaten

down

float

made

previous struggles,

struggle, for the fish

round

it

and the

:

an easy prey.

his

finger,

the

its

Tightly

Harry swung

make

himself up again, and began carefully to retrograde journey after

effort

and

so long,

was

manner of a

the

sloth,

with his back downwards, and arms and legs clasping the bough.

made

this

*

The

no easy

small

and branches

twigs

task, but, to the great delight

and admiration of Fred, he soon reached where he passed the line to elevated in his turn

Harry's extended "

Now

by Fred,

Philip, till

the tree,

who was

he could reach

hand

you won't

pull

him

said Harry.

" Oh, no," said Philip.

out

till

I

come down,"

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. 4i

Honoixr bright," said Harry.

"

Honour

35

bright," said Philip.

Then, and only then, did the climber loose "hold of the line

He

and proceed to make

his

his descent.

contrived to get into the fork of the tree, and

then

let

and

tried

himself

down

until

trunk with his legs, but

clasp the

to

he hung by his hands,

somehow or other the tree seemed away from him, and the more he tired

he grew,

down he came upon

ground

the

keep gliding

more

tried the

hands slipped, and

his

at last

till

to

in

a

sitting

position.

Happily, the distance was only small, and there

was too much excitement awaiting him to spare time

for

Harry

anything more than a terrible

for

.grimace. "

Now,

then,"

-and drawing

it

he

said, taking

gently,

"look

hold of the line

out, boys,"

and

then,

with his beautiful golden scales glittering in the sun, and his strength completely gone, a carp of .about a

pound and a half weight

face, and, turning

"

Now

Harry to

on

hold the

his brother,

was drawn inshore.

his side,

line,

and

I'll

who took

speaker went down upon

rose to the sur-

his

land him," said

his post while the

knees to grasp the

Ash.

" Flip,

flap,

plish, plash,*'

D

2

went the carp, when-

Rollowdcll Grange;

36

Harry's hand

came

in

or,

contact with

shiny-

its

sides.

" the

Oh

" !

groaned

was

vith

free

broken out of

his

he was

But

the boys, " he's gone

all

from the

line, the

"

;

for

hook having,

mouth.

not

quite

gone,

he

for

lay

in

a.

shallow on some weeds, feebly opening and shutting his

The next

gills.

would have taken him

Harry

however,

into deep water, but in

mud up

into the

flap of his tail,

to his knees,

went

and with one

scoop of his hand sent the golden treasure flying out on to the grass, yards away from the pond edge. Didn't they cheer, and didn't Harry dance about

on the grass with about, and

black

his

the water going

muddy *"

legs dripping

suck, suck," in

How

boots, and squeezing out at every step.

gloated over the poor panting that

it

down

with'

was no easy matter

ibr

;

they

so ntuch,

was ever so long before they could stop

rub Harry's legs ^t

prize

his-

the wet

;

and

Fred and Philip to do,

boy kept dancing, and cheering, and

skipping about brother's

for

bunches of grass

to*

back

;

like

and

a

mad

at last,

thing,

when

slapping

his

they were half

finished

" Bring the tiddlers along, and ftlive,"

he shouted

;

and running

let's

to

keep carpy the edge

of

Holiday Hours

a Country Home.

in

37

the pond, soaked his handkerchief therein, wrapped

up

away they

the carp, and

put

the

their

in

fish

ran homewards, to

all

pond.

little

was carrying

the can

now become

almost insignificant

captors

their

.step, till

while

— kept

of

fish—"which

little

splashing

who

Philip,

the eves of

in

his

had

legs

every

at

they were nearly as wet as his brother's;

who bore

Fred,

more than once

the

rods,

disentangle

to

had

the

the overhanging branches as they went

stop

to

lines

.

from

down

the

lane.

At

last

they reached home, to find

in the dinner, after

about an hour "

Look

for the truants,

look

!

Papa,

!

rushing in through here's a fish

at last,

exhausted

it in.

Mamma,"

the French

shouted Harry,

window

;

" look,

!

Take him

other boys,

and

"

" Soak, soak," "

Mr. Inglis had been waiting

had ordered

in patience,

Mary carrying

went

his boots as

he went

in.

outside," said his father to the

who w ere T

just

coming breathlessly

two in,

only Fred was entangled by the rods crossing the

window.

"

Take him

outside, the

-spoiling the carpet with his It

and

young

rascal is

wet boots."

was no use to think of dinner then, so Papa

Mamma

both had to

come

±0 see and admire the carp,

window and hear how it was outside the

Hollow dell Grange;

38

or,

captured, before the mid-day meal could be

on

gone

with. "

Ah

!

"

said the Squire at

be plenty of

fine carp in

deep hole under the were any

left,

tree,

for the

last,

" there used to

Trencher Pond down the but I did not

know

dry summers killed them

when the railway cutting was made and took much water. But come, boys, dinner."

And

then he drove them

enter the hall-door so as to

successful, for

make themselves

feasting

and shortly

Harry made a double, and

after

in

the

away with a country boy's

appetite, too, that

symptoms of to HollowdelL

fit

But he was not

ran off to pop his carp in the pond, but w directly,

off SO'

and made them

off,

for the repast that awaited them.

quite

there

^ back

uuung room, appetite

Fred already began

to

—

an^

show

possessing, as the fruit of his visit

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

CHAPTER

39

III.

INDOOR AMUSEMENTS.

Dinner had not been

finished

above an hour

became overcast ; and, all sweeping wind came over the

before the sky

at once,

a rushing,

country.

Far

off in

the distance where the hills could be

seen, a thick, misty

from

sight.

appearance almost hid them

There was a low, muttering sound,

then another, seemingly nearer;

then

came

dazzling blue flash of lightning that

made

party stationed at the dining-room

window

back

;

and then came a long,

the

start

rolling, rattling peal

of thunder, that sounded as though bellowing through great metal pipes it

all

a

;

had come

it

while before

had died away in the distance, splashing and

plunging

down came

the rain in torrents, plough-

ing up the flower-beds,

and making

little

along each side of the gravel-walks

rivers

Out

run

in the

homefields the cows and horses were running to get under shelter of the trees, and looked evidently

Hollowdell Grange; ory

4©

frightened as flash succeeded flash of lightning, .

peal after peal of thunder seemed to

make

and

the very

heavens vibrate as they rolled round and round, east, west, north,

ing

down so

and south. The

fast that

out of doors seemed one

great watery mist that could

swum

rain kept stream-

have been almost

through.

All at once, just in

the middle of a clap of

thunder, Mary, the housemaid, opened the dining-

room door, and hurriedly said something, but what no one could tell, for her voice was drowned by the rumbling peal.

Oh my poor verbenas," said Mrs. Inglis. "Oh! won't this fill up the carp-pond, jolly!" "

!

said Harry.

"Come

Mary," said Mrs. Inglis; "what's

in,

Are

the matter?

all

"Oh! yes mem,"

the upstairs said

windows shut?"

Mary; " but

the drain's

stopped in the yard, and Dick's kennel's floating,

and the water's "

Oh

!

coming

all

come and

see,"

into the kitchen."

said

Harry

;

and away

the whole party went, to be just in time to see the

water taking wrecked,

its

departure,

down by

highest, for

kennel

the gates where the yard was

Old Sam,

was punching away

and Dick's

in spite of the pelting rain,

at the sink-hole with the

stump

of an old birch broom, and the water was rushing

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

41

4

down

like a little

it

maelstrom

;

while the bits of

straw and twigs that floated near, represented the

unfortunate vessels that get caught

famous

ir that

•whirlpool.

And

the rain kept pelting down, although

still

the lightning ceased to flash,

more and more

distant,

till

and the thunder grew could only be heard

it

to mutter occasionally afar

And

off.

still

kept pouring down, even after cook had roaring

her

go it

fire

mop

and wiped up

a

till it

seemed

to

wet firework, as she spun and twisted

And

upon her great red arms.

ing, affer

made up

the water, trundling

all

outside the scullery door

off like a

the rain

still it

kept rain-

cook had smeared mason's dust

all

over

t

the stone floor with the wet

mop, and when

it

had

dried up and the floor looked beautiful and white

white like the clean dresser and table that cook

used to scrub with soap and sand as though she

meant

to scrub all the top

raining,

till

tea

off.

was brought

and sputtered upon the

.

in,

table,

And

still it

kept on

and the urn hissed

and

at last

very plain that there would be no

it

became

more going out

that night, to the great disappointment of the boys

London Fred hardly went out at aK except for a walk, yet now the liberty of the morning made him feel like a caged bird, and a melart choly feeling seemed to come over all three boys for

though

in

Hollowdell Grange;

42

K

or,

as they sat watching the leaden sky, the dripping leaves, the beaten

down

flowers, the

sandbanks by

the walks, and the great drops of water that formed

upon the edge of the verandah and porch, and then

came down plash upon the stone pavement. "'Oh come along," said Harry at last " I know ;

!

what

we'll do."

"What?" said Philip and Fred together. u Oh come along, you'll see," said the other. !

Mrs. Inglis was busy over some needlework, and the Squire deep in a book, so the boys slipped out

of the room without any notice being taken, and

perhaps half an hour passed away, when

sudden Mrs. out

of

Inglis

her chair,

overturned his

all

of a

dropped her work and jumped while the Squire, leaping

up,

reading- table, and with

the

little

it

screened candle-lamp, breaking the glass and setting fire

to the green crimped shade.

" Whatever

is

the matter

f

"

aaid the Squire,

he had extinguished tne burning paper is

the matter

V

-

f

when

" whatever

he continued, as they heard another

scream similar to one that had caused the

first

start.

Mrs. Inglis ran out of the room, and through the

passage into the kitchen, from whence the sound

seemed

to

have proceeded

;

and, on entering, there

stood cook upon the dresser, while Mary, having

"

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

4$.

Knocked

off the brass

the

was balancing herself upon the top of the

floor,

little

round

kitchen candlestick on to

which creaked and groaned and

table,

threatened to break with the weight that had been

put upon

it.

"What's the matter?" said Mrs.

"Oh! do there

it

And

mem,"

look,

goes again

said

Inglis.

"do look;

cook,

!

Mrs. Inglis herself started, for a gritting,

grinding, scraping noise was heard, light of the fire she

and then by the

saw one of the large

tin dish

covers go creeping along the kitchen floor,

till

it

reached the wall underneath the place where

it

generally hung.

Mrs. Inglis could not help feeling a but,

knowing well

played, she told

cover and hang "

Oh

"

Then

!

that

Mary it

some

to get

trick

little startled,

must have been

down and

pick up the

in its place.

please'm, I dussn't," said Mary, I

must," said Mrs. Inglis, and stepping

across the kitchen, she lifted

up the

cover,

when

out popped the great black torn cat, that was generally toasting his

back before the

fire,

but

who now

seemed dreadfully put out with being shut up so long under such an unpleasant prison-house. Just then an uncontrollable burst of merriment

•:ame ringing out of the passage, where

it

was

all

Hollowdell Grange ;

44 dark to

;

or,

which gave Mrs. Inglis a very good clue as

who were the authors of the mischief. The next morning at breakfast time all

flowers, buds, lawns,

the trees,

and hedge-rows looked soak-

ing wet, and the rain kept pouring down, heavily,

certainly,

on the previous

as

quite enough to do away with

— not so

night, but

prospect of going

all

-out that day. i

"

A

Mr.

bad job,

Inglis

;

morrow, and " But

as there's so

" but I think it

will swell

how wet

leaves off raining

it

!

much hay down,"

it

will

be

out the corn beautifully."

go down

you ought

to

morning.

Old Peagrim

you

be able

it

"

Why,

boys,

to the mill early to-morrow' will

have had the

to-night, for the river will

will

when

shan't be able to play."

" Oh, yes, you will," said his father.

open

fine again to-

will be," said Philip, "

We

said

to see

some

fish-traps

be flooded, and then sport,

—

that

is if it

leaves off raining."

"Oh!

that will be .capital/' said

Harry; who

then had to enter into a long dissertation, explaining to Fred what a fish-trap was mills

the

went round

tail,

;

;

and how water-

and which was the dam, and

and the waste-water, and

all

the rest of

it.

After this they helped the Squire to arrange his -cabinet of birds' eggs

;

and Fred learned the

dif-

ference between sparrows' eggs, and finches', and

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. tits',

and

right

up

known

larks',

&c, from the

tiniest tomtit's

breed in the mavsh,

Hollowdell

egg

which had been

to that of the wild swan, to

4J

miles from

five

and so interested did the boys get

;

with the work they had in hand, that the dinner-

rang before they could believe

bell

it

was more

than half-past eleven. After dinner there was the vivarium to clean out in the conservatory

;

were the globes and water,

and the gold

and to place

for

to catch with the

fish

;

all

and

this

run up, and then

down

how

deal,

the other side.

you not know that

water

the water

the water could

Inglis,

"have you not

learnt that at school in your lessons

;

all

syphon puzzled Fred a great

"Well, but," said Mr.

sure

net,

which Sam had to come and

he could not understand

Do

little

of which duties Mr.

there was the syphon to draw

;

was, for there

boys to Jo, while he superintended.

off into the pails,

empty

it

glass jars to bring full of clean

in the globes

Inglis set the

Then

and a nice job

it is

on physics?

by atmospheric

pres-

the air being exhausted from the pipe, the is

forced through

" 1

Fred said he had learned never understood them well.

all

these things, but

And

then,

when

the

4

water was things

to

all

pop

drawn

off,

there was no end of

little,

into the glass jars of clean water-

Hcttowdell Grange;

46 and

Snails, frogs,

beetles,

or^

and caddis worms

and about a

toads, tadpoles, tiny crayfish,

dozen

tiny eels

;

while the grandest fellow in the

whole glass kingdom was a inches long,

newts,

;

jack, about five

little

who wouldn't be caught

in the net,

but dodged round the rockwork, and had at

Then

to be taken out by hand. all

the bottom was

renewed with fresh gravel and stones

water-plants put in

stored delight

to their j

;

glass

and

all

home

while, as soon as

he

;

fresh

the inhabitants re-

dash about with

to

himself in fresh

felt

water, a great mussel, that lay

down

put out his pretty white mantle

;

sailing

last

at the side,

the snails began

up and down, and the water spiders began

to pop in and out

among the

webs, just as

they were out of the water, and

if

fresh plants

did not have to cany their supply of

a

and weave

air

down

in

bright silvery-looking bubble attached to their

bodies.

Mr. Inglis said he had hard work with pets, for they

all

his

were so fond of eating one another,

and the jack was

the worst of the whole party, and

always in mischief; but he was such a handsome

green and gold

fellow,

and so tame,

not be turned out, even though he

gold

fish's tail

lie died.

that he could

bit off the tiny

one day, and made him so bad that

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

So what with

getting the

aquarium

4?

to rights,

assisting to rearrange the plants in the conservatory,

and helping

to water them,

so that they should

not be teased by seeing the rain

fall

they were kept dry within doors,

it

time

;

outside whilst

got to be tea-

and, dull as the day had been, Fred declared

he had enjoyed

it

wonderfully, and only wanted

tea to be over for Mr. Inglis to

fulfil

his promise,

and show them the pictures of the sea anemones,

and the other wondrous things

that were found

on the seashore, where they were to go one

after-

noon before Fred went back. Mr. Inglis used to say that he liked his boys to learn scientific things, but not after the fashion

of parrots

;

so he used to bring before their notice

the wonders of animal

and vegetable

life,

spread around us waiting to be noticed in reply to their questions, give

;

that are

and then,

them the informa-

tion they sought.

The consequence

lads gained a vast

amount of information through

was, that the

having their interest excited, and what they learned in this

way was never

forgotten.

Holbwdell Grange

48

CHAPTER

act

first

to the

IV.

next morning on waking,

the

which he did before

and run

or%

THE FISH TRAPS.

VISITING

Freds

,

six,

window.

was to jump out of bed

It

was

and

dull, certainly,

a great heavy mist was rising from the soaked e?rth

;

but the ram had ceased, and there were

hopes that

it

might turn out a

satisfied himself

upon

Having

fine day.

this point,

he went on

tip-

toe to his cousins' room, where the lads were in

one on each side of the window,

their beds,

asleep,

and looking as though they would not

wake up

for

another hour.

Fred was so proud of his achievement

up

that he stood for a

first

moment

in being

considering

what he should do, when, pulling a piece of from

his

twisting

pocket, he wetted

it

in the

up one end, proceeded to

nose with the

rub

fast

at the

soft

initared

point.

string

jug,

and,

tickle Harry's

Harry r^-e a vicious

organ, and inc., another,

and

Holiday Hours in a Country Home, another, but without opening his eyes.

drew the

in his bed, muttering

The

flies."

which was

and

boy

directly protected fingers

—" bothering

by the

insertion

of

so that Fred was obliged

;

to return to the nose

again,

all

the time hardly

driven to keep from laughing aloud titillated

and turn

twist

something about

fore-

next place of attack was the ear,

one of Harry's

he

Fred then

string gently over eyes, cheeks,

head, making the tormented

49

;

and

this

time

the poor fe^.ow so unmercifully that

he burst out with a violent sneeze, and in bed was face

sitting

up

:*

to face with his tormentor.

" Er-tchishew, er-tchishew " said Harry, bouncing !

" Phil

out of bed with his pillow in his hand. Phil

!

"

he shouted, " here's a

Philip

f

trespasser."

jumped up and followed

his brother's

example, and between the two poor Fred got so bolstered, or rather pillowed, that he

was

fain to

cry out for mercy, just as a sharp rapping at the wall told the boys that they

had disturbed the

Squire.

Directly after breakfast the lads started to

the mill, which

was the property of Mr.

go

to

Inglis,

but held by one of his tenants, Mr. Pollard. "

Oh

!

he has got such a rum fellow there

man," said Harry;

"we

call

him Dusty Bob; but

he's such

a good chap, and will

of

about catching

tales

for a

fish

in

tell

you

mills

;

all

sorts

for

he's

Hollowdell Grange; ort

50

always lived in watermills ever since he was a boy.

name 's Peagrim." The anxiety to see the "rum fellow" Dusty "Bob made the boys hurry on, but there were again so many attractions by the wayside that stoppages were very frequent. The sandy roads had soaked up all the rain, but on every leaf and But

his proper

—

—

spray heavy dew-drops were hanging and glittering

morning sun

in the

as though to

;

while the birds were singing

make up

for lost time.

The road

wound, along by the old mossy palings which

bounded Mr.

and the grove on

Inglis's property,

the other side seemed to be the special resort of all the

On

sweetest warblers in that part of the country.

every sunny bit of paling the

and humming ;

beetles

and

flies

little

were buzzing

sun-shiners were

crawling about; while great variegated spiders were

mending to

their nets,

ready for the trade they hoped

:* on that bright July day. Such a scent came up from the freshened earth;

do

in flies

and bright and golden green looked every washed

clear of the dust that

a day or two before

;

had rested upon

had turned

their

bright beams.

they

opening petals to the sun,

and seemed to laugh out

warm

it

while the hedge-side flowers,

although nodding with the watery weight bore,

leaf,

their

welcome

to his

1

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

"There goes a peacock-eye," ing

in

him

for

said Philip, dash-

which kept on gently

after a lovely butterfly,

just before

5

a time, and then settled nicely

reach upon a robin-run-rake by the hedge-side.

Philip stole cautiously forward, cap in hand,

made

then

a dab

painted prize

;

down

those gorgeous wings,

it

secure the brightly-

to

one or two

but, with

and

from

flaps

was out of reach, over

the palings, and away across the buttercup-gilded

meadow on

the other side. \

Directly -

after,

Harry was

off

a

after

great

sulphur-coloured butterfly, which led him a long

down

.-chase

the lane

.afterwards taking ..after

—Fred joining

up a chase on

a large blue dragon

fly.

The

in at

own account

his

butterflies

would

not be caught that morning, but the chase had

.good

effect, for

-of the

little

it

river,

led the l^-us

now

very

full

*

but

first,

down

to the

and muddy w

orvc:

banks in

its

waters!' which

were rushing along with great haste,

and evidently

in a hurry to get

.and go tumbling and sluice at the ..of

down

to the mill,

muddy The tops

foaming over the

head of the wastewater.

the reeds were nearly covered, and in

places the' water was out over the road

down where

;

some while

the footplank crossed the wide ditch

that brought down the waters from Beaker Hill

to empty

into the river, the water

E 3

had

risen so

a

Holhwdell Grange;

5 that

it

touched the board, and supplied capftat

amusement of

it,

or,

to

Harry,

who danced

middle

in the

sending the water flashing and splashing

about in

directions,

all

and wetting everything

around but himself.

At

last

he grew

and Philip crossed

tired,

too,

but Fred hardly dared venture, for the board was

muddy and slippery, and at last Harry had to come back and half lead him over but it was a new feat to him. And now they reached the mill, ;

which stood upon a

an

little

island right in the river

island that stretched up the stream right to

a point, with a stout post driven in to break the force of the river, which at being divided,

now seemed

and rushed round on both

foaming and roaring as though

felt

Come nervous

hardly

along, ;

it

was

all

new

else away.

to him,

and ho could

courage to cross the

frail

down

in a

muddy

tightly,

the

side

torrent,

then boiling up in the maddest way. grasped his cousin's hand

bridge

down

and formed a cataract on the other

the waters plunging

Fred

but

;

over the foaming waters that rushed sluice,

sides,

was determined

Harry

Fred," said

summon up

it

and everything

to carry island, mill,

"

quite angry

and

But he

and, crossing

the bridge, walked round the mill to the other side.

And now he

could

feel

the whole

place

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

55

tremble and vibrate as the water rushed under the dark arches to the mill wheels, which were going swiftly

round

while inside the

;

wooden

tall

build-

ing, pair after pair of stones

were spinning round

and round, turning the hard,

firm corn into white

nutritious flour.

Philip led the way,

where the warning that the corn

and they entered the

bells

were ringing

to give notice

was flowing down rightly; and the

mill-hoppers kept on " ruttle, rattle;" hissed, seethed,

and rushed under

on the top of the filled, sat

the water

their feet

and round

millstones rumbled round

half

;

and there

;

while in a corner, upon

Dusty Bob himself,

sat

nodding and nodding as though he meant !

"

" Hullo

!

" said

Bob,

you, young masters,

•been asleep.

I

" Here's

is it 1

much

:

*n the

to

" Oh,

Well, I expect I've night, for

we were

London

;

have that

for

Papa

and.

bring him to see the fish-traps

you were

milL

water."

our cousin from

we might

"'

jumping up.

gruffly,

was up half the

so busy, and had so

lie said

shake

shouted Harry in a voice

which was hardly heard above the

said

to

off.

" Hallo, Bob, hoy

it's

the

the two great white cats belonging

a heap of empty corn bags, head

;

which the place was

sacks, with

to the miller, fast asleep

his

mill, v

showing

;

and

us," said

"

HolIo7vdell Grange; or,

54

out a shilling from his pockety

pulling

Philip,

F 4

which action made

moved

"Bob's eyes

young genelmen,"

minute,

a

going to a cupboard teapot

black, but

"

it

what

that's

—

at

was

in

what should have

over

down my

gets

said,

Saying

throat."

a long drink of cold tea out of the

declared that

they had

since

a.

been

"There," he

flour.

and then generously

who

he,,

always keeps there -to drink when

T

much dust which Bob took visitors,

said

a corner, and taking out

least

all

too

spout,

re-

sleepiness.

all

" Stop

black

and

twinkle,

it

offered

it

was such a

to

all

the.

time-

little

had breakfast that they would

rather not. left for

me

for the fish-traps.

I

"More

then," said

opened them

morning

I forgot to look this

my

lads

—

just

right.

was a whale down water

;

in

;

;

last

"and now night,

so you're just

but

right,.

Shouldn't wonder

if

the big trap after

all

there this

should you, Master Ha*ry, eh?"

"None know

Bob

of your

gammon, Bob.

better than that?

Why

Think

don't you

T

don't

come and

look at the traps ] " 'Cos I ain't in such a hurry as you are," replied

Bob.

" You'd

like

me

to

run,

wouldn't

you,..

ehr "

Do

come, Bob," said

Philip,

putting in his*

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

55

i

him

appeal to the rough and dusty object before

an appeal not without very dusty

smile

;

its

and

bunch of keys from a

Bob gave a reaching down a

effect, for

then,

nail in the wall,

proceeded

down

with one of them to open a door which led

a dark

flight

of

damp

under

stairs to the

regiotia

of the mill, where the two great toothed wheels

were

swiftly revolving

— dripping

with water, and

looking horribly wet, slimy, and

muddy;

while

were what Harry

between them, and on each

side,

had

large contrivances of

called the

fish-traps

:

strong laths about half an inch apart, forming very.

wide and

deep

cages,

down

into

which,

in

water rushed and passed through

torrent, the

a

— of

course leaving therein everything in the shape of fish

that

had been brought down by the

swiftly

speeding, current.

At the first sight of the gloomy cellar-like place and the sound of the rushing stream, mingled with the hollow cavernous plashing noise of the water

running from the wheels as they rose from out the

deep

well-like

chasms where they did

their duty,

Fred shrunk back and hardly liked to descend but, seeing

how

coolly

and confidently

his cousins

went down, he summoned up courage and lowed,- while

number

one.

Bob proceeded

to

inspect

fol-

trap

Hollowdell Grange;

56

"Well!

or,

Bob; "shanV

that's a pretty go," said

many fish that a way, anyhow." "Why, what's the matter?" said Harry, looking

catch

wooden

at the great "

Matter

!

"

fish cage.

Bob

said

" why,

;

some

one's left the

tloor open."

" I

he

know who

inspected

it

was," said Harry, laughing, as

the opening at the bottom of the

through which everything that had entered

trap,

must have escaped.

" I

know who

was," said

it

Harry, again.

Who " Who

?

"You

are right," said Bob, grinning.

"

leave

it

?

" said Philip, innocently.

why, old Bob

I

had

help forgetting to

to

came

in the mill,

Never mind,

I couldn't

come down

again, could

I?"

had broken two of the bottom

laths away, leaving j

go.

"IJdid

going to the next trap they found that the

force of the water

out

i

open, because some one

and then

On

"

but for

all

room

that there

for

any sized

fish to get

was a great black-backed

slimy-looking monster of an

eel,

nearly a yard long,

gently gliding about over one side of the cage, close to the hole.

"Now,

Bob," said Harry, "here he

is,

such a

stomper ; get him out quick." But Bob did not get him out quick,

for

upon

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. the

first

glide,

57

touch of the barred door, the eel gave a

went through the broken bottom of the

trap^

and was gone. "

Oh

—oh—oh

"

pity

I

"Why

know

jolly tiresome

Why, a

ain't

big

be

I could

Do

!

Bob?"

quicker,

be careful next time."

slipperier thing anywheres, than

There

there

and of course

traps;

I

in

children,

one oLthem

stuff," said

stop that

salt

on

tails,

un

tail."

Philip

;

" we are not

and you don't think we believe

rubbish about

at all

the bottom of the

couldn't

without any salt to put on his " Don't talk such

" There

no holding of them

ain't

no holes

are

said

How

have caught him.

wasn't I careful 1 " said Bob.

eels.

when

you

didn't

Harry, " I

"

chorused the boys, " what a

"

!

do you ?

all that

"

Bob indulged in a long low chuckle, and then led the way to the last trap under the mill, though there

was one

outside.

now

they

It

the

at

head of the wastewater

was very dark in the corner where

went, but in spite of the darkness the

boys could see the silvery gleam of something "moving behind the

bars,

while

Bob suddenly

grinned out "

Now

*top while

then,

young

I fetches

gents, here they are

a pail."

;

but

;

Hollowdell Grange;

58

Bob went upon

or,

and slowly ascende'd

his errand,

the steps that led into the mill, while the boys crept as close as possible to the trap, through which

the water was rushing swiftly. that there were several

It

was very evident

good sized

fish

in;

while they looked, something seemed to dart

from above,

was

there

a

flapping about, and then

and

grew pretty evident

it

new comer had joined the had all commenced bobbing and that a

prisoners

—who

flopping about,

as though to remonstrate against his arrival.

And now came Bob

down

splashing

great

but

with a great

pail,

.

which he

held under the sliding door of the trap, telling

Harry

to pull

He

open.

it

did so, and into

glided the pailful of different kinds of

one monster of an .side

and slipped out on to the damp

to get

down one

had seen one

of the wheel channels.

and did not mean would be worth to send

so at

he

it

by

his

floor,

twist, evidently

fine fellow slip

away

to lose this one

;

while

body over the

eel got half his

he began to wriggle and

fish,

it

where

meaning But Bot>

that morning,

for

he knew

it

shillings to him, either to sell, or

young

visitors

up

to Squire Inglis's

he dashed, nearly upsetting the pail as

hastily

banged

it

down.

And now began

regular battle, the eel

making

the eelcatcher keeping

him away.

for the water, It

a

and

was one of

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

59;

those monsters that are rarely caught by hook and but which

line,

rivers,

there

lie

muddy

deep

in the

holes of

out of which places they mostly sally when

is

a flood.

Strong!

it

was as strong, Bob

said, as

and writhed and twisted about so not retain his grasp upon

Twice he got

it

water's edge

it

he could

slippery shiny skin.

its

up in a corner,

the brick wall, and away

that

a horse,

up against

tight

went again close

and was nearly

but for a lucky

lost,

kick from Harry which saved

to the

No

it.

one

cared about touching the monster, and at

'

last

appeared as though the prize would escape all,

for

only

Bob was

trying to retain

— the other appearing

way or another mischief,

and

;

but

his

it

it

so, for

after

some

Bob meant

hand reappeared with

bread and cheese knife, which he

it

with one hand

to be disabled in

was not

else

his great

opened with

and then, with one great gash, nearly

his teeth,

severed the unfortunate

eel's

head from

his

snaky

body. " There

!

"

said Bob,

triumphantly

;

" that are"

the biggest eel I ever caught in this here water.

Why, he weighs

six

pound,

I

know he

do.

Shut

the door of that ere trap again, Master Harry, and there'll

be some more to-night,

Saying

this,

I

know."

Bob made a commotion

in the pail

HoUowdell Grange;

*So

or, i

by laying

his great prize

captives,

and then carried them

on the top of the

other?

carefully

all

up

into the mill, where the visitors proceeded to gloat

over the

Two

spoil.

or three sacks were

upon the

laid

and then Bob emptied the

ilpor,

pail,

mill

and there

they were, flapping, leaping, and writhing about;

such a collection of

fish as

would have made any

angler glow and feel proud to carry home. there was the great eel

—such a monster, with body

as thick as Bob's wrist tiful

:

then there was a beau-

trout about two pounds* weight

about half the

and about

size

;

First

;

a

jack

little

about two dozen of fine roach;

thirty eels of all sizes

— one

so small,

that the

wonder was that he had not got through

the bars

;

and the

largest so big, that

have almost passed for the big while

all

therefore

wriggled

would

brother;

of them seemed to consider that

their duty to get off the sacks as

and

one's

it

it

was

soon as possible,

and twisted towards the

edges, giving the boys plenty of occupation to turn

them back, which Fred did with a piece

of stick,

wisely keeping the uncouth creatures at a distance. "

Now, whafs

to

be done with them

all?*

said Bob.

" I should like to have the

our pond," said Harry.

little

jack to put in

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

"Why, "So he

he'd

kill all

the roach," said Philip.

would/' said his brother; "but then hell

A nicer-looking " Well,

61

any

fellow than

there."

you what/' said Bob, " we'll put

I'll tell

the six biggest eels and the trout into a basket,

and you all

;

home

take 'em

shall

and them

tothers I

—young

jack and

send up into the

shall

village to sell."

This was considered to be a capital arrangestarted

down from

getting

during

out

declined to help so

Harry and

it

between them

carry

the

on account of the

Philip took a handle each

—a nice

easy

way

very uncomfortable for the poor

now and that

the

Fred

journey.

eels,

and swung

for

them, but

eels,

for every

then Master Harry would swing so hard

basket would

make

a complete revo-

wrist

down gravel path.

••

On

they went,

however,

they

till

came tripped lightly;

and stood on

the

other

side,

laughing, out of the reach of any splashing that

Harry might

feel

disposed to favour him with.

Thevwater had sunk a few inches lower during rtheir visit to

the mill

;

and when Harry and

Philip^

42

Hollowdell Grange;

or,

stood in the middle of the plank, which could not course be

of

passed without having a splash,

Harry began

to

and down, and the

spring up

board being tolerably

he and

elastic,

had a pretty good ride

brother

his

but although there was

;

double weight now upon

it,

the plank would not

touch the water. "

Try

Phil,"

again,

down went

And up and

said Harry.

the brothers for a minute, but

still

clear

of the water. along, now," said Philip, "

"

Come

"

One more

and a good one,"

try,

and then they began " both together.

Two

:

better

it's

One

:

use."

Harry;

said

Now," he continued,

that

:

Three

still.

"

again,

no

was a good one. "

and a

" Snap."

Just as they gave the last spring, there was a

sharp crack from the plank

boys simultaneously

;

;

a shriek from

all

the

and Harry and Philip were

struggling in the deep water, for the plank bridge

had divided Fred ran

managed only

in

two

just in the centre.

to the edge, and,

to catch

portion

of

by kneeling down,

Philip's hand,

him

visible,

.

as

which was the

he

was being

swept out of the broad ditch, which was running swiftly, into

fobbed him

the river, for fear and excitement had of

his

swimming

powers

;

while

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. Harry,

who could swim

well,

63

had given two or

three strokes, and then, catching the long grass,

climbed out upon the opposite thing they

all

The next

side.

did was to stand and stare at each

other in blank amazement, from which Harry was the

to recover, for

first

he jumped about, shook

himself like a Newfoundland dog, and then said bluntly

:

" Don't you cry, Phil, we're quite wet enough.

Never mind

and

him

tell

ajid in

Papa won't be very

;

spite

directly.

legs

—upon

rail

to the

own

its

I'm coming across now,"

sloth

fashion

the pole that

and

Philip

of the protestations of

Fred, he got

we go

cross if

— hanging

hands and

had served as

a

hand

broken plank, and which maintained

bearings,

and

spite

in

of

bending

its

beneath his weight, he shuffled across, and stood

wet and dripping beside "

Come

his

companions.

on," said Harry, shaking himself again,

and addressing the

others,

who were

with long faces by the broken bridge

we in

:

soon be home, and nobody

shall

standing

still

"

let's

will

run

;

meet us

Park Lane." " But where's the basket V* exclaimed Fred. "

Oh

!

" cried Harry, aghast.

" Why,

it's

gone," said Fred, " and the

get out, though they are in the water/*

fish can't

;

HoSowddl Grange; or%

04

Gone

it

was; there was not even a handle of

the basket to be seen above the

water, though

they looked long and anxiously up and river, it

to

and everywhere

have got

But

to.

that it

down

the

seemed impossible

for

was gone, and no doubt

the poor eels were drinking in their natural element

and twisting about

in

their little wicker prison

turning their companions, the decapitated eel and the dead trout, over and over, and up and down, in their efforts to escape.

At

last

the trio started

but with anything

off,

but light hearts, for their appearance was

from

far

being as neat as when they set off in the morning.

Fred was mill

all

and

over

lolling

flour,

through kneeling in the

up against the sacks

looked as wet, muddy, and

two

could look.

and

The

danced up

displaying

hammer

their

was

butterflies

ran across the disappeared

corncrake

sang

seemingly close

pitiable,

as

sunny

the

in

wings

gorgeous

before them

flitted

and down

the

;

air,

yellow-

the nettles,

and

where his sober-hued

little

upon her grassy nest; a

stoat

the place sitting

while his

drowned young monkeys

flew out from amongst

betrayed

and

half

unfortunate,

;

road with a bird in his mouth, in his

the

bank

harsh

beneath

unchased

song

the

in

pales

;

the

;

the

park,

and two

;

Holiday Hours squirrels

ran

Country Home.

in a

along the road right

down

them, and then sat

65

in front

with their

little

of

bushy

cocked up, watching the boys ever so long

tails

before they darted up the beech-tree bole, and hid

behind the great branches.

But

was of no use

it

;

there was no tempting the boys out of their solid

sombre moodiness and disconsolate,

damped, but they had

;

and on they tramped, Ashless

young

for their

drenched

literally

lost their

wicker

;

were not

spirits

and

then, too,

idol, full of captives

captives which, like those of the ancient Britons,

were

to

have been roasted

but now, alas

;

danger of being drowned; us, fish

stile,

to the stable-yard,

;

and Mrs. and

tell

and

in

by the back door

at dinner-time,

Inglis

to their

by

to

;

it

and, no

bedrooms, so

make a decent

Mr

without frightening

their half-drowned aspect.

took a long time before a great

them

crept across the homefieid, round

Harry and Philip were able

appearance

It

in

and sadly and slowly they

one seeing them, hurried up

;

as old anglers

if,

brighter than ever, but for

lost its brightness

crossed the

that

were

can be drowned.

The day was had

!

it

came

;

to the surface,

amount of determination before yarry

could speak out respecting the morning's mishap for he,

though the younger, was always the chief

speaker; but at tot out

it

came with

a rush, while

Hollowdell Grange ;

66

or,

Papa was helping the pudding, making him such a

give-

he put the wedge-shaped piece

start that

of rhubarb pudding right upon the snowy white tablecloth instead of Fred's plate.

"I

and

say, Papa, Philip

I

tumbled into Whaley

Dyke, coming home from the

was so

that Phil

full

mill to-day

;

and

would have been drowned,

it

lor

he was too much afraid to swim, only Fred pulled

him

out."

And whole

was broken, Harry told the

then, as the ice

not omitting the loss of the basket

tale,

Mamma

though both Papa and

;

and,

looked serious as

they thought of the danger their boys had run, yet, as

Harry had prophesied, Papa was not very cross

about

it;

and, after a

little

shook hands with them proud he was boys to

tell

to think

all

how

round, and said

he could always

the truth, for

have confidence

serious admonition,

now he

could always

and

in their word,

trust his

feel that

he

could depend upon them in everything. " But, papa," said Harry at

last,

breaking out

into a regular whimper, " they were such eels !"

"And

such a trout!" said Philip.

"

such a jack

And " And

they've

said Harry

;

"

all

and

pond, and old Bob

!"

said Fred.

gone back to the

I did will

want the jack

river again,"

for the

little-

be sure to come up to-night

;

Holiday Hours to see

you

if

and we

will give

in

him something

for the eels,

didn*t get them."

" Never mind, boys/' said Mr. Inglis

«ay

we can make

it

ail

came out

As

;

"

I dare-

right with Bob, the miller

and no doubt there are as ever

6*

a Country Home.

fine eels in the river as

of it"

for Mrs. Inglis, she

seemed

more

to take a

loving fancy to Fred than she had before accorded to her sister's child

boy's

;

for

had he not saved her

life 1

Sure enough,

Bob came down

to the house that

very evening, grinning and smirking, and looking as pleasant as

if

he

felt

sure that he was going to

have some of the squire's home-brewed half-a-crown as well.

But Bob grinned a

ale,

little

and

more

than he would have done in general upon such an occasion

;

and when he caught

sight of the boys

he kept grinning more than ever, and beckonin

them

in

his

uncouth way to come to him

Harry and Philip did not

feel

much

;

but

disposed to go

to Bob, for there was all the dissatisfaction of the loss of the fish,

and they did not

like

paid for what they did not profit by.

Bob being But

at last

Bob's demonstrations were so violent that the three

boys went into the kitchen together, and then and there the dusty old rascal drew from behind him, all

the while grinning

and showing F 2

his teeth

more

"

68

Hollowdell Grange; ok

than ever, the very basket they had

though

it

lost, tied

had never been opened, and with

up

all

as

the

fish inside.

Fred looked upon

Bob

though he was a

as

mighty conjurer.

"Why,

they came

said Harry,

down

beaming with

the stream to the mill," his discovery.

"So they did, Master Harry; you're right." " And you found them up against the grating] "So I did, Master Harry; I did find 'em there." " And then vou brought them here '?" "So I did, Master Harry; you're right, I did." "Oh! hooray!" shouted Harry. "Hooray:" shouted Phil. it

"

Hurray

!"

said Fred, hardly

knowing why, but

cheering becpree the others did.

came the

Squire,

came the

eels,

and out came Mrs.

and out came the

came Bob's half-crown those this

fish

then out

Inglis,

and out

praises,

and out

and the next day when

were cooked, the Squire declared that

was the best

as to the eels,

and best

;

And

trout

he had ever tasted

why they were

eels that

;

and

the richest, nicest,

were ever eaten, and no one

enjoyed them better than the boys who had had so

much

difficulty in

gaining them for a prize.

"

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

CHAPTER

6q

V.

BUYING A NEW WATER -BOTTLE. A3VD now one morning, as soon as

Harry jumped out of bed and ran

it

was daylight,

to his brother's,

and with one whisk dragged everything

off

blankets, counterpane, and almost Philip,

— sheet,

and then

the young ruffian rusiied into Fred's room, served

him

same way, and narrowly escaped a crack

in the

on the head from him

flying after

fell

jug, that

seemed

" said

s

boot, which was sent

as he ran, but hit the wall instead,

and then

catch

his cousin

toe foremost into the big wash hand as

if it

stood there on purpose to

it.

Jump

up, boys

Harry.

Shrimping day

"

;

why it's ever so

late, I believe,"

go and see what time

I'll

it

is.

!

p

Directly after Harry reappeared in Fred's room,

and found

Philip there.

" I say, the clock's stopped in the night

;

it

wants

a quarter to four by that old stupid thing on the

Hollowdell Grange;

7° staircase.

there is

good time

wasp

in his

He

All was

room was

Don't

I

all

wish I

Shouldn't I like to put a

!

!"

then slipped quietly

room. the

bed

we should

said

for the sands.

Sam

was behind old

and everybody

half-past seven,

it's

bed because Papa

lying in

start in

go down to the dining-room and see

I'll

know

I

;

or.

still

light

;

the dining-

to

the blinds drawn down, but

enough

upon the face of the

down

little

for

him

to see the

hands

timepiece over the

fire-

place.

"

Ten minutes

'*

All the clocks are wrong," said Harry, pettishly.

" It

must be

to four," said the clock.

I

late.

know

I'll

it is.

go

in

the

kitchen."

So

off he went, pat, pat, with his bare feet over

the oilcloth,

and then upon the sandy stones

in the

Plenty of light there, and the old Dutch

kitchen.

clock plainly to be seen, only the pendulum stood

and the weights had run down

still,

forgotten to draw

;

for

cook had

them up on the previous

night.

" Quarter to twelve," said the clock. "

Oh

come, that won't do," said Harry.

!

know it's my own ;

then.

late. I

Don't

should

I

wish

know what

I

u

I

had a watch of

the real time was

1 '

Up

he went to Fred's room with the same tale

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

upon

his lips respecting the time,

71

but as unbelieving

-as ever.

"

Why,

it is

only four o'clock," said Philip, look-

ing out of the window

go

to

wake one up

morning and say

at this time of the

"So

" and there's the sun just

Well, you are a chap, Hal, to

rising..

shall

;

it's

late.

I

bed again."

shall I," said Fred.

" No, you won't," said Harry; dragging the clothes

together and making a bundle, with which he ran off into his

chase.

own room

And

French and

with both the others in

full

began a regular scrimmage,

then English

fashion,

and Harry, having

two enemies, was pulled down sprawling over a r

ushbottom

chair,

and then nearly kicked over

washstand, making

the

such

a

clatter

that

the

Squire knocked angrily at the wall; vvhen off the noisy ones ran back into Fred's room, Harry this

time being the pursuer, armed with his **

Bang, crash

—

crash,

bang

Fred went backwards upon

bolster,

— whiz—wuz — rush."

his bed, hors de combat,

from a well-directed blow from Harry's bolster then at

it

went Harry and Phil

armed with a slit

pillow,

soon showed

— the

down whose

itself

;

latter

\

and

being

front a ghastly

but Philip fought well, and

Harry was getting worsted and driven

into

the

corner amongst the boots, where the footing was

Hollowdell Grange;

72 rather it

bad

for

or>

" Flop !"

bare feet

"

then and staggered back.

Harry caught

upon the top of

full

went down upon one knee

ducked

again,

for

Harry having

Philip was surpassing himself, and

received the last blow

"

Flop

his

head

but he rallied again,

;

to avoid the next blow,

and diving under

arm came up behind, and "Whooz!" went bolster bang upon Phil's back, and "Crash!"

'Philip's

the

went Philip forward, ram

fashion, with his

head into

the wardrobe door.

At

again

it

:

"

whop

went pillow and fashion

upon

last Philip

Harry whirled

to

was ronring with

beater.,

At and

his bolster round iuz iicad in order to

when " crash "-7 the !

and tumbler were swept pieces

ing-table, splintering to

covering the

laughter.

shew signs of being

administer the coup de gr&ce, water-bottle

flop

flip

bolster, while Fred, sitting tailor

his bed,

began

— whop — — — bang,""

carpet with

off the dress-

on the

feet-piercing

floor,

and

fragments

and puddles of cold water. "

Oh

!

shan't

we

catch

it !"

said l^th combatants,

ceasing the war, like two enemies

awakened vast

to the fact that they

amount of mischief

to

who had

just

had been doing a

somebody

else's pro-

perty.

"Oh!

I say,

in dismay.

whatever shall we do?" said Philip-

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

"Pick up the pieces," said Harry,

The

three boys set to work, picked

and sponged up the water

;

73

laconically.

up the

pieces^

but there was a great,

rugged, black-looking patch, like a North American continent, with plenty of islands all round

midst of the carpet

Oh

say,

I

!

Philip again,

glass.

what shall we do

when

in the

but then, too, there were the

f

fragments of broken bottle and

"

it,

1

"

exclaimed

was made as decent as

all

cir-

cumstances would permit.

There was a minute's silence which no one seemed inclined to break

but at

;

Harry

last

" Why, we must go and

tell

moodily,

said,

Mamma

;

she won't

be so very, very cross." " She bolster,

and

Here

will,

though

because

it

;

she said

for

spoiled

the

we were not pillow-cases

to so,

"

Philip caught sight of the pillow lying

Fred's bed, the cover being nearly torn seeing this ghastly object Philip looked

than ever, and he

left his

off.

upon

Upon

more grim

sentence unfinished.

"Let'3 buy another bottle," said Fred; "111 pay."

This was a new idea. " Capital,"

Papa gave me " So will

said

" I've got a shilling

Harry,

yesterday,

and

I," said Philip,

I'll

pay

half."

brightening up.

Hollowdell Grange;

74

or, 1

j

But, as the bottle could not be bought by the lads all paying half,

it

was decided that they should

bear a share in the proposed expense, and go

all

buy the new water-holder before

-and

"

Hooray and

boys,

!"

breakfast.

"jump into your clothes, down to the village and be

said Harry,

run

we'll

back before breakfast's ready." In another quarter of an hour, the lads passed

through the gate, and stood in the lane leading to

Such a bright

the village. gilding

all

and the

the trees,

morning, the sun

birds singing

away

The boys had looked

at

the clock as they descended the staircase, and

it

more merrily than was only their -

fine

five

hands

;

ever.

so, as

to

they had plenty of time upon

reach the village, they sauntered

slowly along, having only two miles to go. " I say," said Harry, "

let's

go round by the back lane

;

cross the fields

we

shall then

and

go over

the shallows, and Fred has never seen the stepping stones."

"

How much

"

Only about a

farther

is it 1 "

mile,"

was the

Off they went, over the the dewy grass,

over

the morning sunlight,

back "

said Fred.

stile,

more

reply.

and then across

fields,

glittering

and then down

into

in

the

lane.

Tuck up your

trousers,

boys,"

said

Harry,

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

example

the

setting

and

;

liminary was arranged,

then

when

75

that pre-

splashy they went

splish,

along the wet path.

A

splendid lane that

was

under water, with quite a stream flowing

and shaded on banks-

except in

always

in parts,

by high hedges and

either side

was

It

considered

very dry weather and

in

impassable,

in going along

it,

for

But

carts.

mischievous boys rather liked the back lane

was some fun

always

for a walk,

;

there

was nearly

it

always half-way up the boots, and then the water splashed

when

capitally

so

you

ran

down

Besides which, there were rats there, and sticklebacks

and

:

the

nicest,

it.

stray

smoothest,

and

roundest pebbles for throwing to be got anywhere;

and

besides, boots

summer time worth

;

feet

soon get dry again

and, after

all,

a good bit of fun

the wet boots in the world

all

boys of twelve and thirteen think

"Is

wet, like

all

it

this

in the

V

—

at

is

least,

so.

said

Fred,

rather

taken aback at the appearance of the place. "

Rat

1

by Philip

rat ;

!

rat

3

"

roared Harry, a cry taken up

and away they splashed, running upon

their toes in chase of the long-tailed burrower.

Rat never went very the day-time

\

far

But

from his residence in

and, consequently, he showed the

hunters only just the tip of his

tail for

a moment,

"

Hollowdell Grange;

j6

as he dived into his hole,

or>

A

and was gone.

little

*

further

on the lane became dry again, and con-

tinued so, with the exception of a the

where

side,

over

glittering

water was

the

the

stones,

rivulet at

little

and

dimpling

washed

and

clean

smooth, and amongst which the boys soon iound plenty of those curious for the

little fish,

the stone loaches,

most part lying snugly beneath some great

pebble, which had to

be turned over

to

effect

their capture.

