"That should be long enough," said Angus, "Do you have any suggestions?"

"Well, yes, I do," said the agent, pulling a number of sheets from his suitcase, "We have here, on our listings, several very nice little houses, all within your price range."

Angus took the sheets and started looking through them.

"I was wondering," said the agent, "What were you going to do with all your livestock?"

"Sell it," said Angus, "Why?"

"I would be happy to help get it off you hands," said the agent, "Do you have a truck?"

"Yes, there's a Bedford in the back garage," said Angus, "But it hasn't been running for a few years. The battery's flat."

"No problem," said the agent, "I'll use the one from my own car. Now, if we can get your animals onto the truck, I'll run them down to the sale yards. There's the monthly auctions on this afternoon."

"I know," said Angus.

"I can run your animals down there and get them off your hands today if you like. That'll be one less thing for you to worry about, won't it."

"That would be very nice of you," said Mrs. Magill, "What a kind man you are."

The agent shot her a smile which looked more like a crocodile grinning, and went to the door.

"Don't you worry about a thing!" he said, "I'll take care of everything." "I'm sure you will," said Angus just quietly enough as to not be heard.

By the afternoon, the Bedford was loaded up with one cow, all the pigs, and the chickens. The agent leaned out of the cobwebby truck window and smiled.

"I'll be back in about two hours," he said, "You just have a look through those other houses I gave you and see if there's anything you like."

"Thanks," said Angus, "Oh, and mind the hole at the bottom of the drive. I haven't had time to fill it in, what with the sickness ..."

"No problem!" said the agent, I know where it is."