was one which perplexed Sir Charles most
particularly. The two Councillors elected by the people and the three
appointed by the crown had disagreed as to this tax. Of the five hundred
British subjects at the seaport, all but ten were owners of dogs, and it
had occurred to Sassoon, the chemist, that a tax of half-a-crown a
year on each of these dogs would meet the expense of extending the
oyster-shell road to the new cricket-grounds. To this Snellgrove, who
held the contract for the narrow-gauge railroad, agreed; but the three
crown Councillors opposed the tax vigorously, on the ground that as
scavengers alone the dogs were a boon to the colony and should be
encouraged. The fact that each of these gentlemen owned not only one,
but several dogs of high pedigree made their position one of great
delicacy.

There was no way by which the Governor could test the popular will
in the matter, except through his secretary, Mr. Clarges, who, at the
cricket-match between the local eleven and the officers and crew of
H. M. S. Partridge, had been informed by the other owners of several
fox-terriers that, in their opinion, the tax was a piece of "condemned
tommy-rot." From this the Governor judged that it would not prove a
popular measure. As he paced the veranda, drawing deliberately on his
cigar, and considering to which party he should give the weight of
his final support, his thoughts were disturbed by the approach of a
stranger, who advanced along the gravel walk, guarded on either side
by one of the local constabulary. The stranger was young and of poor
appearance. His bare feet were bound in a pair of the rope sandals worn
by the natives, his clothing was of torn and soiled drill, and he fanned
his face nonchalantly with a sombrero of battered and shapeless felt.

Sir Charles halted in his walk, and holding his cigar behind his back,
addressed himself to the sergeant.

"A vagrant?" he asked.

The words seemed to bear some amusing significance to the stranger, for
his face lit instantly with a sweet and charming smile, and while he
turned to hear the sergeant's reply, he regarded him with a kindly and
affectionate interest.

"Yes, your Excellency."

The Governor turned to the prisoner.

"Do you know the law of this colony regarding vagrants?"

"I do not," the young man answered. His tone was politely curious, and
suggested that he would like to be further informed as to the local
peculiarities of a foreign country.