At

they Teached the river and the stepping-

last

Here the stream had widened

stones.

out

and

was very shallow, great rough masses of pudding stone being laid on the bed to

over dryshod.

upon with drew

great contempt by Harry,

in

all

Of

" that

!

storks

look

I

"

above

r»s knees,

and

amongst the water-cresses

course, such an

young

Look

roll

who merely

which peeped up here and

be followed upon the three

a

his trousers into

forget-me-nots

there.

wayfarers pass

This was, however, a luxury looked

walked straight

and

let

instant,

example must needs

and soon there were

wading about

in the shallows.

said Fred, all at once

;

" what's-

?

They might glittering in

the

well

look,

morning

for

sun,

with

his

scales

and making the

water surge as he endeavoured to reach a portion

;

Holiday Hours

Country Home.

in a

77

of the river more suitable for his bulk, a large

came down

pike

and seemed nearly a yard

a monster,

He was

the stream on his side. long,

and so

big that th£ boys could do nothing but stare at

him

at first

;

but Harry was not to be put out of

countenance by the biggest pike

England, so at

in

him: he rushed. tl

Come

on," he shouted, " turn

he gets past the stones, the water

we

him back.

If

deeper, and

is

shall lose him."

and Fred closed

Philip

hand

made

a dash at

and was

and

off

managed

a flash with his

yards away, with Harry in

time,

this

the

for

he

and caught hold of the

it,

who gave

slippery monster,

but never put forth a

Not so Harry,

touch the pike.

to

boldly

in,

water

full

tail,

pursuit

being shallower, he

a good kick at the fresh-water

to give

^

shark

but only one, for the fish gave another

and was gone.

shoot,

"There's a brute!" said Harry. just

as

well

thumper V

have been

caught.

"He

might

Wasn't he a

1

" Let's get

some

water-cresses

and take home,"

said Phil.

"

Where

are there any

?

"

said Fred,

who had

never seen them growing before. "

Why,

here, all about

;

here's lots

and

lots."

Hollowdell Grange;

jS

So the lads

or,

and picked. a goodly bunch

set to,

a piece, Philip remembering, too, a

bouquet

little

of forget-me-nots for his mother; and then, landing

on the opposite if

up the river

side, they strolled

to see

they could see Harry's friend, the pike^But, no

he was

invisible

and not

;

to

be wondered

I

at, after

the manner in which he had been treated.

Still,

though there was no pike, there was plenty

else to

be seen,

for the fish

and out

in the bright

lazily

basking in the

were rising

all

over the river;

calm places great chub were

warm

On

sun.

every shallow,

shoals of roach and dace appeared,

out in

silver}'

and rushed

squadrons over the pebbly bottom;

while the minnows and gudgeon seemed as though they had been drilled,

so regularly and closely

they kept together as they darted out into the

middle of the

river.

be seen?

Plenty to

Ay, plenty; pretty

little

reed-warblers twittering and chattering in amongst the strands which formed their waving

every their

now and

then the

trill

bearded

tits

;

and

made

appearance, but only to dart out of sight

again in a moment. "

little

home

— — trill

;

trill

"

High over head sang and the

soft

the lark,

sweetness of the

morning seemed to pervade everything.

Now and

then red and orange billed moor-hens would lead their

dusky

little

broods from amongst the reeds,

— Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

and

after

banks

green

Oh, I'm so

" I "

village,

and even of

of a sudden Harry burst

till all

jolly

hungry

wonder what time

and then

it

it

!

let's

Oh. what a

jolly

breakfast,

turn back."

is?" said Philip.

and get the bottle

will

and the

out,-

Seven," said Harry, " I know.

to the village

sky,

?

away every thought of the

took

and the

water-bottle

"

Plenty to see

so much, that the water, the

!

when

a short swim, lead them in again

they saw that they were watched.

Ay

70

Let's get

down

at old Perkins's,

be time to go home to breakfast.

morning

They were soon

" !

abreast

of the

where the path led down to the

again

stones

village,

and

just

then the distant church clock struck. " Told you so," said Harry, counting.

—

two

three

—four— — —seven

The boys and full

five

six

" One-

eight !

v

stared at one another quite aghast,

then, taking their cue from Harry, started off

speed towards home, forgetting everything but

the idea of getting back in time for breakfast, w -

When

they entered the breakfast-room, nearly

breathless, but with sparkling

eyes and glowing

cheeks, both Mr. and Mrs. Inglis looked rather serious

;

that they

but the boys seemed so bright and happy

had not the heart

to

be cross with them,

though the second cup of coffee was being poured

So

Hollow dell Grange

out,

;

or,

and the Squire loved punctuality

;

and though

Mrs. Inglis had been into the boys' bedrooms and seen the mischief they had done. "

Come, boys

come,

,*

boys,'

cheerily; "this won't do

;

Why,

to get

down

we're going

station,

Mr.

last

till

Inglis,

night.

enough specimens

and Jem Baines,

;

brought the glass

came down from There

said

you won't

to start the salt-water aqc^vi-am

from the

5

London by

last night.

the

goods

It

train.

he continued, pointing to an enormous

it is,"

inverted bell-glass standing

upon a block sf ebony

fitted for its reception.

But the bovs were too hungry to do more than glance at the crystal bell, though Harry, with his

mouth

much it

full,

like

did say something that sounded very (i

booty," though he

However,

for beauty.

of nay young readers

will

it

evidently

was excusable, as any

say

if

they consider that

Harry had been up four hours, and out air of the bright

meant

summer morning.

in the fresh

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

CHAPTER

VI.

DOWN BY THE "

Now,

was

boys," said the Squire,

over, " time

bring the dog-cart round.

help

me

to get the jars

SEA.

when

Harry, you

flies.

Philip

and

81

the breakfast tell

Sam

to

and Fred, you

bottles into the hall."

This was soon done, and, the cart coming round, it

was packed with the

that naturalists take with

seaside;

and

odds and ends

them when going

to the

also with those agreeable refresh-

ments taken by not,

different

when they

all

people, whether naturalists or

anticipate being

by the rocks and

shingle for a few hours in the fresh sea-breeze.

The boys then

eagerly took their places, the horse

leaped to the light shake of the reins given by the Squire,

Sam

left its

head,

Mamma

waved her hand-

kerchief from the porch, the gate was passed, and

away they went bowling over the hard road, and past,

green

.smell

of,.

trees,

hedges, and fields, with the sweet

new-turned hay borne on the morning

"

;

Hollowdett Grange,

82

or,

seemed

breeze, while the sky above

clearer and

brighter than ever. li

Now,

boys, which

way

shall

we go

down by

;

the marsh, or along the upland at once

rocks "

the

to

?

Oh, through the marsh, Papa

"and

!

Harry

" said

then you can drive along the sands to the

rocks.

It

is

so nice and quiet riding along the

sands." " Yes,"

Tom,

here

said his father ?

He

;

" but

won't like dragging

fellows through the heavy sand

Tom

Old

on hearing

gave his head a

toss, as

think not," and ever, fly in -

.

how

;

about

all

old

you great

Tom

will you,

" 1

his master's cheery voice

much

as to say, "

then trotted

I

should

along faster than

making the wheels spin round, and

the dust

a cloud behind them.

And now

they began to leave the woods behind

x

the hedges began to get scarcer and shorter, and at

last

they were out in the marsh

longer, but a large

by broad enormous

drains

and

and

—a

marsh no

far spreading plain, divided

ditches,

and dotted over with

cattle grazing in the rich fat grass

;

while

here and there the land seemed waving in the gentle breeze as

it

lightly

passed over the bending

crops of wheat, oats, rye, and barley/ Here and there were farmhouses scattered at wide interval*

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

83

while in the distance stood a church with a few

houses clustered round

and towards

it,

this point

*

Fred could now see that the road tended.

Soon

see the high bank that guarded the

they could

marsh from the ravages

moments and away

of the sea in

angry

its

to the right the beetling ciiSs,

;

with the downs running up to the summits, and

ending in a sheer precipice three or feet deep, at

whose

foot

was said a man-of-war

it

had once been wrecked, and

Down

beneath the

every fantastic shape or form just gently lapping their

,

souls

ail

drowned

were the rocks of

too,

cliff,

hundred

four

now

weed-hung

with the water

but in

sides,

stormy weather covering them with foam as alternately

or hid

showed

their

them from

pitiless

waves would

dash

down upon

it

to pieces,

grim and jagged shapes,

Woe,

view.

fortunate vessel that

it

then, to the

came amongst them, it

lift

up

un-

for the

and then

bodily,

the cruel stones, shivering

it

and sending the splintered fragments to

beat against the the sea was

tall cliffs

now

or strew the shore

!

* But

placid and beautiful, with the

sun making his beams glance off the heaving waves in

far

wavelets

spreading left

their

while

the

tiny

retiring

marks upon the sand

in little

rays,

ripple-marks,- covered

all

thrown up by the sea-worms,

G

2

over

with

the

casti

Holhwdell Grange;

84 Old

Tom

had no heavy drag over the sands,

the boys were surface,

flat

or,

down

in

instant, racing ov.^r the

aD

Mr.

while

drove gently

Inglis

towards the rocks, where he drew up the took out

him

Tom, secured him

at last with his

to the wheel,

away with

on car,

and

left

nose-bag on, under the shadow

and whisking the

of the rocks, nibbling his corn, flies

for

long

his

His master then

tail.

took a bottle or two, and

couple

a

of

hand-nets

and a hammer, and walked down towards the •water's edge.

already

;

Soon the boys joined him, loaded

for there

long razoi

shells,

were such heaps

whelk and cockle

mussels, periwinkles,

weed

of

all

in

star-fish

of treasuresshells, limpets,

the pools, sea-

shapes and colours, shrimps

;

while

over the sand where they stood, busy sea-lice

all

were hopping about

in myriads.

Mr. Inglis sent the boys

fcr

another glass jar or

two, and an iron bar that lay at the bottom of the cart

and then down they went towards low-water

;

mark, and searched amid the rocky pools Squire

found

one to

his

satisfaction,

till

the

when he

stopped. T

s o"v,

wondrous

Fred," he

said,

" you

things there are in a

shall

little

see

what

pool by the

seaside."

And now,

peering

down

into

the

clear,

still

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. water, they looked into

weeds

a

little

submarine

85

forest of

— nay, of beautiful branching miniature trees

\

while on the rocks were what seemed to Fred like flowers of the most beautiful colours.

"

Now,

Mr.

Fred," said

Inglis,

"

your jar

fill

with water, and pick that fine fellow off the rock."

"It won't for

he

felt

it]" said

bite, will

somehow

that

Fred, nervously,

was not what

it

it

seemed. " Bite? no!" laughed his cousins; "look here,"

and Harry turned up

his sleeve

and touched the

beautifully tinted petals.

In a

moment

they were gone, and in their place

a dull-looking thing, like a piece of soaking wet leather.

ever,

At the

solicitations of his cousins,

and following

their

example, Fred soon had

several dull, dumpy-looking discs in his

now

their attention

how-

was called

But

jar.

to Mr. Inglis,

who

had found a specimen of the

brittle star-fish,

soon showed

name by throwing

its

right to the

a couple of ray-like arms.

which off

Next there were pinky-

looking sea-slugs to gaze upon

;

and

at last,

under

a stone which Mr. Inglis turned over with the iron bar,

such a myriad of objects for wonder and

admiration,

that

all

eyes

were directed

in

the

was open to the descriptions given by Mr. Inglis,

different specimens, while every ear

drink

to

;

Hollowdell Grange;

86

One of

or,

was a long, thin black

the curiosities

ribbon, coiled and twisted about in

all sorts

of

awkward bends and curves; and this Mi. Inglis told them was a curious worm that lay with one end the tail firmly anchored to a stone, while

—

—

with the head it

as

it

swam

it

seized the

;

thing that touched

Then would begin

by.

the trapped one darting

away

first

a struggle,

and dragging

off,

to get

while the worm, tough, thin, and pliant as

a fishing-line,

let it

play about

till

tired out,

the thin, black-looking monster

swallow his

nothing was

prey,

boa-constrictor

visible of

worm's thin body.

would

quietly

fashion,

till

but a large knob in the

it

Then

hermit-crabs with their

when

were polypes

there

cast-off shells

in

tails

tiny shell-fish tightly clinging to the stones; boring shells,

weeds, and tangles, swarming with innu-

merable tiny living forms

and

jars

treasures

were as well

enough

;

and so

filled

to afford

at last bottles

as was possible with

them amusement

for the

next month.

They were

all

so busy that they did not notice

the return of the tide slowly, surely,

and

;

but there

silently in

;

is

and

was, creeping all at

once in

came a fresh supply of water to the little pool, and showed our visitors how soon it would be covered by the coming waters. And so they had to retreat

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

87

King Canute is said to have done, years ago. They took all their treasures to and then set to work to unpack the the car

before the tide, like

;

basket which

Mamma

had prepared

for the trip.

And, oh, how they enjoyed that meal,

sitting as

they were upon the sands, with the cloth spread

between them

!

There never was such delicious

chicken before,

cold

nor yet

currant and raspberry and

cherry

bottle of cream, that wouldn't

ham, such

such

come

out,

but had to be poked forth with

thick,

such a

tart, it

was so a fork.

Everything was delicious, down to the lemonade big bottle, although

in the

warm through

had grown rather Altogether

standing in the sun.

was a glorious delightful

it

day,

repast, eaten as

the

it

it

was on that

dimpling sea spreading out

before them as far as the eye could reach, with

here and there a white

sail like a

speck upon the

vast expanse.

At

last

the lunch or dinner was ended, and then

there was plenty

the old

man

more

to

;

but

see.

There was

sitting in his donkey-cart, very stupidly

as Fred thought, driving

water

do and

it

along in the shallow

when they came nearer they could

there were a couple of ropes dragging behind iust as

slowly,

they came up, out drove the old

and the two ropes

man

;

see

and very

at the tail of the cart

.

Hollowdell Grange;

88

draped the

first

or,

Forth a Ions; shrimDinsr-riet, in which, for

upon hundreds

time, Fred saw hundreds

of the curious-looking ciustaceans crawling about,

black and ugly, and in

which the old man threw

silvery fish,

little

whereupon they

company with numbers

shuffled their

$1

them out

again, but a

bodies

out,

down

Fred was about to

out of sight in the wet sand.

rake

little

of

word of warning

rained him,, for they were the

of the sea, only their prickles

little

re-

sticklebacks

made wounds of a

poisonous nature that were a long time getting

w el

1

Mr. Inglis bought a basketful of the shrimps, although Fred said they were black ones and not

good

;

up for

when they came

but he changed his mind tea,

hot and red, and steaming from cook's

saucepan.

Then

the

man

old

drove in

again

to

his

shrimping, and our party stopped to examine the jelly-fish, like glass

paper-weights, which were

upon the sand, while Mr.

Inglis pointed out

two

morning

tide,

or three which had been left by the

and were now dried up There was plenty

to see.

left

to a thin,

On

the

filmy

cliffs

skin.

there was

samphire in abundance, which they could easily gather,

without

hanging

half

Shakespeare's samphire-gatherer.

down like They picked a

way

Holiday Hours

good bunch

many

for

things of

last cried, "

Country Home,

in a

cook to pickle

and collected so

and kinds that Papa

sorts

all

;

Hold, enough

!

Tom

" for poor

never be able to get everything home. baskets, handkerchiefs, everything

were perforated stones weeds; dry

star-fish

pieces of jet

;

smooth pearly pieces of bright and glistening

;

was

;

at

would

Pockets,

full.

kinds

shells of all

;

89

There ;

sea-

bright pebbles;

oyster-shell

;

tiny pebbles

in short, such a collection

of treasures that Mr. Inglis looked at his watch

and declared

it

to travel slowly

One

was time to go,

for they

on account of the

thing remained to do,

live

would have specimens.

and that was

to

fill

the great sione bottle, brought on purpose, with

water for the " Gluggle,

new aquarium. gluggle

— blob,

blob," went the big

bottle as the air rushed out, displaced

water,

till

the great thing was

and deposited taken

off,

in

the car.

full,

by the

salt

securely corked,

Tom's nosebag was

his bit replaced, the boys

mounted, for

they were too tired to walk along the sands, and they began their noiseless journey

homewards,

where they arrived just as the sun was beginning to sink to

behind the

burnished gold.

hills,

and turning everything

— Hollow dett Grange;

90

CHAPTER

or,

VII.

LOST IN THE WOODS.

" Whoo "

—oo—oo

Hoop

oop

—hoop — hoop

!

" !

sang out Phtlip

"

Inglis,

shouted Fred as loud

as he could.

And

then

both stopped to

sound could

but not a

listen,

they hear anything

a reply.

like

There was a regular deep humming from the gnats and

flies;

birds; but with

the

twittering of a few distant

these exceptions

was solemn

all

silence.

The boys had been

out in the woods ever since

three o'clock, seeking for eggs for the cabinet,

had been very successful setting,

and the

last rays

;

but

now

sun was

the

were turning the sky over-

head into one glorious golden canopy

;

the forest

shades were getting deeper, and as Fred

would not have cared only quiet,

and Harry was

and

lost;

it

was

so

said,

he

dreadfully

and what was worse

:

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. was, they were lost themselves; and this

than

all

how

it fell

Mr.

had been talking about the collection

Inglis

little

he would go with the boys

museum, and

said

Beechy Wood, to

to

they could get a few more specimens

if

is

out

of eggs they had in the

see

91

foi

;

he particularly wanted two or three eggs rather such as the great spotted wood-

difficult to obtain,

pecker's, hawfinch's,

" Oh, do

let's

"

No

;

coletit's.

go to-day, Papa," said Harry, " That will be capital."

clapping his hands.

"Yes,

and

yes, yes," said Philip.

not to-day,"

said the Squire

" I have

;

several business matters to attend to in the town,

so you had better play cricket in the

may

perhaps we

Not the Fred, to

romantic as Ali

least

whom

Baba

the

and

trio

was

to-morrow."

disappointed

the very

of

name

of

the

wood sounded

he almost expected to find such a cave

;

hit

wood-cutting

be

start

field,

;

upon when out with

his

donkey,

or that the place they went to would

identical

where

forest

the

redbreasts

covered the unfortunate babes over with leaves

when they

laid

down and

use to be disappointed

;

died.

till

it

they must wait

day, and, therefore, they went

play cricket

But

dinner-time.

into

was of no till

another

the field to

gi

Hollowdell Grange;

Cricket

is

a capital

batsman has thrown hit,

and sent the

all

power

his

farther fielder

and forwards run the men the

looks well to see

;

into

the

the leg far

then backwards

at the wickets, while

onlookers cheer and shout at the bowler's

prowess, as he stops the thrown-up it

when

bounding and skimming

ball

away beyond the

it

:

chasing the ball

active figures

light,

game

or.

at the wicket-keeper,

motion

and hurls

who, with apparently one

and knocking

for catching

ball,

off the

bailes,

puts the hard hitter out.

Ah,

it's

a noble game,

is

cricket

on young bones, sharpness in constitution,

and

and a readiness

it

puts muscle

young to

eyes,

meet

tone

difficulties

Health, that rosy-cheeked

parry them.

to

in

!

goddess, seems to have chosen the

game

for

her

own, and to love to place the reflection of her

own cheeks upon those of the players, and to make them ruddy brown as well. But, somehow or other, cricket grows to be rather dull and tedious when the not work. is

worth

and a

it

will."

happen

Wood

Everything,

doing

well

:

players are idle and will if it

is

that

all,

the heart must be in

must be done, as the

When you

worth doing at

say,

sailors

go to play cricket,

it

you have your mind out

seeking for woodpeckers* nests

it,

"with

must not in Beechy,

;

or else

it

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. will

g$

be something the same with you as

when

with our lads on that bright July day,

would keep going wrong.

and send the

swiftly,

ever so

would

again, Philip

run so

was

things

Harry would bowl too

ball right past the wicket

back

for Philip to fetch

far,

it

and make Fred

hit so savagely,

which

far after the rolling ball,

and then,

;

in

its

turn

was obstinate, and would keep creeping amongst the long grass, and getting lost

or

;

amongst the

stinging-nettles,

where Fred, who did not know

their qualities,

was stung, and had to be rubbed

with dock leaves, either

when they could

find any, which,

from idleness or their unrule-like absence,

was not

some

for

time.

Then Harry

soon as Fred

bailes flying with a vicious ball as

went

in

for his innings,

and had

be found

to

Harry was blow

in the

and so they were

and soon

Fred threw the

in,

catching,

that Phil, in

\

missed

it,

and received a

down and

much from

vexa-

the sun would shine so hotly,

tease,

and the nasty cows had been

over the place where they generally played

80 at last the till

lie

Then

tion as pain.

all

while

up so sharply,

stomach that made him

flies

after,

lost,

ball

brought the tears into his eyes, as

and the

sent the

game of

dinner-time

Stumps in the

;

cricket

came

when, having

field,

to a stand-still

left their

bats

and

they went in to the midday- meaL

"

Hottowdell Grange; ory

94 After

they

dinner,

returned

to

the

cricket-

ground, but matters were worse than ever:

seemed

flies

the

be savage to think that the boys

to

had been having a hearty meal while they had been

they set to work to see

fasting, so

could not take

attacking Fred, then Harry, then Philip;

what with the

last,

teasing of the

they

of them, and began

out

it

if

till

by at

and the

heat, the idle feeling,

the boys gave up playing in

flies,

and stood lounging under the great cedar,

despair,

cross, tired,

and

ill-tempered.

" I should like to go to bed," said Fred. " There's an idleback," said Harry; " I shouldn't I

my

should like to take

under a fountain, and

and splash

trickle

hot

know what

and forwards

down

ain't

!

it

I should like to do," said Philip sit

Ho

!

ho

!

soft,

ho

!

up

!

downy

;

" said Harry.

it,

Fred

" 1

"

He'd look

he's moulting.

what an old stupid

wouldn't

sky,

and

bird." like

Hal

!

" I don't care," said Philip

be nice

rock, backwards

at the blue

an old cock jackdaw when

ha

•

up there on the top of

right

— looking

thinking I was a

!

Poof

over me.

—rock, rock—

ha

lie

the nice cool water

let all

the cedar, and rock

"

and

?

should like to

I

off,

"

"I

"

all

clothes

;

"I

know

it

would

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. "Well, but you couldn't

95

there; the boughs

sit

would break, and you'd come down," said Fred. " But what makes

up there

rags

" So

it is,"

before.

Why,

?

Let's get

it's

Harry

said

bunch of hav and

that thick

all

a nest,

isn't

" why,

;

up and get

" it %

never saw that

I

There's sure to

it

be eggs." "

I shan't," said Phil

"

What

It's

a tree-sparrow's nest,

got a single egg.

threw

mean

I

down

and we haven't

to go."

Harry stripped

Master

Saying which blouse,

"it's too hot."

a lazy old chap you are, Phil," said his "

brother.

;

cap,

his

off

his

and commenced

operations.

" Don't go, you'll

Fred

said

fall,"

"

;

it's

ever

so high up, and the boughs won't bear you." "

Pooh

running

!

" said

along

Harry,

under

u

the

I

can

great

do

;

it

"

branches

and that

stretched away, drooping towards the ground, he

gave a spring, and caught a bough, turned up heels,

and so made

his

way, hanging head

his

down

wards, to the trunk after the same fashion as he did

on the day of the

fishing

excursion.

On

reaching the trunk^'Tie scaled up from bough to

bough, almost as actively as a monkey,

he reached the branch which bore the

he stooped puzzled,

for

till

at last

nest,

where

Mrs. and Mr. Passer must

"

Hollow Jell Grange;

96

or,

have had an eye to safety when they constructed their nest

;

for unless

Master Harry had possessed

the activity and lightness of body of the old cock

jackdaw he was so

no chance of

lately talking about, there

his getting

any of the

was

tree sparrow's

eggs for his collection. " Well,

why

don't you throw the nest

down

?

said Philip, jeeringly.

" 'Cos

can't/' said

I

come and

up

sit

here,

"

Harry.

and look

and then perhaps you could

on a

Why

don't you

at the blue sky,

I'm not going

%

thin branch that wouldn't bear a cat."

Whereupon down came Master Harry, green, his

and with the

shirt,

in his

making him

ced.ir spines sticking through

hair,

shift

over

all

and

and down shuffle

his back,

and

about in a most

uncomfortable manner.

"I say," said Harry, "let's go off to the wood." " and " Papa wouldn't like it," said Philip ;

we

besides, "

Oh

let's

go

!

;

ah'!

are going to-morrow."

and then perhaps

we could

it

will

Do

rain.

get the eggs, and Papa would

be so pleased." " I don't

think

Papa would not

if I

" But he didn't

know he would

went when he told

tell

like

"

he would," said Fred.

me

not."

us not," said Harry; "

the eggs.

I'll

go."

My

and

I

Holiday Hours in a Country Home, " That's right," said Philip, « but

I'll

97

go and

tell

Mamma we are going." "No, don't," said Harry; "let's tell her when we come back, because she might say you had better not go."

"I

shan't go," said Fred, stoutly.

" There's a sneak," said Harry.

show you cave

all sorts

and the

;

of things.

waterfall

that holds ten people

owls,

"

;

we

could

There's the fox's

and the old hollow

tree

and the magpies' nests ; and

;

and wood-pigeons, and

And

" Why,

turtle-doves."

snakes," said Philip.

" Yes," said Harry; " and snakes and adders, and the dark tarn where the great eels are.

mind, you can stop

want him.

we go

;

can't he,

I say,

we

Phil 1

We'll take Dick, and get

along.

But never

some

don't

rats as

Fred, you can stay in Dick's

kennel, and we'll put the collar round your neck."

Now

Fred wanted

to

do what was

would not blind himself into the

and

belief that "

would be so pleased with the eggs his

right,

;

"

for

Papa he knew

uncle would not like them to go off in the

way proposed

;

but he was not prepared to with-

stand the temptations held out to him, for they

were enough to turn the head of any town lad*

To go

wood was almost enough, but one with such wonders in was too much nests and birds of to a

—

H

;

Hollowdell (Jrange

98 such

Fox

rarity.

:

or,

cavern, waterfall, and a dark tarn,

besides catching rats with the dog

stand

all

And

that

then

when

;

he could not

the sarcastic remarks

of his cousin were put into the scale he was completely

done

for,

and, turning quite reckless of the

consequences, he

up

into the

,-cousins,

was

this

at

air,

let

the scale containing duty

and jumped

into the other with his

and away they ran

to loosen

easier said than done, for

he tore

mad

with delight

at his chain,

:

and

he barked, he leaped,

;

and when

dragged over his head, turning his

afoot,

he tugged so that Harry could

not unbuckle his collar

and making

But

Dick.

Dick could see

a glance that there was- mischief

nearly ran

fly

at last

was

it

his ears inside out,

rough hair stand up

in

a bigger

Brutus than ever, and nearly making him blind, he

raced round the yard with his mouth wide open

dashed at the old raven, and knocked him over before he could hop upon the wall, where he got at last,

and shook the dust

angry " jark

;

" while

off his feathers with

an

v

Dick, with staring eyes and

his tongue hanging out, ran right between Philip's

made a feint at Fred, and then leaped right on Harry, who caught hold of his short stumpy tail as he went down and dragged him towards the gate. legs,

u Whoop," and away fax corner,

where the

;

over the

cattle

field right to the

drank from the

little

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

which was

horse-pond,

wagging and waving hurry to

get

black with podnoddles,

their

little

tails

away along the lane

;

and

idleness

all

and every nerve strained

gotten,

in

their

"Whoop," and

deep water.

into

gg

fatigue for-

reach

to

the

wished-for spot, which was only about two miles

from the field where the lads played at cricket. " Last man there to have two kicks," said Harry, he was well in

just

as

full

speed, but

who

raced

treasure

front,

passed in a

and

starting off at

moment by

away, making believe

every

two

minutes;

discover a

to

and

Dick>

sniffing

and

barking at every rat or rabbit hole they passed.

Off and away

— Harry in

and Fred panting

next,

front with Dick, Philip

in the rear, hot

and out of

breath with his run, and asking his companions to stop.

"Whup! whup! whup as they

came up to a

heavy with

field

their long

yaff! yaff!"

1

said Dick,

containing a flock of sheep,

wool

;

and over the hedge he

went headlong amongst them, making the poor timid, stupid creatures run as fast as their legs

would carry

them, with their heavy fleeces touzling and shaking

about

mop

till

each sheep looked'like a magnified thrum

game

being shaken to get rid of the water. did Dick have of

it,

for as

stopped and gave a farewell bark II

2

A

fine

soon as ever he

—

as

much

as to

Hollowdell Grange;

ioo

r

say, " There, I've done

— and began

sheep would come to a

steps, the after

"

or,

him

as

monster,

though

seen

stand-still, stare

some

he were

never before

to retrace his

heard

or

then begin to follow him up, slowly afterwards

at

Now,

a canter.

turn round

;

and

of,

but

at first,

Dick

of course

couldn't stand this running away, and

apparently in chase of him

unknown

all

the sheep

so he was obliged to

and keep making charges

at the flock

;

and, consequently, poor Dick, in thus being so particular about his honour,

out of the

field, for

would never have got

every time he chased the sheep

away they followed him up again

;

and

it

was

all

the fault of one great, black-faced, chuckle-headed

wether, quiet,

who was

so stupid that he couldn't keep

and of course

all

the sheep kept following

him, for he had a tinkling copper bell attached to his neck,

which seemed to be an especial abhor-

rence to Dick, from the way he barked at at last the

dog heard a summons

that

But

it

he could not

disobey, -namely, a long whistle from his young

masters

;

so

making one

last furious

charge at the

old bell wether, and actually scattering the forces as he got hold of after his masters,

him by the wool* Dick rushed

and caught them

at last with

of wool in his mouth, which was entangled |eeth,

and made him cough and

a

lot

in his

sputter dreadfully.

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

At

last

iot

they reached the edge of the wood, into

which Dick dashed with a leap and a bound, run-

down amongst the dead leaves, and an enemy in every bush, and at last giving

ning his nose smelling

chase to a squirrel which ran across the open to

a great beech-tree, up which

it

scampered

reached the forked boughs, where

it

curled up, looking tormentingly

tail

his pursuer Dick,

flop

course

;

upon

but he

his

feet,

with

it

its

down upon

who rushed headlong

scrambled up a couple of

down

sat

until

at the tree,

and then came

back, without the squirrel of

made up

for

by running round

it

and round the trunk, barking, baying, and snapping impotent rage, while

in

sort of " skirr,"

nut-nibbler gave a

and then ran up the

the next, and the next, far

little

and disappeared

up the trunk of a great elm.

the lead

down

tree,

leaped to

in his

hole

Harry now took

the narrow path that led into the

wood, parting the tangled branches every now and then to get through, and

all

the time looking care-

They very soon heard the harsh cry of the jay, who was letting all the inhabitants of the woodlands know that enemies were fully

at

round

for nests.

hand, and away flew the birds.

was the

first

away he Hew,

to take the

crying,

The

blackbird

alarm from the jay, an£

" Kink, kink, kink," as hfr

started from his nest in a great ivy tod

on an old

Hollowdell Grange; ory

102

The

pollard tree.

peeped

and

lads soon found the nest,

but instead of eggs there were four

in,

wretched -looking

little

objects, all "eyes

and beak,

with long, scraggy necks, wide throats, and naked bodies with

downy

little

upon them.

tufts

had a peep, while Dick snapped

three

his

together as though to say he would like to

meal of one or was

left

unmolested

to take care fox's

of them

all

;

All teeth

make a

but the callow brood

for their yellow-billed parents

while Harry led the way to the

of,

This, however, proved rather a dis-

cave.

appointment to Fred, who had been picturing

to

himself a huge stalactite cavern, which they would require torches to explore, while the cave in question

proved to be only a hole

gravelly ravine, big

enough

in

the side of a

to creep in, certainly,

but anything but majestic in appearance

;

while

the probabilities were that a fox had never been in it

since

it

fox's cave,

The

was a

and

However,

hole.

that

waterfall

it

was called the

was enough.

was certainly better worthy of

tendon, for a tiny stream trickled over a

mossy little

rock,

and

fell

rocky basin

around

it

in the

of luxuriant

size.

huge

with a musical plash into a

full

damp It

at-

of

clear

;

and

all

grew mosses and ferns

soil

was

water

just

old poets used to write about

such a spot as the

—cool, and

shaded

Holiday Hours

in

from the heat and glare of the sun there being dell, there

wood-nymphs and

hopped away

"Oh, what

1

but, instead of

satyrs in the little

frogs

visitors,

which crawled and

as fast as ever they could.

a pretty place!" said Fred; "

do

let's

Look, look," he exclaimed, " what's

stop here. that

;

was nothing but the three young

and plenty of toads and

m^

a Country Home.

" as, like a streak

of blue

a bird with

light,

came down the dell, perched upon a bare twig just long enough for the boys to see his

rapid flight

bright colours, and then, seeing himself watched,

darted away again. " That's a kingfisher," said Philip. nest here, somewhere, I know.

must have some of the eggs, the hen-bird

is sitting

The boys then of the

little

no doubt

if

we

we

Perhaps

can.

set to

work searching the bushes

rivulet that

flowed from the basin, and

their search

where,

Let's look, for

a

somewhere close by."

would have been

but for the timid hen-bird, hole

" He's got

sure

who

enough,

in vain,

flew out from the

she was

sitting,

and

betrayed the place in which her nest had been

made. It

was a hole

Harry had

in

the

overhanging

little difficulty in

and drawing out three deposited in his pocket

bank, and

thrusting his

eggs,

hand

in

which he carefully

";

Hollowdell Grange;

104

They then

or,

followed the course of the rivulet for

about a quarter of a mile to where itself into

the tarn or

had spoken.

It

little

lake of which Harry

was indeed a dark

water looking almost black from

was said eels

to

emptied

it

its

tarn,

with

depth, which

be enormous, and here some gigantic

were supposed to dwell, though nobody had

ever caught, nobody had ever seen, and nobody ever heard of any being either seen or caught

but

eels of a

still

mighty

were said to be in

size

the tarn, and the reason for their not being caught

was supposed to the lake,

As they came up

to be the depth.

Dick ran on

first

and dashed

into the

reeds at the side, splashing and paddling about,

and here and

there taking to swimming.

he entered one great

tuft of

Just as

green reeds, rushes,

and

withes, there

was an extra amount of

splash-

ing,

and away Mew, or rather ran along the

surface

of the water, a moorhen, with her thin attenuated toes just paddling the surface.

" Hooray," said Harry, calling Dick

a nest

and

;

off he started to reach the nest; but here

home,

to keep

" here's

moorhen's eggs, boys, moorhen's eggs

Harry was at

off,

as badly off as

for the

human

when

moorhen had visitors

that the coveted eggs,

!

Master

in the cedar-tree

evidently intended

away, and Harry found if

any, were certainly not

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

upon

Every step the lad took showed

terra firma.

more

how

plainly

round the tarn bog-moss

—

;

was

treacherous

for

it

that pretty

was

moss

surface

the

composed

entirely

that turns of a

of

creamy

salmon colour, when

white, tinged with pink or

dried

105

—and soon Master Harry could only progress

by stepping

daintily

upon

heath that grew amidst tufts

of

light

as the

last year's

it,

the

little

bunches of

or upon the occasional

dead reeds and rushes.

boy was, he soon found

progression would not do,

But,

mode

this

oi

making a bound on

for,

to

what looked a particularly dry

up

to his knees in the soft bog,

he went

spot, in

and

it

was only

with great difficulty that he scrambled out again

where

to

his

brother and Fred stood laughing and

cheering him. " I don't care," said Harry, shaking himself like

a dog wet, I

;

" I don't

mean

to

mind being

wet, and,

now

I

am

have the eggs."

* " No, don't," said Fred, " you'll sink in." " No, I shan't/* said Harry a corduroy- road, like they

"

mean to make do over the swamps in ;

I

America, that we read about" " Ah, that

will

be

capital," said Philip

;

"

come

on.

And

so the lads set to work, and in amongst

the trees close by they soon found a large dead

Hollow dell Grange; or

io6

7

r

branch, and laid

down

it

across the

and they very soon would have had a

way

the

to

moorhen's

&c.

axes, ropes,

cutter's

simple

provided with

wood-

the consequence

;

more wood

they could find no

that

firm path-

but for the

nest,

reason that they were not

place,

first soft

fit

was,

for

the

and Harry's corduroy-road was composed

j'urpose,

only of one cord. " Oh,"

" don't I wish

said Philip,

we had

a lot

of the faggots out of the stackyard." " Let's

fetch some,"

have been a

Fred,

said

which would

capital plan, only the faggots

would

have been rather awkward things to carry through the thick underwood

;

and, besides, they could only

have carried one each, and home was now about four miles

off,

while they would have wanted at

least twenty.

"What

don't you go round the

swim "

other side,

Harry, and

i

You

go," said

Harry

:

" I'd go,

say

if it

it's

was only eight or nine

hundreds of

feet to the

But Philip did not

Fred could not swim,

feel

wasn't for

if it

the eels, and the water being so deep;

mind,

"Why

a jolly bother!" said Philip.

I

wouldn't

feet,

but they

bottom."

disposed to go, and

so, to their great

disappoint-

ment, they were obliged to leave the moorhen's

Holiday Hours

— with

in

a Country Home.

a dozen eggs

nest,

at least

but, as he

had been very

little

and

ceptacle than his brother

justified

in

treasure,

;

nearer to the re-

;

still,

as the others

near, they did not feel themselves

contradicting, neither did they wish

so the party reluctantly

to,

so Harry said

cousin, this statement

was rather of a doubtful nature

had not been so

in,

107

the much-coveted

left

two wet members of the

the

namely, Dick and Harry

—leading

partyr

the

way

further

into the wood.

And now attention,

there were so

woodpecker

few

his

Harry by chance spied a

companions' attention to the

scale the tree

minutes,

and, to

he found the hole

hand and arm, and for

till

just entering a hole in a hollow tree,

and then called

To

objects to take

that the professed purpose of the trip

was quite forgotten,

fact.

many

was the work Harry's

intense

sufficiently large to this

a very

ot

delight,

admit his

time he was successful,

he drew forth with great care, one at a time,

three woodpecker's eggs, which he placed Ik his cap,

So

and then descended. far the trip

had been most

successful, for they

had obtained the eggs generally reckoned in

as scarce

most parts of the country, from the secluded

habits of the birds

;

and now the lads turned

attention to find the nest of a turtle-dove.

their

The

Holb wdell

ic8

wood they were

part of the full

Grange; in

or,

was very thick and

of underwood, a large proportion of which of hazel

consisted

so dense

stubs

they were aware of

before

almost

that,

Fred and Philip

it,

were separated from Harry and Dick

;

and when

they did miss them, and called out, a faint and distant " Halloo!"

was the response.

" Never mind," said Philip, " I'm

down

sit

here and

let

him come

Let's

tired.

to us."

Saying which he took his seat upon the mossy trunk of

an old fallen

Fred was not long waited, enjoying felt

and thinking very

"What "isn't he

and there they-

the delicious sensation of rest a long, toilsome walk,

after

little

about poor Harry.

Harry

a while

is/'

said

Fred

at last;

coming?"

" Oh, yes "he'll

in following;

shady spot

in a

an example which

tree,

;

he'll

be here presently," said Philip

be sure to find

;

us."

After a few minutes' pause,

"What's that]" rustling

said Fred,

and moving leaves close by the opening

where they

sat.

" Hush," said Philip or a weasel.

moment

some

pointing to

;

You'll see

after a long thin

from the herbage.

But

" don't

him

move;

directly

;

it's

"

a stoat

and

in

a

body came creeping out it

was neither weasel nor

Holiday Hours in a Country Home, Stoat, but

came

a very large snake, which

across the open space they were in

109 right

—making Fred

turn quite pale, for his imagination

immediately

whispered to him of poison fangs, rattlesnakes, cobras, and

all sorts

of

venomous

brutes.

But the

snake had no idea of touching the intruders on the silence of the forest, but

upon the other

side

directly for a spot

of the opening, which he

would soon have reached

Fred

made if it

had depended upon

but Philip possessed the animosity of his

;

race against the serpent tribe, so caught up a rough

branch that he had previously broken from a tree

and

slightly

trimmed with

his knife,

and rushed

after the retreating snake.

The poor liberty,

thing struggled hard for

but in spite of

its

attitude, Philip struck at

and soon rendered

when

struggles it

its life

and

and menacing

boldly with his stick

his adversary hors de combat,

the victor dragged his prize to his companion,

and displayed

to

upwards of a yard

his

long,

wondering gaze a

snake

and very thick. Philip then

secured his trophy by slipping a noose of whip-

cord over

At

last,

its

head, and tying

it

to his stick.

time slipped by and no Harry

appearance, while plenty of indications that evening flutter

was

fast closing in

about the different leaves

made

showed

moths began

:

;

every

his

to

now and

no

Hollowdell Grange;

came

then, too,

the cockchafer,

when a

the low evening drowsy

him

poisonous

fell

of

jump

right in the

crawling about in his lap.

said Fred, " take the beast

"Ouf!"

hum

while Fred gave a regular

gigantic stagbeetle stuck

cheek and then

or,

Is

off.

it

" 1

Philip laughed heartily at his cousin, as he as-

sured him to the contrary; but the beetle saved j'

him the trouble of brushing by making a "

and disappearing over the

fresh flight,

trees.

..

Come

" But

'

.

on," said Philip, "

how

horny body away

his

about Harry

1

"

let's

go/'

said Fred.

L

" Oh, we'll go and find him,"

pushed

right

and so the lads

ahead as they thought, and

in the di-

rection in which Harry's voice was last heard

they soon grew bewildered, and at

last

but

;

stood gazing

disconsolately at one another, and then, as

stated

is

at the beginning of this chapter,

Whoo — oo — oo oop " sang out Philip. " Hoop hoop — hoop " shouted Fred as loudly

—

"

—

as he could,

!

I

and

then, feeling the loneliness oppress

him more than he could

bear, he sat

stump, and seemed half disposed to " Oh, I say/'

down on a

cry.

.

;

v

who was nearly as bad, " don't look like that, or we shall never get out of the wood. Don't you know what a many _

said

Philip,

r

1

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

x1

times Robert Bruce tried before he got his king-

dom big,

"

Let's try again

1

wood

the

;

is

not so very

and we must come out somewhere."

Do you

we ever

think

shall get out

again]"

said Fred.

" Oh, of course there ain't

And

start

that kind,

let's start."

they

pushing

bushes,

" and

Philip,

shall," said

no wild beasts or anything of

come on and

so

we

did

—creeping

others

aside,

some but somehow or through

by the returning

another getting flogged

twigs,

and scratched by the brambles in a way they had

Once Fred

not suffered in the morning. over a

st

tump and

tripped

heavily down, where he lay

fell

crying silently, but without trying tQ get up again .

and

it

\

was only by Philip dragging at him that he

could be got upon his legs. Duskier grew the wood, till

under the big trees

it

though he

pressed manfully on,

bewildered

;

still

must eventually

On and and

still

his

find

was quite dark ; but

good sense an

felt

told

Philip

completely

him

that they

outlet.

.on they went, slowly

and toilsomely,

nothing but trees and bushes,

looking

—very

the ap-

gloomy and shadowy

different to

pearance presented in the afternoon when the sun

shone

upon

them,

sending

amongst the waving grass

;

a

and

checkery

shade

at last Philip felt

"

Hottowdell Grange; or%

lis

him

his heart sink within

All at once a

happy thought struck the

as they stood in a

more open space, where

his task.

boy

at the hopelessness of

down

they could see the stars shining

brightly

upon them. I say, Fred," he said, " hasn't your

*'

told

you about how the people used

ships

by the

"No,"

papa ever

to guide their

stars."

said Fred moodily,

"but

I

have heard

they used to."

we can't get know which is

"Well," said Philip, "let's see that way.

I

North-pole

star,

us

;

think

and there

we

and

east

left

;

it is,"

no,

dare say

I

" Well,

hand

won't,

it

when we

we

it

will

be right hand

That's right,

isn't it

are at

we must

home

the

to turn

I

;

I've got

;

it

lies

in

in the

and then

and we have

polestar.

Come

home now."

" Oh, dear," said Fred, " to sleep

east,

was looking that way,

round to find the

on, Fred, we'll soon be

left

1

wood

travel to the east,

been going south, because

and had

to

said Fred, dolefully.

it is,"

be going towards home

shall

the

all

be west, and

will

the west, because the sun sets behind evening, so

out

said the boy, joyfully, " That's

hand west

" Yes,

I

because Papa showed them

the north, and right

hand

can.

if

such a

let's lie

blister

on

down and go

my

toe."

;

Holiday Hours

a Country Home*

in

113

r

" No,

come

Mamma

the

said

on,"

" for poor

other,

be so frightened."

will

" Oh, and won't Uncle be cross V\ said Fred.

This

remark almost frightened Philip out

last

of his hurry to get home, for he directly

posed to put

off

expected

receive

it

to

the evil

—the

scolding that he

knowledge

but the

;

would be making bad* worse,

now, made him proceed for,

;

and

it

stiff;

if

he loitered

determination,

little

aches and pains had

to sleep

" Oh,

come upon them to have

where they were.

do come on," said Philip " It ain't far

shaking Fred. that the

had

star-gazing, their joints

and they both would have given anything gone

that

the determination to

required no

had been

since they

grown

summon up

dis-

felt

wood

is

now ;

at last, roughly

remember

for I

very long, but not very broad from

we keep walking

east to west, so if

east

we

shall

soon get out."

So onward they pressed

again, very slowly

laboriously, for about another half-hour,

Philip stumbled

and

fell,

for

and

and then

a spiteful bramble had \

caught him by the hold up no longer in every out,

way he

though

trouble

all

;

foot,

and the poor boy could

he had cheered

could,

his heart

his cousin

on

and taken the lead through-

was sinking, and he knew the

proceeded from

their

own

folly;

but

;

Hollow dell Grange;

114

though he kept down

or,

his faint-heartedness

and

tried

manfully to put a bold face on the matter, he was beaten, thoroughly beaten, at

dewy

last,

grass, completely jaded,

make another

or spirit to seeing

cousin's

his

heart

and

upon the

lay

and without energy

attempt, fail,

while Fred,

down

broke

as

well.

But started

up

electrical

"

once

all at

Philip's eyes brightened,

as though touched

by the wire

and he of

an

machine.

Bow-wow-wow; wuph, wuph, wuph!" sounded

upon the

clear night

air.

a TriU—im—lffl— Jill— chug— chug— chug-

chug

— chug

ingale close

"

t

"

rang out the sweet notes of a night-

by ; and then

Bow-wow-wow ; wuph, wuph, wuph

dog apparently not "

again-

Come

!

"

from a

far off.

on," said Philip again, with fresh energy

and casting one glance up

at the stars,

he pushed

forward due east for about a dozen yards with Fred close behind him,

a dense hazel

and then, forcing

stub,

his

way through

he made a step forward, slipped,

and went down crash into a deep

ditch.

But he

did not stop in despair this time, although scratched

and

bruised, for

ing up he stood

he was out of the wood, and leap-

upon the green

the white chalky road.

turf

by the

side of

!

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

"Jump,

115

Fred," he exclaimed, "right over the

ditch."

Fred jumped

but instead of jumping right over

;

he jumped right

and had

in,

be helped out by

to

but he shared in his companion's renewed

Philip

;

spirit,

and now stood with him

in the

dusty road

looking about. "

Bow-wow-wow

wuph, wuph!" barked the dog

;

•again.

"

Why,

I

know where we

are,"

" that's Mr. Benson's farm, and

Never mind

away from home. Mrs. Benson, I

know she

we ;

*,

are six miles

let's

will let

Philip

said

go and

us rest a

tell

little

while."

Fred was willing enough, and

in a

minute or two

they stood under the porch of the old farmhouse, with

the

dewy

roses bending over

rapped at the door

;

while

all

the yard rattled his chain, and

them

as they

the time the

made

dog

in

a terrible dis-

turbance.

" If you please, Mrs. Benson," said Philip, as the

door opened and a comely, motherly young appeared

way

;

in the

" if

you please, Mrs. Benson, we

wood-

shall

lost our

—and— and —and—and oh, dear

oh, dear; what shall

now

faor*

do!" sobbed poor

T

Philip,

out of his peril but thoroughly beaten, " what I

do?" and then he sobbed and I

2

cried as

e

tl6 though

him *(

Grange;

H&lloivdell his heart

or^

would break, Fred helping him

to the best of his ability.

"Why, thee poor dear bairns!" said Mrs. Benson; come in, and sit thee down. Why, one of 'em's

—

Squire Inglis's Philip, John," she continued to her

husband, " and here they be ammost bet out."

Benson could

Mrs. well,

but she could act as

talk,

and she soon had the two lads upon the snug

" keeping-room "Bless thou,

and then

my

poor bairns

f"

she exclaimed;

a breath to her husband. "Thou*dst

in

Tom

send

better

" sofa.

over to the Grange, and

them where the poor things

are,

or

they'll

tell

be

4

frightened to death

;

and

let

him

tell

Mrs. Inglis

well drive them over as we go to market

i'

the

morning."

