“Yes,” continued Mark; “but why couldn’t a man who can manage dumb animals like that be quite at home with bullocks?”
“Good boy,” said Sir James. “There is something in that. You mean, for him to take the place of the bullock leader—fore—what you call him.”
“Loper, father.”
“Yes. Is there any connection between loper and leaper, doctor?” continued Sir James.
“I cannot say on the instant. It wants thinking out, sir. Antelope—loper—leaper.”
“Well, never mind that,” said Sir James. “But if he can manage the bullocks too that is an additional reason why he should stay.”
“But he is such a dismal, unhappy sort of fellow,” protested Mark.
“Yes, boy, but he can be very useful to us though not very ornamental,” said the doctor.
“No, sir,” said Dean, “I believe that the oxen would take fright at him.”
“Use is second nature, Dean,” said Mark.