“What the mouse colour?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Has she been eating some poisonous weed?”
“I dunno, sir.”
“Well; is she ill?” said Rifle.
“Dunno that nayther, sir. She’s gone.”
“Gone?” cried Tim. “Ida’s favourite?”
“Yes, sir. Gone she is. I can’t mind o’ seeing her for a long time.”
“Then you’ve lost her?” cried Norman angrily. “Now, don’t you be too hard on a man, Master Norman, because I ain’t the only one as druv the cattle. Mr Munday Bedford’s had a good many turns, and so has master, and you young gents druv ’em twiced—”
“Hi! German,” shouted the captain just then. “I can’t see the mouse-coloured heifer;” and he came toward them with Ida, who had been looking for her pet. “Where is she?”