So

off

packed Mr. Benson

to

send the messenger,

while his wife bustled the great red-armed maid

about

;

and then with warm water and towels bathed

the boys' faces and hands, and brushed their hairs, as though she had done

it

every day since they

time the red-armed

were babies while during

all this

maid had spread a

on one end of the table

;

cloth

on the other, while Farmer Ben-

and

tea-things

son,

who had been

taking his evening pipe and

hot gin and water when the boys knocked at the door,

now

insisted

upon

their each taking

a

sip or

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

two out of

Directly alter there was a

his glass.

steaming hot cup of tea before each plenty of rich yellow cream in

it,

slices

with

visitor,

while Mrs. Benson

cut from a sweet-scented light-brown-crusted

baked loaf

117

home-

which were as though made of

honeycomb, and which she gilded over with the

own snowy

bright golden butter from her

Mr. Benson;

too,

he could

not be

so he cut

idle,

two great wedges out of a raised pork placed in

the

boys'

of a rich marble

and so tempting

after

and

pie,

looked

all

veined with snow-white

fat,

plates

jelly,

— pie

churn.

some

that

hours' ramble in the

woods. " I

ham

came,

glad thou

Benson, kissing her

bairns,''

visitors in the

said

Mrs.

most motherly

way imaginable. " Ay, lads,

and so am

I

;

but there, doan't take

Yeat, lads, yeat, and then

on.

ye'll

so.on

be

all

right again."

And u yeat

down their sobs, and did made their worthy host and

the boys choked

" in

a way that

hostess smile with pleasure, as well as to see the faces that a few minutes before looked so worn, pale,

and wretched, brightening up under the

treat-

merit their complaint was receiving. All" at

" 1

once Philip carne

wonder where Harry

to a standstill, ancf .said,

is I"

"

Hollowdell Grange; or

ri8 "

and

What

was he out with thee

!

?

said the farmer

"

his wife.

" Yes," said Philip, " and he had got Dick with

him."

"Ahi"

said the farmer,

"I

don't

know

Dick.

Who's he?" "

Why, our rough dog,"

"

Oh, ah, ha

I

"

said

Dick with him, had he

said Philip

the iarmer

;

;

"the

ratter."

" so he had

1

" Yes," said Philip, mournfully, and with another great sob creeping

"Theer,

his throat.

theer," said

Mr. Benson, "doan't do

He's safe enough

that, bairn.

wf him ;

up

he'd be sewer to

if

he's got that

hnd the way out

o'

dog the

wood." This seemed to act as a kind of comfort to Philip,

who resumed

his meal, but only to find out

trouble directly after.

"Where's

a new

my snake?"

he

exclaimed, jumping up, and looking at the end of the rough stick he had brought in with him.

nobody knew, so nobody the snakti

was gone,

remembered

ail

for

But

replied to his question it

had

j

not been even

through the time of their bewilder-

ment, and now that

it

was brought to mind there

was not even a trace of the whipcord. u

Now, my

the lads

had

dears," said Mrs. Benson, seeing that finished their meal,

— " now, my

dears,

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. 1

119

have had clean sheets put on the best bed,

was you,

T

so, if I

should go and have a good rest."

But Mrs. Benson's motherly ideas were put to the

and

rout by the sound of wheels

Some one rapped

horse was pulled up at the gate. at the door, and,

upon

its

directly after a

being opened,

rushed

in

Dick, closely followed by Mr. Tnglis, Harry, and Mr.

Benson's

lad,

Tom, who had

not gone far upon the

road before he met the above party

They had been making

lost ones.

search of the

in

inquiries

all

the road at every cottage they passed, and

during one of these stoppages that

Mr.

Inglis's voice,

The to leap

first

and brought him on

it

was

recognised

to the farm.

Dick on entering the room was

upon Philip and Fred, and bark

as he could last

act of

Tom

down

—scampering

as loudly

»ouna tne place, and

at

misbehaving so much that he had to be turned

out, to

stay

outside

master was ready to Harry,

the

door,

howling,

till

his

start again.

who looked

a perfect scarecrow, grinned

with delight upon seeing his lost companions found, while Mr. Inglis warmly thanked the farmer and his wife for their hospitality,

and then, refraining

from uttering any words of blame, hurried the lads into the four-wheeled chaise, so as to hasten to quiet

the alarm of Mrs.

Inglis,

course, in a state of great anxiety.

who

home

was, oi

Hollowdell Grange;

120 '

(

"

Good-byes

were

said,

go and see Mrs. Benson

ar,

and promises made to

again,

and then

the horse, and round spun the wheels

every

now and

;

off trotted

while Dick

then gave a short bark, evidently of

As

for Philip

fast asleep,

with their

pleasure at being allowed to ride.

and Fred, they were both soon

neads nodding and rolling about enough to shake

them

At fears

off.

last

the Grange was reached, Mrs. Inglis's

set at rest,

and, half-asleep,

all

three boys

were soon up in their bedrooms, and the next morning, when the eight o'clock soundly asleep

than

ever,

bell rang,

more

so that they had

to

be shaken and shouted at to make them get up,

which they did

at last,

yawning

fearfully,

and feeling

aching, that thev could scarce

move.

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

CHAPTER

after

wander

in

breakfast

on the morning

Beechy Wood, Mr.

come

sons and Fred to

room they

VIII.

SHORT SCOLDING.

A

Soon

all

advance-guard, ;

the

sent for his

which

walked, after having almost a scuffle

who

to enter, the scuffle resulting in

cousins

Ingiis

after

to the library, into

outside the door to decide

the

121

and

should be the

Fred being made

pushed

in

before

Harry, being the most active,

to himself the last place.

dreadful fidget

:

first

his

securing

The boys were

in

a

they had done wrong, and they

knew it well, and therefore felt prepared to receive a terrible scolding; but the anticipation proved worse than the punishment

itself,

for

Mr. Ingiis

looked up smiling when they entered, and seeing Harry's scheming to get

last,

called

him

at

once to

the front, and said

"

Now,

boys, you see that

if

you had behaved

Hollowdell Grange; or,

122

rightly yesterday all that trouble

and inconvenience

would have been spared

all.

that

you acted

were

told, for

well

knew

I

you had no commands you had no

is

right to

Mamma.

one

my

but,

is,

always exist between

us.

up men of honour every

want

I

all

over,

will dine early,

to fear

and

of hours' fishing all

the baits

;

my

upon

me; and, we must not make Fred

and not

been well

all

me

boys to grow

— Englishmen whose word

essence of truth and openness. love,

am

that full confidence shall

can be looked

action

all

go to Beechy

boys, I want you to promise

and that

thing,

but you

;

But, there, I

not going to scold, for you have ;

what you

o: course proved by your hiding

your intentions from

punished

cannot say

in direct disobedience to

that

Wood, which

to us

start this

I

as

and

the very

want you

to

there now, that's miserable, so

we

afternoon for a couple

so bustle about, boys, and get

and tackle ready." t

But they could not bustle

just then, for

But, there, I won't say anything about library

door was shut, and of course

be supposed

some

to

know what took

I

it,

.

for the

could only

place from seeing

eyes looking rather red. and hearing noses

blown rather

loudly, besides

knowing

that all three

boys wanted dry pocket handkerchiefs, when last they did

come out of

at

the library, Mr. Inglis

"

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. shaking

hands

with

them

he

as

r 23

closed

the

door.

As they stood upon the mat said Harry, with a great gulp

sob, " I say, ain't he

a

outside, " I say,"

something

jolly father

1

like

a

t24

Hollowdell Grange; orf

CHAPTER WHICH

That mill,

sat

IS

IX.

RATHER

FISHY,

very same afternoon, Dusty

Bob was

in the

looking dustier than ever, and trying, as he

upon a sack of corn

that

had come

to

be

ground, to spell out the contents of the county

paper

;

but he did not get on very

fast,

for the

white or papery part had, through ill-usage, turned

Very black, and

means of

the

black

the

fine flour

it,

" no skollard,"

that he did not

specting the

part,

by

dust, turned very white.

Joining to this the fact that

pressed

or printed

it

Bob was, as he exmay easily be judged

arrive at very correct ideas re-

news of the day, or rather of the

day a month ago in the luxury of

;

for

Dusty Bob did not indulge

new news, but bought

it fifth,

sixth,

or seventh hand, not disdaining sometimes the

come from

piece which had

wrapping up the pound of quite

so noisy this /

salt.

afternoon

the, grocer's

The as

mill

shop

was not

upon the

last

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

we were

occasion when

all

1*5

here together, for the

had gone down, and there was no rush and

flood

hurried turmoil from the portion of the river passing

down by

the waste-water, while the mill wheels

turned slowly and

round as a sheet of

steadily

upon them from the

crystal clearness flowed

great

dam. " Ah, aw, yaw

—yaw,

aw,"

Bob, bursting

said

out into such a yawn that his not very handsome face looked as

if it

—

yaw, aw, aw, heigho " Knock, knock "

Hah

!

;

ha,

ha

—hum."

rap, rap, rap."

more corn

more corn ; more

;

Tain't no use to bring't, a bit; for

noo than we've got

" Aw,

had been cut in two.

watter for;

we hay more

and then

yow'll

come grummle, grummle, grummle, because doone

;

sow yow'd betther

"Knock, knock

mons

;

and

and then

,sir,"

came

else."

the sum-

himself,

to

who was

said Bob, as he

burst out into a grin

'tisn't

this time, instead

and " grummling "

got up and went to see

" Sarvant

somewheres

rap, rap, rap,"

at the gate again

muttering

Bob

;

tak't

corn.

;

Dusty

there.

saw who

for

it

luxuriating in the recollection of

had restored the

lost

was,

behind Squire

Inglis stood his visitors of a few days before,

Bob was

of

and

how he

basket offish.

''Well, Bob," said Mr. Inglis, entering the mill,

Hollow dell Grange;

126

or,

armed with

followed by the three boys, each

and basket, big enough apparently to

fishing-rod

hold a great

"

how "

many more

afternoon

that

at

;

fish

" Well,

are you off for fish

Heaps on

'em,

sir,

than they would catch

Bob/'

V

Inglis,

down below in the pool but ;

fish off the right

it's

mornin', only,

bad time.

rather a

bank

stream from number one wheel. o' fishing, for this

Mr.

1

I'm 'feard they weant feed, for

Thou'd best

said

over the

just

There be plenty

when

the mill was

chub lay

stopped for half-an-hour, the great

fat

a-top of the water as long as your

arm ammost ;

but I'm most Yeard that the roach weant look at a bait."

Bob then

led the

the mill,

and the

soon stood on the long, narrow, tree-

fishing party

o'ershadowed tail

way through

strip

of land that separated the mill

from the waste-water; and here, where the

stream ran swiftly and deeply, did the party prepare to secure some of the finny treasures.

Rods were fixed

;

quickly put together

;

lines securely

and best new gut hooks added.

depth was

plumbed ; the

floats

Then

adjusted

the

and

shotted to the correct "cock;" and then hooks baited,

and ground-bait of bran and clay andVrice

thrown Tipon the mill apron, to dissolve slowly and spread

all

over the pool.

Lastly, lines are

thrown

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

and

in,

127

silence proclaimed, so that the first nibble?

might be duly attended

to.

in every place where there are fish one

to hear of a mighty jack that lies out in

and

particular part,

is

broke away and escaped although

this

and got stuck

and

—

in fact, so big

nobody could catch him, one

many hshermen had had hold

trailing

;

the

mid-day sun,

the

looking almost as big as a man, that

some

occasionally seen in

morning, or basking in

early

sure

is

of,

that ever so

but which always

and somehow or

other,

mighty fellow must have swallowed in his

mouth and

enough hooks,

gills

away from him enough

line, to

stock a

small shop, yet, leave alone being caught, he never

even

dies,'

che water.

and

floats

wrong way up on the top oi

Well, this was the case here

:

Bob had

seen a pike so big that no mortal rod and line +

could ever bear

it;

he could

tell

of somewhere

about ten or a dozen fishermen who had once had hold of him, so that Mr. Jack must have thought

no more of the sharpest barbed hooks than he

would of so many "Lord,

quill toothpicks.

said

sir,"

trowi for the big jack tigging

a-top

of

the

Bob, ?

"whoy

doan't

thee

I see him this morning waiter

like

a big log

o'

^vood." j

" Indeed, Bob

;

well, I'll try for

a few chub

first,

— Hollow dell Grange;

ia8

and

or,

what

then, if unsuccessful, see

I

can do in the

r

pike way."

So Mr. for

some

and

Inglis fished very patiently

time,

and

tried

two or three

quietly

different

kinds of bait to tempt the chubby fellows

they would not be tempted, until at

last

;

but

a small

gudgeon was placed on the hook, one which Fred

had caught, being

the

first

fish

taken that

after-

noon, for Bob had turned out a very respectable prophet, and the boys were having very poor sport indeed.

And now Mr.

Inglis tried

in all the

most

likely

spots for a chub with his live-bait, and at last one

took

it,

was

and then darted away

struck,

an arrow from a bow

—

right,

left,

swift as

straight ahead,

through the smooth water, and off again where the stream ran swiftest that he

;

but

it

was of no

avail

;

the line

had run out was wound up, and the

fine

fellow drawn inshore so closely that Harry could

put the landing net under him, and

then, with

a tremendous burst of impotent flapping and splashing, a great chub about two pounds and a half weight was laid upon the grass, with his

broad scales glistening in the sun. " That's a napper," said Bob.

"Oh—oh — oh oh!" boys

—a

burst in chorus from the

shout of pleasure

nearly turned into a

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. groan, for Philip, in in the basket, felt

him

startled

he dropped

close to the edge of the single flap of his tail

pounced upon him in

so there

down in one of The boys kept on seemed

good

further

\

a mouse, and,

he was soon, safely

the baskets.

with indifferent success

securing a few small roach and gudgeon Inglis, too,

lay

Harry

allowed, for

like a cat after

shut

it

would have borne him away

of his slimy jacket,

spite

it,

wood embankment, and a

enough was not

but time

him

the fish to put

give a great spring, which so

it

that

lifting

129

as

and Mr.

though he would have no

chub appeared to

for the

fortune,

;

—only

have turned sulky because

their big

companion

was taken away, and would not even smell the At

last,

and the

little

gudgeon. cast,

however, Mr. Inglis bait-fish

fell

lightly

made just

a

be-

neath a bush close under the bank; when there

was a rush through the water, and a swirling

that

took everybody's attention, and then, as Mr. Inglis

drew out the

swiftly it

line

from off his

reel,

away

glided through the rings of the rod, yard after

yard

—

yard after yard

though the

fish that

—

fifty

yards

and

swifter

— as

had taken the gudgeon meant

to run the line all out

the whole

swifter

\

;

and sure enough

and Mr.

Inglis

it

did

was reaching

out his rod as far as he could stretch his hand, so

130

HoUowdcIl Grange;

or,

as to avoid

checking the

possible,

losing

it,

There

all

when

the

where the large

its

towards

slack.

spot

the

cork-float slowly rose to

tell-tale

the surface, and

and so

grew

suddenly

line

were strained

eyes

white top could be seen sta-

on the

tionary right

fish, if

of the

side

far

What little slack line there wound in, and telling Harry

mill-pool.

now

was, Mr. Inglis to be

ready with the

landing-net, he waited patiently for a few minutes to give the fish

time to gorge his prey, though,

from the way

which the

At

last,

had run

float

he was afraid that the

surface, bait.

in

had

fish

Mr. Inglis gathered

the'

to the his

left

line

up

in

his

hand, and gave a sharp twist of

all

eyes were bent upon the spot to witness the

struggle

;

but alas

!

there was

no

his

and

wrist,

The

resistance.

groat float glided easily over the water, and then

Mr. Inglis began to wind that the pike

it

for

had merely taken the

could not bear to see

was hungry

in,

— and

it

pass him

it

was -evident

bait

because he

— not because

then, after playing with

it,

he let

go again. "

Never mind, boys,"

said the Squire,

" better

success next time."

The

words,

however, were hardly out of

mouth, when there was a tremendous rush a^ain in the water

:

swirl

iiis

and

—

and awav with a bob

1

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

bob—bob—went

13

the float, then under water,

and

out of sight once more.

There was another pause of

and

five minutes,

then again Mr, Inglis drew in what slack line there

was very

the float again rose

move

had

pike

the

that

to

the surface, but only to

another direction, for

off in

when

waited another minute,

carefully,

time

this

was evident

it

taken

well

the

bait.

And now

followed

Squire struck the

with one

flick

fish,

moments of

interest, as the

and then gave him

of his great

line, for

he went across the

tail

pool in a fresh direction, luckily making a great deal of slack line as he did

The

so.

now began

battle

in Teal earnest, for every time the pike felt the line

tightened

and

away he darted,

then

in

another,

in

first

one

once

while

close in to where his tormentor

;

but, the

moment

after,

came

he

was standing, so was wound

that a great deal of the running line in

direction,

he started off with a

swifter rush than ever right across the pool,

making

the line sing and the winch spin furiously, as the thin cord ran through the rings as

Mr.

Inglis

had to

slightly

it

was reeled

check the'

;

but no sooner did

the fish find that he was held than he

K

2

so as

most probably the

to retard his progress, or else

cord would have been snapped

line

off.

made a

leap

a /

Hollowdell Grange;

13

of

fully

or,

a yard right out of the water, displaying to

the lookers-on his great gold and green sides, and looking, in the

momentary glance

that

was

afforded,

almost a yard long.

In he dashed again,

and

round,

played

;

of

full

backwards

and

one time sweeping

at

and round and

fury,

he

forwards, right

up

was

to the mill

wheels, and nearly getting the line entangled in

the piles

then making a mighty spurt to gain the

; r

river

no

where the weeds grew so thickly

but he got

;

mouth of

farther than the sandy bar at the

the

pool, where he had to turn on one side to swim in

the shallows, for here he was checked again, and

brought back almost unresisting into the

bending

water, his master's rod

as the

fish

was dragged back.

deep

like a cart-whip

And

so for nearly

half an hour did the battle continue, the fish being

gently brought back after every dash he made, for

Mr. till

it

Inglis

dared not attempt to land the monster

he was thoroughly exhausted

that the line

or the slight Strain that

Bow

;

was one of the newest and

silk

was put upon

escape

well

was

strongest,

cord would never have borne the it.

But

it

held good, and

the exhausted fish seemed to

effort to

and

;

and

it

make

its

last

was very nearly a suc-

cessful one, for, after darting about ten yards almost £t* the

bottom of the pool, Mr.

Inglis

found that

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. there was

some

extra resistance,

135

and that the

line

was entangled.

Had

happened

this

pike must have been

snapped

;

but

now

earlier in the struggle, the

the line would have

lost, for

the

had fought out his

fish

move, while Dusty

fight,

and scarcely attempted

to

Bob,

who had been watching

the proceedings with

the most intense interest, werft to the millyard

and

fetched the great rake he used to clear the weeds

away

with,

and by means of a

raking he got

little

hold of the obstruction, which upon being drawn to the

surface proved to be an old branch,

round a rugged

A

the

part

line

was

just

and

hitched,

sharp blow from the rake snapped the bough in

two, fish

and the

was again

line

at liberty, the

great

being drawn to the side at the mouth of the

pool, where the water

was only a few inches deep,

and landed amidst a burst of cheers from the delighted

boys,

" Hooray,"

while

even

Bob gave a

loud

though he seemed rather sorry than

otherwise that the water should lose so fine a fish;

but the

"

Hooray

"

was brought

forth

by

the

thoughts of a prospective shilling ~which Mr, Inglis

would most

likely

give

him,

he would have to carry the get

fish

and then perhaps

home

some bread and cheese and

house.

ale

as well,

up

at

and the

— Hollowdell Grange; orf

J34

So " Hooray," said Dusty Bob, with a most hycountenance

pocritical

ay

—ay—

ay,"

and " Hooray

;

— ay —ay

cheered the boys again; and there

were no end of epithets lavished upon the

fish,

such as "Beauty," "Monster," "Jolly one." &c.

&c,

admiration

the

for

of

the

seemed

party

boundless.

Bob where

then had to carry the pike into the mill, it

was put into the

flour-scales

and weighed,

and found to balance nineteen pounds and a in the weight-scale

—an

announcement which was

received with renewed cheers

ment he was found while of

all

the

mouths

— projecting

impossible for a

feet six inches

long;

that ever pike had, his

seemed the widest and teeth

and upon measure-

;

be two

to

half

hooked

of long

fullest

backwards, so as to render fish

to

once he caught hold of

escape out of

his

jaws

it

if

it.

This brought the fishing to a conclusion for that afternoon disjointed

;

and so the and placed'

lines

were wound up, rods bags,

in their

and

all

the

rest of the angling paraphernalia collected into the

baskets, fish.

while one was expressly devoted to the

^ But now

a

new

difficulty

arose

— the

chub

could be got into the basket, but how about a pike two feet six inches long

?

wanted

up

to carry the pike right

Then, to the

too,

Bob

house

Holiday Hours

meaning

evidently

to

in

a Country Home,

make

a show of

it

135

by the

way, so as to be asked to have a glass of beer or

two

Bob was

that

trouble.

his

for

But

this

was an honour

not to have, for the boys were al-

most squabbling

as to

who should have

the duty.

Fred, however, soon backed out, for while touching the pike, like a

and

feeling

bow, and then

its

grave

weight,

it

bent

such a spring that he

jumped away as thou eh be had been directly waived riage,

who

shot,

and

claims to the honour of car-

which now lay between Harry and Philip,

grew so warm on

at last

one had tail,

all

itself

hold

of the head

the subject, that

and the other the

the latter place of vantage being occupied

by

Harry, and a matter ol French and English tugging

was about

and

to

settled

commence when Mr.

Inglis interposed,

the matter by arranging that

Philip

should carry the trophy half way, and Harry the

remainder: which decision had hardly been rived

at,

when Master Harry must

pike would bite

;

which he

gasping mouth to the

Whether fish's

tail

sensible that

mouth closed upon

d.; d

try

ar-

whether the

by holding the

of Dusty Bob's coat it

was biting or no, the

the floury cloth,

and held

there with such tenacity that the piece had to be

cut out

— so

firmly

were the jagged and hooked

teeth inserted in the woolly fabric.

Hollowdell Grange;

136

or.

This, of course, produced a scolding for Master

Harry

for

coin for party

Bob

their

who

trick,

and a piece of

to get the hole repaired

returned

proud of queror

mischievous

his

in

triumph to tea

acquisition

led

his

as

treasure

and then the

— the

anv -

;

boys as

Roman

burdened

through the streets of tne city of Koruulus

conslave*

Holiday Hours

a Country Home.

in

137

CHAPTER X SAD

"Oh

do come

in,

AFFAIR,

Fred!" said Harry, blowing and

splashing about in the water like a small whale,

on the day following the lads

were down

spot

called

entirely

fishing

by the side of the

Withy Nook

sheltered

from

—a

all

river ran by, sparkling sunlignt,

flashing

tiny wavelets, rise

and

fall

to

—a

spot

where the golden

in the

and making the golden

waterlilies

upon the bright

surface.

so limpid that the sand and

the

a

back the bright rays from the

washed pebbles could be excapt when

down

in

snug place

green

and dancing

as they rode

The water was

river,

observation

with the emerald grass sloping

The

excursion.

easily seen at the

water was put in

turmoil by the antics of the two boys

clean

bottom,

a state ot

who were

bathing.

"Oh

do come

in.

Fred

1"

echoed Philip; "it

Hollow dell Grange;

138

a bit cold, and not deep

isn't

Oh come

Fred a

felt

that he

dip, for the water

to be got over

would

summon

go

like to

and have

in

looked so cool and bright and

amount

of timidity

he had never been in anything

;

but a bath in his river

to

on," said Harry again.

clear; but there was a certain

a

and you ought

;

and swim."

learn to float

"

or,

life,

was a novel

and plunging

But

courage to attempt.

once into

he could

that

feat

at

hardly

at last the per-

suasions of his cousins had the desired

effect,

and

Fred quickly undressed, and then stood upon the bank, afraid to take his

first

dip

;

but again were

the persuasions of his cousins brought into play,

and the London boy took water,

and then made' a

half slip, so that he

down sideways and went but regained his

rumbling

feet,

his first step into the

right

under the surface,

with the water singing and his eyes close shut,

in his ears,

drops streaming down him as

fast as

and the

they could run.

"Oh — ah — ah," said Fred, gasping. " Haw — haw — haw " burst from Harry, !

laughed heartily

came

as

he

at his cousin.

" Don't grin like that, Hal," said Philip, helping

Fred out of

his

difficulty,

he stood breast high

and

in

trying to get rid

and steadying him as

the water, rubbing his eyes,

of the feeling of bewilder-

Monday Hours merit that had

in a Country

Home.

come over him upon

his

139

sudden

immersion.

"Oh,

isn't

it

queer?" said Fred, as soon as he

had

finished gasping,

had

in his

"Not

and

spitting out the water

mouth.

a bit of

Harry, "only you were

said

it,"

Now,

such a hurry to get under the water.

in

then,

try

and then

and swim the

me go

see

:

young dog

though he had lived

"Hold

he

in

set to

dog's paddle,"

paddling away as

the writer half his lifetime.

his chin up, Phil,

and

he'll

soon do

it."

But Fred did not want to have his chin held up,

nor yet to be touched about

cousins river

"

the

in

he preferred to wade gently

;

water by

clear

swam backwards

antl

while

himself,

his

forwards across the

—here not twenty yards broad.

Make

haste and learn to swim, Fred,

easy," said Harry,

here; see

wards

me

"and such

And

dive."

in the water,

then floated upon his

ih^n, turning heels' up-

— so

easily

sight, to

came up again directly, and back, swam sideways, and

did other feats that seemed to Fred

wonders

so

Look

capital fun.

he went down out of

Fred's great horror, but

it's

and

deftly

little

were

short of

they

per-

formed. "

Now

then, Phil," said H;j:*ty,

to the pollard, and back to lied.

"

I'll

race you

Come

on

" !

up

"

Hollowdell Grange;

140

"come

Philip did

on,

7

or,

and the boys swam up

'

stream towards the willow pollard which overhung the river about

yards

fifty

away manfully,

working

off.

for

against the running water.

a

it

Philip was

first

when

they went,

was

hard

work

Sometimes Philip got

ahead, and sometimes

little

Away

it

was Harry

;

but

they reached the pollard-tree,

and he kept ahead,

came easily back from whence they

too, as they

down stream towards

the spot

started.

" Hallo!" puffed out Harry, all at once, " where's

Fred

*

"Got

out," gasped Philip, for he

was getting out

of breath with his exertions. " Xo,

he hasn't; "

getting excited.

gone down stream shall

I

can't see him," said

Harry,

He's got out of his depth and

Oh, dear

!

!

oh, dear

!

wedoT'

Just

then

Philip

caught

sight

of something

white sloivlv washing over the shallows lower

and he called

the stream, to

what

down

his brother's attention

it

"

It's

Fred,"' said

he could.

"

Come

Harry, swimming as hard as on."

Saying which he dashed

out of the water and ran along the bank

came opposite

the place, where sure

Fred was slowly

drifting

till

he

enough poor

over the shallow pebbly-

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

bottomed stream

143

and then both lads dashed

;

and, by using great

in

dragged their cousir

efforts,

him upon the bank. "Put your trousers and jacket on, and run Papa, Harry," cried Philip, as he gazed upon inshore, and got

foi

the

inanimate countenance of Fred, and tried in vain to

open

the

eyes

which

kept

obstinately

so

closed.

Harry was not long in obeying hint,

and

in less than

his

brother's

ten minutes Mr. Inglis, with

a couple of the farm-labourers carrying blankets,

upon the

arrived

Very

spot.

little

was

said,

but in

a few minutes more poor Fred was carried off to while his cousins stopped behind, the Grange ;

shivering with

cold and

fear, to

finish

dressing

themselves.

Upon

reaching

home

the greatest confusion

;

they found the house in

one servant was watching

at the front door so as to give the earliest notice of

the doctor's coming, for a at full gallop

;

man had been

sent for

him

another was running backwards and

forwards from the kitchen carrying hot blankets while Mr. and Mrs. Inglis were doing in their

power

to restore animation

as yet in vain, and tiptoe

into

when Harry and

;

but

all

all

ghastly look their cousin wore-

that lay

seemed

Philip crept

the bedroom, they trembled

;

at

on the

Hollo wthii

*42

Grange ;

or,

Pooi Mrs. Inglis seemed quite

would have ceased her

in despair,

and

but for the Squire,

efforts

who warned her to persevere, saying that people had been revived even after ill success for two hours or more;

and, apparently hopeless as the

case seemed, he kept on himself moving the

on

one side and back again with a regular

to

motion, so as to endeavour to promote

On

respiration.

the table

Life Boat," which

artificial

was a number of "The

contained

full

instructions for

recovering the apparently drowned

Mr.

body

;

and

to this

kept making references, and giving

Inglis

his instructions accordingly.

At length there was the distant sound of a horse's feet

coming

at a gallop

nlong the road

;

they soon

came along

the gravel drive, were heard to stop,

and then

came

that

of

Doctor.

in

a cat, that awe-inspiring personage

He

and nodded of

pupil

quickly, but with a step soft as

saw at his

poor

his coat

the

glance what had been done,

a

satisfaction,

Fred's

listened at his chest

;

eye,

that

Mr.

then felt

examined the his

pulse,

and

and afterwards, drawing

and kneeling by

efforts

— the

off

the bedside, continued

Inglis

had

so well

com-

menced.

An

hour

—a

lonir.

ion
hour

—one

with leaden

seconds- —slipped by. during which time not an

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

was relaxed

effort

though the faces of Mr. and

;

Mrs. Inglis betrayed

over

them,

that they

they

the

despair that had crept

Harry and

while

had

;

when

they could, and

the sobs as well as

stifled

sobbed so

Philip

be sent out of the room

to

143

crept back to the door, where they sat listening outside.

had been

All this time the Doctor's face

as a block of marble, not a trace of

hopeful or despairing

—appeared

order after order, and worked stood in great drops sign of

The

life.

Inglis's face,

and

upon

the perspiration

brow

and

;

still

no

down Mrs.

was only by a great

effort that

it

have

to

he kept on giving

till

his

any emotion

tears coursed silently

she could keep from

have been

;

as solid

Glad would she

sobbing.

the room, but a sense of

left

duty forbade her, and she stayed, lending

all

the

assistance that lay in her power. All

at

once,

the

Doctor brightened up, and

u turning to the Squire said,

Now,

I'll

have a glass

of sherry and a biscuit"

Mr.

way

in

Inglis

saw nothing to cause the cheerful

which the Doctor spoke, but

must have a good reason have spoken so

lightly.

for hope, or

felt

that

he

he would not

So, ringing the bell for the

refreshment, he leaned over the poor boy, and, as

he did

so,

a

faint,

a very

faint,

sigh escaped from

Hollowdell Grange;

144

and then there was a

his chest,

or,

slight twitching of r

his eyelids.

"There," said the Doctor, wiping

Inglis with a de-

and turning upon Mr. and Mrs. lighted aspect,

man

medical

— "there,

in the

his forehead,

I don't believe

county would have persevered

to that extent, and saved the boy's

life

the credit belongs to Mr. Inglis for

all

another

;

but, there,

commencing

the work so well."

"No;

it's

book on the

for that

the

how

little

pamphlet,

table,"

If

it

had not been

said he t pointing to

"I should not have known

to proceed."

"Ah, it

not due to me.

was

well," said the Doctor,

all

But

"then we

will

say

while no efforts were relaxed,

for,

due to the Life Boat Institution."

all this

though symptoms of revival were plainly to be seen, they

were

like the flickerings of the

a lamp, liable at a

moment

to

become

wick of extinct

;

but the endeavours of those present supplied the needful

oil,

and by slow degrees the cadaverous

hue disappeared from Fred's face;

became

firmer

his breathing

and more regular; and

at last his >

eyes opened, staring vacantly at the ceiling, and

those bending over him

;

but, after another lapse

to

be added to the vacant

r

of time, a

light

seemed

look, and, to the intense delight of

all,

a smile

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

came Mrs.

145

over his pale face as he recognised Mr. Inglis.

and

was thought better that the lads

It

should not come in at present, so the joyful new*

was conveyed to them whisper

;

and then by

followed

his

outside

door in

a.

and away went Harry-

off

brother,

perform a kind

to

down

triumphal war-dance

the

where he could make a

the

in

little

of

dining-room,.

noise without being:

overheard in the sick chamber.

Not very long

afterwards, the

Doctor took

his*

departure, promising to return in the course of an*

hour or two into the

and then Mr. and Mrs.

;

room where the boys

that Fred

was

calm

in a

Inglis

were, and, announcing-

sleep, with

one of the

how the

maids watching by

his side, they

poor fellow came

be so nearly drowned.

to

This was a question

answer

could

Philip

;

came

that

asked

neither

Harry nor

but they told what they

knew, and could only suppose that he had walked out of his depth, when the swiftness of the current,,

and

his

own

timidity,

gaining his footing.

had to remain it

until

had prevented him from

So that the Fred was

in

full

re-

explanation

a condition to give

himself.

Mr. Inglis talked long and seriously to the boys ^ but he

felt

that he could not

blame them much,

as-

bathing was an habitual thing with them in the

"

Uollowdell Grange;

146

:

or^

summer-time, and moreover a most healthy haunt joined to which, for such young lads, both Harry

and Philip were powerful swimmers.

But the act

which Mr. Inglis blamed them

for

was not

for

inducing their cousin to bathe, but leaving him, ignorant as he was of the power of the current, by himself.

" 41

Mamma,"

think,

I

we had

better send poor

Fred home

in a space of time of only

he been

lost in the

the Squire, at

said

wood

;

again.

last,

Here

two or three days has

and, but for the blessing

of God, he would have this day been drowned." " Oh pray pray don't send him away, Papa,"

—

!

pleaded both the lads

at once.

careful for the future.

And

breaking

down

Papa,

wish

I

as he

it

spoke

—and," "

;

"We

will

—indeed,

had been me to-day sooner than

we do feel that we ought care of him when he's a visitor don't we, poor Fred,

lor

;

But

am

I

such an unlucky beggar

doing something wrong when

and

it

when was

does make I

and

I

1

so

said

in too

Philip

Mr.

first

great

?

I'm always

want to do

right, it

did

afternoon

he

it."

Inglis

What, have you two been

Harry was

;

to take

miserable, and so

couldn't help

"What's that?" Fred

me

I

pitched into Fred the

here,

Harry,

said

and^and

be so

;

"pitched into

fighting

trouble

to

?

speak, so

Holiday Hours Philip narrated the

a Country Home.

in

little

147

skirmish, concluding with

the loss of the poor ferret. - h

Mr.

any more upon the sub-

Inglis did not say

ject; but a smile passed Inglis, all

and then, shaking hands with

went on

tiptoe

— Mr.

Inglis,

Fred

between him and

up the in

stairs to

spite of

Airs.

his boys, they

have a look

at

the events of the

past few days, evidently of the opinion that his

boys were not so

Fred was the

much worse than boys

fast asleep,

in general.

breathing regularly

maid said he had not moved

to his rest, strict injunctions

;

so he was

and left

being given that Mrs.

Inglis should be called directly the invalid

or

;

showed symptoms of so doing.

woke,

Ho!lowdelI Grange;

%4?>

CHAPTLR

For two

or,

XI.

BUMP1TTV BUMP.

—THE

or three days

Fred remained very un-

well, as might easily be

he had received

WOPSFS.

supposed from the shock

but the boys spent the greater

;

him reading or

part of the days with

playing,

and

came Mr. and Mrs. Inglis to sit bedroom, when Mr. Inglis told them natural

in the evenings in his

history anecdotes, or talked

changes of insects

about the wondrous

so interesting a manner, that

in

the Utile auditory heard him with the most rapt attention.

On

the second evening, in answer to a question,

Fred related how

it

away by the stream. a s"d^/:

fright

for,

;

was he managed It

appeared that

fish

touch him

probably a piece of wood

and alarmed with

be carried

was through

while wading nbout with the felt

what he thought

— but

which was more

water up to his armpits, he

was a great

it

to

— and

the idea that

he was so startled it

might be a great

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. pike, such as he

had once seen

by Mr.

also caught

from the fancied

and he rushed away

in the river,

Inglis, that

and, by mishap, this was

peril,

done on the wrong

149

side

so that directly after-

;

wards he was splashing and paddling

in the water,

out of his depth, and with the stream bearing him

away

quite fast

He

could remember the water

bubbling and thundering

swept away

;

his

ears as he

two or three great struggles

the side, and then

and waking

in

it

seemed

was

to reach

going to sleep,

like

to find himself in his bed, with three

and everything

faces leaning over him,

else

misty

and bewildered.

On up

the morning of the fourth

Fred was

day,

again and out with his cousins before breakfast,

soaked by the dewy grass

getting their feet well

out in the cedar-field as they took

have a ride upon the pony

once up and down the

his side

He

the pony by his halter. fellow,

— one

it

in

turns ta

boy running by

field,

was a

and holding capital quiet

was old Dumpling, and put up with the

tricks of his

possibly,

young masters

and, on

the

as good-naturedly as

whole, rather seeming

join in the fun, for he stood perfectly side while they climbed

still

to

by- their

up the fence, and from

thence on to his back, and then went alonjr at jig-jog trot, just as they

wished him.

As

for

Harry

HoUowdell Grange;

150

and

were well used to being upon his

Philip, they

back

but

;

or,

when

came

it

to

Fred's turn, he pre-

pared to mount with considerable trepidation. It

might almost have been thought

that, after the ji

unpleasant adventure, Fred would have been

last

very

diffident

in

coward

:

in

amusements

rather boisterous

wholesome

joining

dread

of

being

any of

cousins'

his

but he had a most

;

upon

looked

the very idea of being

as

a

despised by his

cousins rendered him ready to dare anything; so that,

no matter what they had pressed him

would most probably have attempted strongly

reason

his

or

prompted him otherwise

inclination ;

so,

when

it

turn, he followed the instructions of

and made a pony's

back

sort

of hah- leap or

but in so

;

and for

the

as

he

however

it,

might

have

came

to his

his cousins,

vault

upon the

doing he overshot the

mark, and went scrambling down, head the other side.

to,

first,

on

The pony, however, never moved,

Fred was not hurt, he climbed the fence

another right

try,

place,

and

this

time

but in doing

came down so,

just in

stuck his heels

r

so tightly into the nag's side, that, without waiting for

the leader to take hold of the halter,

started at a canter, greatly to

the

away he

Fred's dismay,

bumping he received seemed something

to him,

and he had no small

difficulty in

for

fearful

keeping

Holiday Hours in a Country Home, his seat

away

but keep

;

it

he did, and the pony cantered

nearly at the bottom of the field,

til]

subsided into a

the boys behind in

trot,

151

when he chase,

full

laughing and cheering away as hard as they could.

Trot

—

was

horrible,

went the pony, and Fred thought

trot,

for

it

rucked his trousers up, and

it

shook and bumped him ten times more than when But Fred was too

he was cantering. stoic

to

find

and

fault,

sat

it

much

of a

out famously, for

Harry now caught up to him, and, seizing the by

halter, ran

Why,

ride

!

"

Hal

tied

I

now coming up

Philip,

;

don't

" %

of course he can," said Harry, " better

'

can

;

together,

but a couple of old clothes-props,

and put straddling over the pony,

would ride better than he continued, a few thumps that

quite out of

".Why, you ride better than we do

" Ride

than

they reached the fence

you said that you couldn't

I thought

said

breath. he,

till

when Fred dismounted.

again,

"

his side

as

—

Oh

!

don't, Phil,

hurts,"

it

Philip indulged his brother with

in the

back

to repay the

compliment

he had given to the punisher.

" There goes the

bell," said Fred, with a

sharpened sense, running

off full race

house, closely followed by his cousins, not, however, catch

up

to

him

hunger-

towards the

who

until they

could

reached

J

Holbwdcll Grange; or

J5

y

the side door, through which they

all

rushed

to-

came

in

j

gether

such

with

impetus,

who was

contact with Mary,

they

that

carrying a plate of

hot cake and some eggs into the breakfast parlour. " Squawk," said Mary, as she was regularly

—boys, 4

and they

upset, tray,

and

Out Squire,

all

—

in

went down

all

plate, eggs,

one heap upon the passage

came Mrs.

came the

and out

Inglis,

floor.

and out ran the cook from the kitchen;

and then everybody began

to talk at once, so that

the confusion grew worse than ever.

Master Harry was the instead

of

trying

to

first

assist

his

to

get

and,

up,

companions

in

misfortune, or to rub the dust off his clothes, he

began to plate

collect the

cake together

was broken, he very

and, as the

;

carefully arranged the

on the top of his straw hat, as though the cake had been a puzzle. As for Fred, he had quite a job to disentangle himself from Mary for, when she was going down, three-cornered wedges

;

she loosed her hold of the carrying,

little

tray she

wa*

and caught hold of Fred, and, of course,

they went

down

together.

he stood shaking

his ear,

But when Fred got up,

and trying to get

rid

of

the buzzing sound produced by Mary's piercing *cream. Philip

was

in the

worst plight, for he went head

Holiday Hours

amongst the

first

rather

fortune, and had his face

eggs,

He

eggy.

m

a Country Home.

and was

in

153

consequence

was quite aware of

mis-

his

been wiping the rich yolk off

but, not having a glass before him,

;

had made

rather smeary,

it

and

he

also left a goodly

portion in the roots of his hair.

Poor Mary gathered herself up, sobbing half hysterically that

it

wasn't her fault

" No," said Harry, stoutly. fault

As

We

all

had a share

Mr. and

for

Mrs.

and the

in

they took

Inglis, it

the

was an accident,

the breakage of a plate,

of two or three eggs

loss

Mar/i

in it"

sensible view oC the case, that

which only resulted

" It wasn't

;

Harry

for

declared that the cake was " All right," and they

would eat

so they returned to the breakfast-

it;

parlour, mutually glad that in the tea-urn,

when

the accident might have been

of a very serious nature.

made

But when the boys had

themselves respectable, and descended again

to breakfast, talk

Mary was not bringing

all

this

involved some rather serious

part of Mr.

upon the

and Mrs.

Inglis,

not seem to spoil the boys' breakfast the in the world

;

but did least bit

while as to the cake, they said

it

wasn't a bit the worse, only rather gritty with a

few

little bits

of china that had been

the broken plate.

left

in

from

"

Hollowdell Grange;

or,

"Well, boys," said Mr. Inglis

at

154

-

"what

last,

j r

have you been doing

morning

this

1

i

"Riding, Papa,

We

had

seems

such

to like

the

in

capital

and

fun,

as well as

it

and Fred,

field,

any of

Dumpling

old

us."

" Yes, I suppose so," said the Squire

should think he liked

it

when you

best

too.

" but I

;

left

him

in

peace, and he had got rid of such a pack of wild

young dogs, baiting and bothering him. Now," he " " what are we going to do to-day 1 continued, " Let's go

and catch another great

Fred.

m

Mr.

told

him

they

that

times and not catch such another

fifty

the last

as

and

laughed,

Inglis

might go fish

pike," said

;

which

I

forgot

to

say in

the

proper place was baked by the cook, with what she

called

pudding inside

a

it,

and

eaten

triumph by the fishing-party, aided by Mrs.

and declared out of the

to

be the best

fish

that ever

Camp

Hill.

then

we should have

and

Mamma

there.

But

go out

Inglis,

came

river.

"Let's go botanizing, Papa," said Philip,

go up the

in

It

would be so

nice,

and

to take our dinners with us,

would come

Oh, do

too.

You'll come, won't you,

Mamma

"and

Mamma

declined, for she

for a drive with

let's

go

" 1

had promised to

a near neighbour

;

but said

"

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. that she should

occasion.

much

155

upon another

enjoy, the trip

was therefore decided that there

It

should be a botanizing

trip

on the next day but

two, the following day being Saturday. " Let's play cricket,

bowl

Papa, and you

come and

for us," said Harry.

" Bravo

!

"

cried the others.

"

oh do, Papa

Oh

do,

Uncle

!

But Uncle and Papa, though always ready to

do anything

to please his boys,

that bowling

seemed

to think

day long, with the thermometer

all

marking some few degrees above summer

was rather too arduous a

task,

heat,

so he declined,

and said— "

and

Now,

I

I'll

tell

think

it

comes

you what

to

my

think

I

;

turn to choose,

and that

is,

as

several of the specimens in the butterfly cabinet

are getting destroyed by the mites,

the

boxes, and

and

nets

we might take

have a very pleasant

ramble by the side of Beechy Wood, and down the

meadows, and then,

we could

call

coming back

we happened

if

to get so far,

and thank Mrs. Benson again to a late tea,

we should

;

and

find plenty of

moths along by the woodside." " That's

although

the

it is

best

idea yet,"

said

the

boys

most probable that they would have

agreed to anything that Mr. Inglis had proposed,

HollowdeU Grange;

156

and

said

thought

But

noon

:

" If

was the best idea

it

arrangement only provided

there was

still

the

morning

to

were you, boys," said Mrs.

find something quiet to will not

have been

that could

of.

this

I

or>

lessons.

Inglis,

"

I

should

start in the afternoon."

"have

said the Squire,

You have

be employed.

do indoors, and then you

be tired before you

"Ah,"

for the after-

a look at

not touched them

your

through

all

the holidays." "

Oh — h

— h — Ah— h—h— Er—r— — Urn— r

m —m," groaned

" Oh, Pa

the boys,

they exclaimed, with such

;

oh

— h — h,"

pitiful faces that

any one

might have thought that they had been required to quaff,

salts

and

heartily,

and

each of them, a great goblet of

senna, or something equally nasty.

Mr. and Mrs. Inglis both laughed

the boys then saw that Papa was only joking, and the clouds disappeared from their faces instanier;

and

off they

scampered into the garden

to

spend

the morning quietly, so as not to be tired at the

time appointed for

"Come leaps over

ju, all

starting.

boys,"

said

Harry, taking flying

the flower-beds in the parterre, as

—

down the garden greatly to the disgust of old Sam, who very reasonably said, " As flower gardens warn't made to be jumped over ;" and he they went

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

157

then took off his old battered Hat, and scratched his bald

head viciously.

" Shouldn't Philip

1

kick old Sam's hat

like to

" he always will

;

crow of a "

I

!

" said

wear such an old scare-

thing."

Sam," said Harry, grinning, " we are

say,

going to stop quietly

the garden

in

all

the

morning

and help you."

Sam

grinned too, as he looked sideways at the

mischievous laughing face beside him.

"Then I shall go," said Sam. "I won't stop; for I know you'll be plaguing my very life out." " No, we won't, Sam, if you'll come and help us do our gardens up." " Oh, ah !" said Sam, things as wants doing

wants nailing

and

in,

There now,

I'll

there's

:

all

no end of

the wall

fruit

just look at that If

Master

!

you don't put

it

down

go and fetch out the Maester."

Sam might to help him.

I've got

and the grapes wants thinning,

Harry, you mustn't. directly,

"and

well exclaim, for

Harry was beginning

and had seized the scythe.

number one he had shaved With cut number verbena.

off the top of a

the third cut would have gone, to

the

fine

he had driven

two,

the point of the sharp tool into the sod.

Sam, hobbling up

With cut

I

Where

can't say

;

for

young workman, the

J

J

Hollowdell Orange; ort

158

young workman frisked half

full

off,

and seized the barrow

of grass.

"Jump

in,

Fred!" he exclaimed; and of course

Fred soon made himself a contents,

seat

on the

and then away went the barrow

Harry could run, and of course

Sam would

the place where

Poor old Sam

He

!

right

require

it

green

soft

as fast as

away from

next.

loved his master's boys, and

he loved to scold them too, as much as they loved to

torment him

;

and

in all their skirmishes

of which always occurred whenever they

he called

his garden, as

worst of

it,

and had

in this case

it

— Sam

to yield to

— one

came

into

always got the

And

numbers.

so

he saw that he should lose the day,

and therefore he declared a

truce,

and called up

Philip to act as mediator.

"

Now, Master

bother

me any

Phil,

more,

I'll

if you'll

promise not to

put you

all

up

to

some-

thing."

"

What

is it 1 "

said Philip.

" Ah, you fetch them tother ones here, and

I'll

show you."

Away

darted

Philip,

and soon returned with

Harry, the barrow, and Fred.

Old Sam made sure of the barrow by

down upon

sitting

the edge, and would have been canted

over by Harry, only he expected, and very natu-

rally,

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

159

make

man

that

it

would

the

poor old

cross.

Now, Sam, what

"

is it

"

Come.

good mind not

to tell

V* said

Harry.

look sharp." " Ah," said Sam, " I've a

You

you. "

Oh,

don't deserve

it,

you know."

don't care," said Harry, seizing the old

I

man's broom, and darting along, Phil, Fred,

and

off

with

"

it.

Come

have such a game."

we'll

"

Now, Master Harry," said Sam, appealingly. Then to himself, " I never did see sich a young dog

in

my

life.

Do

come, please," he continued

aloud. " Well, what

is it %

" said

Harry, advancing with

held like a gun with fixed bayonet

the broom,

brought to the charge, and poking with the birch part at the old gardener. " Well,

you know, you promised to be

quiet,

you

know, didn't you?" "

Why, of course we "

together.

did," said

Now, come,

"Well," said

Sam

tell

at last,

Harry and Philip

us what "it's

it is."

awopses* nest as

wants taking." '*

Capital

"where

is

!"

said Harry, throwing

down

the broom;

it?"

Old Sam's eyes twinkled with triumph slowly up and led the

way

as he got

to his tool shed, where

Hollowdell Grange; or

%6o

t

he reached down the large fumigating bellows, and in the hollow

made

for the

purpose he put

in

some

hot cinders, which Harry fetched in a shovel from the kitchen, and then on them a stone,

and closed the nozzle over

lump of brimall

;

but not so

quickly but that a puff or two of the penetrating

fumes escaped, and made the boys' eyes water,

and old Sam cough and choke most

terribly for

a

minute or two. "

Now

then,"

Sam, wheezing away

said

a

at

dreadful rate, " I'm not going with you, you know,

so you take the bellows, Master

should take some boughs, the wopses off

if

Harry

The

;

so

The

they gets loose.

lads

now go

on, and

good luck

come back

nest

on giving two or three

lies

in

by

to you."

