The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25

N Challenger.
by the bright patches OF withered b7arken.
the soft green turf OF the burnside and
| the clumps Of dark pine which dotted their
| slopes
The shepherd OF Kingsmuir arose laziiy
from the messy bank where he had been
reclining. He was returning from one Of
his rare visits to the nearest market
town; and. as the way was long and the
heat had been oppressive he had sat him
down by the stream side 10 rest But
now shutdown and the chill Of evening re-
minded him that he must be getting on
his way: so. wrapping his plaid moro
tightly round his broad shoulders. ne re-
pared to resume his journey. Before him
in a struggling line the flock Of sheep ne
had that day bought at the market
solemnly cropped the roadside turf, Ranked
by two shaggy cOlles, who watched in
Jealous rivalry to prevent their strsyiug:
and the shepherd as he surveyed their
broad well-feeced backs, was filed with
much content
Z "Meg-Don-away by wide he cried in
I the mysterious language Of herding But
as, at the order. the obedient dogs scam-
pered off In a hairy whirlwind 10 recall
stragglers and trim the flock for the
march, something in the stream at his
feet caught the shepherds eye and made
! him bend cautiously lower For the shep-
herd, though in many ways an exemplary
subject and strict observer Of the laws
OF the realm. made one exception. The
salmon laws he held. were iniquitous.
and there being few things in the world
he loved better than salmon. ne saw no
reason why he should not capture them
when and BY what means ne chose. I he
close season had commenced. and on
the lower streams the bailifs would be
keeping strict watch for the unwary
poacher But here It was different. One
such gentleman, ! have heard did in a
fit Of overzealousness for duty. penetrate
these fastnesses; but from his fate mis-
successors took warning and OF late years
these mOorland streams had been little
overlooked
SO it was with small fear Of Interrupt
tion from that quarter that the shepherd
took out his hooks for the capture OF a
gOOdly salmon which lay invitingly in a
convenient part Of the stream. He was
an old. experienced hand, and advanced
confidently. expecting an easy capture
Warily he approached the stream and ar
ranked his tackle: and very skillfully he
worked his hooks upward. But the salmon
cunning fish. and resisted the ef- ,
forts to land him. With each failure the /
shepherd grew the more determined till
at last. in the heat Of the chase he be
came oblivious to all else. So enErosscd .
was he that he did not notice short, .
thickset man approach and stand watch
ing him with a grim smile.
The newcomer seemed strangsll out Of
place in his surroundings. In his appear
ance there were none Of these marks which
cling to the dweller in rhs hills and dis
Jinguish him from other men. He had the
air Of one who had strayed from the smoke
Of mining country into he midst Of his .
great hill-land: at any rate he was Ger
tainly not shepherd. He was short and
squat with a bull neck. and an unlovely
countenance unimprOved by a most vicious .
cast in his eyesight. and the leer which .
disfgured his face when the shepherd his
perseverance at last rewarded. drew his
prize to land and at length turned round
gave him a most sinister aspect
The shepherd eyed he stranger with
some establishment. He had NOT heard him
approach. and his silent behavior was
ominous. Bur it was ridiculous TO have
any fears on the score OF 50 insignificant
person: 50. nothing daunted. he slipped the
salmon into his plaid and girl himself
again for the road. As the other showed
no sign Of addressing him, ne felt bound
in civility to venture a remark
Extraordinary fine wather FOR he back
end he said affably.
There's naethiEg wrang wi the
wather." answered the stranger rudely
ITS fine and clear for seeing poachers"
THE shepherd whi~iled softly Could this
man be?
rs it possible. " he said slowly and DELHI
erately. can YOU be what they ca a
bailin?''
As ven suue find out"
"Ay, man Div We ken, ] never saw
bailin afore. and I've ay wondered what
they were like. But ] thocht they would
pit on bigger men for he job. bod,
took We FOR that new railor-bo that's
come to the muirs
The bailiff was sensitive and at the sug
gestion his eyes flashed. Tailor. he be
gan. with a snort Of indignation. but
checked himself In the mean time, he
continued. with forced politeness. I'll |
trouble We for your name
And what il dinna tell ye? asked the
shepherd sweetly.
"ItIl be the waur for yourself, I'll just
haze to follow ye.'
"AweU it's a gey lonesome Bit o. The
road anyway and III be name the waur o.
your company We can haze a crack on the
way. Ye see" he continued as they sci of
together. Il Gamma afford to gang 10 the
fail Just the noo-the wathers over guild.
and I've nae siller 10 waste on fines
II We Gamma pay the fine, TO the Jail ye
maun gang.
Wen see if we Gamma find some ither
way said the shepherd cheerily. But
Wen no crack about that the moo. TAX
fill" and he held out a stump Of rank black
tobacco.
The bailiff was surly and taciturn. He
was deeply Wrathful at being compelled 10
follow, and he walked onward in stoIid 81
lence The shepherd on the other hand
was in a particularly pleasant humor. and,
considering his grave delinquency. his con-
versation was Light hearted to an unseemly
degree.
"Guid yowes," ne said with 4 wave Of
his hand toward the flock The best
sheep to be got in the market, And ye
would scarcely believe it. but I bccn- them
frae the maist blackyird dealer i'm the