pull hard.'

The man pulled, and hit himself square on his thumb-nail.

'Each to his own weapon,' he said gravely, handing it back. 'I am better
with the bigger machine, little maiden. But it's a pretty toy. A wolf
would laugh at it. Aren't you afraid of wolves?'

'There aren't any,' said Una.

'Never believe it! A wolf's like a Winged Hat. He comes when he isn't
expected. Don't they hunt wolves here?'

'We don't hunt,' said Una, remembering what she had heard from grown-ups.
'We preserve--pheasants. Do you know them?'

'I ought to,' said the young man, smiling again, and he imitated the cry
of the cock-pheasant so perfectly that a bird answered out of the wood.

'What a big painted clucking fool is a pheasant!' he said. 'Just like
some Romans.'

'But you're a Roman yourself, aren't you?' said Una.

'Ye-es and no. I'm one of a good few thousands who have never seen Rome
except in a picture. My people have lived at Vectis for generations.
Vectis--that island West yonder that you can see from so far in clear
weather.'

'Do you mean the Isle of Wight? It lifts up just before rain, and you