However,

puffs with the bellows,

was not the case,

off they started,

the lawn,

is

again directly to

say that the brimstone wasn't burning.

this

I

wanted no further incentive, but started

off at full speed, to

found

and

were you, and beat

if I

the plantation, in the dead willow-tree that the path

;

for

it

was

alight

Sam ;

so

half wild with excitement, across

and old Sam rubbing

his

hands down

the sides of his trousers to give vent to his intense feeling of satisfaction to think

had succeeded

;

and then the

how well his device old man returned to

his work, chuckling away, and,

I

am

sorry to add,

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

161

muttering that he hoped they'd " some on 'em get stung

no

;

"

uncharitable wish, however, that had

an

fulfilment in the sequel.

Come

"

along,

bellows-bearer

;

boys,"

said

Harry,

who was

and away they scudded

they

till

reached the wooden bridge over the ditch, and then they stood together beneath the Yes, the brimstone was

Puff, puff.

now

trees. all right,

and

for the wasps.

"Let me do

said

it,"

Philip, catching at the

bellows.

"No, no; behind il

I'll

do

said Harry, putting

it,"

them

his back.

Now, Harry, you know I'm

older than you,

and you carried them here, so you ought

to give

way," said Philip. "

do

Why,"

said Harry,

we ought

neither of us

becaus« Cousin Fred's here,

it,

and

he's

to-

a

Here, Fred," he said, holding out the

visitor.

bellows, " yon

"

"

Do

what

do

it."

i" said

what you are g©i»g

Fred, staring.

" I don't

know

*o do."

i.

" Why, take the wasps' nest in that old touch-

wood

tree.

You're only got

to put the

nose sf

the bellows into the hole where they are going in

and frill

out, all

and blow, and then keej them

the wasps are dead."

tight

there

— 1

Hollowdeh Grange;

62

Fred looked

at the bellows,

or,

then at his cousins, F

then at the hole in the fallen trunk where the wasps

were flying about

and

;

when smoke

bellows,

after giving a puff with the

issued from the nozzle, he

slowly approached the hole, and stooped over insert the death-dealing

" Buzz

to

instrument

—booz — whooz — ooz — ooz —ooz," home

couple of wasps, coming circling

it

said a

in a hurry,

and

round Fred's head so very closely that the

boy shut

his

eyes, and,

backed away crab fashion as " I shan't do

it,"

down

stooping

fast as ever

very low,

he could.

said Fred, rathei red in ihe

face; "they'll sting."

" No, they won't," said Harry

catching

up the bellows,

he

;

"

I'll

walked

go,

n

and

boldly up

towards the hole. " I say," he said, " you two get boughs,

the wasps do

come

out you can beat

There was a minute of intense which Harry crept close up

and Fred, armed

body guard

\vi:h

and

if

them down."

interest,

Co the hole,

during

and Philip

lime-tree boughs, stood as

to protect the assaulting party.

Nearer and nearer went Harry, and then pushed nozzle

the

right

in

brimstone, and puffed

up

to the

away

as

part holding tne

hard as he cou!

— whooz -whooz — booz — booi> vsooz — burr — urr — — r— — whir— — —
0^

Whir

r

r

r

r

;

hw//< t,"

p

—

saul

Holiday Hours

in

a Country Home.

1

63

the wasps, scuffling out past the nozzle by the

and one, which must have been the leader,

dozen

;

made

a lodgment in Harry's hair.

Down

went the bellows, and away went the

boys as hard as ever they could run out of the

and over the wooden bridge,

plantation,

till

they

were safe from the infuriated wasps, whose loud

hum

they could hear even after they were soma

distance

off.

" Here," said Harry, "

my

head

there,

make

knock

this

Fbi

buzzing and struggling in the boy's

curls,

who squeezed "

it

Ha,

it

haste,

again, "

between two pieces of

ha,

ha

!

a

go and

game

"was

;

it]

this

time.

"that

his breath

You

wouldn't

said Philip;

"I

shouldn't

I

had

6< 3

you run

fast

only wish," he continued

I let

you

go."

Q

Philip was generally most terribl)

his brother,

was no

try again."

!

by

and

!

*un faster than you did." " Ah never mind," said Harry

Now,

stick,

"

"I wouldn't mind,"

sulkily,

by Fred,

there

and when he had got

:

What

when

" said Philip,

" Booh," said Harry

enough

killed

beyond the power of doing mischief.

more danger

like to

o*

or he'll sting me."

;

was one of the wasps, which was placed

beggar out

and therefore

M

2

it

teased

was not surprising

Hollowdett Grange ;

164 that he,

who was

or,

generally such a mild and inoffen-

sive lad, should take this opportunity of

But one thing w as v^ry r

little retaliation.

and

was, that he would

that

of the

even

task

making a

have backed

Harry had given

if

certain,,

out

up to

it

him.

"Can't we " Let's go

and

fetch

bellows

the

V

said

Harry.

see."

Off they went again, but at a slower pace this time, in case there should

be any of the

insects waiting for them.

fierce

little-

But their caution was

needless, for the wasps were busy at work trying to stick their stings into the bellows,

them

losing

their

lives

came reeking out of

and some

ot

through the vapour that But when the

the opening.

lads got near enough to see what a cloud there

was buzzing about, they gave up the bellows

till

night,

defeat by getting a tree,

and took vengeance

little

but only hitting

idea of getting

all

it

farther or!

about once

for their

and pelting the in

twenty times,

so that they very soon tired of that pastime, and

went back for

"

them

to see

what poor old Sam could

rind

fresh.

Now,

then," said Sam,

"where's th« wopses' nest

some grubs

when they came up, 1 The Squire warns

for fishing."

" Ain't got

it,"

said Harry, shortly.

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. " How's that afeard, was you

"No,"

said

?

" said

man

the old

"

;

165

you weren't

" 1

Harry, stoutly;

only they came buzzing out so

"I wasn't afraid, we were obliged to

give in."

man

Chuckle, chuckle, went the old defeat

at their

but he would not go himself to fetch the

;

bellows, although he laughed at the boys* expense. "

You'd better leave off laughing/' said

"or

taking Harry's part,

stop here

we'll

Philip,

the

all

morning."

Sam grew •couldn't his

"

a

moment,

boy

for the

have uttered a more dire threat against

Ah

!

I ain't

I

Dyke they and you can ;

It's

Master

laughing,

to see the

was yon,

"

in

peace of mind.

good fun I

serious

Phil, only

it

wopses make any one run.

is

If

should go and have a look at Bramble say as the water's nearly get fish out of

all

dried up,

it."

too far," said Philip,

" because

we

are

going out with Papa directly after dinner."

Sam was done

for a

moment

flashed across his brain.

a young gentleman,

I

;

but a bright thought

"'Ah," said he, "if I was

should go

down

the north

planting hedge, close to the dung-heaps; they

say there

is

a sight of snakes there

you young gentlemen won't

;

do

but in course

go, for as you're afraid

"

Hottowdell Grange ;

i66

or*

of wopses, in course you won't like to go where there's snakes."

"Who's afraid?" on, boys,"

new

said

Harry; "I'm not; come

and aSvay they scampered again on their

expedition

Sam

while

;

leaned upon his

broom

with which he was brushing the velvet green lawn,

and chuckled again

at the success of his ruse.

The boys armed themselves and

let

Dick loose

with stout sticks*

to take with

them

;

and then

away down by the big fence to the north planting^. Dick industriously hunting along the hedges and ditches as they went.

"Keep

Dick!"

back,

reached the manure heaps

down, do£. down

when they

said Harry, ;

" keep back,

sir

to

make

the

;

!

But Dick was not a well-trained dog at did not often

quiet

;

come

out,

most of

it

He

all.

and when he did he seemed ;

so every

command

given

by his master Dick answered by a leap, a scamper, and a bark, and doing everything but what he was told.

" Catch hold of him, Phil

;

he'll frighten all

the

snakes away before we see them." But Dick would not be caught hold

about just out of reach, and out as though secure him,

till,

in

of,

lolled

but capered his

derision of the efforts

tongue

made

to>

growing more bold and impudent,.

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

he kept making charges at

167

young masters'

his

legs,

by one quick snatch Philip caught the rascal

until

by one of

his ears,

and so secured him

a most

in

ignoble manner, dragging him along with his skin all

drawn on one

his

mouth wearing a most serio-comical expression.

Poor Dick

!

eyes out of place, and

side, his

he did not

mean any harm

;

but as to

being a trained and obedient dog, he was, as before, nothing

I said

and often spoiled a

of the kind,

great deal of sport by his wild

harum-scarum ways.

But now, as he was secured, a handkerchief was tied tightly

way

round

his neck,

of a chain or

slip,

and another to that by

and then the search was

prosecuted.

The manure heaps were very long and lay

large,

and

on a piece of waste ground beside the park

palings,

and

it

was through the rents and gaps in

these pales that the snakes

came out of the

planta-

tion to lay their eggs in the

warm manure

and, of

course,

if

Master Dick had been

left

would have run barking and scratching

;

alone, all

he

along

and alarmed the game.

As

whole length of the

heap without hearing so

much

was, they went the

The second heap was nearly same way, when Harry, whoMvas

as a rustle.

passed in the first,

first

it

stepped nimbly back and caught hold of the

handkerchief that held Dick, who, seeing that some-

Hottowdell Grange;

68

1

or,

thing exciting was going on, immediately

became

rampant, but was soon guided to a spot where a snake had nearly buried

and

lay with about nine inches of

an

after the fashion of if

its

head

is

hidden

ostrich,

was down upon him

for the

exposed,

its tail

which supposes that

must be

it

But there was no safety

to

the rotten straw,

itself in

all right

and

safe.

for

Dick

poor snake,

moment and hanging on

in a

of the struggles of the poor thing

its tail, in spite

to get away. All Dick's efforts were directed towards dragging

the snake out of

of

its

scaly

hole, while the snake,

its

and plated body,

ful resistance,

and

most power-

hard to creep farther in

tried

and so they went on

offered a

by means

for

some

j

time, the snake,

however, gradually losing ground, until the lads

began to

dig

round

it

with their sticks, and loosen

the manure,

when out

and

and trying

twining,

it

came

all at

to fasten

once, writhing

upon Dick's head;

but the dog's shaggy, wiry hair protected him, and 1

shaking the unco brute off for a moment, he got another gripe at it.

and worried

moved, but gave

The well V

close

it,

in,

up

until

to the head,

the

and shook

poor snake hardly

conquered and dying.

trophy was secured, and Dick's stumpy

wag-waggled, as 1

it

much

as to say, " Didn't

I

do

tail

that

and then he kept snapping and leaping up

Holiday Hours

in a

Country Home.

169

the handkerchief which held the snake, while

at

his red tongue quivered

and stuck out between

his

sharp shiny teeth that were longing to have another

snap

at

The huntsmen

something.

then cautiously

went along the side of the two remaining heaps, but not another trace of a snake could they rind,

so they went back the whole length of the four heaps, but with no better success,

was down

at the

till

who

Dick,

bottom of the bramble-coveied

ditch, suddenly set

up a sharp, short bark

there was a rustle and skurry for a

then

,

moment, and

he rushed open-mouthed up the bank head at the oak palings, and

a thud

just after a

came

snake's

appear through a hole

at the

against

tail

hist

them with

was seen

bottom, where

to

a

dis-

small

piece had rotted away.

Dick whined and howled with rage stopped

in his career,

broken pale

his

in

and

teeth,

at

being thus

seizing a piece of the

dragged

would shortly have made himself

so

it

a

that

he

way through,

but his young masters were soon by his side.

Throw him over, Harry/' said Philip, excitedly, .and in a moment Harry had the struggling dog in "

Jiis

•of

arms, raising him the palings,

other^side,

till

he got

w hen he leaped r

his feet lightly

on the top

down on

the

and began hunting about through the

fallen leaves

and twigs

for the

escaped quarry

;

but

J

Hollowdell Grange;

7©

all in

vain, as his

whining

or,

testified,

so that poor F

Dick was called

or!",

and had

to run nearly a quarter

of a mile before he could find a place to creep through, which he did at

last

by scraping a

little

of

the earth from beneath the pales, and then grovelling through, getting stuck about the

middle of his

beck, though, and whining

free,

till

he got

which he

did after two or three struggles, and then ran join his young masters,

who were

to-

whistling and

him as loudly as they could, and who now turned their steps homeward, for Harry declared calling

roast

have

for dinner.

Holiday Hours in a Country Horn*.

CHAPTER

171

XII.

A FLIGHT WITH THE FLIES. I

don't suppose Harry could smell the noast beef

when he was a mile from home, but sure enough it was done when the boys got there, and they had only just time to get themselves ready before the

dinner bell rang.

"Well, boys, quiet,'' said

long walk "

suppose you have been very

I

Mr.

Inglis,

We're ready

if

for the walk, Papa, but

I

Philip.

one could keep very quiet

I never do.

"

are ready for a

good

afternoon 1"

this

been very quiet," said as

"and

I

"

One

we haven't don't

seem

this fine weather.

should like to be always out."

shouldn't/' said Harry, with his

beef and potato

;

"

I

should like to

mouth

come

in

full

of

when

dinner and tea were re;idy."

"Well was

said,

Harry!" exckimed Mr. Inglig; "that

certainly not a very polite speech, but there

Hollowdefl Grange;

172

common

was a good deal of

sense

think Master Phil, there, would

stopping out when

we must

it

Half an hour

we have

after,

and

in it;

make

dure

are

I

don't

much about

care

But

rained.

not stop talking, for

to get ready, and

or,

haste, all

boys;

the things

a long walk before us."

Mr. lnglis and the boys were

passing out of the gate, and they soon reached the spot where the lads entered the

were lost; but by the side

;

beautiful those fields looked,

beautiful, tGo, the

wood

There were

side.

anemones and hyacinths by

v,

and ood

the thousand, spang-

green grass here with delicate white,

ling the bright

and there with

dark

the

blue bells

brionies ami honeysuckle clustered tion

the day they

time they kept along the fields

this

and

wood

in

while

;

the

every direc-

along the dwarf bushes by the side of the

wood.

"There he

goes," said Harry,

all at

once starting

off full speed after a sulphur butterfly. " Stop, stop!" cried Mr. lnglis.

"Here,

Philip,

take the ne', and go steadily and quietly and see

you cannot catch wi:l

send

Philip

it

t-

but you must not hurry, or you

right away.'' .ok the

of the beaudful stopping,

it,

if

fly

g.een clap-net and went

which

now going on

after flower.

At

last

in

chase

liitted

on before him, now

again,

and sipping flower

he got close enough, and

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. stooping as

far

forward as he could reach, popped

down upon

the green gauze net

The

173

the grass.

other boys ran breathlessly up, while Mr.

Inglis

drew from

and a

pair of forceps,

pocket a large-sized pill-box

his

and on coming up

Spot where Philip and the

stooped down

to the

other boys were,

he

to secure the prize.

"Well, where

it?" said Mr. Inglis.

is

"Just underneath," said Philip. y

"I

don't think

down "

is,"

it

Mr.

said

Inglis,

looking

at the net.

Oh

yes,

it is,"

said Philip

;

"I'm

sure I caught

it."

So Mr.

Inglis looked through the net in all direc-

could he see of any sulphur

tions, but not a sign butterfly, for Philip

behind

away

it,

had popped the net down just

and the bright-coloured

;

try again," said

don't be so impetuous

;

go

Mr.

Inglis,

and

" only

quietly after the butter-

firmly

and quickly, or close

it

over

tfre prize.

If you go so impetuously you agitate the drive a volume of

1

it

I

was sure

I

and

out of your

'

"But

air,

before you, which not only

it

alarms the insect, but helps to force reach,

off

you get within reach, and then press the net

till

down

was

enough by that time.

far

" Never mind

fly

fly

had

it,"

said Philip.

;

Hollowdell Grange;

*74 il

or,

Just so," said Mr. Inglis, smiling;

"but

Now,

not do to be too sure of anything.

the

—

harebell

Oh

"

!

but

I

see

Not so it

it?

—

it

fast

— not

so fast," cried Mr. Inglis

use, for

gently .rose in the

air,

hedge into the next " Here,

Philip darted

Fred,"

;

"now

said

try

goes another sulphur off,

went over in

and disappeared over the Mr.

Inglis,

a

fishif

quietly without all that rush

Now,

then, there

butterfly."

insect all along

by the wood, and then partly

when

the

to £he other side.

the hedge,

handing his

fitted to a joint of

and followed the

side of the field

along the other,

blue butterfly

little

your cousins make.

Fred started

to the

what you can do, and see

you cannot creep up fuss

up

field.

nephew a small bag net

one

a

like

off.

bank, and as he did so the

and

almost looks

last

now," said Philip, seizing the net

it

was of no

ing-rod

of

itself."

and rushing "

you

one

where we picked the harebells

there,

Don't you see

year.

there's

;

if

blue butterflies hovering over that dry

little

bank

better success

little

does

Philip,"

he continued, "take the net again, and see

cannot have a

it

game

gently rose

and

But there was a gap

and Fred crept through; but on

reaching the other side no butterfly could he see

;

Holiday Hours for a minute,

when

close beside

him,

all

once

at

last

it

175

rose from a flower

it

and began

At

hedge side again.

a Country Honje.

in

flitting

alighted

down

the

upon a bunch

of Mayflower, quite low down, a late cluster that

ought to have been out in bloom a month earlier

and now Fred crept up closer and closer

till

stood within reach, when he dashed the net

and

down

missed the insect, which began to

just

when, recovering

his net,

he

rise,

Fred made another flying

dash, and to his great delight he saw that the yellow treasure was fluttering about inside.

Just then his uncle and the boys

came through

the gap, and the butterfly, which Mr. Inglis said

was a very in

fine

specimen, was secured and placed

one of the large pill-boxes.

The

captures

one time

it

now made became upon

its

wings

pretty tortoiseshell butterflies,

lovely lace-edged wings

its

:

at

was a gorgeous peacock admiral, with

the splendid eyes

with

frequent

;

then one of the

or a ;

red admiral,

then again, one

of the curious dusky- veined, or an orange-lipped, with

its

Down by

green. # tured

some of the

dragon

flies,

ful flight

rently

under wings so beautifully traced with the

pond

side,

too,

fierce libellulre, the

they cap-

gauzy-winged

that darted about with such a

power-

over the water, and then hovered appa-

motionless,

as

though

looking

at

their

fj6

Flollowdcll

beautiful

On

bodies

one bank,

Grange;

or,

on the bright

reflected

sutface.

was

too, a bright little green lizard

captured, and carefully secured, to place

one

in

of the fern cases; besides which there were rose beedes,

watchmen,

and

spiders,

tiny

that

flies,

Fred considered were neither curious nor

pretty,

but which Mr. IngHs said were quite the contrary, being both curious and pretty, as he would show Master Fred

home.

or, rather, beautiful,

when they reached

There were plenty of specimens,

have been obtained from the water

;

but

to

too. this

was

not a water expedition, so they contented themselves with the productions of the

indeed was

this

Fred

wonders.

part at

of the

first

and rich

air,

country

upon

only looked

gaily-painted butterflies,

and bright rose

being beautiful,

he heard some

as

till

insect

in

the

beetles,

the

of

explanations from Mr. Inglis, when he found that in

some of

the smallest insects they captured there

were ten times the beauties and wonders that were to

be found

in

their larger

companions.

There

were numberless things that he would have passed over because they were not striking at the glance, but which the eye

sought out, and made not chosen insect

life

.

first

of the naturalist had

known

to those

for their study.

before saw such plumes of feathers as

who had

Fred never

some

little

V

x

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

177

£nats wore on their heads, nor knew of such a

wondrous or dangerous instrument as the a bee. so to

ar»'e

fine

and so sharp

;

and yet

sting of

fine as

1/Ut

come," said Mr.

"

Inglis,

we must

about these things when we get back have the microscope

more specimens butterflies,

shabby

wound

and create such great pain.

to i-ankle *

was,

contain a channel by which the minute

portion of poison was injected into the tiny

(

it

in

boys-

yet.

out.

We

to-night,

talk

and

must have some

Try after those great cabbage

— those

we have

are getting very

appearance."

Away started Harry and Philip, moment all the advice they had

frige tting in received,

a

and

-dashing off after the inseUs in a wild chase, that

ended, of course,

m

the butterflies soaring up out

of reach, and the boys coming back hot and out of

treath to be laughed at by their father and Fred. At

last

they reached

Mr

Benson's farm, where

they "ere most cordially received

happy-faced dame,

who seemed

by the farmer's

delighted to see

her belated friends again, and soon had them into the house to feast

upon fresh-gathered strawberries

and some of the thick yellow cream that she skimmed morning and night from the pans in her snowy dairy and when they had finished, and ;

Mr.

Inglis

was having a quiet chat with Farmer

HoHowdell

178

Benson

about crops,

matters,

which

which

for

it

was

and markets, and' similar

Harry classed together

as

." all

I

was

"snowy/'

quite, right in calling

everything of the whitest and coldest.

in

For Mrs. Benson's dairy was famous and cream

X

or,

Benson showed the boys her famous

bother," Mrs. dairy,

Grange;

it

for the butter

produced, and was well known at

all

the markets round, for from nowhere else was there

such sweet golden-looking butter to be obtained. After Fred had been initiated in the mysteries

of churning and cheese pressing, they the orchard,

and saw

went into

all

-what a goodly promise of

apples there was, and then and there Mrs. Benson

promised them a basketful, which she said she

would send

to

them

Then

at the school.

into the

garden, which seemed to be overflowing with

and vegetables

;

and then into the farmyard

see the fowls, cows, in at

and

calves,

hinges,

made

and have a peep

the door vibrate and rattle

and who turned round

stupid-looking face to the

"

to

the great brindle bull, whose low thundering

bellow

chain,

fruit

and stared

full

his

upon

great

its

heavy,

length of his bright

at his visitors as

much

as to say,

Did you ever see such a great bull-headed thing

before in

all

your

life

1

"

He

seemed

to

be anything

but the great savage, roaring beast that Fred had

expected to

see.

But for

all

his dull

look, this

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

very

tear

sometimes when

bull could fly into a passion

was out

"he

and stamp and bellow and

in the fields,

up the ground, making the sods

He

tions.

ijg

once charged

going to drive the cows

up

direc-

cowman who was

at the

all

fly in all

for milkhr;,-

and as

soon as the man saw him coming awav he ran for

came

the gate, and after him

The more at last

till

the

the bull,

full

tear.

ran the more the bull ran,

cowman

and over

the gate was reached,

it

went

the poor fellow, in a half jump, half tumble sort of fashion,

and then away again on the other side

;

while the bull, evidently considering the gate as

unworthy of

his notice, disdained to try

but went rush at

it

like

and

leap,

a small railway train at

a crossing where the gates have been accidentally left

open.

" Crash" went the gate, bull, for

it

"

and

really hurt him, as

Bellow" went the

was

of his horns being broken short

testified off,

poor beast stop short, and stamp louder than ever; and, giving up

all

making the

and bellow thought of

chasing the cowman, run tearing round the

a great clumsy gallop, frightening the cows all

did the same, with

and having plenty of roor

bull's way,

I

tails

sticking

difficulty

by one

field in till

they

straight up,

to get out of the

say "poor" bull, for the animal

anust have been suffering intense pain, though he

N

2

l8o

Hollowdcll Grange;

deserved very

little

or,

for there is

pity,

what might have been the cowman's

ooHven

st-^niirf-f-ved. ii

* :

-.

fete if

it

hact

for the gate.

Wne:i the

weii.

ao knowing

stood looking at

visitors

the great^

one-horned beast, the place was quite

hut for the one-sided appearance giver*

1

him by the ragged stump having been sawn short

to off,

there was

no

trace of the feat he

had performed

in rushing at the- gate.

There waa so much to see had

Inglis

hard

a

matter to get away; besides

dame were

which, the farmer arid his thev should

tlnM

no*

i

stav to tea,

he sH^v.ost objection

very anxious

and the lads had

but Mr. Inglis said,

;

when

rutnc out fpr a specified purpose they ought

t\: :-y

no

all

at the farm that Mr,.

to turn aside from

paid their

visit

it,

and now* as they had

to the farm, as [deviously a:ranged r

they ought to return to

their collecting, for

moths woukl now be coming out At

they were

last

off,

and

the

fast.

this

time took their

+

way across the meadows by get to the

home, Mr. objects

o'i

the river side, so as

wood again a couple of

miles nearer

Ingiis considering that several pleasing

natural history Might here be collected.

They had

not gone far

before he cabled

attention of the boys to the flies

to*

dancing up and down

Ephemewe

or

the

May-

in their beautifu. :light

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

ovei the banks of the stream.

t8r

Beautiful

little

objects they seemed, with their spotted wings and

three

or

tails,

six

tails,

as straight

feet,

up they flew rapidly

for five

and then, spreading out wings and

allowed themselves, without

-evenly balanced bodies, to sink

effort,

down

senting a beautiful appearance as the

but with

again, pre-

fast

descend-

ing sun shone sideways upon them.

Fred could have stopped

for

watching these May-flies, but time was Avell,

three

and they had fine

to get

home

to tea

;

hour

an

half

flying as

but two

01

specimens were captured by Mr. Inglis

-and put safely in as

many

pill-boxes,

and during

many more were snapped up by tl.i river. Then on the party went again

their stay as fish in the

•towards the wood, capturing insect treasures

as

they passed through the pleasant green meadows iind by hedge-rows,

all

now

^green with the rays of the

of a bright golden sinking

Now

sun.

— a great tip

it

was a great stag-beetle that was caught

"horny-headed and hom)--bodied fellow, so strong

that he could force his way out of a closed hand

&y

sheer pushing, like his friend the cockchafer,

-who now began to whirr and drone about under

the shady boughs of the

come

trees,

but

near enough to be captured,

of them came bump up

who would not till at last one

against Mr. Inglis's hat.

Hollowdell Grange;

i8a in

its

headlong

when Fred picked

flight,

of the grass where

it

or,

had

fallen,

out

it

and was astonished

made

at the slow but strenuous efforts the insect to escape.

As they came up short,

to

from out of

for

the

dark recesses came a

its

peculiar whirring sound, as

wood Fred stopped

if

somebody was busy

with a spinning-wheel. "

Chur

;

r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r,

now

falling,

farther

'

went the noise,

off,

now

and

nearer,

and

rising

the

all

time kept up with the greatest regularity. '•

Whatever

"

Oh

is

that?" said Fred to his cousins,

Durden spinning her "

M

What

Dame

said Harry, laughing, " that's old

" !

?

said

yarn."

Fred incredulously.

" There, look," said Mr. Inglis, for the noise

stopp a d 1 ,

"

1.

There goes Harry's

then there

;hst

wood, with

Dame Durden

came swooping out

noiseless

flight,

had ;

of the

brown

a large

"'

bird,

which then went skimming along by the wood-side

and

back

to

where there stood a noble beech

with wide-spreading boughs, beneath whose shade the

easy

bh'd

went circling

flight,

sometimes keeping quite

and every now and then but

still

"There,"

round with- a beautifully

rising higher

skimming along almost said

in

the shade,.

up the

like

Mr. Inglis again, when

a

tree

;.

swallow. they had

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

watched the bird

way

some minutes,

for

to turn entomologist

captures the moths that

how

see

;

flit

183

" that

the

is

easily that bird

round the

we

If

tree.

could only secure specimens like that, what rare

ones we should get sometimes of those tha* always high out of our reach

fly

There, did you see him

!

catch that moth, high up above the big bough

With what a wing, caught

he

must

off

to

and then dipped downward.

have

got

wood

the

curve he turned upon the

graceful it,

1

and has gone

mouthful,

a

where perhaps

again,

See,

he

has

nestlings/'

"Well, but," said Fred, "that can't be a swallow, it is

so big, and

birds that caught

" No," said

though

flies

Mr.

and moths upon the wing."

Inglis,

many

a good

"

it

not a swallow,

is

has similar habits, and always catches

it

prey upon the wing.

its

appropriate is

thought swallows were the only

I

is

different that

It

names

of the

'

a bird that bears

is ;

org of the most

night-jar,'

— though

it

not really a night bird, but more of the twilight

from the peculiar jarring noise

It is called 'jar,'

which you heard,

just

like

that

vibrating of a spinning wheel, c

they call that

it

it

the

'

made by the In some places

goatsucker,' from a foolish idea

sucked the milk from the goats, as

sometimes seen to

fly

close

down

to them,

it

is

and.

Hollowdell Grange;

184 between the

legs of various animals, to capture the

them

that infest

flies

%

A

their bodies.

the

in

soft,

tender parts of

glance at the bird's great gaping

mouth should be sufficient to convince anybody that it was meant for nothing else but catching and the spiny fringe of hair at the side for caging them there when caught. In some places flies,

it is

called the

think there

is

'

night-hawk,' and I should scarcely

any bird that has more names than

our friend there."

A

few more moths and insects were captured,

among which was a very downy appearance made it tion to the boys, as

fine puss

moth, whose

a great object of attrac-

was also one of those noble-

looking insects, the privet hawk moth, which was also captured, with gold-tails, tigers, &c. &c. at last, regularly tired out, the lads

along by the side of Mr.

;

and

walked quietly

Inglis, listening to the

mellow evening notes of the cuckoo, the distant lowing of the cows, and the occasional tink "

a sheep

of

the surface of the

bell

while

;

fields,

VVith the

swallow

pearly -grey loud,

setting

disappeared sky

sweet,

;

flies

out of their

front

sun, however,

the

last

in

the

and one by one

appeared the

and

skimming along

the nevar-tired swallows

kept sweeping away the path.

" tink,

clear,

from

stars

;

out

aad then, the

grove

Holidav Hours iV a Country Home.

came

185

the notes of the nightingales, ringing

-through the distance,

away and

bird answered bird,

till

song seemed almost continuous, cheering the

"the

;party

they finished their walk.

till

Mr. Inglis had been highly amused with Harry's

"humorous description of how they had attacked citadel of the wasps,

the

had been put

-they

and how ignominiously

to flight

and told them how

;

foolish their plan was, for they might have

number of

sure that a large

be

seeking

out,

food;

for

and,

their

whom

those castle

insects,

for

;

they would

found interfering with

they

with

too

were among

they

as

soldiers

armed

and

as

would

would be certain to

"be constantly returning, they •attack

the insects

been

such

a

powerful

weapon, die attack was nothing more than the "boys might have

mised the ^evening,

However, he pro-

expected.

lads that he

and detailed

would

plan of attack, giving

his

them a long

description of the

<eed, for

saw

lie

them the next

assist

way he should

that they could hardly get along;

"but his aeoount so took

up

their attention, that

just in tht nidst of oae of his

reached ix>ys,

At

gates,

aad

enough entomology

I'm

tired out

who

is

;

pro*

so

let

remarks they

he exclaimed for

oae day

*s see what

;

:

— " Now,

for, like

Mamma

you,

there,

waiting at the door, has in store for us."

Holiowdell Grange ;

186

CHAPTER RATTING WITH DICK.

The

ot\

XIII.

THE END OF THE WOPSES.

evening after the entomological ramble passed

away very

quietly, for the

boys were too tired to

care for anything but the hearty tea they made,

which partook more of the nature of a supper; giter

this there

was such a disposition

an.i

for sleep

exhibited by the whole of the party, not exclud-

ing the Squire himself, that Mrs. Inglis very soon

began

to talk

about bed

loudly, too, for

great easy chair,

;

and &he had

to talk very

Harry had curled himself up

dormouse fashion

at the table with a book,

;

Fred was

in

the

sitting

whose leaves he was keep-

ing from flying open by resting his head upon

them

;.

while Philip was seated on a small ottoman by his father's knees,

and

resting against them, fast asleep r

as was also the Squire himself.

Mrs. Inglis looked up from the fancy work upon

which she was engaged, and could not help smiling at the appearance the rest of the inmates of the-

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

rocm

However, judging

presented.

that

187 at all

events the junior portion would be far better in bed, she proceeded to arouse them, which was

easy task

and

;

Harry being by fearfully as

The

at last far the

no

got them out of the room,

most sleepy, and yawning"

he was led off to bed.

next morning Fred was the

after rousing his cousins,

raise the blind,

first

awake, and,

he went to the window

when he found

it

to-

be a regular

to

soaking wet morning, one with a heavy, leaden-

hued

sky,

and the rain coming down " plish-plash^

from the leaves and branches, and upon the edges of the verandah the drops running together like glassy beads until

dropped upon the places where they

when they stones below, just in the same had fallen for years, and wore too heavy to hang,

the stone away into hollows. slowly running clown walks, and dirty.

As

the rain a

streams were

Little

by the sides of the gravel

every bit of path looked for the birds, they did not

bit,

muddy and

seem

to

mind

but were hurrying about the grounds

picking up the worms, slugs, and snails that the

cooling rain had fetched out of their hiding-places, so that they were having a regular feast; while one thrush,

had the

who had first

evidently been an early bird,

and

pick at the worms, was up, high up, in

the cedar at the corner of the

field,

whistling

away

i68

Hollowdell Grange; $rf

as though the happiest of .getting

washed

to cover

diem

;

The

birds.

roses

were

had begun

clear of the blight that

and everything seemed to be drink-

ing in the soft cooling drops that

bathed the face of nature,

so gently

fell

and

for during Fred's visit

the only rain that had fallen was that which accom-

panied the thunderstorm, and since then the hot

sun had drawn that

many

all

the moisture from the surface, so

things began to appear parched,- and to

heat

flag in the noontide

regular soaking morning

overnight,

when people get up on these

-and to feel dull

—there

or gapish, whichever

is

that folks feel yawny,

the best word

looking out at the gloomy prospect

—

3ook rather gloomy

rains,

in these

heavy

and

;

tl>e

after

for places will

which are

different things to the soft, passing

•which lay

very wet

a want of elasticity in the

is

is

was a

liable to get low-spirited,

and the consequence

Tery

it

and, after being very tired

;

soaky mornings they are

air,

Altogether

showers

parched dust, and when the sun

*

shines forth

makes the

than

ever soon

after,

and

the pearly drops glitter and sparkle where

they haag .at

brighter

—

to spray or leaf

I say, after

looking out

gloomy prospect, people often turn-round

and look

at their bed,

shaped impression they

and the nice comfortablyleft

there ; and I have

known

people so weak as to get into bed again and go to

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. sleep

and amongst those weak enough

;

into bed was Fred

directly after,

go

to sleep, for r

Harry and Philip charged into the

nearly dressed

and seeing what Fred had

;

been doing, they seized the off,

get

to

but he would have required

;

strong enough to

to have been

room

i8<^

and then pretended

to

clothes,

whisked

rhe:rt

smother the poor idler

with his own pillow. "

Now ain't

that sneaky, Phil, to call

up and then go and crawl

into

two

bed again

?

fellows-

Fetch

the sponge."

But Fred did not wait

began

to shuffle into his clothes as

could. M Well,

made

to the

window and looked

out,

and

" Oh," said

a grimace at the weather.

"what a bother; and we were going up the

Camp

Hill botanizing."

" No,

we

weren't," said Philip

should not go "

hard as ever he

look what a miserable, cold, wet morning

Harry ran

he,

he

said the sluggard.

it is,"

then

for the sponge, for

Good

we'll find

till

job, too," said

Harry

something to do, see

;

to sleep.

Papa

said

we

was so

;

if

" but never mind r

we don't

Oh

1

I

to bring out the microscope

and show us the I

"

Monday."

know Papa promised last night

;

insects, only

jolly tired."

we

all

went

"

Hottowdett Grange;

tgo

"You

or,

weren't so tired as I was." said Philip.

" Yes, I was," said Harry, " ever so " I know you weren't," said Philip.

much more."

i

How do you know that?" said Harry. " How do you know that you were " said "

?

a Because I

felt so,"

"Well, so did

Philip.

said Harry.

I," said Philip. F

44

Oh

bother/' said Harry, finding no bottom to

!

" I know who. was most tired

the argument.

was Fred,

for

he went to sleep

;

it

with a bit of

first

bread and butter in his mouth." " I didn't/ 1 said Fred, in lignantly.

"That you did;

Ma

didn't he, Philip

both laughed at him

but that

I

and

and Pa and

I wasn't so sleepy

saw Pa get Kirby and Spence's 'Tomo-

down to read, and himself now then

lean back in his

chair

no progress was made

in the

logy

—

During

\

1

!

this dispute

dressing; but, upon Harry suggesting that they

should go and peep at the specimens they obtained

on

the previous evening, they

all

scrambled through

the rest of their dressing, and hurried study,

where

all

the boxes

down

to the

had been placed over-

night.

Harry run down

finished stairs,

dressing

first,

and would have

but was prevented by Philip,

who

locked the door, and then passed the key to Fred,

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

«o

that Master

Harry was compelled

the others were ready. sliding

down

At

At

to wait until

they descended by

the banisters, Philip leading

Harry nearly upsetting him

down

last

iy$

at the

off,

bottom by

and

sliding

too quickly and coming into sharp contact.

last

they burst, pell-mell, into the study, as

if

they were soldiers about to sack a town, and perhaps, too, a

little

more impetuously.

"Gently, gently," said Mr. there reading

"

Oh

!

we came

;

Papa,

Inglis,

" what's the matter

we

did not

%

who was

sitting

"

know you were

here

to look at the specimens," said Philip.

But the specimens were not to be touched

till

the ahemoorij for Mr. Inglis was going over to the

town.

But he promised that the microscope should

be brought out

in the evening,

and then sent the

boys into the breakfast parlour, where they found Mrs. Inglis making the .

tea,

Breakfast being finished, Mr. Inglis started

off

through the miserable, wet, drenching morning,

and the boys were

left

to

amuse themselves

as best

they could, which they did by getting ready their fishing-tackle for the dell's

lake,

promised

trip to

Lord Copse-

which had been almost forgotten, so

many amusements had been awaiting them day after day but which it was now decided by Harry ;

-should take place

on the following Tuesday morning.

Hottowdtll Grange;

192

To

the great delight of

all,

or.

about twelve o'clock r

the clouds began to break, and the sun to peep out, so that

by the time Mr.

Inglis returned

it

was

quite a fine afternoon, and he promised that he

would go with them

evening to destroy the

in the

wasps* nest, while the afternoon being so fine left

them

at liberty to have a run

selves with out-door sports, that the microscope

and amuse them-

—always

remembering

was to be brought out

in

the

evening, the taking of the wasps' nest being only

looked upon as a small portion of what was to be done.

Mr.

got very

Inglis

arrangement of of catching cared very

his specimens, for the

them being for the

little

past,

more

over the

assistance

little

excitement

Harry and

Philip*

delicate operations of

pinning out and arranging, which required great care and nicety

—the

showing every rude

tender wings of a butterfly

toucfe

and finger-mark

despoiled feathers ot plume*, with which

its

in

the

pinions,

are adorned.

Mr. in^ks

engaged

m

r

tv

this

as sitting in

his

study very busily

manner, and surrounded

wnh

ento-

when he saw the boys dash by the company with Dick to hunt for water-

mological pins,

window rats

in

by th«

river side.

Dick had been

willing

enough

to go, for

weather

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

seemed no object

him

to

he was always ready

—

hail, rain, or

rather run after nothing at ;

03,

sunshine,

for a hunt, race, or anything,.

and, by his actions, showed

his kennel

1

this tying

all

that

he would

tar

than be tied up by

up being a task not easy

to

perform unless he was tired out, for Dick used to

be seized with deaf

would scamper at last have to

fits

off in

upon these occasions, and

some

other direction, and

be hunted out and ignominiously

dragged to his chain, most likely by one

have seen when he was out

after the

lover of liberty was Dick, one

ear, as

snakes

who abhorred

we

for a-

;

chains*

as fully as any negro dragged from the burning. coast of Africa

but the poor fellow was compelled.

;

to wear the chain for long hours every day,

and

therefore his reluctance to return to his collar when-

once he was

dog was

free of it

in full

But upon

enjoyment of

this afternoon the

his liberty,

and

off to

the river side, as I have said before, to have a rat

hunt. It

was a

capital

hunt the boys had that afternoon,.

although nothing was captured

;

still

Dick almost.

had hold of one great wet fellow by the he

just

as the

managed

to save

dog came up

to

it,

by dashing

tail,

which

into,his hole

and stood barking and

snapping his teeth because he was so disappointed.

There was no end of

rat holes in the

bank over-

;

Hollowdell Grange; or9

X94

hanging the little

but

river,

it

appeared as though the

animals had an instinctive aversion to making

the acquaintance of a dog, for snug enough they

kept themselves in the above-named holes, and, as it

appeared

rats

after

a couple of hours' search that no

were to be obtained, the lads slowly sauntered

back

to the

Grange

rather a disaooointed frame

ir?

But the boys consoled themselves with

of mind.

the idea that there was to be

evening,

and

when

some good fun

in the

the wasps' nest would be taken

at last, without

any further adventure than that

of Dick hunting somebody's ducklings through the horse-pond, and having to be pelted with large pebbles to

keep him from catching one of them

—greatly

who would have been only he knew to whom the dog knew that if any mischief befel

to the disgust of the owner, in a great passion,

belonged, and also

the ducklings he would be well recompensed for his loss.

However, Dick was persuaded to leave

fountain of himself as

making a sort of canine he shook the water out of his

coat, he consented to

walk quietly home behind

the

pond

at last, and, after

young masters, and was kennel, to doze

company,

away

safely chained

his

up by his

the time, with the raven for

until the next

run he could obtain with

the boys.

As soon

as tea

was

over,

Mr.

Inglis

made

pre-

;

Holiday Hours

Country Home.

in a

195

making

parations for taking the wasps' nest, by

Harry take a spade and dig out a piece of

down by

yellow clay from

and

he had

then, after

the

little

stiff

gravel pit

well-kneaded the mass,

the fumigating bellows were once

more obtained,

plenty of hot cinders placed inside, and upon them

a small quantity of

brimstone

flour of

;

which

after

the garden was crossed, the plantation reached, and the fallen tree reconnoitred.

The sun was

just setting,

of the wasps hushed to a

and the busy day

faint,

hum

low murmur, while

not a single insect could be seen either going

in or

Mr. Inglis then made Harry apply

out of the hole.

the mass of clay to the nozzle of the bellows, and fix

tightly

it

round them, so that when the

ment was applied

to the

instru-

hole the clay could be

pushed close up, and every cranny closed by the plastic mass, so that nothing but the deadly

would go At

by

in.

last all

was ready, and the

Philip, for

of his faint

vapour

father.

first

puff was given

he was operating under the direction

At

hum within

that

first

puff of the bellows the

the fallen tree increased to almost

a roar, as the infuriated

little

insects vainly rushed

about to gain an exit from the suffocating prison in

which they were closely confined.

Upon

hearing

the noise Philip almost dropped the bellows, but,

o a

Hottowdcll Grange;

i$6

word from

at a

— purl—

puff

and

fainter

puff,

till

fainter,

and then they knew

Then

the

up with

obtain

Mr.

Inglis

as

was

nest

the

Harry was

it

die noise within the tree

and

grew

entirely ceased

last

at

that the fatal

work was

clay,

and the

tree left as

Monday morning, when Sam was

some wedges and a to

he kept on steadily

;.

done..

the bellows were withdrawn, the hole care-

fully closed till

father,

his

or,

beetle

and

split

having the tree

for

was of opinion that

for the time,

to get

if possible.

split at it

was

open, so as

it

damage,

without

it

once, but

had better be

left

and led the way towards the

house.

As soon

as they

were

all

seated in the dining-

room, Mr. Inglis brought out the large mahogany

box containing the microscope, with specimens which he had prepared

the different

for inspection,

and Fred was soon astonished with the wonder* which he saw, such as

flies'

eyes, displaying within

themselves innumerable other tiny eyes, each evidently possessing there was flies

;

down

its

own powers of

of! a butterfly's

vision.

wing

j

Then

die wings o€

the wing-cases of beetles, displaying colours-

of the most gorgeous hues, and glittering cious stones

;

like pre-

tiny insects, such as -ve seen creep-

ing upon the opening buds of roses

with numberless

oilier

things,

;

and

all

these,

were displayed to

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. the astonished boy's gaze.

197

Most of these had been

seen by Harry and Philip many times before, so that Fred had a very long inspection of the microscopical wonders, and was greatly puzzled to under-

stand

how many hundreds

could be magnified

;

of times any

little

object

and, on afterwards looking

beside the microscope at the speck upon the glass plate, which,

when he looked through

the instru-

ment, had appeared to be of the most gorgeous he could scarcely believe that both objects

tints,

were the same; and he .kept taking the instrument to look -with

a wondering

And Mr.

air,

down

his

eye from

the side, and then,

back again.

so the evening quickly passed away,

had a large collection of objects

Inglis

for

for the

microscope, and, what was more, a genial way of chatting about them, imparting plenty of useful

knowledge 3,

manner

ing:,

at

at the

same

that the boys

time, but in so interesting

were never

and would hardly believe

last

it

was bed-time.

it

tired of listen-

when thev heard

Hollowctdl Grange; or%

$9$

CHAPTER SUNDAY

The to

XI *

THE COUNTRY.

IN

next day being Sunday, the boys walked over

church with Mr. and Mrs. Inglis

old church that looked as

if it

was

—

to the pretty

built

of

ivy,

so

thoroughly were tower, nave, and chancel covered with the dark green leaves, which had to be kept

cut back or they would the

windows

and even then, long green shoots

;

were dangling about take

have soon covered up

advantage

and commence

of

in

a

veiling

all

week the

directions,

or

two's

ready to neglect,

old stone mullioned

WIMwuWS. This was Fred's the

first

lowering,

first visit

Sundays of

and

dining-room

;

his

to the church, for

stay the days had

Mr, Inglis read

prayers

in

on

been the

and now that the lad followed hi*

cousins out of the bright sunshine, through the

old porch, and into the dim venerable-looking

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. building, everything struck different in

as being so very

fr*m what he had been accustomed to see

London.

washed

him

X99

walls,

Here there were the bare whitewith the old tablets upon ihem, and

here and there an old rusty helmet, or a breast-

and a

plate

Then

fair of gauntlets.

there were

the qoaiat cAd brasses of a knight or squire and his wife, with a step-like •ide,

and

all let

row of children by

in the old blue slabs tHat

their

paved

the fimor, •ver which the worshippers of succeeding

generations had passed for hundreds of years since. ^

Then,

to*,- tfc«rt

Knight Templar

was the recumbent figure of the lying cross-legged, with his

mpen a d*g,

resting

or

some

and carved te represent armour

j

the

#W

curious heraldic beast,

having worn chain

his

#ak pulpit

stained jlass ii tme

windows

quaint app earam^e of

many

;

;

the

fragments of

and, above

tfet

;

the

These

things that took Fred's especial

attend** wfres he

church

all,

of the country people,

dressed aa they were in their Sunday best.

were ainmng

feet

first

entered

the old village

but whtm, instead of an organ, the choir

commenced skfing

to the

accompaniment of aa

old clarionet, a Hassoon, and bass

viol,

Fred was

completely astonished, for he had never been in

a

church before where there was not an imposingktoking imstnmtat, with

its

large rows of gilt pipes*

Hottowdell Grange: erf

Joo

However, the hymn,

spite of the

in

bad accora-

and the

'paniment, was very sweetly sung,

service

beautifully read in the soft silence of that old, old

-church, with the thousand scents of the country floating in through the

own

like Nature's

open doors and windows,

incense entering the temple of

Nature's God.

Fred

sat

and

listened,

and by degrees

all

that

was r

-quaint

and odd seemed to fade away, and leave

nothing but the solemn stillness of the place, with the calm impressive voice of the clergyman telling of the goodness '.oo,

and love of

making shade

ear,

full

many

seemed

The

wheat

acres of rank

to sparkle clearer

&om

was, contrasting the bright country air

landscape

church

in

—the

air;

little

fashionable

London

noisy street

:

jad

the

and the

London

hot

dusty

the oppressive

and then he thought how he would

Ijke to live at

Hollowdell far ever.

Roys are very quick tions,

the

with

fashionable

lavement choky

the

Altogether, Fred co«Id not help, boy as

Tipples.

lovely

river,

and brighter than

?ver as the bright sun's rays flashed

Aie

Then,

shade of green appear to sweep over the sur-

face of the *too,

Maker.

the quiet walk back, with the breeze gently

waving the corn now in after

his

in

making

tkeir determina.

and Fred thought he was quite

right in hi»;

2«

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

tmt he had never been down there

in the winter,

-when the clay stuck to the boots, and the leaves

had forsaken the

trees

;

came drenching down times

swollen

the

meadows.

when the cold soaking

rain

and

oft-

day

tor

river

after day,

would be flooding the

Fred had never realized the country

in those times,

whon

preference those

as possible

it

was

who could

in such a state that

stayed as

much

by

indoors

but no one, to have looked at the

;

present aspect of things, could have supposed such

Sunday

a change possible.

in

the country, in the

long bright days of summer, truly it is

only then that the young

ness and

beauty,

is

delightful, for

the cessation

for

from sports

leaves the young minds time to think a

upon what But strain, all this

am

my young portion of my

and

getting into too serious a

readers will be for skipping

story; so

I

must hasten to

summer evening was spent walk down by the pleasant wood

say that the calm delightful

where out of

grew

later,

river in night-jar,

more

little

around them.

is

find that I

1

calm-

fully realize the

a

side,

their reach the party could see, as

it

the light mists begin to curl above the

many was

while every

in

a graceful fold. out,

Fred's friend, the

and the nightingale

now and

in full call,

then his sweet song was

rupted by the harsh "

Tu

inter-

— whoo — hoo—hoo—

o,"

to 2

HoRowdcll Grange; orf

of an owl somewhere in the recesses of the wood.

