, 1877-03-24


crocodile and The Buma bull among the
natives Of the East. For, to do him JUS
tlce, the man was honest after his kind,
and would have made an incorruptible
stud groom Ola racing stable, or MS a
publican would have sold his beer rs it
came from the brewer Besides being
honest he WAS brave. lr at all events pos.
scssed that attribute OF evil omen to him,
50 tar as his educational career was con
cerned, called "pluck."
remember an adventure of his which
put his courage beyond question, and at
the same time illustrated the close con
nectlon that existed between himself and
the Canine race, Thee was a certain
granary IN CmbHd.;, so infested with
rats that for sometime they had made the
place almost Useless for the purpose Tor
which it was des,gned. Mr.. Wcybridgr
and some young friends OF similar tastes
purchased at II high prCc the rights oi
sporting over the graniry floors, and the
rats were allowed to have their ill like
pheasants in reserve, in return tor the
amusement they afforded On enc occa.
son it was computed that about 900 rats
were indnIging Il false confidence, and
getting too tat to live in Mr.. Miller's
granary. Mr.. John Wcybridge resolved
to enter upon the adventure uIone-save
Tor the company of his tavorite and IN
srparable black. .andtan terrier. Jacko
lie had handy bludgeon and Jacko-
these wcrcaIl his weapons, So soon as
the two allies appeared the coo scuttIrd
away to their holes, and found them
stopped then they turned round uattedD,
stood at bay, and finally attacked their
assuilants their motto was no longer
"Sawce qui peat," hut Death to tyrants."
With the second blow OF his bIubgeon,
Mr.. John Weybridge killed Jacko. Even
in that supreme moment, with angry rats
hoIdingun to him everywhere, and climb
ing up him in all directions like flies,
pathetic thought pissed through his
mind. He knew that the dog was dend,
for he never hit anything twice, and he
resolved to have him stuffed. He did
not know ut that time how small was the
chance Of his ever being able to pay that
last sud tribute to his faithful compan
ions memory, bnt after ten minutes OF
hot combat, during which he laid about
him like Paladin, and with all the fury
OF revenge, he began to fear that his foes
were very literally too much for him."
and, fighting AS he fed, he retreated to the
door. Some early risers, hearing his cries
broke in the door, and found him halt
dead, though fighting still, with his dead
dog beside him, bnt not-no, mot the
600." He had killed about third of
them, and the other 400 would have Ger.
tainly killed him but for that timely aid
1t was nearly ten years after John
Weybridge had left college before l set
eyes on him again. l was bound one
afternoon tor Cambridge from London,
but had the misfortune to miss my train
at the Great Eastern Station. l found
rather large and tolerably clean coffee
house hard by, and, walking into the
public room, sat down and ordered II
mutton chop. The man who brought
the chop was John Weybridge. | felt
sure OF this at once, though his white tie
and black attire gave him the appear
ance of sporting undertaken, and the
napkin ON his arm suggested an infant
funeral job. looked down quite nat
urally at his heels for the brace Of bull
dogs; they were not there, of course
but still kept my eyes upon the carpet
from motives of delicacy, | thought it
would be very painful to him that |
should seem to recognize him, and l was
casting about in my mind what should
say, and how | should perhaps be able
to give him some little assistance in his
fallen fortunes for being Gresham man,
though could hardly have called him
an old pupil, he had obviously claim
upon me. To my surprise and reliet he
was, however, the first to speak,
II hope have the pleasure of seeing
you well, Mt Dactyl."
"Quite well, Mr.. Weybridge. And
you ?"