cattle, and the roots and hay were all
needed also. Even then there would have to be special foods bought,
Ishmael decided, for he believed in farmyard manure, and to obtain that
at its best the cattle had to be well and carefully fed. These cows he
now saw were good enough of their kind, but he wished to start Guernseys
or Jerseys, or more probably a cross-breed of the two, as being fitter
for the bare country than pure-bred animals.

John-James tramped in behind the last cow and closed the gate. He had
made no remark at sight of Ishmael, and all he now said was:

"Them are good cows. Good as any you'll get up-country I reckon."

"They look all right for their kind," admitted Ishmael.

"Finest in the place. Not like Johnny Angwin's beasts--high in the bone
and low in the flesh. He'm a soft kind o' chap, sure 'nough, and sick to
his heart at having to take to farming toall. He was in a book-shop to
Truro, but had to come home when his brother died. T'other day he come
to I and he says, 'Oh, John-James Beggoe, my dear, what shall I do? I
forgot I did ought to arrange my cows all in steps, so to speak, so that
they shouldn't all calve to wance, and now they'll all be a doen of it
and us won't get no milk....'" John-James broke off with a chuckle, then
resumed with: "Seen the calves yet?"

"No. I suppose they've been turned out?"

"Not yet. I'll wait till the middle of the month before turnen out.
Eight heifers and three bulls there be."

"Well, I'll see what they look like. Morning, Katie!"

Katie Jacka, who had come out to the milking, responded eagerly to the
new master and planked down stool and pails. Ishmael and John-James
stood watching for a few minutes.

"That there cow is drawin' to calf, and I'm jealous of her," announced
John-James lugubriously; "she'm too fat, and I fear she'll get bruised,
but though I turned her into the poorest field in the place she won't go
no thinner. She'm never gone dry, and they belongs to be one month dry."

"I want to start Jerseys," said Ishmael boldly; "I'm sure the better
quality of the milk will more than make up for the greater cost of the
stock."

"Jerseys! ... well," said John-James, startled, "that's a new idea,
surely. I don't knaw where 'ee'd get a bull to serve en. Hav'ee thought
on that?"

"I don't see why I shouldn't have a bull myself. I could advertise it
for service all round the country, if it comes to that."

John-James muttered something to the effe