FRED'S PET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2103, 14 June 1894, Page 45

FRED'S PET.

IN TWO CHAPTERS.

By Murbay Aston. Chapter I. "Oh l Dad, look—what's that boy got in his hand?" said Bertie Williams to his father one fine Saturday afternoon as they walked together on the lovely sands at Sc Olair. Bertie was an only son, some 10 years old. His parents were well-to-do — something in the city his father was, — and Bertie had hardly ever known what it was to have an ungratified wish. Plenty of nice clothes fell to his lot, the best of boots, warm underclothing, stockings of the newest make, nice hats and caps— all were promptly provided by his loving and — most important consideration — wealthy parents, t The boy to whom Bertie had drawn his father's attention was a very different lad in appearance as he stood before the wealthy merchant and his son. His clothes were very ragged [and torn, his hat was only an apology for that useful article of wearing apparel, his feet were devoid of boots and stockings, Jout a healthy glow suffused his cheeks. That his eyes were bright and truthful one could see at a glance, and under that ragged exterior there evidently beat an honest heart, and the poor lad's bearing was that of a truly manful little fellow. Secured around his neck by a bit of rough rope he had a Boap box, which he carried in front of him, and on the top of the box he was fondling a pretty little animal. It was bigger than the largest rat, and was a brownish-red and black and white in colour. Its eyes were pink, it had pretty sharp ears and the dearest little feet, and, funny to relate, it had no tail.

" Whatever is it i " repeated Sertie, when he saw that his father's attention was drawn to the object of his remark. "That 1" said the father. "Ob, that's what's called a guinea pig." "Well, I never," weDt on Bertie. And then after a moment's reflection , he said, " May I go closer to him, father 1> I would BO like to look at the funny little pig."

Mr Williams cast a scrutinising look at the owner of the guinea pig, and the result was apparently satisfactory, for he made answer :

"Oh I I suppose so. But wait a minute ; let's sit down together and call the boy here," and raising his voice, he called "Hi 1 " to the lad, and at the same time seated himself on a tussock. But Bertie was too anxious to be seated, so be at once started to meet his new acquaintance. An eager stride or two brought them together. " Hulloa I " said Bertie. " Hulloa I " replied the other. " That's a pretty little chap," said Bertie. " Ain't he just I " was the answer. « Will he bite ? " asked Bertie. " Not he," said the owner of the guinea pig — "leaßtwise only his '.tucker," he continued. And here Mr Williams called again for the lad to bring his treasure nearer that he might inspect it. " So you've got a guinea pig, my man," he said kindly. " I haven't seen once since I left London, where the little Italian boys used to carry them about for show, in much the same way as you are doing now," he continued. 11 Yes," replied the boy, " my brother Ted told me about them. He used to live in London before we came to New Zealand," he went on to explain. "And do yon want people to give you money { for looking at lit ? " asked Mr Williams. The lad blushed, and hung down his head ; but presently he found his tongue again, and looking fearlessly at Mr Williams, he said, "Well, you'jsee, mother is ill, and Ted can't get work. Father was drowned at sea, so we thought I might make a little this way."

Mr Williams gave the lad another searching look. Then he put his hand in his pocket and brought forth a handful of silver, from which with some deliberation he selected a new half crown, which he handed over to the surprised and delighted boy.

11 Oh, thank you, sir," said he, and was turning to go, when Bertie said, " Wait for me," and hls*father having nodded consent, the two started off together.

" Don'D go far," said Mr Williams. " I'll stop here for you."

"All right, father," replied the delighted Bertie.

"I say, don't go too fast," said Bertie to his new friend, who now seemed terribly anxious to get off home.

" My people at home are hungry," said the boy. And Bertie, lookingat him, saw that great tears had fallen on his cheeks and more were in his eyes, ready to drop at a moment's notice. " What are you crying for 1 " asked Bertie. " 'Cos I've got this money." Bertie wondered at this reply. " What's your name 1 " "Fred Smith." " How old are you 2 I'm ten," went on Bertie. " I'm tea, too." " Got any brothers and sisters ? " •• Only one brother, Ted, and mother." " How old's your brother ? " " Seventeen." " What does he do ? " asked Bertie. 11 He's out of a job now. He's not very • strong, and he's very fond of reading. Mother thinks he's laz/, and won't try for a job," was the reply. "But," continued Fred, " he's a grand shot with a gun, and we often get rabbits and quails, and now and then a lovely pheasant. Ted loves the wild birds, and watches 'em for hours at a time. He knows all their ways, and sometimes he stays cut all night watching the night birds. He thinks there is a stag in the bush near where we live." " Where do you live 1 " asked Bertie. «We live at St. Leonards," replied Fred, j

what it means to do next. Bikki-tikki did not care to follow them, for he did not feel sure that be could manage two snakes at once. So he trotted off to the gravel path near the house, and sat down to think. It was a serious matter for him. If you read the old books of natural history you will find they say that when the mongoose fights the snake and happens to get bitten he runs off and eats some herb that cures him. That is not true. The victory is only a matter of quickness of eye and quickness of foot — snake's blow against mongoose's jump — and as no eye can follow tbe motion of a snake's head when it strikes, that makes it much more wonderful than any magic herb. Bikki-tikki knew he was a young mongoose, and it made him all the more pleased to think that he had managed to escape a blow from behind. It gave him confidence in himself, and when Teddy came running down the path Bikki-tikki was ready to be petted. Bat just as Teddy was stooping something wriggled a little in the dust, and a tiny voice raid, "Be careful ; 1 am Death I " It was Earait, the dusty brown snakeling that lies for choice on the dusty earth, and his bite is as dangerous as the cobra's ; but he is so small that nobody thinks of him, and so he does the more barm to people. Bikki-tikki's eyes grew red again, and he danced up to the karait with the peculiar rocking, swaying motion that he had inherited from his family. It looks very funny, but it is so perfectly balanced a gait that you can fly off from it at any angle you please, and in dealing with snakes this is an advantage. IE Bikki-tikki had only known he was doing a much more dangerous tbiDg than fighting Nag, for the karait is so small, and can turn so quickly, that unless Bikki bit him close to the back of the head he would get the return stroke in his eye or his lip. But Bikki did not know ; his eyes were all red, and he rocked back and forth, looking for a good place to hold. The karait struck out, Bikki jumped sideways and tried to run in, but the wicked little dusty grey head lashed within a fraction of his shoulder, and he had to jump over the body, and the head followed his heels close.

Teddy shouted to the house — " Oh, look here 1 Our mongoose is killing a snake 1 " and Bikki-tikki heard a scream from Teddy's mother. His father ran out with a stick, but by the time he came up the karait bad lunged out once tco far, and Kikki-tikki had sprung, jumped on the snake's back, dropped his head far between his fore-lega, bitten as high up the back as he could get hold, and rolled away. That bite paralysed the karait, and Bikki-tikki was just going to eat him up from the tail when he remembered that

And here we shall have to leave the two boys till next week.