On its far side half a dozen cows were, quietly grazing.

"They came fast enough when I was a-feeding of 'em," he presently added; "but now they has to find for theirselves they don't care how long they keeps me." I was going to suggest that it would be a considerable saving of time if he went for them, but his air of lazy contentment as he leant on the gate showed that time was of no importance to him.

He was a curious-looking old man, in old frayed clothes, broken boots, and a cap too small for him.

He had short legs, broad chest, and long arms, and a very big head, long and horselike, with a large shapeless nose and grizzled beard and moustache.

His ears, too, were enormous, and stood out from the head like the handles of a rudely shaped terra-cotta vase or jar.