Part 30 (2/2)

”Lady O'Hara said things were all upside down here,” heto sleep in the daylight and sit up all night”

A few ht, however, took away his surprise at the apparently sudden advent of the dawn, for it ell on toward -rooht, cheery, and full of anticipations of what he had to see in his new home, Nic had a wash and brush and hurried out, to find that the business of the day had begun

The first he encountered was Leather, who responded to his cheery goodwith a keen look and a surly nod, as he passed on, and went off from the shed he had left for the open field

The next minute, as Nic went round the house, there was a treed at hiht over the other in collision; but they were up again directly, leaping at hi playfully at each other, anda faood dogs, then!” cried Nic, lavishi+ng his caresses on the excited beasts ”Down there! steady there! I's sobered down and trotted beside hi to ith its sharp-pointed muzzle thrust into one of his hands

”Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle,” careat tree which sheltered one side of the house, and the dogs looked up and barked

”'Morning, youngHere, you two: I'ive you a share”

There was the rattle of a chain hard by, and a heavy bark, as a great dog like a greyhound that had grown stout, careat beast looked at the two collies and growled, while the latter set up the dense frills of hair about their necks and showed their teeth

”None o' that, now!” cried old Saot to be friends You don't know Nibbler, Master Nicklas”

”Doet Missus has told h, too I can allus recklect that there's a Nic in it Hi, you, Nib, this here's the young rowled, but wagged its tail

”We calls him Nibbler, sir; but he's a biter, and no ht to ha' had him with yer when thes, do you, Nib?”

The dog growled and showed its teeth

”Pst, lad!--blackfellow”

The dog made a bound to the full extent of its chain, and uttered a deep bay

”All right, Nib Gone!” cried Sa his yellow teeth

”Breakfast”

The dog's ed directly

”Come and pat him, Master Nico-de--dick-o-me--I say, sir, hadn't I better keep to Nic?”

”Yes, if you like,” replied the boy, approaching the great dog, but only to be received with a lol

”Ah!” shouted Sathrew itself on its side, blinked at hily, as it slowly rapped the ground with its long thin tail

”Now come and put your foot on his neck, sir, and pat his head Don't you be afraid”