Then

the return

home was made, and soon

after

the lads were asleep and dreaming of their botanical trip to the

Camp

HilL

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

CHAPTER

*o$

XV.

STALKING ON STILTS.

•Up—up — up—up—up—hilli—hi—ho—o-o-o 1* shouted Harry, ing.

"

who was

first

Come, boys, botany

for ever

1

Di-andria and

and ever so many more of them,

Poly-andria,

Camp

be up the

awake the next morn-

Hill

and then there

;

will

will

be

monogamia, and cryptogamia, and ever so many

more games, boys, get up

here, there, ;"

Come,

and everywhere.

and then Harry accompanied the

request with a hearty bang from his pillow, the result of

which was,

in the cases

of both brother

and cousin, a leap out of bed and a regular

scuffle

\

then hasty dressing, and out in the garden again

amongst the dew-wet u

flowers.

There's old Sam, shaving

away

as usual," said

Harry, as they reached the lawn, and saw the o!4

man busy

at

work with

what he has got

to

tell

us

his scythe. ;

I

know

"I

wonder

hell have

some

Hollowdell Grange;

ao4

or^

Ah hate to have us with him."

But Sam, although he expected teased very

much upon

made a remark which

completely turned the cur-

away they

not to be

let loose,

The

— hop, hop, hop — behind

one a dig with tricks

Philip,

his

\

but Dick was

and he soon showed

gust by sharp angry barks.

poke

started

all

to the yard.

Dick greeted them with rapture

slily

was not to be

morning, for Philip

this

rent of Harry's thoughts, and

back

it,

hard beak

;

his dis-

came

old raven

them, to give some but Fred

knew

now and kept him at a distance; who was not attending, received a

right in the calf of the leg,

his

while

sharp

which sent him

chasing his aggressor round the yard, armed with the stump of an old birch

broom

;

but the raven

hopped upon the dog-kennel, then upon the

wall,

and from thence up into one of the horse-chestnut trees,

and so out

was thrown

him

at

reach, for

of it

when

the

broom

only crashed amongst the

branches and came to the ground, while the raven turst out into a series of harsh barks, that sounded

much

very "

An

like

old

bleeding a

a laugh of derision.

beast,"

little,

ius trousers.

said

Philip, for his 'leg

was

the dig having gone right through

"Never mind,

I'll

serve

him

out, for

Fll

him

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

205

him the next time

I catch

kt Dick loose

at

in the stables."

Meanwhile, Harry had entered the stable and

climbed up the perpendicular ladder into the

loft,

where the boys could hear him stumping about

itt

the dark place, stumbling over the hay and straw trusses,

and

at last

he shouted

"Why,

they're not here, Phil."

" Yes,

they are/' said the one addressed.

put 'em there myself, up in the corner,

"I

after

we

Look again." Harry looked again, and again, and could not find what he was in search of, and said so and then Philip called him "Old mole's eyes," and had them out

last time.

\

went up himself; while Fred' waited underneath the trap-door.

But Master Philip had no better

tuccess than his brother, and they

conclusion that the

were gone

;

stilts

it

to the

they were in search of

when Harry Fred occupied, and

so they turned to descend,

eaught sight of the position pointed

came

out to Philip

j

and then, making

and catching up an armiul of hay,

signs,

Philip doing the

lame, the result was that poor Fred was nearly

smothered beneath the fragrant shower that came

down upon

"Oh!

his head.

I'll

pay you for

this,

Master Harry,"

•aid Fred, freeing himself from his load,

and

rightly

Hollowdell Grange;

so6

or,

the author of the mischief. " Min^.

judging

who was

that's a

debt of honour, so look out"

Hany

grinned defiance, and then hunted well

through both stable and coachhouse for the missing but without success.

stilts,

"

Why,

know where

I

they are," said Philip

all

at once.

"No, you

old clevershakes,"

don't,

said his

brother.

"Well, you see

if I

don't

said Philip.

tell,"

"I

know old Sam has hidden them because we walked all down the gravel-walk last month, before Fred came and don't you remember it was wet, and we pretended that it was a flood, and that we ;

were obliged to

use*

water; and then

we had made stilts *

"

the

stilts

to

keep out of the

Sam went and

the path

told

Papa

that

of holes with the

all full

"

Oh

!

ah

I recollect," said Harry

1

member your going down in you think Sam took them V

;

" and I re-

the puddle.

But do

1

" I feel sure he did," said Philip. " Won't

"

Come

we

on.

serve

him out

then," said Harry.

Let's pretend that

we know

he's got

them, and ask for them at once."

Now,

old

Sam had been

all

this

time very

methodically shaving away at his grass, and con*

"

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

207

upon the boys keeping out to his horror and disgust, he

gratulating himself

of*

the garden

at

but,

;

length saw them

all

evidently

full rush,

come bearing down upon him bent upon some errand that he

would consider unpleasant

Ha

"

!

and drawing

Ha

wants to

!

his scythe,

rubber out of the sheath on his

his

know what you know how the wopses'

"

back.

Sam, stopping to wipe

" said

wants.

all

I

nest

is

You

a gettin'

on."

" No,

we

" but we'll„go

our

stilts,-

spokesman Harry We want presently and see, though.

don't,"

said chief

that you've got somewhere."

* ,

.,.

" Laws, Master Henry," said the old man, pre-

tending to be innocent, " whatever of that "

made you think

?

Come now,"

said Harry, " give 'em

or we'll run away with your tools.

up

directly,

Give us the

stilts."

" I ain't got "em," said the old man. .

" No, but you've hid them away somewhere ; so

tell

"

us directly." Stilts

stilts

—

stilts,"

said

Sam, wonderingly ; " what's

r

"Why, you know "and I know you've

well enough,"

said Philip;

hid them away somewhere,

because you thought we should forget them and

Hollow
ao8

not want them any more; so come now, Sam, us where

they are, or we'll

tell

begin to plague

all

you." " No, I weant," said Sain* throwing off "

guise. '

brog

full

You

—brog'

don't want them, all

down

in pattens.

I

you'll

making

the walks,

dis-

only go

the place

when people has been

of holes, and worse than

down 'em

and

all

weant

tell ee,

theer," said

the old man, defiantly, in his broad Lincolnshiredialect.

"Yes, you

will," said

Harry

"1. weant," said the old

"

;

man

now come."

again, beginning to

mow. "

Never mind,"

said Harry,

4t

we'll

a look at the wasps' nest, and see killed,

and then

I

know what

"

if they are all

we'll

Fred," he said loudly, " Phil and

how

go and have do.

I sayr

I will

show you

to himself,

and burst-

they thin grapes.**

Oh

!

laws," said old

Sam

ing out into a cold perspiration, for his grapes were the greatest objects of his pride, and he used

to-

gain prizes with them at the different horticultural

shows

in

the district

Even Mr.

Tnglis

himself

never thought of laying a profaning hand upon bis

own

grapes,

brought them

until

Sam had

in for dessert

;

cut

them and

and now the young

dogs were talking of thinning them, and the sharp-

""

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. pointed scissors lay

2og

ready; and wnat was worse,

all

the key was in the door of the green-house.

"

Oh

dear

his scythe,

!

oh dear

!

" said

and hobbling

provokingly in

front,

off after the boys,

and popped

the

into the green-

out,

and

I'll

tell

"

I'm

ee wheer

stilts are.'

"Honour "

come

;

who kept

" There," he said,

house just before him. bet out with you

Sam, throwing down

Oh

ah

!

bright, !

coming out

Sam?"

yes," said

from

said Harry.

Sam.

beneath

And the

then the boya

pendent

green

bunches of grapes which hung thickly from the roof, the old

to breathe

man

more

locked the door up, and seemed

freely

when he had

the key safely

in his pocket.

" " "

knew he'd hid.them," said Philip. Now, then," said Harry, " where are they ? I've a ^ood mind not to tell ee, you youn£

I

dogs," said Sam. " We'll get in at the windows, then," said Harry

and Philip

in

a breath.

The old man glanced over his shoulder, and saw how easily the threat could be executed, and then* with a grunt of despair, said "

Now,

if I let

to w»lk in

"Yes,

them

ee have 'em, will you promise not in die garden,

yes," said the

boys, 15-

and make holes

?

and then Sam led

Hollowdctt Grange; or%

2io the

way

to the stoke-hole of the green-house, where,

tucked up in the

rafters,

and

roiled tightly

piece of matting, were the two pairs of

The boys

up

in

a

stilts.

them with delight; and Sam

seized

turned to go on with his work; but just as the

reached the yard, and prepared to

stilt-stalkers

mount with

their

the breakfast-bell,

backs to the

down went

wall,

the

clatter

stilts,

went

and away

scampered the boys to the breakfast-room window.

On

the way, however, they met

Ms

breakfast,

and

in

Sam

going also to

doing so he would have to

pass the yard, and Harry remembered that they

had

Philip

old

the

left

stilts

scampered back again,

man

;

so he

in his gravel-walks,

gathering them up

stilts

which

and he was

when he heard

and, leaving the

and

just in time, for the

could not pass the instruments

poked holes steps,

there unprotected

just

the boys' foot-

on the ground, he

Shuffled off as hard as he could.

They took to place it

up

the

in

stilts

indoors, and into the hall,

a corner, and

struck Harry

how

nice

just as they

would be

it

to

were inside walk along

the large hall upon them ; for the floor was composed

of black and white marble could have one

stilt

on

in

diamonds, so that he

a

black

diamond -and

another on a white, and then change about again.

So he got

his

back up

in

the corner where the

— Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

2

1

r

macintoshes and great-coats hung, and then put

one

foot in

one

and made a spring

stilt,

to get into

the other, but gave his head such a crack against

came down quicker

the brass hat pegs, that he

than he went up, and then nibbed his crown with

How-

a very rueful expression of countenance.

Harry's was not a nature to be cowed at

ever,

a

slight difficulty

he had another u

Stump

;

so shifting his position a

and was

try,

— stump

stump," went Harry

stump

;

stump

stump

;

down

— stump

fairly

;

mounted.

— stump

the hall

stump

little,

;

stump

;

"

and

— stump/'

back again, with a face beaming with

stump he went

satisfaction,

but so intent upon what he was doing, that his forehead came sharply into collision with the swing lamp, and

made

the glass,

and Harry's teeth as

well, chatter quite sharply.

"Bother the stupid things," said Harry; "I 1

they would

-wish

have such things

not

in

the

hall."

Philip stood lt

Stump

on the mat and grinned.

— stump

;

stump

— stump

stump

;

j

1

stump," went Harry again, but keeping well clear of obstructions this time. j

h

"Whatever

is

that

noise?"

stumping of the

listening to the

no' further notice* 'for she -

said stilts

Mrs. \

but taking

was making the

+

p 2

Inglis,

tea, while

Hollcnvdell Grange; or,

3X2

Mr. Inglis was looking over the contents of a newspaper which had just come

—stump

"Stump

n

by post.

in

went the

stilts,

had slipped out of the breakfast-room was going on,

making a

and now stood

sort of silent

"Stump

— stump;

echo of

stump

angle," said the

stilts,

in

while

Fred

to see

what

the

doorway

Philip's grin.

— stump;

crish

— crash

the lamp, and Harry**

head.

"Whatever Inglis,

Mr*

those boys doing?" said

are

jumping up and going

to the door, closely

followed by Mrs. Inglis, and just as the young

was stumping back

knocking

after

his

dog

head against

the swing lamp.

Mr. and Mrs. Inglis had better have stopped in the room, for no sooner did Harry see his father's face issue from the door, than he left go of the stilts,

and one

fell

in

one

direction,

and one

in the

number one fell to the right, crash into the flower-stand, and chopped some of the best branches off the fuchsias ; while stilt number two oh unlucky stick! went crash down upon other.

—

Stilt

—

I

the great antique vase that stood in the hall

a pedestal, knocked

upon the marble Harry looked

it off,

and

there

it

lay,

upon

shivered

floor.

for a

moment

at his father,

At the vase, and then at the door

then

and rushing

—

—

"

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home*

out of

as hard

it

3x5

he could, was gone in a

as

tnoraent " Fetch back that boy/* said Mr. Ingiis, sternly,

as he walked back into the breakfast-parlour, and

rang the

bell for

the fragments.

Away

back

" Fetch

that boy."

darted Philip to execute his commission,

while Fred, his uncle

one of the servants to clear away

who

felt

very uncomfortable, followed

and aunt back into the room, where they

continued their breakfast

—Mr.

Ingiis only revert-

ing to the newspaper again, and saying nothing

The

about the accident. finished, but

cup

no Philip

nc> Philip

;

-was nearly done,

;

first

no Harry.

when Mr.

And

all

was

at last breakfast

Ingiis said 1

had hardly spoken, when Philip came

say that he could not find

and

tea

The second

no Harry.

" Wherever can those boys be

He

cup of

his brother

the time looking as miserable

in to

anywhere

and dejected

as though he had himself been the culprit Mr. Ingiis told Philip to fast

;

finished his

own

;

sit

down

to his break-

and then got up, and went

out of the room. In about a quarter of an hour he returned, fok

lowed by Harry, with tears,

his face bearing the

and something uncommonly

now and

like

then escaping from his breast.

mark* of

a sob evetf

r

Hollowdell Grange;

a 14

down

Mr. Inglis sat

Harry

or,

again to his paper,

tried to eat his breakfast, but

very badly indeed,

he caught

until,

was getting

looking towards his

ore

father,.

Mr. Inglis smiled, and that

eye.

his

and

smile seemed to act like magic upon the lad, for

he finished

making np

breakfast

his

time

for the lost

good

in ;

style— well

while the sobs gra-

dually ceased to interrupt his meal, and by the-

Harry locked

time he rose,

happy again a*

as

ever.

After breakfast,

when

the boys were alone, not

a word would Harry say about where he had been r nor yet wkat hJs father had said to him

happen

te

could not

know fiftd

that

it

him out

was no wonder in the garden,

;

but I

that Philip-

nor in stable r

coach-house* green*house, tool-house, or any other place upon tke premises the

boy had

;

for the fact was, that

rusfked out of the hall-door

and round

to the back doer/ where he had entered and

gone

up the back stasis to found him lj*mg upon

his room,

where Mr. Inglis

his bed.

I

know

also that

Mr. Ingfis had a long

talk with his boy,

and that

something was said about running away, making; but, as upon another occasion, the'-fault worse ;

when .thV Squire had fho library;

And then

I

a long talk with the boys

ir*

ddn't feel disposed to pla^the spy,.

" tell tales out of school

:"

for I

think.

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. that where correction or admonition tered,

and

I

it

concerns only those to

do aot approve

wounded, and

his

of*

whom

a boy's best

is it

215

adminisrelates;

feelings being

being also lowered in his

self-

esteem, by having witnesses of what takes place,

or eaves-
;

*i6

Hollowdell Grange; of 9

CHAPTER

XVI.

UP THE CAMP HILL. "

Oh

!

isn't this

in the day,

a pretty walk?*' said Fred, later on

as they were ascending the winding

road that led up the

.

Camp

Hill,

a road that at

every turn disclosed fresh views over the surrounding country. Inglis

and

The whole

all,

—Mrs.

party were there

and busy enough they were

collect-

ing sprays, flowers, and leaves, as they went along for rich indeed

and

was the

bright, as they

had

hill in floral

beauties, fresh

just burst forth into bloom,

Fred was busy as a bee collecting everything, and getting confused, and placing in his tin box the

same kinds of plants two or three times over but Fred was no botanist, only eager to learn and very hard and tiresome to remember he found the However, he soon names his uncle told him. :

;

learnt which were the

pistils,

stamens, petals, and

calyx of a flower, while of the other terms, the less

we

say the better

;

for although

Fred had read a

7

Holida v Hours in a Counirv Home, little

upon the

subject, his notions of classes

But

orders were rather wild.

enjoyed his

a

trip, for

for all that,

no one could have ascended

many

hill,

The path had been cut wood which surrounded the

disclosed.

it

through the

-entirely

while the feet pressed at every step upon the

soft green elastic turf,

texture,

and

grew of the

that here

in

pinky

wax

lilac bells

finest

Nowhere

in the shortest strands.

could be found such large heaths, with tiful

and

much

he

that path without feeling admiration of the beauties

1

else

beau-

their

looking as though moulded

while harebells, orchids, anemones, arums,

;

formed only a

which awaited the collector •collector

banquet of flowers

tithe of the, rich

was Mr.

—and

He

Inglis.

a most staunch

used to say that he

was one of the most ignorant of men, and the more he collected the more he found that if

No

out.

doubt,

he had kept entirely to one science, he would

have been more

skilled therein

but he said he

;

r

liked that idea of a famous essayist,

who compared +

man who devoted himself

one

thing,

to a tree that sent forth a tremendously great

bough

a

in

one direction, while the

posed of wretched "better

to

have a

F

many only.

subjects,

little iittle

entirely to

rest of the tree

twigs

He

was com-

considered

knowledge upon

a

it

good

J

than

to excel

so greatly in

one

HoUowdell Grange;

ii8

The view from

the

Camp

Hill

not be seen everywhere, for

was one that could overlooked a wide

it

England.

tract of the richest farm land in

called the

Camp

or,

It was-

from the entrenchment at

Hill

Romans

the summit, for here had the

in days long,

gone by established one of those mighty works sixteen, or seventeen

that, after fifteen,

bv the score

exist

still

in

our country,

to

centuries,

show how

powerful and highly-disciplined were the

Roman Emperors

that the

and,

if

to

Fred

sent into Britain.

was, however, rather disappointed at the

he expected

armies

Camp

:

have seen turrets and embrasures,

not cannon, at

and battering-rams.

all

events a few catapults

Rut no

there was nothing

;

to-

be seen but a broad ditch encircling the summit of the

and now completely covered with trees

hill,

and bushes, so

that the

bottom of the great trench

formed a walk, where, even rays were

at

mid-day, the sun's

completely shut out,

and where

nightingale would sing, all day as well as

the night

all

long. I

soon

am ashamed

to say that

tired of botanising,

all

three boys very-

and were searching about

the shady paths for anything or nothing, as the

case might be.

Now

it

was

after butterflies

the discordant cry of the jay told of at hand

;

while every

now and

its

;

now

nest being,

then the scampering

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. rustle of a rabbit

boys off

start the

instance the

white its

fruit

amidst the underwood would

in full chase,

some hazel

hole under

were deep

to have

its

flight

its

owner

till

little

down

scuffled

Once, while they

stub.

Philip gave a

brown owl

way down the

started from softly

dell,

and

but soon

quickened by a host of sand-

martins, which began to

old fellow,

its

an oak-tree, and

roosting-place in

slowly flapped

almost every

in

the thickest shade,

in

regular jump, for a great its

and

of their hunt was, seeing the

of the rabbit as

tail

2ig

they

all

mob

the

stolid-looking

passed out of sight

in

a

curve of the pathway.

Mr. and Mrs, Inglis were resting

in

a rustic seat

placed opposite one of the openings in the trees,

where there was a splendid view

right out to sea

;

and while Mr. Inglis was scanning the horizon with his telescope, the lads at liberty to

was

cursion

felt

themselves quite

have a good ramble. right

round the

Their

hill,

first

ex-

in

the

down

and here there was plenty to have taken

trench,

their attention for a

day there was an :

ant-hill,

swarm-

ing with those great black ants found in the woods,

whose

hill

of earth

:

looks one lightly shovelled-up collection

then, close at hand, they heard the regular

" tip-tap" of the great green woodpecker;

" pee-pet-peen

" of the

wryneck;

while,

thfe

harsh

from far

Hollawdell Grange; or^

220

upon

floating

off,

the

came the

breeze,

soft

r

sweet bell-tones of the cuckoo.

came

the harsh cry of the jay, to be suc-

again

ceeded by the

and every

Directly after,

cooing of the cushat doves

soft

was

interval

;

up by the bursts of

filled

£ong from the small finches, thrushes, and other In one fir-tree there denizens of the wooded hill. pair of tiny gold-crested

was a

insignificance

was quite enough

been struck down by a

them from

which would have

stick,

their fate but for the interposition of Philip,

been

who

seized his brother's

hand

to deal the blow.

arm

compact, with

fully

fearher-eaved

at

In a box-tree they found

it

a

bottle-tit,

tiny opening or

the side.

and hard to

tation, ;

—

its

he was raising his

as

the pretty covered-in nest of

r

to .keep

their

So tame were they that they could have

harm.

nest

beautiful

which seemed to consider that

birds,

little

wrens,

resist

was only about

It

doorway

was a great temp-

was the

five feet

beauti-

sight

of that

from the ground,

j

and they could have cut it

away with

orr

the oranch

the nest uninjured

;

and brought

but they contented

themselves with marking the spot by cutting an

arrow

in the

bark of one of the beech-trees, and

promising themselves that they would have the nest

when

a bird

the birds had

fluttered

done with

it

All at once

from a bush close by

— a bird wid»

1 1

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

a

large head

and marked

in the

22

wings with a good

deal of white, and off went the boys in chase

almost

at the first start, Philip

;

but

stumbled by catch-

ing his foot in a long bramble runner, and went

down

sprawling amongst the heather, with Harry

upon

his

enough

back,

to

Away went tured

the

broken

;

for

he

could

not pull up time

prevent

stumbling over his brother.

Fred,

alone, and very soon he cap-

strange

all

bird,

for

been

wing had

its

had Fred soon

but the muscles of the great beak

good

it

were

in a

knew

to his cost, by the nip the prisoned bird

state of preservation, as

gave

him.

Fred shouted out with the pain, but he had

grown more

stoical since his sojourn in the country,

and he held on

when he saw

declared,

swelled head it

to

Mr.

tightly to

his prize,

it,

which Harry

was a chaffinch with a

but afterwards, when they brought

;

Inglis,

he told the boys

it

was a

fine

male

SDecimen of the hawfinch, or grosbeak, rather rare bird in the British IsJes.

was made

for the prisoner

A

a

temporary cage

by tying him up

in

a

pocket-handkerchief, and then the party continued their ramble,

finding fresh objects to rake'Mheir

Once a weasel ran out up a moment to look at the

attention at every step. into -the path, sat strangers,

and then disappeared on the other

side.

'

;

J

Hollowddl Grange; or%

222

Fred was

him

how

understand

to

be; so he gave up still

gave

for giving chase, but his cousins fruitless

such a task would

and onward they

his intention,

went, with fresh beauties springing up before

them every minute.

If they

disposed, they might have

mosses and

had been botanically

from the

lichens,

their

filled

tiniest

boxes with

green to the

bright orange golden that clung round the branches

and sprays of the bushes.

Some

of the beeches

were almost covered with grey or creamy patches, of the most beautiful

patterns

and

wherever a rotten bough, or fallen

tints

while

;

tree, lay

upon

the ground, the moss seemed to have taken .

possession, and completely covered

vety

thrrsty,

Oh J

apa

Come "

:

I

know

'I

the hill: and I

are on now.

there's

don't

Let's get

something

back

in the basket.

along."

It's

no use

to

straight forward

And

we

side

once

"

down

ever so. far

!

know which l

with a vel-

said Harry, all at

Phil,"

u where's. the old spring

to

it

pile.

"I'm so u

full

.-

go back," said Harry, they can't be far

;

when

shout he did,

oft

a reply

;

"let's

I'll

go

shout"

came from no

L

L

very distant spot

;

so they struck off in the direc-

tion from which the

v

sound proceeded, and soon

found themselves again by the trench, where

*

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

223

portion of the gravelly soil had crumbled away, leaving the side so steep that Philip had to

down about

five

he could descend

feet before

Harry thought

further.

jump

a capital chance

this

for

a practical joke, and gave a heavy stamp with his heel, so 'as to

send a small avalanche of gravel and

down upon

stones

But Harry had not

his brother.

calculated rightly this time, for Philip, as he heard

made lower down

a buck leap, and

the stones coming, several feet

amongst the bushes

;

came

the side of the trench

by

whilst Harry,

his

stamp,

loosened about a cartload of gravel, and, in com-

pany with Fred, went down with

and they were

it,-

r

buried up to the knees in the loose

The

first

sensation

was

felt

fear

soil.

but,

;

upon

find-

ing that there was no further mischief to apprehend,

Harry burst out laughing for

he was

while

;

Fred extricated himself,

in the loosest part

who was

Philip,

to

of the heap of debris

have

.

been the victim,

p

1

seeing that his brother in a

was stuck

indulged

kind of triumphant dance round him. softly

punching

.his

head, and,

soil tighter at

every jump.

•'Oh! out.

fast,

—

Phil," said

don't,

of course,

making the

Harry; "pull a fellow

good chap."

there's a 1

But Philip would not, and threatened to leave

him

to his fate

;

so

Harry appealed

10 Frea,

and

"

Hollowdell Grange; or

•34 at

by

last,

his assistance, got

freeing the other proved his lordship

to

had

to

one leg

an easy

down and

sit

empty out the gravel and

task.

out,

when

After

which

pull off his boots,

sand.

Meanwhile Fred was looking at the place where the earth had crumbled down, for his curiosity had been excited by what a

beyond

it,

first

sight

appeared to be

a very peculiar shape, and then,

bit of old iron, of

just

at

what bore the appearance of a bone,

but so earthy that it crumbled under his foot. " I say ; look here," said he, pointing to something half enclosed in earth "

Why,

it's

;

" what's that

]

a skull," said Philip, coming up.

" You're a

skull

" !

said Harry, leisurely buttoa

fog up his boots again.

" Well, come and look," said Philip. " Not I," said Harry ; " you're up to some tricks."

" I'm not, I

and and

tell

you,

M

said Philip

there's another bit of one,

here's

so badly

an old

made

bone, with

all

;

farthing,

and, ugh

!

;

" it's a skull,

and some bones

j

such a thick one, and

why,

that's

a

bit

of jaw-

the teeth fallen out."

came up to them and law that, they had hit upon something more curious

Just then Harry

indeed,

—than

if less attractive

seen that day.

*uiything ihey

had before

HtHday Hours

"Why,

this isn't

a Country Home.

in

a ferthing," said Fred,

Roman

My

coin.

who had

"I know what it is, it's Papa has got one, some-

been examining the coin ft

225

;

thing like it"

Just then they heard Mr. Inglis calling close at

hand, and Philip bounded off to fetch him and tell

This hastened the Squire's

of their discovery.

and very soon he was

steps,

what the boys had

carefully inspecting

He

bare.

laid

immediately

confirmed Fred's opinion that the coin was

and

also said that

it

was of

silver,

bear the name of ConsUntine.

Roman,

and appeared to

Fred's piece of old

iron was unmistakably the blade of a sword, but

almost completely eaten away, and the bones and

two

skulls

were directly pronounced to be human

;

but they crumbled away to dust almost immediately"Bravo, boys," said Mr. Inglis at

have indeed made a discovery.

I

under the impression that

old

this

last; "you.

have long been trench

must

contain some curious antiquities, but never thought to see

them

laid

bare

m

so singular a manner.

We

must have spades and pickaxes up here to-morrow,, if

we can

get permission

gravel with our sticks

thing

m*re

to-day.

;

:

but

let's

turn over the

we may, perhaps, find some-

rt

" But won't the skulls and bones be nasty, poisonous, uncle

f

" said

Fred

9

and

Hollowdell Grange; ory

a 26

Mr. Inglis smiled, and then

"No, myboy#

said, I

God made Adam of thff dust of the earth, and how that it is said, To dust thou shalt return,' and here you see how that it is You have

read

how

that

'

Touch

so.

that

bone ever so

has crumbled away to

it

4

and you see

lightly,

dust of the earth

!

'

God

has so arranged, by His great wisdom, that the .

earth shall deprive everything of

its ill

odour and

poisonous nature when buried therein, so that even

some great pit upon a battle-field where, perhaps, scores of the slain had been covered in, in the in

-

course of time nothing would be found there but

our bodies are chemically composed

for

.rich, soil,

of nothing but salts and water.

what we commonly " Well, but

"

Has "

Oh

is

chloride of

salts."

how can

that be,

ever been proved

it

which

call salt,

sodium, but of earthy

do not mean

I

Papa V

1

said Harry.

" 1

my boy and

no way more simply than by the very people who dug this trench. What did they often do with their dead, Harry V* r9r !

yes,

"Why,

"Oh! •wicker "

-to

;

in

buried them., didn't they?" said Harry.

no,

I

idol,,

know; they used and put them

Why, those were

do that -with " Oh, ah

;

so

in

make

to

a great

and burn them."

the Ancient Britons,

who used

their prisoners," said Fred. it

was," said Harry

;

" I forgot"

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

227 h

"Why,

:

Papa 1 "

tt

they used to burn them

;

didn't they,

said Philip.

To be

what were

"

sure they did," said his father.

And

their urns for?" ±

"

Oh

don't know," said Harry, "

I

!

wasn't

if it

i

to

make

tea with."

" For

shame,

humouredly.

Hal,"

said

good-

Inglis,

" Why, the ashes of the dead were

collected and preserved

and what

Mr.

in

cinereai urns

these

are ashes but earthy salts

1

Of

course, in

the process of burning, the water would be entirety

driven

Fred has turned up another

But, look,

off.

coin."

For want of more

effective tools

sticks, the search for relics

than walking-

was not verv successful.

Fred found another coin, and Mr. Inglis turned out w

two more it

;

but nothing else was discovered, though

was evident that a protracted search would lead

to the discovery quities

for

;

.

oi'

perhaps

many

Mr. Inglis said that

this

curious anti-

had been a

very important station in the time of the

occupation of Britain

owner of an

;

that property

and he regretted

Roman that the

was not a person who took

interest in such matters.

Mr. Inglis tried very hard to raise one of the skulls

;

but although the one that had been

most perfect

state at first

in

the

seemed hard enough to

Holkwddl Grange; or%

% 2%

down

roll

it

to be nothing else but earth.

seemed At

upon being touched,

the slope, yet,

the signal for starting was given, and,

last

iaden with treasures, the

little

homeward. + The walk was

party slowly

moved

sun was

lovely, for the

sinking behind them, so that the whole landscape

and the

sea were flooded with the golden

far-off

heat of the day, too, was passed, and

light.

The

for the

most part they walked home

shade of the

trees, while,

in the pleasant

one by one, as the golden

sunset paled, the moths and bats came out; the nightjar took his

the wood, as "

out,

Tu

if

;

round the trees;

and

just as they

to say farewell, an owl cried

—whoo—oo

!

"

and then was perfectly

The evening now seemed

again.

silent

flight

boomed and whirred

the beetles left

hawking

so cool

fresh that the boys forgot their fatigue,

and

and

kept on chatting and planning for future excursions

till

they reached the gates of the Grange, just

as the sun ceased to gild the weathercock at the

top of the church spire. "

Now,

I'm sure we

have had

;

quickly

and

;

" for

boys, be quick," said Mr. Inglis, all

want tea

after

so hurry,, hurry, and after tea

we

such a walk as

come down

will see

we

again

whether we can

find out to what period the coins belong." if ever

Mr ^i

Inglis

was quickly obeyed

it

was

—" Holiday Hours in a Country Heme,

upon

this occasion,

and, as to making a meal, I

think no boys ever could fair to talk

hungry

after

over the

a 39

but, there

—

it is

not

anybody would have felt such a ramble through the woods and about

But

hills.

for

it,

at last the

meal was ended, and

Mr. Inglis brought out his coins, and one or two

books of

reference.

and clean

His

first

off the rust of

movement was

about

to try

fifteen centuries

which time must have elapsed since they were last employed as " current money of the merchant : tut the

efforts

were not very successful, neither

were the attempts

at deciphering the inscriptions,

which were very

faint

and

up the must be

that

evening

tired,

illegible

so he gave

;

the truth

task

for

told,

Mr. Inglis was, like the boys

and not much disposed

if

for,

;

—very As

for study.

to

Harry, he expressed an opinion to his cousin in a very low tone, that the

and it

Romans were

so was their language.

But,

tired

;

and

aie vtcy tired, they often say very

cross and very stupid things

been the case

bother,

by way of excuse,

must be said that Harry was very

when people

all

;

and

at this particular

this

must have

moment, or Harry

would never have made such a remark

to his cousin

Tred.

Mr. Inglis afterwards had a long correspondence with the owner of the property, relative to the

230

Bolbwdell Grange;

or^ r

advisability of

making excavations

in the old iiv

trenchment; but nothing satisfactory came of for there did

it^

not seem to be any disposition to

grant Mr. Inglis's request; and, therefore, the place

remained unexamined.

Holiday Hours in a Country Home*

aj«

CHAPTER XVIL HIGH FLYING.

The

next morning the boys had their regular run

in the garden before breakfast,

and then Harry

divulged the plan of their morning's for the next

day was to be devoted to fishing at

Lord Copsedale's day, which was as

when they hoped to per* accompany them the present

lake,

suade Mr. Inglis to

suitable,

amusement

first

Mr.

;

chosen, not being considered

Inglis

noma

was going from

Directly after breakfast, they set about the part of Harry's plan, which

and tackle ready ness-like

left

next day

—a

all

the baits

most busk

proceeding, but quite in opposition to

Harry and cases

for the

was to get

first

Philip's general habit, for they in

their preparations to the last

Bvt not so now,

fbr>

most

moment

as I said before,* they wanted

Pap»*4o accompany them, and they well knew that he would not go unless there were plenty of

food bmHj aad the tackle Tfet irst thing to be

all in order.

done seemed to be

to get

*

Hollowdell Grange; trt

»3

some good worms from down by the cucumberframes, and then put them in some cool damp moss but Philip opposed this, and showed some ;

little

"

degree of foresight,

We

have never had the wasps' nest out of the

tree, yet

likes

h

for, said

and we

;

them

shall

for the trout

want old Sam

for

Papa

and chub, and we

shall

want the grubs,

to split the

up with

tree

his big

we go poking about round the cucumber-frames first, he'll turn grumpy, and wont

wedges

while,

;

the old willow-tree for us."

split

"That's split first

bed

if

;

right,

go and get die tree

Phil, so let's

and then

we'll turn

up the old cucumber

in fime style," said Harry.

Sam was soon

found, but

Sam was

Sam

busy.

was weeding the " inguns," and " inguns was more consekens than the nasty wopses." to

be coaxed and cajoled

but

;

Sam would

either coaxed or cajoled, for he

indeed

;

and the to

been

dew,

no

that morning,

and the

not be

was very grumpy

reason was, that he

mow

the lawn

So Sam had

had had

and there had

consequence was,

grass, instead of being easy to cut

from

its

the

crisp-

ness and dampness, was very limp and wiry, so that poor

Sam had a

very hard and unsatisfac-

tory job, and the effect of

it

all

was that he^as as

limp and wiry as the grass had been.

It

was of no

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

2$ j

use to say, " Do, Sam," or " Do, please, Sam," or

" That's a good old chap, now " or anything of that kind

for

;

Sam weeded away

amongst the

viciously

onions, and turned a deaf ear to everything

;

so

Harry, the impetuous, was beginning to grow cross too,

and

worms

to repent that they

at

had not obtained the

when Sam showed the weak side and from that moment he was a con-

first,

of his nature,

quered man. "

Ugh

!

"

said

Sam, straightening himself with

a groan, and rubbing his back where it ached, 4S Ugh how blazing hot the sun is always does shine like that when I be weeding. Oh, my back

—

1

1

And

Sam groaned, and stooped to his work again, saying, " And nobody never asks nobody to have so much as a drop o' beer." Oh, dear

"

I'll

!

"

fetch

then

you some beer, Sam,

if you'll

go with

us," said Harry.

But could

Sam do

didn't his

want any beer.

work without

did do more than wet his

Sam had

lips

Oh, no

He

beer. ;

given up the key of his

He

I

never

and so

on.

fortress,

and very

But

soon Harry had been up to the house to fetch

a

jug of foaming, country, home-brewed

as would really refresh the old for the day fair to

had

set in

become worse

—

if

man

ale,

such

in his toil;

excessively hot,

and bade

such an expression

is

not

"

HoUowddl Grange;

«34

So Harry took the cool jug up

& contradiction.

man, but "

to the old

But he

or,

did. thouerh

No

!

he didn't want beer " !

he would not own to

it

and

coaxing

was ever,

and weeded

his onions.

" I say, Sam," said Harry, with a knowing grin

upon

his countenance,

and pushing the jug just

under the old man's nose, " smells

Sam

say,

how good

it

!

couldn't help

foaming ale sighed,

I

his

in

it,

he got a good whiff of the

and he surrendered,

nostrils,

and stretched out

hand

his

for the jug,

then took such a hearty draught, that

it

and

seemed as

though he never wanted to breathe again. " Ha a a a," said Sam at last, with a comical

———

look at Harry. " Shall I fetch you the wedges, Sam?

"Eh!"

said

Harry*

Sam.

" Shall I fetch the wedges

Sam

" said

1

" said

Harry again.

did not answer for a minute, for his face

but when he took

was buried

in the beer jug

;

away

he gave another

sigh,

again,

wiped

his

it

mouth

with the back of his hand, and then said in a very different tone of voice to the

one he had spokea

in before

" Well,

I 'spose

you may as welL

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

235

So the wedges and the great mallet were soon fetched, when they all went off to the fallen willow, which soon gave way to the blows bestowed upon it,

and displayed a large hollow containing the

papery nest of the wasps.

Fred gazed with astonishment at the curious structure, with

its

innumerable

cells,

many of which

contained the grubs mentioned in connection with the fishing excursion.

dead

The poor wasps were

by the hundred, and were

lying

shaken

out,

brushed into a heap, and then buried by Sam,

who seemed

have an idea

to

process were not attended

probably come to of

that,

life

that, if this

latter

they would most

to,

There was no

again.

fear

however, for the suffocating had been most

effectually performed,

and not a

living

wasp was

visible.

By means

of a

little

was and r

careful cutting, the nest

removed from the hollow

tree almost entire,

without remembering to say " thank you " to old

8am, the boys carried the nest up to the house* and then went in search of their worms. Hany •oon fetched a

fork,

bag, while Fred, wriggling,

and Philip carried the moss-

who

hardly liked to touch the

"nasty things/

1

as

he

called

them,

looked on, C

Row Fred

was not much of a student of nature^

Holiewdtll Grange; &rt

*3$ after

all,

or he would not have called worms " nasty

have taken more notice of them as

things," but

damp

bed, and seen

that the
whose surface

they were turned out of their

reflected colours of prismatic hue, as bright

perfect as those

He

seen upon some pearly

and

shells.

would have seen how wonderfully the worms

were constructed tioned position

without

legs,

for the fulfilment of their appor-

the

in

animal kingdom

how,

;

or the peculiar t\wst of the snake,

they crept swiftly over the ground by means of their many-ringed bodies

by

and

;

also learned that,

their constant tunnelling of the ground* they

prevented the water that sank from the surface

from lying stagnant Amidst the roots of the

and thus

but enabled

rotting theaa,

larger spaces.

Thea,

too,

by

It

how

surface,

and helped

earth.

Their

these

all

rotted

straws,

and

beneath the

renew the strength of the

to

casts, too,

which they throw up

to fertilize

their peculiar habit

of drawing down dead leaves and small twigs,

trees,

those peculiar

at the

mouth of

little

heapi

their dwell-

ings,

formed another

earth,

by bringing up from beneath the surface

unspent

soil,

source of

and spreading

it

fertility

upon the

However, I must say, that

to

the

top.

I believe the

boya

thought of nothing else then, but of getting the

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

237

worms, and those marked with yellow

finest red

rings round the body, as being especial favourites

with the perch at the great lake.

At

last

on one

a sufficiency had been obtained and put

side in a cool place

with a pierced

;

and now a

was brought out half

lid

box

tin

filled

with sand, and the boys started off to the village

some

butcher's, to get

This

gentles or maggots.

time they did not choose the path by Water Lane, as on the morning

when they went

to

buy the new

round by the road, talking

water-bottle, but strolled

Fred

earnestly of the sports of the following day.

and

listened very attentively as they trudged along,

rather strange were the ideas he had stored

respecting the big lake the butcher's •monsters,

;

it

by the time they reached

contained

fish

of wonderful size

which always lay snugly

bottom

at the

of deep holes beneath overhanging trees

profoundly deep holes

!

up

— such

and when, by a wonderful

chance, one of these enormous fellows was hooked,

down he went into the

him

out,

to the

mud, so that

bottom and struck it

was impossible to draw

and then of course the

"Ah," Harry

said,

hills,

line broke.

"there were wonderful

in that great clear-watered

gurgling stream, that

his tail

lake, with

its

fish

bright

came dashing down from the

and entered one end to leave

it

at the othet

HoUowdeH Grange; or

,238

%

in a cascade, that

stones,

and along

went plashing down in a

mossy

xt*e

chain of streamlets and

pools through the dark recesses of the wood, it

till

There never

joined the river half a mile below.

could have been such beautiful golden-scaled carp

anywhere as for

else,

nor such finely-marked perch while, ;

they were enormous.

eels,

The

pike, too,

were said to be so large and so tame, that they

would come

to

the side to be fed, and therefore

would have been easy to capture

;

but his lord-

ship forbade any one pike-fishing in his lake, this

being a luxury he retained for himself, except on special occasions,

when he

invited a friend to join

him."

By

listening to such

-place, Fred's

a glowing account of the

mind grew so

excited that he would

have liked to have started at once

and

feasted. his eyes

butcher's 1

•

for the lake,

upon the wonders; but the

was now reached, and the

fat

dame

in

the shop. having been told of the cause of their visit,

'"Willum," the boy, was

called,

who armed

himself with a skewer, and then took the lads to a vile-smelling shed,

and a

where lay a heap of sheepskins

bullock's hide,

these, and*,

of an old

and from the

insides

of

by poking out from amongst tendons

^shin bone, the little tin :

filled with. the great,* fat*

box was soon

white maggots, the end of

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

whose

the beginning,

life,

the rest of

it,

seemed

to

239

and the middle, and

all

be to keep continually in

motion with one incessant wriggle.

The boy was acknow-

recompensed with twopence, which he

ledged by a tug at his greasy hair with his dirty fingers

;

and then a

visit

was paid to

where Harry bought a sixpenny

for

which Philip seemed

purpose,

alive to, but

of twine, and

and blue tea paper

three sheets of white particular

ball

the shop,

which they would not reveal

some to

be

to their

cousin until they returned home.

Only one more

had

visit

to

be paid, and that

was to a pretty whitewashed and thatched cottage, standing in fruit

and

feathers,

garden, which teemed with

little

its

flowers,

—bright crimson Prince of Wales's

cockscombs, stocks, wallflowers, and roses

while gooseberries and .currants were, bending the trees

down

the earth with the weight heaped

to

The window of

upon the boughs.

this -cottage

was. decorated with about half a dozen glass jars,

wherein reposed, in toffee,

lemon

Birch used

stick,

to

girls

coloured

sweets;

their sticky richness,

the

and candy which old Mrs;

make

boys and

green, yellow,

all

round.

no

for

the

delectation of the

She had no sticks

brilliantly-

veined with

blue,

and red upon pure white ground

\

no crystallized drops, or those of clear rose-colour;

;

;

Hollowdell Grange; or%

f 40

for all her " suckers," as they were called in the

neighbourhood, were home-made, and she used to

show

her customers the golden bright brass

all

pan which hung upon the wall by the fire, as the one in which all her succulent sweets were made.

And

where indeed were there such others ?

Even

who had feasted on Parisian bonbons, and made himself ill by eating strange fruits off Christmas-trees, owned to the purity and townbred

Fred,

delectability of old Mrs. Birch's " butterscotch

while, as to the praise.

brown lemon

stick, it

''

was beyond

Capital customers were the boys to the

dame, who was a wonderful business-like old body in her spotted blue print dress,

and clean white

muslin handkerchief pinned tightly over her neck

and she

told the boys in confidence

derfully extended trade she

credit;

but

might do

what a wonif

she gave

how determined she was never

to

on business except upon ready-money prinM>t which had been her intention ever since William, the butcher's boy, ran up a score of carry

;

tenpence threefarthings,

—a

score that had never

been paid to that day, and, what was more, the old lady expected that

The boys then stickiness,

it

never would be.

returned in a state of cloyey

and very soon

tions for the following

day

finished their prepara;

and

at last,

by dint of

Holiday Hours

a Country Horns.

in

coaxing, Philip persuaded

Cook

to

241

make a

little

paste; Harry borrowed the housemaid's scissors,

and then obtained from the tool-shed a couple of These he fashioned

straight laths.

to his required

and then, by means of a piece of waxed

size,

bound one

securely

Latin

cross,

twine,

to the other in the form of

a

the upright limb being about eight

These were now

inches longer than the others.

kept in their places by a tightly-tied string passing

from one extremity to the other of the limbs of the cross

;

and then by means of a loop of

the whole was balanced,

weight as

and found

to

string

be equal in

two side limbs of the cross

far as the

were concerned.

"Why, you

are going

to

make a

kite/

1

said

Fred.

"To

be sure we

are," said Harry.

" But the top ought to be round,

That won't be half a

like that.

"Won't that, for

a But " Fly

your »j.

don't.

!

it?" said

Harry: "it

be a

vvho.le one."

it

will

it

won't

fly,"

kite." will

be more than

said Fred.

" said Philip.

s.tupid

and not made

" It will

London-made

fly

kites;

twice as well as

you

see

if

it

»

Harry was not a criticism, but

bit disturbed

by

his cousin's

continued his job to the end, pasting

Hollowddl Grange;

243

away in the most

or,

manner,

spirited

a very respectable-looking

till

kite, half

on one

white, -which he then stood

he had made

blue and half

side to dry, just

as the dinner-bell rang. Directly after dinner the boys set to work to

make a wings

tail for

the kite, and also fitted

— Fred being employed meanwhile

the string off the ball

any pieces that might

when

on

exist, in

the kite was up, as

joke for

it

it

have broken

to

a

to

stick,

in

it

with

winding

and joining

case of an accident

would have been no But Fred was

loose.

not very well up in his task, and somehow or other

made a

perfect

and got

at last into a regular tangle, so that fully

Laocoon of himself with the

half an hour

was taken up

right again,

which was only done

knife,

and

the

at

string,

in endeavours to get

expense

of

at last with

many

it

a

yards of

string.

At length

all

went into the " I

Now,

made

fields to fly the

much

taken so

was in readiness, and away they

so

bottom of the

Away went

it

had

up," said Harry, " because

you go and hold up down

at the

field."

Philip with the kite,

ing the string as he went that they

that

time to manufacture.

I shall get

it;

machine

had got to the

Harry unwind-

when they found out wrong way of the wind. ;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

and must change and

when

then,

"Now

This was at length done,

places.

all

was ready,

then/' cried Harry,

but Philip held the kite too

and the conse-

tightly,

string

was

tied,

kite again

and a fresh

run,

starting off to

quence was the sudden check snapped the

and down went the

243

upon the

trial

string,

The

grass.

made, and

time

this

with rather better success, for up went the kite at

a great rate tipped,

for thirty or forty yards,

and came down head

when over

with what

first,

it

Philip;>

termed a "great pitch," to the ground.

"She wants more

tail,"

said Harry

;

by way of

so,

balance, two pocket handkerchiefs were tied to the

end of the paper tail, and another attempt was made, but

still

without success, for on

starting

again,

although the kite ascended capitally, yet when a

way

little

Harry turned round to loosen out

in the air,

more string as he went, and running backwards, went

down nead over string,

heels

upon the

and away went the

go of the

grass, let

kite in

a similar way to

Harry, but with the stick of string bobbing along the ground, kite

it,

and every now and then checking the

by catching in the grassy strands.

Philip

and Fred

but

was of no use,

it

string the kite

tried

hard to cut

it

off

and catch

for before they reached the

had lodged

in the cedar,

fcnomimously flapping about as

R 8

it

hung by

and was its

taiL

Hollowdell Grange

244

"Now, puffing

or,

;

a bore," said Harry, coming up,

there's

and panting; "we

shan't get

down

it

with-

out a ladder." " Pull the string and try," said Philip.

Harry did as pulled,

and

and

his brother said,

and

pulled,

at last set the kite at liberty, but with

the loss of half

which hung

its tail,

in the tree, with

the two pocket handkerchiefs fluttering about.

"

Why,

I

can climb up and get

"I know." " Well, why had

don't you try

much

lost

to affect

1

that," said

Fred

" said

;

Harry,

for

he

of the nervous feeling which used

him when anything of

kind was

this

in

progress.

"

He

can't get

it,"

"

said Philip.

He

couldn't

get the sparrow's nest."

But Harry stripped of a

lift

and soon contrived

one to which the

Harry was tail

by means

from Fred, got upon one of the great hori-

zontal boughs,

the

off his jacket, and,

kite

tail

at the thick end,

was twenty

and, as those

was

by the

to reach the

fluttering

But

tree trunk,

and

feet further off, at the thin

who have

tested the

lead pencils well know, cedar

is

wood

end

in their

very brittle.

