—— 
1829. | the Cambridge Coachman. 31 
it difficult to get out again, he determined to reconnoitre his ground 
first, and marched slowly round the table, at the distance of a yard or 
two, peeping and prying for an opportunity of edging himself in be- 
tween the chairs. The little notice that was taken of this movement, 
gave him fresh courage, but still he held the more antient part of the 
company in awe, and was unwilling, if he could avoid it, to come in 
contact with any of the gentlemen in armour. The guests in the more 
modern habits looked, he thought, infinitely less mischievous than their 
warlike progenitors, and, with some manceuvring, he contrived to 
squeeze his chair in between two of them, an antient dame, with a 
good-humoured face, and a smart young coxcomb, who had nothing 
very terrible in his appearance. Still, not a word was said. He half 
stretched out his hand to the venison, at the same time looking up into 
the face of his neighbour to the right, as much as to say, ‘ Have I your 
leave ?’—but the gentleman took no notice. He turned to the left with 
a more beseeching look than ever—it was all the same—‘Silence gives 
consent,’ thought he—but no sooner did he attempt to act upon this 
maxim, and put his spoon into a rich stew before him, than he received 
a smart rap across the knuckles, that tingled again up to his very elbows, 
and, on turning round, who should be there but the sour-faced steward. 
«<< Youneed not hit so hard,’ said mine host ; “ I can take a hint, with- 
out its being rapped into me after that fashion ; and, since it seems the 
lady has a fancy to the stew, I’ll«even content myself with a wing of 
that partridge.’ 
« Accordingly, he plunged his fork into the bird ; but, before he could 
use his knife, a second smart blow on the knuckles made him sensible 
that this also, in the language of the South Sea Islanders, was a tabooed 
article. 
« ¢ What! mus’n’t I touch that, neither?’ he exclaimed, in a doleful 
tone.—‘ Well, if I may not eat, I suppose I may drink. You'll hardly 
be such a churl as to deny a honest fellow a drop of wine when you have 
got such plenty of it?’ 
«© But no sooner had he laid his hands on the silver tankard, than the 
white rod was put into action a third time, and that more smartly than 
ever. 
*< Soul of man!’ cried mine host, in extreme ire, and recollecting 
Frank’s advice, that he should give them as good as they brought—‘ this 
is too bad, master steward. Do tell me at once what I may touch, and 
leave off rapping my knuckles at this confounded rate, unless you have 
a mind I should send one of the dishes at your head. May I have a 
spoonful of that ?’—pointing to what seemed a matelot of eels. The 
steward raised his wand,—‘ Well, then, a morsel of that venison ?—Nor 
that either? Then I'll be d—d if I stand on any ceremony with you 
for the matter. You are a niggardly old scoundrel, and your masters 
are not a whit better than yourself, eating and drinking there as if for 
dear life, and never saying so much to a poor fellow, as—Dog, will you 
take a snack ?” 
_ “ At this bold speech, the company looked as much astonished as a 
set of ghosts well could do. Every knife and fork was suddenly laid 
down, and every chair drawn partly back, to stare more freely at the 
audacious intruder, who thus presumed to beard them in their own hall. 
But mine host, who imagined from their silence he had got the whip- 
