THE FLOWING BOWL. 141 



without a moment's delay, he floored his birds, taking the 

 head of the nearest clean off, and shooting the farther one 

 through the body at the butt of his wings. This was the 

 shot I had heard. 



I then told him what I had seen, and what had befallen 

 me, and we got home quite done up, but rejoicing at our 

 good luck. 



Supper was waiting, and this meal, a blazing fire, and 

 the pipe of peace, recruited us after our fatigues. 



We had been very careful and sparing in the use of our 

 spirits, not knowing how long it might be before we should 

 be able to get a fresh supply, or what necessity might arise 

 for their use ; but this was considered an occasion when 

 the flowing bowl ought to be indulged in, so grogs all 

 round were mixed, and our success celebrated. When 

 this interesting ceremony had been concluded, my com- 

 panion remarked to me : " Our luck has evidently turned, 

 and, as gamblers always do, we ought to press our good 

 fortune while it lasts. We have got our Christmas turkeys ; 

 no doubt the buck you followed is destined to grace 

 our Christmas dinner. I am the man to kill it. Daylight 

 shall see me on his track. You will behold my face no 

 more until I return with the haunches of the big buck." 

 Then he turned in, and I quickly followed his example. 

 At the time I had not the remotest idea that my comrade 

 really intended to put his threat into execution ; I thought 

 he was "gassing," and put it down to the credit of the 

 flowing bowl. 



Next morning I awoke at my usual time daybreak 

 got out of my blankets, arose, stirred the fire into a 