Now,

Harry was no coward, but he knew

that he

be laughed at

so, in spite

if

he did not succeed,

;

would of

the danger, he prepared to creep along the branch,

— holiday Hours

Country Home.

in a

245

a very awkward thing to do from the numbers of small projecting twigs, and the prickly nature of the spiny leaves.

he persevered, and crept

Still

along a foot at a time, and nearer and nearer to the kite

tail,

at last the

till

branch began to bend

bringing his feet almost in contact with

terribly,

the bough below him. stretching forth

which held the

he went on, and

hand snapped

his

kite

Still

and threw

tail,

off the twig

down.

it

— snap — — crash — hurry — bump— bump — BUMP went a noise and, "Snip

crish !

time than

twenty

feet,

cousin's

on

"

to the grass at his brother's

and

remained,

he got up, and making a wry face, " There, I told I

you

I

looking very

when

white, frightened, and- confused;

Poor Harry

in less fully

tell it,

where he

feet,

;

down came Harry,

takes to

it

rustle

could get

all

at

once

said, it."

He was much quicker in his descent

than ascent, for the branch upon which he sat had

snapped

in

two and

let

him down from bough

bough of the thickly-limbed on the

last,

tree

which was not above

ground, and at

its

till

to

he bumped

five feet

from the

extremities almost touched.

It

was a most fortunate thing that he was not injured seriously full

;

but a few bruises and scratches were the

extent of the damages done to his skin, though

his trousers

and

shirt told

a very different

tale.

"

246

Grange;

Holloivdell

or,'

"There," said Harry again, rubbing the green

"I

off his trousers,

didn't 1

told

you

could get the

I

tail,

1

His companions both acquiesced

in the ability,

but did not seem to admire the plan of execution

any more than Harry, who walked with a kind of limp,

and contented himself with holding the

up when the

were completed, and

repairs

kite

letting

Philip run with the string, which he did so successfully that the kite

seemed

to

be most evenly balanced,

for

rose as the string was slowly let out,

a great

height,

air

and

rose

and

shot up into the

and then seemed

it

attained

till it

to

tionary in that soft and gentle breeze

be quite ;

but

all

sta-

the

while pulling hardly at the string as though alive,

and desirous to region

fly

— though

away and escape to some

its

bably have been the

destination first tree, or,

far-off

would most proescaping that, the

ground some quarter of a mile further on.

The boys it

sat

down

long grass, and took

in the

in turns to hold the stick,

by sending sengers,

— watching

skimmed

up

disks of paper

the

amusing themselves to the kite as mes-

paper

circles

lightly along the string.

very untrustworthy messengers as a

of them stopped

half, quarter,

the distance up the

string,

as

they

But they were rule,

for

some

or three-quarters of

sometimes

for

a long

Holiday Hours in a Country Home, time,

247

an extra puff of wind started them

until

what was worst of

again, and,

all.

they none of

them brought back any person.

They were and the

kite

sitting

down, dreamily watching the

great white silvery clouds floating across

the blue sky, looking like mountains in

land

some

far-off

some with snowy peaks, some with deep

;

valleys; but

all

clear blue so

with a background of that deep

noticed by us because so

little

fre-

^

quently to be seen.

on the

field

rently close

peculiar

and

right, rising

at

came from the

now

falling,

hand, then as

though

far

appaoff,

a

cry,-

" Creek dozen,

All at once

—creek

creek

;

when

times,

—creek,"

about a

for

was a pause.

there

again, the peculiarly harsh creaking cry

Then

was heard.

"There's an old meadow-crake," said Harry,

who was \xp

;

holding the kite

:"

"let's

perhaps we could catch

"But who's " Put the

Hany,

it."

to hold the kite V* said Philip.

stick in the ground,

at once setting to

into execution,

to which the

go and hunt him

by

and leave

work to put

it,"

said

his project

on6 end of the stick was tied deeply into a crack

thrusting

string

in the ground.

"That won't be stick.

safe,"

said

Fred,

trying the

Hollo wddl Grange; ory

248 "

Oh

yes,

it

on the top with " Creek

Harry, giving

will," said

his foot

;

"

come

— creek," sang the

along."

Come

meadow-

landrail or

crake, apparently a quarter of a mile

"

a stamp

it

off.

on, boys," said Harry again, running off

with a half limp, closely followed by Philip and Fred.

" Creek

—

down, away from where "There's an

where are you ] " Creek

enough

creek," said the landrail, far

old "

had been heard

at first.

stupid," said Philip;

"why,

he continued.

— creek

rail again, as

it

;

creek

— creek,"

said the land-

though just over the hedge, and not

more than twenty yards from them. a Here's a gap," said Harry, creeping through the hedge Philip

;

"

look sharp

;

we'll

have him."

and Fred crept through, and stood with

Harry, looking for the bird they were to catch; but

all

was

silent,

except the

hum

of the insects

amidst the hedge flowers. a

Now, there's an "Creek creek

—

bottom of the

artful thing," said Philip.

creek

— creek,"

*'

came from the

field again.

" He's "down at the bottom/' said Harry, running

along by the hedgerow toward the bottom of the field.

"

Creck^creck

;

creek

—

creek,"

&ud

the

bird

;

Hours

holiday

and away

again,

Home,

in a Country

Philip

started

the

in

249

opposite

direction.

"

Creek

— creek

;

creek

— creek,"

said

the

bird

again, close at hand.

" for

Why,

catch

I shall

it,"

he had stayed behind

;

said Fred to himself,

and now

started off into

the middle of the field in quest of the mysterious stranger.

" Creek

— creek

;

creek

— creek

;

creek

;

and up and down,

and round and round, ran the boys, stood together at their faces,

and fanning themselves with

bad as ever stopped

;

until they all

wiping the perspiration from

last,

while the provoking

"Creek

for a while,

and, though

attentively for

creek,"

and every-

cried the bird, apparently here, there,

where, but always invisible

—

—creek"

and then

their caps

kept on as all

at

once

they waited and listened

a long while, not another sound

could they hear. "Ain't

can "

tell

I

it

funny," said Philip, "that you* never

where those things are

" 1

think they must run very fast through the

grass, so

as

to

keep seeming

to

be in different

places," said Harry.

"Perhaps

there's

and they keep *

Ah

!

more than one,"

calling to

perhaps there

said

Fred;

one another."

may be

;

but I think there's

Hottowdell Grange; orf

t$o

Did you ever read

only one.

V

Book,' Fred

Merton.'

the jolliest

It's

much

written, ever so

the

book

better than

There's a bit in

Boys' Country

'

it

'

that

was ever

Sandford and

about some boys

playing truant from school, and they go hunting

a corncrake, as they

after

no end of

call

it

there,

and get into

and jump over a hedge into a

trouble,

garden, and break the glass, and get taken before

a magistrate.

and

!

we read

that

;

the magistrates for

The

lads

let the kite

time

I

did like that book

Phil

so.

always have had a hunt after the corncrakes

I

since

Oh

;

now

but

we

don't get taken before

it."

returned towards their playfield to

down,

for

it

was growing towards

tea-

but they walked alon^ very slowly, for they

were hot and

tired with

their

They

exertions.

were walking along by the hedge-side, when some* thing took Harry's attention, and

made him

leap

over the great bed of nettles, which rose from tha ditch, to the further bank.

"

Look

here, boys,"

nest, full of eggs

The

;

he shouted ; " here's a jolly

only look."

others were at his side in a

sure enough, Harry

had found a nest

of the hedge worth finding, for

it

moment, and, in the

bottom

was the nest of

one of the hens, which had been laying astray there were fifteen

till

eggs collected together, from

Holiday Hours in a Country Rome,

251

which the old truant no doubt meant to have a fine

brood of chickens

done so but

The

and perhaps would have

;

for Harry's discovery.

eggs were put in Fred's handkerchief, for

Harry's and Philip's were in the air,

crake

;

when they went

in chase of the

and then they went across the

the kite stick was intent

upon the

—

the stick

too

;

but

KITE WAS GONE!

There was no mistake about must go

first

when was gone ; the

to think of the kite

came to look, string was gone; THE if

at

where

—which they counted three

they did, and

matter of course,

meadow-

field to

They were

left.

eggs,

or four times over,

kite

a hundred yards high

left

it ;

and though,

as a

the stick went, the string

too, yet the

boys seemed to

and

make

the discovery in the above order, and thus have I

recorded the "

It's

facts.

blown away," said Fred

find it;"

and

off

he started

"

;

let's

go and

in the teeth of the

wind.

"What's the good of that V said after his cousin

;

"

it

will

be

this

Philip, shouting

way."

Fred returned as hard as he could boys started the

in,

as nearly as possible,

direction in which they

Every now and then they had but

still

;

left

to

and

off the

a line with

the kite

make a

flying.

deviation,

they persevered, looking into every garden,

"

Hollowdell Grange;

s$2

peering into every

tree,

till

or,

they were about a mile

from home.

Nobody had

heard of

so nothing remained but to trudge

it;

wearily back

— hot,

fagged,

seen the

and

kite,

nor yet

low-spirited, for,

as Fred said, " It was such a beauty

" And then there were our two

!

little

white silk

handkerchiefs," said Philip.

" And

all

that great ball of string," said Harry.

And then they trudged on again in silence, "Oh! do carry these eggs a bit, somebody," said Fred

;

"they are so heavy."

But they were not so heavy as they were at

first,

Fred had managed to give them a rap up

for

against something, and broken two or three,

— the

rich yolks having filtered through the handkerchief,

and "

only the shells behind.

left

Yah

!

'"'

said

Harry,

as he took hold of the

handkerchief, and placed one hand underneath to

steady

he

it

said,

bing

it

while he got fast hold. "

Yah how nasty," !

holding up his sticky hand, and then rub-

upon the

grass.

In spite of the disappointment they bad just met with, they all laughed heartily at

broken eggs, and soon

and went

the

first

after turned into the gate,

in at the side-door

was past tea-time thing that

;

Harry and the

when met

—hurrying

the

in, for it

boys stared, for

their gaze"

upon entering

Holiday Hours

in a

Country Home.

253

the hall was the blue and white kite, with the ball

of string neatly

wound

and the

up,

carefully from top to bottom,

against the wall as though

The cheer

the

boys

to the boys,

had

arranged

leaning up

all

had never been used.

gave

brought out Mr. and Mrs. that the Squire

it

and

tail

at

Inglis,

the

when

it

discovery

came out

strolled into the field to speak

and found the

kite flying itself, with the

breeze rather on the increase

;

and not seeing any-

body, and at the same time thinking the kite might

wound it in, and taken it house. *IA.s may be supposed,

break loose, he had

him

to

tired

and

left

them

the

dispirited feeling that oppressed the

in a

moment

;

with the

boys

and then they displayed

the riches of the nest they

had found

in the

bottom

of the hedge, of course making exception of the three eggs Master Fred their search for the kite.

had demolished during

tiollowdell Grange; of

«54

CHAPTER

XVIII.

A day's fishing at the lake

Somehow

or another nearly

all

my

chapters begin

with what the boys were doing in the early morning; and, after

do not know that

I

all,

I could

begin them at a better time, for really and truly these chapters were

begun

early in the bright

mer mornings, when the dew was grass,

and

sparkling on the

away

the birds warbling

all

sum-

as though

they had a certain amount of singing to do, and

wanted to have

day

set in.

And now on

which, for a

—

finished before the heat of the

it

this particular

summer morn,

mean

is

all

morning,

that

can be

am about to am writing-

morning that

I

describe, not this one

upon which

I

up jumped Harry, and,

as though in dread of

desired

trick

I

the

being played,

up,

sprang Philip and Fred cold-water basins

;

;

almost

some

simultaneously,

had a good souse

in their

and, having hastily dressed, ran

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

down

was ready

to see that everything

jected fishing

for the pro-

trip.

There the things were

:

rods,

hook

tiny

the

to

in short,

;

was to hold the

everything, from the basket that

down

hooks,

lines,

winches, landing-net, baits, ground-bait

fish,

255

was

that

to catch

them. Breakfast finished, the dogcart was brought round to the door and soon

and baskets

;

packed with

baits,

tackle,

for beside the fish-basket, there

was

another one that seemed to go by the rules of contrary,

for

whereas the

fish-basket

went out

empty and came back, or ought rather

come out

back,

full,

—

this

There were no half measures about

came back according it

to the

was not a fish-basket

have

fish

pickled basket,

in

;

salmon.

a regular

same

back it,

for

it

it

always

ever did

it

and then the But

empty.

But then

rule.

I don't think

but once,

—pickled

have

other basket invariably went

and as invariably came

fall,

to

fish

was a

was

capital

cornucopia of a basket, and

used to disclose when opened such treasures as

would have for the

gratified

scent that

it

any hungry person exhaled,

why

;

and

the very

as

flies

from far enough used to come buzz-buzzing about, so ravished were they by the rich odour.

Harry brought the basket out

to put in the cart,

Hollowdell Grange ;

356

and he gave such a

of>

satisfied grin as

smelt at one corner of the

lid,

he did

smacking

so,

and

his lips

afterwards with quite a hungry sound, as though lie

had not

left off

I

just

had a regular hearty

breakfast,

But

eating last of everybody at the table.

have said before that Harry was a

cherman

;

authorities

and

wonder

I almost

and

terrible tren-

that the school

where he went did not

insist

upon a

higher rate of pay for him.

Mr, Inglis took the reins and mounted to his seat,

and the boys

waved

to theirs.

" Good-byes " were

to Mrs. Inglis in the porch,

and then away

started the horse, with such a vigorous leap, that

the two boys, Harry and Fred,

who were

behind,

nearly rolled out of their places, and only held on

by grasping the

What a bright

iron side-rail pretty tightly.

delightful affair

a country ride

is

on a

morning before the sun has attained

sufficient height to

to

render his beams oppressive

!

There's a soft breeze plays upon the cheek, and rustles

more

through the hair; the distant view looks

beautiful than later in the day, for the shades

are deeper,

and there

gering by the yet driven

it

wood

away

;

is

generally a soft haze

side,

soft

lin-

where the sun has not

and shady look the great

horse chestnut-trees, although the blossom spikes

have given way

to little prickly seed-vessels, but

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

2§7

the great fingered fronds droop gracefully towards the ground, and form one of the thickest of leaiy

At

shades. all

this

hour the sun has not drunk up

and bright they look wherever

the dew-drops,

they hang in

pearly rows, reflecting the sun

most dazzling of colours

in the

often

little

we

beauties

pass

of

all

the

and yet how

;

and hundreds of other

these,

country,

unnoticfng

either

or

merely regarding the way in which they blend into

one beautiful whole. Mr. Inglis had been persuaded into making one of the party, and delighted the boys were with the success of their coaxing, each being ready to take

the credit of the success to himself: though the real cause of

them was care

of,

Mr.

Inglis's

agreeing to accompany

that he thought they

and

less likely to get into

The wheels spun round gratulated themselves upon had for

would be better taken

their excursion,

any scrape.

merrily,

and

all

con-

the glorious day they

a day that lent

its

bright-

ness to everything, and would, no doubt, have sent the party caught. fields

home

It

happy

quite

not a

fish

had been

was a pretty drive, between waving corn-

and oakgroves, and over a golden furzy

common,- where Harry had hold a gate open again,

if

on the

for.

far side

to

jump down and

the car to pass through, and ;

and tnen down

in a valley

;

Hollowdell Grange ;

&5&

or,

at the sight of

where a rivulet crossed the road,

which the horse pretended

to

be dreadfully alarmed,

much

frisked about as

and capered and he dared not wet

as to say

nor attempt to cross

his feet,

Mr. Inglis was reduced to one of two ex-

until

pedients,

—

or to give

the whip.

and cool is lost

to get

him a

down and little

wholesome punishment with

Now bright in the

when

lead the horse across,

sparkling water

summer

is

delightful

time, but, as the pleasure

the feet are bathed with boots and

trousers on, Mr. Inglis gave

up

idea of walking

all

through the water, so he gathered up the

reins,

and

taking the whip, which had stuck unused by his side,

gave Mr. Obstinate a sharp

he darted

one side of the road,

to

when away and expressed

cut,

himself by his actions as ready to leap over the

hedge.

But -this was not required,

so

he was

backed, and another smart application of the whip administered, side,

but

when away he darted

and even placed

now Mr.

his forefeet

Inglis took

him

to the other

upon the bank;

regularly in hand,

and, turning round, trotted him back for a hundred yards,

and then, tightening the

at the rivulet,

But

it

if

it

drove straight

which was only a few inches deep.

was of no

dently taken

reins,

use, for the stupid thing

into

its

head that

the stream were forded

;

so,

it

had

evi-

must be drowned

stopping short,

it

— Holiday Hours in a Country Home. stood up on with

its

its

359

hind legs and began to beat the

fore feet as

ait

A smart crack

though dancing.

from the whip brought the tiresome animal down again upon

and, reluctant as the driver

all fours,

was to punish the poor brute, he now found that it

was absolutely necessary, and sharply and vigor-

ously applied the lash to

its sides.

For a minute or so the question seemed to be

"Who in,

shall

much

as

be master?" and then the horse gave

Oh

as to say, "

starting forward,

!

don't

;

it

hurts," and,

gave a leap that cleared the dread-

stream, and nearly upset the dog-cart into the

ful

bargain

what

it

;

and

had

though

then, as

left

fearfully

alarmed at

behind, the horse tried hard to

break into a gallop to get away as

fast as possible

;

but a strong hand was at the reins, and very soon old

Tom

settled

down

again into an easy

trot,

although dreadfully ruffled in his nerves by the late

dread adventure.

And now Harry had

to get

down

again to open

another gate, which he did before they saw7 that a

woman was coming inside,

and then,

out

for

of a pretty lodge just

a quarter of a mile, they

drove through a fine avenue of shady

down which seemed

to

be

like

trees, to

look

peering through a

long leafy green tunnel, at the end of which could

be seen portions of the noble castellated mansion s a

Hollowdell Grange;

2<5o

or,

of Lord Copsedale, built in imitation of the feudal

homes of former to comfort

days, but with a greater attention

and the admission of light and

Mr. Inglis drove into the large

air.

court,

and,

leaving the horse with one of the stablemen, the

party strolled

down

and the quaint

past the great walled garden

parterre, past the

head of the

lake,

where the water rushed bubbling and foaming in,

and where they could see the roach lying by

hundreds

;

and then along by the green edge of

the lake to where, in a semicircular sweep* a well-

kept piece of lawn-like

backed up with a

turf,

mighty hedge of evergreens, formed about as dea spot as could be found any-

lightfully retired

where place,

for a fishing party to

and dip

their lines in the

and there overshadowed with whose

make

their resting-

deep water,

—here

down beneath

trees,

roots, in the great holes, the finest fish

said to

The

lie.

water looked in beautiful condi-

tion for fishing, not being too clear

about amidst the

were

lilies

;

and pushing

and great water weeds

that

occupied the surface, in many places could be seen great chub and carp, snapping every

then at the

fiies,

now and

but in a lazy, half-hungry sort of

manner.

The fchre^e,

spots

Mr.

inglis

chose for fishing were

reserving one tor himself, and

all

these were

Holiday Hours well clear of weeds,

in a

and

Country Home.

at a

261

few yards' distance

the one from the other, so as to insure quiet,

about the greatest requisite fi&h

;

for

making a basket of

for the finny denizens of the

water seem to

be as keenly alive to strange sounds as they are to strange sights,

and

laughs,

and the unlucky youngster who and shows himself

talks,

the bank of the place where

expect that the

fully

fish

he

is

near him

the move, and seek for quiet

to

and then

he

tired out,

is

mad

to

the example of the

hooked

one

They

relations

don't

hooked,

exploring

fit, till,

panting

dragged to the side and landed.

They do not seem bait

some

dart franticly about in all directions, as

though seized with a

and

be on

lodgings in

mind seeing one of their

may

fishing,

will all

other part of the pond, lake, or river.

seem

upon

freely

mind

this, for fish,

they will follow

and eagerly take the

after another, until, perhaps, the greater

part of a shoal

is

captured

;

but the angler must

be upon his guard, and mind that the wary

fish

do

not catch sight of him.

And now

rods and lines were fitted together

hooks baited

;

ground bait

lightly

thrown

in,

and

the business of the day commenced; though, for part, I

\

mv

could have wished for no pleasanter busi-

ness than -to have sat in the shade watching the fish

and water

insects darting about in the lake,

Hollowdelt Grange;

&6z

and the myriads of

or,

insects in the air, to

whom

the

lake seemed to possess so great an attraction that

they kept falling

in,

and every now and then were

captured by some hungry

fish.

I could, I say, have

wished for no pleasanter business than watching this,

and the flecked clouds

fine

and

away

up in the sky, so they seemed almost melting

that

soft,

into the delicate blue

was other business were

far

above them.

But there

for the visitors, for the fish fed

and roach and carp of small

well that day,

all

freely landed.

This was not

all

size

was

that

wanted, however, for the desire of the anglers

was

to

hook one of the

great carp that eveiy

and then kept springing almost out of the far

now

water,

out in the middle of the lake, and making a

splash that

itself

But, no

weight.

caught,

of

— they

their family,

;

alone whispered of pounds

the old fellows would not be

left that to

who

fell in

the younger branches of

tolerable

numbers

into the

basket brought from Hollowdell. All at once Fred called out that he had caught

a big one, and, from the way his rod bent, evidently the case

determined

efforts to

Harry and Philip into the

—the

fish

this

seeming to be making

perform the

feat described

— namely, that of sticking

mud and

was

by

his tail

there anchoring himself.

Mr.

Inghs and the boys came up to lend him assistance,

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

when that

he knew what

his uncle smiled, fbr

263

was

it

Fred had hooked.

"Isn't

how he

a big one, Papa ?" said Harry; "look

it

pulls."

"Don't

wish I had him," said Philip. " Land it, Fred," said Mr. Inglis ; " and mind I

does not tangle your

line,

—

it

pull away."

Fred did as his uncle told him, and pulled away, so that he soon had twisting

upon the grass a very

tolerably sized eel, writhing

and twining and run-

ning in beneath the strands

hands that

much

at

tried to grasp

home on

it ;

slipping through the

;

and seeming quite as

land as in the

the bottom of the pond.

As

for Fred,

aloof holding his rod, and leaving to his cousins tion to

him

;

muddy all

water at

he stood

the catching

the snaky eel presenting no tempta-

—

j

in fact, he felt rather afraid of the

slimy wide-mouthed monster.

At

last the eel

quietly coiled

was freed from the hook and ?

lay

round the bottom of the basket,

turning several small fish out of their places, and

making a considerable hubbub amongst the occupants of the wicker prison, the excitement being principally displayed by flappings of tails

and short

springback leaps. All this time Mr. Inglis was quietly landing a

good many

fish,

most of which were very

fair-sized

Holtowdell Grunge;

264

or,

roach, with an occasional perch

Fred's exploit with the

Harry

the other

when

members

this

of the party to

summons caused come up as well,

fish,

and was playing him

—many yards The

running line being taken out.

seemed

ever,

to

be rather sluggish in

down

ments, keeping low

bottom

it

was no

it

shown when he became ready

as was ing-net,

Harry

slimy side, and

deftly placing lifting it

was a great

in the

grass.

sun as

a fisherman would term

tench of nearly four pounds' weight

it

fins,

looked as though the great

fish

lifetime.

fish's

And now lay

upon

all

the

of a noble

—a great slimy

golden scales and dark olive-green

back, huge thick leathery

all its

it,

fish,

for the land-

the bright green daisy- sprinkled bank, in

fellow, with tiny

move-

its

beneath the

it

upon the

golden sides glittered

glory, as

how-

fish,

though a mud-loving

eel,

of

as though seeking the

upon which Fred declared

;

But

eel.

its

and

to

they saw that Mr. Inglis had evidently hooked

a large his

after

he called gently

eel,

for the landing-net,

soon

but,

;

.

He

and a mouth had

lived

that

upon pap

had been a cowardly

fish in

the water, and yielded himself up a prisoner with

very

little

struggling

—nothing

by a perch about a quarter Inglis

like that displayed

his size,

next hooked and played,

through

its

which Mr.

and then

lost

darting into a bed of strong weeds and

"

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home, ehtangling the sent

line,

down towards

so that the heavy clearing ring the

the task of releasing fish

265

it,

hook proved inadequate and the

line broke,

and the

escaped with at least a yard of shotted

worm

to

silk-

gut hanging to the hook.

Fred was very fortunate, beneath a

for he, sitting quietly

caught two or three very nice carp,

tree,

independently of about a dozen roach and perch while Harry, the impetuous,

first

on one

side,

then

on another, caught scarcely anything, and would have hindered

his brother

and cousin from the

success which rewarded their patience,

had not kept

to a rule

angler should fish

Hal, directly a

Mr. Inglis

which he made, that no one

close to another;

fish

if

was caught on

for

Master

either

immediately concluded that where the

fish

side

was

caught would be a better place for him, and accordingly began to trespass. All at once, just as Philip

and was drawing

had hooked a perch

to shore, there

it

was a mighty

rush through the water, and something seized the fish

and began

sailing with it

backwards and

for-

wards, bending Philip's light rod nearly double, for

he had no running tackle, and only a thin

line.

"Papal Papal" 6houted Harry, "look here; Phil has such a bite

.!

Mr. Inglis came up to see what

sort of a bite

it

"

$6$

Hollowdell Grange;

or,

was that Philip had, and at once perceived that a good-sized pike had taken his prize, and was holding on

as though he did not intend to let

fast,

a pretty good

go, although there was

up by

Of

Philip.

course, capturing the pike

have been out of the question with even

tackle,

nothing

if it

left for it

were not forbidden

so there was

;

the pike

if

if

he could help

it,

was what Harry called a regular robbery; three

or four

Philip,

—

go,-

till

it

pike

so, for

—pull

at last, quite in disgust, the pike let tail,

and was gone.

and a piece was bitten completely out

What a savage I"

said Philip; "only look what

a bite he has taken out of

my

wish I could have caught him

"Ah,

Philip,"

said

poor

it is

not at

all

his father,

comes

Don't I

"you

did not

fish as that;

an unusual incident,

a most ravenous fellow, and

that

I

fish

1

expect to have hold of such a

is

—pull

it

its side.

"

.

was

for

then landed his perch, which seemed

quite dead,

of

minute*,

gave one swoop with his

Philip

would

for Philip did not feel dis-

up

his fish

kept

Philip's light

but to wait and see

would leave the perch, posed to give

strain

in his

way.

On

for the

will take

but pike

anything

one occasion I caught

a small pike with a piece of paste, and another with a worm,

—both

very unusual baits for them \

j ;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. as their prey

to take,

is

small

this

not touch

will

perch on account of their sharp back

had proof

while most

fish,

people are of opinion that they

afternoon that they

26

fin

;

we

but

But the

will.

most curious thing that I ever knew a pike to take was a leaden plummet, which

it

day when I was plumbing the depth previous to bottom fishing, as

As a matter of course

day.

no doubt the pike was

as

self

But come, boys,

let's

"

in a canal

we have been

was much

also,

when he

to-

surprised,

him'

felt

hooked, and, after a struggle, I drew him to

•land.

so

I

seized one

Oh

be !

for

I think

it

is

time to

start

packing up."

Pa," said

" Oh— h— h—h

Hany.

Pa—a— a— a,"

J

And " Oh—h—h

!

said Philip.

Uncle," remonstrated Fred.

But Mr. Inglis was inexorable, for the afternoon

was passing away, and the evening closing

in

;

so

the spoils were collected and placed in the basket,

when

it

was found that Fred's

eel

had disappeared,

having crawled out, and, no doubt, wriggled through the grass into the lake again.

a very all

fair

basket of

fish to

However, there was

take

home

;

and,

when

the^ackle had been packed up, and they

re-

turned to the yard and placed the things in the dog-cart, the horse hfa

Jong

rest,

was put

to,

and, freshened with

he made the wheels spin merrily

Hollo tv delI Grange;

a68

round, and the dust heels, as

well

fly

back

a cloud from his

in

he trotted homeward as

knowing

that there

of>

fast as

he could,

was a snug, clean stable

waiting for him, and plenty of fresh hay and sweet

corn to enjoy after hi3 long journey.

The

sport of the day formed a never-tiring theme

for conversation during the ride

home

every finny

;

captive being exalted into almost the importance

of a whale.

The

only person at

dissatisfied

all

with the day's proceedings was Harry, felt

that his want of success

of perseverance.

who

rather

was owing to the lack

However, he made vovrs of

attention to everything he attempted,

future

and was draw-

ing a very brightly-coloured plan for the future,

when home was reached, and Mrs. waiting in the porch to view ine day's angling.

Inglis

seen

oi

their

fruits

Holidhy Hours

a Country Home.

ui

CHAPTER OLD SAM'S TROUBLES.

26^

XIX.

—A

SAD STORY,

" Now, I don't care whether you gets punished or not

;

but I means to

master, for you

tell

know better, and it ain't "But I tell you we

all

oughter

right."

do

didn't-

it,

Sam," said

Harry. "

Ah

!

don't

footmarks

all

tell

me

;

I

knows you

did.

There's

along from the gap, right across the

potato piece, and everybody else will begin to go the 1

same way, and make a regular path of it."

"But we

didn't go

that way,"

chorussed the

boys.

"Why, what an "he won't

old stupid

it

is,"

said Philip;

believe anything."

Sam's trouble was a trampled track across a newly-enclosed piece of ground, which Mr. Inglis

had

lately

purchased near the

had planted with potatoes It certainly

for

village,

and Sam

home consumption.

was annoying, for a ditch had been cut

Hollowdell Grange; or%

2?0

round

it-

a bank made, and, on the top, a neat

hedge of hawthorn planted; but some

little

idle

people were in the habit of jumping across the ditch, trampling

making a track

down

the

right across the corner of the field

other side, where,

to the

hedge, and then

little

in

they

out,

getting

trampled the hedge and bank down again, and just to save themselves a walk of

about

years,

during which time people had cut off the

and made themselves a track; and now

corner,

that

it

it

many

the property had lain in dispute for

:

yards

But so

round, where there was a good path.

was

fifty

all

was purchased, and had become

property,

it

private

seemed that there were some two or

three obstinate, unpleasant people, alter their plans,

who would

not

but took delight in the paltry

piece of mischief of destroying what had been so

But Sam had always one

carefully put in order.

r

complaint string upon which he fiddled or harped

and so sure as anything

who were "always up so

when

was done

like mischief

anywhere, he always declared

it

was " them boys,"

to suthin, rat 'em.

the walnuts were stolen, and

broken about

Sam was

and he went and

sure

it

was

"

he called

therru

It

the

was tree,

them boys/'

told his master of

Philip's "capers." as

5

Harry and But

Sam

was wrong then, as upon many other occasions $

1

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

and

also

upon

one, for a sad story hangs to

this

that affair about the walnuts will

27

be out of place

if

I

;

and

I

do not think

it

go back about a year and

nine months, and leave the trampled path for the present, while I take

up another.

Mr. Inglis had standing in one of his

about

fifty

yards from the lane which led

the mill, a very fine walnut-tree.

not only fine in

size,

the walnuts that

it

The

fields,

down tree

to

was

but noble in appearance, and

bore were of the largest and

sweetest grown anywhere for miles round, and Mr. Inglis rather prized these nuts, for they kept well,

and might be seen upon his dessert-table long

after

Christmas time. .

Now,

it

so happened that just as the nuts were

getting ripe,

and the

ing their green husk

and it

first

ones began to

break-

when they touched the ground,

setting the clean pale-brown shell at liberty,

was

just at. this time that

some one had been up the for

fall,

Sam found

out that

tree picking the walnuts,

not only were a great number missing, but the

ground beneath was strewed with leaves, broken twigs,

and walnut husks, with here and there a

brown-shelled nut which the plunderer had looked

over in his hurry.

No

sooner did

Sam

see the mischief than he

hurried off to the house, and bursting breathlessly

Hollowdell Grange;

*7»

into the breakfast -room,

Harry and Mr.

Philip

Inglis

sharply,

to

or,

announced

had been taking

and

frowned,

that Masters

all

told

the walnuts.

Sam,

rather

knock before entering another time,

and then turned

to his sons,

what Sam said was

and asked them

if

true.

" No, Papa," they both exclaimed indignantly,

not touched them." " Only," said Harry, recollecting himself, " I did throw a stone in the

"we have

tree yesterday, as

didn't

we went down

knock any down, and

thrown only Phil said

"Ah "

but I'm sure

!

Hush

!

the roonx

it

throw so

far."

was them," said Sam.

Sam," said Mr. I'll

it

should not have

I

I couldn't

the lane, but

Inglis

;

"

and now leave

investigate the affair after break-

fast."

Sam

left

the

room anything but

pleased, for

he

thought that he ought to have been praised for his energy,

and so he told Cook

when

in the kitchen

he went through, and then stopped and told her all about it ; when Cook d relaxed it was a shame,

and gave Sam a cup of tea

to mollify him, for

Cook and Mary were just having breakfast As soon as Sam had closed the door, Mr.

Inglis

turned to his sons, and asked them

knew

who was

if

they

anything about the

tree,

taken the walnuts

for in this quiet district

;

or

likely to

have

an

act

Holiday Hours in a Country Honi*> of theft was of such rare occurrence, that great excitement

;

it

273 caused

besides which, Mr. Inglis was

deservedly so well respected by the poor people

round,

sooner than touch anything belonging

that,

to him, they

would have formed themselves into

special constables to protect his property.

But neither Harry nor Philip could give the slightest information, so the breakfast

was

finished,

and, in the course of the day, Mr. Inglis had his suspicions directed towards the scapegrace son of

an old

woman

This young

in the village.

had been employed

in the neighbouring town, but

most flagrant act had been

for a

tried,

tenced to five years' penal servitude. this

home upon what

rime at

leave

;" that is,

now

in the village.

'

;

punishing the culprit at

all,

home

to

He

was

at

called a " ticket of

him

in prison,

and he was

But Mr. Inglis was averse to

proceed upon suspicion

theft

is

and sen-

he had a portion of his sentence

good conduct

remitted for

man

in fact,

even

he was averse to if

he brought the

;

and therefore be took no steps

after,

a quantity of the walnuts were

in the matter.

Two

nights

again stolen this

new

;

and on Mr.

attack

upon

he would have them day,

Inglis

being informed of

his crop,

he told Sam that

all

thrashed on the following

and place them under lock and key.

"

Hollowdell Grange;

»74

"Hum

!

" said

Sam

to himself ;

have a go at the apples.

or,

*'

knows

I

and then

it's

they'll

them youngr

Now, then," he said, for Harry and Philip just came up in the midst of the old man's soliloquy, "now, then, where's all them nuts ?" " Get out," said Harry, " we never touched them.

*sters.

•

But

it's

no use

you

are.

We

to tell

such an old unbeliever as

didn't touch

them

;

did we, Phil

]

Phil followed his brother's example, arid strenu-

ously denied the impeachment;

but

Sam would

not be convinced, and went muttering and grumbling

away

to his work, while Philip stood with

tears in his eyes, for

his

he could not bear the idea of

word being doubted.

much; large

Harry did not mind

it

but Philip was obliged to go behind the

clump of laurustinus and

hand-

pull out his

kerchief and blow his nose a great deal, and wipe

the eyes that would brim over.

"What's the matter, Philip?" said

his father,

who had come up unobserved. Philip could not speak for a tears

would come

faster,

to stick in his throat,

or down.

At

last,

cause of his tears

;

moment,

for the

and a round sob seemed

and would not go

either

up

however, he told his father the

and Mr.

Inglis

was very angry,

saying that he would not have the honour of his

boys doubted, for he had perfect reliance in theii

"

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

275

word, knowing that they had always been truthful

and therefore he would not have another word said and the consequence was, that

about the walnuts

;

Mr. Sam came in

for

morning ;

but, for all that,

"I know you

did not say

But old

he looked at the boys

when he met

the next half-hour, to say,

a very sharp Reprimand that

tfoem, as

much

as

got the walnuts," though he

so.

Sam was

very soon proved

\

wrong, as was, sad to

state,

day being very

for the next

wet, the walnuts were not thrashed, the weather necessitating

the nut harvest being deferred

for

another day.

Upon

morning, while Mr.

the following

and

Mrs. Inglis and their sons were sitting at breakfast,

Mr. Inglis knit

old

his brows, tor

studying the lesson upon

decorum

had given him but a few days

Sam, without

that his master

before, burst into the

breakfast-room again, but this time through the

French window opening on ths lawn. "Sara," said Mr. Inglis, sternly,

"what

can-

**

but he interrupted himself upon seeing that the old

man was

all in

a tremble, and that the per-

spiration stood in great drops li

Why. what But

Sam

excited,

is it,

upon

man, speak out

his forehead-

I

could not speak out, for he -was too

and though

his lips

t *

moved no sound came

Hollow dell Grange;

176

from them.

„

However, he caught

the sleeve, drawing

Mr.

or,

their seats,

Inglis

and them

by

him towards the window, and Harry and Philip rose

Inglis followed him.

from

his master

but Mr. Inglis motioned Mrs.

to

keep

their places,

and closed

window as he went out. Sam led the way down the garden towards the fields, and said something to his master which made him quicken

the

his steps until they reached the great walnut-tree,

where, beneath one of the largest boughs, lay the

body of a man, with

his

head turned

in a very

unnatural position, and one of his arms bent under him.

-

Upon

looking at the figure,

first

thought the

he gave a

man was dead

slight

groan

;

Mr. Inglis

but on touching him

;

upon which Sam was

de-

spatched for assistance, while his master placed the sufferer in an easier position, during which he

moved

slightly

and groaned

perfectly insensible.

again,

but remained

While waiting

for the return

of Sam, Mr. Inglis saw but too plainly the cause of the accident

:

scattered about

walnuts, twigs, and leaves in the man's

nearly

full

grass were

while tightly clutched

hand was a red cotton handkerchief

of the

pockets were

;

upon the

fruit

filled

;

and

his trousers

as full

There was no doubt now as

and jacket

as they could to

who was

hold.

the cui-

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. but Mr. Inglis

prit,

as

lie

fallen

a sinking at the heart

felt

thought of the severe punishment that had

who proved to be none man home with a ticket of leave,

upon the

offender,

other than the

but

277

who had

not been cured of his dishonest pro-

pensity.

Sam soon

returned with two or three farming

men, who, under the direction of Mr.

Inglis, lifted

man

as gently as

a gate off

hinges,

its

they could upon

and

laid the

and then, one at each corner, bore him out through the open gateway into the lane,

and so

it,

to the village inn,

a boy in the mean-

time being despatched for the doctor.

would have taken the poor fellow but for the reflection that

shock to Mrs.

would not

in

Inglis,

it

Mr. Inglis

to the

Grange,

would only be a great

and the ends of humanity

any way be served,

for

assistance

could not be obtained a bit sooner, but rather the reverse.

With some

difficulty

room

at the inn,

carry

him

and

upstairs,

and he was

laid

it

the

man was

carried into a

being found impossible to

a mattress was brought down,

upon

it

He

groaned

slightly

upon being moved, tenderly as the men handled hinv,

but remained quite

upon being

He was

still

upon the mattress

laid there.

a £ne-lookin£, sun-browned Youncr fellow.

a

Hottowdett Grange:

afS

now

but his face was

contracted with pain

but fine,

feel

or,

disfigured

and Mr.

;

by the

and

fall

Inglis could not

sad to look upon so pitiable a sight

hearty young

man

stricken with death through

the act of petty theft of which he

At length the doctor arrived

man who had

—

had been

guilty.

— the same

gentle-

attended poor Fred in his narrow

He made

escape from drowning.

his

examina-

and found that one arm was broken, and the

tion,

neck so injured that he shook

his head,

and whis-

pered to Mr. Inglis that the bones were dislocated;

and

in reply to the inquiry

whether there was any

hope, he shook his head again. that

was possible

down

in

for after

an extreme

in such

company with Mr.

poor fellow would revive

He

;

then did

ail

and

sat

case,

Inglis to see

if

the

but they waited in vain,

about an hour had passed, during which

the doctor had watched every change, he suddenly rose

up from leaning over the injured man,

hand upon Mr. of the

Inglis's shoulder,

laid his

and walked out

room with him, whispering some words

caused Mr. Inglis to

sigh,

and then to

reign into the hands of the poor old

mother,

who was sobbing upon

common, room of the

slip

that

a sove-

woman,

the

the settle in the

inru

The death caused a many people said that

great stir in the viiiage,

and

*

it

was a judgment upon the

Holiday Hours hi a Country Home,

man

for his sin

and

said that he

;

279

but Mr. Inglis was deeply grieved,

would rather that

all

the

fruit in

the garden had been stolen than such an awful

punishment should have befallen the man.

And now

persisted that

went to look all

declared

to the beaten path

to return

it

it

was our young

at the

friends,

:

Sam

so they

trampled place, and one and

was a shame.

made a proposition which Sam's mouth to expand into a grin,

All at once Harry

caused old after

which he gave a

series of hearty chuckles,

and slapping the boy on the shoulder, exclaimed, "Well,

it

couldn't a

been you

Harry— (chuckle, chuckle, this very night, we will." What they did that very due course.

arter

chuckle)

night will

all,

—

we'll

come

Master

do

it

out in

HoltQwdett Grange;

a8o

CHAPTER

0\

XX,

MR. JONES'S MISHAP. Abo;;t eleven o'clock the next morning, Mr. Inglis

was

sitting in his

study, writing

;

Mrs. Inglis was

working at the open window, and occasionally

who were amusing themselves lawn, when all at once a knock came at

watching the boys,

upon the

the study-door.

"Come

in," said

Mr.

Inglis,

and

in

came Mary,

trying to look very serious, but evidently struggling

with a laugh which would keep crinkling up the corners of her mouth, although she kept smoothing

them out with her apron. "Well, Mary

"If you

?

" said

her mistress.

p— p— please

'M," said Mary,

who

then

stopped short, for something seemed to have got

ia

her throat.

"Mary!"

exclaimed Mrs.

Inglis, severely.

Poor Mary looked as serious

directly, as if

ahe

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

were going to lose her

situation,

281

and making an

began again.

effort she

Oh dear oh -hoo—hoo—guggle—guggle — gug—gug — gug " If you please, 'M, here's

choke

— choke

cough

;

Mr.

;

!

—cough,"

!

;

went Mary, bury-

and completely losing

ing her face in her apron,

her breath, and turning almost black in the face with, her efforts to stifle

oh

!

'dear,"

Oh

"

her laughter.

I

dear

she said, trying to run out of the room,

but Mrs. Inglis stopped

her,

knowing what was the cause

and

upon

insisted

of her mirth.

" Oh, 'M, please, *M, here's Mr. Jones come,

wants to see Master ; and oh, 'M, please,

he

oh

—he — he—he — !

dear

"Do,"

;

what said

he's in

shall I

Oh

such a mess.

do

'M

and

—he

!

dear

" !

Mrs. Inglis, at

last,

quite angrily.

" Why, go and ask Mr, Jones to step in here no,

him

tell

"Oh, moment.

come

;

or

to step into the drawing-room."

please, *M, don't," said " Please, 'M, don't

;

off black over everything

Mary, serious in a

he

ain't

fit,

and

he'll

he comes a-nigh."

"Well, send him here, then," said Mrs. Inglis;

and away went Mary back into the directiy after she

ushered in Mr. Jones,

hall,

who

and pre-

sented such an appearance that both Mr. and Mrs. Inglis at once

excused poor Mary's laughter,

they had hard work to restrain their

own

mirth.

for

Hollowdell Grange;

282

-

man known

chubby

little, fat,

and of the

retired exciseman,

Mr. Jones was a description of

or,

fellow,

as dapper

who

he was a

;

dressed very smartly,

r

always wearing white trousers in the summer, and

a buff waistcoat, made so as to show as much shirt-front

and

as

little

He

waistcoat as possible.

r

was a man who always used to labour under, the idea that he looked very fierce, and, to self

look

fiercer,

he used

to brush his hair all

into a pyramid over the barren place his head, so that the hair

pomatumy for his fat

would not loudly,

let

used to form a regular

face, dull eyes,

him

and thump

up

on the top of

But he did not look at

spike.

round

make him-

all fierce,

and tenchy mouth

but he used to speak very

;

his

Malacca cane down on the

ground, and strut and look as important as

more people do who have not

many

brains enough to

teach them their insignificance as parts of creation, or

how

very

value they are

little

which could go on

in

just as well without

Now, Mr. Jones

the world,

them.

did not like Mr. Inglis

;

he

used to say that Mr. Inglis was pompous, and purse-proud, and vain

;

and, what was more, Mr.

had given the

little

man

buying the two-acre

field

where the potato piece

Inglis

was that used

to

dreadful offence in

be so trampled down.

But I have been keeping Mr. Jones waiting,

for

"

"

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. I said, a

way back,

little

hrto the study,

Mary ushered him

that

and Mr. and Mrs.

hardly keep from laughing

;

2 S3

Inglis

could

appearance

for a droll

did Mr. Jones present as he strutted into the room,

with his hat on, but seeing Mrs. Inglis there, he

took

and made a most pompous bow.

it off,

he did not look

and

waistcoat,

bowing

in

trim,

his

face,

But buff

presenting a currant-dumpling

shirt,

appCcirance rather ludicrous to gaze upon, for they

were specked and spotted

duck

trousers, far

above

all

over

;

while his white

were dyed of a

his knees,

pitchy black hue, and covered with abominably

smelling black mud.

"Now, have you

Mr. Jones;

said

sir,"

to say to this, sir

"Nothing

at

1

''pray,

sir,

"

Mr. Jones," said Mr.

all,

what

Inglis

L

" But

quietly.

with this

visit

furies

sers,

sir.

I inquire

why

I

am

favoured

?

" Favoured,

sand

may

sir

Visit, sir

1

do you mean,

Do you

1

sir ?

see them, sir

What the ten Look at my

thoutrou-

?

"Of course I see them " said Mr. Inglis, "and am sorry to see that you have met with so unfor?

I

tunate an accident

;

but pray what has

it

to

do with

me?"

"To do "why, you

with you, sir?" laid traps for

me,

shrieked Mr. Jones; sir,;

snares

and

pitfoUs,

;

*84 sir

;

but

1*11

England,

Hollowdell Grange;

or>

be recompensed,

if there's

I won't stand

sir.

Confound

I'll

my solicitor, sir." And then the

sir.

it,

you

sir;

it,

sir,

I'll

— — I'll

shall hear

man bounced

little

law in I'll

from

out of the

him; thumped

study, banging the door after

his

stick

down on

step,

and strode out of the house, and along the

the marble floor of the hall at every

gravel-walk, almost beside himself with passion for

he

felt

convinced that Mr. Inglis had been the

cause of his mishap.

But Mr. Inglis was as inno-

cent as his companion,

who

replied to his inter-

rogative gaze with a look of astonishment so ludi-

crous that they both laughed long and heartily.

At

Mr.

last

Inglis said

those boys have played.

—" I

It

must be some

must

find

it

trick

out, or

we

shall

be having no end of unpleasantness about

it."

And

laughed

the Squire leaned back in his chair, and

till

the tears stood in his eyes.

But all this while Mr. Jones was fuming worse than ever, for

he had passed old Sam,

Philip,

Harry and

Fred, standing at the gate of the stable-yard, and

no sooner did they catch

sight of the strange figure

advancing towards them, than they rushed off laughing at such a boisterous rate that Mr. Jones

though he could have strangled them

And now

it is

only

fair that

felt

as

all.

the reader should

Holiday Hours

know how

it

in a

Country Heme.

285

was that Mr. Jones had got into such

a pickle, for he certainly was in a very nasty mess

Mr. Jones, as

indeed.

I said

much annoyed because

very

chased the

corner field

little

feeling of spite,

treading heavily

and

plants.

by such a big

set

and

the bank,

upon the young quickset

as Mr. Jones, this

from a petty

so,

down

kicking

Now, of course the example

man

pur-

Inglis

he always made a point of walking

the corner,

across

Squire ;

had been

before,

little

would be sure to find followers

was the case

here, for

many

;

of the boys of

the village used to slip across as well.

But on the

evening previous to what has been above related, old

Sam

down

took his tools

with him, and had

soon dug out a hole about three feet deep just in the centre of the the track

•

and

and

filled

the hole

filthy drain ditch,

middle of

right in the

he then borrowed an old

cottage near,

from a

field,

full

tin pail

from a

of black

mud

which ran along the backs

of some of the cottages in the village

street,

ths

smell from which was so bad that Fred and his

cousins kept their

being

the

hole was

Sam

carefully

filled.

When sprinkled till it

distance while

the pit was it

about

full>

over with the earth he had dug out,

looked like the surrounding surface, when he

levelled the place all round,

and made

it

ail

so

Hollowdell Grange;

2$6

much

alike

that,

or,

to the ineffable delight of the

boys, he could hardly tell where the pitfall was r

exactly,

and put one of

own

his

Harry fairly danced with

ankle.

that the old

man was

feet in

delight, but, seeing

turning cross, he helped to

cover the place again, and then they at the cottage, for the

so

much accustomed

was doing

;

for the first it

to seeing old

Sam working

took no notice of what he

so there the trap lay,

all

ready baited

man. so happened that no one crossed the

corner that night, as

he went down

Sam

could readily see when

directly after breakfast next morning,

was just as he

Sam had

the pail

people living close at hand, they were

in the field that they

for-ajl

left

and walked back to the Grange.

As

Now,

above the

not gone

left it

many

the night before; but

yards on his way back,

when whom should he meet but Mr. Jones, looking very clean and dapper, and most terribly important.

He

scorned to take any notice of old

Sam, but strode on potato piece,

when he

dry ditch, trod

little

his

way

till

deliberately crossed

down

the tiny hedge,

then sticking his nose up in the say, "

I'll

he came to the

air,

as

much

and

as to

teach old Inglis to stop up old tracks,"

he stamped along more pompously than

Sam

the

ever, while

stopped by a turn in the road and watched

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

nim with eyes

that

seemed

fascinated, so eagerly

did they follow the old excise

officer.

