The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-27
L -
by KIPLING.

Against the peace OF the border tide,
And they've forgot that the Bauld Buceleuch
Was keeper here on the Scottish side"
-Rinmoni Willie.
And then De vitr6 said we were beastll
funks not TO help. and l said there were toC
many chaps in II to suit us. Besides. there's
bound 20 be a mess somewhere or other with
old De Wire in charge. Wasn't / right?"
Quite. And, anyhow. It's n silly biznai
bung through. Whatll they do with the beast.
ly COWS when they've got emp You can milk
n cow-if she'll stand stlll. That's all right"
You're a pig, Beetle"
'No.:I amt: but what's the sense Of drivin' a
lot OF cows up.from the Burrows t~o-to-where
is IT."
They're tryin' to drive 'em to Toowey's
BARNARD at the top Of the hill-the empty
one. where We smoked last Tuesday. It's a re-
venEe. vidley chivled De vitr6 twice last
b week for ridin' his ponies on the Burrows and
De Wires Goin' TO lift as many Of old vidley's
cattle as he can and plant 'em up the hill. He'll
muck IL. ~though-with Parsons. Orrin, and
Hewlett helping. They'll only yell an shout
an bunk II they see Widely"
I'VE might have managed It," said McTurk
slowly. turning up.his coat collar against the
rain that swept over the Burrows. His hair
was OF the dark mahogany-red that goes with
q certain temperament.
I'VE should" Corkran replied with equal
confidence. But they've gone into It as IL It
was n sort OF spidger hunt. I've never done
any cattle liftin'. but 1t seems to me-e-e that
one might just as well be stalky about a thing
as not"
- Smoking vapors'o OF the Atlantic drove low in
pearly-gray wreaths above the boys heads.
Out OF the mist to windward. beyond the gray
loom OF the Pebble Ridge. came an unceasing
roar OF the sea. rising and falling in mile-long
rollers. To leeward a few stray ponies and
cattle. the property Of the Northam potwallop-
ers. and the playthings OF the boys In their
leisure hours. showed through the haze. Be-
yond-blotted OUTLAY Appledore and the flats
Of her Pool. where the Taw and the Torridge
Join. They halted by the cattle gate, which
marks the limit of cultivation. where Nor
than Hill comes down to the Burrows. Beetle.
shock-headed and specialized. drew his nose
pensively to and fro along the wet top bar:
McTurk shifted from one foot to the other,
watching the water drain into either print,
Will Corkran whistled through his teeth as
he leaned against the sod bank. peerinR into
the mist.
A grown or sane person might have called
the weather vile. but the boys Of the college
had not yet learned the national interest in eli
mate. 1t was a little damp. to be sure but It
was always damp in Easter term. and-thi
was an article of faith-sea-wet could not give
one n cold under any circumstances Mack
intoshes were excellent things to go to church
in. but Gripping il one had to run at short
notice across heavy country. So they waited
%serenely in the downpour. clad as their moth
ers would not have cared to see.
"Isay." said Beetle. wiping his spectacles for
the'twentieth time. IF We aren't going to help
De Vitre, what are we here for?"
We're going n watch. Of course. I wish to
goodness they'd hurry up"
ITS AIN awful biznai. driving cattle-in open
said McTurk, who. as the son OF an
Irish Baronet. knew something OF these oper-
atoms. They'll have to run half over the Bur-
after 'em. S'pose.they're gridin' yidley's
p%onies?'
DE vitr6's sure to be. He's a dab on a horse.
Listen! What a filthy row they're making.
They'll be heard for miles,"
The thick air filed with whoops and shouts,
cries. words OF the rattle of broken
golf clubs. and n CHATTER of hoofs. Three COWS
their calves came up to the cattle gate at
an indignant milch canter. followed by four |
heifers and some bullocks. A fat and freckled
youth of fifteen trotted behind them. riding |
and brandishing a hedge stake. De
Wire up to a certain point was an inventive |
with a passion for horse exercise that
the Northam commoners did not encourage. |
- W. h' ANaiSy iAht ohNo alltu ttlii u lIhtl LOT |
the small matter of chasing COWS across the
and the insult. ranked. Hence the
raid.
Come on" he cried over his shoulder. open
the gate. Corkran. or they'll all cut back again. !
We've had no end of bother to get 'em. Oh, |
won't old Vidley be Wild"
Three boys on foot ran up. "shooing' the cat |
tie In excited. amateur fashion. till they headed
into the narrow. high-banked Devonshire lane
led uphill.
Come on. Corkran. It's no end OF a lark"
De Wire; but Corkran shook his
head. The raid had been presented to him
after dinner that day as a completed scheme.
In which he might. by favor, play a minor part:
and Arthur Lane Corkran. No lO4. did not
care for lioutenancies.
You'll be collared." he cried, as he shut the |
Parsons and Orrin are no good in a
row. You'll be collared sure as a gun. De
oh. you're a beastly funk!' The speaker
already hidden by the mist.
Hang it all" said McTurk. IT'S about
the first time we've ever had a cattle lift at the
Coll. Let's
Not much. Keep your eye on Tour uncle"
said Corkran firmly. His word was law In
matters like these. Experience had taught
them that il they manGuvred without Corkran
fell into trouble.
You're jealous because you didn't think Of
II first" said Beetle; and Corkran kicked him
three times slo Wy. Seither he nor Beetle
a muscle the while.
mo. 1 amt: but it ISM stalkV enough for
me-"
"Stalky." in the school vocabulary, meant
clever. well considered. and willy, as applied TO
4 plan OF action, and stalkIness was the one
Corkran toiled after.
Same thing" said McTurk. You think
the only stalky chap in the Coll.
Corkran kicked him as he had kicked Bee
tie. and. even as Beetle. McTurk took not the
notice. By the etiquette Of their
three-year-old friendship. this WAS no more
than formal notice OF dissent from a PROPOSE
ton.
They haven't thrown out any pickets'' mot
for nothing did the school prepare, boys for
They ought to do ~that-even
Tor apples. Toowey's barnyard may DO full OF
people, for all they know"
"'Twasn't last week" said Beetle. when
we smoked in that cartshed place. It's a mile
from any house. too
Up went one OF Corkran's light eyebrows.
Beetle. am SD tired ~ K icE i'm you ncaS