WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR
"Hai, you little rip," said Scott, "how the deuce do you expect to get your rations if you are n't quiet?"
A cool white hand steadied the brat, who forthwith choked as the milk gurgled into his mouth.
"'Mornin'," said the milker. "You 've no notion how these little fellows can wriggle."
"Oh, yes, I have." She whispered, because the world was asleep. "Only I feed them with a spoon or a rag. Yours are fatter than mine. . . . And you 've been doing this day after day?" The voice was almost lost.
"Yes; it was absurd. Now you try," he said, giving place to the girl. "Look out! A goat 's not a cow."
The goat protested against the amateur, and there was a scuffle, in which Scott snatched up the baby. Then it was all to do over again, and William laughed softly and merrily. She managed, however, to feed two babies, and a third.
"Don't the little beggars take it well?" said Scott. "I trained 'em."
They were very busy and interested, when lo! it was broad daylight, and before they knew, the camp was awake, and they kneeled among the goats, surprised by the day, both flushed to the temples. Yet all the round world rolling up out of the darkness might have heard and seen all that had passed between them.
"Oh," said William, unsteadily, snatching up the tea and toast, "I had this made for you. It 's stone-cold now. I thought you might n't have anything ready so early. 'Better not drink it. It 's—it 's stone-cold."
[222]