— stamp," went the pompous and " brog —brog," went the " Stamp

his stick in

" He'll miss

it,"

said

287

Sam

little

man

soft earth,

Mr,

to himself, for

Jones had apparently reached the centre of the field,

and turned round

to look about him, walking

" Dear, dear," said Sam, "if he only

backwards. "

would

T

_,^

"

PLOSH !"

went Mr. Jones

and "spatter" went the and

shirt-front,

foul

right in

mud

little

to scramble out, but slipped in again, self

worse than ever

successful

;

;

\

over his face

all

and then the poor

backwards

man

tried

making him-

but his next effort was more

and when

Sam saw him

amongst the potatoes looking

standing

piebald, his heart

all

was joyful within him, a? he hurried home to

tell

the boys the success of their plot

Mr. Inglis very soon learned from the boys what

was the cause of Mr. Jones's

moment he

felt

visit,

and

rather disposed to be cross

for the ;

but on

looking at the laughing eyes before him, and the mirthful countenance of Mrs. Inglis, he to join in the

merriment himself;

was obliged

for as Philip

very sagely remarked,

You know^.JPapa, he had no business there/' As for Mr. Jones, he was nearly red-hot with fury -'

Hollowdell Grange; ort

288 i

when he reached home, for he had been laughed at by more than one person on his way so when ;

the door was opened, agreeable, terrier

— came

smelling about his

dislegs,

sticking his teeth into his assailant's

and then running

leg,

dog— a

pet

his

him savagely, upon which the

his master kicked

dog retorted by

and

howling as loudly as he

off

could.

Mr. Jones then

set to

work and washed

himself, a

process of which he stood greatly in need the time he had

made himself dapper

and more comfortable

felt -cooler

should hear from his

him

to,

and therefore he

solicitor at onc$, or

up

his

solicitor.

mind

to say

Jones trotted to trotted, carrying

felt that

and by

again, he

and he also

;

began to wish he had not told Mr.

;

Inglis that

he

But he had told he must go to his

he would very soon have made

no more about

his lawyer

;

Mr. Jones

that

is

it.

-

So off Mr.

to say, his

in the little

pony

chaise, in

which was a carefully tied-up bundle containing the blackened and

damaged

suit

of clothes, which

looked worse than ever by the time he reached the town, for the trousers had communicated a vast

amount of front,

their filth to the waistcoat

and

shirt-

not forgetting to administer their odour at

the same time.

When

Mr. Tones arrived

at the lawyer's

he found

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

389

home, and was soon closeted with him

him

at

his

mouldy room,

parchments, and

Mr. Jones told

amongst the

all

boxes

tin

in

dust, papers,

and then and there

;

and finished by drawing

his tale,

out the black garments, for there was very

little

white to be seen on the trousers. 11

But you did not

De

made," said Mr.

"Made,

tell

me

Vellum, the

pitfall

was

solicitor.

Mr. Jones excitedly; "why?

sir?" said

in that corner piece of land,

the sharp turn,

where the

where the road makes

on the other side of the

"What, where the

village."

stands

finger-post

at

the

corner?"

"To, be

Mr. Jones;

said

sure,"

"the very

place."

" Well, but," said Mr.

De

Vellum, " that's the

piece Mr. Inglis bought at the sale last year,

when

I bid for you/'

across

as

it,

Mr. Jones;

said

"Just so,"

I

"I was walking

have done hundreds of times

before."

"

Ah

!

enclosed,

" said

Mr.

De

Vellum, " but

and you know,

trespassing.

Let

continued, for

me

my

dear

it

sir,

you were

order in a glass of wine," he

Mr. Jones had luckily

advice to a sensible

has been

man

;

" let

of wine, and then 111 give you

u

me

my

come

for

order in a glass advice."

sgo

Hollowdell Grange;

The wine was

brought

in,

or.

and then Mr. Jones

received his advice, which cost

him

six shillings

and eightpence, but would have been cheap guinea, for the advice was to

at

a

go home and take no

more notice of the matter. Mr. Jones was quite cool when he heard the solicitor's

ment with

opinion his

;

and

it

was so much

own, that he immediately shook

hands, said " good-day," and

way home.

in agree-

made

the best of hia

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

CHAPTER

391

XXi,

CATCHING TARTARS. Mr. Jones used to have a man, who was a jobbing gardener, come once a week "to put him a bit

man

straight," as the

called

used sometimes to meet old

it

;

Sam

when they would have a pint

and

this

at the

had each

;

and

relate

Now,

during the past week.

Sam went closed in

;

how many

by putting

killed,

Red

Lion,

of beer together, and

compare cabbages and gooseberries peas and plums

gardener

salt it

about

talk

snails they

on their

tails,

so happened that

Red Lion on the very night that upon the day when Mr. Jones muddled to the

his white trousers

;

and

it

also so

happened

that

Ikey Fogger, the jobbing gardener, thought that

he too should

like a half-pint at the

The consequence soil

was, that the two

Red

tillers

Lion.

of the

began to compare notes, and very soon the

history of

Mr. Jones's misfortune was talked over, "

and so

r

heartily laughed at

u

2

by every one present,

HoUowdeh Grange;

292 that old

it

%

quite proud of the feat

;

and

out that Master Harry and he had done

last let

and

Sam grew

or

"sarved old Jones right/

at it,

7

Next morning, Ikey Fogger was putting Mr. Jones's garden " a bit straight," which was done

by means of the

rake,

scythe,

hoe, spade, and

broom, when Mr. Jones came out to superintend as usual,

for

he had

having things done

and

;

own

his

particular

in the course of the con-

him what

versation that followed, Ikcy Fogger told

had been fruit

said at the

Red Lion by

old

Sam ;

the

of which was that Ikey had an extra sixpence

" drink master's

to

way of

down

health,"

and Mr. Jones

sat

in his best parlour to see whether he could

not devise some plan of attack upon Harry and the other boys,

—

for

he considered

so as to enjoy what he

called

all

the

bad

alike,

"sweets of

vengeance." Just then he three boys, past

happened to look up and see the

accompanied by

their dog,

go

strolling

on the other side of the road, when a thought

struck him which he hastened to put into execution.

The boys were going out for a stroll till teatime, for they scarcely knew what to do with themselves,

and

all

having no particular object in view, one having declared

it

too hot foi cricket

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

They

therefore loosened the dog,

up

see what would turn

They

strolled past the

293

and went

off to

way of amusement the village, and down

in the

end of

a lane that led to a bend of the river, and at last

down upon

sat

the bank,

by throwing

sticks

dog to fetch

out,

and amused themselves

and stones

—a

feat,

in the water for the

by the way,

that

he never

accomplished, for he was not well broken in to the

He

task.

make

to all

he

would run

in fast enough,

a dash at the stick or stone, but that was

bark and yelp as he stood up to

did, save

his middle in the water.

of even this

and

and pretend

idle

;

effort, for

At

last

the heat

they grew tired

made them

languid

on the

so they sprawled about

grass,

skimmed about and

lazily

watching the

flitted

over the surface of the water in such rapid

flies

motion that they looked All at once there

that

like strings of

flies.

was a splash in the

river close

to their feet.

" There's a great

fish,"

said Fred.

" It was a stone, I think," said Philip. " But " there's

who was

to have thrown

1

it

Harry;

no one about."

just then a great stone splashed anci

?" said

up the water,

another struck the poor dog such a blow upon

the head that

down

the

it

gave a sharp howl, and rolled right

bank

into

the river, from whence

it

#

— 394

Holbwdell Grange;

crawled with

its

eye swelling up

or,

fast,

and a cut in

the skin bleeding profusely.

The boys now saw

that the stones were thrown

from behind a hedge on the

came

directly,

in the

one of which

made

a smart blow

hit Philip

back and made him wince

three big lads

and three more

right,

Just then

again.

their appearance,

and began to

pick up more stones.

" Let's run," said Fred, " or we shall be hurt."

"Yes, come along," said

back and twisting with pain. " No, I shan't run," said Harry have half killed poor Dick, or I'd I

know who

they are,

it

ther,

"

Yah yah ;

ants.

set

I

—ha

him

at them.

and

wish I was bigger, I'd

them;" and Harry ground

and clenched

" the cowards

;

there's Bill Jenkins,

Don't

the two Stapleses.

give

—

rubbing his

Philip,

his teeth toge-

his fists tightly.

go home

;

!

"

shouted the

assail-

But Harry wouldn't budge an inch, but

stooped down and began to

tie His

pocket hand-

kerchief round the dog's bleeding head.

"Yah

—ah; yah —h—h; go home -h

wi'

yer!"

shouted the lads again, running up, evidently meaning to chevy the Grange boys away

seemed an easy bigger

and

;

and

this

new comers were all " Yah h h h go home " and then one, who seemed to

task, for the

stronger.

they shouted again

;

———

;

!

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

be the

leader, said to his

dog

the

in,

come

comrades,

Let's pitch

on."

You'd better not touch him,

*'

—"

295-

Bill Jenkins," said

Harry, turning very -white, either with fear or rage. "

We

did

not

interfere

with you,

so leave

us

alone/'

"

Yah

— h— h— h

go home with yer

;

the boys again, for this battle-cry with

seemed

to

shouted

be a kind of

which they wanned themselves to

attack the inoffensive party.

Philip half-screwed

himself behind Harry, while Fred, fully

"

!

who

felt

dread-

alarmed, stood behind Philip.

"Let us go home " and

I'll

give

you a

quietly,

said Fred,

please,"

shilling."

" Give us the shilling, then," said the boy called Jenkins, who,

upon

its

away from Fred, put

it

being produced, snatched in his pocket,

it

and then kid

hold of the dog's hind leg and dragged

it

towards

the river.

"

You

let

him go

whimpered

Rollowdett Grange;

tg6 in

a moment, and shook

thing was buzzing inside for the

head as though some-

his

no doubt there was,

as

it,

or,

blow was a smart one, Master Harry having

had boxing gloves on more than once But

this

was the

at school.

combined attack

signal for a

from the enemy upon Harry, who struck out manfully,

but was getting terribly knocked about, when

Philip dashed into the fray,

and relieved

his brother

But two were too many

of one assailant.

for

Harry, and seeing Fred doing nothing, he shouted to

him

for help.

Poor Fred

!

gladly have run

away

He felt terribly alarmed, and away

;

would

but he saw Philip punching

at his adversary like a Trojan, while Harry,

with the blood streaming

down

his face,

was being

beaten back step by step towards the river by his

for Fred,

who threw

much

This was too

two formidable opponents. off his

cap and jacket and

then crept cautiously up to try and aid his cousin,

who was

rapidly worsted.

getting

afterwards confessed that he

and

Bill

frighten

;

work, for as Fred

round one of

Fred

dreadfully alarmed,

felt

Jenkins evidently saw

him away

Now

this,

and

tried to

but he went the wrong way to

came

timidly up, Bill

swung

and gave the new

his long arms, ;

comer a back-handed srnack

made

the blood spurt out in a

in

his

mouth "that

moment, and

then,

Holiday Hours in a Country Heme.

by a clever

him up so

thrust of his leg, tripped

he lay sprawling on the

that

But

grass.

this blow,

instead of frightening the town-bred lad, all

the fear out of

him

;

for, to Bill

astonishment, he leapt up springs,

From

and dashed that

at

him

knocked

Jenkins's great

though made of

as

like

2 §7

a

fury.

moment, Harry had only one enemy

to deal with, for Bill Jenkins began to find that he

was getting such a thrashing as he never before

had

life. *

in his

Fred's

fists

battered

face like a shower of blows, that

in the

ensued the big lad was more

completely knocked off his

soon had enough of

Fred had

not, for

spite of the

till

at

it,

to

show fray,

other's cries for quarter,

last

it

very ;

but

and, in

hammered

at hira with greater fury

they closed

once

He had

feet.

and began

scuffles

than

he wanned with the

and battered away ever,

and

him about the

than

together, wrestled

backwards, forwards, this way, that way, and at last,

seizing his opportunity,

spring off the ground, wards, but, as

it

and drove

but

roaring for

a

his

enemy back-

happened, not on to the ground,

but dash, splash into the sank,

Fred gave a regular

river,

where they both

came up again directly, Bill Jenkins help, and Fred holding on to him like

tiger.

This put an end to the

fight, for

the

fall

into the

Hollowddl Grange; ofy

a 9S

river

and conquest of

made

their leader

the two

and

Stapleses take to their heels, so that Harry Philip were at

by dragging

did,

Fred, which they

liberty to help Bill

Jenkins half-drowned from

him

the river, for Fred, in his anger, had kept

under water more than once

;

and then

all

three

kicked him rather unmercifully to bring him well to again

;

and

it

must be

said, in mitigation

of this

rather barbarous proceeding, that the blood of the

conquerors was a state in

little

up,

which we hear of

and they were

soldiers being

in that

when they

sack and burn towns.

Jenkins was

But -Bill thoroughly

—

for

thoroughly thrashed-

he lay on the grass and blubbered

He

a great cowardly calf as he was.

like

"

say,

Yah

—h—h—ha,"

now,

—hooed" dreadfully; and

hoo "

We

man

" boohoo

but

at last

shouldn't ha' touched you

did not

came if

out-

that genel-

hadn't given us a shilling each to pay you at

out."

What Why, hoo ooh," said hair

Bill,

who

now looked a

had anything

"Now,

—hoo—ooh

with his swelled eyes and wet

beauty, not that the conquerors

to boast of in that respect

then," said Fred, viciously;

"you

give

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

299

*

rae

ray shilling back,

or

I'll

give you

another

ducking." "

Boo

—hoo,"

said Bill, refunding the cash very

and ducking

reluctantly,

head as though

his

to

avoid a blow.

"Ah! you "

Harry.

deserve

Now

it,

you great coward," said

get up, and be off

home ; and

don't

you meddle with us again."

And

so these

young cocks crowed,

own ;

was

regularly their

off,

with his feathers

sides,

home,

getting

for

day

while Bill Jenkins sneaked

down about his heart, for he knew

draggling

and with bitterness in

that another thrashing

for the

was

his

in waiting for

and

his clothes wet,

him

at

his face

bruised.

And now

that the victors

to themselves,

had the

field entirely

and the excitement was

began to find that they were

and upon looking

at

all

very

stiff

and sore

one another, they found that

the victory had been dearly bought

Fred had.

been the greatest hero, and, as a matter of

after all,

course, he

damage

over, they

:

had come in

his clothes

shirt stained

amount of

were soaked with water ;

with blood

as to personal

for the greatest

j

his

his collar torn off; but;

damage, he had escaped with a cut

xouth'aad bleeding Ifnuddes, that Bill Jenkins possessed

a

for

he had found

terribly thick head.

Hollowdell Grange; cry

$oo

Harry's clothes were terribly dragged about, and

knuckles were in nearly as bad a state as

his

Fred's, while his face

was

in

such a condition that

somebody

Philip said he might pass for

Poor

else.

boy, he was sadly "punished," as sporting people call

while more matter-of-fact folks would say,

it,

"knocked about:" the general appearance of face was such that

it

his

might have been supposed

had been the combatant who was immersed

that he

and

in the water, his face

that,

had swelled and grown

a nasty cut on the tened, but

it

ear,

Altogether,

the

boys

puffy.

and had had

had regained

not without

though

having stayed in too long,

his

Philip

had

nose

flat-

proper position,

its

him with blood.

deluging

unmtstakeably

bore

the

appearances of having been in a sharp engage-

ment ; and,

as the sailors say, they " hove to " for

the purpose of repairing damages.

The

first

proceeding was to wring

all

the water

out of Fred's clothes, and then, when he had put

on

his

0*1

commencing the

very,

dry jacket and cap,

very bad.

decent,

—which he had flung off —he did not look so

conflict,

Philip,

too,

when he had taken

and buttoned was the worst,

his stained collar off,

his waistcoat

reversed, so that

it

for

was made pretty

up with the '

covered his

shirt.

collar

But Harry

he looked dreadful; and no

"

Holiday Hours

a Country Home,

in

301

amount of bathing would make him decent.

To

begin with, his cap would not go on so as to cover his bruised forehead

narrow

eyes were reduced to

his

;

so that he could scarcely see

slits,

mouth was drawn down

his

"Only look what an said Philip

;

" don't he

all

old

seem

on one

three burst out laughing,

them not 41

Oh,

"I to tea

to

make him

don't, Phil

some one had

as if

say," said Fred,

And

"

then

Harry begged of

till

does hurt

so.'

"however are we

to go in

?

" I don't know,"

what they

home

?

laugh.

it

;

side.

gutta-percha head,"

been squeezing him out of shape all

while

;

said Philip

will say to us

at once.

What

go along by the river into the fields,

!

;

But we had better go

a set of guys side,

know

" I don't

we look

t

Let's

and get over the palings

and then, perhaps, we can

slip in

without being seen." "

Come

along then," said Harry, "for I do feel

so stupid, and I can't see a bit"

"Oh!

let's

mike

clothes are not at It

all

was getting on

haste," said Fred,

"for wet

comfortable." fast for tea-time,

so they hur-

ried along,

and having, by means of jumping a

couple

ditches,

of

reached

skirted Mr. Inglis's property,

the

palings

which

they helped Harry

Hollow delI Grange;

302

and crept along close

over,

been no joke

had

to

do

for it

and

to the trees.

and

we'll

he

and then blundered along behind

cousin.

soon

Harry did keep alt

had

but he managed to get

"Now, then, keep close, Philip, when they were in close,

It

to leap the ditches, for

standing,

pretty well over, his brother

Harry

or,

Harry,"

whispered the garden ; " keep

slip in."

close,

and

Philip

dodged behind

the evergreens and clumps that he could

till

they had only one great Portugal laurel to pass

round, and then they could reach the side door.

Half a minute more would have one of the

settled

it,

when

French windows opened, and

out

stepped Mr. and Mrs. Inglis just in front of the trio.

Mrs. Inglis's face expressed the horror and compassion that she state,

felt

to see the

boys

in

such a

and, without stopping to ask questions, they

were hurried state that

in,

and nursed and doctored into a

made them a

little

the tea-table, round which,

more presentable

at

when they were assem-

bled, Mr. Inglis listened to the recital of the conflict

;

and,

creditable

much affair,

as he still

was annoyed

he could not see how the

lads could have acted differently. that

at the not very

he could not praise them

for,

It

was a thing

and he did not

"

Holiday Hours in a Country ffomt.

303

blame practical

Harry,

however wrong others might behave, any shape ought not to be thought

in

retaliation

of.

" But I say, Pa," said Harry, " you would not

have had us stand

still

and

those

let

knock poor Dick about, would you

1

" Come, boys," said Mr. Inglis, u

you went

fellows

it's

off to bed, particularly after

quite time

such a day

you have had."

as

The boys

said

their bed-rooms,

hearing,

Mr.

"good

and went

night,"

off to

and as soon as they were out of turned

Inglis

to

his

wife,

and

my

dear,

said,

" That last question for

duty said

4

The young dogs got

;

was unanswerable,

Yes/ while

What

!

my

heart said

'

No/

a knocking about they've

but I expect that their opponents are in a

worse position

still.

I've

been thinking of taking

proceedings against this Jones, for really this

such a flagrant

had better it

affair;

treat

but, after

all,

perhaps

is

we

the matter with the contempt

deserves."

What more Mr. tell,

for

Inglis

would have said I cannot

he was interrupted by the stuffy-looking

head of Harry being thrust into the room, and a

"

Molloivddl Grange; crt

304

i

voice

that

must have been

his,

though the

lips

were immovable, saying, " I say, Pa,

Harry Mr.

was

Inglis

you

ain't very cross, are

started

turned

off

to his

to

bed

books,

you

?

again,

so

question was not discussed any more.

that

and the

.

Holiday Hours in a Country Borne.

$05

CHAPTER XXII fire!

The

fire!

fire!

days slipped pleasantly by, and the boys had

nearly lost

all

traces of their unpleasant encounter,

They had been

fishing again at the mill,

and had

a long talk with Dusty Bob, who had promised ta make them some namesakes, namely " bobs " fctf eel-catching in the dam,

and they were

on the Wednesday evening

following.

to

be ready This was-

Tuesday, and after a hot day, during which \b&y

had been having

men were

—where the crop of hay—making

fine sport in the field

getting in a latish

hay huts, and then when the abode was tenanted, knocking

who by

it

down upon

this

the unfortunate inhabitant,

means was

half smothered,

which

Harry said constituted the best part of the fun a kind of fun that Fred could not see, for the view he took of the matter was frogs in the fable,

and

like that of the pelted

with up covered being after

a mass of hay, and having had Harry and Philip

;

Hollowdell Grange; ory

$o6

on the top of

sitting

last

very hot,

he had crawled out at

that,

and uncomfortable, and

stuffy, bitty,

could not be persuaded

the hay hut

enter

to

again.

The boys had worked hard the hay,

making

the boys

managed

stack-yard

the

turning

— the

and having

to

lie

passed beneath the

tall

rode the leading horse,

down

flat

as

the mass

way

the

making

back, Harry

stirrups -of the

traces, while his legs stuck out at a very

obtuse

angle one from the other, in consequence of

r

new

gateway and under the

On

granary into the yard.

round back of the

part

in taking the load being that

of riding on the top amidst the sweet-scented hay,

out,

and taking

to load the waggon,

high-piled load to

;

them

into cocks, tossing

it

and then helping the

in the field

the?

fat cart-horse.

Harry was the most venturesome of the three

boys in

all things,

and

yet, in spite

he met with fewer mishaps however, on

to

the

stack,

away the

the

others

he did have the

this particular day,

pleasure of being run

load

than

of his daring,

with, for, after taking

front

a

horse was always;

unhooked from the traces, and allowed to follow the waggon behind. Now upon this occasion, after

re-entering

the

field,

must have been tickled by a

Ball, fly,

the big horse,

or else have ha4

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. the idea that,

now

instead of being

However, it

a gentleman a

might, he whisked his

kicked up his heels,

tail,

nobody

men

and then went

;

down

in a regular elephant gallop

the

have been what

idea

tossed his head, and snorted

all

shouting " Stop him

trying to

do so

his back,

was a hunter.

cart-horse he

the horse's

let

was on

307

field,

with

—stop him," but

the

in

the

off

As

least

for

Harry, he stuck his knees into the horse as well as

he could, and dragged at the just

as

have pulled

well

at

He

impression he made.

rein,

but he might

a post for

felt

all

the

rather frightened,

but he stuck tightly to his great steed, steadying himself by taking collar with

fast

one hand,

hold of the horse's great the while dragging with

all

the other at the rein.

Away went the hay in at the

all

hedge

the great brute directions,

at the

full gallop,

and charging

bottom of the

" He'll stop there," shouted the

scattering

right

down

field.

men

in pursuit,

to one another.

But not a in

bit of

a flying leap,

it,

for the horse

and then

took the hedge

went

galloping

on

through the corn-field on the other side, and then

he came to a waving

standstill right in the

grain,

sweet ears.

j

and began

middle of the

to nibble off the green

Hottowdell Grange;

308

or,

Why,

But Where was Harry] !

on the

sitting

bank, with his legs swinging, in the ditch by the

made such could make

side of the hedge over which the horse

a splendid

leap.

But though the horse

splendid leaps, Harry could not. for he was not

used to hunting, and the

first

felt

through the air over the hedge, was

after flying

bump upon

that of a rude

the earth, in the midst

He

of a bed of stinging nettles.

and

himself,

sensation he

felt

his

legs

got up, shook

and arms to

see

if

anything was broken, and then, finding that such

was not the

and then

case,

he began rubbing

applying

dock leaves

to

his his

back stung

hands.

There must have been a good deal of in Harry's bones, for,

somehow

elasticity

or other, in cases

where other persons would have had

theirs broken,

Harry's seemed only to have bent and returned to their '

normal position.

came up

to the

So by the time the men

hedge, Harry was sitting very

unconcernedly with his legs swinging in the ditch, rubbing in the dock juice upon the stung places with *

all his

Here he

face of

* Art

u

might.

one of the

t'e

No

bes," said a voice,

:

hurt,

and the great brown

carters peered over the hedge.

Maester Harry

V

not I," said Harry, getting up,

" Jump

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

What made him

over and catch that old wretch.

run away with

me

309

" 1

But the carter could not answer that question, so he tried to catch the horse

but the

;

first

step

was to get over the hedge, which he could not

manage

He

so easily as the horse.

three places, but

it

was of no

was of the thorniest and

tried in

two or

use, for the live fence

thickest, so

he had to go

round about a quarter of a mile to the But

then set to to catch the truant.

gate,

and

this too

was

easier said than done, for the horse found himself in

very pleasant quarters, and refused to leave

them

him

;

was the sweetest of pasture

there

in the

all

round

shape of juicy, milky, corn-ears

made a

long green stems would have

;

the

pleasant *

and

resting-place,

carolling

then

there

were

the

larks

above him, and the white-throats and

yellow-hammers twittering on

ail

sides

;

while the

sun shone warmly enough to make work tedious

and repose did

not

delightful

feel

;

so that altogether the horse

disposed

to

return

to

his

hard

bondage of drawing the hay waggon, so heavily laden that he had to put out

draw

it

strength to

over the soft yielding surface of the

and he showed refusing to "

then " a

all his

bit,

this

come

as

then."

but turned his

field

plainly as he could

He

wouldn't "

tail to all

;

by

come

the blandislv

Hollowdell Grange,

3xo

ments offered

to his notice.

or,

was of no use

It

to

r

pretend that there was corn in your hand, for he

would not believe

The

see.

this did

and

carter

and would not even smell

it,

might run as

not answer, for

besides,

carter's two,

but

four

him

legs

to

the

at running,

even

into a corner of the

field,

easily beat

when he was dodged up

liked,

trampled the corn down,

horse had

the

and

it

he

fast as

to

he dashed along in the ditch and so escaped

for

again into the centre. "

Whoa,

then,

whoa

quite out of breath

horse wouldn't "

"come

— oa — oa,"

with

his

said the carter,

But the

efforts.

whoa " any more than he would

then," but trotted off for a short distance,

and then very

coolly

green corn-ears.

commenced

At

last

grazing

thought of

the carter

what he should have thought of

at

upon the

first,

namely,

leaving the gate open, and trying to drive the horse through. little

This he accomplished by means of a

manoeuvring, and the truant returned to the

farm-yard,

where

where

obtained a

he

he was

easily

severe

captured,

flogging

for

and his

vagaries.

That same night the boys lay

in

bed

talking

through the open doorway about what they would

do

in the morning,

window-blind.

when a

light flashed

upon the

" I

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. "

How

it

lightens

did you see that

!

"

" There, again,

said Fred.

?

His cousins had seen what he alluded said so again,

;

311

to,

and

but the light appeared upon their blind

and

this

time lasted so long, that they got

out of bed to look, when, to their horror, they

could see flames running up the side of a great

wheatstack in the farm-yard, and the blaze every

moment growing

They

larger.

and shouted the alarm to Mr.

ran to the stairs

Inglis,

shone through the hall window

the glare that

what was the matter, and hurried

The boys scrambled on as possible,

and

out.

their clothes as quickly

and upon going

the maids

all

who saw by

out,

found Mrs. Inglis

upon the lawn, watching the

progress of the flames, which spread with alarming rapidity.

Mr.

farm-yard

Inglis's

was

situated

fully

a

hundred yards from the house, so that there was

no danger upon was very

still,

that side, and, besides, the

which prevented

so fast as they

that the fall

flames spreading

would have done.

tunately, the stacks

close together,

the.

wind

But, unfor-

and farm-buildings were very

so that

it

seemed very probable

whole of the contents of the yard would

a prey,to the flames.

When

the boys reached the yard, they found

Hollowdett Grange ; ert

312

everything in confusion

— people

running up from

the villages;

then shouting, and ordering, and

contradicting,

all in

a breath, and everybody in a

The

state of the greatest excitement.

only cool

person about the place seemed to be Mr.

who had to the

the

already despatched a mounted messenger

town

fire,

the

pond

to the stack nearest

over which, by means of ladders, a great

corn sheet was

The

wet.

and was now forming a

for the engine,

men from

line of

Inglis,

laid,

pails

and

this

they tried to keep

were passed quickly along, and

returned empty by another row of

men

;

but the

burning stack roared and crackled, and the sparks flew

up

in myriads, while in the glare of light the

martins and swallows could be seen

wards and forwards over the flames,

flitting

till

back-

one by one

the poor things were suffocated, and dropped into the burning mass. itself,

flapping

its

An

old white owl, too, showed

wings round the burning stack

and hooting dismally, but

and was

lost in the

it

was of no

soon

after flew

off

dark night

The men worked hard but

it

avail,

at

keeping the sheet wet,

for all

at

down

portion of the burning stack

tell

one they were trying

save,

to

once a great

and

against the iu

a few

minutes the great sheet and the whole of the sia$ q{ the stack beneath

it

were in a tyaze^

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. Mr.

now

Inglis

directed

313

attention to the

his

which the flames were

stables at the rear, towards

ground

travelling with inconceivable velocity, the

being

covered with loose straw,

nearly

which the flames ran

Upon

like wildfire.

to the stable door he found

it

across

running

and

locked,

in the

crowd and confusion the horse-keeper could not be There was not a moment to

found.

roof was already on

fire,

so a

lose, for the

pole was fetched,

fir

and used battering-ram fashion, so that the big door by a few strokes was sent

hinges.

off its

Mr. Inglis then rushed in and found the place of smoke, and the poor horses trembling with

There were eight halters

in the stable,

and

full

fear.

to cut their

Some of

was but the work of a minute.

them dashed out of the place as soon as released, as though

mad

with fear

while others stood with

;

dripping sides, snorting and shuddering, and had literally to

be dragged

out.

All this while the roof

and the hay more

fiercely.

was blazing away rapidly,

in the loft served to

make

burn

it

Seven horses had been saved, but

the eighth stubbornly refused to move, in spite of

every effort

;

and

at last

Mr. Inglis and the

with him were compelled

to

retreat

to

men

avoid

tuffocation.

Upon

being a

little

restored,

one of the

men

Grange;

ffotlowdelt

3*4

&r,

r

would have made another attempt, but he wal stopped by Mr,

human

life

then the roof

fell

risk of

who

Inglis,

it

he would not

that in

said that

would be a

allow.

Just

with a crash, and a fearful

shriek burst from the poor animal that

so horrible a death, while the

men

met with

shuddered as

they looked at one another, and thought of their

narrow escape.

The

now presented

a dreadful scene

for poultry, pigs,

and calves were

farm-yard

of confusion,

running about in

adding their

all directions,

to the general clamour;

cries

the pigeons flew round

*

the place and

and

from building to building;

v

everything seemed disposed to

but the direction required of

fly it

;

or run in any the men, too,

appeared nearly as bad, running hither and thither without aim or purpose, and getting into danger

when

there was not the slightest necessity.

And now terribly,

mastery.

the

flames

and seemed

to

The moon had

dark night was

elm and beech

lit

roared

crackled

have gained the entire not risen, so that the

up by the red

glare,

trees turned of a

they reflected the bright

and

light.

and the

tall

golden green as

The

flames leaped

from stack to stack, and from shed to shed, licking everything up, and seeming to laugh at the efforts

which were made

to

stay their progress*

The

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. great

bam

full

seemed to be bailiff lived

The

of corn

was

in

a

blaze,

that the farm-house

315

and the

where Mr.

fear

Inglis's

would be the next prey of ^the flames. were

pig-sties

all

burnt down, and two unfor-

tunate fat pigs had perished, squealing dismally

but the rest of the live stock had been saved, as

most of the

also

farming

implements

:

drills,

ploughs, harrows, harness, carts, waggons, &c. &c.

had been

all

dragged out of the way ; but, for of valuable

the loss

that,

stock

was

terrible-

unthreshed ricks of barley, oats, and wheat

and

straw, a barn filled with sacks of grain

threshed,

and

tired

great barn

men

;

hay

newly

being devoured by the flames in

all

one short hour and a

The

all

half.

was blazing

furiously,

and the

busily engaged wetting the thatch

upon

the gable end of the farm-house, upon which great flakes of fire kept falling

at

;

while others were hard

work dragging the furniture out of the doors

and windows, and bearing

when

there

came the

it

to a place of safety,

was heard a distant " hurray," and then

pattering sound of galloping horses,

the rattle of wheels.

by those near

at

The cheering was taken up

hand, and in the midst of the

shouting, the dark red

Marshford dashed up the horses were

and

body of the engine from

to the yard.

detached by the

In a twinkling,

men

in

dark

Hollowdell Grange; or

316

%

who had

uniform

leaped off the engine, the glare r

all

while reflected

the

helmets brigade

—

brass-bound

screwed

pipe

quickly was

fire

the wheels spun round again

engine was run

suction

their

Marshford boasted a volunteer

for

—and
as the

from

down on,

to the

and

pond, the magic,

like

so

done, length after length of hose

it

joined together,

a sufficiency was obtained to

till

reach easily the burning barn

and

;

then

the

captain with the burnished copper branch screwed

men

to the hose,

it

seized the handles

side of the engine, and

thud

\

thud

squish

— — — ciss

ciss

;

the

thud

squitter

went

hiss-s-s-s-s-s,"

of water swift as an

on

— word " Thud

— thud," went the " Squish — — squish

— thud

powerful pumps.

at the given

arrow from a

to the gable of the farm-house,

thatch in

chimney-stack

on each

a moment, from

down

to

the

a stream

bow

right

and deluging

the

eaves,

broad

and

red

extin-

guishing every spark and flake that hung to it

How

necessaiy this had become could be seen

from the steam which arose from the thatch, which

must have been

in flames in a itw minutes, while

the brick-work actually

hissed,

it

had grown so

heated.

An all

occasional dash from the branch^ soon stayed

alarm as to the farm-house being

in

danger

\

Holiday Hours

in

a Country Home.

and the captain, directing

317

stream of water

his

against the burning barn, ordered his

men

to attach

another hose-pipe and branch to the engine, so as

upon the

to double the stream of water thrown

flames; this was soon done, and that nothing

the

fire

would

it

being evident

avail to stay the progress of

and sheds, which were one

in the ricks

mass of red glow, both branches were devoted to the attack

How

upon the big barn.

men

the

cheered and

down

the sweat streamed

pumped

and how

;

their faces as they sent

—

down on each side, " thud thud thud " and how the streams of water dashed

the handles

—

thud

;

;

into the burning building, battling with the forked

tongues of the

fire,

glowing timbers

masses

;

—

and

smoking,

all

interposed

their

smoke now

prey;

between these

and "ciss

captain of the brigade their hands.

a

men

" Hiss

before was flame.

—

ciss

fiery

and

-ciss,"

rushed

tubes

the

his lieutenant held in

Famously was the engine kept going,

barrel of beer

was brought down, and the

relieved each other,

ing draughts

dragons

—

the water sputtering from the copper

for

charred

went the raging flames as the cold

hiss,"

streams

black,

into

while volumes of steam and

ascended where hiss

inch by inch, and turning the

handed

to

and partook of the

them from the

cask.

refresh-

Hollowdell Grange;

Ji8 All

once

at

there

a hurried rush

great corn-ricks, which core,

had toppled

the

sparks high up in the

direction

many

a golden whirl-

about

But for the presence of the in

another

but the powerful streams of water that

;

were dashed the

glowing

its

would now have spread

fire

the very

to

and a shower of

like

air,

and

ore of the

for

spreading

yard,

cry,

to the loose straw that lay

fire

in all directions.

engine, the

feet,

had burned

over,

ashes right across

wind, setting

was a warning

many

of

or,

all

over the place soon extinguished that

little fires

had sprung up, and Mr.

on a body of men with buckets

Inglis leading

throw water where

it

would have good

to

effect, the

engine branches were directed again at the large barn, which was greatly in need of attention, for

during the brief pause the flames had leaped up with

renewed violence soon began to

;

but the steady streams of water

upon them, and

tell

well, that in the course of

that too so

an hour, one branch was

considered enough to finish the task of extinguishing the

fire in

that building,

and the other poured

an unrntermitting stream upon each and every part of the yard where the flames were.

The danger entirely at

became

of

an end

duller

and

the ;

ruin

spreading

was now

and every minute the

fainter.

glare

The "clank— clanks

;

Holiday ffours

—thud

thud

"

in

a Country Home.

of the engine

still

% V*

kept on hour after

now

hour, for the smouldering heaps of ashes every

and then burst out the branches

into flame

soon reduced

;

its

scene of devastation, and a sad sight the

more so from

the work of

a

to

up rose the sun upon the

last

at

brightness

The day had long

cloud of steam and smoke.

dawned, and

but a shower from

it

was, and it

was

some evil-minded person, who,

for

the whispers abroad that

reasons of his own, had set

to the stacks

fire

but happily this afterwards proved not to have

been the

case, for the fire

accident

a tramp,

:

straw to

sleep,

which he

lit

was the

who had

down

lain

an the

in

having dropped the match * With

his pipe,

when

the dry straw caught

and the flames ran up the

fire,

result of

side of the stack

by

his side in a few seconds.

was indeed a sad

It

sight,

for all

around lay

sodden and blackened straw, charred beams, and

smoking in short,

rafters, half-burnt boards, it

was a scene of

and steam ascended morning was

now

sky.

An

aftei-

-"

partaking

kitchen, went

and the smoke

in clouds towards the bright

occasional dash from the branch

sufficient to

greater part of the

ruin,

scorched sacks

keep the

fire

under, and the

worn and jaded working people,

of refreshments

home

at

the

Grange

to snatch a few hours* rest,

and

Hollowdell Grange;

320

or, i

among Inglis

who went

those

seek rest were

to

But on entering the house

and the boys.

and the breakfast

they found the blinds open,

down

cloth spread, so that they all sat

ing meal

would be a

to

a refresh-

which everybody declared that

after

;

Mr.

pity to

it

go to bed on so bright a

morning.

Fred seemed, however, his

mind

;

and

uncle

if this

loss. ^

His

Inglis,

last

disaster

fears,

who

at

to

have something on

stammeringly asked his

would not prove a serious

however, were

smiled,

and

set at rest

him

told

that

it

by Mr. would

have been, but for the exercise of prudence and forethought, for, said he,

" If I had not been insured,

a

much more

company

terrible affair

pay

will either

but

now

the

full

;

me

thing that has been destroyed pensation, or build fill

them

would have been

it

value of every-

by way of com-

up the whole of

again, so that

the insurance

you see I

my barns

shall

and

have new

ones instead of old."

"But they

can't build a

new

horse and pigs

again," said Harry.

"No, poor

creatures," said Mr.

was a sad death satisfaction of

save them."

for

them.

knowing

Inglis;

"that

However, we have the

that

we did our

best to

1

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

" But what

is

" Why, to explain

body of men

?

insurance

32

" inquired Fred.

"simply," said Mr. Inglis, " a

it

join together,

and pay each of them

a small sum of money yearly into a place of busi-

which they have in London

ness,

anybody who belongs and

that has

him

to

them has a

to

his place is burnt,

he has, from

been paid up in

pay

for all the

and then, when

;

Some people keep on paying

this

money

enough sent to

littles,

damage

misfortune,

that has

been done.

in all their lifetime,

and never have a misfortune, and so that money goes to help those I

who

Thus

have.

have never had a mishap of

this

in

my

time

kind before,

but have been paying year after year, for a very

long time, and what I have paid has gone to help those

who have been

come, and

in trouble

I shall write to

;

now my

London

who manage, when man to see what is

they will send

and then they

pay

perhaps,

my

boy, there

is

down

nothing

me

the

money

a gentle-

like

at once,

So you

see,

prudence and

fore-

damages.

not only in guarding against

things."

to the people

amount of damage done,

repair the

or,

sight,

will

the

turn has

fire,

but in

all

Hollowdell Grange;

$3t

CHAPTER

or*

XXIII.

A BROKEN DAY.

In

spite of the resolution to

so

late,

the boys did not

was a great

there

sit

up

seem

as

at

disposition

it

all

to

had grown the thing:

yawn, and a

general feeling of being uncomfortable.

appeared strange and

irregular,

Things

and the events of

the past night to have taken place a long time

back they

and

;

all

put off

As

at last,

by the advice of Mrs.

three went off to bed

till

for

farm-yard

— the

Inglis,

dinner being

a later hour.

Mr. till

of confusion,

Inglis,

he was busy enough

dinner-time, it

for, in

was impossible to

in the

the present state tell

what amount

damage was done, and what had been saved from the flames. Implements and tools were of

spread about in

all

directions,

and the extent

of

the ruin almost put him in a state of despair ; but fee reflected

that the misfortune might have been of

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. a far

more

serious nature,

and then

3 a§

work

set to

busier than ever.

By

twelve o'clock the engine had gone back to

the town, the

being completely extinct; and

fire

then there were arrangements horses, pigs, cows,

and

kept a manager

his farm, yet,

in

make

poaltry, all of

quired immediate attention Inglis

to

for,

;

or

for

which re

although

bailiff

to

the

Mr,

attend to

such a case of emergency as

the present, he found plenty to call for his

own

aid.

About three o'clock the boys made

their appear-

ance again, well refreshed with the hours' sleep they

had taken

;

five

or six

but the whole place

looked so desolate and miserable, that they very

soon scampered off into the garden,

to

amuse

themselves with a few strawberries and goose-

When

berries.

they

had had enough

fruit,

took some into the greenhouse for the parrot,

made a

they

who

upon being which she seemed to enjoy

noise like the smacking of lips

shown the

strawberries,

wonderfully

;

while as for the gooseberries, they

were capital amusement, for she picked the seeds out of the pulp one at a time, and then danced up

and down as though

in ecstasy.

But they were soon tired of playing with Poll,

&$d betook themselves to the yard to tease the old

Y 3

Rollowddl Grange; ory

324/ raven,; but

showed

he was not

in a

mood

to be teased, so

and pecked viciously

fight,

who came near

him,

till

at every

might

at last, feeling that

would eventually overcome

one

and the boys

right,

prove too much for him, he took, to

his old place

of refuge, the horse-chestnut-tree, where he sat and

barked and laughed

at his late aggressors.

They next turned had not had a run

since the day

when he had

eye cut by the stone thrown by party.

The

cut

was healed up

;

Bill

somehow

faction to

his

Jenkins's

and very soon

Dick was capering round the yard but

who

their attention to Dick,

in fine

style,-,

or other his capers did not give satis-

masters

his

;

they

wanted something

new, and they could find nothing fresh to amuse

them,

till

all at

once the yard gate opened, and a

lad appeared with a letter in his hand.

"

Wow—wow —wuff,"

said Dick,

making

at the

intruder open-mouthed, but the new-comer was too

quick for the dog^ for he darted back, and shut the gate in his face.

Back darted Dick, and out

at the

door at the

other end, and then round by the shubbery.

Harry and

Philip both tried to

open the

gate,

Fred's late

—whom they had recognised as adversary, Jenkins —was holding

on

so that

but the new-comer

tightiy,

Bill

they could not

move

it

ift

Holiday Hours in a Country Home,

But in the course

the least.

of a few seconds

was the sound of rushing

there

shrubbery

a loud yell

;

325

through the

feet

and then the gate was

;

and upon being opened there stood, or

released,

and Dick, who

rather reeled about, Bill Jenkins,

owed him a grudge

for the stone-throwing, tight

hold of him by the trousers and shaking away at

them

as hard as he possibly could

and

all

the

while snarling and growling as viciously as a

dog

;

could snarl and growl. " Help "

Worry

" Help again

'

;

help

1

" roared Bill Jenkins.

!

—worry—worry," help

1

murder

!

!

went Dick. roared

"

when Dick, with

the importance of a conqueror,

and leaped upon the

left his

his

Jenkins

Oh, please

Harry

;

"

call

laid

him by the

all

hold of the

lolling out,

and

tail.

" Oh, please call him off Bill

fell

enemy's breast,

fallen

where he stood with his red tongue wagging

Jenkins

and then, tripping over a stone, he

sprawling on the gravel walk,

trousers

Bill

I'll

;

do

please," said

ne'er throw stones at

him

him

again.

off."

hold of Dick's

ears,

oh,

tail,

and Philip took

and they carried him

off to the

when he set to until his enemy had

yard and chained him up again,

barking as loudly as he could, left

the premises, which he did directly, leaving the

Hollowdett Grange*

3*6 letter,

which he had brought

Mr.

for

charge of Fred, and then slipping

went no

Harry and

to

called at

faring

fright, for

no

Dick's

farther than through his trousers.

As

enjoyed the fun, as they

Philip, they

immensely, which can hardly be wondered

it,

when

Inglis, in the

off, after

worse than being in a most horrible teeth

or,

the provocation they had received

into consideration

;

is

taken

but I must do them the credit

of saying that they would not have set the dog at

poor

him

Bill, if

and

that they could not have stopped

they had tried ever so hard, which, in the

hurry-skurry of the

affair,

no chance

they had

of attempting.

Dick had a good memory

who were

and those who behaved

kind,

as Bill Jenkins found to his cost

for those

ill

to him,

and never

;

after-

wards could he be persuaded to take a message to Mr.

Inglis's house, so

wholesome was the dread

with which the dog had inspired him.

This episode

supplied

they had wanted attention

till

ing a charge

boys

the

—something

to

dinner-time, which into the kitchen,

the process of what Mrs.

with

take

up

what their

Harry, by mak-

found to be in

Cook termed

" dishing

up;" so they entered the house, where they found

Papa

just going to relieve himself of a little of the

black which clung to him at

dinner,

they

heard

all

;

and soon afterwards, that

had been done

Holiday Hours in a Country to

make

the

best

of

the

ffotnt.

existing

state

347 of

affairs.

During

tea the family party

by the cry of " Fire

!

"

the glare through the to the farm-yard,

were again alarmed

of which they could see

window

;

but,

on hastening

proved to be only one of the

it

smouldering heaps which had burst out again,

and a few

pails of

water soon extinguished- the

flames.

Watchmen were soon

left in

charge of the place, and

after returning to the house, the

whole of the

inmates, thoroughly tired out with the excitement

of the past twenty-four hours, retired to rest

'

Hollow dell Grange; or9

328

CHAPTER

XXIV.

BEWARE OF THE SNAKE. u Now, boys," said

tumble up,

it's

Philip, "

tumble up

—tumble up

such a beautiful morning.

Come,

get up, Harry," he continued, giving his brother

a rough shake* " Aw yaw aw

— — —aw—aw—w,"

gaping

said

Harry,

shouted

Philip

fearfully.

" Get

up

—

p

p p— p," p— — —

him another

again, giving

shake.

"Oh, don't, Philip," said Harry, "I'm so slee aw aw aw— ah aw w py " What an old stupid " said Philip again. " If

— —

— — —

. '

!

you don't get

up,

I'll

cold sponge you."

Harry did not wait

for the

cold sponge, but

got up at once, and then the young dogs seemed to enter

into

a compact to disturb the rest of

poor Fred, which they did by torturing him most ingeniously.

'Holiday

Hours

Fred was lying

in

a Country Home,

fast asleep,

329

and, the night having

been warm, he had kicked

all

the clothes

off,

Harry and Philip collected the hair-brushes in

so

the two bedrooms, which, old to five hall,

after which,

;

and new, amounted

Harry slipped down

into the

and brought up the two clothes-brushes, and

these they carefully arranged

one side of the

on

all

They next screwed up

sleeper.

the corner of a handkerchief,

him on the

upon the bed, and began

to tickle

The

side farthest from the brushes.

application of the tickler produced an impa-

first

rub

tient

the third

;

the second, an irritable scratch

made

but

;

the sleeper turn right over on to

the sharp brushes, and begin to curl

and

twist

about with pain. "

Oh/ dear :

don*£.

!

what's

What's in the bed

and groaning and but

— ah —h — er — oh,

still

?" said Fred,

1

twisting

this

muttering

amongst the

brushes,

keeping his eyes obstinately closed.

His tormentors roared with laughter

was

dear

;

and

it

mirth which thoroughly aroused Fred to

the comprehension of his position, which he

no

sooner realized than he sat up in bed, but in so doing only increased his pain brushes, although

— penetrating

hair-

meant expressly for going through

the hair, having, for

all

the skin, as Fred found,

that, the

power

to pierce

and he soon made a

sort

Hollowdell Grange; or

330

%

the floor, and

of rabbit leap off the bed on to

confronted his tormentors, ignoble flight

;

Fred managed

who

directly took to

but they did not get off scot-free, for

send a missile in the shape of

to

one of the brushes

flying after

Harry a pretty good thump

them, and

it

caught

back with the

in the

hardest part.

"I

say,"

said

when they were

Philip,

nearly

dressed, "

night to

Bob

will

we were to have gone to the mill last bob for eels let's go to-night, or Dusty think we are not coming." ;

" Oh, he wouldn't expect us when he saw what a

fire

He

there was.

would know

we should

But we might go

not go directly afterwards. night, though. Let's ask

that

Mamma to

have tea

we can start directly after." Well, but we have not had breakfast

to-

early,

so that "

yet," said

Fred.

"Well, I know

that,"

said

Harry; "but

it's

always best to be in good time about everything,

and then you don't get shall

down

we do

this

all

morning 1

to the sea-shore.

behind.

I say,

what

I should like to

Let's ask

Papa

go

to take

us."

Why, what's the use," said Philip, "when you know how busy he is about the fire ? I shouldn't 11

like to ask him.

But he said he would take us

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. back, so

again before Fred goes

331

and

wait

let's

»

the boys went

Breakfast finished,

out in the

amuse themselves, and plenty there

garden to

always seemed to be in that garden to amuse any

one of reasonable

abundance

mencement

to begin with either, as

he began feasting

There was

desires.

—no bad thing

Harry appeared

first

upon

fruit

for

in

a com-

to think, for

the gooseberries,

and

then turned his attention to the cherries on the big tree in the corner by the shrubbery

— the

which bore the great white Bigareau cherries it

was quite time they were picked,

split right

down

for

;

tree

and

some were

the side from over-ripeness, while

the sparrows had been attacking others, and had

committed sad havoc amongst them pert rascals having picked out ripest for their operations,

— the

the finest and

all

and then,

after taking

a few bites out of the richest and sweetest they

commenced upon

little

As

another.

part,

for Harry,

r

who was not at make a point cherries

— saying

all

a particular youth, he used to

of

choosing

the

sparrow-picked

they were the ripest

that

and

sweetest.

Harry was up in the fork of the the fruit and throwing

when

the attention of

it

all

down

tree,

to his

three boys

reaching

companions,

was taken up

Hollowddl Grange; drt

332

i.

by the movements of a

little

by

little

;

it

was one of the

seemed

fellow

to

be

emitting

his

sharp

and the

titmice,

tiny

a wonderful state of ex-

in

branch

darting from

citement,

bird in a tree close

cry

a

in

and

branch,

to

most

querulous

manner.

"I

"look

say," said Philip,

a nest somewhere close

at that torn-tit ;

it

has

know."

by, I

This remark set six eyes searching about to discover the place

of the

Fred began looking up the laurel bushes

little

the tree

in

home.

tom-tit's

and amidst

—parting the boughs, and peering

amidst the great green leaves.

"What

are you looking for?"

said

Harry

at

last

The

tom-tit's nest," said Fred,

" Why,

it's

no use

to look there

build in holes in the trees or wall.

was one low wall

in

that

tall

the neck ever so

many

little

comer of

see the bird go

times a day.

a snug place, nobody could touch

where that

they always

Last year there

vase at the

and we used to

;

;

It

chap has been building.

down

was such I

it.

the

wonder It

must

be close by, or he would not be so fidgety about our being here."

They

all

be found

;

hunted about so Harry

well, but

no nest was to

came down from

his elevated

Hmrs in

Holiday

and proceeded

position,

cherries that he

a Country

Bom.

333

share the capful of

to

had picked in addition to those

he had thrown down. "Well, now, laughing nest

over

" no

;

that

if

said Philip,

droll,"

isn't

wonder we could not

find

the

why, Harry" was standing up with his foot

:

Why,

it.

I just

cherry-tree.

And

there

it

saw the

the trunk of the

in

is,

tom-tit fly in."

enough, was the nest right at

there, sure

the bottom of a deep hole in the tree trunk, the

entrance to which was by a hole so small that

eeemed impossible

for

any bird to pass through bulk

for to look at the size of the tom-tit, his

it ;

it

appeared to be double the circumference of the hole

;"

downy

but his

yielding

little

him an easy passage through went up

and

to the tree, out

;

feathers gave

and, as the boys

he darted with a sharp

cry,

flew away.

"There's a hen-bird in the hole,

sitting," said

Harry, " and he has been to feed her, I know.

Saying which, he took a piece of stick,

Let's try."

and began to

insert

" Don't hurt

it/'

it

gently into the hole.

said Philip.

« Don't poke the

*

stick in."

"Oh!

I

brusquely.

I'm about t

shan't

"

Do

hurt

anything,"

you think

I

don't

I'm only going to push

said

Harry

know what it

iu

a

little

Holkwdctt Grange;

334

way

to see if there

of,

a nest, and then

is

shall

I

i»

" Ciss

——————— s

s

s

s

s

s

s,"

been

stick

and

something

of the hole, and

very sharply from the bottom

back darted Harry,

said

all,

as though he

had

shot.

"

Why,

it's

"

How

could a snake get there

a snake," said Philip. 1

"

said Harry,

looking rather discomposed.

"There must have been an egg hole,"

said

Fred

he thought, a very

offering, as

;

clever solution of the difficulty.

" Well, but

how

the

laid in

A

did the egg get there

1

" said

Harry. "

Why,

it

was

laid there, of course," said Fred.

" Well, but," said Philip, " laid there, a

if

an egg could be

snake could have got there

;

and

I

don't believe the English snakes could climb up

the bark of a tree

and, besides, if there was one

;

egg there would be more,

for snakes' eggs are all

joined together like French

rolls at the baker's

and then there would have been a whole

shop; lot

of

snakes in the hole." " Perhaps there

is

now," said Fred. open. / I shan't eat snaky,"

a whole party of them tnere

" I wish

we could split the tree any more cherries ; they smell

"

"

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

"Get

out!" said Harry

a snake at to get

my hand

" But Fred, "

in

;

soon see what

I'd

was a snake,

if it

don't believe

was

it

wish the hole was big enough

I

all.

"I

;

33 j

would

it

it

was."

bite,"

said

"it's

only

and poison you."

"No,

wouldn't,"

it

Harry;

said

adders that bite and poison harmless

;

Papa

says

snakes are quite

;

and he knows

so,

every-

thing."

"Does he?" and Mr. so,

Inglis

behind the

said a voice

came up

do you

older, I trust that to find out

look upon

how all

Ah,

1

you

my

will

boy,

prove studious enough is,

is,

mere nothing

as a is

to

know

so

much about

" Why, about snakes, Papa. they

to

in

learn around

But," he continued, cheerfully, " what said to

and

he knows in the same way that he

comparison with what there

will

And

when you grow

very ignorant your father

does himself, and that

am

"

to them, smiling.

Master Hal, you consider that Papa knows

everything,

us.

laurels,

is it

I

?

They won't

bite,

1

" Oh, yes," said Mr. Inglis, " and pretty sharply, too, after their fashion.

would pierce your skin position of poor froggy

;

I

but

do not suppose if

that

it

you could occupy the

some day, when a snake has

#ot hold of him by the hind legs, I think you would

"

Holiowdell Grange;

336 iind that

he could

bite.

or,

But what made you

talk

about snakes ?

"Why, there's one in Philip; "we put a stick did hiss

Now, you

so.

this

into

tree,

Papa," said

the hole,

and

it

listen,"

wood in the hole again, came forth the same sharp

Philip placed a piece of

and

in

moment

and

hiss,

way

a

there

directly Philip darted

as his brother

had a short time

" There, did you hear that

"Oh, yes;

I

heard the

snake; only the noise

when

truders away,

1

"

hiss,

nest.

same

in the

before.

said the boys.

but

made by the

upon her

sitting

back

was not a

it

female titmouse

It is

scare in-

to

and you see how effectually

it

answers

the purpose, for you boys were completely startled,

and thought

that

it

was a snake.

And

this is very

often the case in nature, that helpless birds, ani-

mals,

and

insects

are

provided with means

of

offence or concealment, that in a great measure

balance the helplessness of their nature.

But

I

should like you lads to read these natural history facts for yourselves,

and then search, during your

walks and excursions, for the objects you have read of in your studies."

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

333

chapt?;r xxv A STUPID

ASS.

Mr. Inglis then walked away, and strolled

to

about the garden in search of something

amuse them

Now

until dinner-time.

most people would have been content with

book

taking a chair, and sitting,

the

boys

the

in hand, beneath

shade of one of the trees upon the lawn.

Fred might have done

this

had he been alone, or

Philip would probably have been likely so to

but when Harry was in

do

;

company with them such a

proceeding seemed to be quite out of the question,

and so they wandered about

in

search of

something to take their attention.

*But there was some one watching them time,

all this

and mentally growling and worrying himself

about the boys being at home.

Now

this

some-

body was none other than old Sam, who was up on & ladder against the house, nailing 2

in

some of the

;

HoUcwdell Grange;

338

long pendant

or,

branches of the roses which had

here and there broken loose,

and were

trailing

down low enough to catch the dresses of those who passed by. Sam had been grunting and hammering, and hammering and

he was not

in

and

grunting,

a very good temper ;

for, in

looking

round and watching the boys, he had missed the nead of the

he was aiming

nail

at,

and had given

a sufficiently hard rap to his finger to draw blood

and

this

was of course put down

" them boys

;

" in fact,

with more blame

hammer and

if

to the credit of

they could not have met

one of them had taken up the

struck the blow, while the others had

aided and abetted.

At

last

Sam saw them

flower-garden,

or

another

and then,

all

turn

down

for fear that

by which he

store

set

into the

something should

be

handled, he got off the ladder and began very cautiously to follow them, going slowly from tree to tree,

and

trying to steal quietly

up

;

but

all

Sam's caution was unnecessary, as the boys were not in mischief, for they were only going to the field to try

and catch Neddy, the donkey, who had

been on the sick visit,

list

nearly

all

the time of Fred's

and had been turned out in a

tance from the house. reported quite well for

field

some*dis-

But now Neddy had been

some days

past, so the

boys

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

were determined upon having a something towards tea,

when

filling

339

ride, so as to

up the time

do

until after

they were to go to the mill-dam bobbing

for eels.

They soon reached the cedar field, where the cob pony was grazing as well as the donkey ; and as soon as the visitors entered, down went the w

pony's head, and up went his neexs and

away he galloped

as fast as

and

to the ground,

after

he could lay

him went

tail,

and

his hoofs

the donkey, but

only at the rate of about one hundred yards to the pony's two.

Now

the

pony was not wanted, but he must

needs begin setting a bad example to the donkey, telling him as plainly as

that he did not

mean

one animal could to

tell

another

be caught, and, as "

evil

communications corrupt good manners," the donkey took the same whim into his great rough ash-grey head, and galloped after the pony as hard as he could.

" coop beasts

race

It

was of no use to

—coop —coop/'

say, "

come

then," or

for both of the four-footed

seemed to have an idea that they were to

and

tear

round the

field just as

liked, [and that they could

go

long as they

far better

without

saddle, bridle, or rider than they could with.

Seeing

how much slower Neddy

than the pony,

it

the

donkey was

was not very long before he was z a

;

Hotlcwdetl Grangi;

340

6?>

cut off from following his companion's capers

even then he was as

from being caught as

far off

he dodged about and spun round, and,

ever, for at last,

when driven

his

in

tail

but

;

between

into close quarters, he tucked

and kept

his legs

his heels to

the party attacking him, which was his very Irish fashion of facing the enemy.

"

Now, Fred,"

quite

there

still

and then when

;

said

Harry

at last, "

come

Philip,

I give the

in a

word

all

you stand

little

closer

walk forward

together,

and then we must have him. Phew

hot

"

it is

I

how

!

Harry, having posted his forces in the most suitable manner, then stood ready with a halter in his hand,

knowing from

fatigue -bought experience

which way Master Neddy would

rush,

and meaning

time to try and lasso the, rascal.

this

"

Now,

The

then," said Harry, " close in."

three

boys

then

slowly and

cautiously

walked towards the donkey, who was now hemmed

up

in a corner of the field;

and, judging from

appearances, he evidently meant to surrender at discretion.

Harry held the

halter all ready to slip

over Neddy's head, and in another

moment he

would have been captured but for the pony, who, seeing the danger of his companion/ gave a loud neigh and started off

full

gallop across the field

"

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. " Pitty

—pat

;

—pat

pitty

—

pitty

;

pat,"

34 1

went the

r

pony

and, as soon as

;

up went

his head,

Neddy heard

and away he rushed,

his heels,

and passed Harry

a

like

down went

it,

But Harry was

shot.

ready for him, and cleverly threw his halter over the tiresome brute's head.

drawn

tight,

In a

moment

foot tripping in the long grass, he left

and down he went on

tolled over

full

gallop to where the

until his

go of the

all-fours,

and over upon the ground

went Neddy

was

and as Harry held on to the other

end he was dragged along by the donkey,

halter,

it

and then

while away

;

pony

stood, 4

and then the two provoking beasts walked into

the middle of the

stood in the

mud and

little

right

corner pond, and

water, whisking their tails

about, and seeming to enjoy finely the mischief of

which they had been

guilty.

"There's a beast," said Harry,

and chewing

grass,

catch

me

bits

sitting

of strand.

up

in the

" Won't he

next time I get on his back; he shall pay

it

for tiring

me

out in this way.

" Well, what shall can't get at

them

we do

?

"

I'll

give

it

said Philip

;

him." "

we

in the pond."

" Can't you drive

them out with a long whip

?

said Fred.

This

last

feasible,

idea

seemed

to strike

Harry as being

and another plan popped into

his

head

Holtowdell Grange;

34^ at

same moment;

the

of,

jumping up with a

so,

"won't-be-beaten" sort of an

about him, he

air

appealed to Philip. " I say, Phil, old chap, I'm so tired

;

do go and

fetch the whip."

" What's the good 1 " said Philip

;

" that won't

catch them."

"No, but we'll leave the gate open," said his brother, "and drive them up the held into the stable, and then we can catch them easily enough." " Bravo 1" said Fred, clapping his hands, but

not making any noise from the fact of having handkerchief in

one,

been wiping

having

his

his

face.

Away

trotted Philip,

long cart-whip

went

to the

;

and soon returned with a

and then once more the boys

bottom of the

vanced with the whip in

field,

his

and Harry ad-

hand towards the

pond.

As

for

Neddy, Harry might have stood

edge of the water and cracked the whip

donkeyship bit did

at the

until his

disposed to come out, for not a

felt

he care, knowing

of reach, and that even

full if

well that he

the thong could have

touched him he would not have

and so

thick grey coat

;

ping his great

ears,

was out

felt it

stock-still

whisking his

through his

he stood, tail,

and

flap-

lazily

;

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

But

winking his eyes.

pony

:

was

different with

the

he was a thin-skinned gentleman, and not

much

so

it

343

of a philosopher as the

had often

felt

the whip

upon

He,

ass.

his flanks,

and knew

good a judge of

the flavour, and, not being so

too,

dis-

tance as his companion, as soon as the whip gave the

first

crack he

made a

of the pond, and away

open

and spattered out

start,

up the

field

towards the

gate.

Stock-still

stood Neddy.

" Crack "'went the whip again. !

"

Come

out," shouted Harry.

"Poor old

"No,

fellow, then," said Philip, soothingly.

don't coax him, Phil," said his brother;

" he don't deserve

Only

it.

let

me

get at

him

that's all."

For a few moments, however, there did not

seem all

;

to

be a chance of getting "

" for the

donkey stood as

the pony, as he scampered

at him,

that's

stolidly as ever,

up the

field,

till

gave a

triumphant neigh, which roused Neddy, for he gave a frisk and a splash in the water, and then rushed out; but he did not escape

Harry managed thick

to get

end of the whip

quite scot-free, for

one crack

just as

at

him with the

he galloped up the

field.

Harry's manoeuvre proved successful, for they

;

Holfowdell Grange;

344 had now only

or,

donkey up

to follow the

as he

went

from whence he was soon

straight into the stable,

dragged out in triumph, saddled and bridled, and with Philip mounted.

"Now,

Harry

then," shouted

soon as they returned

to the field, "

bottom and back, and then But Neddy would not

him with your

"kick

saw the

stick

when he

brother, the

Fred's turn."

was of no use to

it

;

to the

he would only walk, so

£ stick, and

then

when Neddy

coming he would not walk but would

did,

off

him

and handed the weapon to

donkey no sooner

down went

than

and

trot

down

so that Harry could hardly catch up to

trot,

but

it's

heels,

Philip called out for

to his brother, as

the

felt

first

head and up went

his

went Philip on

to his

Neddy would then have

back

his

touch

his heels,

in the grass.

started off again, but

i

Harry was too quick

for him,

and soon held the

rein for his brother to remount.

"He's too

jump

fresh," said

up, Phil,

and

we'll

nonsense out of him.

So away Philip back on left

again,'' and

capitally,

the

soon take a

little

of his

«

trotted

down

to the

bottom and

then Fred had a turn and stuck

only when he wanted to turn to the

and come up the

turn to

"Never mind;

Harry.

right

field

and go

again,

the

Neddy would

other

way—an

a;

Holiday Hours

a Country Home.

in

345

arrangement Fred was obliged to submit to from the fact of his whole attention being required to

on

sit

At

tight,

last

without guiding his steed.

Harry's turn came, and

before he could

manage

was some time

it

to mount, for

Neddy was

very shy of the rough hawthorn stick the lad held

and so he kept backing and pirouetting went on the opposite side with his fidgety

little

scamp

until Philip

when

stick,

suffered himself to

the

be mounted.

" Crack," went the stick, and up went Neddy's

"Crack

heels.

again,

— crack — crack,"

went the

and up went Neddy's heels

times over.

But the donkey had

stick six

four, five,

time met

this

with his match, and. in spite of his kicking and shuffling,

that left

Harry

sat

he was bumped

him

like

a hero.

all sorts

of ways

—on to the donkey's

neck

and was several times nearly so that at last

off,

Neddy gave up

to his thrashing,

— on

'Tis true

—

right

and

to his crupper,

but never quite

;

in despair, submitted

and then cantered down the

and back, and afterwards allowed

field

himself, with a

very good grace, to be ridden about as long as his masters liked

;

for they

selves the masters that

had

really

proved them-

day in more senses than

one.

At duty,

last

Neddy was

and was

declared to have done his

set at liberty

by the stable-door

—

HoUowdell Grange;

346

good feed of recompense

oats being

for all

ot\

awarded

to

him

as a

he had gone through, and then

the donkestrians went in to their mid-day meal,

Fred

feeling wonderfully

as to riding.

improved in

his ability

Hobday Hours

in

a Countt y Home,

CHAPTER

347

XXVL

BOBBING AROUND,

In the afternoon, as they were shady

tree, eating

began

sitting

under a

a dessert of strawberries, Harry

to wish that

was

it

tea-time, so as

to get

which place

started for the mill-dam, about

his

whole conversation had been since Neddy had

been returned to the "

Oh

Oh

do wish

it

was time to

"I wonder how many we

Harry. "

I

!

stable.

not many," said Philip.

!

said

start,"

shall catch."

"

We

only caught

twelve last time."

"

Ah

but then see

1

how

came on

it

to rain,

we could have caught dozens more." "Suppose Dusty Bob does not get the what-

else

d'ye-call-ems ready ?" said Fred.

"What!

the

bobs?

them ready," said will eet

a

Oh!

Philip.

shilliner for

"

he's

sure to

He knows

makine: them, so he

have

that is

he

sure

"

Hollowdell Grange; cr9

348

to be there, with he,

them

all in

a flower pot.

Harry ?

" Oh, yes

" !

said

Harry

;

«

he'll

have the bobs

we should

ready; he dare not do otherwise, or

duck him "

Isn't

in the mill-pond

What a brag you

;

shouldn't we, Phil!"

are,

"What's the good of " Well, you'll

see,"

Harry

telling

Why, you wouldn't touch him

!

said

"

Fred.

such nbs as that at all

I

" !

"

said Harry,

if

the bobs

are not ready."

They soon had an

opportunity of testing whether

the bobs were ready or not, for an early tea was hastily partaken of,

and Mrs.

and then they

Inglis having

meet them, and

to

set

off,

—Mr.

promised to come and

help them carry

home

the

spoils.

The boys were

in too great a hurry to get

to the mill, to take

any notice of the

they met upon the road.

down

attraction

Harry was compelled

to

have one shy at the squirrel that scampered up into the chestnut-tree

;

but with that exception not a

stoppage was made, and in a very short time they

came

to the plank over the great ditch

— the plank

which replaced the one that broke when

it

was

danced on the day that the basket of fish was This time, lost after the visit to the fish-traps. however,

it

was

quietly

crossed,

and

in

a few

"

Holiday Hours

a Country Home.

in

Bob became

minutes the figure of Dusty as

he leaned against a post outside the

smoked

349 visible

mill,

and

his pipe.

"Sarvant, young gentlemen," said Bob, as the

boys came up.

"'Spected to ha' seen

yow

yes-

terday."

" Oh, but

we have been so busy since the fire, Bob," said Harry, and he spoke as though he really believed that they had been busy; but, if asked what they had been busy about, I think

it

very doubtful whether Master Harry could have "

given a satisfactory answer.

Never mind about

Harry; "where are the

that though, now," said

bobs ? "

Oh

!

don't see t'

fire,

I've got 'em all right," said

Bob

why

o'

I couldn't

have a drop

;

" but I

beer up at

as well as other folks."

"Well, why didn't you?" said Harry; "Papa

had a whole barrel brought

"Oh

1

I

out."

dunno," said Bob

;

" I knows I never

got none, and other folks got lots

my mate

as

it

;

and

I says to

warn't fair."

"Well, but why didn't you have some, Bob?' said Philip ; " Papa meant it for everybody that

had been helping." " I

me

knows

that," said

to have none."

Bob

And

;

then

" but

Bob

nobody asked filled his

pipe

Hollowdell Grange;

35<>

or,

again,

and looked very sulky as he went on smoking,

for

was very evident that

it

much touched

come

to

had been However,

over the beer business.

he soon seemed

to the conclusion that the

him were not

lads before

his dignity

to

blame

short of the needful refreshment

for his

coming

and, turning the

;

lighted tobacco out of his pipe into the mill-dam,

where

it fell

with a "

ciss,"

he led the way into the

from whence he produced three

mill,

and some

string,

light poles

and from out of a cool damp

flower pot three hideous-looking looped

up bunches

of worms, each with a leaden weight in the centre. " There," said Harry, "

Hooray, boys

them.

I

come

!

knew he would have on."

Bob soon tied the bunches, or strung upon worsted to a string, poles,

and then posted each boy

on

sidered an eligible spot

mill-dam.

He

bobs, of

worms

fastened to the in

what he con-

the banks of the deep

took Fred, as being the novice,

own especial charge, and began to instruct him how to proceed. " There, yow see," said Bob, " yovv lets the bob sink gently down to the bottom, and, when yow under

his

feel

touches, just draw

it

it

up a

the eels sticks their teeth into it

gently

minute."

up

and then out

atop, v

it,

,

.

little

ways

and then wi'

till

pull

'em in a

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. All this time Dusty

Bob was

suiting the action

and showing Fred how

to the word,

done, waiting

all

stick his teeth in,

the while

should be

it

one of the

till

351

eels did

which was in the course of a very

few minutes, when Bob softly raised his bob to the surface, lifted off into the

it

out quickly,

and a

dropped

fine eel

water again.

"Never mind,"

Bob,

said

"try again;

that's

the way."

So

this

time Fred tried, and

let his great bait

sink to the bottom, when, directly

something go "tug, tug" at

At

quite sharply.

first

do, but another tug

it,

he

and then

it,

felt

again,

he hardly knew what to

made him draw

when he

the surface,

after,

distinctly

the bait

saw an

giving a vicious snatch at the bait as

up to

eel leave

it

did so.

Just then Harry landed a fine fellow, which gave

a serpentine

sort of

a wriggle, and regained the

water in a moment.

"There,

who

that's the

at that

moment

way

to

do

said Philip,

it,"

"Try

secured one.

again,

Harry."

But Harry was already trying again

;

and, profit-

ing by past experience, had succeeded in landing

two or three decent-sized

and secured them bait the hook,

all.

eels,

one

after another,

There was no stopping to

and no disengaging the

fish fr till

a

Holtowdell Grange;

35

the bait, for they

go of the worstedy worm as

left

soon as they were

out of the water, or as

lifted

soon as they could drag woolly delicacy

bob with

and as

;

or,

their

teeth out of the

to biting, they seized the

the greatest eagerness, for

was evident

it

swarmed with the eel tribe, now prey upon the warm summer even-

that the mill-dam

seeking their ing

—evidently

a time when they loved to leave

muddy abodes. "How many have you

their

caught,

Fred?"

said

Philip.

" Six," said Fred, in a half whisper

one

;

for

he had

just then at his bob.

"

Why, where

"

Oh

!

I

are they then

caught them

all,"

%

"

said Harry.

said Fred

;

" but they

tumbled in again." "There's a goose," said Harry; "why, you did not catch them then.

Here's another, such a big

one," he continued, as he. landed one nearly as

thick as his wrist.

Phil

"How many

have you

" %

" Only four," said Philip, " and such I

got,

shall

shan't,"

change

he continued

that's bigger

"No,

places

it

;

little

with somebody. " there's a beauty.

ones,

No, I

Why,

than yours, Hal."

isn't," said

Fred's got one."

Harry, "I'm sure; but look,

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

But Fred had not,

he obtained, not a •water

for, in spite

fish

of the

353

many

bites

could he draw out of the

for without exception they all fell in again,

;

he not having yet

hit

upon the knack of landing

them, which should be done with a quick but gentle motion

loose

"

makes the

for the slightest jerk

eel

hold.

its

" I say, after

;

how do you do

it 1

" said Fred, at last,

missing eight or nine.

Do

what

?

" said

Dusty Bob, coming out of the

mill.

"

Why,

catch these nasty slippery things," said

Fred. $ " Every time I try to get one

on the bank,

he always drops off too soon, and I lose him."

"Why,

it's

easy enew," said Bob, going up to

him and taking hold of the bait in quietly, so,

when

— there—

now look ; he comes.

And

and wait

he's tugging

I jist

" Just drop the

pole.

yow

till

feels

'em

away a good un

at

at

it,

it

draws him up a-top, and then out

There yow

see, I

sure enough, Dusty

can do

it

Bob drew a

straight."

fine silvery-

looking eel to the top, and, with a turn of his wrist,

landed

it

upon the bank.

Wriggle and twist went the eel

back into the water, and

to

all

p

would soon have been there

;

— trying

appearances he

and Dusty Bob,

evidently thinking such would be the case,

A A

to get

made

;

Hottowdctt Grange; orf

354

an awkward jump just

at the wriggling fish,

and jumped

upon the wet part of the bank where Fred's

bob had been out before some twenty or

Up

times.

went Bob's

quite aghast

went

\

and the boys

heels,

thirty

stared,

tremendous splash, in he

for with a

right into the deepest part of the mill-pond

when,

after

a few seconds, up he rose, and began

to strike out for the shallow part

land; for the bank where he

where he could

fell

off

steep, and, for about three feet, staved

was very

up with

boards.

As soon

saw that there was no danger, he burst out laughing, and shouted, " Now, boys, as Harry

bob away,

here's such a whopper,"

and began to

drop his great bunch of worms just in front of Bob's head, to the intense disgust of that worthy,

and the course,

delight

of Philip and Fred

must follow

unfortunate

suit,

miller in

the

;

who, of

and begin to tease the But Bob

same way.

soon scrambled out of the water, looking very pasty,

and dripping

all

over the bank.

He

did

not stop to speak, but hurried into his cottage to

change

his things, while the boys, laughing over his

mishap, returned to their bobbing.

But the

eels did not

seem

to

have approved

of

^

the visitor

who had been upon

their domains, and,

judging from appearances, they had

all

bade good-

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

355

r*

bye to the place, for not another bite could either of the boys get in the mill-pool

;

so they had to

deep part of the back-water, where they

try in the

met with a

little

and between them

better success,

succeeded in capturing about two dozen more;

when they found from

that the mist

off the water,

pointed out that

was

rising heavily

and various other indications was time to think of returning

it

homeward.

The

poles were soon placed in a corner of the

mill-yard,

and the basket containing the

carefully tied

Bob

;

eels being

down, they next went in search of

but he was not visible, and his wife came

to the door to say that the

young gentlemen might

say anything they liked to her.

The boys placed this

message, and

the right interpretation

left

upon

a shilling for Bob, which was

received with a curtsey, and then the fishermen started off with a

heavy basket and

light hearts;

but had not gone far before they met Mr. and

Mrs.

Inglis,

who had come

in

accordance with

their promise.

The moon was just rising over the came within sight of the Grange;

trees as they

while in the

north-west, Mr. Inglis pointed out a heavy

of clouds which every quiver with

the

now and

flashes

a a

of 2

bank

then seemed to

sheet lightning that

Hollowdell Grange;

3 5&

played about storm.

it,

The

or^

the evident precursors of a heavy

night was sultry in the extreme, and

almost oppressive in could pay but

little

its

heed

stillness

;

but the boys

to the appearances of

the weather, every thought being taken up with

had captured, and the splash which

the eels they

Bob made when he went into the mill-dam. The appearances of the coming weather Mr.

had pointed out were, however, not

Inglis

deceitful

;

that

before the boys went to bed that

for

flashes of lightning

night, the

became more and

more vivid; the thunder, from muttering distance, began to break, as

it

at

a

were, ju$t over the

house ; and then down came the

rain,

almost

in

a

sheet.

"

What a

pity

!

" said Harry, all at once, just as

they were going up to bed. "

What is a pity 1" said Mr. Inglis. "Why," said Harry, "what a pity all did not come when the fire was burning."

When the

this rain

boys reached their bedroom, the storm

raged with such violence that sleep was out of the question

room, and

;

all

the lightning.

so they put the

candles

three stood at the

window

light,

to

one

watch

Every now and then the whole

heavens seemed to be of

in

lit

up with one vast blaze

which showed the outlines of

all

the

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

357

clouds in the most dazzling manner; then came the deafening peals of thunder, while

looked of the most intense darkness

came

and the rain

;

splashing down, beating against the windows,

and rushing

And

off the eaves in streams.

thus

the storm

longer

at

around

all

it

kept on for about an hour, when

seemed

to abate, the lightning

intervals,

and

the

becoming more and more

coming

thunder gradually

distant,

at last

till

it

subsided into a low angry muttering; though the lightning

still

kept quivering and flashing

everything in the

bedroom appear with

—making

the greatest

distinctness.

" Well," said Harry at

last,

" I've had enough

storm, and I'm going to bed; so out

Fred, into your

his

any fun that

own

place

;

tired

night, so

and sleepy

to

enter

he sleepily went into

and before the thunder had ceased

muttering in the distance, the boys were asleep, breathing heavily the soft cool air

so fresh and pure perceptible in

go, Mr.

own room."

Mr. Fred was too into

you

its

by the

late storm,

difference

all

soundly

—rendered

and so plainly

from the heavy op'

pressive atmosphere of the early evening.

" r I

HottowdeU Grange; er9

358

CHAPTER XXVIL LOUD SIGHS.-— MORE SORROW. Fred's

was now drawing

visit

fast to

a close, and

among themselves were comparing notes how wonderfully swift the days had glided

the boys as to

away. " Oh, dear

;

oh, dear," said Harry, with a sigh

" only think, next week

and learning

to

is

make

dead,

old Valpy

it

at school,

It isn't right

ought to be buried.

;

a nasty

if

:

a lan-

They ought

Shouldn't I like to have smothered

!

" Ah," said Philip

angles,

be back

a cavibus in terribus, and bury the old

blunderbuss.

that old

shall

that beastly old Latin again

dead language.

dirty old

guage

we

;

;

Euclid, with

and

bother.

to be a bird,

" Latin all

its

Heigho

!

isn't half

so bad as

straight lines,

wouldn't

it

and

be nice

and not have any lessons to learn

I should like to be an eagle, to circle

towards the sun, and

"

t

up and up

" J

Holiday Hours in a Country Home*

359

I

Ho—ho —ho

«

at all a poetical

do

an eagle;

for

chap

that

who was not young gentleman; "you wouldn't

*

in

1

" laughed Harry,

if

you turned into a

Evenings at

Home/

an old cocksparrow, and cry wick/

you'd be only

chizzywick, chizzy-

*

day long."

all

Hereupon

Philip

thought

resent this great insult,

was

it

duty to

his

and gave chase

who dodged him about were

bird, like

in the field

to Harry,

where they

and the tormentor, being the more nimble

;

of the two, escaped his well-merited punishment "

Come,

I say," said Fred, shouting as loudly as

he could, "

round

it's

time to

start.

The

car has gone

to the door."

announcement

This tearing

brought

cousins

Fred's

up to the spot where he stood, and then,

going round to the

front,

they found Mr. Inglis

with what few things he required, just giving orders to

Sam "

Oh

lads,

to

go and look for the boys.

jump up

you have said

"We we, boys

" Come,

here they are," said Mr. Inglis.

!

;

you are

if I

just in time.

What would

had gone without you

?

wern't afraid of that," said Harry; 1

I

know Papa wouldn't

"were

say he'd take us,

and then leave us behind."

They .were this

off

once 'more to the

time for the afternoon only.

sea-side,

but

The day was a

"'

3<5d

regular

ttollowdell

Grange; or

t

and the poor horse began

scorcher,

to

show symptoms of the

heat, in spite of the careful

driving of Mr. Inglis

and a regular cloud of

head so teased

about

his

at the

same pace

a

trot,

that

stop and

;

keeping regularly on

it,

as the horse, whether a walk or

Mr. Inglis was at

compelled to

last

Harry cut a couple of

let

branches, and

fix

flies

them

elm-

little

in the harness, so that,

their constant vibration

by

and shaking, they might

keep the tiresome insect pests

at a distance.

_

But

the travellers soon began to find that they ought to have boughs secured to their flies,'-

own

heads, for the

disappointed of their feast upon the horse,

turned their attention to the party in the dog-cart, and, until they were quite clear of the

of the country, bothered them

The day was seemed

to tremble

stirring to

part

'

terribly.

"

F

so hot that the whole atmosphere

and

wave the

quiver, while everything

Not a

was motionless.

else

wooded

breath of air was

grass or to ruffle the surface

of the great land-drains, whose waters shone like

molten

silver

;

while the road was powdered into

an almost impalpable

dust,

which rose in clouds

as the horse's hoofs beat and the wheels spun over its

arid surface. >.

At soft

last,

;*\

...

7^;

<*%&

.

&-

however, as they neared the sea-bank, a

and cooling breeze began

to fan the travellers'

"

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

;

36*

cheeks ; the horse tossed his head and snuffed the air,

as though delighted with the grateful sensation

imparted

it

;

and

at the

end of another quarter of

an hour the car wheels were sinking deep in the dry sandy road which led up to the inn, where they

were going on

this

occasion to leave the horse, as

this afternoon's trip

was only for a quiet ramble by

the sea to collect a few stranded sea-weeds

and

shells.

When tide

they reached the shore, they found the

coming

while the sands were as level

in,

smooth on the elevated parts as a

table, though, in

the lower, beautifully and regularly traced

with the the tide

no

little

is

ripple

marks

left

over

all

by the sea when

going out upon a calm day.

difficulty

and

There was

about gathering specimens, for the

gentle waves landed plenty of beautiful weeds at their feet, while

many

shells

and prettily-marked

pebbles lay about the sands.

"Oh how !

a dip "

!

Oh

hot," said

I say, Papa, !

would be

yes,

mayn't we have a bathe

Papa, do

beautiful.

Harry; "shouldn't

let us,"

said

I like ?

Philip

;

I should like to go in

"

it

so

much."

Fred was as anxious to have a dip as

and

as the tide

was coming

in,

his cousins

and the water as

smooth as possible; Mr. Inglis gave

his consent^

HoHowdelI

36 1

Grange;

or>

and stopped upon the sands while the boys

jumped

all

bathing-machine; and the old

into the

horse being fastened to

they were dragged a

it,

and there

short distance into the water,

They

left.

soon had the door opened, and then one at a

made their appearance in swam about to their hearts'

the sea, where they

time

Harry and Philip performing Fred the

And

splashing.

quite tepid,

and

the swimming,

delightful

and there was no

or feel cold, but every

seemed

was that bathe,

little

felt

disposition to shiver

wave

that rolled in

be laden with freshness and vigour.

to

The boys enjoyed had

to call

their dip

them

stopped in for an hour.

when they had been as

all

of course,

;

sun shone so warmly that the water

for the

Inglis

content

so

much

out, or they

that Mr.

would have

But he had them out

in about twenty minutes

;

and

soon as they were dressed, the collecting of

At the mouth of one

specimens went on. inlet they

found a dead puffin

bird

makes

that

further north,

shaped

bill,

home on

its

and remarkable

singular

all

wedge-

for its curious

Roman

appearance a rather formidable

There were plenty of

wakes running about picking up the

little

the rocky shores

looking like the point of an old

sword, and to

weapon.

—a

little

little

at the

insects

gulls

and

kitty-

edge of the waves,

and small crustaceans

Holiday Hours in a Country Home. that

Fred here made

abounded upon the sands.

further acquaintance with the

and saw how habitation

protected

it

hermit crab,

little

and chose

itself,

when

it

had found one that

considered a good

fit,

dwelt there until

grew too confined

it

thrust in

for returning,

opening

until

was

interest to

be

grew towards the

it

when they walked back

to the

in the sand-bank, so as to reach the inn

and get the horse and car ready tide

it.

along the coast, and pleasant was the

ramble the party enjoyed

hour

for

it

and

its little tail,

Numberless were the objects of all

its

from amongst the empty shells upon

the beach; and

seen

363

now

nearly at

its

The

for starting.

height,

and a brisk

evening breeze had

commenced

as the tide rolled

the breakers began to be of a

tolerable size.

in,

blowing, so that,

There were several people, old

and young, -enjoying an evening bath

;

and, after

ordering the car to be got ready, Mr. Inglis the

and

boys strolled back and watched the waves

come tumbling

in

upon the beach or rush up the

opening that led into the great land-drain

—an

opening that was staked on each side in the shape of a cage-work tunnel, and ran distance into the sea

down

for

on the one hand, and

some right

under the great sea-bank on the other. Just as the party were turning to leave the shore.

r

Hollowdell Grange ;

364

or,

r

a piercing cry rose from

and another, evidently proceeding

another,

some one

A

and thea

off the water,

in distress.

moment's glance served to show Mr.

that the cry

down

Inglis

proceeded from one of the bathers,

company with many more

and, in

fro

to the water's edge,

people, he ran

when he could

see that

a boy was battling with the waves, his head just

above water, and crying for help

in the

most heart-

People were running about wring-

rending tones.

ing their hands, while those

who had been

bathing

were huddling on their clothes, and others, again,

had gone

to seek for a boat

that, if assistance

the boy

;

but

it

was very plain

were not immediately rendered,

would be drowned.

" Is there no one here that can swim Inglis.

"A

poor fellow

sovereign to the

man who

?

" said

Mr.

fetches the

in."

But only one person came forward, and that was Harry,

who began

to strip off his jacket

and shoes

ready for the plunge. "

Back you !

said Mr. Inglis

foolish ;

boy you have not ;

strength,"

and then, without waiting

to

make

a further appeal for aid, he stripped off his coat,

and dashing through the waves was soon swimming towards where the boy was still shrieking loudly, but in a fainter tone, for help

;

for every

Holiday ifours in a Country

now and

flotne.

3^5

then the waves washed over his head,

which seemed

to get

lower in the water every

moment. Mr.

was a powerful swimmer, and clove

Inglis

through the water in spite of his clothes,

swiftly

which clung

to

him and bore him down.

In a

very short space he was by the side of the drowning boy,

who

clutched at him, and would have no

doubt put him in great

peril but for

he made to get behind.

by the

He

an

which

then grasped the boy

and turned to swim ashore

hair,

effort

;

but to his

horror he found that the poor fellow was caught in

some way every

in the piles of the outlet, and, in spite of

Mr. Inglis could not

effort,

essayed

to dive,

set

him

free

effect his object

;

he dragged the

poor fellow backwards and forwards, and reach beneath the waves

last

resource, tried to

keep the poor boy's head above water

until assist-

but this even he found impossible,

had so

for the tide

risen that

it

now covered him

completely with every wave that washed Inglis

poor his

made one more desperate

fellow,

power

just as

tried to

the obstruction, but

at

without success; and, as a

;

he

but the tide ran so strongly that

he was unable to

ance arrived

:

but without success

failing,

;

in.

Mr.

effort to free the

and then,

feeling

he turned to reach the ihore,

Harry swam up to beg of him to come back,

Hollowdell Grange; ory

$66 he was

for

fearful lest his father should

be too

r

And

fatigued to return. for

it

required

it

was time he did

return,

strength to reach the shore,

all his

where he arrived just as a boat was launched, and four

men

put off to try and save the poor boy.

Mr. Inglis and Harry hurried into the inn, where they borrowed dry clothes, and when dressed they

heard the mournful news that the body had not

been recovered,

men

for the

could not even find

the place from the fact of the rapid rise of the

But Mr. Inglis

tide.

the case, even

and

if

now how

off

hopeless was

the poor lad's remains were found

he hurried down

heart-sick,

drove rapidly

felt

to the

car,

;

and

homewards, the sad incident they

had witnessed having deeply impressed them

all,

and brought strongly

to their recollection the mis-

fortune that so nearly

fell

upon

their

own home but

a short time back.

The perfect

journey was soon performed, and in almost silence

fatigue felt like

;

in

for,

by the

addition

to

the

natural

party, the past adventure

a cloud over their

rose-hung porch just

spirits

m

till

hung

they reached ths

the dusk of evening.

!

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

CHAPTER

367

XXVIII.

GOOD-BYE.

At

last the

last at

morning dawned

that

was to be Fred's

Hollowdell Grange, and sadly and gloomily

he had proceeded overnight to pack up in the

his things

box he had brought down with him, merely

leaving out such articles as were required for im-

A

mediate use. swiftly, that

it

month had

slipped

away so

seemed almost impossible that such

a space could have elapsed since that hot, breathless day,

when, so new and strange, he had met

his cousins

upon the platform,

Barnes,

the porter,

house.

So

strange,

fied everything

jected,

and

tired

to

direct

after asking

him

Jem

to his uncle's

and so rough and country-

had appeared had he

felt

;

and so low, de-

when he

first

left

the

how he had wished himself back in town And now, how different he felt ; he was as lowspirited as when he first came down, but it was

train

;

";

Hollowdell Grange;

$ 68 with

the idea of going away.

whom

he had at

first

to him.

and aunt

cousins

his

Dusty Bob

the maids

;

the raven and parrot

with to

upon

All those

looked with distant eyes,

seemed so dear ;

or,

;

his uncle

Sam

was Old

there

Dick, the dog

;

and even

he was mournful

at parting

;

:

There were

now

of them, and would have given anything

all

have stayed,

he stood

if

in his

only for another day.

little

And now

bedroom, looking around

it,

almost with tears in his eyes, as he slowly dressed

and placed the remainder of

himself,

his things in

his box.

He

had

upon the

just finished, box-lid,

and was

sitting

when Harry and

the room, both looking as dull

moodily

Philip entered

and miserable as

himself.

"

Oh

1

that holidays will

horribly slow

were

all to

!

go so

jolly fast,

come over

again

yet,

is

it

and work-days so

Don't I wish that they

It ain't fair.

we have not done

we ought

" what a thing

dear/' said Harry,

there's lots of things

;

and

lota

of places where

to have gone."

" When are you coming

down

again,

Fred

I

said Philip.

"

I don't

away.

know," said Fred

I should like to see

I'd rather they

;

" I don't want to go

Papa and Mamma, but

came down

here.

I

shall

never

Holiday Hours in a Country Horns. like old bricks-and-mortary

London

369

again.

It will

be so smoky, and noisy, and nasty, and miserable.

Oh!

I do wish I could stop."

" But you used to say that you could not think

how people

could live in the country, and would

not believe that

we could

find plenty of fun

down

here," said Harry.

Fred would not hear

moodily upon

his

box

this

till

cousins stayed with him

remark, but sat

last

breakfast-time

— Harry

brighter, the sky

and the

greener than ever

trees

garden

;

of

;

field

;

no bounding out

sat with his legs stretched out

he was obliged

did with a sigh,

was

into

the

no race

and

heart, Philip

his

pockets, and Harry sat and carved until

;

there

before breakfast, for Fred

on his box, gloomy and out of

stick,

boys

but the

no teasing of poor old Sam

round the cedar sat

spirit,

chips.

looked more blue,

could not enjoy that glorious morning elasticity

his

keen-edged

and strewing the bedroom carpet with

The sun shone

no

and

the time cut-

all

ting viciously at a bit of stick with his knife,

;

hands

in his

away

at his

to get up,

— and go down

—which

stairs to get

he

a fresh

piece of wood.

Just then

the

breakfast bell rang,

and Mary

walked along the passage with the hot cake and eggs

;

but no one ran against her, for the boys

B B

"

Hollowdell Grange ;

^7°

tidied slowly into the room,

or,

and took

their places

at the table in the

most dejected way imaginable.

Fred could not eat

;

could

but he

;

ate

Philip could not eat

and

viciously,

in

manner, and smashed in the top of though

'Harry

a

tigerish

his

egg as

had been the head of the engine-driver

it

who was

;

Fred up to London

to take

;

while as for

he kept asking for cups until Mrs. Inglis

coffee,

refused to give

him any more, when the wretched

boy consoled

himself with

another

wedge

of

cake. i

"Come, boys; come, last

" this will never

;

meetings, and

am

all

boys, " said Mr. Inglis at

do

;

partings must follow

holidays must have an end.

sorry that your cousin

must leave you

;

but

I

I

feel

glad to see that he leaves us with regret, for

that

seems

it

not

hope

so,

to say that

Fred?

he has enjoyed his

You have enjoyed your

I

%

so much, Uncle," said Fred; "only

has been such a short one, and cross to think that I didn't

want

Mr. Inglis smiled, and

said,

come another

hope

"

visit,

Is

"

"Oh!

to

trip.

Oh

!

may

I

?

time, I

may

I

it

to

it

makes me so

come."

" But you will want 1

come again

?

" burst out

Fred, with eyes sparkling, and half rising from his chair.

Holiday Hours in a Country Home, **

be only too happy to see you again,

I shall

boy

;

Have

but what say Harry and Philip.

We

" I don't

come

to

want him

to

they

1

did not ask him," said Philip

knows we want him

my

"

asked you to come again "

37r

" but Fred

;

again."

go now," said Harry, with

"Do, Papa, write and " ask for another week's holiday for him mouth

his

full

of cake.

!

" But you go back to school yourselves the day

to-morrow,"

after

would you do then it

Mr. Inglis

said

No,

?

my

the real secret of enjoyment

you have had enough feiting,

more

;

visits

cloying, than

drowned. us

all

we

us

I fear that

back with him

boys, depend upon is

and

shall not

he

is

much

too ;

when more sur-

to leave off

and nothing

Fred must come down again time he

" and what

;

T

pleasure.

hope the next

nearly have

will take

him

a sad report of

to town."

Fred was very anxious to go away good friends with everybody, and would have liked very to

have shaken hands with Mr. Jones,

and the Stapleses managed,

and

Bill

for

;

Bill

much

Jenkins,

but this could not very well be

Mr. Jones had

left for

the sea-side,

Jenkins had gone to a situation.

*

How-

ever,*Fred bade farewell to everybody he could think see

;

of, afid left

and

messages

for those

he could not

at last the time of starting arrived,

and

;

HollowdelI Grange;

372

or.

Old Sam brought the pony and chaise round to the door.

The box was with

filled

lifted

and the

;

and the

fruit,

large

Fred had

curiosities that

place by the departing brighter than

in

make down

of

full

found a

The morning was

that"

him

a great sob would

up into poor Fred's throat

to get

a noise, and the efforts he quite upset him-

He

made

to

keep

to it

gave such a longing

the front of the house,

and

at the garden, then kissed Mrs. Inglis,

and

farewell look

round

all

hamper

everything around

looked so fresh and lovely,

keep trying

bandbox

collected,

visitor.

and

ever,

little

up

at

shook hands with Sam, who returned the

grasp-

warmly, and said in a whisper about the greatest thing he could say, and that was that he wished

he " warn't a-going."

Harry and Philip were wheel chaise, both

sitting in

dickey of the four-

very uncomfortable

on account of Fred's luggage; but I

positions

very

in the

much doubt whether

they ever

thought of

their position, so engrossed were they with the

sole idea

— that

were over. reins

one

Fred was going, and the holidays

But Mr. Inglis had now taken the

from Sam, and had mounted to his seat

so that nothing remained but for Fred to follow his example, for the train

would soon be due at

Holiday Hours in a Country Home.

— though the boys were rather

the station that they

would be too

day; but Mr.

Inglis

late,

373 hopes

in

and so secure another

knew what

uneasiness this

would cause to friends in town, so he prepared to start at once.

Fred put one foot on the

and was

step,

just

going to wave his adieu, when a sudden thought

seemed

to

strike

and

him,

leaping down,

he

rushed round by the shrubbery in the direction of the stable-yard and was out of sight in a moment.

But before any one could surmise where he had gone, he reappeared, and a loud rattling of chain,

and the barking of Dick, told

moment

Inglis

;

Sam

left

he had been to

Fred was

say good-bye to the dog.

a

that

in his place in

go of the pony's head

waved her hand from the porch

and Mary shook

windows

upstairs

their ;

and Cook

pony darted forward, the

the

felt

that indeed his

But the bright day and the

quick motion through the

air

gree to raise the spirits of

all

served in

some

no time shrieking

Barnes

excite-

bustle of hurrying Fred off gave

to think

*

of sorrow

and grinding

was

running

into

about

;

de-

three boys, so that,

by the time they reached the railway, the

ment and

Mrs.

aprons from one of the

wheels spun round, and Fred holiday was ended.

\

;

for the train

the

station

shouting

;

them

came

Jem

"'ll'dell,"

;

Hollowdcll Grange.

374 ti

nv ll'dell,"

loudly as he

as

"'ll'dell,"

could, but

r

not a passenger responded; though a stranger

would have been sadly puzzled to know what he

Then

meant

there was the banging of a door;

the ringing of a bell

;

a

chirruping whistle

shrill

— pant,"

and then "puff— puff,"

"pant

the

train

glided slowly past the faces of Mr. Inglis, Harry,

and Philip ; then

and

faster

objects familiar to the

young

again faster and faster stranger and stranger,

faster past the various

still,

traveller till

;

and then

at last all

grew

and Fred Morris sank back

in his seat, thought over the events of the past ttionth,

that

and began

to thoroughly realize the truth

he had finished his

*

Grange.

visit

to

Hoixowdell